Tag Archives: Greenwood Management

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AAA welcomes Predictions of Gold Rally

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A new Morgan Stanley Report predicting that gold’s rally will continue into the third quarter of 2014 has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Boston, MA, February 02, 2013 – A new Morgan Stanley Report predicting that gold’s rally will continue into the third quarter of 2014 has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The report predicts that the US Federal Reserve will carry on buying up gold to strengthen the economy’s position well into next year, which could mean that it’s still very much worth investing in this alternative asset class. AAA endorses investment in alternative asset classes and ethical investment projects, such as the forestry investment and green energy investment.

“We are pleased to hear Morgan Stanley’s endorsement of gold as an asset class,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He continued: “We have seen a major increase in interest in alternatives since the economic collapse. It seems both institutional investors and individuals simply looking to diversify their investment portfolios against risk are keen on alternatives.”

“Investing in something like gold, as opposed to stocks and shares, offers a certain peace of mind as it is something tangible in exchange for their cash.”

As the US recovery increasingly took hold at the end of 2012, the price of gold fell. However, the Morgan Stanley analysts believe that the asset class is to remain popular well into next year.

Reports suggest that the US economy is to grow by 2 per cent in the coming year and 3 per cent in 2014. The number of houses being built is growing rapidly is response to the more positive economic outlook.

The house building increase is set to benefit some other alternative asset classes, like forestry, claims AAA. “Investing in timberland through firms that run plantations of sustainably grown timbers, like Greenwood Management, is a great bet at the moment,” added Mr Johnson. “Investing in timber is risk-averse and is a great way to offsetting the impact of inflation.”

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 ‘shocked’ at World Bank Forestry Report

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The $4.1 billion in funding invested by the World Bank into forestry projects has largely failed to fulfil its goals, according to the Bank’s own investigation

Bainbridge Island, WA, February 01, 2013 – The $4.1 billion in funding invested by the World Bank into forestry projects has largely failed to fulfil its goals, according to the Bank’s own investigations. Forestry Research Associates (FRA) claims that encouraging more private investment into sustainable plantations could help to improve the lives of those living in vulnerable forested regions.

The World Banks has given cash to 345 forestry projects spread over 75 nations in the ten years to July 2011. However, the report said that many of these projects were not being run sustainably or in an environmentally friendly way. The World Bank came under criticism for continuing to support industrial logging and failing to ensure the benefits of their cash were going to the rural poor rather than the local wealthy people, who were, in fact, benefiting more in some cases. The World Bank also failed to involve local communities in decision making.

Many countries in Europe and elsewhere have invested millions of dollars into the fund to support the forestry projects being backed by the World Bank. It is thought that this latest report could lead to a major review of these contributions. The UK, for example, has contributed $600 million to the Bank’s forestry schemes in the last five years.

FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, said, “The news that the World Bank’s cash could have been doing the opposite of helping poorer communities and preventing climate change is a shock and we believe it’s now time to look at other ways to help these regions.”

FRA supports a range of sustainable forestry investment schemes, such as the sustainable plantations run by Greenwood Management in Brazil. Through these projects, local communities learn that keeping natural forests alive and standing can generate rewards through carbon trading deals, for example. At the same time, managing plantations responsibly means the forestry industry is safeguarded for generations to come.

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

Ron Baron’s interest in Alternatives endorsed by AAA

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High profile investor and member of the Forbes 400, Ron Baron, recently shared his fondness for alternative investments with journalists from Forbes, in an interview that has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, January 25, 2013 – High profile investor and member of the Forbes 400, Ron Baron, recently shared his fondness for alternative investments with journalists from Forbes, in an interview that has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Ron Baron explained that his investment vehicle, Baron Capital Group, is upping its exposure to a range of alternative investments, including real estate investment trusts (REITs) and energy finds. He told Forbes that one of the real estate funds it started three years ago gained 40 per cent last year, with gains totalling 70 per cent over the three year period.

He talked about the possibility of expanding into new markets, where there is significant growth potential for commercial properties and hotels, for example. He told Forbes: “The United States there’s 5 million hotel rooms and 300 million people. In India there’s 160,000 hotel rooms, that’s like in Orlando. So what he’s got is he’s got this ability to go into these new markets.”

He added that he is interested mainly in investing in businesses that offer a long-term prospect of growth and that are well managed. AAA, which advocates ethical alternative investments, endorses this investment strategy. “Following the economic collapse, savvy investors are taking a more long-term view of things and are less interested in making a quick buck at any cost,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

He added, “Investing in alternative has many benefits, from an ethical and sustainability port of view, there are more options. Meanwhile, alternatives also offer a means of diversifying an investment portfolio to protect against risk and offset the effects of inflation.”

AAA supports a range of alternative investment funds and also endorses investment in forestry and timberland that is managed sustainable, through firms like Greenwood Management. Greenwood runs sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil and Canada, rearing non-native fast-growing trees.

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

Business

Support for Timberland investment welcomed by FRA

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A recent article advocating the selling of gold and the buying of timber as an asset class, has been welcomed by FRA.

Bainbridge Island, WA, January 18, 2013 – A recent article advocating the selling of gold and the buying of timber as an asset class, has been welcomed by Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The article, written by Carl Delfield, the senior analyst at Investment U, claimed that although gold has had a “good run” it is timber that is looking like the big winner in 2013 for those interested in alternative investments.

Mr Delfield bases much of his argument on the fact that the price of lumber has outperformed the S&P 500 over the past century and is much less volatile at the same time. Prices have risen by an average of 5 per cent per year and timber is less affected by wider economic trends. It is, therefore, an attractive proposition in the wake of the financial crisis, which wiped millions from certain stocks and shares portfolios over night.

This long-term performance, together with its surging prices and demand right now, is getting investors excited, claimed Delfield. FRA, a research and analysis consultancy specialising in forestry investments, claims that the US housing recovery and the ongoing growth in the Far East and India are largely to thank for the growing demand for sustainable timber.

“Sustainability is the key, though,” added FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins. “If you are going to invest in timberland, make sure its sustainably managed – so there is always new growth coming up to replace the timber being harvested.” FRA claims that this is not only the ethical option, but the most potentially lucrative as sustainable timber is far more likely to be used in large developments these days – particularly ones paid for by governments.

FRA supports ethical investment in eco-friendly projects, such as the plantations run by Greenwood Management. The plantations grow fast-growing non-native species, such as teak and eucalyptus.

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 Report Predicting Impact investment Growth

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AAA has welcomed a new report from JP Morgan and the Global Impact Investing Network, which claims that impact investing will grow by 12.5 per cent in 2013.

Boston, MA, January 12, 2013 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed a new report from JP Morgan and the Global Impact Investing Network, which claims that impact investing will grow by 12.5 per cent in 2013.

AAA said that news that impact investing will be increasingly popular, with total investments reaching as much as $9 billion this year, is great news for alternative investors everywhere. It added that social enterprises, small businesses, community projects and environmentally-responsible projects all over the globe are set to benefit from this extra interest in impact investing.

The report that outlined these predictions for the growth of impact investing was called the Perspectives and Progress report. It is based on the responses of 99 impact investors, responsible for some $10 million in capital. The experts said that although impact investment and ethical investing in general is gaining popularity, there is still a lack of high quality investment opportunities for those interested.

AAA supports alternative investments of all kinds, but focuses on endorsing responsible investments into asset classes, such as sustainable forestry and social enterprises. “We believe that responsible investing and generating a return are not mutually exclusive,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

He added, “Investing in green projects, through firms like Greenwood Management, is easier than ever and we believe more responsible and sustainable opportunities will become available in the year to come.”

The Rockefeller Foundation and the UN Global Compact stated back in June 2012 that larger corporations and institutional investors were beginning to take impact investing more seriously. “We are all seeing an increasing number of wealthy individuals and corporations turning to philanthropy as a way to demonstrate their ethical stance following the economic crisis,” added Mr Johnson, who has years of fund management experience and has also written a wealth of online blogs advocating alternative investments as a way to diversify investment portfolios.

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 supports Teak as a Great Investment Opportunity

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Demand for sustainably produced timber is likely to increase and teak could be the answer, according to FRA.

Bainbridge Island, WA, January 08, 2013 – Demand for sustainably produced timber is likely to increase and teak could be the answer, according to Forestry Research Associates (FRA). This view was backed up by speakers at the Investment Week climate change Investment conference earlier this month.

Delegates at the conference, heard how teak is a great timber as it has the same strength as oak but grows much faster and is lighter in weight. As a result, it can be the perfect option for use in construction.

Although some plantations of teak once had a reputation for providing little by way of useful habitats, things are rapidly changing and team plantations are now operated in an increasingly sustainable way, by firms like Greenwood Management, for example.

Rupert Allinson of Harthill, which sponsors the Quadris timber fund, explained that timber plantations can help to safeguard local natural forests in the areas they are planted as they provide an alternative source of a material than is very much in demand, thanks to growing energy price and populations. Emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India have ambitious house building projects planned to help provide urban homes for those people who have moved into cities to take jobs.

Mr Allinson also told the delegates at the Conference that trees grown in teak plantations, such as those operated by Greenwood Management, are managed in cycles, which means there are always new trees growing up behind the ones that are chopped down and hold off.

FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins, claims that means anyone investing in a teak plantations operated in this way will start to see returns sooner than they would if they had simply invested in buying a piece of forested land.

Thinning is also a part of the teak plantation management process and this produces smaller timbers that are sold off for use in energy production. Investors will often also see returns from the selling off the thinned timber at stages through the process.

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

FRA supports Prediction of Increased Lumber Exports to China

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FRA has endorsed a report from a forestry market analyst claiming that Chinese demand for Canadian timber will increase in 2013.

Bainbridge Island, WA, December 21, 2012 – Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has endorsed a report from a forestry market analyst claiming that Chinese demand for Canadian timber will increase in 2013.

British Columbia, one of the main timber growing regions in Canada, exported a total of 5.4 million cubic metres of softwood lumber in the first nine months of the year. Although this was a slight decline on the exports in the same period of 2011, Mark Kennedy of CIBC World Markets claims this is all to change.

Kennedy said that the small decline is actually quite a good result in light of the slight weakening of the Chinese real estate industry. The timber imported into China from Canada is generally used to reinforce concrete in apartment buildings and also for door and window frames. This means that imports will always be strongest when the country is building lots of homes.

FRA, a research and analysis consultancy, backs Mr Kennedy’s claims that social housing support and other stimulus moves announced by the Chinese government could mean more timber imports. He claims that between 2013 and 2015, timber imports could increase by as much as 20 per cent. Canada, in turn, supplies more than 80 per cent of all the lumber exported from the US.

In terms of China’s demand for new homes, some two million homes that were previously demolished need to be rebuilt and, even without this, China plans is to build some 10.75 million new homes every year for the coming 15 years.

FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins, said, “With this kind of real estate development happening, we are confident that demand for sustainable timber will increase over the coming years. In fact, evidence suggests that demand will outstrip supply by some margin, which will also lead to rising prices.”

FRA claims that this all means strong returns for those who invest in sustainable forestry projects in Canada, through firms like Greenwood Management.

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

Alternative investments ‘are becoming Mainstream’ – AAA

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A recent report in Financial Adviser Magazine claims that alternative investments are fast-becoming a mainstream option for those who are looking to diversify their portfolios, in a claim welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, December 12, 2012 – A recent report in Financial Adviser Magazine claims that alternative investments are fast-becoming a mainstream option for those who are looking to diversify their portfolios, in a claim welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The alternative investment advocacy group underlined the claim from Rick Lake of Lake Partners in Connecticut, who told FA-Mag.com, “Because of the democratization of alternative investments, barriers are falling. Alternative mutual funds are the new and better mousetrap due to liquidity, transparency, lower costs and regulation.”

AAA added that a survey by Cogent Research backs this view. It found that three quarter of the financial advisers questioned said they use alternative asset classes, with the majority (78 per cent) opting for mutual funds. The next most popular alternative option for financial advisers was exchange traded funds (ETFs), which proved popular with 58 per cent.

FA-mag.com said that the recent increase in popularity of alternatives is largely to do with the risks involved in investing in stocks and shares. Despite the slow recovery of the US economy, the stock market is still extremely volatile and the same, of course, can be said for the European markets.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, claims that people are less willing to risk their cash on the stock markets these days and many would often prefer to take something tangible in exchange for their cash. Something with real, intrinsic value, like commodities such as timber, gas and oil. “With demand for these commodities increasing all the time, especially in developing countries, the prices are staying high and it’s hard to imagine them plummeting like stock prices can,” stated Mr Johnson.

AAA supports a range of alternative investments, but is particularly keen to promote ethical and socially responsible projects, including sustainable forestry investment through firms like Greenwood Management, which operated 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

New Research into Impact investing endorsed by AAA

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AAA has welcomed news that pension funds in the UK are increasing their exposure to impact investments.

Boston, MA, December 08, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed news that pension funds in the UK are increasing their exposure to impact investments.

Research carried out by social investment intermediary Social Finance, found that 48 per cent of the 47 pension funds it surveyed were planning to invest in socially and environmentally sound asset classes, such as microfinance, green energy and social housing over the coming 1 to 2 years.

At the moment, only 23 per cent of the pension funds, with assets under management totalling some $230 billion, hold such investments. AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson spoke on behalf of the alternative investment advocacy group: “We welcome the news that pension funds in the UK are starting to realise the benefits of social investment.”

“Here in the US, institutional investors and individuals alike are all starting to increase their exposure to both alternative investments and impact investments and we wholeheartedly welcome this transition to a more responsible approach to investments.”

AAA also claims that alternative, ethical investments are a great way to diversify an investment portfolio against risk.

Social Finance’s David Hutchison, stated, “Impact investment is a visible asset with clear cash flow, stability and low correlation to other asset classes.”

AAA said it agreed with this, adding that other alternatives, such as forestry and timberland investment through firms like Greenwood Management, which operated sustainable plantation projects in countries like Brazil and Canada – also carry very low correlation with other economic trends. Mr Johnson said, “This means when other asset classes are losing value due to wider economic factors, these alternatives are staying strong.”

Mr Hutchison added that the next step in encouraging impact investing is setting up diversified, larger funds, to ensure people can get involved without putting up hundreds of thousands of dollars in initial investment. This will allow more individuals to get involved with this ethical side of investment.

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 Timber Investment Endorsement

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FRA has welcomed a recent endorsement of timber and forestry investment from Adam Waldman of GreenWorld, through an article written for Tecnorati.com.

Bainbridge Island, WA, December 07, 2012 – Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has welcomed a recent endorsement of timber and forestry investment from Adam Waldman of GreenWorld, through an article written for Tecnorati.com. He points out that, while many people may not have thought about timber as an asset class option before, institutional investors are starting to see the potential in timber and individual investors should too.

Mr Waldman gives the example of how Harvard University is investing large amounts into forestry and timber, along with a major Russian and Chinese joint venture, which has recently decided to invest $200 million in the asset class.

FRA, a research and analysis organisation specialising in timber investment, has welcomed the article and backs Mr Waldman’s claims that forestry investment can provide a very effective hedge against inflation. He even points out that timber can act as a more affordable hedge than precious metals as timber prices follow general price trends, in much the same way as gold and silver.

As well as this benefit, he also points out the returns on timber investment have been very good over the past decade, outperforming stocks and shares returns by a considerable margin. FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, added that forestry also provides a very good means of diversifying a portfolio against risk at a time when the stock market remains extremely volatile.

“If your trees reach maturity but timber prices aren’t that great, you can simply leave them growing and watch your asset gain value in front of your eyes, ready for a market upturn,” stated Mr Collins, In this way, timber investment is a relatively risk-averse investment, claims FRA.

FRA supports a number of forestry investment schemes all over the world, including Greenwood Management’s sustainable plantations in Brazil. These offer individuals the chance to invest in their own section of timberland for as little as $15,000.

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