Latest news with #AlanTang
Business Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Far East Orchard Q1 net profit more than doubles to S$17.3 million
[SINGAPORE] Hospitality and student housing player Far East Orchard 's net profit more than doubled to S$17.3 million for the first quarter ended Mar 31, 2025, from S$6.9 million the previous corresponding period, the company announced on Thursday (May 8). The significant rise in its Q1 net profit was driven by a one-off gain of S$9.2 million from the acquisition of an additional 6.7 per cent interest in Woodlands Square in January 2025, it added. This gain arose from the higher fair value of net assets acquired compared to the purchase consideration. However, revenue for the period fell 8.6 per cent to S$46.5 million, while operating profit declined by 4.4 per cent to S$17.3 million. These declines were attributed to reduced contributions from the hospitality business, which was affected by ongoing refurbishment works at Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough (RHPS). Nevertheless, Far East Orchard said its overall performance was supported by stronger contributions from its purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and property development segments The company's acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in PBSA operator Homes for Students (HFS) in April 2024 began to positively contribute to the share of results in the first quarter of FY2025. HFS has expanded its portfolio to over 55,000 owned and managed beds across the UK. Additionally, the company recognised a higher share of results from Woodlands Square in the property development segment, driven by increased sales in the first quarter of FY2025 and a rise in its shareholding from 33 per cent to 40 per cent. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Far East Orchard's performance reflects the results of scaling its lodging platform, said chief executive Alan Tang. He highlighted that the company's PBSA development fund is progressing well, with the recent acquisition of a second development site in Manchester, a 239-bed project, in April. 'These initiatives strengthen our asset-light strategy, boost fee-based income, and highlight the resilience of our diversified approach as we focus on sustainable, long-term growth', added Tang. As at Mar 31, the company's 13 operational PBSA assets, comprising over 3,700 beds, had 67 per cent reservations for the academic year 2025/26, aligning with current market trends.
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
HIV-positive man welcomes Berkshire hospital A&E blood testing
A man living with HIV believes a new initiative to test people for the virus when they visit A&E will help save aged 16 and over who receive blood tests while at Royal Berkshire Hospital's (RBH) emergency department will also be checked for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis hospital in Reading is in a "high-prevalence" area for the blood-borne viruses, and has become one of 47 across the country running the opt-out from Maidenhead, said because he was diagnosed early, effective medication meant the virus was now undetectable and not transmittable. 'I thought my life was over' Speaking about his HIV-positive status publicly for the first time, Allan wants to challenge the stigma around it."I can understand some of the ignorance, because I myself was ignorant until I got it and I learned a little bit more about it", he said."Initially it affected me a lot because I isolated and I thought my life was over."But now he said the virus has minimal impact on his life, and only crosses his mind when he takes his said: "It's the people that don't know they've got HIV that are the ones that pass it around, unknowingly."Once you know then you can do something about it. Why would you not want to know?" The scheme has also been expanded to other hospitals across the south, including Southampton General Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital, and Queen Alexandra Hospital in can opt-out of the additional checks by telling a member of A&E RBH consultant physician Dr Alan Tang hopes most will realise the benefits of having their HIV status checked for free and confidentially."I think people are not diagnosed partly because they think they are low risk or have no risk at all," he said."So we looking at people who have no idea they could have been HIV infected, and therefore they could pass it on and become sick." Rise in heterosexual referrals The most recent NHS data, from 2023, showed a 15% rise in HIV cases across England, up from 2,451 to 2, Macadam, CEO of Thames Valley Positive Support, expects the A&E testing will lead to an increase in demand for the Slough-based HIV charity."We're aware that more people will be diagnosed with HIV and therefore more people will need our support," she said."The highest rise in new referrals for us, is heterosexual people - that's the biggest group that we see coming through our doors in need of support having been diagnosed." Consultant microbiologist at RBH, Dr George Jacob, said even though HIV was not curable, it was very treatable with early detection and diagnosis."With HIV and hepatitis B, there's very good anti-viral treatment available that can suppress the disease, enable patients with the infection to live long, productive lives, with very limited complications," he government said it wants to end new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
