News

1st of February 2012 - Acquisition of Nimbus Lighting Group Ltd and Home Lighting Ltd

GERARD LIGHTING GROUP is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Heads of Agreement to acquire the businesses and assets of two leading New Zealand based lighting manufacturers and distributors being Nimbus Lighting Group Ltd and Home lighting Ltd.

Nimbus Lighting Group trades as DOT downlights. DOT is considered to be the largest designer, developer and manufacturer of commercial downlights in New Zealand having an estimated market share of approximately 20‐25%. Home Lighting is the largest manufacturer of residential downlights in NZ having an estimated market share of approximately 60% of the E27 downlight market in New Zealand.

The proposed acquisition of both the Nimbus and Home Lighting businesses is an exciting addition to the Group’s customer product offering and consistent with GLG’s stated strategy of organically growing and through strategic bolt‐on acquisitions. We are also pleased that the founders of Nimbus (Frank Austin) and Home Lighting (Mike Austin) will have continuing roles in the businesses.

Mike and Anne‐Marie Austin of Home Lighting are excited about the opportunity for future development in the NZ domestic downlight industry. We are poised to meet the market with exciting new products.

“Nimbus has supplied the Dot downlight range to Gerard Lighting companies throughout the world for a

number of years, so the acquisition will be business as usual and we will continue to operate

autonomously. However, New Zealand is the market we value most; we started here, and will continue

to be based here. It is here we can offer our customers the best service and the most competitive prices

for the DOT range. The acquisition will provide us with the resources to expand our services in New

Zealand and to accelerate development of new products to take full advantage of the opportunities new

lighting technologies now offer.” (Frank Austin)

26th of November 2011 - Taking on the 2011 Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge!

Representing Team Gerard Lighting (NZ) Neil Walker, Andy McLeod, Mike Bernard and Donna Julian successfully competed in this year's Cycle Taupo Challenge. After months of cycle training and equipped with the latest cycle gear, Team Gerard finished the race around Lake Taupo in record time. Congratulations to the cyclists, hope to see you in 2012.

19th of October 2011 – Gerard Lighting (NZ) Grand Office Opening

The new Gerard Lighting New Zealand Office in 8 Nugent Street has finally opened its doors. After months of design and building work a stunning mixture of interactive office space and Lighting showroom has finally come to an end. The Office was opened with a celebration and 70 guests. Also on the guest list, Robert Gerard the chairman of the board of Gerard Lighting (Australia). We would like to thank all guests that attended the office opening, especially Robert Gerard and his wife Fay for joining us for a fantastic night!

20th of October 2011 – TRIBE Event: Cruise to Waiheke

The Gerard Lighting’s TRIBE invited for an extraordinary event. A group of 70 TRIBE members was invited to join Robert Gerard for a cruise on his private luxury yacht through Auckland waters! TRIBE members enjoyed an evening with selected food and drinks. A night to remember! We want to thank all the TRIBE members for making this TRIBE Cruise a truly unforgettable event.

A special thank you goes to Robert & Fay Gerard for their incredible hospitality.

If you can’t wait to join the Gerard TRIBE, please email tribe@gerardlighting.co.nz for further information.

17th of October 2011 – Gerard Lighting (NZ) Team Supplier to Emirates Team New Zealand

Gerard Lighting (NZ) is proud to announce its association as an official team supplier to Emirates team New Zealand in the 34th America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean race 2011-2012. With that Gerard Lighting gains exclusive hosting rights which include the use of the VIP hospitality area at the Team New Zealand base at the Viaduct. This area will be used in November to showcase the Gerard Lighting Christmas Tradeshow on the 17th of November 2011.

5th of October 2011 - Gerard Lighting (NZ) New National Trade Distributor of OSRAM Lamps and Control Gear throughout NZ

It is with great pleasure that Gerard Lighting (NZ) Ltd (GLNZ) announces that it has been appointed as a national trade distributor of OSRAM lamps and control gear products throughout New Zealand. Both GLNZ and OSRAM have recognised the national strengths of each organisation and have agreed to work together to bring an increased level of customer service and stock availability to its trade-based customers on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. GLNZ currently represents its Group brands PIERLITE, SYLVANIA and CROMPTON. It is delighted to now include the OSRAM range to its package thus further complementing its extensive lamp and luminaire offer to the trade. The offer now from GLNZ represents the most comprehensive range ever assembled in the New Zealand market forming a "one-stop shop” for all the trade's lighting needs.

Our passion for service, support and delivery will ensure GLNZ together with OSRAM forms New Zealand's number one trade lighting solutions provider. The team at GLNZ is extremely excited about this new partnership and will be working with all various electrical distributors during the coming months to present and implement these new arrangements. A staged rollout between November and December, 2011 is planned.

26th of October 2011 – New Faces at Gerard Lighting (NZ)

Gerard Lighting New Zealand has been busy swelling its ranks with new talents.

In Auckland we have successfully managed to employ Nicole Berth as our new Marketing Coordinator supporting the national Gerard Lighting New Zealand team. Nicole comes to us with a very good educational background, including a Master of Business in Marketing along with excellent Customer Service and networking skills. With these great skills, Nicole will no doubt compliment our marketing strategies for the future.

To further expand our team of sales representatives, Gerard Lighting New Zealand welcomes Mat Reynen in the position of Sales Representative covering the Otago/Southland region. Mat joins us with sound professional experience and a demonstrated ability to easily communicate at all different levels of business. Mat’s professional experience includes business development for new clients, relationship management, project management and great customer service. This experience will undoubtedly compliment our Wholesale/Trade strategies for the future in this region.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome Brett Saxon to the Gerard Lighting team in the capacity as National Sales Manager based in Auckland. Brett will be responsible for driving the trade sales team to achieve the financial year 2012 objectives. Brett comes to the business with a strong electrical background having spent over 10 years at JA Russell as a Business Development Manager, then moving onto a Senior Management role at Mico/Crane Distribution. Brett’s all round business skills will be a great addition to the team.