Alan Quasha Business News

Richemont Sales Boom during 2010

2010-12-05T05:23:00.003-05:00

Compagnie Financiere Richemont reported a sales increase of 37% in the six months that ended September 30, 2010, compared with the previous corresponding period. The Swiss luxury goods company, where Alan Quasha sits on the Board, described its profits’ rise during the first half of the year as being due to “a marked improvement in all business areas and across geographies compared to the depressed levels seen last year.”

Richemont’s report for the period included a 32% increase in jewelry sales, a 38% rise in sales of watches, and a 28% rise in writing instrument sales. Sales of other items, including leather goods and the recently-acquired online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter, were up 65%

Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels were the highest performing among the group’s jewelry maisons, Richemont said.

Head Injuries in the News

2010-11-20T02:02:00.002-05:00

The Brain Trauma Foundation, chaired by Alan Quasha, has long put recognition of mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, at the forefront of it priorities. Now, “concussion” has become a hot topic in the national conversation. The National Football League recently announced that it will issue large fines to players who make “dirty moves” that put their opponents at risk for concussion. A series of recent reports have shown that more kids who play team sports are reporting concussions, and more youth coaches are on the lookout for them. Studies are also coming out giving additional scientific basis to those concerned about head safety, especially for children. University of California at Los Angeles researchers recently reported that even a mild blow to the head can impact on a child’s development for years to come.

For parents, school officials and youth athletic coaches who want to learn more about protecting children from head injuries and dealing with those injuries that do occur, the Brain Trauma Foundation website is a good source for information. You can learn more here.

NFL Attempts to Protect Players from Head Injuries

2010-11-10T05:17:00.001-05:00

The NFL has recently decided to improve enforcement of rules against illegal hits in order to protect the NFL players from brain trauma and other head injuries. They probably didn’t expect the reactions that they have been getting so far. Players are openly scornful of the new penalties, and some have even threatened to retire. New England Patriots’ Quarterback Tom Brady said that "It's a dangerous game, it really is. I think we all signed up for this game knowing that it's dangerous. . . . Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt. That's not why we play the game. But we also know the physical nature of this sport is that people do get hurt."
A former Giants player also stated that he understands the reaction. He said he thinks “they feel they have to do what they can to reduce the violence. But the reality is, football is a violent sport. . . . It's up to the players to play a certain way. You understand you're out there to make a play and not hurt someone. But . . . you're coached to be aggressive, to hit the guy, to protect your area. If your play is affected because you're not being aggressive, the coaches are going to replace you.”

The fact that NFL players are upset that people are worried about their safety shows the extent of people’s ignorance when it comes to brain trauma and concussions. These are both very serious, potentially dangerous conditions, with possible long term affects. There are many organizations, like the American Brain Trauma Foundation with Chairman Alan Quasha, which are working fervently to promote awareness and early identification of these issues.

Head Trauma- A Common Issue

2010-10-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

Military doctors have discovered that combat stress and mild concussions are equally common amongst soldiers. A combat stress center was set up at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan last spring, which offered psychiatric and psychological care. Dozens of soldiers and sailors, desperate for proper assessment and treatment of mild head injuries, came to the center for lack of a better option.

The center could do little to help these men with their physical issues, and so this past summer a special team was deployed from California. Their focus was on assessing, treating and healing concussions, and on providing physical therapy and rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injuries. In the first week of its opening, brain trauma center saw 170 patients, with the number increasing each week.

Military operations are not the only thing that can cause brain injuries. Many other everyday activities, such as sports, can cause mild concussions, which are, in fact, becoming more and more common. Organizations like the American Brain Trauma Foundation, with Chairman Alan Quasha, put their efforts into promoting brain trauma awareness and treatment.

Timepieces Reach New Heights

2010-10-21T03:42:00.000-04:00

The global market for watches and clocks is set to reach new heights by 2015, according to a new report released this month by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. After a major decline in the timepiece market in 2009, attributed to the international economic crisis, the new report predicts that watch sales will reach $31.5 billion dollars and clock sales $5.2 billion within five years. The report looked at such prestigious businesses as Cartier, a member of the Compagnie Financière Richemont International, whose board members, such as business leader Alan Quasha, are responsible for guiding the Compagnie towards capitalizing on this portended increase in the luxury goods market.

According to the report, Europe represents the largest market for timepieces, with the U.S. second, and the Asia-Pacific market predicted to have the fastest growth. The report further delineated that the mass (under $50) watches category constitutes the largest and fastest-growing segment, while at the opposite end of the spectrum, luxury watches – defined as those sold at a price of $1000 and above – represents the other segment expected to increase significantly by 2015.

Alan Quasha and Compagnie Financière Richemont SA Staff

2010-10-09T03:17:00.000-04:00

Sitting on the board of directors of the Compagnie Financière Richemont SA alongside Alan Quasha, is Lord Renwick of Clifton,(born Robin William Renwick, Baron Renwick of Clifton KCMG). At one point he was a diplomat but today is also a crossbench member of the House of Lords. Prior to this appointment, Renwick was a Labour peer. Educationally, he graduated Cambridge in 1962 with an MA in History and thereafter studied at the Sorbonne. He did national service for the British army and worked in the British Foreign Service in various positions. He was appointed to the board in 1995 (Quasha in 2000) as non-executive director.

Brain Trauma Foundation Upcoming Webinar

2010-09-24T05:43:00.000-04:00

The Brain Trauma Foundation will be hosting a webinar on the topic, ‘Managing Concussions in our Youth: Clinical and Public Health Solutions to Reducing Risk in the “Invisible” Injury,’ on October 14. The speaker will be Gerard A. Gioia, PhD, Chief, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Director, Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) program, Childrens National Medical Center, and Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at George Washington University School of Medicine. The Brain Trauma Foundation is presided over by Alan Quasha.

Brain Trauma News

2010-09-10T07:55:00.000-04:00

It seems that new light on Lou Gehrig’s Disease indicates that Lou Gehrig did not have ALS (known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The recent debate on concussion has given football players the most attention but “a small corner of baseball history’s attic is filled with evidence of head injuries’ devastating toll: 19th-century catchers, many of whom had devastating postconcussion symptoms, including insanity.” Indeed, Catchers earned high praise if, after being knocked unconscious, they insisted on completing the game. A typical 1883 account described the mask of George Myers of the Port Hurons in Michigan being ripped off his face by a foul ball. He gamely borrowed a replacement, only to be clobbered on the next pitch by another “terrible blow” that “threatened to disable him,” The Cleveland Herald reported. “Though weak,” the report continued, he “was able to resume his position.” This is definitely interesting information for those working with brain trauma victims such as the American Brain Trauma Foundation, of which Alan Quasha is chairman.

Helmet Safety and Brain Trauma

2010-08-29T03:49:00.002-04:00

The article, "Novelty Helmets Riskier for Bikers" should certainly give bikers pause, as it points at that many novelty helmets today aren’t federally certified. According to the article, nearly 10% of helmets worn in California aren’t certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most motorcyclists, as the article points out, know about the dangers of wearing novelty helmets. They choose to wear them anyway, however, because they offer more visibility, look more cool or fit better.

The Brain Trauma Foundation chaired by Alan Quasha and many other institutions work to educate the public about helmet safety and brain trauma accidents.

Source

Alan Quasha and Norbert Platt

2010-08-09T02:36:00.000-04:00

Norbert Platt was appointed non-executive director serves as non-executive director to the board of directors Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, in 2005 and a director since 2000. Until last year, Platt was the Group Chief Executive Officer of Compagnie Financiere Richemont AG too. Educationally, he earned his BSc in Precision Mechanical Engineering from the University of Frankfurt/Main and studied Business and Management Topics at Harvard Business School. Alan Quasha was appointed non-executive director to the board in 2000.

Alan Quasha and Quadrant Management

2010-08-02T04:55:00.000-04:00

Alan Quasha, president and CEO of Quadrant Management, was interviewed about his work at the company. The question posed was, “You and Quadrant have been in the restructuring business for many years, which now must be very popular with companies seeking to navigate these difficult times. What’s your process?” Quasha responded: “We’re principals, rather than advisers or consultants, in restructuring situations. We restructure companies with ownership in mind because the process often requires making fundamental changes to the business model and laying out a strategy for where the business can go. When we started doing it 30 years ago, there was no money in restructuring as an agent, so you pretty much had to do it as a principal.”

Mistakes Work: Explanations from Alan Quasha

2010-07-26T05:34:00.000-04:00

While most of us don’t like to make mistakes, they are often necessary for our growth and development. In a detailed and thought-provoking article, Alan Quasha, founder, president and CEO of Quadrant Management, explained why mistakes are important in the business world.

As part of his article, Alan Quasha explained that,

“In an increasingly complex world, risks are often not obvious when decisions are initially made, and the consequences are increasingly dependent upon decisions others may make. This issue of "non-obvious mistakes"--and their potentially random and unknown consequences--is a very interesting one, but the answer reinforces the basic paradigm. If we embrace the possibility of making a mistake, when we make any hard or key decision, we will carefully analyze the consequences of being wrong.

Today, obvious mistakes have led to a financial calamity with very devastating effects, and even greater aftershocks are likely coming. As the chasm between Wall Street and Main Street is already too cavernous, there is a real need to recapture integrity. Leaders must begin to acknowledge and measure the downside extent of the debt crisis and explain--soon--how well prepared we are to deal with this potential downside.”

Good News for TBI Patients

2010-07-17T02:28:00.001-04:00

For brain injury patients complaining of symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and anxiety, there could be help just around the corner. A recent study, published in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has found that special eyeglass lenses containing prisms could significantly reduce these symptoms. What has been discovered is that “vision abnormalities caused by the TBI are causing the other post-concussive symptoms.” There are various organizations constantly working on improving the situation for TBI patients, such as the American Brain Trauma Foundation, chaired by Alan Quasha. Since TBI affects so many individuals, all new research is welcome. Indeed, TBI affects approximately 2 million Americans annually, through falling, road accidents and sports injuries. Further, anywhere between 15-25% percent of TBI patients still encounter post-concussive symptoms as long as a year after their injury was incurred.

Bonds 101

2010-07-10T03:19:00.000-04:00

When trying to figure out interest rates and their ebbs and flows, one needs to understand what a bond (which affects the cycles of interest rates) actually is. In a post entitled ‘Understanding the Basics of Bonds,’ one can find a basic explanation of government bonds. One thinking about buying bonds might want to check out this information ahead of time.

Alan Quasha and News at American Express Funds

2010-07-03T04:53:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has been, is, or would like to be involved in American Express Funds, should take pride in the company’s latest news. The company was honored by the national Business Group on heath (a non-profit association of large employers) for being “among 66 Employers Recognized for Promoting Healthy Workplaces.” The reason American Express Funds received this award was due to “its commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy workplace and encouraging their workers and families to support and maintain healthy lifestyles.” It received a Gold Award for Healthy Living, which is American Express Funds’ revamped wellness program which launched last year. It promotes preventive care and healthy lifestyle for its employees and their families. This is the second year the company has “been recognized as a top employer for healthy lifestyles by the National Business Group on Health, receiving a Silver Award in 2009.”

What the Analysts Say About Today’s Market

2010-06-26T05:19:00.000-04:00

There is nothing better than the Internet these days for those who want a generalized synopsis of a subject that they have limited knowledge on. One such subject is hopes and fears in today’s market, including topics such as: market volatility; equity market; various economic indicators; and what’s going on with shares in large conglomerates.

A Quick Look at Vanterra Capital

2010-06-19T03:31:00.000-04:00

Along with his many other professional and service oriented involvements, Alan Quasha is a Partner at Vanterra Capital. Exactly what is Vantarra Capital and what are their goals?

They are a global private equity firm. They manage assets for a broad range of investors. Their main focus is on the segments of the U.S. lower-middle market. This includes markets in India, China, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. What they see that is so enticing in these markets is the rapid growth, higher number of transactions, lower purchase price multiples and more.

They believe that these factors will allow for significant value-creation opportunities.

Creative Ways to Treat Brain Injuries: Alan Quasha News

2010-06-12T05:51:00.001-04:00

The Brain Trauma Foundation, with President Alan Quasha, works tirelessly to educate health professionals and others about traumatic brain injuries. One of the most common groups of people who experience these injuries, of course, is our veterans.

In recent news, the Defense Department is seeking creative and better treatments for the 100,000 troops who have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2003. At the moment, they are looking at hyperbaric chambers. A new clinical trial, conducted by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury in Virginia, and the Army Research and Materiel Command in Maryland will run for at least 18 months, starting in January 2011.

They will look at the use of hyperbaric chambers for reducing chronic TBI symptoms including headaches, memory loss and mood swings. They plan to have approximately 300 participants, most of whom will be soldiers and Marines.

Alan Quasha and Post-Traumatic Brain Injury

2010-05-29T05:31:00.000-04:00

A brain injury unfortunately affects the entire person, not just the head. One suffering from a traumatic brain injury has to face a whole slew of possible after-effects. In fact, recent research from an online health magazine has shown that, “more than fifty percent of patients with traumatic brain injury, experience depression in the year following their injury.” So even if the victim manages to physically recover from this injury and have their brain back in basically good working order, they are likely to encounter emotional problems which can be just as debilitating. This news would definitely not be welcome for someone like Alan Quasha, who is Chairman of the American Brain Trauma Foundation, which tries to help these patients. It is just another intense area that has to be addressed, following such an already traumatic event.

Alan Quasha and the American Brain Trauma Foundation

In fact, recent news from the American Brain Trauma Foundation which Alan Quasha chairs, questioned in an article whether the troubles sustained by Steelers player Ben Roethlisberger on the field, had a connection with the head injuries he got while playing football? Medical officials may be taking this into consideration when giving him a behavioral evaluation. The player was injured in a motorcycle accident back in 2006 and this may have damaged his frontal lobe, causing all sorts of problems. So as well as depression resulting from a TBI, other behavioral problems might also be a consequence. It’s definitely an area that needs to be investigated by individuals such as Alan Quasha.

Alan Quasha on Head Injuries

2010-05-19T03:58:00.000-04:00

Historically it’s been a stereotypical thought, that those who get injured riding motorcycles are basically healthy youngsters. But a recent study contradicts this belief and probably people like Alan Quasha and his colleagues at the American Brain Trauma Foundation are not surprised given the victims they encounter. It seems that those who are victim to such injuries are actually getting older and those in the more senior age bracket are indeed more likely to be seen in the ER, following such an accident.

Medical Center Study and the American Brain Trauma Foundation

The American Brain Trauma Foundation – of which Alan Quasha chairs – might be interested in this research study conducted between 1996 and 2005. According to researchers at Rochester University’s Medical Center, the average age of those injured on a motorcycle escalated 5 years, from 34 to 39 and the percentage of those riding a bike over 40 involved in an accident, almost doubled, from 28 to 50 percent. What was also somewhat surprising to the stereotypical thought behind standard motorcycle accidents was that the fastest growing group for accidents was the 50-59 age range and those injured on a motorcycle aged between 20-29 is declining. Such a study is just one more piece of proof that no matter who you are, what age or physical fitness you have, in an attempt to ride safely, you should always wear your helmet.

Alan Quasha and Carret Asset Management

2010-05-09T02:43:00.001-04:00

Alan Quasha, co-Chair of Carret Asset Management, has a solid team working with him at the company. Wayne Stanely Reiser, serves as the company’s CEO, Portfolio Management, President and Head of the Investment Committee. He has a strong background in finance and investment. Before Mr. Reisner came on board at Carret Asset Management, he served as CEO and President of Manchester Capital Corp., a company which attempts to secure long-term investments at competitive prices. As well, he held top positions at Sterling Capital Ltd., Windy Gates and Walter Scheur Family Office.

Today, at Carret Asset Management, working alongside Alan Quasha, Reisner’s focus is portfolio management for high net-worth people, and dealing with the company’s personal trusts. In addition, he is on top of equity investment “based on a valuation driven methodology.”

With all of these investment projects that Reisner has worked on in the past and continues with today, it is not surprising that, like Alan Quasha, his academic excellence matches this. He studied to graduate level at George Washington University in Finance and Investments and he also earned a BS degree from Lehigh University which he was awarded cum laude. Likewise, Alan Quasha studied for his Bachelor’s at Harvard, as well as his MBA and earned his law degree from New York University Law School, returning to Harvard for his Doctorate of Law. Clearly, Carret Asset Management has a team of skilled and academic individuals on board.

Alan Quasha Chairman of the Brain Trauma Foundation

2010-04-19T06:50:00.002-04:00

It has been shown in a recent analysis of the success of the BTF Guidelines conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that if these Guidelines were universally adhered to there would be a decrease in death from TBI by half, enhanced quality of life for patients suffering from TBI and a savings upwards of $3.8 billion each year.

Alan Quasha, as the Chariman of the Brain Trauma Foundation has made it his business and his cause to see to it that the TBI Guidelines are distributed and taught as widely as possible, so that many lives can be spared, improved and many millions of dollars saved.

TBI Guidelines Save Lives

2010-04-09T06:42:00.001-04:00

The Brain Trauma Foundation has made many advances in education. Of great significance was the establishment of the first set of international Guidelines education and patient tracking sites in Eastern Europe with a grant from the Open Society Institute. It was demonstrated at these sites that it is possible to reduce deaths significantly when there is compliance with the program goals.
The BTF created the first training program to improve care before the patient arrives at the hospital. TBI care was implemented in a comprehensive, nationwide educational directive designed to reach 600,000 ambulance personnel to properly treat TBI patients en-route to hospital, based on the TBI Guidelines.

BTF created the first New York TBI State trauma center tracking and compliance network in conjunction with the New York Department of Health. Comparable networks have been established in other locations in the United States, Colombia and in India.

Educational Emphasis at BTF

2010-03-29T05:58:00.002-04:00

Alan Quasha is the Chairman of the Brain Trauma Foundation, an organization which is dedicated to improving the prognosis of those who suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) through the development of best practices guidelines for physicians, ongoing clinical research, and the education of health care professionals and consumers.

The emphasis placed on the education of the public has increased the awareness of people and their understanding of the symptoms of concussion injuries. BTF seeks to educate coaches, nurses, athletes, parents and everyone about the need to recognize concussions so that the correct steps can be taken to ensure that proper care is administered.

It has been shown through research that not all brain damage occurs at the moment of impact. Damage can, and often does evolve over the hours and days after the initial injury due to the swelling and decrease in blood flow and life-giving oxygen to the traumatized brain. In the majority of cases the secondary damage caused by the swelling can be controlled by applying scientific, evidence-based diagnostic and treatment Guidelines. BTF is the one that has developed these guidelines in partnership with medical organizations and doctors who are experts in TBI.

Vanterra Capital with Alan Quasha

2010-03-18T05:27:00.000-04:00

Vanterra Capital formed originally as a partnership between Mr. Shad Azimi and Quadrant Management, Inc. It includes three partners – Alan Quasha, Shad Azimi and Jason Young – all of whom have significant direct investing experience, fund investing experience and more. They are a principal investment management firm that focuses on the U.S. and emerging markets.

They work by a number of specific principles. Vanterra invests with creativity and flexibility and strives to always show intellectual honesty with their investment thesis. They are always trying to maintain their passion for excellence and will continually try to improve the process by which they maximize shareholder value.

They emphasis that relationships and people are essential for good business transactions and they invest with people they trust and with people who show good judgment.

TBI Guidelines Save Lives

2010-03-17T06:42:00.001-04:00

Govt and U.S. Households Should Be Partners

2010-03-06T07:55:00.000-05:00

In Alan Quasha’s 2008 article which appeared in Forbes.com, the online financial magazine, he cautions that some critical action must be taken by the Federal Government to bring the budget under control, and address the severity of the “$54 Trillion Budget Bomb.”

Alan Quasha’s main point is to alert the federal government to the intimate interconnection between the finances of the country and that of American households. When the government realizes the importance of this connection it must then act responsibly to not act in any way that will negatively affect the net worth and the productivity of those households. All of the country’s finances depend on this simple, but crucial principle.

Alan Quasha argues that the 112 million households in America hold the key to both the U.S. and world economies, they are the engine running the global economic machine. Americans have proven that they handle their own finances responsibly. It is incumbent upon the federal government to view these households as partners and not as pawns when making financial decisions regarding tax, environmental, entitlement, education, energy and other crucial policies.

Thomas Jefferson said, "We might hope to see the finances of the Union as clear and intelligible as a merchant's books, so that every member of Congress and every man of any mind in the Union should be able to comprehend them, to investigate abuses and consequently to control them."

Alan Quasha urges the U.S. Federal government to keep this pledge and allow its citizens to participate in the process of recovery, growth, and development.

Quasha Says Mistakes Make Sense

2010-02-27T07:53:00.001-05:00

“We shouldn’t be afraid of taking risks and making mistakes,” since we are human it is inevitable that mistakes will happen, according to Alan Quasha in his article published in the on-line magazine Forbes.com, entitled, “The Magic in Mistakes.”

Taking a position that is counter-intuitive, Quasha argues that it is not the mistakes themselves that cause problems, but it is rather the way we respond to those mistakes. Instead of either covering up our mistakes, or fearing them, we should be ready for them, since they are inevitable, take whatever action needed to minimize the damage, and learn from mistakes and do better next time.

Quasha argues that progress and success require the taking of risks, and wherever there is risk there will be unwanted outcomes. But the correct response is not to avoid the mistakes, but to be prepared for them. This is the secret and the key to progress and ultimate success, including spectacular achievements. As Alan Quasha believes, staying safe is not the way to a successful, progressive outcome.

Quasha Moves to Back Investment Teams

2010-02-19T07:49:00.001-05:00

According to Private Equity Insider, an on-line magazine discussing investment news, Vanterra Capital, as of May, 2009, decided to back either one or two distressed company investment teams with the goal in mind of creating a portfolio of approximately $500,000,000.

The plan was for Vanterra, a one year old venture at the time, to provide the seed capital of about $50 million and organize an additional $150 million of co-investments from its limited partners. It would then have been up to the newly appointed managers to find the remaining $300 million from investors found outside by setting up one or several more funds.

Alan Quasha is one of the moving forces behind Vanterra’s effort to back the distressed company investment teams.

Brain Trauma Foundation on Good Morning America

2010-02-12T02:47:00.000-05:00

After Natasha Richardson's ski accident, Dr. Jamshid Ghajar, the President of the Brain Trauma Foundation, appeared on Good Morning America. He discussed traumatic brain injury and explained some of what the Brain Trauma Foundation, where Alan Quasha is the Chairman, does to help.

Chinese Chic with Richemont

2010-02-05T04:42:00.002-05:00

Since 1994, when Shanghai Tang was created, they have been paired with Compagnie Financière Richemont SA. Richemont saw Shanghai Tang as a fascinating concept, and one worth promoting. Shanghai Tang is the first luxury brand to come from China. They want to revitalize Chinese creativity and innovation and are creating a modern Chinese chic.

Today, Shanghai Tang has 39 boutiques from New York and Paris to Tokyo and Madrid. Their international design team creates modern, wearable and sophisticated Chinese-inspired clothing.

Shanghai Chic is one example of the innovative, high end companies that Richement, and its many Board Members, including Alan Quasha, supports and encourages.

New Study on Brain Trauma

2010-01-29T04:41:00.000-05:00

Doctors and researchers at Mount Sinai seem to have found a fascinating connection. They are finding that many cases of seemingly unrelated social problems all point to the same origin – a blow to the head that was long forgotten.

These findings could have a major impact on the way that we look at alcoholism, homelessness and other social issues. Mount Sinai researchers, for instance, looked at 100 homeless men in New York. They found that 82% of them had suffered brain injuries during their childhoods.

Similarly, they looked at New York centers for alcoholism and drug abuse. After evaluating 845 patients, they found that 54% had once had a severe blow to the head. While some obtained their injuries after they were already drinking, the findings are still interesting.

This type of fascinating research interests the Brain Trauma Foundation, and Chairman Alan Quasha, a great deal. Creating more research and links between brain trauma and social issues could certainly lead to better care and ways to help people in need.

Find out more by reading the full article.

The Brain Trauma Foundation - a Model for Success

2010-01-22T05:40:00.000-05:00

2% of the American population currently lives with some type of disability resulting from traumatic brain injuries. Alan Quasha, the Chairman of the Brain Trauma Foundation and the President of Quadrant Management, Inc., explained in the April, 2009 issues of Leaders what he has learned working with this organization.

One experienced he’s learned from the Brain Trauma Foundation is that you don’t have to be a large organization to get results, and that you can do a look of the work by creating virtual organizations. After collaborating with the best neurosurgeons and brain researchers in the world, they created evidence-based guidelines which have now been adopted by all the surgeons. They were able to show in their research that these guidelines for operating procedures would save 50% of the people who had TBI.

As Quasha explains, “To us, the only acceptable outcome is a good outcome, which is when somebody can go back and work and lead a very healthy life, which has happened with my son. That has been very meaningful to me, and we’re very proud of the impact we’ve had.”

Quasha on Rising to Leadership

2010-01-17T03:27:00.000-05:00

In a recent interview with Leaders magazine, Alan Quasha explained what keeps him looking so young and what allowed him to be so successful starting at a young age.

For his health, he said that he was on the squash team at Harvard, and actually we on three national championship teams. This, he believes, has had a positive impact on his health, even years later.

With an entrepreneurial nature, he branched out very young and started his own law firm, after practicing for another firm for a short time. After completing one of his first leveraged buyouts, he had to focus on making the company work. Commuting from New York to Canton, Ohio each week, Quasha learned a great deal about changing traditional business practices to make them more efficient and competitive, turning a company around, and more.

Quasha on the Recession

2010-01-12T05:38:00.000-05:00

In a recent magazine interview with Leaders magazine, Alan Quasha, the President of Quadrant Management, Inc., discusses business restructuring. During these difficult times, many companies may look to business restructuring as an option.

Alan Quasha discusses his experiences as part of his New York investment management firm. As he explains, “Restructurings tend to be required in times of change, particularly when there’s economic adversity.” He says that, as an optimist, he believes that we will come out of the recession. He believes most strongly in the small business model, and he would rather see money put to use by people who are in closest proximity to the business.

Since the United States is more entrepreneurial than other countries, he has confidence that we will come out of the recession better than most people think that we will.

Compagnie Financière Richemont SA

2010-01-07T03:25:00.001-05:00

One of the many interesting companies that Alan Quasha is part of is Compagnie Financière Richemont SA. As a Non-Executive Director, Quasha is part of the Board of Directors of this highly esteemed multi-national company. The board’s 15 member task includes planning the strategic direction of the company and appointing senior management, among other activities.

Richemont owns a number of world class companies that offer luxury goods such as jewelry, watches, writing instruments, handbags and more. Each of the many “Maisons” includes a company with a proud, lengthy tradition of exceptional style, quality and detailed craftsmanship. Richemont simultaneously works to preserve the outstanding craftsmanship of each of the Maisons, while also looking to create innovative new products.

Alan Quasha on the U.S. Debt

2009-11-08T08:31:00.002-05:00

In an analysis of the U.S. economy in light of the ongoing financial crisis, Alan Quasha investigates exactly how households are doing as far as their assets, net worth and liabilities are concerned.

Published on the on-line version of Forbes magazine, Forbes.com, The $54 Trillion Budget Bomb was written by Quasha to explain to readers the state of the national debt and its effect on the economy.

In one interesting observation Quasha notes that “at the end of 2006 American households collectively have a very strong balance sheet.”

On the asset side of the balance sheet there was $42.9 trillion in financial assets and $26.7 trillion in non- financial assets, the vast majority, and $22.6 trillion was real estate. Liabilities amounted to $13.4 trillion, $10.1 trillion of which were mortgages. These numbers translate into a net worth of $56.1 trillion.

This information flies in the face of the commonly held notion that American households are heavily in debt. On the contrary, U.S. families have created significant net worth and are amazingly productive.

Quasha: Banking Crisis Can Be Solved Rationally

2009-11-01T06:13:00.004-05:00

Alan Quasha believes there are better ways for stimulating our distressed economy than bailing out the banks. A new plan should be based on speedy reform and a recapitalization of the banking system in the United States. Citizens should be given assurances that banks that are FDIC insured are worth the same 1.4 trillion dollars that they were valued at before the recent financial crisis.

Alan Quasha is of the opinion that not all banks should get the same treatment, and the idea of nationalizing our banking system is the wrong way to go.

Quasha asks rhetorically,

“Why should bad banks be allowed to compete unfairly with good banks because they are government-owned and have a lower cost of funding?”

Alan Quasha has determined four feasible alternatives to a bank bailout plan. In no particular order they are:

1) Banks should be allowed to fail through bankruptcy; deposits in these banks should immediately be transferred to successful banks.
2) Solid banks should be allowed to continue but their toxic assets should be transferred to a government body set up for the purpose of facilitating an orderly liquidation of those assets.
3) Weaker banks should be forced to merge together with stronger banks.
4) Asset insurance schemes should be implemented where the government insures troubled assets above a certain percentage of the loss.

Believing that the American people have a tradition of being able to fix their problems rationally if allowed to do so, Alan Quasha urges that banks not be bailed out and more prudent solutions be found so that generations to come can benefit from the affluence this generation has been privileged to experience

Reinet Investments Acquires Lehman with Assistance of Alan Quasha

2009-09-02T08:18:00.002-04:00

In a complex deal requiring many parties, a lot of direction changes and fingers in the pie, Alan Quasha explains that he has lots of experience with similar deals, and that is why Quadrant was chosen to bring Reinet and Lehman Brothers together. As a public investment company with over $3 billion in capital, it is trying to acquire the private equity operation of Lehman Brothers. Quasha admits that this transaction has been complex but is confident that Quadrant and its partners are up to the task.

Based on Quadrant’s history of creating win-win situations in the most difficult of situations, Alan Quasha is satisfied that Reinet will acquire Lehman in the most positive and productive way possible.

Restructuring of Genius an Example for Alan Quasha and Quadrant

2009-08-25T08:15:00.002-04:00

Genius is a well-known media and entertainment distribution outlet which was owned by Harvey and Bob Weinstein which Quadrant recently took control of. Quasha refers to Genius as the leader in “non-Blockbuster” titles, meaning that it handles most types of entertainment mediums. This includes movies and DVDs now, and will include music and games in the future, as we move into new areas using the same distribution channels. Restructuring of this company should bring it back to its peak performance as it expands its products and services.

Alan Quasha Discusses Navigating the Waters of Hard Times

2009-08-18T08:10:00.003-04:00

As a restructuring expert with over thirty years of experience, Alan Quasha of Quadrant Management Inc, has a few things to say about staying afloat in the turbulent waters of financial crisis. First off, Quasha explains that he does not play the role of adviser, but rather he is a partner with the company that is being restructured. Restructuring often requires very basic changes in the business model of a company, and therefore ownership is always at the forefront of thought. It is often necessary to plan for the long term future to get the best results. Also, when Quasha began restructuring of companies thirty years ago there was no money in it as an adviser, so then it was a necessity to become a principal in order to make the restructuring profitable for the adviser/partner.

Quadrant & Quasha Succeed

2009-07-02T01:58:00.004-04:00

As discussed on this blog, Alan Quasha of Quadrant Management was interviewed on the topic of company and financial restructurings. This is yet another of the many interviews and advice columns involving Quasha, who has had many successes in his investment management and company restructuring activities.

Quadrant Management's success, according to CEO Alan Quasha, is that they are not merely investment consultants and advisors, but are also prinicipal investors themselves.

Quadrant and Quasha are particularly active in the American markets and emerging global markets.

Eric Beder of Carret Discusses the Economy on "Closing Bell"

2009-06-07T07:25:00.002-04:00

Appearing as a guest on “Closing Bell”, Eric Beder, Co-Chairman of Brean Murray, Carret, along with Alan Quasha, discussed the current financial crisis and how investors can make the best of a down market. Appearing with Beder was Howard Davidowitz, who were both interviewed by CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo.

You can listen to this interview by following the link to YouTube.

Invest and Save: Quasha's Appeal to Americans

2009-05-20T03:19:00.002-04:00

In answer to his own question concerning how Americans can lift themselves out of the current economic morass, Alan Quasha proposes a few solutions which focus on the “re-engineering” of the U.S. economy rather than the planned “bailout” of banks which seems to be the course America is heading down.

Worried that the current bailout proposals will “mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren”, Quasha suggests that the beginning of a solution is a reduction of consumerism with a concomitant increase in investment. This “restructuring” should begin with a “new vision” of America for the 21st century. Quasha believes it is essential that America drastically reduce its consumption from 30% of the world’s GDP to the greatest saver and investor. Our goal should be reduction in consumption of about 1% per year until we reach a savings level of 6-10 per cent of income.

Alan Quasha: Stop the Bailout

2009-05-13T02:56:00.005-04:00

In a well thought-out and sober appeal to American sensibilities, Alan Quasha, CEO and Chairman of Quadrant Management advises us that we must

“Stop propping up values, stop throwing good money after bad business and begin to think outside the Beltway box.”

According to Quasha, the United States is grossly over leveraged, with about 54 trillion dollars of debt, which is 3.6 times the actual size of the entire U.S. economy. Although before the year 2008 Americans’ net worth was about $56 trillion, in the past half-year the net worth has plummeted by $20 trillion-amounting to the greatest loss of wealth in the briefest time-span in history.

In addition banks insured with the FDIC are insolvent, and are unable to lend money. Despite the recent raising of more than one trillion dollars, they are still in the hole to the tune of between another 1-3 trillion dollars.

Surely we will need to make some drastic changes in order to recover from this economic crisis. Alan Quasha asks,

“Can we stimulate the economy short and long term in a way that ends the financial meltdown but does not mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren?”

For the answer read the entire article can be read at: Stop the Bailout: Four Better Alternatives.

Making Companies Work

2009-04-30T06:52:00.009-04:00

The following is an Interview with Alan G. Quasha, Founder and President, Quadrant Management, Inc. discussing a variety of business and more personal issues of interest.

Editors’ Note

Alan Quasha has served as a Director of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA since 1988 and was CEO of North American Resources Limited, a joint venture between Richemont SA and the Quasha family, between 1988 and 1998. He is also Chairman of publicly traded, independent oil and gas company HKN, Inc., Chairman of asset management firm Carret Asset Management Group, Chairman of investment bank Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, which specializes in Chinese and small-cap companies, Founding Principal of global private equity fund Vanterra Capital, and Chairman of the Brain Trauma Foundation. He is a past Director of American Express Funds, and a former Governor of the American Stock Exchange. Quasha holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, a master of law degree from New York University Law School, and a doctorate of law from Harvard Law School.

Company Brief

Founded in 1988 and based in New York, Quadrant Management, Inc. is a principal alternative investment management firm focused on U.S. and emerging markets. Along with its affiliates, the firm has in excess of $3 billion in assets under management, with offices in the United States, China, India, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

You and Quadrant have been in the restructuring business for many years, which now must be very popular with companies seeking to navigate these difficult times. What’s your process?

We’re principals, rather than advisers or consultants, in restructuring situations. We restructure companies with ownership in mind because the process often requires making fundamental changes to the business model and laying out a strategy for where the business can go. When we started doing it 30 years ago, there was no money in restructuring as an agent, so you pretty much had to do it as a principal.

Restructurings tend to be required in times of change, particularly when there’s economic adversity, so we’re very active. We recently took control of Genius Products, a leading entertainment distribution company formerly owned by Bob and Harvey Weinstein. I refer to it as the leader in “non-Blockbuster titles,” which means it handles most mediums of entertainment. Genius is already very strong in the movie and DVD business and we’re moving it into the music and game business because we can utilize the same distribution channel.

At the same time, we’ve been actively involved on behalf of Reinet Investments S.C.A., a public investment company with $3 billion in capital, in a transaction to acquire Lehman Brothers’ private equity operation. As you can imagine, this has been a very complicated transaction with lots of cooks, and lots of twists and turns, but we’re used to messy situations. In fact, that’s the major reason we prevailed over several other interested parties. Quadrant has a history of working through similar issues and trying to figure out how to create win-win situations, and we were able to put that experience to work again in this case.

You’re on the boards of some of the blue chip companies not only of the United States, but of the world. How did you get to be so successful at such a young age, and how do you stay looking so young?

When I was at Harvard, I played on the squash and tennis teams, and squash is a game that will keep you in shape. Fortunately, when I was there, I was on three national championship teams, which meant that we played and competed at a high level. It kept me fit for a long time and hopefully had some impact on my health.

I’ve been doing restructurings for 30 years. It’s hard to believe we started in 1979, when I was 29 years old. After graduating from Harvard, I was fortunate enough to go to Harvard Law School and Business School together, through a joint program, and when I finished, I began practicing law. My personality is proactive, so while I loved the law firm I was with, I was entrepreneurial and decided to start my own firm. After going out on my own, I did one of the very first leveraged buyouts: I figured out a way to take a company private with essentially no capital. Then came the hard part: after the deal, we had to make the company work. I commuted every week from New York to Canton, Ohio – not exactly a direct route – and spent more than one weekend snowed in at a little motel. But it was a very interesting experience, and I learned that there are a whole lot of things you can do to change even traditional businesses to make them more efficient and competitive, against incredible adversity, and turn them into leading companies.

You started out with very little and today you’re an extremely wealthy individual, with a large group of companies. Yet your name has always been the shadow behind the mountain. You never like publicity; your name is not on the masthead. You’re the quiet giant maneuvering behind the scenes. Why is that? Is that better for business?

I’m very shy, and I’m certainly publicity shy. I’ve never felt that getting yourself out in the public was a good thing. I personally enjoy working with companies, fixing companies, and growing companies, and to me, it’s the getting-your-hands-dirty part of this that I really like – not the “glitter.” Obviously, profit and loss is very measured. I worry a lot when you can’t measure what you’re doing. If you can’t measure something, you don’t know its results. So for example, it always worries me when governments decide they’re going to spend a lot of money without tools to measure how effective it’s going to be.

Ultimately, we like the game, we like measuring things, we like working very hard to make things work, we like building companies, we like making companies that are going to succeed, and the publicity side of things has not been particularly important to us. A lot of times, almost by definition, when you’re trying to fix something, you’d prefer to do it in a private environment rather than a public environment. It’s a lot easier to make the necessary changes. We’re looking at business models that are effectively able to generate cash now but also to generate cash in the future. We’re making decisions that are more easily made outside of the public glare. Then when it’s done, everything is fine. And since my job is to work myself out of a job as quickly as possible, I’d prefer the new CEO take the credit.

You operate on a worldwide basis, and you’re highly respected for your knowledge. What advice would you give to others around the world? Is there something you know that everybody else doesn’t know? Where are we in this crisis? Are we going to come out of it? What are your predictions?

Of course we’re going to come out of it. I’m an optimist. I’m a big believer in human ingenuity. I don’t think anybody should ever sell human ingenuity short. The problem is letting human ingenuity rise to the top. But there’s no question that human ingenuity will defeat all the problems we have; we just have to put our minds to it. So the question isn’t whether we’ll come out of it; it’s when we’ll come out of it, and how to do that as quickly and efficiently as possible.

I’m a big believer in the private sector. I’m a big believer in smaller operations rather than larger companies. I think money should, and can, be spent much more efficiently with smaller operations rather than larger ones. I don’t like to see failure rewarded. I think a lot of people made a lot of big mistakes, and a lot of those people are in large companies, and large companies have not generated substantial employment. In fact, large companies have been net axers of people. This country, and many other countries, have used microfinance very effectively. One example is India, where they’ve shown that if you give people tools, a little money, and let them function, they will generate jobs. The United States has been a big generator of jobs, but it has all been done by entrepreneurs and smaller companies. So I would rather see money put to use by people who are closest to the situation. Too many people underestimate the power and the ability of people to make decisions for themselves. But the United States is still the most entrepreneurial country in the world, and it still has a system where ingenuity can thrive. The rules are set up for that, so as long as that remains, the United States will come out of this – and come out of this probably better than many people think.

Are you planning to slow down any time in the near future?

No, they will probably have to cart me away. I love what I do, and if I’m lucky enough to keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll do it for a long, long time.

Most people as successful as you, at some stage in their careers, think about what they’re going to do to give back to society. You have done a great deal of giving back, but nobody knows about it.
Again, it’s consistent with our philosophy about working with organizations that aren’t necessarily well known, but have a huge personal impact. When he was younger, one of my sons went into a coma because he had what is called a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Through that experience, I learned a lot about TBI and became involved with the Brain Trauma Foundation. I understood the enormous impact that TBI could have on families, both emotional and financial. I was asked to chair the Brain Trauma Foundation and this great organization has made tremendous changes to how TBI is treated throughout the United States and the world.

The experience has taught me lessons that I’d love other organizations to learn. One is that you don’t necessarily need to be a large organization to make something happen. In today’s world, creating virtual organizations makes a lot of sense. We come up with the overall framework and collaborate with the best neurosurgeons and brain researchers in the world. We go out and lead efforts and then we look for major problems. Our approach to medicine is that processes should be evidence-based, so that practices and procedures work. Ultimately, we came up with evidence-based guidelines, which have now been adopted by all the surgeons who operate, as well as the authorities.

George Soros supported an empirical study we were able to do in Eastern Europe that showed that, by adopting these guidelines, you’d save the lives of about half the people who had TBI. To us, the only acceptable outcome is a good outcome, which is when somebody can go back and work and lead a very healthy life, which has happened with my son. That has been very meaningful to me, and we’re very proud of the impact we’ve had.

Do you get involved in politics at all?

Not by choice. I have backed friends who have run for office, but I don’t know that I’m particularly adept at compromises or dealing with politics. But I do think it’s very important that people with a lot of talent go into politics. I’m sorry that it’s very hard for people who have successful business careers to enter politics, without having enormous strains put on their families.

You seem to have discovered the way to relax and to be at ease. It doesn’t seem like there’s very much that gets you angry or jumping up and down. Is this part of your personality?

I juggled a lot of stuff when I was younger, and I found that hard. So I started meditating when I was very young. I have found that, for me, meditation is a very good tool to help you be at peace with yourself on a regular basis, and be able to juggle a lot of things without getting too excited or letting the bad or good things that happen every day change the way you feel about yourself or the people around you. Instead of getting excited about mistakes, I recognize that making mistakes – whether they’re made by me or somebody else who works in our organization – is a fact of life. And mistakes are a very important part of learning. You just hope you don’t make the same mistakes over and over again. So I don’t get upset or angry. That’s not to say I don’t sometimes internally get quite upset about specific things that I wish were going differently. But jumping up and down, or letting that impulse get the best of you, seems pretty silly. We’re going to make mistakes, and we’re going to end up doing things we wish we didn’t do, and I’m fairly laid back about it.

What advice would you give to young people who are looking to answer that age-old question that we’ve all had to answer at one time or another: what am I going to be when I grow up? With all the criticism these days of business, government, etc., what advice would you give to enthuse them and excite them?

I always feel that people should, first of all, know their own strengths and weaknesses, and then try to couple that with something they’re passionate about. Now, it’s not good if you’re passionate about something you’re terrible at, because that’s probably not going to work. But hopefully you can find something you’re passionate about that you have a natural inclination for, and if you can combine those two things, then I think it’s a very powerful formula for success.

One of the good things that will probably emerge from the current financial crisis is that people are going to look at material success, and what’s important in life, in a different way. I think that’s very positive. There are a whole lot of people who are doing some really fantastic things that I see time and time again. They’re not doing it because it’s the most financially rewarding thing to do, but their lives are fantastic. So I think young people should, first of all, do something they’re passionate about. If it happens to bring enormous wealth to them, great; if it doesn’t, that’s also great. At the end of the day, and particularly as you get older, time is an increasingly valuable commodity, and so doing something you really like to do is a great way to fill the time you have. I feel that we’re moving to a world where time is more relevant than money. People should probably spend more time thinking about how they want to spend their time, rather than how they might make the most amount of money. If they actually thought about that, it might change some of their decisions.

Interractive Video Game Released by Genius and Genco

2009-04-05T05:31:00.001-04:00

“Scratch:The Ultimate DJ” is the latest video game released by Genius Products, Inc. in partnership with Genco Interactive. Genco Interactive is a subsidiary of Genco Media, which together with 7 Studios and QD3 developed this interactive video game which allows players to manipulate music tracks in real-time and choose from a large variety of DJ personalities as the player progresses from the simple garage DJ to “scratch-master” of the coolest nightclubs.

Alan Quasha, the Chairman of Genco Media and President of Quadrant Management remarked that Genco is “focused on providing content creators the means to fund the development of a range of entertainment related products, including video games," and that “Scratch presents a great opportunity to work with some of the most talented people in the Hip Hop music industry and bring an exciting new game to market."

Alan Quasha @ The Daily Beast

2009-03-19T01:17:00.000-04:00

Alan Quasha recently wrote a piece for The Daily Beast. In his piece, Quasha, the CEO of Vanterra Capital and his Quadrant Management Inc. offers important advice for weathering the current economic crisis.
Worth a read!

Among other things, in his article at The Daily Beast Alan Quasha writes:
"While America’s financial situation is frightening, it can be fixed without mortgaging our grand children’s future."
Read the article to learn of Alan Quasha's four options for correct behavior in the face of the current global economic predicament.

Alan Quasha publishes

2009-03-15T09:55:00.002-04:00

Alan Quasha, the investment expert who heads a number of asset management and investment companies, has written a number of financial articles in the past. Quasha, who serves as the head of Quadrant Management, Inc., also heads Vanterra Capital as well as Carret Asset Management, LLC.
Having published in the past, Quasha is no stranger to the press, and in fact, his advice, counsel and insights are sought after by many in the world of finance. Therefore, it is quite natural that he has written pieces for many of the leading newspapers and journals.

Alan Quasha's latest article appears online at The Daily Beast.

Genco Media and Genius Products in Distribution Agreement

2008-12-14T11:21:00.001-05:00

Genco Media LLC, an entertainment-based company backed by investment firm Quadrant Management Inc., together with Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI), a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company, announced they have entered into an agreement under which Genius Products, LLC will have exclusive distribution rights for certain entertainment related content acquired by Genco Media, including properties in films, music, and video games.

"Genco Media is focused on adding to its library of entertainment properties through the acquisition and funding of valuable films, music and video games. Our goal is to provide content creators the means to fund the development of a range of exciting entertainment related products," said Alan Quasha, President of Quadrant Management and Chairman of Genco Media. "By partnering with Genius Products, which has significant expertise in the distribution of entertainment products, we will be able to more effectively bring products to market and expand the reach of artists' work."

"Over the past few years, we have built one of the preeminent distribution platforms and assembled one of the leading teams in the home entertainment industry," said Stephen K. Bannon, Chairman of Genius Products, Inc. "Our new relationship with Genco Media enables us to capitalize on our strengths and leverage our management expertise by expanding our distribution rights of higher margin content - without investing our own capital. We believe this new strategic alliance with Genco Media and Quadrant will provide us greater access to leading intellectual property/content which we will utilize to drive distribution revenue moving forward."

"This arrangement is another important step in our mission to focus on our core competencies, streamline our organization and build on and expand our successful platform," said Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of Genius Products, Inc.

Genco Media recently acquired the rights to two exciting video game properties still in development and slated to be released and distributed by Genius later this year.

About Genco Media, LLC

Genco Media, together with its affiliates, invests in the acquisition, production and development of films, music, games and other entertainment content, with existing ownership of an extensive music library and interests in over 1,200 films.

About Quadrant Management, Inc.

Quadrant Management, Inc. is a principal alternative investment management firm focused on US and emerging markets. Quadrant, along with its affiliates, have in excess of $3.0 billion in assets under management and a 30 year investment track record.

About Genius Products

Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI), along with The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC, together owns Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the U.S. Genius handles the distribution, marketing and sales for such brands as Asia Extreme(TM), Discovery Kids(TM), Dragon Dynasty(TM), Dimension Films(TM), Entertainment Rights, Classic Media and Big Idea (Entertainment Rights group companies), ESPN(R), IFC(R), RHI Entertainment(TM), Sesame Workshop(R), The Weinstein Company(R) and WWE(R). Genius Products, Inc. is the managing member of Genius Products, LLC, in which it holds a 30% equity interest.

The original article appeared here.

Vanterra debuts with success

2008-11-20T07:28:00.002-05:00

Although still in its very early stages, and having opened its financial activities in one of the worst economic climates of the past century, Vanterra Capital has closed its new fund with $152 million. In the face of challenging fundraising markets, this is a tremendous achievement for the investment specialists led by Alan Quasha.

Read more about this at MarketWatch of the Wall Street Journal.

Quasha: Carret Asset Management Group, LLC. Chairman

2008-11-05T02:07:00.001-05:00

Carret Asset Management Group LLC, serves a group of high net worth clients who are both individuals and also institutions who have contracted Carret to invest their funds and yield revenues and returns. Alan Quasha serves as Carret Asset Management Group's chairman, and together with the other staff and management of Carret, Quasha continues the legacy of Phillip Carret, the original founder of Carret Asset Management Group over 40 years ago. Carret also has its own affiliated investment banking firm, Brean Murray Carret & Co., LLC; Quasha is also the chairman of Brean Murray Carret & Co.

Alan Quasha: Vanterra Capital

2008-11-04T01:47:00.002-05:00

If you are a private investor - or institution - of a high net worth and are looking for solid investment strategies with promising yields, then it is essential to consult with the professional investment specialists. Most importantly, if one is investing - especially in the current economic climate - then it is highly advisable to entrust one's potential earnings to experienced investment companies. Alan Quasha, of Vanterra Capital, is an example of such an investment manager.

Vanterra Capital, which Alan Quasha founded, and where he serves as co-managing partner, is an investment company which has a certain niche - both in terms of its investor base, as well as in terms of its markets and spheres of investment. Vanterra Capital invests in top class small and emerging private equity funds, in segments of the lower to middle markets in America, as well as in very specific emerging markets that offer the best investment opportunities.

Vanterra and Quasha have a wealth of experience in the equity markets, and they serve a large number of ultra high worth investors.

Alan Quasha in short

2008-10-28T11:47:00.001-04:00

Alan Quasha is a seasoned businessman who continues to play a number of management and directorship roles in American economic and social circles. (At 58 years of age, Quasha has a good few years of business activity behind him.) Alan is an investment manager who holds an undergraduate degree in business as well as a law degree. He also holds an MBA. Harvard University was his alma mater, and he continues to be involved in many fields and spheres in Harvard.

He is currently the president of his own Quadrant Management, Inc., which is an investment management company, and in the recent past acquired Carret Asset Management LLC. Quasha also served on the board of governors of the American Stock Exchange (Amex).

Genco Media and Quadrant

2008-10-18T17:08:00.000-04:00

Genco Media LLC, an entertainment-based company backed by investment firm Quadrant Management Inc., together with Genius Products, Inc. , a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company, entered into an agreement under which Genius Products, LLC will have exclusive distribution rights for certain entertainment related content acquired by Genco Media, including properties in films, music, and video games.
Related News about Genius Products and Genco Interactive

"Genco Media is focused on adding to its library of entertainment properties through the acquisition and funding of valuable films, music and video games. Our goal is to provide content creators the means to fund the development of a range of exciting entertainment related products," said Alan Quasha, President of Quadrant Management and Chairman of Genco Media.

"This arrangement is another important step in our mission to focus on our core competencies, streamline our organization and build on and expand our successful platform," said Trevor Drinkwater, President and CEO of Genius Products, Inc.

New Distribution Agreement
Alan Quasha, President of Quadrant Management and Chairman of Genco Media commented that: "By partnering with Genius Products, which has significant expertise in the distribution of entertainment products, we will be able to more effectively bring products to market and expand the reach of artists´ work."

Some voluntary activities

2008-10-02T17:58:00.003-04:00

Aside from his business pursuits, Alan Quasha is involved in a large number of voluntary activities, which see him heavily involved in a many diverse causes these include the Brain Trauma Foundation.
Quasha's involvement in these volunteer positions, as well as his contribution to the betterment of society through the organizations, is an apt pursuit for someone who is able to contribute, while obviously benefiting these organizations themselves. It is good to see that Quasha gives of his time and expertise on a voluntary basis, as unfortunately there are many who are not willing to give of themselves.

Quasha co-chairs gala

2008-09-13T16:36:00.000-04:00

The Lighthouse International Music of Winternight gala which benefits the students of the Lighthouse Music School, was a great night with The Cure. There was also DJ Tom Finn and an auction, a dinner, and dancing. It was at The New York Marriott Marquis.

The New York Philharmonic Benefit Performance of My Fair Lady was attended by the chairmen, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Picket, Mr and Mrs Alan Quasha, and Mr. and Mrs. Stan S. Warshawsky.

Alan Quasha, who co-chaired The Royal Rajasthan Gala, to the benefit of the Brain Trauma Foundation, is a leading and financial analyst who is a top level investment manager. Mr. Quasha heads Carret Asset Management, LLC, as its chairman after acquiring it with his Quadrant Management Inc.. An investment manager, Quasha, 58 years old, was a governor of the American Stock Exchange between 1994 and 1997.

Alan Quasha: Social Efforts

2008-09-01T09:03:00.001-04:00

Alan Quasha is a leading U.S. business figure, who has a wealth of experience behind him, is an extremely successful and active investment manager, fiscal adviser and economic leader. Quasha holds a number of positions in a diversity of companies, where he serves in the upper managerial levels. Having started as a lawyer in his own firm, Quasha Wessley & Schneider, Alan Quasha founded Quadrant Management Inc., which is his own investment company. As president of Quadrant, Quasha has been involved in the acquisition, restructuring and capital investment in many companies across the globe.

In addition to being President of Quadrant Management Inc., Alan Quasha serves as the co-Chairman of Carret Asset Management, LLC., which his Quadrant acquired, and he is also the Chairman on Brean Murray, Carret & Co. In the past, Quasha was a governor of the American Stock Exchange (Amex), as well as the CEO of North American Resources Limited. Currently, Quasha is also a Managing Partner at Vanterra Capital.

Genco and Genius join forces

2008-08-14T10:58:00.000-04:00

Genco Media LLC is an entertainment-based concern backed by Alan Quasha's investment firm, Quadrant Management Inc.. Genco has signed an agrrement with Genius Products, Inc. , which is a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company.

They announced that they entered into an agreement under which exclusive distribution rights for certain of Genco Media's entertainment related content will be owned by Genius Products, LLC.

More on this topic to come.

Alan Quasha - Full Biography

2008-08-06T08:54:00.002-04:00

Mr. Alan Grant Quasha is the Founder and President at Quadrant Management, Inc. which he founded in 1988.

Alan Quasha has filled, and continues to fill, many key positions in all spheres of the US and international business arenas.
Among his various positions are the following:

Chief Executive Officer of North American Resources Limited from 1988 to 1998.
Partner in the New York City law firm of Quasha, Wessley & Schneider from 1980 to September 1991.
Governor of the American Stock Exchange from April 1994 to April 1997.
Chairman of the Board of Directors at Harken Energy Corporation. since March 31, 2003.
President and Founder of Quadrant Management Services
Director at NAR Management Inc.
Director at HKN Inc.
Director at Sphera Optical Networks, Inc.
Director at Richemont S.A.
Director at American Express Funds since May 200
Non Executive Director at China Sciences Conservational Power Limited since February 2005
Non-Executive Director of Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA since 2000
Director at Richemont SA, Luxembourg from 1988 to 2000
Director of SIRIT Inc. from October 2002 to October 29, 2003

Quasha is also involved in various social and philanthropic activities, holding positions in academic and social organizations, including:

Member of the Overseers Committee on University Resources at Harvard University
Chairman of the American Brain Trauma Foundation

Alan Quasha is highly qualified and is highly educated, his educational accomplishments and training including:

Bachelor degree from Harvard College
M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
Master of Law from New York University Law School
Doctorate of Law from the Harvard Law School.

mild recession is now likely

2008-02-03T06:26:00.000-05:00

Restructuring Professionals Expect Big Increase In Business

By Marie Beaudette

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Brace for a big increase in corporate defaults and bankruptcy filings this

year.

Record levels of liquidity in the world's financial markets kept corporate

bankruptcy filings at historical lows in 2006 and 2007. But experts say that's

about to change as the U.S. economy weakens, consumer spending slows and

troubled companies find they can't refinance their debt in a tight credit

market.

While both firms predict default rates for 2008 below historic long-run

averages of between 4.5% and 5%, they caution that they could be higher if the

economy slows more than expected or goes into a recession.

"A material risk remains that defaults could be significantly more pronounced

and severe beyond the one-year forecast horizon," Diana Vazza, head of S&P's

global fixed income research group, said in a statement.

Alan Quasha

2007-12-31T10:14:00.001-05:00

Alan Grant Quasha, born in 1950, is currently the President of Quadrant Management, Inc., an investment management company (Quasha founded this company in 1988), and is also on the director of Acerno. Mr. Quasha has served as Chairman of the Board of Harken since March 31, 2003, having served previously as Chairman of the Board of Harken from June 1983 to February 1991. Since its formation in 1988, Mr. Quasha served as a director of Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, a Swiss luxury goods company. He also served as director of American Express Funds, the mutual fund arm of American Express Company, from May 2002 to April 2004. In addition, from April 1994 to April 1997 Mr. Quasha served as a governor of the American Stock Exchange. Recently, Quadrant Management acquired Carret Asset Mangement LLC.