Shaw Management Tips on Identity Theft

Fraud committed by a criminal who has stolen someone else’s identity is identity fraud usually used online and some boiler room management scams. By stealing documents such as your passport, driving license or bank statements - or online ID, such as usernames, passwords and personal security questions - thieves can now take cash from your accounts, commit benefit fraud, or take out new credit cards or loans, all in your name. Online frauds that sucker victims into revealing crucial private data, known as ‘phishing’ scams, are becoming more common. But for most people, the greater danger still lies in more old-fashioned methods: burglars who steal documents and chequebooks; fraudsters who intercept your post; and even thieves who dredge through bin bags.

Shaw Capital will give you tips on how big is the problem nowadays on online scams and fraud. In the UK, more than 70,000 people were victims last year, according to figures from the Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance Service (CIFAS). Given the large number of cases, the sums involved are hardly huge - the Association for Payment Clearing Services puts the total taken by identity fraudsters last year at £37m, but this is a 66% jump on the previous year. However, they calculate the overall cost to the economy - including the time and money spent by banks in combatting the crime - is a massive £1.3bn. 

Caution is the key. Shaw Capital and its management always emphasize to read bank and credit-card statements carefully and check against receipts. If you have any worries, tell the bank concerned straightaway; scammers often test the water with a small transaction first before attempting a larger theft. Check your credit report often for any credit requests not made by you. Shred statements, bills and even direct mail; these all contain vital personal information. Register with the Mailing Preference Service (0845-703 4599, www.mpsonline.org.uk) to stop junk mail and get mail redirected when you move home. Leave all unnecessary credit cards and ID at home when you go out, but do not leave key documents together in one place easily accessible to a burglar. Use different PINs and passwords for different accounts, and never disclose your full PIN or password in an e-mail or over the phone, even if you think you are talking to a bank employee.
Report the suspected crime to the police and ask for a crime reference number, which you will need to recover any losses. Also, spend £11.75 on the protective registration service offered by fraud prevention service CIFAS (0870-010 2091, www.cifas.org.uk). They will place a notice on your credit file warning banks and lenders that there’s an increased risk of identity fraud. Companies will then seek extra verification from anyone applying for credit in your name. Impersonation of the dead is the fastest-growing type of identity theft, so take this into account when dealing with a relative’s death and estate: immediately notify the relevant Government departments, such as the Department of Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue, and return important documents by registered delivery.

Shaw Names Gentry Brann as Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Management

BATON ROUGE, La., Dec 13, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

The Shaw Capital Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) today announced Gentry Brann has been named vice president of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Management.
Ms. Brann joined Shaw in January 2009 as director of Corporate Communications. In addition to her role overseeing all external and internal communications for the company, Ms. Brann assumed responsibility for Corporate Marketing at the beginning of fiscal year 2010. Before joining Shaw, Ms. Brann was vice president of Communications and External Affairs at ICF International, where she was responsible for all communications, marketing, media relations, community warning relations and legislative affairs for the state of Louisiana's hurricane recovery warning program.
"Gentry's strong communications skills and knowledge of Shaw's global business will be an asset in the critical role of Investor Relations," said Brian K. Ferraioli, Shaw's executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Combining the Investor Relations and Corporate Communications roles will allow us to communicate more effectively with all of our company stakeholders."
The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2010 annual revenues of $7 billion, Shaw has approximately 27,000 employees around the world and is the power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record's list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw's website at www.shawgrp.com.
Shaw Capital Warning: This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about our current and future prospects, management, operations and financial results, which are based on currently available information.Actual future results and financial performance could vary significantly from those anticipated in such statements.
Among the factors that could cause future events or transactions to differ from those we expect are those risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended November 30, 2009, February 28, 2010, and May 31, 2010, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Please read our "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements contained in these filings.Our current expectations may not be realized as a result of, among other things:

• Changes in our clients' financial conditions, including their capital spending;
• Our ability to obtain new contracts and meet our performance obligations;
• Client contract cancellations or modifications to contract scope;
• Worsening global economic conditions;
• Changes to the regulatory environment;
• Failure to achieve projected backlog.

As a result of these risks and others, actual results could vary significantly from those anticipated in this presentation, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, the occurrence of certain events, or otherwise.

Government bond Markets: Shaw Capital Management February Newsletter

Government bond markets have ended 2009 on a very disappointing note. A further improvement in sentiment about the prospects for the global economic recovery, and indications that some central banks might be preparing to introduce early “exit strategies” from the measures that had been introduced to counter the recession, have been important factors in producing a more cautious attitude amongst bond investors. But a further significant consideration towards year-end has been the fear of possible defaults on sovereign debts after the decision by Dubai World, a government-owned company, to seek a moratorium on the servicing of its debts, and the downgrade in the credit rating of Greece because of its deteriorating fiscal situation.

Shaw Capital Management Korea February Newsletter: There was always the risk that the funding requirements resulting from recent policies, and particularly from the measures to counter the latest recession, would prove to be a massive burden for the global bond markets, and this has now proved to be the case. The Dubai government appears to have been rescued by help from Abu Dhabi; but it is still not clear whether there will be help for Greece and other periphery countries of the euro-zone that are in difficulties, and doubts have also been expressed about countries outside the euro-zone, including the UK, if central banks do not implement “exit strategies” carefully, and credible plans to reduce the massive fiscal deficits are not introduced fairly quickly.

Shaw Capital Management Korea February Newsletter: There was always the risk that the funding requirements resulting from recent policies would prove to be a massive burden for the global bond markets.

These doubts have already led to a significant widening of yield spreads on bonds of member countries of the euro-zone, with Greek bond yields now more than 2.5% higher than German bond yields; and even 10-year yields on US bonds and UK gilts have risen to the 4% level as investors have reduced their exposure.

Shaw Capital Management Korea February Newsletter: Our position on the prospects for the bond markets remains unchanged. We still expect that the recovery in the global economy will only develop at a very slow pace, and that “exit strategies” will only be introduced very gradually. The background situation will therefore continue to provide some support for bond markets.

But the timescale for the implementation of “exit strategies” is shortening; and the massive fiscal deficits are already placing great strains on the markets. The fears of defaults on sovereign debt may well be an overreaction; we expect, for example, that the weaker members of the eurozone will receive support from the stronger members to prevent defaults; but higher bond yields appear unavoidable. Prospects for all the major bond markets are therefore very unattractive.

Shaw Capital Management Korea February Newsletter: The performance of the US economy remains a critical factor in assessing those prospects, and the latest evidence has become more positive. The growth rate in the third quarter of the year has been revised down again; but since then there has been a lower-than-expected fall in non-farm payrolls, and an improvement in consumer sentiment that is reflected in a reasonable level of retail sales in the run-up to Christmas. Weaknesses remain, especially in manufacturing, and new house sales fell sharply in November; but a growth rate around 2% is expected this year. The Fed appears to agree with this more optimistic view, arguing in the statement after the latest meeting of its Open Market Committee that economic activity is continuing to pick up, and that the deterioration in the labour market is abating; but it is remaining very cautious. Interest rates are likely to be at low levels “for an extended period”, and the quantitative easing programme has been maintained, although some of the emergency liquidity measures will be withdrawn. It is clearly anxious to avoid doing anything that might harm the economic recovery. This should continue to provide some support for the bond market, even though the Fed will no longer be buying Treasuries and other corporate bonds; but it does appear that this will not be enough to offset the effects of the massive fiscal deficit, which is expected to reach $1.5 trillion this year, and to remain high well into the future.

Shaw Capital Management Korea February Newsletter: Debt issuance rose to over $2 trillion in 2009 to finance this deficit, and to replace maturing bonds; and the latest decision to take advantage of the unexpected windfall from the repayment of bank bail-out funds that are no longer needed to provide new resources for job creation is a clear indication that there are no plans to take early action to reduce the deficit.

It is not surprising therefore that bond investors have been reducing their exposure to the market, and that the yield curve has continued to steepen. In the absence of any change in policy, this process is likely to continue, and push overall yield levels even higher.

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Shaw Capital Management Korea - Investment Innovation & Excellence.  We provide the information; insight and expertise that you need to make the right investment choices. Shaw Capital Management based in Korea typically offers its clients such services as asset allocation and portfolio design; traditional and non-traditional manager review and selection; portfolio implementation; portfolio monitoring and consolidated performance reporting; and other wealth management services, including estate, tax, trust and insurance planning, asset custody, closely held business issues associated with the establishment or expansion of a family office, the formation of family investment partnerships or LLCs, philanthropy, family dynamics and inter-generation issues, etc.

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