Benny Tantoco rings the bell: SSI goes public with IPO
SSI is where it is today because of the hard work of Nedy Tantoco and Anton Tantoco Huang.
Growing up in the Tantoco family, I always have heard lots of talk about keeping Rustan’s a wholly owned family business. It was unheard of that we would ever make any of the Rustan Group of companies into a public company. But times change and things change as well. Sixty-three years later, the 27-year-old Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI) has now gone public, with its Initial Public Offering Listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
In those 27 years, SSI has acquired 103 brands from all over the world and now has 655 stores all over the Philippines. The company is still growing and is definitely a good long-term investment.
I heard someone in the elevator commenting that it was so nice to see so many family members present. And truly it was so nice that many witnessed and came in full force to support this special event in our lives. The beautiful Tantoco second-generation ladies were complete: (from left) Menchu Tantoco-Lopez, Marilou Tantoco-Pineda and Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez. I remember Tita Marilou and Lola Glecy Tantoco who started SSI in 1987. They were both my mentors when I was working in Rustan’s in 1991. Tita Marilou was handling both the department store and SSI. She told me, “I love it that God made it possible for my dad to witness one of his life’s dreams.”
Ninay Marilen Tantoco-Valbuena and yours truly wore big smiles at the Philippine Stock Exchange early in the morning.
SSI would not be where it is today without the hard work of Tita Nedy Tantoco, chairman and chief executive officer of SSI and my cousin Anton Tantoco Huang, president. “Over the past 27 years we have always been guided by our vision of being able to bring the best of the world to the Filipino consumer. I sincerely believe that we have been able to achieve this vision and in the process we have built a business that is the clear market leader in our segment today. The success of the SSI group IPO is, indeed, a strong testament to the global confidence investors have not only in SSI but in the future of the Philippines. And today SSI is a proud participant in the Philippine capital markets.” And with their leadership, we can continue to put our faith and trust that the company will soar to even greater heights. My grandfather, Lolo Bienvenido “Benny” Tantoco, is the happiest of them all and told my cousin, Donnie Tantoco. “This SSI IPO is another dream come true!” It is truly a blessing for him to be the one ringing the bell on this momentous occasion for the family.
Dino Tantoco Pineda, Donnie Tantoco and Noey Tantoco Lopez with the youngest third generation, Tita Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez, who is like one of the third-gen cousins
Proud daughter Nikki Tantoco Huang and proud wife Nina Herrera-Huang were there to support Anton together with Maricar Lopez-Tiangco and SSI board director Carlo Katigbak.
Jaime Tantoco Pineda and Catherine Tantoco Huang, Jun Lopez and James de Jesus,MJ Tantoco and Paolo Tantoco, Bea Tantoco-Reyes, Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and Krie Reyes-Lopez, Crickette Tantoco, Katrina and Paolo Lobregat
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