The Philippines’ influential business families

The Philippines’ business world is dominated by a handful of influential business families that have stakes in almost every aspect of the economy, from energy and media to real estate and manufacturing.

For prospective investors eyeing the Philippines, it would be more than wise to examine the intricate webs these families have woven across the archipelago.

From the billionaire Chinese immigrant Henry Sy, the country’s richest person, to the homegrown Cebuano Aboitiz family, below is a list of the business elite you can’t afford not to know.

 

henry-sy
Henry Sy

The Sy Family

Headed by the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, the Sy Family runs SM Investments, the country’s largest company, which is also the largest mall developer. The Chinese Filipino family originating from Fujian, China also has interests in management, real estate development, banking and tourism.

Net worth: $13.2 billion (2013)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
SM Investments (recently merged all real estate assets) Retail, property development, banking, tourism 67
SM Prime Holdings Real Estate 100
Banco De Oro (largest loan portfolio) Finance 31.45
Bell Corporation Real Estate / Gaming 100

Heads: Henry Sy

Key people: Teresita Sy-Coson (successor)

 

Oscar-M.-Lopez
Oscar M. Lopez

The Lopez Family

Hailing from Iloilo, the Lopez family runs the Lopez Group, the umbrella under which its flagship company Lopez Holdings acts as a major player in the country’s utilities and telecommunications sectors.

Net worth: $6.67 billion, Lopez Group of Companies (2013)

Key holdings: 

Company Sector Stake (%)
Lopez Holdings Investment 52.8
ABS-CBN Corp (largest media conglomerate) Broadcast Media 60.3
Sky Vision Corp Broadcast Media 33.1
Bayan Telecommunications Telecom 47.3
First Philippine Holdings Company (subsidiaries are largest producers of renewable energy) Energy 46.6
Meralco (largest power distributor) Power Distribution 33.4
Rockwell Corporation(recently announced first Cebu expansion) Real Estate 87.2

Heads: Oscar M. Lopez and Manuel M. Lopez (brothers)

Key people: Eugenio Gabby L. Lopez III, Federico Rufino Lopez

 

John-Gokongwei-01
John Gongkowei

The Gongkowei Family

With origins from Fujian, China, John Gokongwei and his family have holdings in telecommunications, financial services, petrochemicals, power generation, aviation and live stock farming. Most notable of recent, Gokongwei’s Robinsons Retail Group is planning a highly anticipated IPO sometime in 2013.

Net worth: $3.2 billion (2012)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
JG Summit Investment 68.45
Robinsons Retail Group (planning IPO) Retail 100
Robinsons Land Real Estate 61
Robinsons Bank Finance 70.8
Cebu Pacific Air Aviation 67.2
Universal Robina Consumer Goods 60.6
PLDT (largest company by market cap) Telecom 8

Heads: John Gokongwei

Key people: Lance Gokongwei (Cebu Pacific), Ms. Robina Gokongwei-Pe (Robinsons Retail Group)

 

jaime-augusto-zobel-de-ayala
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

The Ayala Family

The Ayala’s influence in the Philippines dates back to colonial rule, when the Spanish and German Ayala, Zobel and Roxas families were united. Ayala is the country’s oldest and largest conglomerate. However, their history has resulted in the spreading out of their investments across a multitude of industries, including retail, real estate, banking, telecommunications, water infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, and business process outsourcing.

Net income: $2.9 billion, Ayala Corporation (2012)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
Ayala Corporation Investment 51.15
Ayala Land (largest property developer) Real Estate 50.4
Bank of the Philippine Islands (largest bank in terms of market cap) Finance 44
Globe Telecom (second largest telecom company) Telcom 30.4
Manila Water Company Utilities 42.9
LiveIt Investments BPO and IT 100
AG Holdings Real Estate 100
AG Energy Holdings Energy 100

Head: Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

Key people: Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Mercedita S. Nolledo

 

 

Jon-Ramon-Aboitiz
Jon Ramon Aboitiz

The Aboitiz Family

Descending from the Basque country in Spain, the Aboitiz family of Cebu is a large power producer, with stakes in renewable and conventional energy in Mindanao through its flagship Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Bukidnon Hydropower Corp. The Aboitiz family is considered the most aggressive private developer of energy on Mindanao.

Net worth: $1.52 billion (2013)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
Aboitiz Power Corporation Energy 76
Union Bank Finance 43.3
Pilmico Food Corporation Food Producer 100
AEV Aviation Aviation 100

Head: Jon Ramon Aboitiz

Key people: Mikel Aboitiz, Roberto Aboitiz, Erramon I. Aboitiz



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The Philippines’ business world is dominated by a handful of influential business families that have stakes in almost every aspect of the economy, from energy and media to real estate and manufacturing. For prospective investors eyeing the Philippines, it would be more than wise to examine the intricate webs these families have woven across the archipelago. From the billionaire Chinese immigrant Henry Sy, the country’s richest person, to the homegrown Cebuano Aboitiz family, below is a list of the business elite you can’t afford not to know.   [caption id="attachment_9933" align="alignleft" width="114"] Henry Sy[/caption] The Sy Family Headed by the...

The Philippines’ business world is dominated by a handful of influential business families that have stakes in almost every aspect of the economy, from energy and media to real estate and manufacturing.

For prospective investors eyeing the Philippines, it would be more than wise to examine the intricate webs these families have woven across the archipelago.

From the billionaire Chinese immigrant Henry Sy, the country’s richest person, to the homegrown Cebuano Aboitiz family, below is a list of the business elite you can’t afford not to know.

 

henry-sy
Henry Sy

The Sy Family

Headed by the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, the Sy Family runs SM Investments, the country’s largest company, which is also the largest mall developer. The Chinese Filipino family originating from Fujian, China also has interests in management, real estate development, banking and tourism.

Net worth: $13.2 billion (2013)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
SM Investments (recently merged all real estate assets) Retail, property development, banking, tourism 67
SM Prime Holdings Real Estate 100
Banco De Oro (largest loan portfolio) Finance 31.45
Bell Corporation Real Estate / Gaming 100

Heads: Henry Sy

Key people: Teresita Sy-Coson (successor)

 

Oscar-M.-Lopez
Oscar M. Lopez

The Lopez Family

Hailing from Iloilo, the Lopez family runs the Lopez Group, the umbrella under which its flagship company Lopez Holdings acts as a major player in the country’s utilities and telecommunications sectors.

Net worth: $6.67 billion, Lopez Group of Companies (2013)

Key holdings: 

Company Sector Stake (%)
Lopez Holdings Investment 52.8
ABS-CBN Corp (largest media conglomerate) Broadcast Media 60.3
Sky Vision Corp Broadcast Media 33.1
Bayan Telecommunications Telecom 47.3
First Philippine Holdings Company (subsidiaries are largest producers of renewable energy) Energy 46.6
Meralco (largest power distributor) Power Distribution 33.4
Rockwell Corporation(recently announced first Cebu expansion) Real Estate 87.2

Heads: Oscar M. Lopez and Manuel M. Lopez (brothers)

Key people: Eugenio Gabby L. Lopez III, Federico Rufino Lopez

 

John-Gokongwei-01
John Gongkowei

The Gongkowei Family

With origins from Fujian, China, John Gokongwei and his family have holdings in telecommunications, financial services, petrochemicals, power generation, aviation and live stock farming. Most notable of recent, Gokongwei’s Robinsons Retail Group is planning a highly anticipated IPO sometime in 2013.

Net worth: $3.2 billion (2012)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
JG Summit Investment 68.45
Robinsons Retail Group (planning IPO) Retail 100
Robinsons Land Real Estate 61
Robinsons Bank Finance 70.8
Cebu Pacific Air Aviation 67.2
Universal Robina Consumer Goods 60.6
PLDT (largest company by market cap) Telecom 8

Heads: John Gokongwei

Key people: Lance Gokongwei (Cebu Pacific), Ms. Robina Gokongwei-Pe (Robinsons Retail Group)

 

jaime-augusto-zobel-de-ayala
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

The Ayala Family

The Ayala’s influence in the Philippines dates back to colonial rule, when the Spanish and German Ayala, Zobel and Roxas families were united. Ayala is the country’s oldest and largest conglomerate. However, their history has resulted in the spreading out of their investments across a multitude of industries, including retail, real estate, banking, telecommunications, water infrastructure, renewable energy, electronics, information technology, and business process outsourcing.

Net income: $2.9 billion, Ayala Corporation (2012)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
Ayala Corporation Investment 51.15
Ayala Land (largest property developer) Real Estate 50.4
Bank of the Philippine Islands (largest bank in terms of market cap) Finance 44
Globe Telecom (second largest telecom company) Telcom 30.4
Manila Water Company Utilities 42.9
LiveIt Investments BPO and IT 100
AG Holdings Real Estate 100
AG Energy Holdings Energy 100

Head: Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

Key people: Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Mercedita S. Nolledo

 

 

Jon-Ramon-Aboitiz
Jon Ramon Aboitiz

The Aboitiz Family

Descending from the Basque country in Spain, the Aboitiz family of Cebu is a large power producer, with stakes in renewable and conventional energy in Mindanao through its flagship Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Bukidnon Hydropower Corp. The Aboitiz family is considered the most aggressive private developer of energy on Mindanao.

Net worth: $1.52 billion (2013)

Key holdings:

Company Sector Stake (%)
Aboitiz Power Corporation Energy 76
Union Bank Finance 43.3
Pilmico Food Corporation Food Producer 100
AEV Aviation Aviation 100

Head: Jon Ramon Aboitiz

Key people: Mikel Aboitiz, Roberto Aboitiz, Erramon I. Aboitiz



Support ASEAN news

Investvine has been a consistent voice in ASEAN news for more than a decade. From breaking news to exclusive interviews with key ASEAN leaders, we have brought you factual and engaging reports – the stories that matter, free of charge.

Like many news organisations, we are striving to survive in an age of reduced advertising and biased journalism. Our mission is to rise above today’s challenges and chart tomorrow’s world with clear, dependable reporting.

Support us now with a donation of your choosing. Your contribution will help us shine a light on important ASEAN stories, reach more people and lift the manifold voices of this dynamic, influential region.

 

 

3 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for this. This really helps in my discussion in MANAGING A FAMILY BUSINESS for my Entrepreneurial Class. God bless 🙂

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