China's Wanda to sell contentious Madrid landmark: source

MADRID -- China's property and entertainment giant Wanda has agreed to sell a historic Madrid skyscraper, a source close to negotiations said Wednesday, after feuding with city authorities over plans to renovate the landmark.

Wanda acquired the 25-story Edificio Espana, completed in the 1950s under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, in June 2014 for 265 million euros (now $292 million) and wanted to turn it into a hotel and shopping centre.

The group had reportedly planned to knock down the facade, re-model the interior and build it again with the same materials.

But Madrid's left-wing town hall -- elected last year -- insisted that the original facades of what it considers a building of historical importance be preserved, eventually prompting Wanda to get rid of the skyscraper.

According to the source, who wished to remain anonymous, Spanish investment group Baraka made an offer for the building above the 265 million euros Wanda paid for it.

The source refused to say exactly how much Baraka had offered to pay, but added that both groups had reached an agreement on the sale, which, according to the El Pais daily, will not be finalised until September.

Both Baraka and property consultants JLL, tasked with selling the building, refused to comment when contacted by AFP.

Hugely imposing, the skyscraper dominates one end of the Plaza de Espana square in western Madrid and while it was a prized architectural jewel during Franco's brutal rule, residents of the capital are hugely attached to a building few associate with the dictator.

It has stood empty since 2006 -- a symbol of the 2008 real estate collapse that thrust Spain into a damaging economic crisis.

Wanda, owned by one of China's richest men Wang Jianlin, has been on a high-profile overseas acquisition spree in recent years, such as the $3.5-billion purchase of Hollywood studio Legendary Entertainment in January.

The group has also bought the organiser of Ironman extreme endurance contests, Swiss sports marketing group Infront, and a stake in Spanish football club Atletico Madrid, which reached the Champions League final this year.

It burst into the international spotlight in 2012 by buying US cinema chain AMC Entertainment for $2.6 billion. 

Wang's group also owns more than 200 malls, shopping complexes and luxury hotels across China. (AFP)