Werthein Group

Werthein Group, also known as Grupo Werthein, is an Argentine family-controlled holding and investment group whose origins lie in agriculture and livestock. The group formally dates its business history to 1928, when Gregorio, Numo and Noel Werthein established Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A. in Miguel Riglos, La Pampa. The enterprise developed from a rural trading and agricultural base into a diversified business platform with activities in agribusiness, financial services, insurance, food and beverages, real estate, healthcare, telecommunications, media, entertainment and technology. The Werthein family’s Argentine history began earlier. Leon Werthein, a merchant from Bessarabia, immigrated to Argentina in the early twentieth century with his wife, Ana Jajam, and their children. After working in the port of Ingeniero White, he operated general stores in Salliqueló and later Miguel Riglos. His sons continued expanding the family’s commercial activities. The family entered financial services in 1963 through the acquisition of Banco Mercantil, an important step in the development of the group’s later investment orientation. Agribusiness remains a foundational activity. Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A. produces and exports agricultural and livestock products, with a particular emphasis on commercial cattle and genetic improvement. Its cattle operations include Aberdeen Angus and Hereford in the Pampas region and Braford and Brangus in northern Argentina. The group has operated recognized breeding establishments including Cabaña La Paz in Buenos Aires Province and Cabaña Los Guasunchos in Santa Fe Province. Beginning in the late twentieth century and accelerating from 2003, the group broadened its portfolio. It acquired telecommunications operations in Uruguay and Paraguay in 2003 and retained them until 2017. In 2021, it acquired Vrio Corp., a digital entertainment and connectivity business associated with the DirecTV and SKY brands and the DGO streaming service. Through Vrio, the group operates or supports satellite television, streaming, sports media, news, connectivity and content-production activities across South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The media technology portfolio includes DirecTV Latin America, SKY Brasil, DGO, SKY+, Torneos and several thematic or sports channels. Other consumer-facing businesses include Cachamai, a producer of tea, yerba mate, biscuits and other packaged food products; Valley, which produces dehydrated fruit products; and WHT Partners, whose wine interests include the Riglos and Huarpe brands. The group also operates through Landmark Developments in real estate, SOI Centro Médico and Sistema Médico Laboral in occupational healthcare, and Experta and La Estrella in insurance and retirement products. Technology investments include Fivvy, a business-to-business financial technology company serving financial institutions, retailers and insurers. The group remains controlled by members of the Werthein family. Family members including Daniel, Adrián and Darío Werthein have held ownership, governance or operating roles, while a younger generation including Gregorio, Lucas and Andrés has participated in the group’s direction. Public descriptions characterize the organization as employing more than 8,200 direct collaborators and maintaining a network of approximately 35,000 partners in the region. Its strategy combines long-term family ownership with acquisitions, sector diversification and the development of operating businesses in industries linked to consumption, infrastructure, information and services.

The Werthein family’s business history in Argentina began with Leon Werthein, who emigrated from Bessarabia to escape hostility toward Jewish communities. After arriving in Argentina, he worked at the port of Ingeniero White and later established general stores in Salliqueló and Miguel Riglos. His sons continued the commercial enterprise, creating the basis for a family business that would later span production, finance and services. The formal origin of the Werthein Group is generally placed in 1928, when Gregorio, Numo and Noel Werthein founded Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A. in Miguel Riglos. The company focused on agriculture and livestock, sectors that remained central to the family’s activities. During the first half of the twentieth century, members of the family also diversified into hotels in destinations including Mar del Plata, Carhué and Río Hondo. The family entered banking in 1963 when Julio Werthein was involved in the acquisition of Banco Mercantil. This transaction established a financial dimension that became important to the group’s long-term identity. Julio later served as president of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange from 2002 to 2005 and held leadership roles in business organizations. Other family members developed the agricultural side. Leo Werthein took responsibility for GNNW in 1979 and contributed to the development of cattle genetics, while also holding leadership positions in agricultural and civic institutions. During the final decades of the twentieth century, the third and fourth generations combined the group’s production businesses with service-sector investments. Insurance became a significant activity during the 1990s. The group worked for approximately fifteen years with the Italian insurer Assicurazioni Generali; following the dissolution of that partnership in 2014, the group retained assets including La Caja ART and later expanded its occupational-risk insurance position through the acquisition of QBE ART, which became Experta ART. Diversification accelerated in the twenty-first century. In 2003, the group acquired Telecom Personal operations in Uruguay and Paraguay, retaining them until 2017. In food and beverages, it acquired Cachay S.A., owner of Cachamai, in 2004. Cachamai subsequently broadened from its established infusion and yerba mate business into biscuits and other health-oriented packaged products. In premium wine, the group developed WHT Partners and participated in the Riglos and Huarpe brands. Bodega Riglos and Huarpe Wines combined their businesses in 2016, creating a broader boutique-wine platform. Real estate, healthcare and technology became additional pillars. Landmark Developments undertook projects in Argentina and other countries in the region. SOI Centro Médico provides ambulatory and occupational medical services, while Sistema Médico Laboral manages occupational-health services through a large provider network. Fivvy added a business-to-business technology operation focused on customer and competitor intelligence for banks, retailers and insurers. The largest recent strategic move was the acquisition of Vrio Corp. in 2021. Vrio brought the group a regional media and connectivity ecosystem built around DirecTV in several Latin American markets, SKY in Brazil, DGO streaming, sports-content producer Torneos and associated channels and broadband businesses. The group subsequently pursued further technology and connectivity opportunities, including a Brazilian fintech initiative and a planned satellite-internet partnership with Amazon. Ownership and governance remain concentrated among the Werthein family. Daniel, Adrián and Darío Werthein are identified as principal shareholders, while members of the succeeding generation have taken part in governance. The group’s present profile is that of a diversified family holding company: agricultural production and Argentine institutional ties remain part of its heritage, while media technology, connectivity, insurance, healthcare, consumer goods and regional investments provide its modern operating reach.

• 2021

  Acquisition of Vrio Corp.

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group acquired Vrio Corp., adding DirecTV, SKY Brasil, DGO and related media and connectivity operations.

• 2016

  Riglos and Huarpe wine businesses combine

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Bodega Riglos merged with Huarpe Wines to expand the group’s boutique-wine platform.

• 2014

  Insurance partnership with Generali ends

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s partnership with Assicurazioni Generali was dissolved and its retained insurance assets were reorganized.

• 2004

  Cachamai joins the group

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group acquired Cachay S.A., owner of the Cachamai food and infusion brand.

• 2003

  Telecommunications expansion

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group acquired Telecom Personal operations in Uruguay and Paraguay.

• 1979

  Leo Werthein assumes agricultural leadership

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Leo Werthein began managing GNNW and helped develop the group’s livestock genetics activities.

• 1963

  Entry into banking

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The family acquired Banco Mercantil, marking a major expansion into financial services.

• 1928

  Formal foundation of the family enterprise

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Gregorio, Numo and Noel Werthein founded Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A., establishing the group’s agricultural foundation.

• 1917

  Family general store established in Miguel Riglos

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Leon Werthein and his sons opened a general store in Miguel Riglos, La Pampa.

• 1904

  Leon Werthein immigrates to Argentina

  [1]Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Leon Werthein left Bessarabia and began the family’s Argentine commercial history.

A diversified, family-controlled Latin American investment group that combines traditional Argentine agribusiness and financial roots with consumer brands, insurance, healthcare, real estate and regional media-technology platforms.

• Agribusiness · 1928

  Gregorio, Numo y Noel Werthein S.A.

  The group’s foundational agricultural company produces and exports value-added agricultural and livestock products. Its principal specialization is cattle production and genetics, including Aberdeen Angus and Hereford in the Pampas and Braford and Brangus in northern Argentina. Its breeding establishments include Cabaña La Paz and Cabaña Los Guasunchos.

• Satellite television and media

  DirecTV

  DirecTV provides paid television, entertainment and information services in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Caribbean markets. It forms part of the group’s regional media-technology ecosystem through Vrio Corp.

• Streaming

  DGO

  DGO is a direct-to-consumer streaming platform offering live local and international television, sports, news and on-demand movies, series and documentaries. It operates across much of the DirecTV footprint and also serves Mexico.

• Pay television and streaming

  SKY and SKY+

  SKY is the group’s Brazilian pay-television business, while SKY+ provides a direct-to-consumer streaming proposition. Together they extend the Vrio portfolio into Brazil’s television and digital-entertainment markets.

• Sports media and events

  Torneos

  Torneos produces sports and entertainment content and works across event organization, rights acquisition and commercialization, licensing and e-commerce for sports clubs and federations, particularly in Argentina and Colombia.

• Food and beverages

  Cachamai

  Cachamai is known for digestive infusions and also sells tea, yerba mate, biscuits and other packaged foods. The brand expanded into healthier biscuit products in 2020 and later broadened its range with fruit-based snacks and cereal products.

• Fruit products

  Valley

  Valley produces and commercializes dehydrated fruit derivatives, especially apple-based products, from a facility in Argentina’s Alto Valle region. Its products are sold domestically and exported, with the United States and Europe identified as important markets.

• Premium wine

  Riglos and Huarpe

  Through WHT Partners, the group participates in premium wine production, marketing and tourism experiences. Riglos operates from Finca Las Divas in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, while Huarpe offers wines including the Huarpe Series and Taymente ranges.

• Insurance

  Experta

  Experta includes Experta Seguros and Experta ART, with coverage spanning occupational risks, collective life, personal accident, theft, agriculture, home, automobile and other property and life-insurance products across Argentina.

• Healthcare

  SOI Centro Médico and SML

  SOI Centro Médico provides ambulatory and occupational medical services in Buenos Aires. Sistema Médico Laboral manages occupational-health services through a large provider network supporting workers covered by Argentina’s occupational-risk system.

• Financial technology

  Fivvy

  Fivvy is a business-to-business fintech serving banks, retailers and insurers in Latin America and the United States. Its proposition centers on helping clients understand customers, markets and competitors.

• 2025

  Expand satellite connectivity through Amazon partnershipProduct launch

  Background

  The group aimed to extend broadband access to rural and hard-to-reach areas in South America.

  Action taken

  The group partnered with Amazon to support satellite-internet services using Project Kuiper infrastructure in several Latin American countries.

  Aftermath

  The plan was intended to add satellite broadband to the group’s existing television, streaming and connectivity activities.

  Source

• 2024

  Create SKX fintech in BrazilStrategy

  Background

  The group continued to expand its technology and financial-services activities in Latin America.

  Action taken

  Grupo Werthein announced the creation of SKX, a fintech intended to operate in Brazil.

  Aftermath

  The initiative broadened the group’s technology portfolio, although detailed operating results were not provided.

  Source

• 2021

  Acquire Vrio Corp. and build a regional media platformM&A

  Background

  The group sought to diversify beyond its historical agricultural, financial and insurance activities into digital entertainment, sports media and connectivity.

  Action taken

  Werthein Group acquired Vrio Corp., including businesses associated with DirecTV, SKY Brasil, DGO and Torneos.

  Aftermath

  The transaction made media technology and regional connectivity central components of the group’s portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Werthein Groupen.wikipedia.org