Safestore was founded in the UK in 1998,[6] and floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) that year. In 2003, the company was delisted from the AIM after a Bridgepoint-backed £39.8 million Management Buyout led by Steve Williams (Chief Executive at the time).[7]
In 2004, Safestore acquired Mentmore plc[8] for £209 million who were trading under the ‘Spaces’ brand in the UK and as the ‘Une Pièce en Plus’ (UPEP) brand in France.[9] The company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2007.[10] In April 2013, Safestore was converted into a real estate investment trust (REIT).[11]
Safestore acquired Space Maker in July 2016 (adding 12 stores to the UK operation)[12][13][14] and it completed the acquisition of Alligator Self Storage in November 2017.[15]
Safestore acquired the Ready Steady store in Heathrow from Rockpool Investments in August 2019[16] and two stores joined the Safestore group in London through the acquisition of Fort Box Self Storage in November 2019.[17]
Safestore also established a JV with Carlyle which acquired M3 Self Storage in the Netherlands (six stores in Amsterdam and Haarlem) in August 2019.[18] Safestore also acquired Oh My Box Self storage (four stores in central Barcelona) in January 2020.[19]
