NZX Announces NZAX 1st XV

New Zealand Exchange Limited (NZX) is delighted to announce the starting line-up of the NZAX 1st XV issuers.

The NZAX 1st XV line-up is:

Wool Equities Limited
The CACI Group Limited
Rocom Wireless Limited
RetailX Limited
King Country Energy Limited
Windflow Technology Limited
Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Limited
Comvita Limited
Loan & Building Society
Oyster Bay Marlborough Vineyards Limited
Smiths City Group Limited
A2 Corporation Limited
Charlies Trading Company Limited
Zintel Communications Limited
The New Zealand Wine Company Limited

"We are extremely proud to announce such a high calibre and broad range of companies that comprise the NZAX 1st XV," said Mark Weldon NZX Chief Executive. "These companies represent the talent and diversity of small-medium business in New Zealand, and we believe are only the start of what will become a stream of new listings, from this economic sector. For investors, these companies represent new investment opportunities and a chance to further diversify their portfolios."

NZX also wishes to announce the accreditation of 6 new NZX Sponsors. NZX Sponsors assist a company in the process of listing and, once listed, with meeting the requirements of the NZAX Listing Rules that are administered by NZX.

The new NZX Sponsors are Antipodes Consult Limited, Harmos Horton Lusk, Westpac Banking Corporation, McCallum Petterson, Esperance Capital Limited, and Access Brokerage Limited.

The NZAX Market will open for trading on Friday 14 November 2003 with reduced trading hours of 11am - 4pm (exclusive of pre-post closing).

The following issuers are now approved for listing and trading on the NZAX Market, which opens for trading on Friday 14 November:

The CACI Group Limited (CGL)
Comvita Limited (CVT)
Loan and Building Society (LBS) - Non Standard NZAX Issuer
New Zealand Wine Company (NWC)
Oyster Bay Marlborough Vineyards Limited (OBV)
Rocom Wireless Limited (ROC)
RetailX Limited (RTX)
Smiths City Group Limited (SCY)
Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Limited (SEK)
Windflow Technology Limited (WTL)
Zintel Communications Limited (ZIN)

The remaining four companies will not be trading on Friday 14 November. Wool Equities Limited (WEL), a Non Standard NZAX Issuer, will commence trading on Thursday 20 November. A2 Corporation Limited (ATM) and King Country Energy Limited (KCE) will list at a later date, pending approval of listing documentation by NZX. An application for listing will be made by Charlies Trading Company Ltd (Charlies) subject to completion of an initial public offering pursuant to a registered prospectus, yet to be finalised, and NZX approvals. A pre-offer statement by Charlies will be made in terms of Section 3(6) of the Securities Act 1978.

The NZAX Market will replace the Unlisted and NCM facilities, due for closure in the New Year. The NZAX Market sits alongside the NZSX - Stock Market - NZX's premier equity market.