Philippine conglomerate Phinma Corp has completed the acquisition of an 84.91% majority stake in Southeastern Colleges Inc., a Pasay-based higher education institution, for P690m (€9.95m), bringing the institution into its growing regional network of affordable universities.

Phinma Education Holdings Inc. purchased 64,834 shares under a share and asset purchase agreement, with the transaction finalised on 13 March 2026 following fulfilment of all closing conditions.

The acquisition makes Southeastern Colleges the 12th institution in Phinma Education's Philippines network and the 14th across its broader regional footprint, reinforcing its position as the largest private higher education network in Southeast Asia by enrolment.

The Pasay campus will be integrated into the Phinma Saint Jude College network in the National Capital Region, joining existing campuses in Manila and Quezon City.

Phinma Education Philippines country head Happy Tan said the acquisition reflects the group's core mission. "With every school we bring into our network, our focus is helping more Filipino students complete their education and move forward with better opportunities," she said.

Many students at Phinma-affiliated institutions are the first in their families to attend college, underscoring the group's focus on widening access for low-income households.

Through the deal, Phinma Education expects to extend its reach to approximately 80,000 students in southern Metro Manila and nearby provinces including Laguna and Cavite.

Southeastern Colleges will adopt Phinma's student-focused model combining career-relevant programmes, structured teaching methods, and academic coaching. The group currently serves around 178,000 students across the Philippines and Indonesia.

Read the complete details of the acquisition in the full original report by Inquirer.net.