THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) remains hopeful that at least eight initial public offerings will be conducted in 2018 despite the year’s being nearly half over. “Hindi kami nawawalan ng pag-asa (We have not lost hope),” he said, adding that this extends to the bourse’s bid to take control of Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDS Group). With regard to the PDS purchase, Monzon said the PSE remained interested despite reports that it was dropping its bid given a challenge from state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines. The PSE declined to renew share purchase agreements inked with a majority of PDS’ shareholders after it failed to clear regulatory hurdles. He also acknowledged receipt of Landbank’s offer to purchase the PSE’s existing 21-percent stake in PDS.

Source: Manila Times May 06, 2018 16:41 UTC