Cinema IT provider joins queue looking to list

fund manager. Founded in 1996, the company has close to 200 staff and customers in 63 countries. Revenue hit $30.5 million in the 2013 financial year.

Vista’s management software is used by cinema operators for everything from online ticket booking and food and beverage sales to staff rostering. The company has been on the acquisition trail recently, announcing its purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Dutch film distribution software developer Maccs International last month.

Vista also holds a stake in Movio, an Auckland-based start-up that provides analytics technology to movie marketers.

Meanwhile, Wellington’s ikeGPS — whose technology is used to photograph, measure and locate objects such as telegraph poles — yesterday confirmed plans for an NZX main board listing that will raise up to $25 million of new capital.

Travel booking software Serko will list on June 24.

Other New Zealand tech firms on the listing radar include Wherescape, PowerbyProxi, Orion Health, Eroad,

firm PushPay, Fronde, TripleJump.

The success of NZX-listed online accounting software provider Xero has encouraged many privately owned technology businesses to look at going public.

New Zealand’s IPO pipeline has also been bolstered by the strong run the local sharemarket has enjoyed over the past couple of years.

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Grant Williamson, of sharebrokers Hamilton Hindin Greene, said investors should take a cautious approach to the rush of mostly softwarefocused technology businesses coming to market.

“Just don’t buy because the masses are,” he said.

“You should actually have a look at the fundamentals of the companies that are coming on board.”