Ayala forays into courier, freight forwarding services

Ayala Corp., the country’s oldest conglomerate, is making its foray into courier and freight forwarding services.

In a disclosure, Ayala said its wholly owned infrastructure arm, AC Infrastructure Holdings, formed a holding company with Zalora-affiliate Brillant 1257 GmbH & Co. Vierte Verwaltungs Kg. that will serve as its investment vehicle “for future initiatives relating to courier and freight forwarding services.”

“AC Infra holds 60 percent equity interest in the said holding company, while Brillant holds 40 percent equity interest,” Ayala said.

Brillant is a corporation duly-organized under the laws of Germany.

The move bodes well for the mammoth conglomerate which, in recent years, already made its foray into e-commerce through its acquisition of Zalora.

Last year, the Ayala Group acquired a 49 percent stake in online fashion retailer Zalora Philippines, marking its

entry into the e-commerce space.

Specifically, Ayala Corp. inked a deal with BF Jade E-Service Philippines, which owns Zalora Philippines, the country’s largest online fashion platform.

The acquisition is part of Ayala’s strategy to invest in new disruptive businesses that provide innovative solutions to evolving markets. It recognizes e-commerce as a unique growth channel that complements its existing businesses.

Ayala Land Inc., meanwhile, has acquired a 63.9 percent stake in Prime Orion, which is into industrial leasing.

Prime Orion is behind the 460-hectare Laguna Technopark and the 14-hectare Lepanto warehouse in Calamba, Laguna.

This new phase of Laguna Technopark,which will be used solely for warehouse and logistics facilities, will generate over 50,000 square meters in gross leasable area.

Prime Orion is banking on the growth of logistics on the back of growing demand for warehouses and other industrial hubs that can service a wide range of businesses – from imported cars to food.