New Research into Impact investing endorsed by AAA

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

AAA welcomes Allianz move towards Alternative Investments

The news that Europe’s largest insurer is increasing its investment in alternatives has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, November 23, 2012 - The news that Europe’s largest insurer is increasing its investment in alternatives has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Allianz claims that its traditional investments are delivering very low yields at the moment, and it is hoping that doubling its exposure to alternatives will help to offset the effects of this.

Currently, Allianz’s investment portfolio totals some $400.8 billion, which, according to AAA, are invested almost entirely in fixed income securities, which have suffered as a result of the financial crisis, with yields falling significantly. “This has happened to a large number of traditional asset classes since the economic crisis,” explained Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner.

He added, “It’s no longer just individuals that are looking to invest more in alternatives, but institutional investors are also increasing their exposure to alternatives to try to reduce the risk in their portfolios.”

Maximilian Zimmerer, a board member at Allianz spoke to the Financial Times about the issue. He said that Allianz will continue to invest in private equity but will also aim to increase its exposure to infrastructure and real estate property loans, for example.

The move from investing in real estate directly, to investing in property loans is the result of some predictions from Allianz that this area will see the most growth in the coming years. An article on the investment strategy from Invezz.com, explained, ‘A lengthy period of low returns has affected insurers’ ability to generate profits on their conventional investment portfolios while meeting promises to owners of products such as life assurance policies, which often guarantee fixed returns.’

AAA is an alternatives investment advocacy group that supports ethical and non-traditional asset classes, such as forestry and impact investing. “Investing in sustainable plantations though firms like Greenwood Management can produce better returns that most traditional investment," claimed Mr Johnson.

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

AAA backs Rockerfeller Foundation Endorsement of Impact investing

A spokesperson from the Rockerfeller Foundation, Margot Brandenburg, has endorsed impact investing extremely eloquently in an article in the Huffington Post this week, claims alternative investment advocacy group AAA.

Boston, MA, November 14, 2012 - A spokesperson from the Rockerfeller Foundation, Margot Brandenburg, has endorsed impact investing extremely eloquently in an article in the Huffington Post this week, claims alternative investment advocacy group Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Speaking following a convention about impact investing in Sao Paulo earlier this month, Ms Brandenburg stated that investing in socially and environmentally responsible projects is continuing to attract attention and interest. This interest is coming from philanthropists and entrepreneurs, but also increasingly from regular investors and even institutional investors who may not have even have considered alternative investments a few years back, claims AAA.

In her Huffington Post article, Ms Brandenburg explains that this interest is stemming from a growing feeling that ‘business as usual’ is simply not sustainable and often not ethical. “This has been brought into the public consciousness since the economic crisis began and we all realized that there were some fundamental problems with the way the business world, and particularly the financial world, was operating,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

AAA supports the sentiment that impact investors have the opportunity to help millions of people around the world and contribute to local economies by helping people to set up businesses and work themselves out of poverty. “These are long term solutions that can generate returns for investors in the West while helping those in developing nations to create a future for themselves and their communities,” added Mr Johnson.

AAA supports ethical alternative investment projects that help communities and environmental causes. An example is the plantations run by Greenwood Management in Brazil, which offer foreign investors the chance to buy up a section of sustainable plantation forest. The timber grown in the forest is sold when it is mature and new seedlings are being planted all the time. “This form of managed forestry is a great alternative to using native forests in countries like Brazil where the ecology is so valuable in the fight against climate change,” added Mr Johnson.

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

AAA Endorses Women Investing in Women

AAA is supporting the Women Investing in Women Initiative as part of a widespread endorsement of impact investment options that support women in developing nations.

Boston, MA, August 01, 2012 - Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) is supporting the Women Investing in Women Initiative as part of a widespread endorsement of impact investment options that support women in developing nations.

AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, claims that World Bank statistics show that if more women joined the labor force, the world’s GDP would improve. In addition, in regions including Africa and the Middle East, average household earnings would rise by up to a quarter if women had more opportunity to work.

“Investing in women isn’t about donating to charity, but is instead about investing in social enterprises and small businesses that will employ and educate women,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. he added that this comes with its own financial benefits to those investing, with returns being seen as soon as the enterprises are making cash.

The Calvert Foundation has launched the Women Investing in Women Initiative, which is hoping to raise $20 million to provide women in the US and developing countries with small business loans. The money is also needed to help them cover childcare and healthcare costs. The scheme is being aimed at women but men and institutional investors are also welcome to invest in the scheme.

“Anyone can invest through a regular broker to help women all over the world achieve their dreams, to education their children and help their families to thrive,” added Mr Johnson.

AAA support impact investing as well as other ethical investment options, such as timberland investment. Investing in timberland that is sustainably managed and growing non-native species in vulnerable regions is a great way to help reduce deforestation, according to AAA. “Another bonus, aside from the clear conscience that this type of investment affords you, is that returns on this asset class have regularly outperformed equities over the past decade or so,” added Mr Johnson.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

AAA support Health care Benefits of Impact investing

A new form of impact investing could lead to a rise in life expectancy by helping to deal with the causes of health problems, according to analysts and AAA.

Boston, MA, May 05, 2012 - A new form of impact investing could lead to a rise in life expectancy by helping to deal with the causes of health problems, according to analysts and Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

A new white paper from researchers at UC Berkeley argues that Health impact Bonds and similar impact investing routes can help save lives in developing countries and at home. The paper, that was also put together with help from Collective Health, suggested that these bonds help to address the underlying social problems that cause people to make unhealthy choices that can affect their long-term health.

The researchers’ white paper follows claims that the majority of increase life expectancy in the US has come as a result of lifestyle, social health care, cleanliness and hygiene, rather than from better care once ill.

It is, then, advantageous to try to deal with the root cause of ill health rather than simply ploughing money into more and more care once people have already become ill.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained that impact investing can help in some very straightforward ways. “Money invested into socially and environmentally responsible projects can go towards anything from building clean water wells in Africa to providing education on healthy eating seminars in inner-city America.

“Either way, it’s a lot more ethical than investing in stocks and shares,” added Johnson.

Health Impact bonds can help projects such as the efforts to cut asthma in Fresno, California, through a simple education process, helping people remove mold from their homes and get new air filters and soft furnishings.

AAA claims that impact investing has brought benefits to many areas of the world and that investing in sustainable forestry projects can help communities in developing countries to safeguard their forestry industry for generations to come. “Investing in projects such as the Health Impact Bonds and Greenwood Management’s plantation schemes in Brazil can ensure investments make a real difference,” added Johnson.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

College Impact investing challenge welcomed by AAA

Highlighting the popularity of alternative investments is this year’s International Impact Investing Challenge at Northwestern University and the University of California, which has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, March 23, 2012 - Highlighting the popularity of alternative investments and impact investing is this year’s International Impact Investing Challenge at Northwestern University and the University of California, which has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The challenge, run by the universities’ business schools, sponsors some of their brightest and best financial minds to make ethical and profitable impact investing decisions, which will help onlookers to realise the benefits of this approach, according to AAA.

One of the schools involved is the Kellogg School of Management, whose associate director, Jamie Jones, said, "Now in its second year, the International Impact Investing Challenge encourages students from graduate schools around the world to identify strategies that create solutions for global social issues – as well as deliver financial returns.”

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson added, “This sums up impact investing very well because making an ethical choice, that will make a difference to people in the developing world, does not have to come at financial price. Positives social impact and healthy returns are by no means mutually exclusive and we’re glad that initiatives like this are helping to spread the word.”

Some of the ideas that the teams came up with last year included dealing with food shortages in India and developing clean power for larger, established economies, like the US. More and more people are realising that their cash can help facilitate environmental or social change, while making them more profit than it would sitting in a savings account, explained AAA.

AAA is an alternative investment advocacy group that also supports impact investment in developing economies around the world. It supports environmentally responsible investment projects such as the plantation schemes run by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil. “These schemes help to increase plantation timber, which in turn, helps to reduce the reliance on natural forests,” added Johnson.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

AAA supports calls to make Impact investing easier

AAA, an ethical and alternative investment advocacy group has spoken out to support a recent article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, which called for social investing to be made easier for those who are not super-wealthy.

Boston, MA, February 15, 2012 - Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an ethical and alternative investment advocacy group has spoken out to support a recent article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, which called for social investing to be made easier for those who are not super-wealthy.

As the article claims, social investment is an attractive concept for most people, but those interested may find that they hit a brick wall when they try to find out how they can actually access a fund themselves.

Many of the investors in impact investing funds are charitable trusts and those who have large sums to invest through boutique, specialized means.

According to the Guardian article though, there are more option becoming available. An example is the Allia bond in the UK, which groups together investors’ contributions – some as small as £100 – and use to offer loans through a social housing provider with an AA rating.

Another option is an account-based option called Shared Interest, which takes the form of a financial cooperative that takes cash from investors and offers funding for fair-trade farming initiatives and other socially responsible projects.

AAA, which supports many kinds of impact investing, including both environmentally and socially responsible projects, thinks it could still be easier for the man on the street to put his savings into ethical investments.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained, “investing in ethical, alternative asset classes is becoming more and more mainstream, but there is still limited access for most of us who want to put out money where our mouth is, metaphorically speaking.”

AAA does point out that ethical investment can be easiest to achieve through sustainable forestry investment through projects, such as Greenwood Management‘s plantation in Brazil. “These offer individuals the chance to invest just £10,000 in exchange for a section of plantation land where fast-growing non-native timbers are grown,” explained Mr Johnson to UK–based investors.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Impact investing conference welcomed by AAA

Alternative investment advocacy group, AAA, has announced its support for an impact investing conference coming to Hawaii later this year.

Boston, MA, January 18, 2012 - Alternative investment advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for an impact investing conference coming to Hawaii on February 9.

The conference, focused entirely on impact investing, is to take place in Hawaii in an attempt to raise more awareness and interest in socially and environmentally responsible investing in the island nation.

Chenoa Farnsworth, a local venture capitalist, has organised the event at the Honolulu Centre, aimed firmly at philanthropists, as well as at traditional investors, entrepreneurs and those simply interested in diversifying their portfolios to include an ethical, alternative option.

Impact investing is increasingly attractive to those who may not have thought of themselves as philanthropists or even alternative investors, Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner has claimed. “Ms Farnsworth is an example of those who are seeing the light as a result of the economic crisis and the greed and ignorance that led banks down such a disastrous route,” added Johnson.

Farnsworth explained, “About a year and a half ago, I became interested in impact investments, which is looking for both financial returns and social and economic benefit.”

She added, “Hawaii has a tremendous growing climate and conditions and several crop-related companies are starting or moving here to test their crop viability. These include biofuels feedstock and petroleum-based ingredients substitutes such as algae.”

Growing sustainable crops and forests are central to AAA’s support for impact investing in developing countries, where generating foreign investment in sustainable forestry projects can help reduce deforestation while providing healthy returns. “Projects like the plantation schemes run by Greenwood Management in Brazil offer the chance of strong, reliable returns through timber price increases and natural growth, while helping to safeguard the future of the sustainable Brazilian forestry industry for generations to come,” explained Mr Johnson.

Representatives from several Hawaii-based impact investing schemes will be attending and speaking at the event.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

AAA calls for responsible investment in response to Occupy movement

Alternative investment and impact investing advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for more social enterprise investment as called for by London-based expert, Luke Fletcher.

Boston, MA, December 01, 2011 - Alternative investment and impact investing advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for more social enterprise investment as called for by London-based expert, Luke Fletcher.

Fletcher, of the Social Finance Group, claims that investing in social enterprise initiatives could be the most workable solution to the current unrest about the financial markets. AAA supports this claim and is looking to raise awareness of both the global impact of socially responsible investment, and the potential returns they can offer.

Writing for SocialEnterpriseLive.com, Mr Fletcher asserted that those involved in demonstrations against fat-cat wages and the general model on which global business operates, through the Occupy protests, should be focusing their efforts on promoting social enterprise as an alternative.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, added, “We are keen to remind people that there is an alternative to stocks and shares and that it is possible to make a real statement against capitalism through sensible, ethical investments in social and environmental projects.”

Mr Fletcher explained, “Social impact investment is projected by JP Morgan to be at least a $400 million-$1 trillion industry over the next decade.” He added that the City of London needs to realise this potential and leverage its strength to move to the forefront of this emerging asset class.

AAA promotes impact investing as a means of making strong returns while steering cash injections in a direction that is positive for developing countries, vulnerable communities and the environment. Some ethical alternatives have already caught on in the mainstream, such as forestry investments through firms like Greenwood Management, which manages sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil. However, more needs to be done, claims AAA.

AAA joins Luke Fletcher and many others involved in social enterprise, in hoping that the Occupy movement triggers a change in attitude, among investors in general, towards more responsible and fair investment choices.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Impact Investing Gets A Boost From OPIC Reports AAA

Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), which is a major advocate of impact investing, has welcomed the announcement from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) that it has approved finance for six new impact investment funds.

Boston, MA, November 08, 2011 - Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), which is a major advocate of impact investing, has welcomed the announcement from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) that it has approved finance for six new impact investment funds.

The Board of Directors at OPIC, which is the development finance institution for the US government, said the extra finance and the new funds will see some $875 million being injected into the industry.

The financing from OPIC total some $285 million, which will raise some $875 million for projects in emerging markets. AAA claims the investment marks an important day for the future of impact investing. POIC President, Elizabeth Littlefield, stated, "This is a watershed day in the evolution of impact investing.”

The money will go towards a range of projects that will all be looking to help fund environmentally and socially responsible projects in the developing world. Impact investing has been successful in providing small business loans in Africa, which help communities to work their way out of poverty by providing education and access to essential financial help.

AAA has supported impact investing, not only as a way to make a difference, but as a way to see healthy returns during a time when traditional investment looks increasingly unattractive. AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “Impact investment projects an really change peoples lives for the better and investors are starting to view the as a viable and ethical alternative to putting cash in stocks and shares that could lose their value overnight.”

AAA also promotes investment in other ethical projects, such as plantations in Brazil, run by Greenwood Management. This project gives anyone with EUR 10,000 to invest, a chance to own their own section of Brazilian forest. The non-native tree plantations are also an effective way to protect native species from deforestation, claims AAA.

Past successful impact investment funds have offered banking services to the unbanked in Africa, improved healthcare and invested in small businesses in countries affected by conflict, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

AAA announces Support for Impact Reporting and Investment Standards

Impact investment advocacy and analysis group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has said it supports the Global Impact Investment Network's Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS).

Boston, Mass, April 08, 2011 - Impact investment advocacy and analysis group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has said it supports the Global Impact Investment Network's Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS).

A growing number of wealthy investors are looking for projects to place their money that will offer a socially responsible investment opportunity that nurtures projects in developing countries and hold scope for returns later down the line. This is known as impact investing and the issue has become increasingly high profile in light of the success of projects sponsored by large funds such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

AAA says that these projects have had major positive influences on people's lives and the environment over a reasonably short space of time. One example of a success story is the Kenyan rose farming industry. After an expose in 2003, the world suddenly became aware that the $500m industry's practices were harmful to the people and the environment in the Lake Naivasha region of Kenya. Now, thanks to the investment - which was even more necessary after drought and flood hit the region, leaving the workers desperate to establish a sustainable living - the industry has transformed.

Better working conditions and a renewed focus on sustainability have emerged. However, AAA's Anthony Johnson has said it is not always easy for investors to establish and evaluate the true impact their investment will make. It is also sometimes challenging to know whether a project is truly beneficial to all parties and to the environment. Many controversial areas like biofuels can split opinion as to what is an ethical investment and what is the opposite.

"This is where the IRIS comes in," stated Mr Johnson. "The IRIS provides a standardised format through which businesses report their social and environmental performances, helping investors to understand the impact being made by organisations they are interested in."

The Global Impact Investment Network has said, "IRIS aims to increase the value of non-financial data by enabling performance comparisons and benchmarking, while also streamlining and simplifying reporting requirements for companies and their investors."

For individuals looking for projects to invest in, but who have more modest bank accounts, excellent ethical investment opportunities can be found in Brazil, according Mr Johnson. Plantation firms like Greenwood Management are growing sustainable crops of non-native trees such as Teak, which help to support projects and legislation that prevents deforestation.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-898-6317

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com