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  • 09 Jun 2021 8:50 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    DALLAS, June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) has been awarded two rail contracts by KiwiRail, New Zealand's rail network owner and operator as part of KiwiRail's Auckland Metro Rail Programme to modernize Auckland's rail network. The Programme delivers vital upgrades to the existing rail network ahead of the opening of Auckland's largest ever transport infrastructure project, the City Rail Link.

    Jacobs has been appointed as lead designer for the Wiri to Quay Park project, providing multidiscipline engineering and architectural professional services. When complete, the additional track between South and Central Auckland will help ease congestion on the rail network.

    "An upgraded rail network is critical to alleviating congestion and unlocking growth in the region," said Jacobs Executive Vice President Patrick Hill. "These appointments create opportunity for Jacobs to deliver lasting benefits for commuters and New Zealand's economy, while supporting future mobility growth in Auckland."

    In addition, Jacobs, in partnership with John Holland, McConnell Dowell and Novare, will deliver design and construction services for the Papakura to Pukekohe Rail Electrification project. The project includes the electrification of 11.8 miles (19 kilometers) of track and the construction of two additional platforms at Pukekohe station. Jacobs will deliver detailed design services and management, surveillance and quality assurance (MSQA) services during the construction phase. Electrifying the line will allow passengers getting on in Pukekohe south of Auckland, to travel direct to the city, rather than transferring trains at Papakura.

    "The network enables people to make 21.4 million trips a year and, once the City Rail Link projects are finished, we expect another jump in commuter numbers as people recognize the benefits of rail commuting," says KiwiRail Chief Operating Officer Capital Projects David Gordon. "The government is investing heavily in the Auckland network and we're making good progress to ensure this investment delivers as quickly as possible for Aucklanders, propelling Auckland's rail commuter services into the future."

    At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, InstagramLinkedIn and Twitter.

  • 08 Jun 2021 6:37 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Livestock Improvement Corporation (NZX: LIC) announces it has entered into an agreement to divest its automation business to MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK) for an amount of NZ$38,100,000 and subject to a working capital adjustment.

    The LIC Automation product portfolio joins Allflex Livestock Intelligence (a business unit within MSD Animal Health which has manufacturing facilities at Palmerston North New Zealand).

    Completion of the transaction is subject to customary requirements and the transaction is expected to complete on or about 11 June 2021.

    The transaction includes the following:

    • Continued migration onto new generation Protrack systems for customers with legacy technology, as well as associated software development
    • LIC to continue providing service and support to customers through transition
    • Ongoing interaction between Protrack operating systems and LIC’s herd management system, MINDA.
    • Access to data generated by the automation technology for LIC, to continue to support the co-op’s research and development activities.

    LIC Board Chair Murray King says the divestment of the automation business is in line with LIC’s refined strategy, and will allow the co-op to sharpen its focus and play to its strengths delivering world-leading pasture based dairy genetics and herd management for New Zealand farmers.

    “We are pleased that MSD Animal Health has chosen to acquire this technology for their Allflex Livestock Intellience Business Unit. We are confident this is the best way forward - for the technology, for our farmers who have invested in these systems and for the wider co-op shareholder base.

    “MSD Animal Health has a reputation for investing heavily in research and development for animal health and welfare. The company has extensive scientific and technological capabilities that can take this technology to the next phase and deliver more value to farmers.”

    King says LIC has a long-standing relationship with MSD Animal Health, through its Allflex Livestock Intelligence business unit and the companies will work together to support farmer customers through the transition.

    “In making the decision to sell, it was important to us that the buyer would continue to support our existing farmer customers in New Zealand and we are pleased that both parties are aligned on this. We will work together to make the handover as smooth as possible.”

    The LIC Automation team has been offered secondment to MSD Animal Health, to continue in their current roles.

    King said the sale will conclude a longstanding, concerted effort by the co-op to attempt to grow the automation business and make it profitable, with moderate success.

    Last year LIC shareholders voted down a proposal from the Board for LIC to purchase a stake in Israeli agritech company Afimilk, which had included a potential subsequent transaction for Afimilk to purchase LIC Automation. Following this, the Board agreed to reintegrate automation into LIC to try to enable the business to become cashflow positive and break even.

    “We know automation delivers a lot of value on-farm, but despite significant efforts by our people, the automation business itself has seldom been profitable, partly due to the stabilisation of cow numbers in NZ dairy and limited traction in international markets.

    “This divestment will allow us to focus on delivering value for our farmer shareholders - with the increased capital it will provide and, importantly, ongoing access to key data from the automation and sensor technology to support core LIC business into the future.”

    MinterEllisonRuddWatts advised LIC on the transaction.

    For more information please visit the Divestment of LIC Automation page.

  • 07 Jun 2021 5:36 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    4 June 2021
    DCI Data Centers : DCI Data Centers (DCI) secures has first New Zealand today announced it has data centre site been granted New Zealand Overseas Investment Office (“OIO”) consent to purchase land for a major new data centre in Auckland.

    The OIO approval is the first step toward DCI establishing its presence in New Zealand’s fast growing cloud services business.

    DCI owns and operates leading data centre facilities, serving cloud and managed service providers, governments and enterprises across Asia Pacific. Malcolm Roe, DCI Chief Executive Officer for Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are delighted to be kicking off our cloud programme in New Zealand; these facilities will accelerate the adoption of cloud services, critical for enabling growth across all sectors of the economy.”

    “This site is the first step for us in New Zealand and we are currently finalising selection of further sites to meet strong demand.

    “Increasing cloud use in New Zealand is driving the demand for several high capacity, environmentally-friendly data centres and other related infrastructure within the country. We are pleased to be playing a key role in the development of this vital part of the digital economy.”

    DCI AKL01 will be located on a site at Westgate in north-west Auckland and will utilise DCI’s standardised design for a cloud data centre. After engagement with Auckland Council, DCI has lodged a resource consent application for the facility.

    Auckland Deputy Mayor, Bill Cashmore welcomed this news, saying: “I am really pleased to see commercial developments ramping up at Westgate. Regional employment and commercial activities based around the whole of Auckland is a critical regional growth factor.”

    DCI currently has two large scale data centre assets located in Sydney and Adelaide. It has also recently announced an additional $70 million investment in a Tier-Ready III certified cloud edge data centre at its current Adelaide facility.

    About DCI
    Data Centers DCI Data Centers is a data centre owner and operator that is challenging the way facilities are built and operated. It brings together innovative, environmentally-efficient technologies and construction methods to enable the rapid deployment of secure cloud and hyperscale compute environments. With a growing fleet of data centres across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, DCI Data Centers’ mission is to become the preferred partner in the Asia Pacific region for the delivery of purposebuilt, highly secure, and resilient data centre solutions.

    Since 2015, DCI Data Centers has served public cloud and managed service providers, governments and enterprises. It delivers mission-critical digital infrastructure with predictability, flexibility, and security; critical to scale and respond to market demand. DCI is a portfolio company of Brookfield Asset Management and its investment partners.

  • 04 Jun 2021 11:47 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Global leader in veterinary diagnostics and software enhances its practice management portfolio with acquisition of leading cloud-based solution

    WESTBROOK, Maine, June 2, 2021—IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in veterinary diagnostics and software, announced today the acquisition of ezyVet®, a fast-growing, innovative practice information management system (PIMS). With the acquisition, IDEXX further expands its world-class cloud software offerings that support customers with technology solutions that raise the standard of care for patients, improve practice efficiency, and enable more effective communication with pet owners. 

    “ezyVet is a truly impressive cloud-native software solution that continues to transform the industry and the software experience for veterinary practitioners. Their growth has been very strong, but the true testament to what they’ve created is their industry-leading customer satisfaction,” said Jay Mazelsky, IDEXX President and Chief Executive Officer. “We greatly admire the way ezyVet enables veterinarians to focus on what matters most: caring for patients and growing their business. We are pleased to welcome ezyVet to the IDEXX family and look forward to bringing this platform into the IDEXX customer community.”

    “We are very much looking forward to our future with IDEXX,” said Hadleigh Bognuda, ezyVet Chief Executive Officer and Founder. “We are thrilled to pair our industry-leading technology with IDEXX’s scale and commitment to innovation.”  

    With the acquisition of ezyVet, IDEXX has a full range of cloud-based PIMS options for veterinary hospitals, corporate groups, and universities that cover the needs of both general practice and specialty clinics. Customers will continue to enjoy superior support, training resources, and advanced software functionality, independent of which IDEXX PIMS they choose. The acquisition also includes Vet Radar, an innovative mobile-responsive electronic treatment sheet and whiteboarding solution. No details of the agreement are being made public at this time.

    About IDEXX Laboratories
    IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a member of the S&P 500® Index and is a leader in pet healthcare innovation, offering diagnostic and software products and services that deliver solutions and insights to practicing veterinarians around the world. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency and build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing diagnostic tests and information for livestock and poultry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk and point-of-care and laboratory diagnostics for human medicine. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs approximately 9,300 people and offers products to customers in over 175 countries. For more information about IDEXX, visit: www.idexx.com

    About IDEXX PIMS
    IDEXX’s three core PIMS support practices of all sizes, industry-wide. Cornerstone® Software is one of the industry’s leading PIMS, with a full set of features that enable customization to virtually any hospital requirements. Neo® Software is a lightweight, easy-to-use PIMS that delivers a brilliantly simple option for many veterinary practices. ezyVet is a full-featured cloud-native solution that offers powerful capabilities built into the platform, with a broad array of integrations that support the most popular apps on which veterinarians rely. 

    About ezyVet
    Based in New Zealand, ezyVet was founded in 2006 out of the desire for intuitive, affordable, and customizable software that could cater to veterinary practices of all shapes and sizes. Working in partnership with vets, ezyVet has grown into next-generation cloud-based practice management software, which is feature rich, customizable, and easy to use, serving the veterinary industry all around the world. 

    About Vet Radar
    Based in New Zealand, Vet Radar is an innovative veterinary workflow management solution that is growing rapidly across Asia Pacific, the US, and the UK. It is the only fully mobile-responsive veterinary electronic treatment sheet, whiteboarding, and workflow tool. Born out of a passion for delivering product and workflow innovation to veterinary clients, Vet Radar launched commercially in 2021 and has successfully been installed in a number of hospitals. As part of the IDEXX acquisition, Vet Radar will become part of ezyVet.

  • 03 Jun 2021 3:07 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    New Zealand has joined an international arrangement to co-operate with NASA on peaceful exploration and activity in outer space.

    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash announced the government has agreed to join the Artemis Accords, launched by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and now signed by eleven nations.

    “The Artemis Accords guide cooperation on space exploration, including support of NASA’s Artemis program to return humans to the Moon in 2024, and explore Mars and beyond,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

    “They set principles around the exploration of space, such as transparency, inter-operability, release of scientific data, sustainable use of resources, safe disposal of debris, and prevention of harmful interference in other’s activities.

    “As one of only a small number of states with space launch capability we take responsibilities of kaitiakitanga of the space environment seriously. New Zealand is committed to ensuring the next phase of space exploration is conducted in a safe, sustainable and transparent manner and in full compliance with international law.

    “While existing international law provides high level rules around the utilisation of resources, we see a need for additional rules or standards to ensure the conservation and long-term sustainability of these resources. The Artemis Accords are an important first step in that regard.

    “The ability to use space resources such as minerals on the moon and other celestial bodies is critical to enable the next phase of space exploration, including the possibility of sending humans to Mars.

    “New Zealand is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders across all space issues to ensure that the space environment will be available, and accessible, for the benefit of all, now and into the future” said Nanaia Mahuta.

    “New Zealand’s participation in the Artemis Accords is an historic moment for our nation and our highly-regarded local space industry,” Stuart Nash said.

    “The government’s economic priorities include supporting firms to make the most of our international connections. The Artemis Accords enable us to prepare for future economic and trade opportunities as well as meeting foreign policy objectives.

    “Our space sector is worth over $1.7 billion and our space manufacturing industry generates around $247 million per annum in revenue. Signing the Artemis Accords facilitates participation in the Artemis program by New Zealand and our space sector companies.

    “NASA is explicitly seeking international collaboration and outsourcing key technology solutions to the private sector. Space exploration not only increases our knowledge of our planet and universe and encourages research, science and innovation, it also provides economic opportunities for New Zealand.

    “Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and many New Zealanders will remember watching the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 as grainy footage on black and white televisions. By signing the Artemis Accords, we can more easily be an active partner in the successor to the Apollo lunar program more than 50 years later,” Mr Nash said.

    All applications to launch a satellite from New Zealand must first be approved under the Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities Act. Information about the oversight and regulation of space activities is here: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/space/

    ENDS

    Background for Editors – Artemis Accords

    The Artemis Accords were signed for New Zealand yesterday, 31 May 2021, by Dr Peter Crabtree, Head of the New Zealand Space Agency at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

    New Zealand is the 11th signatory alongside Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine. Brazil has also announced its intention to sign.

    One aspect of the Artemis Accords which New Zealand wants to develop further is the question of space resource utilisation. The ability to use space resources (the mineral resources in and on the moon and other celestial bodies) is critical to enable the next phase of space exploration, including to the possibility of sending humans to Mars.

    There is more work to be done to ensure the robust governance of space resource utilisation activity. In particular, New Zealand sees a need for rules, norms and standards to ensure the conservation and long-term sustainability of space resources, to reinforce the peaceful use of outer space and ensure that the existing international rules applying to outer space are effective in the modern space environment.

    The Artemis Accords are an important first step, confirming that the extraction and use of space resources must be done consistently with existing international law, and that a multilateral process is required to progress this issue.

      The use of space resources, for example for spacecraft propellant, construction of habitats, or use in life support systems, will enable ambitious deep-space exploration by making space exploration safer, cheaper and more accessible. The activity supported by space resource utilisation (SRU) will deepen scientific understanding, drive innovation and produce economic opportunity across the growing global space sector.

    Existing international law provides some high level rules which apply to space resource utilisation – including that any such activity must be for the benefit and in the interests of all countries. But, these rules were developed in the 1960s, before space resource utilisation was contemplated. As a result, there are some significant gaps especially regarding long-term sustainable management of space resources and the space environment.

    A message from the NASA Administrator regarding New Zealand’s signature of the Accords is on the MBIE YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5VOGBKyHgo

    Further information about the Artemis Accords and the associated Artemis Programme is here: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-international-partners-advance-cooperation-with-first-signings-of-artemis-accords  

    Summary of the text of the Artemis Accords

    The Accords are not binding in international law, but contain a set of principles designed to guide the safe and sustainable exploration and use of outer space. The principles are:

    • Peaceful Exploration: All activities conducted under the Artemis program must be for peaceful purposes
    • Transparency: Artemis Accords signatories will conduct their activities in a transparent fashion to avoid confusion and conflicts
    • Interoperability: Nations participating in the Artemis program will strive to support interoperable systems to enhance safety and sustainability
    • Emergency Assistance: Artemis Accords signatories commit to rendering assistance to personnel in distress
    • Registration of Space Objects: Any nation participating in Artemis must be a signatory to the Registration Convention or become a signatory with alacrity
    • Release of Scientific Data: Artemis Accords signatories commit to the public release of scientific information, allowing the whole world to join us on the Artemis journey
    • Preserving Heritage: Artemis Accords signatories commit to preserving outer space heritage
    • Space Resources: Extracting and utilizing space resources is key to safe and sustainable exploration and the Artemis Accords signatories affirm that such activities should be conducted in compliance with the Outer Space Treaty. Signatories intend to use their experience under the Accords to contribute to multilateral efforts to further develop international practices and rules applicable to the extraction and utilisation of space resources, including through ongoing efforts at the UN committee COPUOS.
    • Deconfliction of Activities: The Artemis Accords nations commit to provide notification of their activities and coordinate with any relevant actor, as required by the Outer Space Treaty
    •  Orbital Debris: Artemis Accords countries commit to planning for the safe disposal of debris.
  • 26 May 2021 12:52 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    ACA submitted testimony for the May 11th Senate Finance Committee hearing, “Closing of the Tax Gap: Lost Revenue from Noncompliance and the Role of Offshore Tax Evasion.”  The recent testimony follows on the heels of ACA’s commentary submitted to the Committee on Finance on the framework for overhauling international taxation and investing in the US, that was published by Chairman Wyden, Senator Brown and Senator Warner.  In ACA’s opinion, recent hearings and publication of the framework indicate a keen interest by the Congress in addressing international taxation and in particular taxation of individuals living and working overseas.

    In ACA’s testimony for the May 11th hearing on the subject of closing the tax gap as it relates to individuals and activities outside the United States and revenue lost due to noncompliance and “offshore tax evasion,” ACA made two key points.  First, good data and other information are critical and secondly, the key to cleaning up the “offshore” element of the tax gap is enactment of Residence-Based Taxation (RBT) as a replacement for the current Citizenship-Based Taxation regime.

    “It is remarkable that the US government does not have reliable figures for the size and shape of the ‘offshore’ element of the tax gap as was evidenced in the questioning of the witnesses,” noted Charles Bruce, ACA Legal Counsel, adding “it does not know the number of non-filers, and those otherwise out of compliance, who are resident abroad.  All of us would like to know how much of the problem is traceable to individuals truly residing abroad, as opposed to individuals living in the US and doing all manner of things to evade tax.”

    ACA’s testimony stresses the importance of reliable and accurate data, citing its 2017 research project fielded with District Economics Group (DEG) to develop a baseline for the size, income, asset, investment and demographic make-up of Americans living and working overseas.  ACA is updating and adding to the 2017 research project with a second deeper analysis of data which DEG has begun work on and for which ACA continues to raise funds American Citizens Abroad Global Foundation - Donate (wildapricot.org).  ACA is confident that its research work, alongside data currently available to the IRS and the US Treasury Department can demonstrate that moving to a system of Residence-Based Taxation (RBT) is eminently “doable.”

    “Moving to RBT can help narrow the tax gap attached to individuals’ activities and presence abroad.  It can throw light on the size and nature of assets belonging to Americans and located outside the US, including in zero tax and low tax jurisdictions.  Having RBT in place could help separate out compliant, regular Americans residing abroad from non-filers and criminal tax evaders,” said Jonathan Lachowitz, ACA Chairman.

    “RBT fits within the global system of taxing individuals. It would be the single most helpful step to relieve Americans abroad from double taxation and ridiculously complex and expensive reporting.  All of the FATCA-related paperwork could be eliminated.  Americans living normal lives outside the United States would no longer be viewed as financial lepers.  More importantly, RBT can be made revenue neutral, tight against abuse and such that no one is worse off than they are under the current rules,” said Marylouise Serrato, ACA Executive Director.

    Contact:  marylouise.serrato@americansabroad.org

    +1 202 322 8441

  • 25 May 2021 9:40 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Media Design School has officially opened its new state-of-the-art campus in the heart of Auckland's thriving Wynyard Quarter

    Over 22 years, Media Design School (MDS) has cemented a reputation as New Zealand's most awarded tertiary institute for digital and creative technology.

    The new Wynyard Campus will provide a home for MDS to boldly shape and design the future of global education. Media Design School, together with Torrens University Australia and Think Education, forms Torrens Global Education.

    Darryn Melrose, General Manager of Design & Creative Technology at Torrens Global Education, says the staff and students at MDS are thrilled to introduce the new campus to New Zealand and the world. 

    It's more than a campus: it's an incubator for ideas and a platform to execute them, to ensure a brighter tomorrow for our future graduates.

    The 5* Green Rated property at 10 Madden Street has classrooms fully-customised with cutting-edge technology and thoughtfully designed, flexible working spaces to create a learning environment beyond anything we've ever seen in the country.

    MDS was the first school in New Zealand to recognise the growing influence of emerging creative industries - such as Game Development, Software Engineering, Animation, Digital Design, Virtual Reality and Creative Advertising. Its foundation has always been in innovation and industry connection.

    Today, MDS is the number one digital design school in Asia-Pacific and New Zealand's most awarded tertiary institution for creative and digital technology qualifications. As the only education provider in New Zealand's Innovation Precinct, our new campus will enable students to learn at the epicentre of the country's tech industry, providing exciting networking and collaboration opportunities right on their doorstep.

    Linda Brown, Chair of MDS and CEO of Torrens Global Education, says MDS is well-positioned to bring its creative edge into the future of global education, particularly as Torrens Global Education continues to build a network around the world. 

    "We were proud of our role as a B Corporation and particularly the way that over the past year, MDS has contributed free on-demand short courses and micro-credentials in New Zealand. We are teched up from this new campus to produce global graduates with strong industry connections and a global mindset. It's this ethos that underpins the design of our new campus."

    "This campus is not just for current students. It's a gathering place for industry and, importantly, alumni, who can be found working at some of the world's leading names in the creative and tech sectors, from Weta Digital to Lucasfilm's in Singapore and Microsoft UK."

    "Our shared values of beginning and ending with people, being good, being creative, being bold, being well and being global are at the core of everything we do."

    MDS was founded in 1998 and is New Zealand's only certified B Corporation education provider. A key part of Torrens Global Education, MDS partners with Torrens University Australia, Australia's fastest-growing university. Across three providers, Torrens Global Education serves 21,000+ students across the world.

    The new campus in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct marks an exciting chapter for Media Design School and the Torrens Global Education network.

    https://www.mediadesignschool.com/
  • 19 May 2021 11:54 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Need for regulatory approvals indicates a sale price of more than $100 million.

    Dunedin-based appointment and booking software developer Timely is being sold to US-based service commerce platform EverCommerce.

    The two have have agreed terms though the sale has not yet been executed due to the need for regulatory approvals.

    Overseas Investment Office consent is required in New Zealand if a local business is sold to an overseas buyer for more than $100 million.

    Timely co-founder and CEO Ryan Baker said Colorado-based EverCommerce and Timely shared a passion for the beauty and wellness industry and were also culturally aligned.

    "We’re now able to take the next step in global expansion knowing we have industry experts, who know how to deliver value to small business owners and scale software companies, at our back," Baker said.

    EverCommerce offers a suite of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions across business management, customer engagement, marketing as well as billing and payments.

    Timely, founded in 2011, offers appointment booking software for small salons and beauty businesses. It claims to be used by more than 50,000 beauty professionals across 90 countries.

    Timely joins the EverCommerce fitness and wellness portfolio that delivers tailored, integrated, and convenient experiences for guests, while providing specialised functionality for business owners. 

    The acquisition expands EverCommerce's offerings and reach in the salon and spa industry to the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

    Rob O'Neill (New Zealand Reseller News)18 May, 2021 10:06

     

  • 14 May 2021 3:40 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    4 years ago, I walked into my local bike shop with a shotgun seat prototype under my arm.

    The store owner Kris checked it over, and then quickly took a punt on the product that my friend Tom had designed, by placing an order for 5 units. 

    We had our first official shotgun retailer, and we were pretty happy with ourselves. And ever since then, we’ve worked really hard to grow our retail foot-print. 

    We started in New Zealand. I did a road trip around the country with a boot full of shotgun seats. And we sold the lot. 

    Then Australia came on-board, and we picked up some key stores across the ditch. We were 12 months in, and we were finally starting to build momentum. 

    Fast forward to 2019 and Andrew joined the team, followed by Trev in the UK in 2020. And now all of a sudden, it’s 2021, and we have distributors supplying bike retailers in New Zealand, Australia, UK, USA, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Chile, South Africa, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia... Phew! 

    And whilst Andrew and Trev have driven the international growth in terms of sales, they couldn't’ have done it without the support of our awesome team based out of our NZ office – not to mention our off-shore liaisons, who offer in-market support.

    But I digress, because we have some big news to share. And it’s our biggest ever addition to our retail foot-print in terms of stores. 

    Today we’re excited to announce that our products are now available at REI Co-op, one of the largest sporting retailers in the US of A.

    With 168 locations across 39 states, REI Co-op significantly increases our footprint in the US, and adds to the growing list of bicycle retailers brought on by our North American distribution partner, HLC.

    Being stocked in REI adds to our existing network of US dealers, and makes the shotgun seat (and our recently released tow rope) even more available to US MTB parents – Andrew Inman, Kids Ride Shotgun

    We’re proud to now have over 2000 retailers globally, and we’re excited about working with all of our awesome stockists, to ultimately help raise the next generation of mountain bikers.

    Dan - Co-Founder, Kids Ride Shotgun

  • 14 May 2021 12:04 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Vence, the leading supplier of virtual fencing and herd management solutions for sustainable animal protein production, has raised $NZ16 million /$US12 million.

    The funding will help Vence scale the delivery of its platform in its entry markets - the US and Australia. The company is building tools which enable precision livestock farming and are driving the adoption of regenerative practices while improving profitability for the farmers.

    Vence was founded in 2016 after Kiwi Jasper Holdsworth, whose family has run a livestock farm near Gisborne for over 100 years, identified an opportunity. Reviewing the cost structure on the farm he pondered a way to use technology to complement animal movement and management. Instead of trying to solve the problem himself he reached into his network to find people who could help build a solution…and a business was built.

    In 2017, Vence was selected as one of just 20 startups worldwide to pitch to investors as part of FoodBytes!, an international programme from Rabobank that drives connections and collaboration between startups, corporate leaders, investors and farmers to implement solutions to food system challenges. Since then, Vence has gone from strength to strength and, this month (May 2021) it has announced its successful capital raise led by Tyche Partners. California-based Tyche Partners is a venture capital firm focusing on investments in early and early growth stage companies with disruptive technologies.

    The funding includes participation from existing investors; Rabobank Food & Ag Innovation Fund, Grantham Environmental Trust’s Neglected Climate Opportunities fund and Eniac Ventures as well as new investors JMI Equity and Trailhead Partners.

    Tony Chao from Tyche Partners said, “At Tyche, we love rolling up our sleeves and solving hard problems alongside passionate founders with a transformational vision. Vence has built an incredibly compelling solution that touches our daily diets, make tremendous economic sense for its rancher customers, and has the potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. We are excited to play a role in advancing Vence’s vision and improve the financial and environmental well-being of an important pillar of the economy.”

    “Pastureland represents over a third of global land mass and there are more livestock globally than there are cars – yet less than 1% of the livestock industry is digitized. We see this as ripe opportunity to help transform one of the world’s largest ($2T+) and most mature industries by providing tools for farmers to enable data driven decisions and enable precision management.” said Frank Wooten, CEO and co-founder of Vence.

    Richard O’Gorman, Managing Director Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund said “We originally connected with Vence through the FoodBytes! platform, invested in 2018 and have since worked closely with the company to accelerate the remote herd management solution,” said “Together with a great investor syndicate we are thrilled to continue to support this highly relevant, sustainable technology and accelerate its offering to the livestock community.”

    Until Sunday 16 May 2021, Kiwi agtech, food tech and consumer food and beverage startups are invited to apply for selection to present at the FoodBytes! global virtual pitch competition in November.

    Nathalie Gibson, Rabobank Head of Innovation, Knowledge & Networks, who is leading the search for startups across Australasia, including New Zealand, said, “We’re scouting for startups with validated business models, demonstrated commercial traction, a robust, diverse team and a cross-industry collaborative mindset, and that have the potential to drive meaningful and sustainable change throughout the food value chain. We would like to discover and grow more startups like we have supported Vence.”

    Vence has received interest from nearly 5,000 livestock farms globally. The company will be ramping deployment of the first commercial version of its product this year on farms across the US and Australia. Over time, however, the company’s goals are much larger. The grasslands are the world’s second largest carbon sink behind the ocean, and rotational grazing has been shown to accelerate the pace at which those lands sequester carbon. Vence believes by building tools to help manage animals and improve productivity, they can enable the quicker adoption of these practices.

    Frank Wooten said, “For regenerative agriculture to work at scale, it needs to generate profits for farmers/ranchers as well as enhance their quality of life. We built a platform which does both.”




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