Philippine’s Ayala On Buying Spree for European Tech Suppliers

Ayala Corp., a multi-industry Philippine conglomerate, is building a presence in the auto industry by acquiring high-end parts suppliers in Europe.

Last week the company spent €27 million ($30 million) to buy 95% of MT Misslbeck Technologies GmbH, a plastic parts supplier based in Ingolstadt, Germany.

Within the past year Ayala also has acquired Via Optronics GmbH, a German maker of display screens, and Surface Technology International Ltd., a British electronics design and manufacturing company.

CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala tells FT his company is shopping for other acquisitions in German automotive technology. He wants to position Ayala as an innovator in the auto industry’s emerging technologies as vehicles become increasingly computer-based.