13th February 2014
Forestry’s Good Returns Attract Investment Interest
With forest products exports continuing to enjoy a run of high commodity prices there is plenty of attention worldwide
on the robust returns delivered from forest resources. So it’s timely that New Zealand and Australia are soon to host a
major forest investment and market outlook conference series. The event in it’s third year is popular with forest
company CEOs and financial sector leaders for it’s insight.
One of the keynote speakers headlining the FIEA event is Kevin Mason, Managing Director and Senior Analyst of ERA Forest
Products Research (www.ERA-Research.com), a Canadian-based independent research firm that covers the global forest products sector.
“We focus first and foremost on understanding the commodity side of the market,” says Mason, “as trends in the
underlying commodities far outweigh managerial abilities, or the lack of.”
Mason and his team of top analysts have a reputation for having been able to predict nearly every bankruptcy in the
North American forest products industry, as well as highlighting some of the best upside returns as well.
“Timing of investments in the forest products sector are key,” says Mason.
Over the past 20 years, ERA has built up a large following of investment clientele, and advises many of the leading
hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds and private equity players. As ERA’s senior analyst, Kevin Mason is no stranger
to controversy and is always willing to challenge accepted wisdom. His negative views on several prominent mergers in
the sector have won him accolades in the investment industry, but also angered many merger proponents. He has helped the
firm expand its investment coverage within North America, and is now building out coverage of European and Latin
American firms.
Mason is joined by two other speakers known for their global forest sector insights – Gary Myers of Timberlink and
Brooks Mendell from Forisk Consulting. Visit www.fimo2014.com to register or see programme details.
The Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) is running the third biennial forest industry investment conference –
FOREST INVESTMENT AND MARKET OUTLOOK – in Auckland on 9–10 April 2014. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the
city. This latest conference will focus on strengthening ties between the equity investment, finance and forest products
industries in New Zealand and globally. New Forests are confirmed at the Principal Conference Sponsor. New Zealand’s key
industry associations have also indicated their support for this pan-industry meeting.
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