Grupo Indalo

Grupo Indalo is an Argentine business conglomerate founded in 1999 that brings together a wide range of production and service companies across different sectors. It employs around 18,000 people. Its businesses include media outlets, oil companies, investment firms, construction companies, the food industry and banking, among others. The group's name comes from an ancestral figure found in the Cave of the Letters (Cueva de los Letreros), a symbol of Almería, the Spanish province from which the family of the group's founder, Argentine businessman Cristóbal López, originates. The group's origins trace back to 1958, when the López family moved from southern Spain to Comodoro Rivadavia during the oil boom. In 1966 they created a family business that eventually became the largest forage supplier in Patagonia. After his parents died in a car accident in 1976, Cristóbal López took over the company. In 1978, Transportes Cristóbal López SRL began providing solid cargo transport services, and in 1983 it won its first tender for liquid cargo transport for YPF, entering the hydrocarbon industry services sector. During the 1990s the group expanded into vehicle dealerships (Scania representative Feadar SA in 1990, Toyota dealership Tsuyoi in 1994), casinos, olive plantations (Promet SA in 1997) and passenger transport (Indalo S.A. in 1998). In 1999 the companies were integrated to form the Group. The 2000s saw the creation of Oil m&s SA (2001), entry into oil exploration, the launch of Indalo extra virgin olive oil, the acquisition of Álcalis de la Patagonia (2006), CPC Ingeniería e Infraestructura (2009), Petrolera Cerro Negro and Paraná Metal (2009). In the 2010s the group expanded heavily into media, acquiring C5N and Radio 10 in 2012, Ideas del Sur (2013), Ámbito Financiero (2015), La Corte (2015), Pensado Para Televisión (2015), CN23, El Argentino and 50% of Vorterix Rock (2016). It also acquired the Argentine branch of Assicurazioni Generali in 2015. In October 2017 the group was acquired by OP Investments of Ignacio Rosner and renamed Grupo Ceibo. In 2019, federal judge Servini prosecuted businessman Orly Terranova for attempted extortion against Cristóbal López and embargoed 5.1 billion pesos.

The history of Grupo Indalo begins with the López family's migration from southern Spain to Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, in 1958, during the oil boom. In 1966, the family created a business that grew into the largest forage supplier in Patagonia. After the death of his parents in a car accident in 1976, Cristóbal López took over the family business. In 1978, Transportes Cristóbal López SRL began offering solid cargo transport services to firms in Comodoro Rivadavia. In 1983, it won its first tender for liquid cargo transport for YPF, marking its entry into the hydrocarbon industry services sector. In the 1990s, the group diversified. In 1990, it acquired Feadar SA, a Scania representative in Patagonia. In 1991, Transportes Cristóbal López SRL changed its name to Clear SRL. By 1992, the company controlled the city's casino. In 1994, Tsuyoi was formed as the first Toyota dealership in Patagonia. In 1996, Clear SRL was awarded the Cerro Negro area in Chubut province through a national public tender. In 1997, the first land purchases were made in Catamarca province for olive plantations by Promet SA. In 1998, the passenger transport company Indalo S.A. began operating in Neuquén. In 1999, Cristóbal López's companies were integrated to form the Group. In the 2000s, the group expanded further. In 2001, Oil m&s SA was created to provide services to the oil industry. By 2005, it obtained its first oil exploitation areas through national public tender, and Oil Construcciones was spun off. Inversora m&s was born, Indalo extra virgin olive oil began to be bottled, and a table olive processing plant was built in Villa de Pomán, Catamarca. In 2006, the group acquired Álcalis de la Patagonia SAIC, dedicated to sodium carbonate production in Río Negro province, and Indalo S.A. began operating in Plottier. In 2009, it acquired CPC Ingeniería e Infraestructura SA (road, civil and industrial works), Petrolera Cerro Negro SA became the group's oil and gas producer, Urbanizadora Gea SA was created, and Paraná Metal SA (auto parts) in Santa Fe was acquired. In the 2010s, the group made significant media acquisitions. In 2010, Oil Combustibles and its service station network began operating. La Salamandra (dulce de leche and cheeses) joined the group, and it bought FM 98.7 Radio del Mar, Noche Polar magazine, and IGD (Diario El Patagónico and FM 90.3) in Comodoro Rivadavia. It also acquired minutouno.com. On April 26, 2012, C5N news channel and Radio 10 joined the group, previously owned by Grupo Infobae of Daniel Hadad. It also acquired 40% of Canal 9 de Comodoro Rivadavia. In 2013, Establecimiento Santa Elena SA opened a meat processing plant in Gobernador Costa, Chubut, and the group acquired 81% of producer Ideas del Sur. In 2014, the group presented its adaptation to the AFSCA (media law authority) and sold Indalo S.A. passenger transport to Autobuses Santa Fe due to incompatibility between audiovisual licenses and public service provision. In 2015, it acquired 60% of Editorial Amfin S.A. (publisher of Ámbito Financiero), 51% of producer La Corte, 81% of Pensado Para Televisión, and the Argentine branch of Assicurazioni Generali. On February 10, 2016, it confirmed the purchase of CN23 news signal, free newspaper El Argentino, and 50% of Vorterix Rock radio from Grupo Veintitrés of Sergio Szpolski. In October 2017, the group was acquired by OP Investments of Ignacio Rosner and renamed Grupo Ceibo. In 2019, federal judge Servini prosecuted businessman Orly Terranova for attempted extortion against Cristóbal López and embargoed 5.1 billion pesos.

• 2017

  Acquired by OP Investments, renamed Grupo Ceibo

• 2016

  Buys CN23, El Argentino, and 50% of Vorterix Rock from Grupo Veintitrés

• 2015

  Acquires 60% of Editorial Amfin, 51% of La Corte, 81% of Pensado Para Televisión, and Generali Argentina

• 2014

  Presents adaptation to AFSCA; sells Indalo S.A. passenger transport

• 2013

  Acquires 81% of Ideas del Sur; Santa Elena meat plant opens

• 2012

  C5N and Radio 10 join the group; acquires 40% of Canal 9 de Comodoro Rivadavia

• 2010

  Oil Combustibles and service stations begin; acquires La Salamandra, Radio del Mar, Noche Polar, IGD, minutouno.com

• 2009

  Acquires CPC Ingeniería e Infraestructura, Petrolera Cerro Negro, Paraná Metal; creates Urbanizadora Gea

• 2006

  Acquires Álcalis de la Patagonia SAIC; Indalo S.A. operates in Plottier

• 2005

  Oil m&s obtains first oil exploitation areas; Indalo olive oil bottled

• 2001

  Oil m&s SA created for oil industry services

• 1999

  Companies integrated to form Grupo Indalo

• 1998

  Indalo S.A. passenger transport begins operating in Neuquén

• 1997

  First land purchases in Catamarca for olive plantations by Promet SA

• 1996

  Clear SRL awarded Cerro Negro area in Chubut through public tender

• 1994

  Tsuyoi, first Toyota dealership in Patagonia, is formed

• 1992

  Company controls the casino of Comodoro Rivadavia

• 1991

  Transportes Cristóbal López SRL renamed Clear SRL

• 1990

  Acquires Feadar SA, Scania representative in Patagonia

• 1983

  Wins first liquid cargo transport tender for YPF

• 1978

  Transportes Cristóbal López SRL begins solid cargo transport services

• 1976

  Cristóbal López takes over the family business after his parents' death

• 1966

  Family creates a business that becomes the largest forage supplier in Patagonia

• 1958

  López family moves from southern Spain to Comodoro Rivadavia

Diversified Argentine conglomerate with significant presence in media, energy and industrial sectors.

• C5N

• Radio 10

• Oil Combustibles

• Indalo olive oil

• Ámbito Financiero

• Ideas del Sur

1. 1Grupo Indalo - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org
2. 2Grupo Indalo - Wikidatawikidata.org