Daily Archives: August 7, 2012

Technology

LAN Systems CEO Presents Cloud Computing Webinar for TAG

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LAN Systems CEO Mary Hester presented a webinar on Cloud Computing for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).

Norcross, GA (USA), Tuesday – August 07, 2012 — Today, LAN Systems, a leading Atlanta IT Consulting firm, CEO Mary Hester presented a webinar on Cloud Computing for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).

The topic for the webinar was “Get Your Head into the Cloud: Cloud Computing for Today’s Growing Business.” Mary Hester spoke about the computing models that make up Cloud Computing and how to use the Cloud for your business’ competitive advantage. Attendees learned how the Cloud has evolved from advances in technology and how these advantages provide small businesses with enterprise-class applications and services.

“What a great topic for business efficiency,” said CEO Mary Hester. “Whether you like to call it Cloud Computing or are searching for another name, the technology is here to stay. The Cloud provides businesses with the biggest competitive advantage boost in decades.”

This was part of the TAG webinar series, which was started in 2010 to provide information from experts from the technology community on topics such as business intelligence, leadership skills, professional development and many more. TAG webinars are presented on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.

About the Technology Association of Georgia:
TAG serves as an advocate for positive public policy change that will transform the technology community and will enhance the economic climate of Georgia. Our membership includes thought leaders from technology companies – small and large, executives of FORTUNE 500 companies, investors, service providers, government and civic leaders and entrepreneurs.

Today, TAG’s mission is to help Georgia’s technology companies speak in a strong voice. The Association helps members connect with companies that use their services. We serve as a liaison with Chambers of Commerce statewide and beyond to attract new businesses and employees…to provide TAG members with information on the legislative agenda that impacts them. For more information visit TAG at http://www.tagonline.org.

About LAN Systems:
LAN Systems is a leading Atlanta Computer Support company that provides people-focused IT solutions. As technology experts, LAN Systems helps companies make the most of their existing IT investment and choose the right solutions to fuel growth. LAN Systems is a leading provider of IT Solutions for growing businesses in the Metro Atlanta. For more information, visit: www.lansystems.com

Press & Media Contact:
Lauren VanBuskirk
VP of Sales and Marketing
LAN Systems
3079 Crossing Park
Norcross, GA 30071 – USA
770-662-0312
lauren@lansystems.com
http://www.lansystems.com

Technology

Guardtime Keyless Signatures Provide a Regulatory Compliant Audit Trail for WDX Market Reference Data

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WOCU’s integration of the Guardtime Keyless Signatures provides independent and legally enforceable proof that distributed WOCU fixing data has not been compromised.

Palo Alto, CA (USA) / London (UK), Tuesday – August 07, 2012 — Excessive volatility in foreign exchange rates creates a tremendous amount of business uncertainty, the WOCU® World Currency Unit by WDX Organisation is a contemporary derivative currency basket comprised of quoted currencies, providing the perfect “off the shelf” natural currency stabilization solution to this issue. The guarantee of accuracy and authenticity of this data must be absolute for regulatory authorities and auditors in the event of a dispute. WOCU’s integration of the Guardtime Keyless Signatures provides independent and legally enforceable proof that distributed WOCU fixing data has not been compromised.

“The recent Libor scandals show how important it is for financial institutions to have a secure audit trail around market reference data, one that will stand up in court and regulatory compliance and cannot be manipulated by insiders with system access. There here is no better example than WDX and WOCU,” says Mike Gault, CEO of Guardtime. “We’re happy to help WDX in securing an audit trail for their market reference data, a solution especially relevant in today’s economic climate.”

Mike Blakey, Managing Director of the WDX Organisation, said, “WOCU data and applications allow our clients to fully recognize the value of the WOCU as a natural currency stabilizer. With the integration of the Guardtime Keyless Signatures ( http://www.guardtime.com ), our clients now have the proof they need that WOCU fixing data is authentic and tamper-free. This supports our goal of promulgating the unfettered use of the WOCU in markets and businesses around the world.”

As a result of the integration of Guardtime Keyless Signatures ( http://www.guardtime.com ), all WOCU fixing data is indelibly signed to prove integrity and authenticity, concurrent with delivery to WOCU subscribers; WDX Organisation Limited maintain long-term proof of integrity for historical currency values without the need to manage complex and expensive PKI-based systems.

About Guardtime:
Guardtime was founded with the goal of solving one of the biggest problems in computing: how to be sure electronic data is authentic. Guardtime’s Keyless Signatures provide proof of origin and that not a single bit has changed since a specific point in time. The verification of the signature can be done offline without reliance on keys, secrets, or the existence of a trusted third party. Guardtime’s mission is to change the world to one in which Keyless Signatures are ubiquitous and a natural part of the everyday data lifecycle, whether on disk, in transit, or in the Cloud. Visit http://www.guardtime.com for more information about using Keyless Signatures for signing your data.

About WDX Organisation Limited and the WOCU:
WDX is a private company based in London, England. It is the owner and distributor of the WOCU, a standardised, apolitical, real time derivative currency quotation based on the real time exchange rates of the currency pairs of the world’s top 20 nations as determined by IMF measures of GDP. The WOCU, its constituent currency pairs weighted in line with GDPs, is a generally less volatile currency unit than traditional currency pairs, balancing currency risk and offering commercial advantage for users. WOCU prices, information about WDX and other data can be found at http://www.wocu.com.

Press & Media Contact:
Victor Cruz, Principal
MediaPR.net Inc
Palo Alto, CA – USA
+1 978-594-4134
vcruz@mediapr.net
http://mediapr.net
http://www.guardtime.com

Business

Tweeting for Business: Experts Connection Webinar Offers Course in How to Use Twitter to Build Your Business

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Social Media Expert Neal Shaffer Offers Step-by-Step Instruction on How to Build Successful Twitter Marketing Campaigns for Any Organization.

NOVATO, Calif. (August 7, 2012) — This month, Experts Connection for Business (http://www.experts-connection.com/business.aspx) will present Neal Schaffer, social media strategist and author of “Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing Twitter,” who will share his expertise into how to apply Twitter as part of any strategic marketing campaign. The webinar, entitled “Twitter for Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing Twitter,” is hosted by NETSHARE® (http://www.netshare.com), and scheduled for August 21, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET, (1:00 – 2:30 p.m. PT).

Twitter continues to be one of the most powerful most misunderstood social networks. While many marketing professionals are still struggling to perfect their microblogging strategy, Schaffer has been designing successful marketing campaigns for clients for a number of years and will provide specific strategies and a step-by-step approach to show how to get the most out of Twitter for sales and marketing.

Among the insights Schaffer will share are the Twitter secrets used by major brands. The instruction will include:

– What opportunities Twitter provides to business;
– How Twitter is currently being used within corporations;
– How to build an effective Twitter marketing strategy;
– How to include Twitter as part of a broader marketing program;
– Understanding hash tags, Twitter chats, and how to build a following;
– Examples of successful Twitter campaigns; and
– Twitter tools that are available to make Tweeting more efficient.

“Social media levels the marketing playing field so any business can compete effectively,” said Katherine Simmons, CEO of NETSHARE and host of the Experts Connection webinar series. “Neal has designed winning Twitter campaigns for global companies, and we are fortunate to be able to share his expertise through Experts Connection. This is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to learn how to harness Twitter and social media for effective marketing.”

The Experts Connection teleseminar series allows business professionals to connect with experts in a wide range of areas, gathering information about business-critical topics presented with an eye toward the practical, not just the theoretical. Experts Connections recruits the most knowledgeable specialists to address problems facing small companies, multi-national corporations, B2B, B2C; businesses of any size serving any market. The cost of the seminar is $100, and access is provided via web and telephone. For more information, visit the Experts Connection online at http://www.experts-connection.com/business.aspx.

About Neal Schaffer
Neal Schaffer helps organizations strategically leverage and maximize return on investment from social business. He is currently Senior Vice President of Social Media Strategy for Social 5150 and Vice President of Social Media Strategy for Green Dream Social, as well as the author of two books on LinkedIn and the soon-to-be-published “Understanding, Leveraging & Maximizing Twitter”. Neal is a frequent speaker at media events sponsored by ABC and CBS and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, Yahoo! and the American Express Open Forum. He also has counseled Fortune 500 companies and celebrities with nearly one million social media fans.

About NETSHARE
NETSHARE (http://www.netshare.com) is a confidential, membership based organization dedicated to providing executives across all disciplines and industries with quality $100K plus job lists. NETSHARE also offers networking opportunities and a community of peers for the exchange of strategic information related to job search, professional development and best practices. NETSHARE has been recognized by Fortune and Forbes magazines as the best online destination for executive positions.

Contact:
Annette DiSano
NETSHARE, Inc.
(415) 883-1700
Annette@netshare.com

Tom Woolf
Woolf Media & Marketing
(415) 259-5638
tomw@woolfmedia.com

Business

Edgar Perez, The Speed Traders Workshop 2012, Featured in The New York Times on High-Frequency Trading Regulation

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Edgar Perez, the author of “The Speed Traders: An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That Is Transforming the Investing World” and the forthcoming “Knightmare on Wall Street: Do Facebook’s Botched IPO and Knight Capital’s Technology Error Mark the Beginning of the End of Equities Investing?,” featured in The New York Times’ Room for Debate, with “Don’t Ban the Trades; Regulate Them in Real Time”.

New York City, NY, USA (August 7, 2012) — Edgar Perez, author of The Speed Traders, and former McKinsey & Co. consultant and New York University Adjunct Professor, was featured in The New York Times’ Room for Debate opinion page on How to Regulate High-Frequency Trading, alongside other recognized experts on the subjects of speed trading and regulation. Perez is currently presenting The Speed Traders Workshop 2012, How High Frequency Traders Leverage Profitable Strategies to Find Alpha in Equities, Options, Futures and FX (The Speed Traders Workshop 2012), in a number of cities around the world, including Moscow, Shanghai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, New York, Chicago, Dubai and London.

In his article, “Don’t Ban the Trades; Regulate Them in Real Time”, Perez argued that wrongdoing in financial markets has existed long before the advent of high-frequency trading, and it would always be a part of markets. High-frequency trading is simply a tool, he said; it can be positive or negative for investors and markets. To maximize the benefit and minimize the downsides, regulators need to catch up with the technology.

“High-frequency trading has been under a microscope since the infamous ‘flash crash’ in 2010. Let’s remember, though: The market rebounded that day almost as fast as it fell, and regulators ultimately determined that the crash was initiated by human error. But many in the financial sector and in government were uncomfortable at the thought that high-frequency trading programs could vaporize huge amounts of equity in a matter of minutes.”

Perez concluded that real-time policing for potential malfeasance was the most efficient way to regulate high-frequency trading. Analysis of real-time data would provide for effective regulation of these trades. This in turn would provide peace of mind for market participants big and small.

Mr. Perez is widely regarded as the preeminent global expert in the specialized area of high-frequency trading. He is author of The Speed Traders, An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World, published in English by McGraw-Hill Inc. (2011), in Mandarin by China Financial Publishing House (2012) and currently being translated into Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese, and the forthcoming Knightmare on Wall Street: Do Facebook’s Botched IPO and Knight Capital’s Technology Error Mark the Beginning of the End of Equities Investing?. He is course director of The Speed Traders Workshop 2012, How High Frequency Traders Leverage Profitable Strategies to Find Alpha in Equities, Options, Futures and FX (Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Warsaw, Kiev, New York, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Ho Chi Minh, New York, Dubai and Chicago), and was Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, where he taught Algorithmic Trading and High-Frequency Finance. He contributes regularly to China’s International Finance News.

Mr. Perez has been interviewed on CNBC Cash Flow, CNBC Squawk Box, BNN Business Day, CCTV China, Bankier.pl, TheStreet.com, Leaderonomics, GPW Media, Channel NewsAsia Business Tonight and Cents & Sensibilities. In addition, Mr. Perez has been featured on Caixin, Futures Daily, Xinhua, CBN Newswire, Chinese Financial News, ifeng.com, International Finance News, hexun.com, Finance.QQ.com, Finance.Sina.com, The Korea Times, The Korea Herald, The Star, BMF 89.9, iMoney Hong Kong, CNBC, Bloomberg Hedge Fund Brief, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Valor Econômico, FIXGlobal Trading, TODAY Online, Oriental Daily News and Business Times.

Mr. Perez has been engaged to present to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Washington DC), CFA Singapore, Hong Kong Securities Institute, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, University of International Business and Economics (Beijing), Hult International Business School (Shanghai) and Pace University (New York), among other public and private institutions. In addition, Mr. Perez has spoken at a number of global conferences, including Harvard Business School’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference (Boston), High-Frequency Trading Leaders Forum (New York, Chicago), MIT Sloan Investment Management Conference (Cambridge), Institutional Investor’s Global Growth Markets Forum (London), Technical Analysis Society (Singapore), TradeTech Asia (Singapore), FIXGlobal Face2Face (Seoul) and Private Equity Convention Russia, CIS & Eurasia (London).

Mr. Perez was a vice president at Citigroup, a senior consultant at IBM, and a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co. in New York City. Mr. Perez has an undergraduate degree from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru (1994), a Master of Administration from Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru (1997) and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School, New York, with a dual major in Finance and Management (2002). He belongs to the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Mr. Perez resides in the New York City area and is an accomplished salsa and hustle dancer.

Media Contact:
Julia Petrova
Media Relations Coordinator
The Speed Traders
516-761-4712
jpetrova@thespeedtraders.com
http://www.thespeedtraders.com

Computers, Electronics, Entertainment, Internet & Online, Technology

Museum Uses Lilitab iPad Kiosks to Engage Visitors

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As part of “The Sound of Sax” exhibit, The Museum of Making Music has installed several Lilitab iPad kiosks to share videos and sound clips to entertain and educate visitors about the process of music creation. The Lilitab kiosks contain headphone mounts on the stands, providing enhanced sound and improved visitor interactions. “It was a great solution”, says B.J. Morgan, Marketing Manager at The Museum. The iPads® remain fully charged when plugged into an outlet using the integrated charging cable in each stand. Kiosk set-up is quick and easy; just attach an iPad, secure the head unit, and plug in the power cord. Installing different home button access face plates regulates visitor interactions; full web access, a single site or specific application can be configured for varying visitor experiences. Temporary installations are easily managed with the lightweight and portable Lilitab kiosk. The modular design of the mounting solution provides for several types of visitor stations: wall mounted, surface mounted, tabletop or floor stand. Full ADA compliance assures the Lilitab provides easy iPad® interactions for wheelchair visitors. The Lilitab iPad enclosure head unit securely locks the tablet in place. Every mounting solution has the option to be bolted or cable-locked to the floor or other fixture. Integrated into the Lilitab design from the very beginning, museums can be sure their iPad® resources are safe in public venues. The Lilitab iPad kiosk is versatile, modular and easy to customize. The Lilitab Tabletop turns any desk or table into a self-service station with quick installation; the Lilitab Surface is for a more permanent solution for a wall or counter. Keyboard and printer shelves are also available as added accessories. Optional banners to promote special events or seasonal activities enhance the visitor experience even more. The Museum of Making Music, founded in 1998 by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), was developed to showcase and celebrate the music products industry. The Museum provides opportunities for cultural enrichment while preserving our musical heritage through special exhibitions, innovative concerts and educational programs aimed toward a wide range of audiences. Lilitab is a group of designers, engineers & business people passionate about the use of tablet computers in public-use environments. With their compelling interface, compact form-factor and economical price-point, there are all kinds of new and unique uses for putting interactivity into the public space. Additional applications from Lilitab include an iPad credit card reader and iPad ID scanner. Founded in 2011 by Adam Aronson, an award winning kiosk designer, Lilitab is committed to delivering the most secure, functional and stylish security enclosures for ANY tablet. Adam has been designing custom kiosk enclosures for public-use environments since 1994 in San Francisco. Museums can engage visitors using the affordable and sleek Lilitab iPad kiosk. For more information, contact: Jennifer Maskrey Lilitab 888.705.0190 906 info@lilitab.com

Business

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal Ranks Rosendin Electric Third Among Largest Private Companies for 2012

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Rosendin Electric Named Number Three in Revenue for the Second Year in a Row.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (August 7, 2012) – For the second year in a row the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal has placed Rosendin Electric, one of the nation’s largest private electrical contractors and a 100% employee-owned company, as number three in its 2012 list of top private companies as ranked by revenue.

The rankings for the annual list have been published in the current issue of the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal and are determined by earnings for the preceding fiscal year. This year, Rosendin Electric was named third based on earnings of $817.3 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. For the list published in 2011, Rosendin Electric also ranked third with earnings of $727 million for the year ending December 31, 2010.

“Rosendin Electric’s reputation continues to grow, not only here in Silicon Valley but throughout the country as well as in international markets where we have an established presence,” said Tom Sorley, Chairman and CEO of Rosendin Electric. “Business is booming because our partners and clients know they can rely on Rosendin Electric to bring the latest design-build techniques and innovation to any job. We continue to attract the best talent in the construction business, and our commitment to excellence and creating a safe and friendly workplace continues to put us ahead of the competition in productivity and reliability.”

About Rosendin Electric
Rosendin Electric, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, is a 100% employee-owned electrical engineering, power and communications provider and is one of the largest privately held electrical contractors in the United States. With over 2,500 employees and experience nationwide, Rosendin Electric has built upon a 90-year reputation for quality design and installations. For additional information, visit http://www.rosendin.com.

Contact:
Shelly Goulart
Marketing Manager
Rosendin Electric, Inc.
880 Mabury Road
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 534-2819
sgoulart@rosendin.com
http://www.rosendin.com

Business, Travel

TripInsurance.com Launches New Web Site to Simplify Buying Travel Insurance And Extend Support for Travelers

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Travel Insurance Website Streamlines Online Comparison and Gives Consumers More Options, More Savings, and More Support When Traveling.

LOS GATOS, Calif. (August 7, 2012) – TripInsurance.com, the most trusted online resource to help travelers find the trip coverage they need, has launched a new web site designed to help travelers find the trip insurance coverage that ideally suits their travel needs and give them more support while they are on the road. This new website now provides the easiest way to compare travel insurance coverage and save money when buying the right coverage for you.

The new TripInsurance.com now features improved, easier-to-understand quote results that simplify the comparison of insurance plan options. TripInsurance.com provides side-by-side comparisons of plans grouped by Good, Better, and Best options. Options include a professional review of each plan that lists the pros and cons for each coverage package as well as comparative pricing. A popup window provides instant details about each option, including trip cancellation coverage, trip interruption coverage, cancel for any reason, medical expense coverage, medical evacuation coverage, non-medical evacuation coverage, accidental death and dismemberment, and more. In addition, instant price quotes are provided based on basic criteria, such as age, dates of travel, and the state of residence.

“Buying travel insurance was too complex, so we decided to simplify the process,” said Dan Skilken, CEO and founder of TripInsurance.com. “By grouping our plans based on the coverage categories of Good, Better, and Best, we empower our customers by giving them a better understanding of their options and the associated costs. We are the only comparison website that lets you file your claims online on our website, and we have enhanced all our customer support facilities and documentation to make it easier to get help before during and after your trip.”

TripInsurance.com offers exclusive products from the leading travel insurance companies at consumer direct prices. By eliminating middlemen TripInsurance.com can pass the savings directly on to the consumer. On average, travelers can save 40 percent or more on comparable travel insurance coverage when they buy from TripInsurance.com.

TripInsurance.com’s travel insurance is backed by 24/7 telephone support. Customers can call any time with insurance questions about coverage for any situation that might arise, or to file a claim. The TripInsurance.com response team is highly trained and consists of U.S.-based, licensed insurance professionals who are prepared to answer any question. Customers also can use the web site to file a claim online or gather more information. The new web site features a comprehensive online Help section with information to help travelers before and during their trip.

All customers who purchase from TripInsurance.com also receive e-travel alerts to warn them of any problems that could affect their trip. TripInsurance.com has expanded its online resource section to include hourly updates with travel warnings from the U.S. State Department, the British Government, the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and the National Hurricane Forecast.

“We don’t just sell travel insurance, we offer peace of mind while travelling. We want our customers to feel protected and supported before, during, and after their trip. We know travelers appreciate the service we offer as well as the money they can save on our trip insurance.”

About TripInsurance.com
TripInsurance.com is the online resource for comprehensive and affordable travel insurance. Most travelers really don’t understand the details and benefits of travel insurance, and buy based on recommendations from a travel agent or a third party. TripInsurance.com simplifies buying travel insurance by providing comparison-shopping online for the best coverage at the lowest prices. TripInsurance.com is committed to making insurance terms easy to understand, providing the best available coverage categorized by customers’ specific needs, and allowing travelers to buy direct from leading underwriters to achieve savings of 40% or more. The company is fully licensed for Property and Casualty, Life, and Accident and Health insurance in all 50 states, and the staff are fully trained and licensed insurance professionals.

For more information, visit http://www.tripinsurance.com.

Contact:
Dan Skilken
TripInsurance.com
(408) 337-2345
info@tripinsurance.com

Tom Woolf
Gumas Advertising
(415) 621-7575
twoolf@gumas.com

Business

AAA Welcomes Report into Pensions Investing in Alternatives

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AAA has welcomed new research from Towers Watson consultancy, which found that pension funds are still putting more and more of their funds into alternative investments.

Boston, MA, USA, August 6, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed new research from Towers Watson consultancy, which found that pension funds are still putting more and more of their funds into alternative investments.

The survey found that there has been a 7.9 per cent rise in the total pension fund assets under management by the top 100 asset managers. The total sum is now $1.03 trillion, up from $951.7 billion in 2010.

The rise is partly due to the fact that the survey now includes figures from insurers, foundations, endowments and sovereign wealth funds. Much of the assets under management are being invested in alternatives such as hedge funds and private equity, according to Towers Watson.

A spokesman for Towers Watson, Craig Baker, said, “Our client base is quite different today from when we started this survey. We do a lot of work with insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds and endowments.”

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson said that these latest figures show that institutional investors are increasingly looking towards alternatives to diversify their portfolios and offset the impact of inflation. He stated, “We are seeing an increase in interest in alternatives with individuals and institutional investors realizing in their droves that alternatives can offer a wise option.”

AAA claims that individual investors are now “spoiled for choice” when it comes to interesting alternatives asset classes that can offer a hedge against inflation and a less risky investment than the equity markets. “Timberland is one of the best-performing alternatives,” added Mr Johnson.

“Investing directly in timberland through the kind of schemes run by Greenwood Management in Brazil, for example, ensures people get something tangible in exchange for their investment.”

“Not only this, but timberland returns on investment have typically outperformed equities over a number of years and can offer a good long-term investment option for people looking for a pension investment.”

About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.

Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

AAA welcomes Expansion of Unique wine investment scheme

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A UK-based online wine investment firm has expanded into Australia and the US, in a move that has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, August 06, 2012 – A UK-based online wine investment firm has expanded into Australia and the US, in a move that has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The Naked Wine offering differs quite a lot from other wine investment funds, as customers can help to choose which small winemakers the firm invests in. They become ‘Angel’ investors to help these small and niche winemakers produce more wine, and they receive bottles in return.

These bottles can, due to their rarity, become quite valuable – making the whole process a realistic option for alternative investors looking to diversify their portfolios, claims AAA. The alternative investment advocacy group supports a wide range of alternative asset classes and claims that wine is fast-becoming a popular option for many people who want something tangible in return for their investments.

The latest move from Naked Wines will see the firm invest more than $7 million in independent US and Australian wine producers. The Angels commit to investing small amount each month and receive a discount off the regular price of the wines produced in return.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “The Naked Wines brand had a good way of engaging investors by encouraging them to get involved in social networking and discussion forums. The fact that they even have the opportunity to choose where the investments go is also a major perk.”

AAA claims that more and more people are becoming interested in alternative investments in response to the global economic crisis and the general volatility of the equity markets.

Forestry investment is one of the main areas of interest for AAA. It claims that investing in sustainable plantations run by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil and elsewhere is an ethical option and one that can generate generous returns. Forestry investment also helps to boost habitat for wildlife, claimed Mr Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com