Grupo Argos receives the AAA grade from Fitch Ratings

News | JULY 2, 2019

Grupo Argos has received the AAA (col) grade from Fitch Ratings, the highest delivered by this entity to companies in Colombia. This result is the product of a profitable and harmonious growth and operation strategy with its vision of sustainability, which has allowed Grupo Argos to advance to a leading position in the American continent in the cement, energy and highway and airport concessions businesses.

“The AAA grade of Fitch Ratings is a recognition of the consistent execution of a profitable growth strategy, the optimization of our businesses, and the effort and dedication of more than 14,000 employees who work daily with passion in the 18 geographies where we have the privilege of serving in the cement, energy and highway and airport concessions businesses of the Argos Business Group”, said Jorge Mario Velásquez, president of Grupo Argos.

To grant this rating, which went from AA + (col) to AAA (col), Fitch Ratings emphasized, among other aspects, that the decision to raise the rating “is based on strengthening the company's capital structure from the profitability of your investments and optimization of your portfolio; as well as in the stability and strengthening of the flow of dividends received ”.

In its report, the rating agency points out as a factor in its decision the growth plan of Grupo Argos, derived from the acquisition of stakes in companies that operate in strategic sectors of the economy – cement, energy and highway and airport concessions – and its financial flexibility, supported by its investment portfolio and the demonstrated access to the debt and equity issuance markets.

This goal is achieved while Grupo Argos maintains its commitment to sustainable and comprehensive management in all its businesses and operations, as an essential part of its strategy. In 2018, it was recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, for the second consecutive year, as the most sustainable company in the world in its sector.

This rating, which is the highest that Fitch gives to companies in the country, reflects the work articulated and focused on a strategy of profitable growth and optimization of its cement, energy and highway and airport concessions businesses.

This goal is achieved while Grupo Argos maintains its commitment to sustainability as the central axis of that strategy, integrated by a solid economic, social and environmental dimension in all its operations.