Media release

2 December 2010

Asia Pacific Deloitte Technology Fast 500 announced

50 Kiwi tech companies make index, with one in top 10 for the first time

New Zealand businesses have again punched above their weight in annual Asia Pacific Deloitte Technology Fast 500 index of the region’s fastest growing tech businesses, with 50 making the list.

The index ranks the top 500 tech businesses according to their revenue growth over the past three years and sets the standard for high growth businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

Leading the list of New Zealand’s businesses was online accounting system provider Xero, which was ranked 8th on the index with a staggering 2,250.26% growth. It is the first time a Kiwi business has made the Asia Pacific Tech Fast 500’s top 10.

The second-highest ranked New Zealand business was Auckland-based online business directory developer Gopher, whose growth was 1,456.33%.

Auckland-based businesses led the way with 22 making the index, while there were 10 respectively from Wellington and Canterbury, Waikato had 6, and Otago and Bay of Plenty 1 each.

A record 11 New Zealand companies were ranked in the top 100 of the index, up from eight last year when a total of 51 businesses made the Tech Fast 500. Bay of Plenty online retailer Natureshop was placed 24th on the index, while Auckland-based Mobilis Networks was 25th.

NZ companies in the top 100

Rank

Company

Growth (%)

Industry

8

Xero

2,250.26

Internet

20

Gopher

1,456.33

Internet

24

Natureshop

1,106.39

Internet

25

Mobilis Networks

1,078.87

Telecommunications/networking

32

Next Window

904.98

Computers/peripherals

35

Clearpoint

831.94

Telecommunications/networking

56

Enable Networks

565.75

Telecommunications/networking

78

Telemetry Research

403.25

Biotech

85

Times-7 Research

381.47

Computers/peripherals

92

Observatory Crest

352.29

Telecommunications/networking

99

Sonar6

324.40

Internet

Leader of the New Zealand Fast 50 programme, partner Matt McKendry, says the success of Kiwi businesses on the Asia Pacific Tech Fast 500 proves that the country “isn’t just a large dairy farm”.

“These businesses are operating in highly competitive regional and global technology markets where they don’t have a natural competitive advantage, unlike many of our primary sector businesses,” Mr McKendry says.

“This just proves that innovative, fleet-footed Kiwi businesses can match it with the best technology entrepreneurs in the world, particularly when they perform the basics well and don’t lose sight of their strategy and vision.”

In terms of the geographical spread of companies on the Tech Fast 500, New Zealand had by far the highest representation per capita. On a numbers basis, the largest number of companies came from China (147), followed by Taiwan (86), Australia (62), India (60), New Zealand, South Korea (41), Japan (29), Malaysia (15) and Singapore (10).

Revenue growth across the Tech Fast 500 ranked firms grew 374% this year, buoyed by demand for Green Tech as well as the economic rebound in the region.

The overall top-ranked business was Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer Giga Solar Materials Corp with an astonishing 24,694.1% growth.

For the full Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific 2010 index, go to www.deloitte.com/fast500asiapac

For more information, contact: Pete van Schaardenburg Senior Communications Advisor Deloitte DDI: 04 470 3771 Mob: 021 348 696 email: pvanschaardenburg@deloitte.co.nz

NZ businesses on the 2010 Asia Pacific Deloitte Technology Fast 500 by region

Auckland: (5 in top 100)

Gopher, Mobilis Networks, Next Window, Clearpoint, Telemetry Research, Sonar6, Biomatters, Marops, KernMobile, Activate Technologies, Senztek Holdings, Promapp Solutions, Test & Tag, Mobile Mentor, Sleep Store, SMX, Food & Commodity Brokers 2008, M-Com, Vista Entertainment Solutions, Direct Payment Solutions, Chillisoft, Yahoo!Xtra New Zealand.

Waikato:

SmarTrak, Velocity Networks, Torpedo7, Enlighten Design, Ferret Software, PropertyIQ.

Bay of Plenty:

Natureshop.

Wellington: (3 in top 100)

Xero, Times-7 Research, Observatory Crest, Eyede NZ, Parts Trader, Silverstripe, Aura Software Security, Telesmart, Experience Networks, SmartPayroll.

Canterbury:

Enable Networks, Platinum Safety, 2C Light Company, Doubledot Media, Aiotec, Farmside, Snap Internet, AMG Agency, Emendo, DataPro Solutions.

Otago/Southland:

TracMap NZ.

About the Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific Programme The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific programme recognises technology companies that have achieved the fastest rates of revenue growth in Asia Pacific during the past three years. The programme is supported by the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 initiatives, which rank high growth technology companies by location or specifically defined geographic area and is run by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) global industry group.

About Deloitte in New Zealand

Deloitte New Zealand brings together more than 900 specialist professionals providing audit, tax, technology and systems, strategy and performance improvement, risk management, corporate finance, business recovery, forensic and accounting services. Our people are based in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, serving clients that range from New Zealand's largest companies and public sector organisations to smaller businesses with ambition to grow. Deloitte’s local experts draw on best practice and innovative methodologies from around the world as part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, whose approximately 170,000 people globally serve over 80 percent of the world’s largest companies. A long track record and a wealth of international research into the needs of growing organisations has made Deloitte the world’s leading advisor to emerging businesses. For more information about Deloitte in New Zealand, go to our website www.deloitte.co.nz

About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloittecom/nz/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and its member firms.

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