Capital Alternatives

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icecool

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Has any one heard of these guys? I have received a mailshot and a panflet in the post today. They claim to produce a 9% to 15% return on my money whilst investing into 4 key areas - gold bullion, fine wine, sports memorabilia and finally into a shar of a hotel room with room to invest who i have heard of. The room to invest concept i dont really like as i think the prices are bumpt up to give you rental guarantees, thats not always the case but with this i think it is clear that is the case. Has any one dealt with Capital ALternatives, have an opinion or more importantly invested money with them????

Thanks
 
Are they allowed to sell Financial Products in Ireland and if so are they authorised by the Financial Regulator ? The sectors ypou have mentioned are high risk -- Fine Wine -- there has been enough press comment on rip off merchants operating in this area. Gold/Bullion - a Buibble area waiting to burst. Sports Memorabilia -- Who wants to but Tiger Woods hats now. Maybe a few chicks might have some of his jocks for sale. And Hotel Rooms - Fantastic, one of the worst hit sectors worldwide in this downturn.

You might be better bringing you Money and a pin to Paddy Power to better any anticipated returns.
 
icecool said:
fine wine, sports memorabilia
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These are speculation and not assets. They offer no yield.

Gold is different, gold is a currency and in an environment of low interest rates is replacing fiat worthless currencies like the euro, pound and dollar.

Of the 4 'investments' only one is decent (gold) and should only ever form 5-10% (max) of ones portfolio as a hedge.

What are their fees? High?
 
I'm no expert in these matters, but seriously...

Wine?
Sports Memorabilia?
Hotel Rooms?

Smells a bit even to me! Certainly stinks of high-risk speculation, not investing.

Gold's the only halfway sensible option and definitely 25% of your investment is too much to spend on one commodity. And even then, there's a huge bubble going on there.

My own instinct is to run far away from this.
 
Capital Alternatives ??

I got a mail drop and a nice glossy brochure from the people above

I cant seem to find too much about them on the internet

It seem's very nice, but I have a few reservations

this rooms to invest, I dont get a whole room, I get a part of it

Capital mint, now even I know that gold has been a good investment, but you dont keep gold bars or gold coins under the bed

Memorabila, now this I know nothing about, but what I have seen on the TV, cash in the attic

Wine, now I know it comes from many countries, and Tesco's sell a lot of it, but investing, now I aint sure about that

Agri Capital investment ? you buy a rice field, at 1500 per acre in Sierra Leone and they offer a buy back or profits from the crop (now as far as I can remember this isnt a very stable country<the west side boys- Irish Rangers, spring to mind>)

Now to the nity gritty-----------------

Has anyone invested any thing with this outfit ?

Has anyone heard of them ?

Are they real ?

Is this just a scam ?

I have browsed the internet, and there really isnt anything about this company

(there are quite a few old people around me, and they all want something to invest in, I have been asked about it, some are really interested in it, I told them to wait or speak to their bank/building society first, and not to send anything away, least of all any money, and not to ask anyone over, unless they have got a son/daughter who knows about money and investing and will sit in with them, any info I get from here would be passed along to them)

Really appreciate some advice about this company, what they seem to offer seems to good to be true
 
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@dalek. It sounds ridiculously high risk, least of all because the company seems to have sprung up overnight. Who is responsible for it and how many other fly by night companies have they set up? It really doesn't seem too good to be true.. it doesn't seem good at all.
 
Capital investments

I know it looks high risk,(and probably is) but I cant just turn around and tell people its high risk and stay away from it, (crossing the road is high risk, but people still do it)

There are lots of high risk stuff out there (some are doing VERY well)

I need something tangible to tell anyone

Anyone put money into it ?

Anyone lost money with them ?

Anyone gained money from them ?

Anyone got anyt infomation on the company ?

Anyone got anything concrete I can pass on ?
 
If people want to be stupid enough to invest in something that they know nothing about, know nothing about the people that operate them or any track history, let them do it. Invest away at their own risk. After all it is their own money and as long as you're not acting in an advisory capacity let them off. There really is no allowance for stupidity.
 
mercman said:
If people want to be stupid enough to invest in something that they know nothing about,That is why I am asking HERE know nothing about the people that operate them or any track history,I say again, I am asking here let them do it. Invest away at their own risk.I am asking for peoples opinions and if they have heard of this company After all it is their own money and as long as you're not acting in an advisory capacity let them off. There really is no allowance for stupidity.AND your posting illustrates this, you haver offered no advice about this company or if you know anything about them,
Click to expand...

I came in here asking questions about this company, so far I have been told it is high risk and to stay away (No reason why though)

As I said, there old people around here, (old people, not stupid people) they are asking for advice

If you have nothing useful to add, please dont
 
Dalek, can you use another site please? you posted 3 times here and your attitude stinks. You're obviously some sort of self-important bluffer.

For the benefit of other users of this site, capital alternatives does not appear to be regulated in the uk and is probably not allowed to sell its products in the republic of ireland.
their website was registered on 29-May-2009 for only 2 years, and the contact address they gave, 76-80 Sophia House, seems to be just Short Term Office Space.

I'd advise you to tell all the old people who live around you NOT to take your advice and to speak to a qualified financial adviser.
 
I have just asked for any information about this company and if anyone has any dealings with them (I am certainly not a 'bluffer', everyone got this letter (around my way) with the glossy brochure and letter)

So far, I have just been told to stay away from any investment (but no actual reason given) apart from being high risk

I have browsed the internet, and this is the only forum that is discussing it

I thought my questions were reasonable, and I dont think my attitude stinks, but some of the replies do (in my opinion)

AND I am not giving them my advice, I will be passing on your (and others) comments and replies

AND so far, your reply has been the only one that has given any real information about this company (who they are and where they are) and for that I thank you

I shall pass on the information you have posted (what they do with that info is up to them)

But it does seem no one really knows anything about this company or has made or lost money with them (judging by the replies)
 
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dalek said:
I came in here asking questions about this company, so far I have been told it is high risk and to stay away (No reason why though)
Click to expand...


It is high risk because:
1. All you know about company is in "nice glossy brochure"
2. You received it in the post
3. If you still not convinced, read above two again!
 
strmin said:
It is high risk because:
1. All you know about company is in "nice glossy brochure" exactly, that's why I am asking in here
2. You received it in the post it came with my name on it (and everyone else's did) which made it very convincing
3. If you still not convinced, read thirst two again! I have


Seems to me I have upset a few people in here, but I'm no money genius or know all, if I need information that I dont know, I'll ask, or look for it

The previous poster (Tenchi Fan) gave me the advice I didnt know about, that I will pass on, and as I said, what they do with the info, is up to them

But not all my questions were really answered (someone must have had some dealings with them, their mail drop couldnt have justr been my street, could it?)
Click to expand...
 
dalek said:
But it does seem no one really knows anything about this company or has made or lost money with them (judging by the replies)
Click to expand...

You're not going to find anyone who invested in this company.


CAPITAL ALTERNATIVES LIMITED
CAPITAL IDEAS PLC
SOPHIA HOUSE 76-80 CITY ROAD
LONDON

Date of Incorporation: 13/07/2007
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/07/2009 (DORMANT)
Previous Names:
03/06/2009 MONUMENT PROPERTY PARTNERS LIMITED
06/08/2007 BANNERPLATE LIMITED



Then I looked up CAPITAL IDEAS PLC
Date of Incorporation: 25/07/2001
Next Accounts Due: 31/10/2009 OVERDUE
Status: In Liquidation - Voluntary Creditors Liquidation

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Public Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
6330 - Travel agencies etc; tourist
7487 - Other business activities

Previous Names:
19/12/2005 LEISURE VENTURES PLC
23/11/2001 HALLCO 650 PLC
 
Hi Dalek

"it came with my name on it "
It is easy to get the personal details from the telephone/electricity companies if you have selected the option allowing them to share information about you.

Anyways, putting your name on the envelope or on the glossy brochure is a marketing gimmick and has certainly worked (in your case).
Golden rules before you invest are like this:

*You know the company
*Registered with the country's financial authority and Securities-Exchange Board etc
*Board of directors are well known people in the industry like Warren Buffet etc..
*Previous track record.
*If the company is new then its fundamentals should be really strong.

Even if the fundamentals are strong but company is new and not 'known' in the market then I would never gamble on it.

This could be a genuine company or a scam but certainly your or their money is definitely not meant to check credentials of the company.

If you need further information, you can go and visit financial regulator office, dublin and clear all your doubts. May be after that you will be in a better position to educate all of us.

//Sania
 
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drsania said:
Hi Dalek

"it came with my name on it "
It is easy to get the personal details from the telephone/electricity companies if you have selected the option allowing them to share information about you. I try not to shhare too much about myself, but sometimes have no choice

Anyways, putting your name on the envelope or on the glossy brochure is a marketing gimmick and has certainly worked (in your case)not really, I wanted to know more about them, hence my posting and asking in here.
Golden rules before you invest are like this:

*You know the company never heard of them, so questions have got to be asked
*Registered with the country's financial authority and Securities-Exchange Board etc couldnt find any info
*Board of directors are well known people in the industry like Warren Buffet etc.. couldnt find any info
*Previous track record. no info availible or could be found
*If the company is new then its fundamentals should be really strong.I dont know how old a company is, but even old companies can get caught up in a scam
Click to expand...

Thanks again for some of the replies, they have all helped (and not just myself)
 
I got an email from the company today, with the following replies:


ICECOOL
a shar of a hotel room with room to invest who i have heard of. The room to invest concept i dont really like as i think the prices are bumpt up to give you rental guarantees, thats not always the case but with this i think it is clear that is the case

REPLY FROM US

Capital Alternatives: it is far from clear that Room to Invest ‘bump up the prices’. Room to Invest has a large number of satisfied investors that have purchased rooms and been able to sell these at a profit through our trading platform.


MERCMAN
re they allowed to sell Financial Products in Ireland and if so are they authorised by the Financial Regulator ? The sectors ypou have mentioned are high risk -- Fine Wine -- there has been enough press comment on rip off merchants operating in this area. Gold/Bullion - a Buibble area waiting to burst. Sports Memorabilia -- Who wants to but Tiger Woods hats now. Maybe a few chicks might have some of his jocks for sale. And Hotel Rooms - Fantastic, one of the worst hit sectors worldwide in this downturn.

REPLY FROM US

Capital Alternatives: fine wine and memorabilia are real tangible assets and have a good track record of growth (Please see liv-ex and Stanley gibbons – Frasers). Individually these assets are not high risk, they are medium risk. What the poster has failed to understand is that the portfolio product we offer is actually low risk because of the guarantee of capital we provide. In addition we do not sell sports memorabilia, we sell a selection of high value quality memorabilia.

RINGLEDMAN
You might be better bringing you Money and a pin to Paddy Power to better any anticipated returns.

REPLY FROM US

Capital Alternatives: Again this poster is severely misinformed and this posting is extremely damaging. Capital Alternatives offers a guaranteed return which de-risks this product.

TREKKYPJ
I'm no expert in these matters, but seriously...

Wine?
Sports Memorabilia?
Hotel Rooms?

Smells a bit even to me! Certainly stinks of high-risk speculation, not investing.

Gold's the only halfway sensible option and definitely 25% of your investment is too much to spend on one commodity. And even then, there's a huge bubble going on there.

My own instinct is to run far away from this.

REPLY FROM US

Capital Alternatives: Another example of a poster who is severely misinformed and this posting is again extremely damaging. Capital Alternatives offers a guaranteed return which de-risks this product. In addition ‘hotel rooms’ is actually a fractional ownership investment backed by property.


Quote:
Originally Posted by icecool http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?p=1011364#post1011364
fine wine, sports memorabilia
These are speculation and not assets. They offer no yield.

Gold is different, gold is a currency and in an environment of low interest rates is replacing fiat worthless currencies like the euro, pound and dollar.

Of the 4 'investments' only one is decent (gold) and should only ever form 5-10% (max) of ones portfolio as a hedge.

What are their fees? High?

REPLY FROM US

Capital Alternatives: the Capital Alternative’s comments above apply, particularly regarding the low risk nature of this product coupled with the fact that there is a guaranteed annual return which is generated from the yield from the allocated hotel room and capital growth.
 
I got another letter from the company clarifying their position, which I reproduce without comment

I appreciate that if goods or services are being sold or promoted in Ireland, people should be able to get an independent opinion on that product or service, however the above statement is false and misleading. I set out the reasons why as follows:

1. The company is not regulated by any financial authority as it
does not require regulation. It does not sell financial products. The
company offers a portfolio product (Mulit-Asset Growth Portfolio)(MAG)
that includes ownership of several tangible assets. The portfolio
includes:

2. Investment grade wine (rated by George Parker - the leading wine
specialist);
3. Fine grade gold at a grade of .9999;
4. Memorabilia items that come with a certificate of authenticity;
(an alternative investment product offered by Stanley Gibbons - a
leading stamp valuation and appraisal company); and
5. Entitlement to income generated from a hotel room for one week
per year, with a right to stay at that hotel or any of the their
hotels (currently 7 countries within Europe and North Africa) for a
minimum or 7 days or a maximum or 28 days (depending on the package)
per year. We have testimonials of this product and the benefits of
investing in this type of fractional hotel ownership. All the
investors of this product have received their guaranteed returns of
8%.

6. The company is currently offering a MAG IV which now includes
sublease ownership of farm land with returns to investors of 16%
for the first rice harvest.

7. It also offers opportunities to buy ground rents. These do not
provide large returns however freehold ownership of leasehold land
in the UK has become very appealing and has only recently become more
accessible and in demand tby the general public through public
auctions. Again, these products are not regulated by the FSA or any
other financial regulator in the UK or Ireland.

Much like when an investor invests in a managed and regulated fund, the investor receives a share or portion of that fund. Capital Alternatives offers the investor an opportunity to actually own the asset and not merely own a share of the whole portfolio. Each investor owns each of the parts individually. This is merely an alternative way of investing in assets.
Click to expand...
 
icecool said:
Has any one heard of these guys? I have received a mailshot and a panflet in the post today. They claim to produce a 9% to 15% return on my money whilst investing into 4 key areas - gold bullion, fine wine, sports memorabilia and finally into a shar of a hotel room with room to invest who i have heard of. The room to invest concept i dont really like as i think the prices are bumpt up to give you rental guarantees, thats not always the case but with this i think it is clear that is the case. Has any one dealt with Capital ALternatives, have an opinion or more importantly invested money with them????

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hello, I have invested with Capital Alternatives, the reason I invested was through a family member who has had many years of successful investing with them. Your right, they are not regulated but then again not everything can be regulated by the FSA and my property portfolio has never been regulated. I invested in their Agri Capital one and a half years ago ( Rice plantations) and in my first year I received 15 %, since then it has gone up to 16.2%.....and I get two cheques a year !! I have always found them to be professional and their knowledge of the markets has been second to none. These days you can never be too careful. I get many calls in a week from companies offering huge returns, I have often been tempted but when I ask to visit them at their offices they always disappear.......I have visited the offices of Capital Alternatives twice in the last 12 months, I have met my Broker and he makes a lovely cup of tea. I suggest you call them and ask to visit them, it will put your mind at rest.
 
Gander

I am trying to do my due diligence on these guys and they seem to be ok, but are you able to point out any independent sources of information (other than press releases or interviews)? IMO Agriculture is the way forward but just wanted to make sure these guys are genuine before committing actual cash.

TIA
 
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