
Michael (Mick) Kain Directorships IndraNet Technologies Ltd Major Shareholdings Background Born in 1948, Michael was educated in South Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand. While having a deep personal interest in subjects like history, from very early on he was drawn to the business world. After travelling extensively overseas to gain practical experience, and using the Orari family farm as a point of departure, he undertook a number of parallel farm development ventures throughout the Canterbury region. From 1972 onwards, his farming business developed to include estates at Skipton (near Geraldine) and Clandeboye (near Temuka), as well as Orari. Production included wheat, barley, ryegrass seed, apple orchards, sheep for lamb fattening and wool, cattle for meat, and deer farming. Michael experimented successfully with the build up of humus in the soil through straw incorporation and minimum tillage. However, economic circumstances in New Zealand were changing fast with the relative importance of the primary production export sector declining, and the emergence of new industrial developments, particularly in the Christchurch region with the electronics and software industry. In 1984 Michael decided to progressively sell his extensive farming interests and diversify his business involvement into more rewarding and fast expanding sectors of the economy. He had become a professional investor in 1982 and from 1984 onwards, his investment activities on the sharemarket and in industrial real estate expanded in Wellington and Auckland as well as in the Christchurch region. In 1997 and early 1998 Michael became involved in the extensive review of the technology development undertaken by Arnoux and Associates Ltd and HM Associates Ltd as part of the due diligence process undertaken by Mr Russell Fitts. Michael focused more particularly in the development and market potential of the technology. During the same period he took part with other investors in the New Zealand auction of LMCS radio frequencies for broadband wireless telecommunication services. This experience highlighted for him the speed of technological change in the network and telecommunication sector, and the large market opportunities opened up by technology developments like IndraNet. It motivated his decision to invest in this area and support the IndraNet technology. In 1997, his real estate investments had also led him to take up a position with Richard Ellis international property consultants. However, in 1998 he relinquished this position to be able to devote more time to the development of IndraNet Technologies Ltd, of which he had become a Director. News