MEDELLIN, Colombia,
Sept. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
GRUPO SURA (BVC: GRUPOSURA &
PFGRUPSURA; ADR: GIVSY, GIVPY) is one of 333 companies chosen from
all over the world to form part of the Dow Jones Sustainability
World Index this year, in token of its commitment to maintaining a
responsible and sustainable handling of its business strategy from
all economic, environmental and social standpoints.
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This Index provides the investor community with information
regarding the sustainability of a range of listed companies on a
global level. Since 1999 when it was first launched, this Index has
served as a yardstick for all those investors interested in
companies who are able to provide a responsible and comprehensive
approach to their different business interests. It is also worth
pointing out that in 2012 Dow Jones expanded its family of
sustainability indexes to include another dedicated solely to the
emerging markets.
GRUPO SURA was first admitted to
the Dow-Jones Sustainability Index in 2011, the first Colombian
company belonging to the Diversified Financial Services sector to
do so. It was then readmitted last year and again this year,
thereby completing three straight years. This year out of a total
of 101 applicant companies from this sector, only 12 were admitted,
with Grupo Sura figuring as the only
Latin American company out of this select group.
With regard to the DJ Sustainability Emerging Market Index, out
of a total of 81 candidate companies from different economic
sectors, only 30 were Latin American companies, namely from
Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile.
David Bojanini Garcia, GRUPO
SURA's Chief Executive Officer stated: "We are pleased to
form part of this select group of companies throughout the world
who set themselves apart for their best economic, social and
environmental practices. For us, being admitted to the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index is not a goal in itself, but rather the result
of a history of responsible management, based on sound ethical
principles, going back over the last 69 years. It is also a much
appreciated recognition for more than 22 thousand employees
belonging to GRUPO SURA and its
Latin American subsidiaries."
It is also worth noting that for the first time ever, Grupo
Argos and Cementos Argos made their debut on this Index joining
Bancolombia and Grupo Nutresa who were also readmitted this year.
These organizations form part of our investment portfolio and
therefore share the same responsible and sustainable business
practices for which GRUPO SURA has
become known. There are now a total of 6 Colombian companies,
including Ecopetrol, joining 8 other Brazilian companies making up
a total of 14 Latin American companies included in the D Dow Jones
World Index.
The role played by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is
becoming increasingly important for the global stock market, given
the increasing significance of its evaluation and appraisal
criteria with regard to advanced business management models and
practices over the long term.
About the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices track the performance of
leading companies from all over the world with regard to
sustainability standards. It was first launched in 1999 as a global
monitoring platform for sustainability issues, in collaboration
with Robeco SAM (Sustainability Asset Management). Admittance
is based on a rating given to a questionnaire drawn up by SAM, as
well as public information regarding the candidate company and
whether this is coherent with that reported by the media.
ABOUT GRUPO SURA
Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana –GRUPO SURA– is a Latin
American company listed on the Colombian Stock Exchange and
registered with the ADR- Level 1 program in the United States. We are also the only
entity from Latin American diversified financial services sector to
be admitted to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), which
monitors companies who have become global benchmarks thanks to the
good practices they have adopted from the economic, environmental
and social standpoints. GRUPO SURA
holds two types of investments, the first being its strategic
investments in the financial service, insurance, social security as
well as complementary service sectors; and the second corresponds
to its portfolio investments in the processed food, cement and
energy sectors.
Luis Eduardo Martinez
Director of Investor Relations
lemartinez@gruposura.com.co
(574) 4355628
Luis Felipe Posada Jimenez
Communications Analyst
Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana
(574) 260 21 00 ext 2571
lfposada@sura.com.co
SOURCE GRUPO SURA