Sharing stock experience

Like many business legends, Computershare Group - the world's largest global securities registry business - had humble beginnings. It spent the early years as a small technology provider with 26 software and IT infrastructure developers.

Since hardware was very expensive when the company opened in 1978, Computershare invested initially in mainframe or mini-computers to develop and run different applications for various businesses. Of its activities, its most basic - shared registries - experienced massive success.

As growth continued steadily, Computershare bought out a number of its client businesses and ended up owning 60 percent of the Australian market and 80 percent of the New Zealand market.

Today, it has a team of about 10,000 experienced professionals operating in 17 countries around the globe providing services and solutions to listed companies, investors, employees, exchanges and other financial institutions.

"We are the only people to use one technology platform in multiple markets and that's given us the capacity to conjure the businesses up," explained Computershare President and CEO Stuart Crosby.

In 2002, it was selected by China Securities Depository and Clearing Corp Ltd (SD&C) to advise it on the Chinese securities registration service.

"The consultancy started a long and robust relationship and since then we have provided advice to a range of different agencies such that we are now a 'trusted adviser'. We have also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the SD&C," said Crosby.

Computershare aims to further expand in China and share expertise with Chinese issuers and executives.

"Our long term aspiration is to get more involved in basic share holding record keeping in China and work closer with SD&C to provide a deeper level of service to investors and issuers in China," said Crosby.

www.computershare.com

(China Daily 08/07/2008 page40)