GT Capital diversifying into healthcare, renewables

MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. is exploring opportunities to diversify into new business segments, but the company said any investment outside of its current business portfolio would still take time to materialize.

“Our priorities have always been to invest in the value chain opportunities related to our core businesses,” GT Capital president Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista told The STAR.

“Diversifying outside our competencies therefore will take time,” he said.

Bautista said expanding GT Capital’s portfolio outside its existing competencies would also require a strategic partner who knows the business.

“The decision to invest in any non-core sector is still very much in the exploratory stage,” he said.

GT Capital has interests in market-leading businesses in banking; automotive assembly, importation, distribution, and financing; property development; life and general insurance; and infrastructure and utilities.

Among the areas currently being looked for potential investments by the listed holding company of the Ty Group include healthcare and renewable energy.

Bautista told The STAR in an interview last year that a potential return to the power business is being looked at by the group “opportunistically.”

“Now, it’s mostly renewables but we’re not that familiar with the sector so we’re studying it,” he said.

GT Capital exited the power business several years ago when it sold a majority stake in Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC), a major power player in Visayas.

Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) back in 2016 acquired a 56 percent stake in GBPC following a strategic alliance with GT Capital.

GT Capital then entered as a strategic investor in MPIC, acquiring a 15.6 percent stake.

At present, GT Capital owns small stake in Cebu-based Vivant Corp., a listed holding and management company with interests in infrastructure development, mainly but not limited to various segments of the power value chain, to fulfill its mission of bringing excellence to industries that improve everyday living.