The Covid-19-driven acceleration of the modern economy has sparked M&A activity in the technology, telecommunications, and logistics industries. Similar to this, M&A activity is steadily increasing in the industries of power & energy, transportation, financial services, real estate development, manufacturing, and healthcare. An emphasis on environment, social, and governance (ESG) components, notably on compliance, both historically and prospectively, is a developing trend in the Philippine cross-border M&A market. Enter AlphaPrimus Advisors, a group established in 2017 by veteran investment bankers Manuel R.Salak III (“Manolet”) and Natividad N.Alejo (“Nabbie”), both of which have devoted their last three decades influencing the Philippine M&A scene having been involved in numerous landmark Philippine M&A transactions. The firm takes pride in being socially mindful and aware of the impact it has and continues to make to the Philippine economy. AlphaPrimus has participated in significant Philippine M&A deals that have altered the business landscape of the country and created value for their clientele that spans multiple generations. With an execution team that is dedicated to the Philippines and is on the ground, AlphaPrimus provides a balanced approach to transactions combining decades of cross-border experience with strong local market knowledge and presence.
Unique Advisory Services
The M&A activity in the Asian region is anticipated to continue to be active, despite less favorable macroeconomic conditions including high inflation and rising interest rates. Over the past few years, significant deals have been completed in the Philippines specifically in the fields of banking and finance, telecoms, media, and technology infrastructure. This has been a tailwind for Alpha Primus as it was able to participate in a number of these transactions, including (1) the c.USD350msale of 17.5 percent stake of AC Energy to GIC of Singapore, (2) the c.USD700m purchase by Meralco of 86 percent of Global Business Power Corporation, (3) the recently announced c.USD500m investment in the Cebu Airport by Aboitiz Infra Capital, (4) the recently announced c.USD520m purchase of 2,180 telecom towers of Globe Telecom by MIDC, and (5) most recently, MediCard's announced sale to AIA.
“We are a boutique M&A advisory firm that offers best-in-class mergers & acquisitions advisory to corporate clients, financial institutions, and family offices”, says Alejo. The full range of services offered by Alpha Primus includes equity capital raising, including minority or majority investments to both strategic or financial investors, as well as partial or full divestment. Alpha Primus also handles acquisitions for its clients, either on bilateral or targeted bidding processes. The firm likewise advises on mergers and joint ventures as well provides IPO advisory, valuation review, strategic review, and evaluation of strategic opportunities. The firm has further expanded the scope of its services to include debt advisory by creating a debt team earlier in 2022. As participants in certain industries assess risks and possibilities
and some businesses continue to pursue inorganic expansion aggressively, the Philippine M&A industry is anticipated to continue expanding with easy access to money, supportive regulatory modernization, and an environment with steady politics acting as the major driving forces behind this expansion. What sets AlphaPrimus apart from competition is not just its range of services, but also the company’s customer centricity, its environment, the establishment of social touch points, a societal workplace atmosphere, and its impeccable governance. Clients and relationships come first at AlphaPrimus As a result, the majority of their business comes from repeat clients who appreciate the high quality of their performance and the care they take to provide honest advice. Additionally, no other rival offers the service of having the company's leaders continue to be actively involved in both the deal's genesis and implementation. Senior bankers' participation enables the client company to carry out its strategic goals seamlessly. 
(L-R) : Edmund Solilapsi, Albert Lagtapon, Nabbie Alejo, Manolet Salak, Calvin Chua
The firm has senior management involved both in origination and execution activities resulting in clients benefitting from senior touchpoints that feature strategic advice reinforced by detailed and quality execution, a combination rarely seen in bigger banks where coverage people are not involved in detailed execution activities and where conflicts of interest sometimes arise because the bank is pushing or cross selling other products of the bank. "Former ING Bankers - Calvin Chua, Albert Lagtapon and Edmund Solilapsi were all part of ING Manila's successful Corporate Finance team. Together with Manolet and Nabbie, they now form the core of senior transactors at AlphaPrimus Advisors."
Future Roadmap
AlphaPrimus has developed a well-planned strategy for its future expansion. With a vision to become the preferred M&A advisor for Philippine conglomerates and family offices, and with a mission to give best-in-class M&A advice through the depth and breadth of their knowledge. With regard to the most transformative endeavors, AlphaPrimus aspires to continue offering guidance to its core clients. "We desire to be able to execute more inbound and outbound cross-border exchanges for our clients, increase our partner resources outside of the Philippines, create a solid advisory board made up of seasoned international M&A experts and investment bankers, and establish the AlphaPrimus brand outside of the country”, further adds Salak.
The expansion of their operations into other areas, such as debt advisory and perhaps more IPO advising, is something they are simultaneously envisioning. Manuel R Salak Iii (Manolet) (R) Natividad N. Alejo (Nabbie) (L) Manolet returned to the Philippines after 10 years in Singapore where he was Head of Asia for Coverage and Mergers and Acquisitions encompassing 14 countries. Prior to that, Manolet was formerly the Country Manager of ING Bank Philippines where he led the branch in winning Best Investment Bank in the Philippines and M&A House in the Philippines from various finance publications for multiple years. All of AP's consulting engagements to date have been overseen by him.
What sets alphaprimus apart From competition is not just its Range of services, but also the Company’s customer centricity, its Environment, the establishment Of social touch points, a societal Workplace atmosphere, and its Impeccable governance
Natividad N. Alejo (Nabbie): Nabbie brings more than 30 years of banking experience to the table. She previously oversaw BPI's retail banking division as president and chief executive officer of BPI Family Savings Bank, former chairman of BPI Direct Banko, former president of BPI Capital and BPI Securities, and former president of the Investment House Association of the Philippines. Nabbie oversaw M&A for BPI's major investments including bank acquisitions and industrial investments.
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