AI Magazine Issue 3 2017

Acquisition International - March 2017 7 First Ever Industrial Commodities Option on Blockchain Spearheaded by a group of international entrepreneurs, the initiative will provide an option to buy an equivalent amount of synthetic Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2), a highly in-demand product used as a refractory material in numerous different manufacturing processes. Funding secured by the crowdsale of the ZrCoin token will be used for a new production plant. The team of scientists and industrialists, spearheaded by financial analyst and blockchain expert Andrey Nikonorov, has developed a new green process for producing ZrO2 from waste materials, rather than extracting it from existing or newly-discovered deposits. In addition to using cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, the project will also leverage the latest financial technology. “The blockchain has long been held up as a solution to the inefficiencies of global markets, but until now the advantages have never been realised in practice,” said Andrey Nikonorov. “ZrCoin will be the first major globally traded blockchain security that is backed by a real commodity.” Zirconium manufacture ZrO2 is a scarce material that is used in the production of ceramics and in other applications where physico-chemical resilience under high temperatures and adverse conditions is required. It is a structural component of alloys used in the construction of atomic reactors, and critical elements of chemical reactors, artificial joints and prostheses are made of Zirconium. It is used to produce high-temperature ceramics (refractory products) and is the refractory material with the best price-quality relationship rating. Due to high demand for synthetic zirconium, investors will be repaid at a significant premium from the profits of the operation. Buy-backs will start no later than eight months from the end of the crowdsale, and the token will trade on the market in the meantime. ZrCoin will also be redeemable for a unit of physical ZrO2, if desired. New economy, new technology The decision to launch the endeavour on the blockchain is both a practical necessity and an opportunity to catalyse a new kind of economy. “The reality is that banks do not give money for ideas like this,” explains Nikonorov. “Mainstream outside investors wanted to own 70-80% of the business, which we were not prepared to accept. So, alongside our new green manufacturing technologies, we have developed a new way of structuring investment and perhaps pioneered a new means of commodity trading.” Because the value of ZrO2 is priced in USD and is relatively stable, ZrCoin will have protection from the volatility that is otherwise endemic in the cryptocurrency world – making it an attractive ‘safe haven’ asset for traders. Moreover, investors can receive their money back at any point after the end of the ICO. The Waves platform is the ideal channel to host the ICO as Waves previously raised $16 million for their own ICO. The ZrCoin ICO will seek to raise a minimum of $3.5 million. Investors will be able to deposit via wire transfer as well as with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Larger amounts would allow the construction of two production lines, accelerating the process and allowing faster buy-back of ZrCoins. For more information about ZrCoin, please visit: https://zrcoin.io/ To learn more about Waves, please visit: https:// wavesplatform.com/ Waves, the decentralised platform allowing any user to issue, transfer, swap, and trade custom tokens directly on the blockchain, on 22nd March announced the crowdsale launch of ZrCoin, the world’s first blockchain token for investing in the production of an in-demand industrial material. Emerging markets are becoming increasingly attractive to 63% of UK businesses, with 75% eyeing Dubai as an overseas business location to expand into. As the nation awaits the triggering of ‘Article 50’, the uncertainty over Brexit is making UK businesses more open to overseas expansion, with 42% of UK businesses confessing to having more appetite now than previously to expand their business presence overseas, according to a new research released by the DMCC, a Dubai Government entity on trade and enterprise. Amongst the top reasons for UK businesses eyeing overseas expansion, include: emerging markets becoming increasingly attractive (63%), growing business need for global presence (47%), availability and wealth of overseas talent (44%), and too much uncertainty in the markets with the UK no longer being an attractive option (36%). Out of the UK businesses open to expanding into overseas markets, a staggering 75% say they are eyeing Dubai as a possible overseas location to expand into. And out of the UK businesses that are still undecided, 40% say they would consider the Middle East as a territory to have presence in if they are open to overseas business expansion. And amongst the UK businesses that are still hesitant about overseas expansion, 34% say it is because their business is not applicable for an overseas market, however certain features could make it more attractive for them to consider overseas business expansion. For 43% of UK businesses, tax free incentives would make it more attractive to expand into overseas markets, and for 29%, the ease at which they can arrange paperwork (trade license, visas, office space) would help them consider an overseas expansion. The CEO of the DMCC, Gautam Sashittal who will discuss how the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre is offering help to UK businesses looking to expand overseas into the Middle East market. www.dmcc.ae 42%of UK Businesses Are More Inclined to Expand Operations Overseas Since the Brexit Vote and US Election Results NEWS / From Around The World