Latest news with #TigerBalm
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Haw Par Mansion to be repurposed as arts and culture venue in 2026
Hong Kong's historic Haw Par Mansion, built by the tycoon behind the Tiger Balm heat rub, will find a new lease of life as an arts and culture venue next year after a music school on the site shut down in 2022. Authorities said on Friday that Haw Par Mansion would be operated as a non-profit, self-financing site for arts and cultural use by the Foundation for Art and Culture to foster international exchanges. A government spokesperson said that Haw Par Mansion would be developed 'as a unique icon of international arts and cultural exchange in Hong Kong' and contribute to the city's role 'as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange'. The site would be managed, operated and revitalised by the institution under a three-year term, with the new operation to start in the second half of next year, authorities said. Visitors can expect the premises to be used for exhibitions, film screenings and workshops as well as residency programmes hosting local, mainland and international artists and organisations. Built in 1936, the mansion was once part of a larger eight-acre (3.2 hectares) park called 'Tiger Balm Garden', featuring surreal Buddhist-themed displays and open to the public.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Haw Par Corporation H1 net profit up 18.2% at S$144.1 million
[SINGAPORE] Haw Par Corporation posted an 18.2 per cent rise in net profit to S$144.1 million for its first half ended Jun 30, 2025, from S$122 million in the previous corresponding period. Revenue for H1 rose 7 per cent to S$126.3 million, from S$118.1 million a year earlier, as demand for healthcare products remained resilient, the Tiger Balm ointment maker said in a bourse filing on Tuesday (Aug 12). Other income rose 20.3 per cent to S$116.8 million in H1 2025, due mainly to higher dividend rate from strategic and long-term investments, it said. Earnings per share stood at 65.1 Singapore cents for the half-year period, up from 55.1 cents a year earlier. An interim dividend of 20 Singapore cents per share was declared for the half year, unchanged from the year before. The dividend will be paid on Sep 11, after books closure on Aug 21. Looking ahead, the company expects weaker consumer spending to affect the performance of its operating businesses. 'Prolonged uncertainty surrounding trade policies and tariffs may further weigh on the slowing global economy,' it said. Shares of Haw Par closed S$0.19 or 1.3 per cent lower at S$14.13 on Tuesday, before the results were released.
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Why this Singapore theme park is 'hell on earth'
A scantily clad half-pig, half-human parades in underwear; bloodied, decapitated heads poke out from rock; a dressed-up deer and turtle share a moment with tea. With images like that, one must wonder what on earth is going on. This eccentric mishmash isn't the stuff of acid dreams; these bloody, brazen and downright bizarre visions are real and are curiously compelling. I'm at Singapore 's historical Haw Par Villa, otherwise known as Singapore's 'Disneyland'. Far removed from the country's inoffensive, state-of-the-art and innovative sites, this 88-year-old attraction was surprisingly built for kids – adults, too. The off-kilter theme park was founded in 1937 by the son of Tiger Balm creator, Aw Boon Haw. A flamboyant and savvy businessman, he was responsible for introducing the topical ointment brand to the world. Wanting to give back to society, the OG Tiger King built the public park – also known as Tiger Balm Gardens – in honour of his brother, Aw Boon Par, with both their names inspiring 'Haw Par Villa'. A major attraction in its heyday, the sprawling 8.5-hectare park consists of 1000-plus lifelike sculptures immortalising Chinese myths and legends depicting life lessons, philosophies and mortality. While many scenes have cartoonish appeal, some are hard to swallow, and some are the stuff of nightmares. Fortunately, I'm initially oblivious to the doom and gloom that awaits, instead first exposed to the park's more cheerful side. Like any typical theme park, Singapore's so-called ' Disneyland ' brims with colour and over-the-top decor. Its entrance features a traditional Chinese red gate ornate with the brand's iconic tiger. Psychedelic magma-like rock borders its main thoroughfare uphill. But it's only at the end of the winding, red brick road that all becomes strange and surreal. I'm wide-eyed, wandering this treasure trove of timeworn sculptures desperately needing a touch-up. Its tiered, larger-than-life dioramas feature provocative poses – threesomes, a topless mermaid – and countless humanised animals doing all sorts of things, such as a wedding of a rat and rabbit. In between the kitsch, there's the Chinese teaching of immortals, the honouring of medicine peddlers and Chinese opium war hero Lin Zhe Xu. Perhaps ahead of its time, its Crayola-coloured pond area is Insta-worthy. Besides its bright-hue appeal, it has two pagodas – one with a seated Buddha – towering over a miniature Statue of Liberty. There's even a homage to Australia with life-size koalas and kangaroos cavorting on grassed grounds. While access to Singapore's largest outdoor gallery is free, its most unabashed sculptures are found behind the gates of hell. Located within Har Paw Villa is Hell's Museum, the world's first museum dedicated to celebrating life and death. Described as the 'coolest Hell of Earth', the gallery explores the concepts of death, the afterlife, and the meaning of life across all religions and ideologies. Like life itself, the museum is divided into stages. The first section invokes deep thought on life philosophies, death rituals and traditions. Tombstones, shrines are erected with informative panels encircling an exposed crypt. (Thankfully, it's empty.) If walking over a coffin is not eerie enough, the second section is not for the Par Villa's stomach-turning '10 Courts of Hell' touches on judgment, punishment of sins, and redemption in the afterlife. With gruesomeness to rival a Hollywood horror, the infamous darkened chamber exhibits unfortunate souls being tortured for various transgressions. Beings are burned, impaled, dismembered. It's hardly a place to be snap-happy. I'm told it was once a popular spot for local parents to educate children about the consequences of any wrongdoing, exposing them to its unsettling scenes. An experience – I could only imagine – endured in young minds (as it still does in mine). Terrifying stuff. But with the advancement of Singapore's entertainment options and architectural marvels, it is no wonder the amusement park fails to woo large crowds as it once did. Its fiery underworld and collection of peculiar sculptures from a bygone era are a side of Singaporean culture that few tourists experience. Even with its oddities and gore, it is worth a visit – even if it is Hell on Earth.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Build Reliable Passive Income with These 3 Dependable Singapore Dividend Stocks
Dividends are one of the best passive income sources that you can build for your retirement. All you need to do is park your money in reliable dividend-paying stocks and hold them over the long term. However, you do need to filter out strong companies that can not just sustain their dividends through tough times. You also need to determine if these businesses can increase their dividends to combat inflation. Here are three reliable Singapore stocks that can help you build and grow your stream of passive dividend income. Haw Par Corporation (SGX: H02) Haw Par is a conglomerate with four key divisions – healthcare, leisure, investments, and property. The group's healthcare division manufactures and sells ointments and pain patches under the famous Tiger Balm brand. Haw Par has been a consistent payer of dividends over the years, and its dividend has also been increasing. Back in 2010, the group paid out an annual dividend of S$0.20 per share. This annual dividend was increased to S$0.30 per share from 2018 onwards, and was then increased again to S$0.40 per share in 2023. Haw Par also has a practice of paying out special dividends when too much cash accumulates on its balance sheet. The group paid a special dividend of S$0.15 per share in 2015, S$0.85 per share in 2018, and more recently, S$1 per share for last year. That's a total of S$2 per share in special dividends dished out over the past 10 years. There could be more to come from the healthcare player. For 2024, revenue rose 5% year on year to S$244.8 million while net profit improved by 5.4% year on year to S$228.3 million. That year, Haw Par launched a sensorial therapy range of new products, which enabled the group to enter the aromatherapy sector. Tiger Balm also continued to expand its customer base in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines with the launch of Tiger Balm plaster. Should this new product line perform well, it could drive further revenue and profit increases and allow the group to continue dishing out increasing dividends. Sheng Siong (SGX: OV8) Sheng Siong is one of Singapore's largest supermarket operators with 77 stores around the island as of 31 March 2025. The group sells a wide assortment of products, including live and chilled food, daily necessities, toiletries and household items. The retailer has demonstrated steady growth in revenue and profit over the years, with its dividend also shooting higher post-pandemic. Sheng Siong started out by paying an annual dividend of S$0.0177 back in 2011, and this dividend doubled to S$0.0355 by 2019. The pandemic caused the supermarket operator's revenue and profits to surge, allowing it to pay out an annual dividend of S$0.06 and higher from 2020 to 2023. The group continued its strong performance by reporting a 2.6% year-on-year increase in net profit on the back of a 4.5% year-on-year improvement in revenue for 2024. The annual dividend for 2024 increased to S$0.064 from S$0.0625 a year ago. The first quarter of 2025 (1Q 2025) saw healthy progress with net profit increasing by 6.1% year on year to S$38.5 million as Sheng Siong continued to improve on its gross profit margin. Moreover, the supermarket operator secured six new stores, which will progressively open by 3Q 2025. The group is also awaiting the results of four HDB tenders as it is trying to secure more new shop spaces. With new contributions coming in from the new stores, Sheng Siong could see its revenue and profits increase in the years ahead, translating to higher dividends for shareholders. Micro-Mechanics Holdings (SGX: 5DD) Micro-Mechanics Holdings, or MMH, provides high-precision tools and parts used in the wafer fabrication and assembly processes of the semiconductor industry. The group has more than 600 customers globally and operates five facilities in Singapore, Malaysia, China, the US, and the Philippines. Management is committed to delivering long-term shareholder returns, and MMH has paid out dividends every single fiscal year since its IPO. A total of S$1.319 in dividends per share has been paid since MMH's listing, and this includes the periodic special dividends that were paid when times were good. MMH was caught in the semiconductor downturn, which started in 2022, but its recent results have shown that the industry could be witnessing a strong rebound. For the first nine months of fiscal 2025 (9M FY2025), revenue climbed 12.9% year on year to S$48.5 million. Operating profit surged 38.8% year on year to S$12.3 million while net profit soared 54.7% year on year to S$9.2 million. MMH is seeing capacity utilisation increase steadily while its gross margin hit 50% for its latest quarter, up from 46.4% in the prior year. The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) expects 2025 global semiconductor sales to increase by 19% year on year to US$627 billion. This growth should bode well for MMH in the coming years, and the group will pay out increasing dividends if its profits continue to grow. When headlines feel chaotic, you need 'Get Smart', our weekly newsletter. Each issue helps you focus on what matters, explaining stocks and strategies in plain language, and pointing you toward dividend-payers that can hold steady when the world doesn't. Sign up now for free and get ready for our next issue in your inbox. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses! Disclosure: Royston Yang owns shares of Micro-Mechanics (Holdings). The post Build Reliable Passive Income with These 3 Dependable Singapore Dividend Stocks appeared first on The Smart Investor.
Free Malaysia Today
11-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Tiger Balm offering football fans a chance to catch Bayern Munich live
Haw Par Malaysia country manager Yvonne Teh (in white shirt) and DKSH Malaysia Sdn Bhd's Pharmaceuticals & Consumer Health senior general manager Caryne Au unveiling the Legendary Together 3v3 Tournament trophy, watched by (from left) former national footballers Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Soh Chin Ann, Santokh Singh and Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak. KUALA LUMPUR : Tiger Balm is organising a three-on-three futsal tournament which will see participants compete for the grand prize – an all-expense-paid trip to watch FC Bayern Munich live at Germany's iconic Allianz Arena. The Legendary Together 3v3 Tournament, launched today at MyTOWN Shopping Centre here, will run until June 15. Yvonne Teh, country manager of Haw Par Malaysia, Tiger Balm's parent company, said they decided to collaborate with the most successful club in Germany due to their shared values. 'We're united by values of performance, recovery, and unwavering discipline as well as values every athlete, in every sport, can relate to. 'That's why this partnership with FC Bayern Munich is so meaningful,' she said. Teh said the decision to invite former national footballers Soh Chin Ann, Santokh Singh, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak to the launch was because the company wanted to pay tribute to players who help inspire the younger generation. Members of the media testing out the court where all teams will be competing on. She also said the tournament, which will be held at the MyTOWN Shopping Centre, is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle. She emphasised that Tiger Balm has long been dedicated to promoting recovery and movement, catering to both elite athletes and everyday joggers. 'Tiger Balm provides safe and effective relief for sore muscles, joint aches or pains,' she said.
