Ayala Corp., the Philippines’ oldest conglomerate, signaled a more aggressive stance on regional partnerships and capital raising as it moves into 2026, following a year characterized by a pivot toward global joint ventures and specialized infrastructure funding.

The Zobel family-led holding company spent much of 2025 diversifying its portfolio through a series of alliances with international firms, aiming to leverage local market expertise against foreign capital and technical proficiency.

Cezar Consing, Ayala Corp. president and chief executive officer described the period as one of “historic firsts” driven by a strategy to create a more integrated ecosystem across the group’s various business units.

Consing noted that the firm enters the new year with a mandate to support the country’s long-term economic expansion while scaling its emerging sectors.

Retail and logistics emerged as primary drivers for the group’s expansion strategy. Ayala secured a partnership with United Arab Emirates-based supermarket operator Spinneys to launch the brand’s first locations outside the Gulf region.

The move was followed by a memorandum with Thailand’s CP AXTRA, the operator of Makro and Lotus’s, to explore co-investments in wholesale and e-commerce. This collaboration effectively facilitates the return of the Makro brand to the Philippine market, integrated within Ayala’s existing mall and retail infrastructure.

In the industrial space, the conglomerate moved to institutionalize its logistics and healthcare arms. Denmark’s A.P. Moller Capital agreed to acquire a 40 percent stake in AC Logistics, providing the platform with the capital necessary to scale amid the country's rising demand for supply chain efficiency.

Similarly, Singapore-based ABC Impact injected primary capital into AC Health to fund the expansion of its clinics and pharmacy networks.

The conglomerate’s financing activities in 2025 reflected a shift toward diversified currency and thematic debt. The company secured a 30.1 billion yen term loan from Mizuho Bank Ltd. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., marking its first foray into yen-denominated lending.

On the sustainability front, Ayala utilized a $100 million blended finance deal involving the Asian Development Bank and the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund to build out the electric vehicle charging network for its mobility subsidiary, ACMobility.

Beyond its balance sheet, the group maintained its visibility through civic and environmental initiatives. This included a commitment to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to support the planting of five million trees by 2028.

In the sporting arena, the group hosted the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati, featuring world-ranked athletes such as EJ Obiena.