Information provided by Robin Charles O. Ramos
http://pinoyworld.org/2009/08/25/ten-changemakers-selected-for-philippines-21-class-of-2009/
August 25, 2009 – Tuesday

Business upstarts, cultural workers, civic leaders and education advocates comprise the Class of 2009 of the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative. Established in 2006 by Asia Society Philippines and social entrepreneur/ governance advocate Harvey Keh, the program is the first locally-organized chapter of the Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative, which aims to develop a core group of leaders aged 25-40 to meet, educate and inspire each other; collaborate and share ideas on public service and other meaningful initiatives, and build relationships of trust and understanding.

The Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative Class of 2008 are: Steve Laurence Arquiza (Non-Profit/ Civil Society); Jocelle Batapa-Sigue (Government- Local); Jose Romeo de la Cruz (Government- Local); Cecile Victoria Dominguez (Non-Profit/ Civil Society); Jaime Enrique Gonzalez (Business); Ryan Guinaran (Arts and Culture); Dennis Gupa (Arts and Culture); Rommel Juan (Business); Darwin Mariano (Business); and Efren Peñaflorida (Non-profit/ Civil Society).

Name recall

Philippines 21 Fellows are a mix of prominent names and promising young talent. Business leaders know of the success of Enrique Gonzales and Rommel Juan. Gonzales took his IT start-up IPVG Corp. from garage to public and has since expanded operations from their RP homebase to seven countries, including India and the United States. Juan’s native food chain Binalot Fiesta Foods, on the other hand, has become one of the more successful local franchises. And as of late, Dynamic Teen Company and Efren Peñaflorida’s alternative kariton classrooms for out of school youth have caught public attention, thanks to the latter’s CNN Heroes nomination and participation in the Ako Mismo advocacy campaign.

Regional representation

The Class of 2009 is the most geographically representative Philippines 21 batch to date, with seven out of ten Fellows coming from or residing outside Metro Manila. Steve Arquiza and Cecile Dominguez hail from Davao and Sarangani respectively, and are dynamic examples of young Mindanaoan leadership. Arquiza is secretary-general of JCI Davao and president of the Mindanao Young Leaders Parliament, while Dominguez heads the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation. And though city councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue (Bacolod City) and Jose Romeo de la Cruz (Santiago City) may hail from different parts of the country, they share a vocation for public service, and support environment and youth issues.

Cross sectoral involvements

Aside from demonstrating expertise in their chosen field and the spirit of community service, Phils 21 Fellows also share an inclination for cross-sectoral activities.

Darwin Mariano’s day job as public affairs head of Cemex Philippines does not hinder him from his duties as core member of Movement for Good Governance. Mariano has supported this advocacy since his days as the founder of Aksyon Demokratiko Youth. Ryan, on the other hand, is a licensed phycisian whose Cordillera heritage has imbued him with a sense of cultural pride. He founded two NGOs: KOSDEY, which promotes and preserves Ibaloi culture, and DITENG, which advocates culture-sensitive health programs. And while UP Los Baños’s. Dennis Gupa is primarily a stage director schooled in classical and contemporary theater, his work in theater-in-educatio n has led him to collaborate with science researchers and social scientists to develop educational and/or socially relevant plays.

The selected Fellows will convene at the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Forum on August 27-29, with support from the International Rice Research Institute and official media partner Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Class of 2009 will also represent the country in the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, organized annually by Asia Society’s New York headquarters, to be held in Kuala Lumpur this November.

Malaya – Business Insight, page A8
August 18, 2009 - Tuesday
                                                                                               
Listed company IPVF Corp. yesterday said it has received the first tranche payment amounting to $10 million following PCCW Teleservices Ltd’s acquisition of its unit IP BPO Holding Pte. Ltd.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, IPVG said that PCCW has completed the acquisition of the 100 percent issued share capital of IP BPO Holdings Pte Ltd, a Singapore company.

IP BPO Holding Company holds a 70 percent equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corporation in Ohio, United States and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Under the agreement, PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications provider, PCCW Limited, will pay for IPVG unit IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd. Acquisition in two traches – an initial tranche of $10 million and a performance-related tranche of up to $10 million on or around a date 12 months later.

PCCW Teleservices runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia. After the acquisition of IP BPO Holdings company, the total number of agent positions will be expanded by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/214801/pccw-unit-buys-ipvg-bpo-firm-22-m
Manila Bulletin – Business Bulletin B1
August 8, 2009 - Saturday

HONG KONG – PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong`s premier telecommunications provider, PCCW Limited, has signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd.,(BPO Holding Company) an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Philippine technology firm IPVG Corp., for up to US$22 million.

The consideration is payable in two tranches – an initial tranche of US$10 million and a performance-related tranche of up to US$12 million on or around a date 12 months later.

The BPO Holding Company holds a 70% equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corporation (Interactive Teleservices) in the USA and BPO Teleservices Inc. (BPO Teleservices) in the Philippines.

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English speaking centers in Ohio and Nebraska, USA, and one Spanish speaking center in Panama. BPO Teleservices is a leading player in the Philippines’ business process outsourcing industry and operates two contact centers in Manila providing services to US companies. Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, IT, consumer electronics and travel sectors.

PCCW Teleservices runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia. After the acquisition of BPO Holding Company, the total number of agent positions will be expanded by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

Tony Bruno, Director of PCCW Teleservices, said: “The acquisition represents a major step in our growth strategy for contact center businesses.

http://computerworld.com.ph/ipvg-pccw-ink-us22m-bpo-venture/
August 7, 2009 – Friday

Philippine technology firm IPVG Corp. has finally signed the US$22 million BPO (business process outsourcing) venture with PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications provider PCCW Limited.

According to IPVG, the contract made PCCW to acquire the entire issued share capital of its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary the IP BPO Holdings. The consideration is payable in two tranches – an initial tranche of US$10 million and a performance-related tranche of up to US$12 million on or around a 12-month basis.

IP BPO Holdings holds a 70% equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corporation (“Interactive Teleservices”) in the USA and BPO Teleservices Inc. (“BPO Teleservices”) in the Philippines.

PCCW Teleservices reportedly runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia. And with its acquisition of the IP BPO Holdings, it expands its total number of agent positions by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

Tony Bruno, director of PCCW Teleservices, described the acquisition as a major step in their company’s growth strategy for contact center businesses.

“The newly added assets will not only provide us with significant English and Spanish speaking capabilities to complement the core businesses in Hong Kong and mainland China, but also gain us an access to the USA, which is the largest contact center market in the world,” Bruno said. “It also opens up opportunities for us to serve existing multinational customers for their worldwide customer care needs.”

Enrique Gonzalez, chief executive officer of IPVG, said PCCW’s entry into their BPO venture gives IPVG a strong strategic partner in such sector with a global, multilingual delivery capability. “This enhances our value proposition to our client base and we are confident with PCCW as our partner, this collaboration will take our BPO venture to the next level.”

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English speaking centers in Ohio and Nebraska, USA, and one Spanish speaking center in Panama. However, BPO Teleservices is a leading player in the Philippines’ BPO industry and operates two contact centers in Manila providing services to US companies. Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, IT, consumer electronics and travel sectors.

Publicly listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, IPVG’s other business segments include Communications (IP Services and Internet Security); Content (On-line gaming and Mobile solutions), and BPO. Besides the Philippines, IPVG is also present in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Panama, United Kingdom and USA.

By Jenniffer B. Austria
Manila Standard Today – Business – page B1
August 7, 2009 Friday

PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications provider PCCW Ltd., has signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share of capital of IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd., an indirect unit of listed IPVG Corp. for up to $22 million.

IPVG in a disclosure to the stock exchange said the company would initially receive $10 million and $12 million after 12 months for the acquisition.

IP BPO Holding owns a 70-percent equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corp. in the US and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English-speaking center in Ohio and Nebraska and one Spanish-speaking center in Panama.

BPO Teleservices, a leading player in the Philippines’ business process outsourcing industry, operates two contact centers in Manila providing services to US companies.

Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, IT, customer electronics and travel sectors.

PCCW Teleservices currently runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia.

PCCW plans to increase the total number of agent positions by around 2,500 to over 5,500 after the acquisition of IP BPO Holding.

“The acquisition represents a major step in our growth strategy for contact center businesses. The newly added assets will not only provide us with significant English and Spanish speaking capabilities to compliment the core businesses in Hong Kong and mainland China, but also gain us an access to the USA, which is the largest contact center market in the world,” said Tony Bruno, director of PCCW Teleservices, in a statement.

“It also opens up opportunities for us to serve existing multinational customer for their worldwide customer needs,” he added.

IPVG chief executive Enrique Gonzalez, meanwhile, said PCCW’s entry into IP BPO Holdings would give the company a strong strategic partner in the BPO sector.

The Manila Times – Business – page B3   
http://manilatimes.net/national/2009/aug/07/yehey/business/20090807bus9.html
August 7, 2009 – Friday

A wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s telecommunications provider has signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of IPVG Corp.’s unit.

In a statement, IPVG said PCCW Teleservices, a unit PCCW Ltd., agreed to acquire IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd.’s up to $22 million worth of issued share capital, which is payable in two tranches—an initial of $10 million.

 “The acquisition represents a major step in our growth strategy for contact center businesses. The newly added assets will not only provide us with significant English and Spanish speaking capabilities to complement the core businesses,” Tony Bruno, PCCW Teleservices director, said.

IP BPO Holding owns 70 percent of Interactive Teleservices Corp. in the US and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English speaking centers in Ohio and Nebraska, US, and one Spanish speaking center in Panama.

BPO Teleservices, on the other hand, is operating two contact centers in Manila that provides services to US companies.

Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, IT, consumer electronics and travel sectors.

PCCW Teleservices runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia.

After the acquisition of BPO Holding, its total number of agent positions will be expanded by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

Enrique Gonzalez, IPVG chief executive, said PCCW’s entry into the BPO venture “gives the company a strong strategic partner in the sector with a global, multilingual delivery capability.

“This enhances our value proposition to our client base and we are confident with PCCW as our partner, this collaboration will take our BPO venture to the next level,” Gonzalez said.

http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20090806-218957/HK-firm-inks-BPO-deal-in-RP
Philippine Daily Inquirer – Business B6
August 6, 2009 – Thursday

PCCW TELESERVICES, AN INDIRECT WHOLLY owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s PCCW Ltd., signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd. (BPO Holding Co.), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine technology firm IPVG Corp., for up to US$22 million. The amount is payable in two tranches – an initial tranche of $10 million and a performance –related tranche of up to $12 million 2 months later.

The BPO Holding Co. holds a 70-percent equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corp. in the United States and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Malaya – Business Insight A2
August 6, 2009 – Thursday

HONG KONG based company PCCW Teleservices has signed an agreement with IPVG Corp. subsidiary, IP BPO Holding Pte., to acquire the latter’s entire issued share capital for up to $22 million in line with its plan to expand the contact center operation in Asia.

Tony Bruno, director of PCCW Teleservices, said in a statement, that the “acquisition represents a major step in our growth strategy for contact center businesses. The newly added assets will not only provide us with significant English and Spanish speaking capabilities to complement the core business in Hong Kong and mainland China, but also gain us an access to the USA, which is the largest contact center market in the world. It also opens up opportunities for us to serve existing multinational customers for their worldwide customer care needs.”

Under the agreement, PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications provider, PCCW Limited, will pay IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd. into two tranches – an initial tranche of $10 million and a performance-related tranche of up to $12 million after 12 months.

Enrique Y. Gonzalez, chief executive officer of IPVG, said: “PCCW’s entry into our BPO venture gives us a strong strategic partner in this sector with a global, multilingual delivery capability. This enhances our value proposition to our client base and we are confident with PCCW as our partner, this collaboration will take our BPO venture to the next level.”

The BPO Holding Company holds a 70 percent equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corporation in the USA and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English speaking centers in Ohio and Nebraska and one Spanish speaking center in Panama. BPO Teleservices is a leading player in the Philippine’ business process outsourcing industry and operates two contact centers in Manila providing services to US companies. Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, IT, consumer electronics and travel sectors.

The PCCW Teleservices runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia. After the acquisition of BPO Holding Company, the total number of agent positions will be expanded by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

Business Mirror – Companies B2
August 6, 2009 – Thursday

PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s telecommunications provider, PCCW Ltd. has signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine technology firm IPVG Corp., for up $22 million. The consideration is payable in two tranches – an initial tranche of $10 million and a performance-related tranche of to $2 million on or around a date 12 months later.

BPO Holdings holds a 70-percent equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corp. in the US and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English-speaking centers in Ohio and Nebraska and one Spanish-speaking center in Panama. BPO Teleservices in the Philippines operates two contact centers in Manila providing services to US Companies. Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, consumer electronics and travel sectors.

PCCW Teleservices runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia. After the acquisition of BPO Holdings, the total number of agent positions will be expanded by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=493412&publicationSubCategoryId=66
The Philippine Star – Business B-3
August 6, 2009 – Thursday

PCCW Teleservices, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications provider, PCCW Ltd. has signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of IP BPO Holdings Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned unit of technology and gaming conglomerate IPVG Corp., for up to $22 million.

The consideration is payable in two tranches – an initial tranche of $10 million and a performance-related tranche of up to $12 million on or around a date 12 months later, IPVG said in a statement.

The BPO Holding Co. holds a 70-percent equity interest in each of Interactive Teleservices Corp. in the USA and BPO Teleservices Inc. in the Philippines.

Interactive Teleservices provides contact center services from a network of six English-speaking centers in Ohio and Nebraska, USA, and one Spanish-speaking center in Panama. BPO Teleservices is a leading player in the Philippine BPO industry and operates two contact centers in Manila providing services to US companies. Both companies serve customers from the banking and finance, IT, consumer electronics and travel sectors.

PCCW Teleserves runs one of the largest contact center operations in Asia. After the acquisition of IP BPO Holdings, the total number of agent positions will be expanded by around 2,500 to over 5,500.

Tony Bruno, director of PCCW Teleservices, said: “The acquisition represents a major step in our growth strategy for contact center businesses. The newly added assets will not only provide us with significant English and Spanish speaking capabilities to complement the core businesses in Hong Kong and mainland China, but also gain us an access to the USA, which is the largest contact center market in the world. It also opens up opportunities for us to serve existing multinational customers for their worldwide customer care needs.”