Lesley Stones
12 November 2008
Johannesburg — TWO companies have been promised free listings on AltX after being declared joint winners of the Go4Growth competition.
NutriLida Healthcare and Pilot Crushtec should both debut on the JSE next year after being mentored to a sufficient state to readiness. Seven other companies won runner-up prizes worth millions of rands, including SAP software, business assistance from Deloitte advisory services and the potential of venture capital funding from Hasso Plattner Ventures.
The contest is designed to help small companies grow operations. Winners were announced this week after being selected from 320 entries. The joint winners were judged the most growth-oriented from a short list of 10 finalists.
"The Go4Growth competition is the only competition of its kind worldwide," said SAP vice-president Hans-Peter Klaey. "It's an innovative way to build optimism and energy in a very exciting market."
NutriLida Healthcare is a Gauteng-based supplier of over-the-counter nutritional supplements and other healthcare products to pharmacies and wholesalers. Pilot Crushtec supplies mobile and semimobile crushing, screening and materials handling solutions.
NutriLida Healthcare MD Hilda Lunderstedt said the award would encourage her company to pursue audacious goals.
"As an entrepreneurial enterprise, a lot of decisions are made on intuition, so it is fantastic to have our efforts recognised and know we will receive the support of a team that has knowledge in corporatising businesses," she said.
Pilot Crushtec CEO and founder Sandro Scherf was excited about the process ahead and exposure the award would bring. "It also gives us added motivation to keep growing and working as hard as we do."
JSE CEO Russell Loubser said Go4Growth showed a wide range of businesses that an AltX listing was achievable and a viable way to raise growth capital.
Senior GM for marketing, Noah Greenhill, said many small businesses in SA could gain much by listing. Advantages of an AltX listing were access to capital, enhanced profile and the ability to use its scrip as currency, he said.
Wessel van der Merwe, an executive of Vunani Corporate Finance, a designated adviser to several AltX-listed companies, said the top five entrants were all suitable for listings.
Bloodhound Technologies and Fraxion will be assessed by the R350m Hasso Plattner fund to see if they should get venture capital support.
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