NOW Telecom Company, Inc. (NOW Tel) has secured Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval for its corporate restructuring to increase its authorized capital stock and quasi-reorganizate its equity to wipe out its deficit, the company announced Tuesday, April 26.
As a result of the approved application, NOW Tel increased the number of its authorized common shares from 14.59 million to 952.09 million and lowered its par value from P100.00 per share to P1.00 per share.

In June last year, the stockholders of NOW Corp approved the increase of the company’s stake in NOW Tel, for P600 million, which were part of the proceeds from the placement received from the equity subscription of Velarde, Inc. to NOW Corp.
The additional subscription from NOW Corp and other shareholders supported the increase in authorized capital stock of NOW Tel.
In addition, the SEC also certified the approval of the equity restructuring to fully wipe out NOW Tel’s deficit as of December 31, 2020.
The quasi-reorganization allowed NOW Tel to eliminate its deficit so the company can declare dividends to its shareholders from its unrestricted retained earnings.
“This strategic initiative of NOW Tel is envisioned to support its growth plans," according to Rene L. Rosales, NOW Telecom president and COO.
"The three-step equity restructuring better positions NOW Tel for investors both domestic and foreign to participate in its equity," he noted.
"With the amended Public Services Act allowing up to 100 percent foreign ownership in public utility companies and this recent approval from SEC, NOW Tel can now proceed in its growth plans starting with its fundraising efforts including but not limited to tapping either the debt market or equity market, or both,” Rosales explained.
On February 22, 2018, President Roa Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Republic Act. No. 10972, extending NOW Tel’s franchise for another 25 years, until 2043.
In March this year, NOW Tel scored another win as it received a favorable ruling from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
ARTA reiterated its earlier resolution declaring the completeness of NOW Tel’s application and its order to assign the spectrum ranging from 1970Mhz-1980Mhz paired with 2160Mhz to 2170Mhz and 3.6Ghz and to 3.8Ghz, including 5G frequencies for mobile and fixed wireless.