STI marks 50th year as listed company
STI Education Systems Holdings Inc., owner of one of the country’s largest networks of private schools, has marked a historic milestone with its 50th year as a publicly listed company in the Philippine Stock Exchange.
MANILA, Philippines — STI Education Systems Holdings Inc., a holding firm that owns one of the Philippines' largest networks of private schools, recently celebrated its 50th year as a publicly listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). PSE President and CEO Ramon Monzon highlighted the milestone, stating that it symbolizes corporate resilience, transformative leadership, disciplined management, and a steadfast dedication to empowering Filipino youth through education.
Although STI is now a prominent player in the Philippine education sector, Monzon emphasized that its journey in the capital market started very differently. The company traces back to Jardine Davies Inc., founded in 1928 as the Philippine branch of Theo H. Davies & Co., a Hawaiian corporation. It was reincorporated in the Philippines in 1946 and listed on the PSE on October 12, 1976.
In 2006, the company was acquired by local investors and became part of the Tanco Group in 2010, a pivotal transition toward education. According to STI President and CEO Monico Jacob, Tanco, the company's new owner and chairman, posed a crucial question to his executives: "Are we a franchising organization, or are we an educational institution?"
The unanimous response was clear: STI is an educational institution. This realization prompted a decisive shift in priorities, focusing on delivering quality education and prioritizing student welfare to foster productive and responsible citizens.
Jacob explained that this vision led to substantial changes at STI, from moving from renting classrooms in commercial buildings to constructing modern campuses, and expanding their course offerings from just information technology to a diverse selection of relevant fields, such as hospitality, tourism, maritime, criminology, and accountancy.
Since 2012, STI's growth has been impressive. A share swap increased the STI Group's stake to 84 percent, and the company adopted its current name, STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. Enrollment has nearly doubled from 66,740 students to nearly 133,000, cementing STI's position as the leading education company listed on the PSE. The company's market capitalization has also surged by 421.8 percent, increasing from P2.45 billion in 2012 to P12.78 billion as of September 25, 2026, creating significant value for investors.
Monzon noted that STI has consistently rewarded shareholders with regular dividends, even during changing economic cycles and sector-wide challenges. This consistent performance underscores the company's robust management, operational resilience, and financial strength.
Monzon also expressed the PSE's commitment to STI as a long-standing partner. He emphasized their shared goal of widening access to quality education, strengthening the country's human capital, and generating lasting value for students, shareholders, and all stakeholders. As STI marks this historic milestone, Monzon hopes it will honor the company's achievements and mark the beginning of an even more ambitious chapter of growth, innovation, and service to the Filipino people.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
