Now Corporation

Now Corporation (shortly known as Now Corp) is a Filipino conglomerate firm based in Makati, Philippines. The company's core businesses are centralized in the information and communications technology sector, including broadband internet and fiber-optic communication services (Now Telecom), information technology, digital media (NowPlanet.tv), management services, and cybersecurity among others.[1]

Now Corporation
TypePublic
PSE: NOW
IndustryConglomerate
Predecessor
  • MF Schroder & Co., Inc. (1996–2002)
  • Cashrounds, Inc. (2002–2006)
  • Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc. (2006–2013)
Founded5 June 1996 (1996-06-05)
Headquarters5/F OPL Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village,
Makati, Metro Manila
,
Philippines
Key people
Services
Revenue₱201.72 million (2020)
₱10.75 million (2020)
₱5.08 million (2020)
Total assets₱2.72 billion (2020)
Total equity₱2.17 billion (2020)
SubsidiariesSee below
Websitewww.now-corp.com

History

The company was founded on June 5, 1996 as MF Schroder & Co., Inc., initially offered security services. The company was renamed as Cashrounds, Inc. in 2002, and entered into initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Mel Velarde, a former executive of Central CATV, Inc. and president/CEO of Next Mobile Incorporated (NMI), acquired Cashrounds in 2005 in exchange of purchasing a partial stake in NMI.[2] The following year, Cashrounds changed its corporate name to Information Capital Technology Ventures, Inc. (ICTV).[3][4]

ICTV began initializing its business venture with Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), an educational institute also owned by Velarde.

In 2013, ICTV was officially renamed as Now Corporation (Now Corp), named after its primary businesses such as NowPlanet and Now Telecom.[5]

In 2019, Now Corp inked a joint partnership with South Korean telecommunications firm SK Telecom for the rollout of Now Telecom's 5G broadband services.[6][7]

On December 1, 2020, Now Corp inked a joint partnership with Finnish multinational telecommunication Nokia for the rollout of Now Telecom's 5G broadband services.[8]

On October 3, 2022, Now Corp announced plans to acquire substantial equity ownership in News and Entertainment Network Corporation (Newsnet) in a 20% stakes affiliate, as part of its thrust to grow, consolidate, and beef up its core business.[9][10][11]

On December 16, 2022, The US Trade and Development Agency secured grant funding for the 5G project.[12] On January 13, 2023, The US Trade and Development Agency and Now Telecom sealed an agreement by the US government to deploy nationwide standalone 5G mobile and fixed wireless network in the Philippines.[13][14] The company will begin its commercial network in 2024.[15]

List of assets

Now Telecom
Main article: Now Telecom

Now Telecom is Now Corporation's main business asset. It is a telecommunications company providing wireless broadband services, cellular mobile telephony system (CMTS), and fiber optic transmission.

NowPlanet.tv

NowPlanet.tv is a digital media platform engaging in livestreaming of various digital channels. It is also the livestreaming provider of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for its traffic monitoring data centers.[16]

Subsidiaries
  • Holy Cow Animation
  • iProfessional Search Network
  • iResource Consulting International
  • Porteon SEA, Inc.
  • Softrigger Interactive
  • Softweb Consulting

Affiliates
  • Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
  • News and Entertainment Network Corporation (NEWSNET)
  • Now Cable (f/k/a GHT Network, Inc.)

Corporate governance

Ownership
Shareholder/s[1]  % of stake
Velarde, Inc. 27.12%
Public stock 19.34%
Top Mega Enterprises, Ltd. 18.87%
Emerald Investments, Inc. 13.87%
Gamboa Holdings, Inc. 12.05%
Joyce Link Holdings Ltd. 4.77%
Foodcamp Industries & Marketing, Inc. 3.94%

References
  1. "Public Ownership Report as of March 31, 2021". Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. "Next Mobile shareholder acquires two-thirds stake in publicly-listed Cashrounds". The Philippine Star. 22 March 2005.
  3. "Cashrounds changes name, hikes capital stock to P1.3B". The Philippine Star. 23 September 2006.
  4. "ICTV plans transfer to the PSE's Second Board". GMA News. 4 December 2008.
  5. "Now poised to revitalize operations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 24 January 2015.
  6. "Now partners with leading Korean telco SK Telecom for 5G pivot". Manila Bulletin. 30 October 2019.
  7. "Now Corp teams up with Seoul's SK Telecom for rollout of 5G tech". Business Mirror. 29 October 2019.
  8. "NOW Group and Nokia Sign 5G MOU for Philippine Market". Now Corporation. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  9. Abad, Roderick (October 4, 2022). "NOW Corp. to acquire stake in Newsnet". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. Amojelar, Darwin G. (October 3, 2022). "Now Corp. to buy 20% stake in affiliate Newsnet". Manila Standard. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  11. Iglesias, Myla (October 4, 2022). "Now to upgrade services with Newsnet acquisition". Malaya. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  12. Cordero, Ted (December 16, 2022). "NOW Telecom secures USTDA grant funding". GMA News. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  13. Abadilla, Emmie V. (January 13, 2023). "USTDA & NOW Telecom partner for 5G, NBN". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  14. "US gov't, NOW Telecom partner for 5G deployment in PH". CNN Philippines. January 13, 2023.
  15. Abad, Roderick (January 26, 2023). "NOW Telecom to pilot 5G in NCR". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  16. "Tolentino Launches MMDA Traffic Mirror". Business Mirror. 20 May 2013.
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