Spain's largest developer Metrovacesa said its management board has approved the proposal to split up the group by the end of the year. Under the plan agreed by Metrovacesa's majority shareholders, Rivero and his investor partner Bautista Soler will become 'reference shareholders' of France's Gecina, in which Metrovacesa holds a 68% stake, while the Sanahujas will increase their holding in Metrovacesa.

Spain's largest developer Metrovacesa said its management board has approved the proposal to split up the group by the end of the year. Under the plan agreed by Metrovacesa's majority shareholders, Rivero and his investor partner Bautista Soler will become 'reference shareholders' of France's Gecina, in which Metrovacesa holds a 68% stake, while the Sanahujas will increase their holding in Metrovacesa.

Gecina said in a press release that 'there are not enough details in the plan to sort out what the specific implications are for the company.' Gecina is planning to appoint a well-known merchant bank to assist it during the transition process. The French company said the splitting up of Metrovacesa will not impact on Gecina's new residential subsidiary Resico.

Meanwhile, Metrovacesa's majority shareholders are demanding that the company be de-listed while it carries out its plan to split its assets into two separate entities, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported, citing a statement from a minority shareholders' association (Aemec). However, CNMV's president Manuel Conthe said that 'is not the most logic solution,' and added he will comment on the plan 'as soon as possible,' El Pais reported.