The branch will open at the site of a former hardware store in April

Ecology Building Society has chosen Wales for its first ever high street branch. The mutual, which is the youngest in the UK having been established in 1981, will open it maiden branch in Porth where it has acquired a former hardware at Hannah Street.

In partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Ecology Building Society – which has 15,000 customers served via online, post and telephone – secured UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding to renovate building, which has stood empty since June 2025. The new branch will create at least three new jobs in the area.

It will provide face-to-face service offering a range savings and mortgage products. It will also feature kiosks giving business and retail customers free access to cash deposit and withdrawal services, including to those without Ecology accounts. A community space, available for local groups to host activities, has also been designed into the branch.

READ MORE: Fall in the number of shoppers on the high street in WalesREAD MORE: How a £30m Cardiff Capital Region company contract to demolish Aberthaw Power Station was botched

On the rationale for investing in its first branch, Gareth Griffiths, chief executive of Ecology, said “For too long, communities like Porth have been abandoned by the big high street banks, leaving them stranded in a ‘banking desert’ without access to essential services and support. These faceless corporates have put profit-driven decisions over people’s needs, leaving a gap that Ecology is determined to fill. This ambition starts with our very first branch in Porth.

“Since Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, people have an increased need for security and face-to-face support. But the big banks have failed to respond to this. Ripping out banking facilities from the high street is more than just the denial of access to cash and customer service. It’s the loss of trusted spaces, stability and connection.

“Our community hub space will be a place that people and local groups can come together, plan activities and help one another. Porth has an amazing sense of pride, and we want the branch to build on that.”

Ecology identified Porth as one of several areas across the UK facing long-standing inequalities in access and opportunity. In Wales alone, over 62% of high street bank branches have closed their doors in the last decade, with Porth’s last remaining bank closing over eight years ago, making it difficult for residents and local business to access key financial services and support.

Ecology is currently considering, although at an early stage, potential locations for other physical branches.

Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said:“We are delighted to welcome Ecology Building Society to Porth, bring much-needed community facilities to the town. As well as the immediate and obvious benefits of new banking services and local employment opportunities, this partnership has also meant an empty property, which was at risk of becoming an eyesore and a cause for community concern, has been regenerated.”

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “It is wonderful to see Ecology Building Society launch its first-ever branch to support those who are under-served in their area. There has been a stark decline in bank branches over the years, attributed to falls in footfall and changing consumer behaviour.

“However, there are still people out there who need access to branches to deposit or withdraw cash or need in-person support. Mutuals are champions at giving back to the community, so it’s brilliant to see the inclusion of a space available to local groups and that even non-members can use the banking facilities.”

In 2024 Ecology Building Society had total assets of £337m, of which £250m was mortgaged related. The mutual is currently preparing its financial report for 2025.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board is considering reopening sale talks with Paramount Skydance after receiving a revised takeover offer, according to a Bloomberg News report published Sunday.

The board has not made a final decision and could still move forward with its current agreement with Netflix.

The report, which cited people familiar with the matter, said board members are discussing whether Paramount’s updated proposal could lead to a stronger overall deal. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report, and the companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Warner Bros. agreed in December to sell its film studio and HBO Max streaming service to Netflix for $27.75 per share, CNBC reported. Soon after, Paramount launched a hostile bid, offering $30 per share in cash.

Last week, Paramount sweetened its proposal but did not increase the $30 per share price. Instead, it added new financial incentives.

The company offered shareholders a 25-cent-per-share quarterly “ticking fee” starting in 2027 if the deal has not closed by the end of 2026.

That fee could amount to about $650 million in cash per quarter until the transaction is completed.

Paramount Offers to Cover $2.8B Netflix Breakup Fee

Paramount also agreed to cover the $2.8 billion breakup fee Warner Bros. would owe Netflix if it walks away from their existing agreement.

According to the NY Post, Paramount said it would eliminate up to $1.5 billion in possible debt refinancing costs. Altogether, Paramount’s offer values the deal at about $108.4 billion, including debt.

Both Paramount and Netflix are interested in Warner Bros. for its strong film and television studios and its large content library.

The company owns popular franchises such as “Game of Thrones,” “Harry Potter,” and DC Comics heroes like Batman and Superman. These brands are seen as powerful drivers for streaming and global growth.

Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which has built a nearly $200 million stake in Warner Bros., recently said it plans to oppose the Netflix deal.

The firm argues the board did not fully engage with Paramount over its competing bid.

According to the sources, this is the first time Warner Bros.’ board has seriously weighed whether Paramount’s improved terms could produce a better outcome or encourage Netflix to revise its own offer.

Originally published on vcpost.com

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Hemerdon is located seven miles north-east of Plymouth and is one of the largest tungsten resources in the world

The company looking to reopen a mine in Devon that holds a rare critical metal has signed two supply agreements which put it on track to start production later this year. London-listed Tungsten West said on Monday (February 16) the contracts covered major additions for its improvement plan at the Hemerdon mine in Plympton.

The company has come to an agreement with Coventry-based Duo Group for the engineering procurement and construction works package for the mine’s new build crushing, screening and ore sorter facility. It has also struck a deal with Australia’s Gekko Systems Pty for the supply of an in-line pressure jigs system and associated infrastructure.

Hemerdon is located seven miles north-east of Plymouth and is one of the largest tungsten resources in the world. Tungsten West acquired the site through a receivership process in 2019 following the collapse of previous operator Wolf Minerals.

The company claims the mine could produce 20 per cent of the global supply of primary tungsten outside of China once operational. Tungsten is used by many manufacturing companies, including in the automotive and defence industries.

Jeff Court, chief executive of Tungsten West, said: “I am extremely pleased to partner with Duo and Gekko, two well established and highly regarded suppliers, on these important work packages as we reach another critical stage in restarting Hemerdon. These supply agreements will ensure that we have all the major processing additions in place to implement the improvement plan at the MPF.

“I want to extend my gratitude to both of our new supply partners for their support of Tungsten West and the Project, and I look forward to updating the market with further progress as we advance towards our path to production.”

Martin McWilliams, managing director of Duo, said works on site would “commence immediately” and marked “an important step forward” in the delivery of the mine’s new build construction programme.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with the Tungsten West team to support the successful redevelopment of the project,” he said. “We are committed to executing the programme in a disciplined and timely manner to support the company’s operational and environmental objectives.”

Andrew Edmondston, chief executive of Gekko Systems, added: “Gekko Systems is very excited to be working with Tungsten West on the Hemerdon Project.”

The announcement comes just 10 days after Tungsten West confirmed it had raised more than £40m in a share sale.

It is the first athlete sponsorship partnership for the Cardiff-based property advisory firm

Cooke & Arkwright, the largest firm of independent commercial property advisors in Wales, has confirmed its first-ever athlete sponsorship. The Cardiff-based firm is sponsoring 19-year-old sprinter Jess Mantle from Barry.

Ms Mantle’ sporting journey began with a focus on football and beach lifeguarding in her hometown of Barry which laid the foundations for her interest in sport. She later began her athletics career with Barry Harriers before joining Cardiff Athletics Club at the age of 14, where she now competes in the 100m sprint.

Alongside her training, she is studying sports science in Cardiff and dedicates her spare time to coaching the next generation of sprinters.

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2025 marked a breakthrough year for the athlete, who is rapidly becoming one of Wales’s most exciting young athletes. She secured a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the European U20 Championships in Helsinki as part of Team GB and claimed bronze in the 60m at the Junior British Indoor Championships.

She also earned the Welsh senior 60m title in Cardiff, won the U20 100m in Swansea, and captured silver in the 100m at the British U20 Championships in Birmingham. Her ninth-place finish in the 100m at the European U20 Championships further cemented her position as one of Wales’s most promising sprint talents.

Ms Mantle said, “I’m really proud to be partnering with Cooke & Arkwright as their sponsored athlete. Having the support of a Welsh company that believes in me means a lot as I push towards the next stage of my career. I’m incredibly grateful for this partnership and look forward to the upcoming championships and sharing my progress along the way.”

Ben Bolton, director at Cooke & Arkwright, said, “Jess represents everything we value as a firm – ambition, resilience and a commitment to supporting future talent in Wales. We are delighted to be supporting her as she builds on her impressive achievements. Her story is inspiring, and her drive both on the track and in her coaching work makes her an exceptional role model. We’re excited to support her journey and look forward to celebrating her continued success.”

Goyal said, “Hospital business achieved 19% revenue growth compared to last year, and consolidated growth was 17.5%. We are in the growth phase and expect this momentum to continue.”

Occupancy Set to Improve
Asked about occupancy, currently at 67%, Goyal said, “We acquired new assets and started a mental health business, Adayu. These will take time to ramp up. We expect to reach 70% occupancy in about a year.”Margin Expansion on Track
On EBITDA margins, Goyal noted, “Fortis has been improving margins over the last four years. Brownfield expansions and ramp-up of existing facilities will further improve margins. Some underperforming hospitals, like Escorts and CG Road in Bangalore, are now contributing positively. Manesar facility has breakeven EBITDA and is adding to margins.”

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On medium-term margins, he added, “Hospital EBITDA is around 22%, diagnostics 23–24%. We expect hospital margins to reach 24–25%. Diagnostics have shown 8.3% revenue growth, and there is further room for improvement.”
Bangalore Expansion
Regarding the Bangalore plan to expand from 900 to 1,500 beds, Goyal said, “We acquired People Tree hospital and adjacent land. First, we will align the hospital with Fortis standards, then build an onco block. All Bangalore hospitals are doing 20%+ EBITDA margin, and we expect faster growth in this market.”
Revenue Growth Drivers
On top-line growth of 19.4%, he explained, “About 4% comes from acquisitions, another 10% from brownfield expansions, and the rest from ramp-up and high-end care like oncology. Price increases account for only 2–2.5% of growth.”
Future Growth Outlook
Asked about strategic growth, Goyal said, “It’s difficult to give exact guidance, but we expect similar growth going forward. Brownfield expansions will kick in fully next year. Our flagship FMRI hospital’s new block will start contributing to revenue and EBITDA, as it is already operating near 80% occupancy.”

With growth across hospitals and diagnostics, margin improvements, and strategic expansion, Fortis Healthcare appears well-positioned to maintain strong momentum in the coming quarters.