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Colombian conglomerates Argos, SURA start to study possible ownership split

Shareholders of Grupo Argos and Grupo SURA, two of Colombia's largest corporations, on Monday provided their boards the thumbs-up to begin studying alternative business structures in order to divide the currently tightlyknit companies.

Argos and SURA belong to an alliance of firms known informally as Grupo Empresarial Antioqueno (GEA),. comprised of over a hundred firms held together by complex. shareholding arrangements and partnerships.

These consist of lending institution Bancolombia, cement maker. Cementos Argos, energy company Celsia and pension. fund Proteccion.

The firms' investors have elected their boards to. examine various possible structures without sustaining a. conflict of interest, according to an Argos declaration and a. source from SURA.

Argos currently holds a 45.8% stake in SURA, which in. turn owns 45% of Argos.

Argos' CEO Jorge Mario Velasquez told investors. during a meeting in Medellin that the company had actually hired business. financial advisors to study the possible options.

We do not have a stringent time-frame as of today,. Velasquez stated. This is going to spend some time so that we are. able to study the matter prudently and make a competent. decision..

(source: Reuters)