COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 525930

Real Estate Investment Trusts

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

48companies1907–1997founding years46still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedFairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedIscor Limited
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedThe Nature Conservancy
1951
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedArchstone-Smith Trust
1963
FoundedThe Macerich Company
1964
FoundedEastGroup Properties, Inc.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedUnited Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedTanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedDuke Realty Corporation
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedDevelopers Diversified Realty Corporation
1992
FoundedChateau Communities, Inc.FoundedEquity ResidentialFoundedGables Residential TrustFoundedRegency Centers Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedApartment Investment and Management CompanyFoundedLiberty Property Trust
1994
FoundedSovran Self Storage, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedEquity Office Properties Trust
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. →
Active · founded 1907 · Canada
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. →
Active · founded 1907 · Canada
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.
Iscor Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · South Africa
Iscor Limited has surprised the worldwide steel industry by shedding its valuable mining assets--spun off as publicly…
Iscor Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · South Africa
Iscor Limited has surprised the worldwide steel industry by shedding its valuable mining assets--spun off as publicly…
The Nature Conservancy →
Active · founded 1951
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the star performer among environmental groups, in size, growth, effectiveness, and…
The Nature Conservancy →
Active · founded 1951
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the star performer among environmental groups, in size, growth, effectiveness, and…
Cousins Properties Incorporated →
Active · founded 1961
Cousins Properties Incorporated is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Atlanta, Georgia, involved in the…
Cousins Properties Incorporated →
Active · founded 1961
Cousins Properties Incorporated is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Atlanta, Georgia, involved in the…
Archstone-Smith Trust →
Active · founded 1963
Archstone-Smith Trust, with headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, is the third largest apartment real estate investment…
Archstone-Smith Trust →
Active · founded 1963
Archstone-Smith Trust, with headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, is the third largest apartment real estate investment…
The Macerich Company →
Active · founded 1964
The Macerich Company is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) involved in the…
The Macerich Company →
Active · founded 1964
The Macerich Company is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) involved in the…
EastGroup Properties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
EastGroup Properties, Inc.
EastGroup Properties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
EastGroup Properties, Inc.
Colonial Properties Trust →
Active · founded 1970
Colonial Properties Trust is a Birmingham, Alabama-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that takes a balanced…
Colonial Properties Trust →
Active · founded 1970
Colonial Properties Trust is a Birmingham, Alabama-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that takes a balanced…
United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.
United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
For more than 20 years, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
For more than 20 years, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.
Duke Realty Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Duke Realty Corporation is an Indianapolis-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the…
Duke Realty Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Duke Realty Corporation is an Indianapolis-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in the…
ProLogis →
Active · founded 1991
ProLogis is the world leader in leasing and managing distribution centers.
ProLogis →
Active · founded 1991
ProLogis is the world leader in leasing and managing distribution centers.
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation →
Active · founded 1992
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation (DDR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Beachwood, Ohio.
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation →
Active · founded 1992
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation (DDR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Beachwood, Ohio.
Chateau Communities, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
An owner, manager, and developer of manufactured home communities in the United States, Chateau Communities, Inc.
Chateau Communities, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
An owner, manager, and developer of manufactured home communities in the United States, Chateau Communities, Inc.
Equity Residential →
Active · founded 1993
Equity Residential is part of the farflung business empire of Chicago billionaire Samuel Zell, known as the "Grave…
Equity Residential →
Active · founded 1993
Equity Residential is part of the farflung business empire of Chicago billionaire Samuel Zell, known as the "Grave…
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.
Gables Residential Trust →
Active · founded 1993
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Gables Residential Trust is an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust (UPREIT).
Gables Residential Trust →
Active · founded 1993
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Gables Residential Trust is an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust (UPREIT).
Regency Centers Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Regency Centers Corporation is a Jacksonville, Florida-based real estate investment trust (REIT), one of the largest…
Regency Centers Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Regency Centers Corporation is a Jacksonville, Florida-based real estate investment trust (REIT), one of the largest…
Apartment Investment and Management Company →
Active · founded 1994
Apartment Investment and Management Company (AIMCO) is the largest U.S.
Apartment Investment and Management Company →
Active · founded 1994
Apartment Investment and Management Company (AIMCO) is the largest U.S.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
Liberty Property Trust →
Active · founded 1994
Liberty Property Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb.
Liberty Property Trust →
Active · founded 1994
Liberty Property Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb.
Sovran Self Storage, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1995
Based in Buffalo, New York, Sovran Self Storage, Inc.
Sovran Self Storage, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1995
Based in Buffalo, New York, Sovran Self Storage, Inc.
Equity Office Properties Trust →
Active · founded 1996
Equity Office Properties Trust (EOP) is the largest real estate investment trust (REIT) and largest office building…
Equity Office Properties Trust →
Active · founded 1996
Equity Office Properties Trust (EOP) is the largest real estate investment trust (REIT) and largest office building…
AMB Property Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Operating out of San Francisco, AMB Property Corporation is a real estate investment trust (REIT) concentrating on…
AMB Property Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
Operating out of San Francisco, AMB Property Corporation is a real estate investment trust (REIT) concentrating on…
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