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Business

AAA welcomes New Wine Fund from France

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AAA has welcomed news from France that asset management firm Uzes Gestion has launched a wine investment fund for those with an appetite for alternative asset classes.

Boston, MA, June 15, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed news from France that asset management firm Uzes Gestion has launched a wine investment fund for those with an appetite for alternative asset classes.

The fund, named the Uzes Grands Crus wine fund, has been launched in order to meet demand from those who believe that investing in fine wines is a good safe-haven option at a time when the stock markets are very volatile. “The fact that the Eurozone is still extremely unstable is putting European investors off of putting their money into the equity markets,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

Another firm that helps investors buy fine wines whose values are likely to increase in the future is Cavissima, which is run by Thierry Goddet. He explained more about the attraction of wine investments to the Financial Times readers: “With the debt crisis crippling financial markets, we’ve seen new investors flocking in, as they look for defensive investments.”

The new fund, launched by Uzes Gestion buys up cases of fine wines made by lesser known vineyards and for a reasonable price. It then hopes to store the wines and sell on at later date for more money – thus delivering solid returns to investors. The fine wine trade is growing at the moment, not least due to the increasing demand in China, where the newly wealthy population is developing a taste for the tipple.

Mr Johnson explained, “The fine wine investment market is driven by the fact that investors want something tangible in exchange for their cash. They are increasingly keen to obtain something with an intrinsic value, such as timber, art, wine and precious metals, instead of risking everything on the stock market, which has proven unstable in recent years.”

AAA backs ethical investments and many kinds of alternative asset classes, such as timberland investments through firms like Greenwood Management that operate in Brazil and Canada.

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 most investors keen on Alternatives claims AAA

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A new survey by Friends Provident, which has won the support of AAA, has discovered that investors in the UK are particularly keen to invest in alternative asset classes at the moment.

Boston, MA, May 15, 2012 – A new survey by Friends Provident, which has won the support of Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has discovered that investors in the UK are particularly keen to invest in alternative asset classes at the moment.

AAA claims that the Friends Provident International (FPI) Investor Attitudes Report’s results reflect the growing trend for investing in collectibles and real estate instead of equities and other transitional investments.

The report found that nearly half (48 per cent) of the British investors questioned in the survey said that now was a good time to be investing in real estate. Among those surveyed in Hong Kong, however, real estate was towards the bottom of their list of asset classes at the moment – demonstrating how different investments are favored in different regions of the world.

The survey also found that UK investors were keen to put their cash in collectibles such as fine wines, classic cars, art and antiques. Some 40 per cent of those asked said that now was the time to invest in these asset classes.

Friends Provident Investments chief investment officer, Mark Versey, gave his response to the findings. He said, “Investors in the UK are displaying a more varied approach to what they consider as good investment strategies in the current economic climate compared to their peers overseas.

“Our survey uncovered a lack of appetite for long-term investments but showed that UK investors remain cautious in their outlook with almost a third keen to preserve their savings through risk free investments.”

AAA’s Anthony Johnson said they the appetite for alternative investments in the UK was a positive thing in response to the global economic crisis. He stated, “It’s not a surprise that those most affected by the downturn are now keen to get something tangible in exchange for their investments.”

AAA supports ethical investments, including sustainable forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management which runs sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil.

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 news that Japanese Pension Funds are turning to Alternatives

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A new survey by JPMorgan Chase has found that Japanese pension funds are eager to invest more in alternative investments – and particularly in hedge funds.

Boston, MA, April 26, 2012 – A new survey by JPMorgan Chase has found that Japanese pension funds are eager to invest more in alternative investments – and particularly in hedge funds.

The move towards alternative asset classes is due to the fallout from a loss of pension holders money from investments in traditional assets, claims Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group.

AAA claims that Japan is in a difficult situation with a rapidly ageing population. Pension funds are under pressure after one fund lost $1 billion – prompting them all to considering less risky alternative funds, which can be effective in diversifying portfolios.

AAA, which supports a range of alternative investment options, claims that more and more institutional investors are turning to alternatives in order to steer clear of assets that are impacted by general economic trends. Alternatives, such as real estate, commodities and timber, tend not to correlate closely with equities, and, as a result, are less likely to drop in value when traditional assets lose value.

Japan is facing the first year in which its baby boomer generation is set to retire and its working population is expected to drop in number dramatically. It is trying different approaches to pension fund investment as a result.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained that this new alternative tactic in Japan reflects a general international trend towards alternative asset classes. He said, “following the global economic crisis, investors have changed their attitudes to investing and are looking for tangible assets to invest in that will offer long-term income.”

He added, “There is also a growing emphasis on ethical investments and investing in assets like real estate, precious metals, art and forestry offer an alternative that avoids dealing with stocks and shares and bonds – and banks.”

AAA supports ethical investments such as sustainable forestry projects like those run in Brazil by firms like Greenwood Management.

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 welcome Emerald Knight Director’s support of Ethical investments

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AAA has welcomed support for ethical investments from the director of Emerald Knight, Robert Hague.

Boston, MA, March 02, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed support for ethical investments from the director of Emerald Knight, Robert Hague.

The alternative investment advocacy group has spoken out in support of Mr Hague’s assertions that just because an asset class is ethical, does not mean it won’t produce some very healthy yields for investors.

Emerald Knight was initially launched as a provider of ethical investments with the ethos that investing in sustainable, ethical projects can also generate healthy returns. Mr Hague stands by this claim in his recent statement to the press, where he said, “This may sound obvious but many people don’t know, or are just not interested in what happens to their money once they’ve put it in their bank or pension.

“Going down the SRI route allows you to choose exactly how your cash is being invested and what difference it’s making,” he added.

He added that many of those who have invested in ethically, environmentally or socially responsible funds, projects or markets have often see their investment generate better returns that if they had invested in traditional asset classes.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, agrees with Mr Hague, adding, “There is simply no validity in the argument that you can’t make money by investing in ethical projects or making socially responsible investments.”

AAA claims that it is no longer unusual for investors to look for ethical investments as, with the increase in interest in alternative investments, there has also been a general increase in interest in ethical options as the two things often come hand in hand.

A popular option for ethically minded investors is forestry investment, which can help to support sustainable approaches to forestry all over the world, and particularly in emerging economies. Projects such as Greenwood Management’s plantations schemes in Brazil are popular with individual investors and institutions alike as they only require minimum investments of around $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

AAA welcomed publication of FSA paper on Alternative investments

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AAA has welcomed the publication of the Financial Services Authority’s discussion paper based on EU plans to more closely monitor alternative investments.

Boston, MA, January 27, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed the publication of the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) discussion paper based on EU plans to more closely monitor alternative investments.

Far from being something alternative investors of funds should fear, the regulator’s paper, entitled ‘Implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive’, should be welcomed as a further move towards alternative asset classes becoming more mainstream, claims AAA.

The 102-page paper talks about how the FSA might go about enforcing the Fund Managers Directive in the UK. The directive is intended to form a framework for the regulations and assessment of the industry to expose risks and offer investors more information in alternative options.

“It is clear that the reason such as directive is needed is because more and more investments are turning their backs on traditional asset classes and are putting their cash into alternative, such as real estate, commodities, forestry, an even art and antiques,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

“The stock market is not such an attractive place to make money any more,” he added.

The FSA report states that it is keen to start thinking about implementation at an early stage: ‘There is a great deal to be done. Early communication and timely consultation and planning are crucial for effective and proportionate implementation.’

The report is to be open for responses until 23 March, while the EU members states must give their feedback on the directive by 22 July 2013.

The Investment Management Association’s director Julie Patterson explained that a diverse range of investment options will be covered by the directive, including impact investing and other very new forms of alternative investment. She sated, “The FSA’s paper summarises the diverse requirements within the directive.

“There are further EU rules proposed for smaller venture capital funds and social entrepreneurship funds, which will need to be accommodated.”

AAA advocates alternative investments and is particularly interested in promoting ethical investments, such as social ventures and sustainable forestry projects n developing countries. Several firms, including Greenwood Management and Agar Wood Investment offer investors the chance to make an impact on sustainable forestry while seeing healthy returns.

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