DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 26, 2021
14 // AGRIBUSINESS
Genetics company seeks $3m NEW ZEALAND dairy
genetics company Tropical Dairy Group Limited (TDG) is trying to raise $3 million from investors. TDG is the holding company and 100% owner of both Thermo Regulatory Genetics Limited and Dairy Solutionz (NZ) Limited, founded in 2018 and 2009 respectively. The Ohaupo-based company started breeding tropical dairy genetics in 2008, and has fourteen private investors – many of them New Zealand dairy farmers. Now, TDG invites wholesale investors to come aboard, allowing access through a nominee investment vehicle with a minimum investment amount of $10,000. The private fund raising offer is being hosted by Catalist – a new stock exchange designed for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). The raise comes ahead of an intended public list-
SLICK GENE
Tropical Dairy Group chair Tim Heeley says New Zealanders have a great opportunity to invest in a world-first genetic solution.
ing in early 2022 on the Catalist Public Market. Focused on developing heat-tolerant cattle in tropical climates, TDG’s genetics are sold into markets throughout Asia, the US and South America, said to improve animal welfare and help people in the world’s hottest areas boost food and protein security.
Chair Tim Heeley says this is a great opportunity for New Zealanders to invest in a world-first genetic solution, originating from the Waikato. “TDG is a technologydriven, growth business. Being a pioneering genetics company with a global perspective, coupled with a presence anchored in New Zealand, makes
us a unique investment opportunity,” he says. “We are predicting good interest from dairy farmers as well as the wider New Zealand ag community. “The investment should also appeal to people looking to fund solutions to global food insecurity issues linked to climate change.”
Colin Magee, Catalist’s chief executive says he is delighted to welcome Tropical Dairy Group to the exchange. “It’s great to see TDG taking the next step in their growth journey by listing on a Catalist Private Market and we’re pleased we can help facilitate both capital raising and generating liquid-
ity for their investors,” he says. “We hope this initial offer will help with their goal of a public listing on our licensed stock exchange early next year – it’d mean anyone in New Zealand, not just wholesale investors, could buy shares in this unique investment opportunity.”
TDG ANNOUNCED earlier this year it has bred the world’s first team of Jersey bulls that all carry the dominant “Slick” gene – meaning daughters of these bulls are certain to exhibit heat tolerant traits. Cows with the Slick gene cope better in tropical climates, mitigating heat stress and improving milk production for countries with some of the world’s greatest deficits of protein. To date, the Slick gene has been bred into Holsteins, Crossbreeds and Jerseys, leading to the TDG herd said to be the largest and most diverse slick-breeding herd in the world. Following TDG’s planned 2022 public offering, investors will have the opportunity to trade TDG’s shares every six months in a secondary market on the Catalist exchange.
FarmIQ, AgResearch join forces TWO AGRICULTURAL software
providers are joining forces to create more value for pastoral farmers. FarmIQ Systems and state-owned AgResearch have formed a strategic partnership after FarmIQ acquired decision-support tool Farmax from the SOE. AgResearch will now become a shareholder in FarmIQ Systems and a preferred provider of science and research going forward.
FarmIQ chief executive Will Noble said the partnership was long overdue as both organisations have shared the same vision for the agriculture sector since its inception from the Primary Growth Partnership in 2010. “If we want to become the leading decision support platform of choice for all pastoral farmers in New Zealand, then having AgResearch as a shareholder and the Farmax product to our whanau, brings with it strong
• Ideal for Cattle Troughs • High Flow • Side/Bottom Mount • Detach to Clean • Compact/Robust
industry credibility and a vast amount of science to our software –it’s incredibly exciting for our farming customers and the industry as a whole”. AgResearch director of technology and digital services Greg Rossiter says the decision was made as part of the CRI’s commitment to providing the agricultural industry with quality science and software-based decision support tools. Going forward FarmIQ will invest
the capital and provide the infrastructure to take Farmax to the next level, which was not considered AgResearch’s core business. “The partnership delivers our scientists opportunities to collaborate and strengthen relationships with key partners and FarmIQ shareholders,” says Rossiter. Gavin McEwen, chief executive of Farmax views the partnership as having plenty of benefits for Farmax’s
• Ideal for Small/Low Demand Troughs • Low Flow • Above/Below Water Mount • Built in Check-Valve
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own customers “the business will continue to provide its standalone products and services to our valued customers”. “Our goal is to unlock tangible benefits to all by improving interoperability and integration between both applications to make things easier, quicker and more accurate for customers.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews
• Ideal for Compartment Troughs/Tanks • High Flow • Top Mount • Detach to Clean • Compact/Robust