Note: MPIC was delisted from the PSE on October 9, 2023*
According to Insider, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. has taken over telehealth leader KonsultaMD from the Ayala Group through its subsidiary, Metro Pacific Health Tech Corp. The move will merge KonsultaMD with Metro Pacific’s mWell platform, expanding its reach to millions of new users.
mWell currently serves 3.1 million users across Asia, Africa, and North America, while KonsultaMD has 2.7 million users, boosted by its partnership with Globe Telecom and a strong network of mobile healthcare experts.
Despite healthcare being a core business for Ayala’s AC Health, KonsultaMD was sold as it is owned by 917Ventures, Globe’s investment arm, which strategically buys and sells its portfolio businesses. KonsultaMD began in 2015 as a health hotline and has since grown into a superapp offering 24/7 doctor consultations, diagnostics, medicine delivery, and home care services.
We can guess some reasons for the sale:
- Strategic Focus: Ayala might be streamlining its healthcare investments under AC Health, which focuses more on physical healthcare assets like hospitals and clinics, while KonsultaMD is a digital health platform.
- Capital Allocation: Selling KonsultaMD could provide Ayala with capital to invest in other core ventures or emerging opportunities within its portfolio.
What do you think?
*MPIC was delisted because a consortium of major shareholders sought to take the company private through a tender offer, allowing for greater strategic flexibility, cost savings, and streamlined ownership. They likely believed MPIC was undervalued on the stock market and saw benefits in executing long-term plans without public investor pressures.
