SPi Global, PLDT’s BPO arm, now the largest Filipino-owned BPO firm

(Manila, Philippines, August 24, 2010) – PLDT, the Philippines’ leading telecommunications company, announced today the consolidation of its BPO companies SPi Technologies, Inc. and ePLDT Ventus, Inc. into a single company – SPi Global Holdings, Inc.

The consolidation makes SPi Global the largest Filipino-owned BPO firm in the world.

“Our move to consolidate aims to build public confidence and understanding of SPi Global’s strength in the content, health information management, and customer relationship management (CRM) outsourcing arena. Considering the more complex demands of clients these days, it is time to position the company as an organization with multiple competencies that delivers customized, end-to-end outsourcing solutions worldwide,” SPi Global President and CEO Maulik Parekh said.

Joining Parekh was PLDT and SPi Global Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who confirmed the consolidation and expressed his strong support to the venture. “This is a milestone for PLDT and the country’s BPO industry as a home-grown BPO firm debuts as a globally recognized organization with excellent standing not only in the country but also abroad,” he said.

“The creation of SPi Global leverages the strength and capabilities of two PLDT enterprises with decades of combined experience in delivering world-class knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and CRM outsourcing services to various countries. I believe it is now poised to compete more effectively in the global market. SPi Global defines a truly Filipino brand with a global persona,” Pangilinan added.

“I am confident that it now possesses the best blend of qualities that clients are looking for and can trust as a true partner,” he added.

SPi Global is structured to be a full-service global BPO solutions provider operating with three core business units: SPi CRM, SPi Content Solutions, and SPi Healthcare. It serves over 500 clients and has more than 14,000 employees spread across 24 locations in North America, Europe, and Asia. The Philippines hosts a major part of the company’s operations. With some 11,000 people working in 11 facilities all over Metro Manila and three regional sites, SPi Global continues to be within the ranks of the growing BPO companies in the country.

“SPi Global’s vision is to be the premier Filipino-owned BPO company competing with the biggest and most renowned foreign-owned outsourcing companies in the world. This consolidation is a strategic step towards realizing this vision. With the full backing of PLDT, our parent company, and having established strong fundamentals in the business, we are confident in moving SPi Global to the next level. Our clients can expect that we will continue to deliver the value-driven service that they have come to know us for,” Parekh assured.

Pangilinan also added that “SPi Global, being a PLDT company, is certainly well supported in all its endeavors. It is committed to adhere to internationally respected best practices, ensuring value for clients by maintaining secure company premises and systems, likewise assisted by PLDT’s other BPO allied businesses.”

He also said that SPi Global is a strong statement of PLDT’s commitment to the fast-growing outsourcing industry. SPi Global underscores PLDT’s commitment to promoting the Filipino knowledge worker. Through SPi Global, PLDT will continue to pursue its mission of promoting the country’s development and changing the lives of Filipinos.

Founded in 1980, SPi Global was one of the first BPO firms in the world offering content outsourcing services to Fortune 500 companies. Today, the outstanding Filipino-owned firm continues to be the leader in providing scalable, innovative, full-service knowledge-based outsourcing and customer interaction solutions to diversified markets such as publishing, healthcare, financial services, entertainment and media, government and utilities, travel, retail, telecommunications, and ISP.

About SPi Global
SPi Global is a leading full-service BPO provider with offices and facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. SPi has over 14,000 employees delivering a wide range of Knowledge Process and Customer Relationship Management solutions to diversified markets, including financial services, healthcare, legal, and publishing. SPi consistently improves operating efficiency, lowers costs, and helps to strengthen the competitive position of more than 500 clients. SPi Global is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines. PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: TEL), and its American Depository Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI).