By Shayne Elizabeth T. Flores

Acquiring a majority stake under a P11.43-million investment, Far Eastern University (FEU) is set to expand its ownership in Higher Academia, Inc. (HAI), a Pampanga-based educational institution, to 51 percent.

Per a regulatory filing reported by BusinessWorld, FEU’s Board of Trustees approved the additional equity investment last June 17.

As a result, the University will be allowed to obtain an additional 114,286 common shares in HAI, which will increase its total shares to 2.91 million.

According to FEU, they have yet to sign a definitive subscription agreement, pending the finalization of the transaction.

Prior to the additional investment, FEU shared equal holdings in HAI with MGHI Holdings, Inc. of Unilab, with each investing up to P300 million for a total equity of P600 million last October 2023. 

Subsequently, HAI acquired the assets of Colegio de Sebastian-Pampanga, Inc., a secondary and tertiary school in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Under the same partnership, FEU launched and opened admissions for its Pampanga campus earlier this month.

Currently, the FEU Group of schools consists of eight campuses located across Manila, Makati, Alabang, Diliman, Roosevelt, Cavite, and Pampanga.

Last June 18, FEU shares increased by 6.06 percent, or P48.50 to P848.50.

As of June 27, the shares decreased to P820.

(Photo by Ma. Louela Luna)