Corporate

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., one of Southeast Asia’s leading integrated property developers, is expanding its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) footprint with the launch of the SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibitions (SMXCITE)—a P1.7 billion investment that is expected to elevate Manila’s status as a regional trade event hub.

Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) reported a sharp 73 percent decline in first-quarter net income to ₱13.4 million from ₱50.3 million year-on-year, as the company absorbed higher non-cash expenses tied to its ongoing expansion program.

Manila Water Co. Inc. announced Tuesday that its ₱13-million wastewater recovery upgrade at the Cardona Water Treatment Plant in Rizal is set for completion by September, a move that promises long-term benefits for consumers through enhanced water sustainability and improved service reliability.

Irradiation Solutions Inc. (ISI), a subsidiary of publicly listed A Brown Co., has acquired a 35 percent stake in Accudata Analytical Labs Corp. for ₱12.5 million, aiming to strengthen its presence in microbiological testing and integrated safety services across key industries.

As fraudulent investment schemes become more sophisticated, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and BDO Foundation have strengthened their collaboration to help protect the investing public through an educational campaign aimed at improving financial vigilance.