Category Archives: Business

Business

The Speed Traders Workshop 2012 Shanghai at Hult International Business School

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Edgar Perez, Author, The Speed Traders, Speaker at The Speed Traders Workshop 2012 Shanghai: How Algorithmic and High Frequency Traders Leverage Profitable Strategies to Find Alpha in Equities, Options, Futures and FX, June 6.

(June 01, 2012 – New York, USA) — Edgar Perez will be the presenter at upcoming The Speed Traders Workshop 2012 Shanghai: How Algorithmic and High Frequency Traders Leverage Profitable Strategies to Find Alpha in Equities, Options, Futures and FX, June 6, to be held at Hult International Business School’s Shanghai campus.

Hult International Business School is the world’s most international business school with campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Shanghai. Hult offers a range of business-focused degree programs including MBA, Executive MBA, Master and Undergraduate degrees. Hult’s one-year MBA program is ranked in the top 30 in the world by The Economist and among the top 100 by the Financial Times. Hult’s programs are also ranked 1st for International Experience and 3rd for International Business according to the Financial Times.

The Hult Global Case Challenge (Hult GCC) is the largest and most respected social good initiative of its kind. The initiative is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Harnessing the power of crowd sourcing, the Hult Global Case Challenge attracts students from around the globe to provide solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges. Each year, thousands of students from colleges and universities around the world compete at one of Hult’s five international locations: Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai, where The Speed Traders Workshop 2012 will be held.

Mr. Perez, author of The Speed Traders, An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World, published by McGraw-Hill Inc. (2011) and currently being translated into Chinese, has been engaged to present to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, CFA Singapore, Hong Kong Securities Institute, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University and Pace University, among other institutions. In addition, Mr. Perez has spoken at Harvard Business School’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference (Boston), High-Frequency Trading Leaders Forum (New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, London, Singapore), MIT Sloan Investment Management Conference (Cambridge), High-Frequency Trading Happy Hour (New York), Institutional Investor’s Global Growth Markets Forum (London), Technical Analysis Society (Singapore), TradeTech Asia (Singapore), FIXGlobal Face2Face (Seoul), 2nd Private Equity Convention Russia, CIS & Eurasia (London), among other global forums.

Mr. Perez is one of the great business networkers and motivators on the lecture circuit; he is available worldwide for the following speaking engagements: Present and Future of High-Frequency Trading, The Real Story behind the “Flash Crash”, Networking for Financial Executives, and Business Networking for Success.

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

Art, Business, Consumer Services, Internet & Online, Retail, Shopping

New StuffAlert Website and Improved eBay Alert Service Launched by SonicZero Limited

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SonicZero London, England 31st May 2012 is pleased to announce the successful launch of its new upgraded website and improved email eBay alert service that helps increase the probability of buyers finding exactly what is being searched for on eBay.

eBay buyers have been using StuffAlert to locate hard to find items on eBay since 2007. Now, as well as setting up alerts when no matching items are found, users can create email alerts where up to 25 items have been found. A complete record of all the items found matching users searches is automatically created and available to users on the website.

With StuffAlert users can quickly and easily search eBay and set up email alerts for the items they are looking for. StuffAlert continues to search eBay all day everyday and automatically sends email eBay alerts notifying users of new listings with direct links to the item on eBay. Users can manage all their eBay searches and alerts in one place with no cap on how many alerts can be set up and with complete control over email alerts.Passwords are encrypted so only users know what searches they have set up.

“The decision to upgrade the service was made in response to users requests and coincided with a decision to get eBay approval to increase the frequency of our automatic eBay searches. The result has been to deliver more frequent and consistent eBays alerts to our users who in turn are successfully completing more transactions” stated Rene Bachman, Managing Director of SonicZero.

StuffAlert currently works on iPads and other similar tablet devices and should be accessible via smartphone later this year. It is available to eBay buyers using the US and UK eBay marketplaces. Plans are already underway for StuffAlert to be rolled out to other English speaking countries in the forthcoming weeks.

eBay buyers whether newcomers and seasoned users interested in learning more about StuffAlert’s eBay alert service can visit the website (http://www.stuffalert.com) or for more information Contact Us.

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Business

FPL Urges Customers to Prepare Now for Power Outages this Hurricane Season

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FPL asks customers to be prepared to be without power for several days should a powerful storm bring devastation.

Juno Beach, FL (May 31, 2012) — As Floridians turn their attention to the tropics this storm season, Florida Power & Light Company reminds customers that no utility is hurricane proof. While the company’s careful investments since 2006 have made its electric system more resilient to severe weather, hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that cause significant damage, and including potential widespread electricity outages.

“Hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that can cause significant damage and widespread electricity outages,” said FPL President Eric Silagy. “FPL has a well-developed plan for storm restoration. We train rigorously and we are prepared.”

Customers’ storm plans, like those of FPL, should anticipate that a direct strike by a major hurricane could damage the electric system so significantly that many customers could experience power outages. FPL asks customers to be prepared to be without power for several days should a powerful storm bring devastation. The following tips will help customers to best be prepared for power outages this storm season:

FPL’s Storm Preparation Checklist for Customers
• Review family emergency plans for back-up power and relocating;
• Update the phone number and e-mail address on file with FPL;
• Keep a copy of a recent FPL bill in your storm kit so key phone numbers and account information are readily available;
• Ensure that you have all necessary adapters to charge cell phones or laptops from a generator, solar charger or car charger;
• Those dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical equipment should know relocation arrangements now for when a storm warning is issued;
• If customers haven’t done so already, they should have their trees properly trimmed by a trained line-clearing professional. This minimizes the potential for debris to impact the power lines for homes and neighborhoods. It is important to have debris cleared prior to a hurricane warning announcement when trash pickup is suspended. For more information on FPL’s tree trimming policies, visit Trees and Power Lines;
• Gather and test essential supplies needed during power outages:
o two-week supply of fresh batteries
o Flashlights
o Battery-operated radios
o Extension cords
o Emergency generators;
• Now is the time to test portable generators. Make sure the equipment works, know how to operate it and where to safely use the equipment. For more information, visit our Generator Safety web page.

How FPL Communicates with Customers Regarding a Storm
When outages occur, FPL understands that its customers need to know when their power will be restored so they can plan ahead. That’s why FPL communicates frequently through the news media and makes its communications accessible on smart phones and tablets, through such sites as:
• FPL website: http://www.FPL.com
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/insideFPL
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FPLconnect
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/FPL
• FPL blog: http://www.FPLblog.com
• FPL Power Tracker: http://www.FPLmaps.com

How Customers Can Best Communicate with FPL
After a storm, FPL is aware that customers are without power and urges them to call FPL only for emergency situations.
• FPL urges customers to keep its phone lines open for emergency situations.
• Customers should call 911 or 1-800-4-OUTAGE if they see a downed power line.
• FPL is aware that customers are without power so there is no need to report outages at this time. If you have already reported a downed power line, it is not necessary to call and report it again.
• However, if customers still find themselves without service, even though their neighborhood or area of business has been mostly restored, we want to hear from them. If customers are in this situation, they should call FPL at 1-800-4-OUTAGE, as they may be experiencing a more localized problem with their electric service and we want to restore their power safely and as quickly as possible.

FPL’s Pre-Storm Activities
Prior to the start of storm season, FPL conducts extensive training to prepare its employees to respond safely and as quickly as possible if a storm threatens FPL’s service territory. To get ready for storm season, FPL also coordinates assistance agreements with other utilities for out-of state support, orders restoration supplies and equipment, and secures staging sites throughout its 35-county service territory. These preparations enable the company to quickly deploy equipment and crews to storm-damaged communities.

FPL’s plan recognizes that restoration of power to its customers will vary not only on the path and intensity of the storm through FPL’s service territory, but also on how the storm impacts other utilities and how quickly additional restoration workers and supplies can reach Florida.

In addition, FPL works closely with emergency operations officials to update lists of Critical Infrastructure Facilities, such as hospitals, police and fire stations, communication facilities, water treatment plants, and transportation providers. This information is used to establish priorities for restoration in any communities that might be affected by a storm.

Year-round, FPL proactively makes its infrastructure more resilient to strong winds and less likely to be impacted by debris as part of its comprehensive, long-term plan to deliver reliable electric service, in good weather and bad. These efforts include:
• Clearing tree limbs and branches from power lines;
• Inspecting poles for strength and health;
• Upgrading poles, many of which are replaced with concrete or steel, and;
• Inspecting power lines and equipment with infrared technology.

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 approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while its typical residential customer bills, based on data available in December 2011, are about 25 percent 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
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Business

URALCHEM HOLDING P.L.C. Reports IFRS Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2012

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URALCHEM HOLDING P.L.C. announced its unaudited IFRS financial results for the first quarter of 2012 ending 31 March 2012.

Moscow, Russia – May 31, 2012 — (For Immediate Release)

– Revenue increased to US $673 million, compared to US $566 million in Q1 2011.
– Operating profit increased to US $178 million, compared with US $160 million in Q1 2011.
– Adjusted EBITDA grew to US $207 million, compared to US $186 million in Q1 2011.
– Net profit amounted to US $354 million, compared with US $174 million in Q1 2011.

URALCHEM HOLDING P.L.C. (hereinafter URALCHEM Holding or the Company), a Cypriot holding company of the URALCHEM Group (hereinafter the Group), one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Russia, announced its unaudited IFRS financial results for the first quarter of 2012 ending 31 March 2012.

Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of URALCHEM, OJSC (part of the Group), commented on the first quarter of 2012 results, “I am pleased with the Company’s results in the first quarter of this year. We are moving ahead as planned. Net profit in the first quarter of 2012 more than doubled compared to the same period last year. This happened due to the acquisition of Minudobrenia in Perm, as well as the reassessment of our share in the enterprise. Besides, the net profit figure was influenced by a considerable reduction in interest expenses on loans which became possible after we refinanced the loan portfolio last year.”

Financial Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2012 grew 19% to US $673 million, compared to US $566 million in the first quarter of 2011. Operating profit amounted to US $178 million, or 26% of the revenue, compared with the operating profit of US $160 million, or 28% of the revenue in the first quarter of 2011.

Net profit for the first quarter of 2012 more than doubled, amounting to US $354 million, compared to US $174 million in the first quarter of 2011. Without the reassessment of the Company’s share in Minudobrenia, Perm the net profit growth comprised 15%.

During the first quarter of 2012, adjusted EBITDA reached US $207 million, compared to US $186 million the year before, a rise of 11%. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter of 2012 comprised 31% of revenue compared with 33% of revenue for the first quarter of 2011.

Markets

In the first quarter of 2012 the prices of fertilizers and intermediates showed significantly different dynamics. Prices for ammonia at the Yuzhny port fell to $70 / t due to low demand, both in agriculture and industry, which coincided with the launch of Qafco V. Market recovery began only in late March.

During January to early February the urea market repeated its dynamics in 2011. However, in mid-February a rapid increase in the price of urea started due to high demand in the U.S. The late Q1/early Q2 price level approached peak figures ??of 2011 even surpassing them at certain markets. Prospects for market development in the second quarter remain optimistic for market participants.

Prices for ammonium nitrate were stable during the first quarter due to high volumes of domestic market shipments.

The global market of phosphate fertilizers in the first quarter of 2012 was characterized by low activity, with prices going down slightly. European demand was limited due to severe weather conditions and financial instability. Moderate recovery in prices occurred in late Q1 due to higher demand in Latin America and the U.S. domestic market.

Sales

In the first quarter of 2012 the Group’s product sales amounted to 1.7 million tons, up 20% compared to the first quarter of 2011. Through the acquisition of OJSC Minudobrenia, Perm in January 2012, sales of urea and of ammonia increased significantly.

Financial Situation

Cash generated from operating activities grew by 4%, from US $167 million in the first quarter of 2011 to US $174 million in the first quarter of 2012.

On 31 March 2012, the Company’s net debt amounted to US $1,076 million. The weighted average interest rate in the loan portfolio for the first quarter 2012 decreased to 5.85% compared to annual 8.0% for the same period last year.

Annex to the press release about the unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2012

EBITDA is a profit / loss from financial and economic activities during the reporting period, before deduction of income tax on profits, income and interest costs, depreciation and amortization. “Adjusted EBITDA” is EBITDA for the reporting period before goodwill, profit / loss from associates, profit / loss on foreign exchange differences arising on financial performance and profit / loss on operations with derivative financial instruments. Adjusted EBITDA is operating profit before depreciation and amortization and financial results of operations with derivative financial instruments. In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), depreciation and amortization are included in cost structure, and in the selling, general and administrative expenses. IFRS does not require the disclosure and does not describe the calculation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, among other financial indicators, so they can not substitute for net profit for the period when evaluating the results of operations or the measure of cash provided by operating activities when evaluating liquidity. Approach to the calculation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, as described earlier, may not coincide with the approaches used by other companies, therefore, comparability may be limited. We believe that EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to investors because they are indicators of the stability and efficiency of our business and our ability to fund discretionary spending such as capital expenditures, the acquisition of subsidiaries and other investments, as well as indicators of our ability to incur and service debt. IFRS classifies depreciation and amortization to operating costs, while in fact they are distributed to the current period non-cash expenses for the acquisition or creation of fixed assets, incurred in previous periods, and are not affiliated with the movement of funds.

For more information, please visit the Company web site http://www.uralchem.com or use the following contact information:

PR department
URALCHEM, OJSC
Tel: +7 (495) 721 89 89
E-Mail: pr@uralchem.com

Business

Center for Productive Longevity Seeking Success Stories from People 55+

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National Competition Celebrates Older Americans Who Embrace Successful Living

Boulder, CO, May 30, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, is organizing a nationwide competition to select the best entrepreneur success story and inspiring life story from people 55 and older.

The Later-Life Story Contest begins on June 1, 2012 and ends on August 31, 2012 with the winner in each category selected by a panel of three independent judges. Each winner will receive $1,000 and a specially designed trophy. The best stories will be posted on the CPL website throughout the duration of the contest. The winners will be announced on October 1, 2012 and will be posted on the CPL website (ctrpl.org) under “Success Stories”.

CPL created the contest to stimulate discussion and dialogue about how people 55 and older can continue adding value to their extended lives in an era when they are living 30 years longer than people did at the beginning of the 20th century. The Later-Life Story Contest is intended to achieve three objectives:

1) Stimulate people to continue leading meaningful and rewarding lives after reaching the age of 55. Baby Boomers were acculturated to believe that when they reached a certain age (55, 60, 65), they were over the hill and out of the game. Many of them need to understand that, with their increased longevity, they have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs or lead inspirational lives.

2) Demonstrate that older people can remain productively engaged and live inspiring lives into their latter 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond. There are 78 million Baby Boomers who began reaching traditional retirement age of 65 in 2011 and will continue to do so each year through 2029 at the rate of 4.2 million per year. These are people with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment and proven performance (referred to as EESP). Many of them have also acquired some accumulated wisdom. At a time when unemployment is high and economic growth low, creating a new business is a bright spot on a gloomy employment horizon. Stories about how older entrepreneurs have successfully taken the new-business route may stimulate others to do so. Stories about how people 55 and older have led inspirational lives may have a similar impact.

3) Change the pervasive national mindset that when people reach a certain age, they should move to the sidelines. This thinking encourages older workers to shed the wrinkles, hide the years, and pretend to be younger than they are. With people living substantially longer lives, Americans must recognize and find ways to enable this large and growing talent pool to continue adding value.

“We look forward to learning about the trailblazers around the country and to celebrating their stories,” says William Zinke, 85, Founder and President of CPL. “We believe that this contest can achieve these three objectives and look forward to sharing success stories with the public.”

We have selected three highly qualified judges for the competition:

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging, employment, and retirement. She has conducted research on these issues for organizations such as The Conference Board, AARP, UC Berkeley, and the U.S. Administration on Aging. Nationally, she has lectured extensively to the business community, professional groups, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

Greg Merrill is President and CEO of the National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC) and former Chairman of the NOWCC Board of Directors. The NOWCC is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting experienced workers as a valuable and critical component of the nation’s workforce. Since its establishment in 1997 NOWCC has, through hundreds of workers ages 55+, provided over 13 million hours of dedicated, experienced labor to federal agencies.

Fred Mandell is a catalyst for personal change and co-author with Kathleen Jordan of Becoming a Life Change Artist: 7 Creative Skills to Reinvent Your Life at Any Stage. Fred’s life and work has been featured in the Public Television Series “Boomers: Redefining Life After 50.” Fred currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the Life Planning Network and Discovering What’s Next.

All have had substantial experience regarding the productive engagement of people 55 and older.

To submit a story, visit www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest and complete a submission form. Entrants must be over the age of 55, have a compelling story to share, and be willing to have it posted on the CPL website for viewing by the general public and for possible publication. Stories may also be emailed to James R. Hooks, Director of Marketing and Technology, at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

For more information on CPL, the contest, and Success Stories, visit www.ctrpl.org or Facebook at facebook.com/CTRPL.

Media Contacts:
Jenny Foust or Alicia Hassinger
Communications Strategy Group
303.433.7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com or ahassinger@csg-pr.com

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. It is imperative that we recognize the value that can be added by an aging population. 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

Accounting, Business, Financial, Human Resources, Management

Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment Employs Two; Announces Scholarship Recipient; Sally Ezra Quoted

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The Leader in Actuarial Recruitment, Ezra Penland, is proud to announce the hiring of two new employees at the rapidly-growing, Chicago-based firm. Thomas Clohisy joins Ezra Penland as an Actuarial Recruiter. Tom has executive recruiting experience, as well as recruitment business development skills. He was also a successful commodities trader for a number of years, after having earned an MBA from Loyola University and a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. Tom can be reached at tom@EzraPenland.com.

John Gieger joins Ezra Penland as Corporate Librarian and Data Specialist. John earned a Masters of Library and Information Science from Dominican University, as well as a Bachelor’s in Audio Engineering from Belmont University. He has varied experiences as a data manager and a librarian, and brings with him exceptional computer skills and an innate ability for information organization. John may be reached at john@EzraPenland.com.

Additionally, Ezra Penland proudly awards their most recent $500 Actuarial Scholarship to Jordan Nadler. Ms. Nadler is a junior at Missouri State University where she is a Mathematics major with a concentration in Actuarial Science, and she is minoring in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance. In addition to tutoring mathematics, she is a member of the Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity and treasurer of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, the Risk Management,Insurance and Actuarial Science Fraternity. Nadler has held an internship at American National and will hold an internship at Ernst & Young this summer in New York. She has passed two Actuarial Exams and is pursuing a career as an Actuary.

And, finally, Sally Ezra, Partner at Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment, was interviewed in the May-June, 2012 Contingencies, the magazine of the American Academy of Actuaries. The topic was the “Workers Compensation Predictive Modeling Comes of Age”, and Ms. Ezra discussed the hireability and availability of actuaries with such skills.

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4256 N Ravenswood
Suite 200
Chicago IL 60613
actuaries@EzraPenland.com
http://www.EzraPenland.com
(800) 580-3972
Claude Penland, Partner or Sally Ezra, Partner

Business

NanoMarkets Projects Significant Opportunities for LED Phosphors Driven by Shift Toward LED Lighting in General Illumination Markets

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NanoMarkets announces the release of a new report, titled “Market Opportunities for LED Phosphors in Lighting Applications 2012,” that analyzes the moneymaking opportunities for LED phosphor suppliers in the lighting sector over the next eight years.

Glen Allen, Virginia – May 31, 2012 — Industry analyst firm NanoMarkets announces the release of a new report, titled “Market Opportunities for LED Phosphors in Lighting Applications 2012,” that analyzes the moneymaking opportunities for LED phosphor suppliers in the lighting sector over the next eight years. NanoMarkets estimates that the total market value of LED phosphors used in lighting applications will grow from about $525 million in 2012 to a value of over $730 million by 2015 and to over $1.6 billion by the end of the forecast period in 2019. This growth represents a CAGR of over 17 percent over the eight-year forecast period.

Additional details about the report are available at: http://www.nanomarkets.net

About the Report:

This new NanoMarkets report provides an in-depth analysis and forecast of the LED phosphor market in the next eight years as it relates to the fabrication of white LEDs for lighting applications. It builds off the extensive experience that NanoMarkets has in the area of solid-state lighting and related materials. The report examines some of the latest market strategies, products and technical developments in the area of LED phosphors, and it identifies how performance improvements are growing some addressable markets for phosphors, especially in the general illumination segment(s). The report also includes NanoMarkets’ assessments of the strategies of several of the leading firms active in the LED phosphors space, and, as always with NanoMarkets reports, this report contains granular eight-year forecasts of the inorganic LED phosphors shipments in both volume and value terms, with breakouts by type of phosphor and by phosphor deposition technology.

Key players mentioned in the report include Seoul Semiconductor, Intematix, Mitsubishi, Nichia, Toyoda Gosei, Dow, Osram, GE, Philips, and others.

From the Report:

A major shift toward more efficient, long-lifetime LED lighting is underway and is expected to continue over next decade, with many governments around the world using the regulatory process to mandate higher efficiency lighting products. During this period, LED phosphor suppliers will enjoy an expanding market for their products, especially in the general illumination sectors. At the same time, the market value for LED phosphors in display backlighting is expected to decline, as growth in the underlying display markets are not expected to keep up with advancements that are leading to fewer LEDs-per-device and, hence, reduced consumption of phosphor materials.

NanoMarkets believes that the moneymaking opportunities for LED phosphor suppliers are centered on the following interrelated key characteristics. First, LED phosphors that provide better luminous efficacy, such as through higher internal quantum efficiency or reduced down-conversion loss, will help LED lighting better compete with fluorescent lighting for market share. Second, phosphors that provide better color rendering are also still in demand, especially in the general illumination and display backlighting markets, where LEDs still perform poorly in comparison to the traditional incandescent lighting. Finally, phosphors and phosphor blends that enable LED lighting component manufacturers to better provide application-specific color temperatures are also needed.

About NanoMarkets:

NanoMarkets tracks and analyzes emerging market opportunities in solid-state lighting, energy, electronics and other markets created by developments in advanced materials.

Visit http://www.nanomarkets.net for a full listing of NanoMarkets’ reports and other services.

Media Contact:
Robert Nolan
NanoMarkets, LC
PO BOX 3840
Glen Allen, VA 23058
804-270-1718
rob@nanomarkets.net

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Business

Phoenix Business Journal Ranks Rosendin Electric First Among Electrical Contractors for 2011

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High-Profile Projects and State-of-the-Art Construction Techniques Put Rosendin Electric at Top of List for Second Year in a Row.

Tempe, AZ, USA – (May 30, 2012) — The Phoenix Business Journal has named Rosendin Electric, one of the nation’s largest private electrical contractors and a 100% employee-owned company, the top electrical contractor for 2011 as ranked by gross sales. This marks the second year in a row that Rosendin Electric has been named the top electrical construction company by the Phoenix Business Journal. Rosendin Electric also ranked number two in 2009.

Based on an independent survey, the Phoenix Business Journal selected Rosendin Electric number one among the area contractors with $117 million in local sales for 2011, up $8 million from 2010 when Rosendin Electric took top honors with $109 million in annual regional sales. Even though Rosendin Electric has 30 percent fewer employees, the company outranked the second runner up by $24 million in revenue or more than 20 percent.

“Our reputation continues to grow, and our Arizona office has been instrumental in helping the company expand its business throughout the Southwest,” said Mike Greenawalt, Vice President of Southwest Operations for Rosendin Electric. “Our commitment to excellence, safety, and innovation, and our ability to complete work on time and within budget is what allows us to continue to outpace our competition. The fact that we have ranked at the top of the Phoenix Business Journal list of area contractors provides independent evidence of our ongoing success.”

According to Greenawalt, part of the success for the Tempe office is due to a number of high-profile projects, including wiring a new campus for a noted technology firm and construction work on the new Maricopa County Courthouse, which was completed in February 2012. The Rosendin Electric Tempe office has been setting new standards in electrical construction best practices, especially in Building Information Modeling (BIM). Fred Meeske, who was instrumental in bringing new computer modeling practices to the Maricopa County Courthouse project, was recently named to the newly created position of Corporate Director of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Services for Rosendin Electric with responsibility for training and setting new BIM standards for the entire company.

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, Rosendin Electric has offices and experience nationwide and 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

Rousseff Government Vetoes Parts of Forestry Bill

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In response to growing pressure from environmentalists all over the globe, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has vetoed parts of the controversial forestry bill, in a move that has been welcomed by FRA.

Seattle, United States, May 30, 2012 — In response to growing pressure from environmentalists all over the globe, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has vetoed parts of the controversial forestry bill, in a move that has been welcomed by Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The President had pledged to veto the bill if she won the election while on her campaign trail and pressure to fulfil her promise had been rising over the past month. The bill was passed through the country’s congress back in April and was threatening to allow land owners to develop more of the Amazon forest for agricultural purposes. It was also planning to introduce an amnesty for anyone who had been found illegally logging timber before 2008.

FRA, a research and analysis consultancy, said it welcomed the decision to partially veto the bill and particularly welcomed the dropping of the amnesty out of the plans. A total of 12 articles were removed from the bill. It is thought that Rousseff would have been partly persuaded to go ahead with the veto in light of the fact that Brazil is hosting the Rio+20 Summit later in the year, at which some of the world’s great leaders will gather to work on environmental issues.

FRA, which promotes investment in sustainable forestry and the reforestation of the Brazilian forests, said that Rousseff could have gone further but that the most damaging parts of the bill have been removed. Its analysis partner, Peter Collins, said, “Here at FRA, we welcome the veto and continue to support projects such as those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil.”

Greenwood Management runs plantation projects in Brazil which help to supply sustainably grown timber products and coal to domestic and overseas customers, including the Brazilian steel industry, who may otherwise depend on timber form the Amazon.

About Forestry Research Associates

Forestry Research Associates is a research and advisory consultancy that focuses on forestry management, sustainability issues and forestry investment around the globe.

Media 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

Gold Sales Increase Off Back of China Demand, claims AAA

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As investors all over the world continue to opt for alternative investment over traditional asset classes, demand for gold has increased by 16 per cent over 12 months. In response, AAA predicts demand will grow even further over the course of the year.

Boston, MA, USA, May 30, 2012 — As investors all over the world continue to opt for alternative investment over traditional asset classes, demand for gold has increased by 16 per cent over 12 months. In response, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) predicts demand will grow even further over the course of the year.

The amount spent on gold in the past 12 months has increased to $59.7 billion around the world, which AAA claims was given a healthy boost by China’s decision to hedge inflation by increasing its gold investment by 10 per cent.

The figures have been published by the World Gold Council in its Gold Demand Trends report, which also shows that demand for jewelry in China has driven the appetite for gold investment. “Demand for gold rises alongside appetite for alternative investments, but also increases when the population of a country gets wealthier and wants to diversify the risk in their portfolios by investing in tangible assets such as fine jewelry and precious metals,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

Much of the increase in gold buying took place among the Central Banks of the world’s emerging economies. These banks are looking for asset classes that will not necessarily follow the same patterns as stocks and bonds and other traditional investments.

Mr Johnson added, “And it’s not just financial institutions that are looking at alternative assets to balance out their portfolios, individual investors are now taking asset classes like gold, art, antiques, timberland, real estate and even wine and classic cars seriously.

“They know that these assets can hold their value during an economic downturn and, as a result, it’s a good idea to invest a large chunk of any portfolio in this sector – especially in such uncertain economic times.”

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, supports various alternative investment options, including timberland investment through sustainable projects like those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil.

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
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