Conditional investment of $7.3m in Spectrum Consulting

5 August 2024

NZX Limited
AUCKLAND

Conditional investment of $7.3 million in Spectrum Consulting Limited
Being AI Limited (BAI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a conditional joint venture arrangement
with the senior management team (“Managers”) of Spectrum Consulting Limited (“Spectrum”) to facilitate the
acquisition of 100% of the shares on issue in Spectrum for $6.6 million in aggregate.
BAI’s commitment to acquire a 50% interest in Spectrum is $3.3 million. BAI has also committed to provide up
to $4 million of growth capital funding to Spectrum over a 24 month period to develop the “Lantern AI” initiative
developed by Spectrum.
About Spectrum
For more than 20 years Spectrum has provided New Zealand’s essential services with mission-critical data
infrastructure services and critical infrastructure cloud-based services across Oracle, SAP, JD Edwards, and
large-scale CRM ERP applications. Spectrum also ensures seamless safe connectivity through the provision of
network solutions, AI solutions and proactive data security. Put simply, Spectrum provides digital
infrastructure to the infrastructure providers of New Zealand.
David McDonald, CEO Being AI Group, comments
“We are thrilled to have the Spectrum team become part of the Being Group. Not only are they a
talented team with demonstrated integrity and an excellent culture, but they have developed world-first
technology in the critical field of AI sovereignty.”
Spectrum is an IBM Gold and Red Hat Partner and has designed, built, and is now delivering Lantern AI - the
world’s first safe, secure, sovereign AI cloud platform.
Lantern is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) platform built to ensure the
management, storage, and governance of data remains jurisdictionally sovereign to New Zealand. The platform
allows text to text, text to voice and voice to text applications, analytics, and data sharing with full
explainability and provability.

Damian Pons, CEO Spectrum AI, explains:
“Lantern is built with guardrails and governance to ensure the AI remains under the control of the data
guardian. It runs within a secure isolated runspace that is not exposed to the internet, remains separate
from an organisation's day-to-day operational network, and keeps data geographically and
jurisdictionally sovereign to New Zealand.”
Lantern is currently working with a major brand in the Healthcare space to deliver a proof of operation and is in
discussions with multiple other enterprise and government customers.
Spectrum's team of around 40 service current clients including ASB, Te Whatu Ora via CCL, Genesis via CCL,
Kiwirail, Metservice, Freightways, Kainga Ora, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Watercare, Fisher & Paykel, and Lotto
NZ. Spectrum invoiced $19.6m revenue for products and services for the year ended 31 March 24 and will be
earnings accretive for BAI shareholders.
Damian Pons continues:
“Our team is excited to launch a new chapter in the Spectrum AI story. We believe collaboration with
Being AI Group will not only allow us to continue to deliver the critical services our clients depend on
each day, but also grasp the full opportunity we have created with Lantern AI.”
David McDonald elaborates:
“As part of our core mission to transform businesses with AI and emerging technologies, our
investment in Spectrum and Lantern represents another important piece of the strategy - a sovereign AI
platform joining our growing portfolio of AI technologies necessary for true innovation alongside the
Being AI investment in Tymestack’s Graph AI optimisation and Truyo’s AI governance platform.”
Lillian Grace, Chair Spectrum AI concludes:
“Ka mua ka muri – before looking forward, it’s important to look back. We at Spectrum are deeply
grateful to our founder, Paul Tomlinson, for his 20 years of pioneering work in delivering sovereign
platforms. Our commitment to supporting government and enterprise clients has led to notable
achievements, including being added to the DIA Market Place and delivering Aotearoa New Zealand’s
first Sovereign AI platform.

I am particularly excited by the shared determination of Spectrum CEO Damian Pons (Ngāti
Tūwharetoa) and Being AI Group CEO David McDonald (Ngāi Tahu) to embed care for beings in the
foundation of our work. Throughout our society, we can see the harm and neglect that result from
advancing technology without this focus. Dignity for all remains at our core.

This collaboration between Being AI and Spectrum’s Management Team underscores our shared
mission. Together, we are carving a path that ensures the sustained growth and success of Spectrum
well into the future.”

The terms of the Transaction
Following the completion of the transaction, BAI will hold a 50% interest in Spectrum. The remaining 50% of
Spectrum will be held by interests associated with the existing Spectrum management team.
The principal terms of the transaction are as follows:
- The total purchase price payable to acquire 100% of Spectrum is $6.6 million.
- BAI’s share of the purchase price is $3.3 million.
- The purchase price is payable in a combination of cleared funds on settlement, and the balance by way
of instalments payable over 30 months.
- BAI will provide funding assistance of up to $1.5 million to the Spectrum management team to assist
them to fund their share of the purchase price. This financial assistance will be repayable by those
managers to BAI.
- Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent, it is anticipated that completion will take place
on or before 30 September 2024.
- BAI will provide up to $4 million of growth capital funding to Spectrum over a 24 month period to
develop the Lantern initiative developed by Spectrum. This funding will be provided via a secured
convertible note, It will accrue interest and will provide BAI with the right to redeem the notes for cash
at the maturity date of the notes, or to convert the notes into shares in the vehicle to be formed to hold
the Lantern initiative, at a conversion price to be agreed prior to settlement.
Conditions of the Transaction
The transaction is condition upon the following principal conditions:
- BAI, the Managers and the vendors of the Spectrum shares, entering further transaction documentation
by 20 September 2024.
- BAI being satisfied with its due diligence investigations of Spectrum on or before 20 September 2024.
- Spectrum entering into new employment agreements with the managers on terms agreeable to BAI on
or before 30 August 2024.
BAI continues to investigate potential investment and acquisition opportunities to strengthen our portfolio, and
will continue to invest and acquire as we identify initiatives that satisfy our investment criteria.

END


For more information contact:

David McDonald
Group CEO, Being AI Limited
Mobile: +64 27 239 7000
Email: david@beingai.group

Website: beingai.group
https://www.linkedin.com/company/beingaigroup