Kayana Solutions Inc., a digital innovation venture backed by major Philippine infrastructure and telecommunications conglomerates, has finalized its acquisition of payment processing network CIS Bayad Center Inc. for ₱2.7 billion.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PLDT Inc. announced that the transaction covers 504,948 common shares of Bayad purchased from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Corporate Information Solutions Inc.
With the buyout complete, Bayad is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Kayana.
Consolidating Digital Utilities
The strategic deal consolidates PLDT’s financial technology and payment platforms under Kayana. Business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s PLDT maintains a controlling 45% equity stake in Kayana, while Meralco and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) hold equal shares of 27.5% each.
The transaction follows initial regulatory disclosures made by PLDT on January 27. This move aligns with broader efforts by Pangilinan-linked firms to streamline consumer-facing digital utilities and settlement platforms.
By integrating Bayad—a trusted, long-standing name in over-the-counter and online utility bill processing—into Kayana, the partner corporations seek to bolster their combined presence in the country’s digital innovation ecosystem.