Press Release

The Hunter’s growing reputation as a centre for innovation is attracting wide interest from investors, according The Stock Exchange of Newcastle Limited (NSX). Some of the region’s best known and some yet to be widely recognised organisations will be on display at NSX: Investing In Innovation 2002 at Newcastle City Hall on Friday 24 May. Investing in Innovation 2002 will bring together the investing community, companies wishing to raise capital and organisations that provide services to both the investing public and innovative companies. NSX General Manager, Scott Evans, said that it would showcase many of the outstanding and innovative companies of the region. ‘It will include trade stands of various sizes to suit various organisations, a formal lunch and concurrent speaker sessions,’ Mr Evans said. Special guest speakers will focus on both corporate and retail topics, as well as providing an avenue for both retail and corporate companies to network and display their services. General entry on the day will be free. Mr Evans added that NSX had been working with a number of business representative organisations including TUNRA University of Newcastle, IDC, the Department of State and Regional Development and the Newcastle & Hunter Business Chamber and private companies to ensure that Investing In Innovation specifically catered to the needs of businesses in the region. NSX Investing In Innovation is part of the Australian Innovation Festival. ‘NSX has developed a program that has incorporated the advice and support of people and organisations within the Hunter and beyond that can provide a comprehensive support base for growing businesses. ‘Investing In Innovation will serve to bring these various levels of expertise together on order to give businesses – particularly those of small to medium size – advice on the various business growth opportunities including process of funding, capital raising and listing,’ he said. NSX is the second stock exchange authorised to operate under the Australian Corporations Law – the other being the ASX Listing requirements for NSX include a market capitalisation of $500,000 and a spread of 50 shareholders – compared to $10 million and 400 respectively to list on the ASX. For further information, please contact: Scott Evans, telephone: 02 4929 6377.