Far Eastern University Inc. (FEU) is expanding its footprint in Central Luzon, agreeing to acquire a majority stake in a Bataan-based college for ₱156 million as the education group pursues a broader regional growth strategy.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, FEU said the university, controlled by the Montinola family, entered into a memorandum of agreement to take a 60.34 percent stake in Bataan Peninsula Educational Institution Inc., which operates as the University of Nueva Caceres – Bataan.

The transaction involves a combination of direct share subscriptions and a land acquisition.

Under the terms of the deal, FEU will first acquire 76.92 percent of the land where the school operates for ₱50 million. Simultaneously, the company will subscribe to 39,500 shares in the Bataan institution for ₱106 million.

Following these transactions, FEU and other landowners intend to transfer the property title to the school in exchange for additional equity, ultimately cementing FEU’s 60.34 percent majority ownership.

The Bataan deal is the second major expansion for FEU in the region within the past several months. In October, the company finalized a 51 percent controlling interest in Higher Academia Inc., an educational provider in San Fernando, Pampanga. That acquisition was completed through a ₱11.43 million subscription to 114,286 common shares, bringing FEU’s total holdings in the Pampanga school to 2.91 million shares.

The aggressive expansion comes as FEU navigates a slight dip in profitability despite rising student enrollments. For the first six months of the 2025-2026 academic year, the group reported a three percent decline in net income to ₱635 million, compared with ₱651 million during the same period a year earlier.

The bottom-line pressure stems from a deliberate increase in operating expenses. The university said it has ramped up spending on personnel development, data analytics, and the expansion of new programs across its satellite sites.

While these investments weighed on short-term margins, management noted that revenues rose eight percent during the period, driven by “strong new student intake” and high retention rates among upper-year students. Tuition and miscellaneous fees remain the primary engines of growth.

FEU’s balance sheet remains robust as it integrates these new provincial assets. The company noted that its ancillary services and secondary income streams are performing within targets, allowing it to maintain a disciplined approach to its academic and operational rollout even as it scales its presence outside the capital.