Global investment firm acquires 5% stake in URC

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May 30, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Global investment firm The Capital Group Companies Inc. (CGC) has acquired a five percent stake in Gokongwei-led food and beverage firm Universal Robina Corp. (URC).

A disclosure by the group, through its secretary Christopher Burt, said CGC management companies have purchased 108.11 million shares in URC equivalent to 5.05 percent.

The shares were purchased between May 2, 2025 and May 20, 2025 at a price ranging from P84.09 to P92.46 per share.

A total of 107.36 million shares, or 5.02 percent, were bought by Capital Research and Management Co. (CRMC), while Capital International Sarl purchased 749,450 shares, or 0.03 percent.

CGC is the parent company of CRMC, a US-based investment company that serves as investment manager to the American Funds family of mutual funds, other pooled investment vehicles and individual and institutional clients.

CRMC is the parent company of Capital Group International Inc., which in turn is the parent firm of six investment management companies including Capital International Sarl.

“In their capacity as investment advisers, the following CGC management companies have investment and/or voting discretion in the common stock of Universal Robina Corp.,” the group said.

“Neither CGC nor any of its affiliates own shares of the issuer for its account. Rather, the shares reported are owned by accounts under the discretionary investment management of one or more of the investment management companies that make up CGC,” it said.

As of end-2024, Capital Group manages over $2.8 trillion in equity and fixed-income assets for millions of individuals and institutional investors worldwide.

In the Philippines, URC produces iconic brands such as Great Taste, C2 Cool & Clean, Piattos, Maxx candy and Cream-O cookies, which have been part of Filipinos’ lives for decades.

As one of the country’s largest food and beverage manufacturers, URC also has a significant and growing presence in ASEAN.