Tanco, who also owns Asian Terminals and the STI chain of private schools, acquired 63.12 million DigiPlus shares on Feb. 27 at P16.40 each, raising his personal holdings to about 16 percent after buying another 1.4 percent stake.
At the current price of P16.10 each, his shares are worth P11.64 billion.
Management’s view
“DigiPlus is entering an exciting phase of growth. We have built market-leading platforms anchored on responsible innovation, disciplined execution, and long-term growth,” Tanco said in a statement on Monday.
“I firmly believe in our ability to capture the significant opportunities ahead and deliver enduring value to our shareholders. The fundamentals of the digital entertainment industry remain strong, and DigiPlus is well-positioned to lead,” he added.
Analysts’ view
“The share buybacks should signal management’s positive conviction on future performance as they see a sizeable undervaluation from where the stock price is right now,” said Shawn Atienza, AP Securities research analyst.
Another industry insider said PLUS is undervalued at below 5 times price-to-earnings (P/E), versus about 10.4 times for the broader PSE index.
A lower P/E can signal undervaluation, while a higher P/E may suggest a stock is expensive relative to its profits.
Tanco closes deal with major PLUS holder
Tanco’s purchase coincided with a significant selldown by Clearspring Holdings Corp., a related shareholder that offloaded 113.12 million DigiPlus shares at P16.40 on the same date.
The disposal reduced Clearspring’s stake from 7.31 percent to about 4.81 percent.
The synchronized filings indicate Tanco took up a portion of the Clearspring block, with the balance placed to other buyers not disclosed.
PLUS shares have gained about 15 percent over the past month, but the stock is trading significantly lower from its 2025 peak of over P65 per share as the industry prepares for new online gambling rules.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
