The NEXT Step for Financial Education in Asia

New Enterprise Exchange (NEXT) is first of its kind in Asia. Education and coaching for youth on IPO process, with true-to-life market simulations for students.

Selangor, Malaysia, October 12, 2011 --(PR.com)-- MoneyTree (M) Sdn Bhd announces the beta launch of its New Enterprise Exchange (NEXT), the first of its kind in Asia.

NEXT is a stock market simulation which is designed to provide hands on education and coaching for youth on how the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process works. NEXT also allows participants to trade the stocks of "listed companies" created by other participants.

“We hope to create a platform from which youth could learn about the equities market in depth via a hands-on approach,” said Michael Reyes, CEO of MoneyTree Asia Pacific Ltd. “We wanted NEXT to be both fun and engaging. To ensure a high level of active trading and reality in our simulation, we have incorporated the algorithms that provide the needed liquidity in the market at times when the numbers of actual traders are low as well as bringing in relevant current economic data and indicators to apply pressure or provide buoyancy to the price of stocks.”

Targeted at university and college students, the NEXT program incorporates classroom learning with online simulations. Aimed at providing participants with a true-to-life experience of running and making decisions that would affect their company’s stock price, NEXT will also offer exciting rewards for those that excel in the program.

Reyes added: “We saw a need in the market place for an education program on the equities market that would excite youth and increase their awareness of the opportunities that are present.”

Participants form teams and submit a business plan that clearly defines their idea and revenue streams. Ideas which are deemed to be scalable and could meet listing requirements are shortlisted for a refinement process.

While the stocks listed on NEXT are fictitious, teams who wish to "list" their companies/business ideas are required to apply and defend their company from strict scrutiny that is similar to the actual pre-listing process. Once approved for listing these "companies" would be taken through a series of processes that provides them with publicity and exposure to attract investors.

Once listed, teams are required to log in daily for 30 minutes to run their business via a business simulation provided by Tycoon Systems Inc. How they manage their company would affect their stock price. For an added sense of reality, their stock price would also be affected by the demand for their stocks and current global market conditions.

The system was designed and built by parent company, MoneyTree Asia Pacific Ltd, with full launch scheduled on 9th September 2011.

The first phase of the program was built at a cost of about RM 200,000 and Phase 2 -- with more advanced features -- is expected to be completed by November this year, at a further cost of RM 150,000 to MoneyTree Asia Pacific.

In line with the launch of NEXT, MoneyTree is staging a challenge simply named “The NEXT Challenge” in which the best trader could walk away with up to RM 35,000 and the Best Run Company would receive up to RM 60,000.

In Malaysia, NEXT is sponsored by OSK Investment Bank, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and ePay (M) Sdn Bhd.

NEXT is open to all ages between 19 to 26 and more information can be found at www.moneytree.asia/malaysia/next and at their Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/thenextmarket.

About MoneyTree (www.moneytree.asia)

The MoneyTree programme is a proprietary program developed by Money Tree Asia Pacific Ltd. The objective of the programme is to provide a high standard of financial education that provides kids and youths with an insight into Investments, personal Finance and Starting Business.

The Money Tree program is currently available in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong. In Malaysia, the program is recognized by Open University of Malaysia’s School of Lifelong Learning.

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Contact
MoneyTree Malaysia
Valerie Tan
+60379544514
www.moneytree.asia/malaysia
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