Oceania Natural debuts on NXT

Oceania is controlled by its chief executive and chairman Walker Zhong, who owns a 62 per cent stake in the business. Photo / Supplied

Supplements maker Oceania Natural has become the third company to join NZX's new NXT board after debuting in New Zealand's first sharemarket listing of the year.

The Auckland-based company listed 25.7 million shares at 64c each. They opened at 74c each this morning, a 16 per cent premium to the issue price.

It was a compliance listing, meaning no new capital was raised.

Oceania is controlled by its chief executive and chairman Walker Zhong, who owns a 62 per cent stake in the business.

The company manufactures and markets food and supplement products sourced from New Zealand and the Cook Islands using manuka honey and noni fruit, marketed under its Rich Garden branding.

China is the firm's main export market.

Zhong said Oceania wanted to attract investment from China and Chinese investors considered listed firms more trustworthy and transparent.

"It's very hard for them to get information from the private company," he said.

Zhong said Oceania would raise capital through issuing new shares at some point, although no timeline had been set.

"If we need it, we will raise capital."

He said the opportunity in China for Oceania was huge, with the natural health products market in that country worth $100 billion.

"Basically if we can produce as much as possible in New Zealand we can sell it all to China."

Oceania expects total revenue of $3.4 million in the year to March 31 this year, rising to $5.4 million in the following financial year, according to the firm's key operating milestones included in its listing document.

In 2016 that includes direct sales of $650,000 and distributor sales - revenue generated through third party channels - of $2.8 million.

A gross margin of 41 per cent is expected in the 2016 financial year, falling to 40 per cent in 2017.

NXT launched last June with the listing of business mail and document management business G3 Group.

It offers a looser disclosure regime than the main board and is targeted at growth-focused small and medium-sized firms.