Tag Archives: Investments

Business

URALCHEM Increased its Investments to $174 Million in 2013

Leave a comment

In 2013 URALCHEM’s investments in development reached $174 million, an increase of 5.5% compared to the previous year.

Moscow, Russia (March 21, 2014) — In 2013 URALCHEM‘s investments in development reached $174 million, an increase of 5.5% compared to the previous year. $84 million was spent on the implementation of investment projects, $77 million was spent on capital investments in equipment upgrades and $13 million was allocated for capitalized repairs.

The company’s plant in Kirovo-Chepetsk made the biggest contribution to the development investments – $46 million. The main areas of investment in the plant included building facilities for the production of new products, as well as reconstruction of existing facilities to increase production of mineral fertilizers and chemical products. In particular, work was continued on the project to create a new product, calcium nitrate. Another completed project was the increase in the capacity of one of the two units of nitric acid, which had originally started in 2012. Work was begun to increase the capacity of the second nitric acid unit and work continued to increase the capacity of the ammonia unit.

The investments by the “Azot” plant in Berezniki totalled $41 million. The main areas of investment were projects aimed at increasing output and reducing raw material consumption. Major work was carried out on units of production of ammonia, urea and nitric acid. $26 million was spent on the development of the plant in Perm. Most of the funds were allocated to a large-scale programme of modernization of the ammonia unit. The implementation of this project will increase production and reduce raw material consumption. The total capital investments of the plant in Voskresenks amounted to more than $13 million, which was spent on the development of new products.

The company’s major infrastructure project for the year was the completion and launch of the fertilizer handling terminal at the port of Riga in the fourth quarter of 2013. The terminal has a capacity of 2 million tonnes per year. The total investment for this project was about $78 million, $34 million of which was spent in 2013. Also in 2013, the company continued increasing the number of units in its own rolling stock, extending its life and modernizing it.

Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of URALCHEM OJSC, commented, “In 2013, URALCHEM continued to implement a long-term investment programme aimed at the technical upgrade of existing facilities. The main goal of the programme is to increase production and to improve the efficiency of technological processes, reducing rates of raw materials consumption and improving the environmental safety of production.”

PR department
URALCHEM, OJSC
Tel: +7 (495) 721 89 89
Email: pr@uralchem.com
Web: http://www.uralchem.com

URALCHEM, OJSC is one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers in Russia and the CIS with production capacities of over 2.5 million tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 2.8 million tonnes of ammonia, 0.8 million tonnes of MAP and DAP, 0.8 million tonnes of complex fertilisers and 1.2 million tonnes of urea. URALCHEM, OJSC is the second largest ammonium nitrate producer in the world and number one in Russia, the second largest producer of nitrogen fertilisers in Russia. Key production assets of URALCHEM, OJSC include Azot Branch of URALCHEM, OJSC in Berezniki, Perm Region; OJSC Minudobrenia, Perm; MFP Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Works, OJSC Branch in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Kirov region; Voskresensk Mineral Fertilisers, OJSC in Voskresensk, Moscow region.

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of URALCHEM. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions. We do not intend to update these statements and our actual results may differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.

Business

Breakthrough in U.S.-China Trade Negotiations at Golden Networking’s China Happy Hour New York City

Leave a comment

China Happy Hour New York City (www.chinahappyhour.com), Every 4th Tuesday, Brings Together Chinese Business Leaders for Evenings of Fast-paced Networking and Cocktails in Midtown Manhattan.

New York City, NY, USA (July 12, 2013) — There is often a lot of effervescence that comes out of diplomatic meetings, says The Wall Street Journal’s John Bussey. And so it was today Thursday, when the U.S. announced a “breakthrough” in trade talks with China-the same negotiations that, over many years, have produced lots of promises and little progress. What happened was that the two sides agreed to continue negotiating a so-called bilateral investment treaty, or BIT, but under a new model treaty announced last year that has additional market-opening requirements.

Among the reasons China wants a treaty is that it has very big investment ambitions in the U.S. Some of its investments have been blocked by U.S. national security concerns, and for other reasons. An investment treaty would give China a lot more clarity about the rules of the road, give it a way to appeal for compensation if a deal is blocked, and provide China something of an overall seal of approval. Some Chinese leaders also want to use a trade deal to force additional economic reform at home.

The U.S. wants a treaty because companies-from oil drillers to bankers-still don’t have the market access China promised when it signed previous trade pacts, notably when it entered the WTO. What do Chinese business executives and journalists want in New York City? They all just want to attend Golden Networking’s China Happy Hour (http://www.ChinaHappyHour.com), the best China networking in the Big Apple, to be held Tuesday July 23rd, 6PM.

Companies represented in past editions of Golden Networking’s Happy Hour include Alaris Trading Partners, Andrews Securities, Apollo Advisors, Atlantic Advisory Group, Avatar, Blackstone, Capital Advisors, Citadel, Citi, CNBC, Comscient, Credit Suisse, DE Shaw, Deutsche Bank, Duane Morris, Eagle View Asset Management, Falcon Technology Systems, General Atlantic, GETCO, Goldman Sachs, Greyfields, IBM, Infinium Capital, KKR, Lightspeed, Lime Brokerage, Mahogany Partners, MNG Capital, Monolith Capital Trading Partners, Morgan Stanley, MSF Capital Advisors, Nirvana Capital, Nobilis Capital, OneMarketData, OneTick, Providence, RBS, SBS Securities, Silver Lake, The Carlyle Group, Twin Capital Management, UBS, among others.

Panelists, speakers and sponsors are invited to contact Golden Networking (http://www.goldennetworking.com) by calling +1-414-FORUMS0 or sending an email to info@goldennetworking.net. Golden Networking has been frequently featured in the press, including articles in The Wall Street Journal, “Happy Hour for High-Frequency Trading”, The New York Times, “Golden Networking Helps Job Seekers Make Overseas Connections”, Los Angeles Times, “Speed-addicted traders dominate today’s stock market” and Reuters, “Revamp looms as trading experts huddle at SEC”.

Media Contact:
Julia Petrova
Media Relations Coordinator
Golden Networking
+1-414-FORUMS0
jpetrova@goldennetworking.net
http://www.goldennetworking.net

Business

Now could be a ‘Great time’ to increase Gold exposure – AAA

Leave a comment

The fact that gold prices have fallen off slightly in the past month should not put off alternative investors, claims AAA. Instead, now could be a great time to buy up gold before prices rise once more.

Boston, MA, January 04, 2013 – The fact that gold prices have fallen off slightly in the past month should not put off alternative investors, claims Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA). Instead, now could be a great time to buy up gold before prices rise once more.

The price of gold dropped to a low of less than $1,670 per ounce, from around $1,750 an ounce a month ago, according to the latest figures. The drop was attributed largely to two large sell-offs of gold reserves and this has got tongues wagging about the possible reasons for the sell-offs.

“With prices a bit lower than they have been of late and long-term fundamentals for the precious metals still strong, now is a great time to take advantage of the bargain price and add gold to your portfolio” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

Investors who have no gold exposure at the moment can benefit from the popularity of gold as a result of ongoing volatility in the stock markets, low confidence in paper money and low interest rates. All these factors add up to a good outlook for this alternative investment, and for alternative investments in general, claims AAA.

In terms of the allocation for gold or silver investments, around 5 per cent has long been the recommended level of exposure. AAA claims that although gold is a good bet, other asset classes, such as forestry can help investors to generate returns from actual growth of an asset, rather than the faith-based returns one hopes for when investing in precious metals.

“Investing in an asset like timberland is great because you can actually watch your asset physically grow,” added Mr Johnson.

“Forestry investment is truly flexible – If the market isn’t looking too hot when you come to sell your timber, just leave it growing for a little longer until prices improve.”

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

Business

Alternative investments ‘are becoming Mainstream’ – AAA

Leave a comment

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

AAA claims Alternatives becoming more Mainstream with Individuals

Leave a comment

There have been further reports about large brokerage firms investing more in alternative investments, and it is all in response to demand from their customers, AAA has claimed.

Boston, MA, USA, December 8, 2012 — There have been further reports about large brokerage firms investing more in alternative investments, and it is all in response to demand from their customers, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has claimed.

The alternative investment advocacy group has said that the days when only institutional investors looked towards alternatives are long gone and that average investors now call for less exposure to stocks and shares. Whether it be private equity, REITs, timberland investments or precious metals, alternatives are becoming increasingly ‘the norm’ for anyone that wants to reduce their exposure to risk by diversifying their portfolio.

As well as becoming more mainstream, alternative investments are also able to deliver some very high returns at a time when investing in traditional assets provides limited opportunity for a windfall. In fact, the volatility in the stock markets is what is attracting so many individuals to more left-field investments.

Investing in art, precious metals, wine and even antiques and whisky is growing in popularity. “People like to turn their hobby into an investment opportunity, particularly if they know the business,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

“Investors are also increasingly keen to see something in return for their investment, such as physical trees, a beautiful painting or a gold bar.”

AAA supports alternative investments, but particularly backs ethical and ecologically-responsible options like sustainable forestry investments through firms like Greenwood Management. Greenwood runs plantations of non-native trees like acacia and teak, which grow fast and are managed in a cyclical way to ensure that new growth is always following when trees are cut and sold.

“The rise in popularity of these alternative investments is all based on demand for the products or the assets,” explained Mr Johnson. “Much of this demand is coming from emerging economies like China and India, which are buying up huge amounts of raw materials to help with their urban developments.”

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

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

Business

AAA reviews Gold, Silver and Bronze as Investments

Leave a comment

AAA thinks that the Olympics is the perfect time to review the performance of the medal metals, gold, silver and bronze, in terms of their recent performance as alternative investments.

Boston, MA, August 03, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) thinks that the Olympics is the perfect time to review the performance of the medal metals, gold, silver and bronze, in terms of their recent performance as alternative investments.

Since the last Olympic Games in Beijing, the price of both gold and silver have soared as an increasing number of investors and central banks bought up the precious metals as a buffer against the uncertain economic climate. “Investing in stocks and shares looked decreasingly attractive to many in the past four years and one of the obvious alternatives is precious metals,” explained Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner.

Illustrating this perfectly is the S&P GSCI Gold Spot Index, which increased by a huge 87.64 per cent between the Beijing Olympics and the London Olympics. In the meantime, Silver grew by 78.74 per cent over the same period. However, lagging a long way behind in third place is copper (from which bronze is made), growing by just 1.56 per cent according to the S&P GSCI Copper Spot for the period.

AAA claims that the reason behind gold’s popularity was the physical nature of gold. “Everyone wants something tangible in exchange for their cash when times are tough and the economy is uncertain,” claimed Mr Johnson.

However, this is not to say that there hasn’t been a fair amount of volatility in the gold and silver markets over the period in question. AAA said that there are several other tangible options that are less volatile and offer risk-averse choices – such as forestry investment.

Investing in timberland in the form of sustainable plantations can provide a great mid-to long-term option for investors who want to diversify their portfolios. In addition, investing in trees through firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil, means that investors only need as little as $10,000 to buy their own slice of timberland.

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 New of Church of England’s Timberland investments

Leave a comment

FRA a US-based forestry investment research and analysis consultancy, has welcomed news that the Church of England has increased its exposure to timberland investments over the past 18 months.

Bainbridge Island, WA, June 01, 2012 – Forestry Research Associates (FRA) a US-based forestry investment research and analysis consultancy, has welcomed news that the Church of England has increased its exposure to timberland investments over the past 18 months.

The Church of England is one of the UK’s largest non-profit organizations in terms of money invested and it has been restructuring its investment portfolio, worth £5.2 billion, over the past year-and-a-half. It has moved much of its allocation into uncrowded, unconventional assets such has timberland.

FRA claims that the example is the most powerful demonstration of a general move towards alternative investments in the charity sector in the UK and abroad and a general move away from stocks and bonds and into tangible, ethical asset classes.

“It seems to sit much better with charities to invest in something tangible and ideally something socially and environmentally responsible,” claimed FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins. He added, “The equity markets are a volatile place at the moment and when money is as precious as it is to the charities sector, a low risk approach is vital.”

That’s not to say that good returns can’t be made from alternative investments, added FRA.

FRA is a keen promoter of timberland investments as an option that is not closely aligned with general economic trends and indicators.

Firms like Greenwood Management, which operate plantations in Brazil, offer individuals and group investors, such as pension funds and charities, the chance to invest as little as EUR 10,000 in timberland that is managed sustainably.

These kinds of projects are popular at the moment as timber demand is rising off the back of the growth of emerging economies that need timber to help expand their infrastructures. As well as providing timber as a raw material for construction the plantations also provide the booming steel industry within Brazil itself with sustainable charcoal.

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 Reports: Pension Funds Quadruple Exposure to Alternatives

Leave a comment

Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has pointed out that the largest pension markets in the world have notably increased their exposure to alternative investments in recent years.

Boston, MA, USA, March 23, 2012 — Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has pointed out that the largest pension markets in the world have notably increased their exposure to alternative investments in recent years.

Analysis from Spence Johnson, the market intelligence firm, found that the top seven pension markets in the world increased their exposure to assets such as hedge funds, private equity and real estate, by 400 per cent between 2001 and 2011.

“This shows that the attitudes of institutional investors are moving with the times,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He added, “It’s not just individual investors who are keen to diversify their portfolios to help protect their investments against risk.

“Indeed during these economically volatile times, more and more pension funds are increasing their alternative investments and edging away from more traditional investments, like equities.”

However, there is still a way to go before defined contribution schemes view alternatives in the same way as other traditional investments, claim analysts. Spence Johnson found that only around $1.7 billion of DC funds are invested in alternatives, compared with $450 billion that is invested elsewhere.

The figures do, however, show that it is the defined benefit schemes that prefer alternatives, with a much higher interest in less traditional investments than defined contribution pensions. Analysts claim that this is because defined benefit schemes are invested by experienced professionals, rather than the average “man on the street”, and alternatives are, therefore, likely to be a preferred option.

AAA supports many kinds of alternative investments, and focuses on promoting ethical choices, such as sustainable forestry and timberland investment through scheme such as that run by Greenwood Management in Brazil.

Mr Johnson added, “it’s becoming easier and easier to promote alternative asset classes as the experts know the benefits, as these latest pension figures clearly illustrate. Sometimes we feel we are preaching to the converted.”

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

Financial

Gordon ‘Grant’ Curtis to Keynote at Campden Conference London Event

Leave a comment

Gordon “Grant” Curtis, Director and Portfolio Manager of CI Investments, Single Family Office will be presenting as the keynote speaker for the Campden Organization at their European Family Office Event, November 9-10, 2011 in London

London, UK, Tuesday – November 08, 2011 — Gordon “Grant” Curtis, Director and Portfolio Manager of CI Investments, Single Family Office will be presenting as the keynote speaker for the Campden Organization at their European Family Office Event, November 9-10, 2011 in London.

The topic of interest will cover the unique insight and due diligence process that CI Investments, SFO uses to identify potential capital deployment opportunities in emerging nations. In particular, the presentation will highlight SE Asia and some of the economic opportunities and challenges that the region faces.

Most important is the thought process behind the unique identification of target investments including the why and the how. Mr. Curtis, now having been with the family office since 2005, has led the organization, delivering stellar returns that have been consistent and formidable each year under his direction.

Not withstanding the economic setbacks in 2008 that other offices and institutions experienced along with other recent turbulent market activity, CI has continued to outperform its peers using less than traditional investment methods. Gordon “Grant” Curtis has been an out-of-the-box thinker and continues to engineer and implement new cutting-edge strategies into the portfolio management of CI.

Additionally, the office has morphed into one of the most sophisticated support organizations for family office matters catering to the needs of the many beneficiaries within the enterprise.

From a global footprint, exclusive of North America, the family organization continues to support the causes it favors along with reaping the benefits in the marketplace under the direction of Mr. Curtis and his team.

Conference attendees at this London event will be well entertained from this presentation along with given considerable information to ponder relative to the divulgence of key principles used by CI Investments SFO. The organization welcomes the opportunity to share some of its successes and challenges as many families undergo similar issues across the world.

This will be the last presentation and major conference attendance for Mr. Curtis and CI SFO in 2011.

Press & Media Contact:
Jay Tipton, Public Relations
Gordon Grant Curtis
CI Investments Management Company
London, UK
+1-203-654-7725
JayTiptonPR@aol.com
http://www.CIInvestments.org

Financial

AES International Opens for Business in Dubai

Leave a comment

March 3,2011 – The new offices in Emaar Square, Dubai, are the home of AES Middle East Insurance Brokers LLC, licensed by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Insurance Authority.

AES International aims to enhance standards in the Emirates by developing local regulation in line with that of leading UK-style financial controls.

Chief Executive Officer Sam Instone reiterated that AES International is working to change the international financial services industry from within by setting standards that exceed those required by regulators.

“There is a widespread perception that the Middle East, and Dubai in particular, is some way behind the European market in terms of Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), training and competency, systems and controls and underlying business model,” he said. “

“Our team is committed to changing this perception and introducing change by importing higher technical competency, technology, compliance and business conduct in to the Emirates.”

The Dubai office is the latest addition to the AES International network, and the first direct branch office in the Middle East.

The group is headquartered at prestigious offices on the New Kings Road, London, SW6, with other branches in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Belgium and Sweden.

In a competitive industry where brand and reputation mean more to a wealth management firm than size, AES International is taking great strides forward to build a name for reliability, professionalism and integrity.

The firm intends to run residential courses from a recently purchased 30,000 square foot international academy set in a landscape of lakes, sports fields and woods to meet this training requirement.

These courses will reinforce the day to day working of financial advisers around the world by keeping them up to date with the latest best practise, technology and investment strategies in the industry.

“The aim of AES International is to become the market leader in integrated service delivery to institutions, independent professional organisations, trustees, advisers (IFAs) and wealth managers involved in the international, offshore and cross-border markets.” said Mr Instone.

3300 East 4th Avenue,
Hialea,
Florid,
USA,zip:33013.
Tel: 3058054112