New Zealand technology businesses raise the bar

Media Release December 12, 2006

New Zealand technology businesses raise the bar in this year’s Asia Pacific Fast 500

Hong Kong, 12 December 2006 – According to the sixth annual Deloitte Fast 500 Index, the Asia Pacific tech sector is in very robust shape with this year’s fastest-growing 500 technology companies recording an average two-year revenue growth of 399 percent.

The Asia Pacific region’s fastest growing technology companies were profiled and recognised at the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific 2006 Awards Ceremony, at the InterContinental Hotel in Hong Kong on 12 December, 2006.

Thirty one New Zealand businesses made the index, said John Bell, New Zealand head of Deloitte’s Telecommunications, Media & Technology practice. “The Fast 500 is an opportunity for Fast 50 technology companies to benchmark themselves internationally,” he said.

“The results show that New Zealand technology businesses are right up with the play.”

“The 2006 rankings also show that tech companies in Asia Pacific continue to achieve phenomenal success despite increased competition. The top five companies recorded growth rates ranging from 5,021 percent to 8,350 percent.”

“Australia leads the pack this year with three companies ranked in the top five and seven in the top 20, but New Zealand has also faired well with eight more companies making it into the Top 500 compared to last year.

Altogether companies from 10 locations make up the 500 —a wider geographical spread than last year and a strong indicator of the sector’s robust health and continuing growth potential,” said John Bell.

_Key trends emerging from this year’s Deloitte Asia Pacific rankings are:

-The two-year average revenue growth for all 500 companies is a remarkable 399 percent, although this is down 119 percent from last year’s figures.

- Top sectors are Semiconductor, Components and Electronics (127 companies) and Software (123 companies), showing increases in representation since 2005 of 2.8 and 4.4 percent, respectively.

- The Communications/Networking sector has fallen by 4.4 percent, a figure greater than the growth recorded last year and placing the sector’s growth below the 2004 level. Interestingly, three of the top five companies are in this sector.

-Korea and Taiwan, again have the highest number of participating companies in the rankings, with 100 each. Australia is close behind with 70, an increase of 5.6 percent from 2005. China and Japan experienced the largest drop in number of companies represented, of 4.2 and 3.6 percent respectively.

-Two locations dominated the top five positions: Australia with three out of the five and Taiwan, two, with Taiwan claiming the number one and two spots.

Congratulations to the 31 New Zealand companies who made the 2006 Asia Pacific Fast 500.

Rank Name Location Revenue growth % Sector
43 Cohesive Auckland 729.5% Software
55 Trade Me Wellington 573.6% Internet
61 Datasquirt Auckland 539.3% Communications/Networking
104 Chillisoft Auckland 349.0% Software
113 4rf Communications Wellington 323.25% Communications/Networking
127 Agility Group Auckland 304.4% Software
136 Breathe Communications Auckland 286.1% Communications/Networking
158 PolyMEDIA Nelson 255.7% Software
199 Observatory Crest Wellington 219.9% Software
202 SEEK Communications Auckland 217.9% Internet
215 DL Consulting Auckland 211.8% Sofware
222 Yellowtuna t/a Mako Networks Auckland 207.8% Internet
223 Nextwindow Auckland 206.8% Computers/Peripherals
250 Pacific Network Communications Wellington 189.1% Communications/Networking
255 AuthorIT Software Auckland 185.4% Software
258 First Rate Auckland 184.9% Internet
296 Tiger Networks Auckland 167.1% Software
301 Ontap Information t/a MotorWeb Auckland 163.9% Internet
311 iServe Wellington 158.9% Internet
329 Endace Group Auckland 152.6% Communications/Networking
332 Web Drive Auckland 151.2% Internet
338 Xsol Auckland 150.5% Software
341 Orcon Internet Auckland 148.6% Internet
362 Ibex Group Auckland 140.8% Instrumentation
388 New Zealand Tourism Online Christchurch 135.8% Internet
390 The Hyperfactory Auckland 134.9% Communications/Networking
423 Wyma Engineering Christchurch 119.9% Instrumentation
436 Run the Red Wellington 113.9% Communications/Networking
452 Impac Solutions Wellington 110.4% Software
471 Provenco Group Auckland 105.2% Internet
486 IQ Toys Hamilton 99.6% Internet
The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 ranking covers public and private companies across the Asia Pacific region, and is based on a two-year average percentage for revenue growth. The awards are researched and sponsored by the Deloitte Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Group.

ENDS

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