Category Archives: Business

Business

AAA Supports Investment in Brazilian Social Housing Projects

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AAA is lending its support to moves to attract investment in Brazil’s social housing projects.

Boston, MA, August 25, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) is lending its support to moves to attract investment in Brazil’s social housing projects.

AAA, an advocate of alternative asset classes, such as real estate, sustainable forestry and precious metals, has welcomed calls from analysts at Colordarcy, who are encouraging investors to consider Brazilian social housing projects, such as the Minha Casa Minha Vida housing programme as a possible alternative investment.

“Not only would investing in this type of real estate project generate healthy returns, social investing like this can make a major difference to people’s lives in developing countries,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

The managing director of the Colodarcy, Loxley McKenzie, said that those opting to invest in Brazilian social housing can enjoy quick returns. He said: “It is possible to enjoy a high return on investment in a short space of time.”

The project involves the construction of a million homes for Brazil’s poorer population and, as a result, it is one of the largest such residential development projects in the world. Investing at an early stage, especially in a country whose economy remains strong when others are still in recession, can prove a wise move for investors, AAA has claimed.

Brazil is also set to benefit from further growth as it continues its preparations for the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. There is a major shortage of housing in the cities where people are increasingly moving in order to fill the job vacancies that are emerging as a result of the country’s economic prosperity.

AAA encourages other investment in Brazil, through sustainable forestry projects such as the plantation schemes run by firms like Greenwood Management. These projects are intended to promote sustainable investments and provide alternatives to illegally logged timber and charcoal for use in construction and in the making of steel.

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

Business

UK Crack-down on Mis-sold Alternatives Supported by AAA

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News from the UK that its financial regulator is to clamp down on the mis-selling of alternative investments, has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, August 25, 2012 – News from the UK that its financial regulator is to clamp down on the mis-selling of alternative investments, has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The alternative investment advocacy group claims that the crack-down on the mis-selling of products know as Unauthorised Collective Investment Schemes (UCIS). In the UK can only be a good thing for the alternative market in general.

“We are pleased to see that more is being done to protect those opting for alternative investments,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

“The more that can be done to stop unscrupulous businesses from putting the hard sell on investors, the better the reputation of the valid industry players.”

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK claims that the market for UCIS, which are products that are often worthless if the seller goes into administration, is worth around £2.5 billion. the funds invest is a wide variety of asset classes and when they are mis-sold, the reputation of these asset classes can fall.

Many of these products are not based in the UK and are therefore not included under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which reimburses investors should they lose cash because a company or bank collapsing.

A statement from the FSA said it was taking action because “of the high levels of unsuitable advice it has uncovered and the potential for customer detriment.

‘Examples include: pensioners being advised to invest all of their wealth in a single, illiquid UCIS with a view to generating income; and a customer being advised to borrow money to invest in UCIS and to service the debt with withdrawals from that investment.’

AAA advocates ethical and alternative investments, that are valid and sold the right way. Projects such as the managed forestry fund offered by Greenwood Management, for example, offer alternative investments from as little as $10,000.

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

Business

Last Call for Submissions to The Center for Productive Longevity’s Later-Life Story Contest

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Win $1,000 for Sharing Your Successful Entrepreneurship or Inspirational Life Story Post-50

Boulder, CO, August 22, 2012 – With the deadline of August 31 quickly approaching, people 50 and older are encouraged to submit their story to the Center for Productive Longevity’s (CPL) Later-Life Story Contest as soon as possible. The contest has two categories: (1) Entrepreneurship Success Stories and (2) Inspirational Life Stories, with one winner in each category who will receive $1,000 and a specially designed display trophy. CPL has selected a panel of three independent judges who will choose one winner in each category, and their selections will be announced on October 1, 2012.

“We have received a number of fascinating entries and are excited to share these stories with people of all ages,” says William Zinke, 85, founder and president of Center for Productive Longevity. “However, we know that there are more people out there who are moving the needle, making a difference, inspiring others and bringing new businesses to life. We want to hear from you, too!”

With 30 years added to longevity in the 20th century, people are leading active and fulfilled lives into their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. The goal of this contest is to demonstrate that older people in America can continue to lead successful and inspirational lives. Once the contest deadline has passed, CPL will select a variety of entrepreneur success stories to post on its website, highlighting the stories of the two winners.

Entries should be under 1,200 words and are easy to submit. Visit www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest to complete a submission form. Entrants must be 50 and older and be willing to have their story posted on the CPL website for viewing and for possible publication. Stories may also be sent to James Hooks at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

For more information on CPL and the Later-Life Story Contest for older entrepreneurs, visit www.ctrpl.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

CPL is also currently working on the finishing touches for the next meetings in its “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” series. The meetings are designed to contribute to a national momentum for new-business creation, which enables Baby Boomers to remain productively engaged and also facilitates national economic growth.

The meetings, designed for people 50 and older, are being held at Babson College in Wellesley, MA on September 14, Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver on November 15. To register and view preliminary agendas, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/entrepreneurship-meeting/overview.

Company Contacts:
William K. Zinke or James R. Hooks
Center for Productive Longevity
303.499.3939
wzinke@ctrpl.org or jhooks@ctrpl.org

About the Center for Productive Longevity:
The mission of CPL is to stimulate the substantially increased engagement of people 55 and older in productive activities, paid and volunteer, where they are qualified and ready to continue adding value. Visit ctrpl.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303.433.7020
ahassinger@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Business

AAA advocates Pension Fund Investment in Alternatives

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US public pension funds have further increased their exposure to alternative investments, in a move welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, August 23, 2012 – US public pension funds have further increased their exposure to alternative investments, in a move welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The alternative investment advocacy group claims that the pension funds are finding it increasingly difficult to raise enough cash as a result of low interest rates and poorly performing equity markets. “Off the back of these variables pension funds are investing billions in a whole range of alternatives asset classes,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

The Wiltshire Trust Universe Comparison Service found that pension funds worth $1 billion or more had a median of 15 per cent of their portfolio of investments in alternatives as of June 2012. This is up a significant amount from the 9.2 per cent in the same month a year ago.

Although some critics claims that there are risks involved with alternative investment, AAA claims that this all depends of the kind of alternative one chooses. Forestry and timberland investment, for example, carry relatively low risks as investors are able to hang on to their asset (the trees they have bought or invested in) until they are the right size and until timber prices are high.

“Investing in timberland not only offers investors an ethical choice, which helps to reduce deforestation, but also provides a great choice for pension funds as timberland investment are a good medium-to long-term option.”

Investing directly in trees by buying up forest land can generate good returns if the trees are left to grow for a very long time before they are felled and sold as timber. However, investing directly through plantation projects, such as the one run by Greenwood Management in Brazil, can mean investors see returns much sooner. This is due to the cyclical planting and felling model used in the firm’s sustainable plantations.

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

Business

FRA Welcomes Georgia Sustainability Ruling

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A new executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia will ensure that the region’s forests are certified as ‘green’ in a move that has been praised by FRA.

Bainbridge Island, WA, August 23, 2012 – A new executive order signed by Gov. Nathan Deal in Georgia will ensure that the region’s forests are certified as ‘green’ in a move that has been praised by Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The signing of the order is also intended to help the region boost the number of new buildings that are awarded LEED green building certification. The move will expand the definition of sustainable timber to include timber form forests certified under the American tree Farm System and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Until now, only buildings made from timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council could be eligible for LEED green building certification under the US Green Building Council.

As well as being supported by FRA, which advocates sustainable forestry in all its forms, the move has also won praise from the Georgia Forestry Association. The Association’s president, Steve McWilliams, said, “The governor has taken what I think is quite a stand for thousands of private timberland owners in the state by saying that we’re not going to let our wood be devalued by a policy wherein the end result of the quality of the product that goes into the building is substantially the same.”

FRA agrees that timber from forestry that has been managed sustainably should always be used as a preference to timber that has been sourced from non-sustainable sources. It also agrees that sustainability should not just be limited to FSC certification and that green building policies should be opened up to allow for other accreditation systems, such as those held by many of Georgia’s forests.

“Sustainability should not just mean ‘FSC-accredited’”, stated FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins. He added, “Any timber from forestry that is managed sustainable, through managed plantations such as those operated by Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada, for example, should be usable in green construction projects.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Business

AAA Welcomes KPMG Bolstering of Alternatives Team

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AAA has welcomed moves by global auditing and accountancy firm KPMG to expand its alternative investment team by adding five new members in the US.

Boston, MA, USA, August 23, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed moves by global auditing and accountancy firm KPMG to expand its alternative investment team by adding five new members in the US.

The advisory firm has taken on Ted Carreiro to join its alternative investment fund practice in Boston. Carreiro is the former managing director of State Street Bank and Trust’s AIF division and has more that 18 years experience.

KPMG is also taking on Phillip W. DeSalvo, who has worked with a large number of businesses before to help them to instigate transactions, structure and execute deals. Michael R Richards is another new addition and has over 22 years of relevant experience. He will lead the KPMG transaction services practice in the West Coast region.

The boost to the alternative investment team reflects the increase in interest in alternatives as individuals and institutional investors struggle to make significant returns when invested in savings bonds and the stock market. “The stock market is pretty inactive and interest rates are at historic lows,” asserted AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

KPMG said in an official statement that alternatives were becoming increasingly important to the firm. “KPMG is committed to becoming the market leader in serving the alternative investments industry and our latest additions to the team demonstrate our goal to have the broadest set of skills and in-depth knowledge of the most important regulatory and business issues facing the industry,” said Al Fichera, national partner in charge, alternative investments-audit, in a statement.

AAA supports range of alternative investments, including timberland investment through sustainable plantations such as the one run by Greenwood Management in Brazil.

AAA claims that timber prices are set to rise of the back of more activity in the Chinese, Indian and US housing markets. As a result, it could be the best time for a while for investing in timberland.

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, Energy

On Hurricane Andrew’s 20th Anniversary, FPL Recognizes the Contributions of Electric Workers

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“Our electric workers are our first responders, consistently answering the call for help, whether it’s working to upgrade our electrical system on a daily basis or leading the charge after a storm,” said Keith Hardy, FPL’s vice president of Distribution.

Juno Beach, FL (August 22, 2012) — As the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew is observed, Florida Power & Light Company is paying special tribute to the members of its team whose work is critical to providing reliable power year-round and in the wake of devastating storms – electrical workers.

Karl Greer, an FPL electric worker based in South Florida, knows the importance of having a plan and being prepared because Greer rode out Hurricane Andrew 20 years ago with his family in Homestead, the storm’s ground zero. After the storm, he worked 16-hour shifts alongside thousands of FPL employees until power was fully restored.

“We put up wires and poles for a living, but the need I saw after Hurricane Andrew was unlike anything that I had ever witnessed,” said Greer. “Andrew taught us all a vital lesson about the seriousness of storms, and the need for serious preparation.”

Greer’s experience during Andrew was like many in the region. At 12:35 a.m., his power went out, and the noise of the wind and debris against the shutters grew so loud that he and his family could barely hear their own voices. When daylight arrived, he went outside to find his roof in tatters, and each of the 29 mature pine trees in his yard fallen. His uncle’s home on a neighboring property, once a two story residence, had been cut in half, with only the bottom floor remaining.

However, Greer had to put aside his personal challenges, because duty called. “The roads were all blocked, but as soon as I could I was at FPL with my crew, getting the power back on,” said Greer. “In one area, we replaced every single pole along a 6-mile stretch. It was tough, but what kept me going was the thought that my friends and family were counting on us; people all throughout the area were counting on us.”

The efforts of electric workers and other dedicated employees after Hurricane Andrew helped to improve FPL’s preparations for storms and the recovery that follows. The strategies employed to create restoration staging areas to coordinate with out-of-state service providers to assist with field operations were formed by experiences in Hurricane Andrew.

“Our electric workers are our first responders, consistently answering the call for help, whether it’s working to upgrade our electrical system on a daily basis or leading the charge after a storm,” said Keith Hardy, FPL’s vice president of Distribution. “We are showing our appreciation by celebrating throughout August, especially on Sunday Aug. 26, Lineworker Appreciation Day in Florida.”

To hear more from FPL electric workers that were on the ground during Hurricane Andrew, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_5-obibfjg&feature=youtu.be

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
Tel: 305-552-3888
E-Mail: amelia.gomez@rbbpr.com
Web: To hear more from FPL electric workers that were on the ground during Hurricane Andrew, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_5-obibfjg&feature=youtu.be

Business

The Gu Kailai Trail at The New York Times Featured China Happy Hour, August 28 in New York City

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China Happy Hour (www.ChinaHappyHour.com) Will Bring Together Businessmen, Executives, Investors and Entrepreneurs of the Chinese and South Asian Business Communities, for an Evening of Networking and Cocktails in New York City from 6PM to 9PM, August 28.

New York City, NY, USA (August 22, 2012) — When it comes to patriotic blockbusters, synchronized military parades and choreographed political cavalcades that fill the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese Communist Party knows how to put on a show, says The New York Times. But in publicly prosecuting Gu Kailai, the wife of the purged political leader Bo Xilai, for murdering a British business associate, it seems to have committed some fumbles.

The party’s carefully scripted trial of Ms. Gu – which led to her conviction on Monday for poisoning the Briton, Neil Heywood, and a suspended death sentence – appears to have prompted anger and cynicism from almost everyone here who paid attention.

Die-hard leftists who still back Mr. Bo and his populist policies, The Times continues, detected strands of a grand political conspiracy. Legal scholars identified glaring inconsistencies in what the government had trumpeted as a model of judicial exactitude. And liberals, noting that Ms. Gu’s crime would have remained secret had not a player in the scandal divulged incriminating details to American diplomats, found further evidence that their leaders believe they can literally get away with murder.

This month, Golden Networking’s China Happy Hour (http://www.ChinaHappyHour.com) will invite a number of journalists who have followed the trial, conviction and suspended death sentence of Gu Kailai, the wife of purged Chinese leader Bo Xilai, in close detail, for the panel “The Gu Kailai Trail” moderated by its founder Edgar Perez. There will be time afterwards for Q&A and the best China networking in New York City.

China Happy Hour will be held Tuesday August 28th, 6PM; these receptions have been known to attract executives and professionals not only from China but also from South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and India, among other nationalities.

China Happy Hour New York City, featured in The New York Times, is produced by Golden Networking (http://www.goldennetworking.net), the premier networking community for business executives, entrepreneurs and investors. Panelists, speakers and sponsors are invited to contact Golden Networking by sending an email to info@goldennetworking.net.

Media Contact:
Julia Petrova
Media Relations Coordinator
Golden Networking
516-761-4712
jpetrova@goldennetworking.net
http://www.goldennetworking.net

Business

Timber Prices Growing “Thanks to Asian Housing Boom”, says FRA

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Timber prices are increasing in the US because the demand for lumber continues to grow in Asia, according to FRA and research from the Claymore Beacon Global Timber Index.

Bainbridge Island, WA, August 22, 2012 – Timber prices are increasing in the US because the demand for lumber continues to grow in Asia, according to Forestry Research Associates (FRA) and research from the Claymore Beacon Global Timber Index.

The figures show that log exports from the US to Asia increased by 5.2 per cent in the first three months of 2012 and analysts believed that the boost to demand came as a result of the booming global housing market.

“Growing economies, like China and India, are all hard at work building new homes for people increasingly moving into urban areas to take the newly created jobs in these regions,” explained FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins. “Lumber is one of the main building materials used in these countries and they are shopping millions of tons of logs in form elsewhere to meet demand, which is great news for timber and forestry investors worldwide.”

An example of the house-building boom in China comes from the latest figures from Xinyuan Real Estate Company, which reported growth of 73.53 per cent for so far in 2012.

Now is a great time to invest in timberland, according to FRA and other forestry investment experts. The market for housing in the US is also looking to be improving, which will mean the domestic demand for timber logs will also increase over time.

“Timber is a great medium to long-term investment solution for those who want a low-risk portfolio,” stated Mr Collins.

Investing in forestry through sustainable plantation projects, such as those run by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada, is a popular option. These plantations investment plans allow people to directly buy forestry land with as little as $10,000. The plantations are already in operation and the cyclical growing model means returns start to be seen by investors before their specific trees come to maturity.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Business, Travel

MH Ross Launches New Online Resource to Make It Easier for Travel Agents to Offer Best-in-Class Travel Insurance

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New Web Site Adds Improved Agent Dashboard, One-stop Enrollment, Side-by-Side Plan Comparison and More to Simplify Travel Insurance Selection.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 21, 2012) — MH Ross Travel Insurance Services, Inc., which has been serving the travel industry with high-quality and custom travel insurance since 1961, today announced the launch of a new, improved online resource for travel agents and the travel industry. The new MH Ross web site now offers easier access to travel insurance quotes, a new one-page online enrollment process, an improved Agent Dashboard and other features to help travel professionals include the some of the most comprehensive, competitive travel insurance plans as part of their offering.

The new web site includes a number of new and enhanced features to help travel professionals select the best plan to meet their client’s needs:

– Now travel agents can gain access to an insurance quote from any page on the web site.
– An enhanced comparison feature makes it easy to compare costs and benefits for various travel insurance plans side by side.
– A new improved dashboard for travel agents makes it easier than ever to research and offer insurance quotes.
– The web site now includes enhanced enrollment edits for travel agents.
– Now users can quickly generate printable quotes by insurance product.
– Travel agencies also have enhanced custom portal pages that can be personally branded to meet their business needs.
– And there is a new, one-page travel insurance enrollment process, with improved data carryover from quotes, as well as easier navigation within the enrollment, purchase and review processes.

“The travel insurance industry has become increasingly competitive as travelers and travel agents search online for the best travel insurance plans,” said Sheri Machat, Senior Vice President of MH Ross Travel Insurance Services. “By updating our web site, we have made it easier for our travel agent partners to compete by providing easier access to all insurance plans and options, and allowing them to complete an insurance quote quickly and efficiently. We have always been committed to delivering competitive, comprehensive travel insurance plans while providing the best possible service, and our new online portal now makes it easier than ever to offer the travel insurance to meet our customers’ needs.”

Other enhancements to the web site include an updated section with travel tips, insurance updates and industry news. Additional social media plugins also have been added for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest and Quora to make it easier to incorporate travel insurance into any travel agent’s or tour company’s social media campaign.

And those features that have been invaluable to MH Ross customers remain unchanged. The company still offers highly competitive premiums and coverage and premium rates have not changed. The simple agent login process remains unchanged as well. And MH Ross still offers fast response to questions and claims with 24/7 telephone support and an online claim processing and tracking system.

For more information, or to learn more about becoming an agent for MH Ross Travel Insurance Services, visit the new web site at http://www.mhross.com or call 800-423-3632.

About MH Ross
Since 1961, MH Ross Travel Insurance Services, Inc. has been offering industry-leading insurance plans to the travel industry. The MH Ross management team works closely with travel agents, tour companies, and other travel providers to offer plans that are flexible, useable and affordable. The MH Ross team of travel insurance specialists and technical experts understand the options available from the diverse range of travel insurance providers, and strive to anticipate customer needs and solve problems before they arise. MH Ross is committed to providing prompt, responsible service with round-the-clock support. MH Ross are the people who really care about your travel insurance needs.

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

Contact:
Sheri Machat
MH Ross Travel Insurance Services, Inc.
9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64114
800-423-3632
smachat@mhross.com
http://www.mhross.com