For Roland Hortaleza, building Splash Corporation was a decades-long journey—from repackaging acetone in used bottles to turning it into one of the Philippines’ top personal care brands. He expanded the company globally, took it public, and dominated the skincare market. But after years of success, he made a move few expected—he sold the company.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but the right offer came along—and he couldn’t refuse.
From Startup to Stock Market Success
Hortaleza launched Splash Corporation in 1985 with just P12,000 in savings. He started small, repackaging alcohol and acetone, but his big break came when he introduced Maxi-Peel and Extraderm, two skincare products that became instant bestsellers.
“Within just three years, we reached one billion in sales,” he says.
Splash later introduced the first whitening products in the Philippines, outpacing global competitors like Unilever. The company expanded into Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, becoming a dominant player in the personal care space.
By 2007, the company was doing so well that Hortaleza took it public. For nine years, Splash thrived as a publicly listed company—until he got an unexpected offer.
The Deal He Couldn’t Turn Down
As Splash grew, so did interest from potential buyers. Eventually, an international company with a strong presence in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa made an offer.
“We were doing well compared to our competitors. After nine years as a public company, I received offers to buy my company. I got an offer that I could not refuse,” he explains.
A key condition of the deal? Delisting the company from the stock exchange.
For Hortaleza, it wasn’t just about money—it was about securing the future of Splash.
“I believed that it would be more productive, not only for my family but also for the employees and the brand,” he says.
From a small beauty business to a global powerhouse, Hortaleza’s journey proves that sometimes, the best move is knowing when to walk away.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
