S/HOLDER: SNK: Snakk Shareholder Update - January 2014 12:29p.m.
SNK
20/01/2014 12:29
S/HOLDER
REL: 1229 HRS Snakk Media Limited
S/HOLDER: SNK: Snakk Shareholder Update - January 2014
Dear Shareholders,
Snakk is continuing to reach impressive milestones, with a busy three months
planned for the company's fourth financial quarter ending March 2014.
Asia Pacific Technology Fast 500
Last month, Snakk was ranked the 62nd fastest growing technology business in
the Asia Pacific Technology Fast 500, and we are one of 16 New Zealand
companies to make the top 100 on the list. In November you may recall we were
named the 6th fast-growing company in the Deloitte's New Zealand Fast 50.
The Asia Pacific technology company ranking shows we are continuing to make
significant growth strides. This recognition will help legitimise our status
in the countries we are considering as part of our regional expansion
strategy.
Q3 Revenues (October - December 2013)
While it is too early to provide you the numbers, the management team is
pleased with the company's third quarter sales, having ended 2013 on a
positive note. The lead-up to Christmas has always been our busiest time and
this year has been no exception. Our team worked through the holiday break
and noted a definite increase in activity based on the same quarter in the
previous year.
We will update you further when we release our unaudited revenues for our
third financial quarter in early March 2014.
ASX Dual Listing
As we plan our options for Snakk's next market entry, and with Australia as
our primary revenue market, the Board is currently considering a dual listing
on the ASX. Listing in Australia, where 95% of our revenue is generated and
there is strong demand for tech stocks makes sense at this point in the
company's growth.
Not only will it make it easier for our Australian partners and customers to
purchase shares; it will also add greater regional and global credibility to
prospective investors and the markets we move into next.
Impactful Treasury Management - MicroDreams Foundation
As part of our treasury management strategy, in December we invested a small
portion of our treasury funds to the MicroDreams Foundation in the form of an
interest bearing-loan.
MicroDreams is a microfinancing organisation helping Pacific Island
businesses and entrepreneurs become sustainable and successful by extending
purpose-oriented micro-loans throughout Pacific Island microbusinesses run by
women. This small percentage of our treasury funds is being used to make a
significant difference to the livelihoods and communities of these people and
in countries that have deep links to New Zealand.
The Snakk Board and management believe that business growth and success is
about doing well financially, delivering shareholder and employee value,
while at the same time doing social good and making a wider impact in the
community.
Snakk is being built from the ground up to keep growing this way, and this
initiative is just one of the efforts the team is behind, in line with our
internationally-recognised B Corp certification that was awarded to the
company in 2013.
Chair Completes Initial Share Transfer to Foundation
You may have noticed that our Chair and Co-Founder Derek Handley completed
the first tranche of a gift of 2 million shares toward the development of his
personal charitable foundation in an off-market transaction as per his
previous guidance at the Snakk AGM in August 2013. Derek has indicated he
will transfer approximately 10% of his Snakk holdings to his foundation, a
range of other charities and private placements to investors during 2014 with
more news to come on what the activities and social impact goals will be.
Derek remains a significant investor and is committed to the success of the
company, providing significant strategic governance as well as hands-on input
in his role as Chair, an investor and Co-Founder.
The Rise of Smart Screens
This month many media articles are focused on 2014 tech trends. Analysts,
bloggers, journalists, as well as technology and marketing enthusiasts are
writing about the rise of mobile device diversity (including wearable
technologies); mobile apps and cloud services; the role of native advertising
(versus the banner), the privacy implications of the latest technologies
available to marketers; and the "Internet of Everything" (connected
televisions, cars and appliances, all with smart screens).
We continue to closely assess significant strategic opportunities and
investments across the broader smart screen sector. There has been some
speculation on social media that Snakk has been contemplating undertaking an
imminent strategic acquisition. The Board wish to confirm to the market that
this is not in fact the case, and Snakk is not currently considering any
prospective live acquisition opportunities. As has previously been
reiterated, we continue to explore and seek strategic investments and
opportunities as an ordinary course of our technology portfolio and regional
expansion strategy.
There is no question there are exciting times ahead with rich potential for
Snakk, and we look forward to sharing these with you as they unfold.
Thanks,
Mark
ENDS
Media:
Julie Landry, 021 895 098,
Julie.Landry@snakkmedia.com
Investors:
Malcolm Lindeque, Company Secretary, 021 464 392,
investors@snakkmedia.com,
www.snk.co.nz,
www.twitter.com/snakkir