Colonial says refinancing talks continue

MADRID, July 17 (Reuters) - Spanish property group Colonial (COL.MC: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday that talks to refinance debt of around 6.4 billion euros ($10.18 billion) are ongoing and did not comment on whether it would sell its Riofisa unit.

"The (refinancing) process remains open, and so (Colonial) cannot say which assets or what percentage will be affected until the talks have concluded," the group said.

Colonial has told its creditor banks that it wishes to keep its 51 percent stake in the French group SFL (FLYP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and sell Riofisa, which runs shopping centres, Expansion reported on Thursday without citing sources.

Colonial acquired Riofsa last year for around 2 billion euros.

Colonial's chief executive Mariano de Miguel said recently that it is studying the sale of Riofisa's shopping centre business to help cover its debt obligations.

(Reporting by Robert Hetz; Writing by Paul Day; Editing by Erica Billingham)