Razon, Gokongwei lead group taking over AB Capital

A group of business tycoons, including Enrique Razon Jr. and Lance Gokongwei and Christopher Po, have invested in local investment house AB Capital & Investment Corp., which is positioning to become a major capital market player.

In an email blast to clients on Tuesday, AB Capital’s stock brokerage unit announced that the group was now under the control and management of The Campden Hill Group, a privately held investment holding company.

It was earlier reported by Biz Buzz that the new investor group had been assembled by veteran stocks analyst-turned fund manager Antonio “Anton” Jose Periquet.

The Gaisano group’s Vicsal Investment Inc. remains a minority shareholder and partner of the new group, the advisory said.

Periquet is now chair of AB Capital, while Gokongwei, Po and Razon will join Periquet on the board, along with Frank Gaisano, Michael Zalamea and Lamberto Santos Jr.

At the level of stock brokerage subsidiary AB Capital Securities Inc., which Zalamea will chair, Luis Miguel Aboitiz, Juan Kevin Belmonte and Mariana Ongpin will join Santos, Elena Morris and Ericson Wee on the board.

“Please be assured that all operations will continue uninterrupted. In the meantime, stay tuned for a new, sharper and more rewarding trading experience,” AB Capital said.

With the powerhouse of investors, AB Capital is seen to become a key player in Philippine corporate deal-making.

Periquet started his career doing equity research, sales and trading for several firms in London, eventually joining Deutsche Bank as head of the Asian Equities desk. In 2000, he established Deutsche Regis Partners Inc., a joint-venture with Deutsche Bank, which became the largest stockbroker in the Philippines.

After his retirement, he set up his own investment management firm and was invited to sit on the board of several listed companies.