GENERAL: NZX: NZX completes Grain Intelligence Unit suite in Australia

16 Jun 2010 5:07 pm

NZX 16/06/2010 GENERAL

REL: 1707 HRS NZX Limited

GENERAL: NZX: NZX completes Grain Intelligence Unit suite in Australia

16 June 2010 - NZX's comprehensive, Australian-based Grain Intelligence Unit is now complete with the acquisition of the business assets of Callum Downs Commodity News Pty Limited.

Established in 1991, Callum Downs produces subscription newsletters on grain and wool for producers who use the information as a business tool to assist decision making. Malcolm Bartholomaeus, the founder and principal of Callum Downs, has also been instrumental in bringing the use of derivatives to the Australian grain industry, firstly with Peter G Moloney and Associates, and later with StoneBridge Futures Pty Ltd.

"Bringing Callum Downs into our grain sector offering is evidence of NZX's commitment to the Australian grain markets, and our confidence in the prospects of those markets. It is a respected,high quality addition to the NZX Grain Intelligence Unit (GIU), which currently comprises the Australian Crop Forecasters, and ProFarmer titles," said NZX CEO Mark Weldon.

"NZX now has the premier portfolio of grain analysis, commentary, and market insight in Australia, and will continue to make investments to grow the quality and usefulness of these products to the Australian grain market, growers, buyers, traders, analysts, policy makers, and the general public," said Head of NZX Agri Tony Leggett.

"I have been impressed with NZX's long-term commitment to building a lasting, quality franchise in the grain markets in Australia. The full range of Callum Downs products is a great addition to the NZX GIU portfolio," said Malcolm Bartholomaeus.

"Being part of NZX means that more resources, production capability and other support can be brought to bear to improve the product for our customers. I am excited by this opportunity, and look forward to working as a key part of the NZX team. It is a logical way forward for the Callum Downs business," said Bartholomaeus.

NZX is a major provider of comprehensive data and information for the agricultural sector, with particular strength in the dairy and grain industries.

NZX Agri is the leading source of information and commentary for New Zealand's agricultural sector with its suite of publications including Farmers Weekly and Dairy Exporter, and its growing online presence, alongside which is NZX Agrifax, which provides a range of sector data and analysis.

The Australian business comprises ProFarmer, a leading provider of agricultural news, commodity market information and strategic grain market analysis; the CLEAR Grain Exchange, the grain industry's only full-service electronic market for the trading of grain; and Australian Crop Forecasters, which provides high quality, independent crop forecasting services across Australia.

"Building information, markets and infrastructure around the vital agricultural sector is critical to the sector's growth and its ongoing international competitiveness. Grain is as central to Australia as dairy is to New Zealand. Our grain businesses provide the information and the infrastructure that support this vital industry, and Callum Downs is an essential part of that mix," said Weldon.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Merja Myllylahti Stakeholder Relations Manager Communications NZX Limited E-mail: merja.myllylahti@nzx.com Phone: 04-4962890 Mobile: 0275-127832 End CA:00196185 For:NZX Type:GENERAL Time:2010-06-16:17:07:20

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