Corporate

Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), announced plans on Thursday to acquire the Franklin Baker Group of Companies, which will significantly expand its industry footprint and reinforce its leadership in the country's food-grade coconut export sector.

Phinma Education Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Phinma Corp., reported an 11 percent surge in student enrollment this academic year, reaching 163,000 students—up from 146,474. The increase solidifies its position as Southeast Asia’s largest private education network focused on underserved communities.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC), one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates, announced that its power unit, San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp., has finally acquired a long-contested 3.9 percent stake in Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), nearly two decades after first attempting the deal.

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has appealed to legislators for a fair and rational approach in assessing the online gaming industry, stressing the need to distinguish between legal operators and illicit activities.

The First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), a special economic zone developed by the Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corp. and Japan’s Sumitomo Corp., along with 17 of its locators, emerged as top contributors to Tanauan City’s 2024 tax revenue program, reinforcing the ecozone’s critical role in the city’s economic and fiscal development.