Our Story
Humble Beginnings
The business of SGS Holdings, Inc. began in 1947 when Bacolod Victory Hardware (now SGS Hardware Corporation) was established by the Gamboa patriarch, Don Simplicio Gamboa, Sr. Hardware and construction served as the main core business of the Gamboas. Armed only with integrity, a strong work ethic, and sound business sense, Don Simplicio Gamboa, Sr. grew his small store into one of the most prominent hardware establishments in downtown Bacolod.
Over the next three decades, new enterprises were established and strategic business partnerships were forged. The business ventured into logging, sawn lumber export, sugar trading, hotel and cinema operations, ice plant production, and ethyl alcohol manufacturing.
New Frontiers
In 1974, SGS Holdings expanded its operations to Metro Manila with the establishment of Hexagon Steel Corporation—an importer and distributor of steel products and hardware materials—spearheaded by the patriarch’s second son, Bonnie C. Gamboa.
To supplement its core trading and distribution operations, SGS ventured into the manufacturing of bolts, nuts, and other metal products in 1976. By 1979, the group forged a partnership with the Gaisano family to manufacture steel pipes. In 1982, SGS further diversified beyond hardware and construction materials to embark on the import and trade of European car parts and accessories.
SGS Holdings continued its aggressive diversification and expansion into new business lines and international territories.
In 1984, the group launched its first offshore operation in Singapore to supply industrial equipment and refrigerant products across Southeast Asian markets, expanding into Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia two years later. That same year, the business ventured into aqua-agro products in Bacolod, which eventually grew into the import and distribution of agricultural commodities in Metro Manila.
In 1986, the company engaged in the trading and distribution of electrical equipment and industrial pumps, while also investing in pharmaceutical fine chemicals and finished goods. By 1990, SGS partnered with Danish company Jebsen & Jessen Southeast Asia to distribute imported industrial chemicals.
Synergy in Action
Towards the close of the 1980s, SGS Holdings established Hexagon Group Central Services to provide core administrative and operational support—including human resources, legal, general accounting, treasury, and information technology—to its growing network of business units.
Designed to align and steer these units toward the Group’s strategic direction and corporate policies, Hexagon Group Central Services evolved into what is known today as Hexagon Shared Services, Inc.
Expanding Horizons
Growth and expansion continued throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium. SGS Holdings launched its financial services arm and entered into a partnership for the import and trade of dental equipment and supplies in 1999.
In 2003, SGSHI embarked on a joint venture with a Taiwan-based firm to distribute animal feed additives and entered the information technology sector, later acquiring an Indonesian IT firm. Expanding its consumer product footprint, SGS partnered with an Indonesian company in 2008 for its car freshener business, and by 2012, ventured into local food processing and foreign partnerships for seafood export.
In 2017, the group opened its new corporate headquarters, the Hexagon Corporate Center, marking its entry into the office and commercial leasing sector.
Between 2019 and 2021, the group further expanded its regional IT footprint by opening offices in Singapore (via acquisition) and Malaysia.
Driving Sustainable Progress
Embracing clean energy and modern infrastructure, SGS Holdings ventured into electric vehicle (EV) dealerships in 2024, followed by expansions into turnkey solar energy solutions and cold storage operations in 2025 and 2026. In 2025, the group further diversified its real estate footprint by embarking on the development of socialized and economic housing communities.
Grounded in nearly eight decades of heritage, SGS Holdings continues to build purposeful partnerships that empower industries, create shared value, and improve our stakeholders’ quality of life. As the group moves forward, it remains steadfast in its vision to be a prominent contributor to sustainable nation-building across every community and market it serves.
