Investorideas.com newswire, breaking water news

Thursday, February 18, 2010

What if a Million More Investors Invest in Green Technology and Water Technology?

What if a Million More Investors Invest in Green Technology and Water Technology?



Investor Ideas Membership Campaign for 2010; One Million Members Stronger…

POINT ROBERTS, Wash., Delta, B.C.–Februar18, 2010 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a global investor research portal covering leading sectors, with a primary focus on environment and water has recently launched a membership campaign for 2010 ;“One Million Members Stronger… The More we know, the More we grow- the More we Grow the More we know!”


Investorideas.com was one of the first investor research portals covering renewable energy stocks and water stocks and intends to be a driving force for investors to make investment decisions that reflect their beliefs and core values.



Investorideas.com recently announced the launch of its new investor content for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) Investing. The investor research tools, Lohas news and Lohas Stock Research can be found at Investorideas.com at http://www.investorideas.com/LOHAS-Investing/


The Investor Ideas membership campaign is based on the belief that there is power in numbers and knowledge is power. As the number of members grow, Investorideas.com will also expand content and services to its members, including special offers from partners and service providers catering to retail investors.


Investor Ideas Members currently get login access to 10 stock directories including all cleantech stock directories. Visit the Investor Ideas membership page to learn more at:

http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

Current list of cleantech stock directories available to members or individually :

Renewable Energy Stocks Directory
(http://www.investorideas.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp) Global Green and Renewable Energy Stocks Directory in PDF format includes over 900 stocks on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges . The directory features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company’s URL and company’s description. The directory includes info and links on Alternative Energy Funds, Biogas and Ethanol Stocks, Energy Efficiency Stocks, Flywheel Stocks, Fuel Cell Stocks, Geothermal Stocks, Hydrogen Production, Micro Turbine Stocks, Solar Stocks, Smart Grid Stocks, Green Transportation, Wind Power and Wind Energy Stocks and Green Infrastructure Stocks. For investors following green stocks, this is the most comprehensive global stock directory online.



Water Stocks Directory – (http://investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp ) Global Water Stocks Directory of publicly traded water stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges. The stock directory features water stocks ranging from desalination companies to bottled water stocks, to infrastructure, water treatment and technology as well as other sub sectors. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description. For investors following water stocks this is one of the most comprehensive directories in the sector available.



Environment/ Lohas Stocks Directory – (http://www.investorideas.com/Enviro_Stocks/Stock_List.asp )

Global Green Stocks Directory of Publicly traded Environmental Stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description.

The environment stocks directory is broken down into the following sub sectors for investors:

Environment Stocks Directory - Global Green Stocks Directory of Publicly traded Environmental Stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description.

The environment stocks directory is broken down into the following sub sectors for investors:

Air Control Technology & CO2 Recycling
Clean Coal Stocks
Energy Efficiency Stocks
Environment Consultancy Stocks
Environment Stocks & Green Tech Stocks - General
Garments & Textiles Stocks
Green Building and Sustainable Construction Materials
Green Certificates - Carbon Credit Stocks


Natural, Organic & Alternative Health
Oil Industry Environmental Technology
Recycling and Biodegradable Stocks
Sustainable Construction & Materials Stocks
Sustainable & Social Financial Institution Stocks
Waste to Energy
Water Treatment Technology Stocks

Fuel Cell Stocks Directory – (http://www.investorideas.com/FCCN/Stock_List.asp)
 ) Global Directory of Publicly traded Fuel Cell Stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges. The directory includes small cap, micro cap as well as large cap NYSE listed stocks for review. For green investors looking for opportunities in the fuel cell sector, the comprehensive global directory in PDF format provides a great research tool with hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description.



Natural Gas Stocks Directory (http://www.investorideas.com/Companies/NaturalGas/Stock_List.asp))

Global Directory of Publicly traded Natural Gas Stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges. The directory includes small cap, micro cap as well as large cap NYSE listed stocks for review. Natural gas stocks included range from LNG, Coal Bed Methane to exploration and producers in the sector . The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description.



Investors are also reminded to sign for the free investor newsletter – the next great investor idea! Investors can sign up for the new free newsletter on the pop- up box on the home page of www.investorideas.com or the newsletter sign up page.

The Investorideas.com stock directories are also sold individually by several research firms and cleantech sites. For a list of current partners for Investorideas.com visit our partners and links resource page at http://www.investorideas.com/resources/.



About InvestorIdeas.com:

Investor Ideas is a global financial media online destination specialized in sector investing content. Investor Ideas (and portals within the hub) was one of the first online investing and business resources providing in-depth information, news and stock directories in renewable energy, homeland security and water sectors. InvestorIdeas.com features over twenty industry sectors and global markets including China, India, Middle East and Australia.



Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp



For Additional Information and or interest in becoming a content /revenue partner:

Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com
Source – Investorideas.com

Monday, February 15, 2010

Water Stocks News - Jacobs (NYSE:JEC ) Acquires Jordan, Jones and Goulding, Inc; Expands Global Capabilities in Water and Wastewater

Water Stocks News - Jacobs (NYSE:JEC ) Acquires Jordan, Jones and Goulding, Inc; Expands Global Capabilities in Water and Wastewater


PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 15 -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC ) announced today that it has acquired Jordan, Jones and Goulding, Inc. (JJG), a 500-person professional services firm. JJG significantly expands Jacobs position in the North American water and wastewater market, and broadens the Company's strong position in the global aviation, transit, and transportation infrastructure markets.

Jacobs did not disclose the terms of the transaction.



Founded in 1958, JJG is based in Atlanta, Ga. and has 17 offices across the southern U.S. The highly respected company provides engineering, planning and consulting services for water, wastewater, environmental and other clients. The addition of JJG to Jacobs gives both companies the ability to provide comprehensive water solutions for clients, from assessments, planning, and design of new systems to the expansion and upgrade of existing systems.



In making the announcement, JJG President and Chief Executive Officer Don Allen stated, "We expect our employees and clients to benefit greatly from us joining Jacobs. Combining our capabilities with a company that shares our values allows our employees to continue to grow, and it provides a larger platform to better serve our clients."



Jacobs President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Martin said, "JJG has a very talented team. Their expertise in water infrastructure is not only a great complement to Jacobs strengths, but it also positions us for growth." Martin went on to say, "Like many other challenges resulting from the aging infrastructure worldwide, water and wastewater is a critical concern. This acquisition boosts our global capabilities to support public and private clients with the water solutions they urgently need."



Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional, and construction services.



Any statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based on management's current estimates and expectations, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data, forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. We, therefore, caution the reader that there are a variety of factors that could cause business conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our 2009 Form 10-K, and in particular, the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We also caution the readers of this release that we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

NOTE: This email message, including any attachments, is confidential and intended only for the person or persons originally addressed. Further, it may be protected by certain agreements, legal privilege, legal precedent or law. It must not be read by or disclosed to any person other than the intended recipient without the express permission of the sender. If this email message is received by anyone other than the designated recipient, please delete it, including all attachments, and notify the sender immediately by return email.



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Research water stocks with our Water Stocks Directory
at www.investorideas.com and www.water-stocks.com
*Global Water Stocks Directory of publicly traded water stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges . The stock directory features water stocks ranging from desalination companies to bottled water stocks, to infrastructure, water treatment and technology as well as other sub sectors. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description. For investors following water stocks this is one of the most comprehensive directories in the sector available.
*Buy the Water stocks directory in PDF
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Investorideas.com Creates New Cleantech Investing Social Network at Socialgo.com

Investorideas.com Creates New Cleantech Investing Social Network at Socialgo.com


POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –February 4, 2010 - Investorideas.com , a leading global investor and industry portal for the cleantech sector announces it has created a new cleantech investor social network at http://www.socialgo.com/ .

The free social network allows users to create profiles and share and exchange ideas and commentary on cleantech investing in both private companies and publicly traded stocks.

Cleantech Investor Member Network at Socialgo.com
http://investorideas.socialgo.com/
A social network for investors of all levels to share investing ideas in cleantech for both private investments and publicly traded stocks. We offer free and premium memberships. Join- share ideas and network today!


Investor Ideas Premium Membership:

Investing in Renewable Energy, Environment and Water Stocks – Get access to global stocks directories in cleantech sectors. The renewable energy stocks directory is estimated at 900 stocks and growing!

Become an Investorideas.com Member- Gain login access to 9 global stock directories including renewable energy stocks directory, environment stocks, water stocks, fuel cell stocks, biotech stocks, defense stocks, natural gas stocks, oil and gas stocks as well as the Insiders Corner investor newsletter covering insider buying trends on small cap stocks.

The complete renewable energy stocks directory features stocks listed on the TSX, OTC, NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX, ASX, AIM markets and other leading exchanges. The directory includes info and links on Alternative Energy Funds, Biogas and Ethanol Stocks, Energy Efficiency Stocks, Flywheel Stocks, Fuel Cell Stocks, Geothermal Stocks, Hydrogen Production, Micro Turbine Stocks, Solar Stocks, Smart Grid Stocks, Green Transportation, Wind Power and Wind Energy Stocks and Green Infrastructure Stocks.

About Our Green Investor Portals:

www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com is one of several green investor portals within Investorideas.com, creating a meeting place for investors, public companies and industry leaders following developments in renewable and green energy. The site provides investors with stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews, investor conferences, Blogs, research and a comprehensive global directory of stocks within the renewable energy sector. Investors can follow solar stocks commentary on our site with solar expert, J. Peter Lynch.



Visit the Investorideas.com Green Investor Portals: www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com ®, www.FuelCellCarNews.com ®, www.EnvironmentStocks.com, www.Water-Stocks.com and www.GreentechInvestor.com all within the Investorideas.com hub.



About InvestorIdeas.com:

Investorideas.com creates a meeting place for investing ideas to take form and come to life in an entrepreneurial environment, servicing the needs of small investors and start- up companies to large conglomerates! We cover multiple industry sectors but specialize in environmental and water.

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. Disclosure: Investorideas is compensated by featured green companies, news submissions and online advertising.

Disclosure .

Learn about our green showcase options for publicly traded cleantech companies. To become a showcase company, contact us below.



For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com
or Cali at cvanzant@investorideas.com
Source: Renewableenergystocks.com and Investorideas.com



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Research water stocks with our Water Stocks Directory
at www.investorideas.com and www.water-stocks.com
*Global Water Stocks Directory of publicly traded water stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges . The stock directory features water stocks ranging from desalination companies to bottled water stocks, to infrastructure, water treatment and technology as well as other sub sectors. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description. For investors following water stocks this is one of the most comprehensive directories in the sector available.
*Buy the Water stocks directory in PDF
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Frost & Sullivan Hosts Free Webinar: Water Scarcity - North American Solutions for 2010

Frost & Sullivan Hosts Free Webinar: Water Scarcity - North American Solutions for 2010


WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 at 1 p.m.
ET
LOCATION: Online, with free registration
SPEAKER: Eric Meliton, Sr. Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan

As water becomes increasingly scarce, it is important to find solutions that can be implemented. It is equally important to address short- and long-term issues. This briefing will do just that by looking at various water scarcity challenges that will affect North America in 2010 moving forward.

Highlights of this event include an overview of the water scarcity challenges in the U.S., including insights into water demand and availability; discussion of the major segment drivers and restraints, regulations and restrictions; analysis into water restrictions imposed on both municipalities and industrial end-user vertical markets; insights into recent case studies proposed or recently implemented; and a breakdown of proposed technological solutions such as desalination.

This briefing will benefit municipalities and water and wastewater treatment equipment suppliers. The insights derived from this briefing will also impact engineering, procurement, and construction firms that participate in the water infrastructure industry segment. Water use restrictions and scarcity concerns affect both municipalities and industrial end-user markets; therefore the challenges identified by this presentation will benefit participants looking to address some of these issues.

Supporting Quote

"2010 marks the time to address water scarcity and water use restriction challenges in North America," states Meliton. "Several U.S. states are identifying treatment processes and technology that can help alleviate the burden on this natural resource. With restrictions imposed on both municipalities and industrial end users, the scarcity issue is becoming a major concern for 2010 moving forward."

Supporting Resources

For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Environmental & Building Technologies practice, please visit:
http://www.environmental.frost.com

Registration

•To attend the briefing, email
johanna.haynes@frost.com your full name, title, company name, company telephone number, company email address, city, state and country.•Receive a recorded version of the briefing anytime by submitting the aforementioned contact details.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit
http://www.frost.com.

(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO)

Contact: Johanna Haynes Frost & Sullivan +1.210.247.3870
johanna.haynes@frost.com
SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

RELATED LINKS
http://www.frost.com





Research water stocks with our Water Stocks Directory
at www.investorideas.com and www.water-stocks.com
*Global Water Stocks Directory of publicly traded water stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges . The stock directory features water stocks ranging from desalination companies to bottled water stocks, to infrastructure, water treatment and technology as well as other sub sectors. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description. For investors following water stocks this is one of the most comprehensive directories in the sector available.
*Buy the Water stocks directory in PDF
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

California Water Service Group Board of Directors Declares 260th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend and 43rd Consecutive Annual Dividend Increase

California Water Service Group Board of Directors Declares 260th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend and 43rd Consecutive Annual Dividend Increase

SAN JOSE, CA--- January 27, 2010 - At its meeting today, the California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) Board of Directors declared the company's 260th consecutive quarterly dividend, increasing the annual dividend from $1.18 to $1.19. This represents the company's 43rd consecutive annual dividend increase. The quarterly dividend of $0.2975 per common share will be payable on February 19, 2010, to stockholders of record on February 8, 2010.

California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company, Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to more than 2 million people in 100 California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii communities. Group's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CWT."

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions, including decisions on proper disposition of property; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; changes in accounting valuations and estimates; the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations on internal controls; electric power interruptions; increases in suppliers' prices and the availability of supplies including water and power; fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities; restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph. The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.

1720 North First StreetSan Jose, CA 95112-4598Contact:Marty Kropelnicki(408) 367-8200 (analysts)
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Visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com

Water Stocks Directory - Global Water Stocks Directory of publicly traded water stocks listed on the TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading global Stock Exchanges . The stock directory features water stocks ranging from desalination companies to bottled water stocks, to infrastructure, water treatment and technology as well as other sub sectors. The directory in PDF format, features hyperlinks to stocks symbol(s), company's URL and company's description. For investors following water stocks this is one of the most comprehensive directories in the sector available.
*Buy the Water stocks directory in PDF
http://www.investorideas.com/Water-Stocks/Stock_List.asp

ING Raises $370 Million in IPO for the ING Infrastructure, Industrials and Materials Fund (NYSE Symbol IDE)

ING Raises $370 Million in IPO for the ING Infrastructure, Industrials and Materials Fund (NYSE Symbol IDE)


NEW YORK, Jan. 27 -- ING Investment Management today announced the launch of the ING Infrastructure, Industrials and Materials Fund (the "Fund"), a newly organized, diversified, closed-end fund. The Fund invests primarily in a broad range of companies in the infrastructure, industrials and materials sectors that we believe will benefit from the building, renovation, expansion and utilization of infrastructure.


ING Infrastructure, Industrials and Materials Fund raised $370 million in an initial public offering led by Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. The Fund began trading on the New York Stock Exchange today under the ticker "IDE".
"We are very excited to offer this new fund to financial advisers and their clients," said Mark Weber, Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Solutions. "We believe the Fund's research-driven approach to infrastructure investing is unique. Not only does the Fund invest in pure-play infrastructure companies, but it also invests in companies from more than 30 global industries that may benefit from the overall infrastructure development spending trend. We believe the Fund leverages ING's global research expertise and, specifically, taps the firm's highly experienced team of sector analysts in the Americas, Europe and Asia in a very broadly diversified, timely infrastructure investment."

"The need for increased spending on maintenance and new infrastructure is rising globally," said Chris Corapi, Chief Investment Office for U.S. Equities at ING Investment Management in the U.S. "Our belief is that infrastructure spending is driving the earnings growth of selected companies, and the strength and duration of this trend is particularly noticeable in infrastructure, industrials and materials industries. This is a strong, long-term investment theme for the coming decade and one that we feel may present substantial opportunity for investors."


The Fund is managed by ING Investments, LLC and draws upon a team of experienced investment professionals at ING Investment Management Co. ("ING IM"), the Fund's sub-adviser. The investment management team is led by Corapi and Uri Landesman, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Growth, who are responsible for the overall security selection and portfolio construction of the Fund.
ING IM believes that many mature economies are faced with the need to overhaul and modernize their infrastructure over the coming decades and that simultaneously emerging economies will be developing or upgrading their infrastructure to improve living standards and support the growth and productivity of their economies. Under the Fund's strategy, in addition to investing in the companies that own and/or operate infrastructure facilities in the infrastructure sector, the Fund will seek to invest in a broader range of companies, principally in the industrials and materials sectors, that the Fund's portfolio managers believe, based on proprietary research, will benefit from the building, renovation, expansion and utilization of infrastructure.
Under normal market conditions the portfolio managers will invest in 60 to 100 U.S. and international equity securities focusing on companies that they believe will benefit from increased government and private spending in six areas: power, construction, materials, communications, transportation and water. The Fund will also seek to secure gains and enhance the stability of returns over a market cycle by selling call options on either (1) the value of subsets of stocks in its portfolio or (2) selected equity securities held in its portfolio, generally comprised of a portion of the Fund's large-capitalization holdings.
ABOUT ING INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
ING Investment Management is a leading asset manager and one of the world's largest real estate investors. As of September 30, 2009, we manage approximately euro 414 billion of assets for institutions and individual investors worldwide, and we serve as the principal asset manager of ING Group, the global financial services company. With over 5,000 employees and investment professionals locally based in 35 countries across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, ING Investment Management provides clients with access to domestic, regional and global investment solutions.
ABOUT CLOSED-END FUNDS
Closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares for sale and are not required to buy shares back from investors upon request. Shares of closed-end funds trade on national stock exchanges and, like other securities, share prices will fluctuate with market conditions and at the time of sale may be worth more or less than the original investment.
For more complete information, or to obtain a prospectus on any ING fund, please call your Investment Professional or ING Funds Distributor, LLC at (800) 992-0180 or log on to www.ingfunds.com. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this information and other information about a fund. Check with your investment professional to determine which funds are available for sale within their firm. Not all funds are available at all firms.
This Fund has no historical performance. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Please log on to www.ingfunds.com in order to obtain performance when available.
Principal Risk Factors:
Not FDIC Insured Not NCUA/NCUSIF Insured May lose value No bank guarantee No credit union guarantee
No Prior History - The Fund is a newly organized, diversified closed-end management investment company with no history of operations or public trading of its Common Shares.
Market Discount Risk - Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value (NAV), and the Fund's Common Shares may likewise trade at a discount to their NAV. The trading price of the Fund's Common Shares may be less than the public offering price at any point in time. Common Shareholders who sell their shares within a relatively short period after completion of the public offering are likely to be exposed to this risk. Accordingly, the Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.
Infrastructure-Related Investment Risk: Because the Fund invests in infrastructure companies, it has greater exposure to potentially adverse economic, regulatory, political and other changes affecting such companies. Infrastructure companies are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations including interest rates and costs in connection with capital construction projects, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdowns, surplus capacity, increased competition from other suppliers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of necessary fuels, energy costs, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies may be subject to the following additional risks: Regulatory Risk, Technology Risk, Regional or Geographic Risk, Natural Disasters Risk, Through-Put Risk, Project Risk, Strategic Asset Risk, Operation Risk, Customer Risk, Interest Rate Risk and Inflation Risk.
Industrials Sector Risk - The industrials sector can be significantly affected by general economic trends, including employment, economic growth, and interest rates, changes in consumer sentiment and spending, the supply of and demand for specific industrial and energy products or services, commodity prices, legislation, government regulation and spending, import controls, and worldwide competition. For example, commodity price declines and unit volume reductions resulting from an over-supply of materials used in industrials and energy equipment & services industries can adversely affect those industries. Furthermore, a company in the industrials sector can be subject to liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.
Materials Sector Risk - The materials sector can be significantly affected by the level and volatility of commodity prices, the exchange value of the dollar, import controls, and worldwide competition. At times, worldwide production of materials has exceeded demand as a result of over-building or economic downturns, which has led to commodity price declines and unit price reductions. Companies in the materials industries can also be adversely affected by liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control, labor relations, and government regulations.
Option Risks - There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options. A decision as to whether, when and how to write call options under the Fund's strategy involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.
When a call option sold by the Fund is exercised or closed out, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities or to deliver portfolio securities to the option purchaser to satisfy its obligations when it would not otherwise choose to do so, or the Fund may choose to sell portfolio securities to realize gains to offset the losses realized upon option exercise. Such sales or delivery would involve transaction costs borne by the Fund and may also result in realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates, and may adversely impact the Fund's after-tax returns.
The Fund cannot guarantee that its call option strategy will be effective.
Issuer Risk - The value of securities held by the Fund may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as changes in the financial condition of the issuer, management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services. The amount of dividends paid may decline for reasons that relate to an issuer, such as changes in an issuer's financial condition or a decision by the issuer to pay a lower dividend. In addition, there may be limited public information available for the Sub-Adviser to evaluate foreign issuers.
The Fund may also be subject to the following categories of risk: Foreign Investment and Emerging Markets Risk, Equity Risk, Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Companies Risk, Investment and Market Risk, Derivatives Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Illiquid Securities Risk, Distribution Risk, Tax Risk, Foreign (non-U.S.) Currency Risk, Portfolio Turnover Risk, Management Risk, Initial Public Offering Risk, Depositary Receipts Risk, Securities Lending Risk, Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk, Current Capital Markets Environment Risk, Anti-Takeover Provisions, No Temporary Defensive Positions Risk, Sub-Custody Risk, Short Sales Risk, Preferred Stock Risk, Convertible Securities Risk, High-Yield Lower-Grade Debt Securities Risk and Leverage Risk. For a complete listing of all the Fund's risks with their descriptions, please refer to the Prospectus.
Important legal information
Certain of the statements contained herein are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements. These expectations are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to, among other things, (i) general economic conditions, in particular economic conditions in ING's core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, (iv) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (v) persistency levels, (vi) interest rate levels, (vii) currency exchange rates (viii) general competitive factors, (ix) changes in laws and regulations, (x) changes in the policies of governments and/or regulatory authorities, (XI) conclusions with regard to purchase accounting assumptions and methodologies, (XII) ING's ability to achieve projected operational synergies. ING assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this document.
SOURCE ING
RELATED LINKShttp://www.ingfunds.com







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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

What is Your Water Really Worth?

What is Your Water Really Worth?

Hydrocommerce Corner-Where Water & Money Meet

Brought to Investors by www.investorideas.com and its water investing portal, www.water-stocks.com

January 26, 2010 Edition
By William S. Brennan
Bio and more info: http://www.water-stocks.com/Bill_Brennan/

What is Your Water Really Worth?

A typical day for most adults in the western hemisphere begins with a cup of coffee, a shower and a brush of the teeth before we head of to work for the rest of the day. Most never even give water a second thought as we move about our daily routine since every time we turn the faucet, out gushes a commodity that never seems to end. But what would happen one day if you went to turn the shower on and nothing came out? Or worse the color was dark brown or something unrecognizable that reeked and was visually unappealing? What would you be willing to pay for uninterrupted clean water in the developed world? From an investment perspective, water prices are based on user expectations, failing to reflect the costs of infrastructure and maintenance. A prime example is the Metropolitan Board in Southern California where a 14% price increase did not cover the cost of delivering water, triggering the utility to access its reserves for $182 million. We bring this to light because this is not a one off situation. Water utilities get paid based on usage fees, giving them perverse disincentives to conservation and limiting their ability to invest in new technologies should water stress occur.

Most Americans as well as inhabitants of developed countries don’t pay much attention to the price of water because it is probably the cheapest utility bill that arrives in the mailbox. Think about it. Aren’t you excited that your cell bill is going down due to competitive pressures. So when is the other company going to show up at my front door and install a new water pipe in my front yard so I have an option who I should write the check to at the end of the month? Never! What you have now is what your children and grandchildren will have for the next 50 to 100 years. I can say that with a high degree of confidence since we have for the most part the same pipes and the same company supplying water over the last 100 years. Sure the name may change and the municipality may run out of money forcing it to sell its water works but the majority of us are dealing with the same company that our Grandparents did. This means that those same pipes that worked so well in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles since the 1930’s are still the same pipes that are bringing us our water today!

So what is the real underlying value of water relative to the state of our infrastructure, the energy used to treat and move it and ultimately, is it priced correctly? The water that runs into our homes goes through a comprehensive treatment protocol that is governed by the EPA before it ever hits the transmission pipes. The cost of treatment alone when you add in the energy to move water through various membranes and filters is likely far more than the average person realizes. Once clean enough for potable use, that water travels miles to reach its destination through a complex menagerie of pipes, motors, and valves before it reaches its final destination. Did you ever consider the energy cost to move water up a hill? Just ask the Metropolitan Water District in Southern California or Denver Water in Colorado and they will be happy to provide an answer. In addition, hydro electric plants regularly pump water uphill by “pumped storage,” in which water is moved from a lower-elevation storage facility (either a reservoir or a purpose-built container) to a higher elevation for release during peak demand. Although pumping the water uphill consumes more electricity than is generated by the water flowing back down, the financial return for the peak power is higher than the cost of pumping water during off-peak times. Did you ever give a second though to just how much energy is needed to provide water services? Energy is required to lift water from significant depth in aquifers, pump water through canals and pipes, control water flow and treat waste water, and desalinate brackish or sea water. Globally, commercial energy consumed for delivering water is more than 7% of total world consumption. Energy consumption effects water use more than we realize with 50% of our fresh water being used by electrical power plants

What most fail to realize is that the water industry is a “rising-cost” industry, with prices rising faster than the rate of inflation. Most costs are associated with infrastructure replacement, regulatory compliance (treatment), and population growth (for some areas). Labor, energy, and chemicals are the three major operating expenses for many systems where rising costs are coupled with flat or declining demand (conservation), another source of price pressure. One of the first points we always make with investors in the water sector is that water demand is relatively price inelastic; however, large-volume and discretionary use may fall due to price response. Ultimately, water customers experience the combined and regressive effect of water, wastewater, and stormwater charges. So get ready for higher water rates.


From our view, full-cost water pricing is essential for sustainability, as well as economic efficiency; in the coming years, accurate pricing will signal and encourage efficient production and use and emerge as the catalyst for behavioral change among end users. In the absence of full-cost pricing, subsidies can flow to or from water systems and sustainability will become more questionable, especially in regions where water shortages are expected to persist. Regulated water utilities, many of which are nongovernmental, are likely to charge customers for the full (accounting) cost of service. Presently many government-owned (but not all) water systems are reluctant to charge the full cost of service through rates. That will change albeit slow due to the political nature of the beast. Census Bureau data illustrate a persistent gap between expenses and revenues for water and wastewater services (comparatively). Remember, ratemaking can be politicized (“willingness to charge”), which may play a role in cost avoidance, including investment deferrals as we have seen from our not so stimulating U.S. stimulus plan. However, cost allocation and rate design are both technical skills that reside within the body of a water utility. And don’t leave out political skills which are needed too (communications, participatory processes, and accountability) in order to prepare the public for the inevitable price increases that we believe will be 3x-5x your present water bill over the next five years.


Often overlooked by most people, politics has and will continue to play the leading role in setting the ultimate price of water globally, resulting in prices that short term, may remain artificially low in comparison to the intrinsic value of water in certain parts of the world; not enough water stress exists in those areas to move pricing that wakes up the end user. Shortsighted but prevalent. Consider this as likely scenario…even while the average water usage drops among end users, the cost to maintain existing operations continues to climb. First, a minimum usage charge for those areas that the water usage does not support the underlying cost will be implemented. Ultimately, however, we will pay the full cost and when that occurs, pricing will become significantly higher and hopefully more intelligently applied across the usage spectrum. We anticipate that regional pricing structures will become more creative (as we have seen in certain parts of water starved California) – including tiered rates where the first tranche of water-basic “human right” water is priced just below or at full cost while the next tranche of water beyond the first tier is substantially increased through tariffs and usage levels that provide a true and measurable disincentive to overuse. So while you ponder over your next underpriced water bill (if you are lucky enough), consider picking up a few shares of the local water company if it’s a publicly traded security.


By William S. Brennan
Brennan Investment Partners LLC

Bio and more info: http://www.water-stocks.com/Bill_Brennan/

Disclaimer: This column, Hydrocommerce Corner-Where Water & Money Meet with Bill Brennan, is the opinion of William S Brennan.Content found in the articles is subject to the terms found in the InvestorIdeas.com disclaimer and does not represent a recommendation of investment advice. Investors should seek the advice of a qualified investment professional prior to making any investment decisions.

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