Rockville, M.D, United States
CFRA is announcing Asia Coverage and launching a regionally-focused New Issue Risk Analyzer to help investors operating in Asia better assess risks associated with new issues.
"Independent research and visibility have not kept pace with the aggressive flow of funds to Asia," says Nancy Yao Maasbach, Director of Asia and New Programs for CFRA. "We're moving to address a significant concern - the restricted ability of investors to unearth the true overall health of Asian companies and factor appropriately the red flags and risks of each investment.
"The Analyzer is particularly important in light of the region's significant IPO pipeline. As markets in Asia continue maturing, CFRA's methodology and vantage point will be invaluable - for investors and issuers."
The Analyzer employs CFRA's proven forensic accounting methodology to assess the quality and sustainability of specific company's financial and operational results, identify "red flag" areas for exploration and provide investors with specific due diligence follow-up questions. It will initially cover new issues in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) and financial sectors. TMT in Asia, excluding Japan, has a 2006 new issue pipeline of over 25 transactions valued at over US$8 billion; Chinese bank IPOs will push the region's financials equity pipeline to over US$20 billion this year.
In the last five years, over 300 new hedge funds were established in Asia, pushing the regional total over 450. Total assets invested in the region have grown dramatically, from US$14 billion in 1999 to more than US$85 billion in 2005.
"New entrants from the hedge fund, asset management and private equity sectors - predominantly based in the U.S. and Europe - are aggressively investing in the region," says Nancy Yao Maasbach, who has spent ten years analyzing Asia and more than six years on the ground. "Despite this dynamic market environment, however, there are fewer research providers covering the region compared with the U.S. and Europe - and a limited number are independent and unbiased."
In addition to the Analyzer, CFRA Asia will offer in-depth company reports and research briefs; thematic reports about emerging macro-trends and accounting issues in the TMT and financials sectors; conference calls on timely topics covering a broad range of accounting, educational and industry-focused topics and tailored regional seminars and on-site roundtables.
About CFRA
Founded in 1994 by Dr. Howard Schilit, CFRA provides institutional investment, financial services, insurance and regulatory organizations with research and analysis designed to help them mitigate risk and make better investment, underwriting and business decisions. Its research offerings span North America, Europe and Asia and include in-depth company reports, research briefs, industry-centric research blogs, industry analyses and educational reports and seminars. The firm holds more than 4,000 publications in its archives. CFRA analysts provide tailored research and educational roundtable discussions for clients on topics such as cash flow manipulation, pension accounting and stock option accounting. CFRA is backed by TA Associates. For more information, visit www.cfraonline.com.
CONTACT: Axiom for the Center for Financial Research & Analysis (CFRA) Barbara Hummel 301-602-2154 bhummel@axcomgroup.com
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)