Teradyne to acquire Quantifi Photonics to deliver photonic IC testing to the high-performance Compute market.
NORTH READING, Mass., March 10, 2025 – Teradyne, Inc. (Nasdaq: TER) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Quantifi Photonics, a leader in photonic IC testing. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.
This acquisition will enable Teradyne to deliver scalable photonic integrated circuit (PIC) test solutions. PIC technology is leveraging wafer-based manufacturing, multi-die integration, and advanced packaging with high-speed I/O interfaces to enable the rapidly evolving high-performance Compute market to support AI workloads.
“The extraordinary growth and complexity driven by Cloud AI will require optical interconnect solutions to support the bandwidth and reduce the power required for next-generation networks,” said Teradyne CEO, Greg Smith. “We are thrilled to welcome the Quantifi Photonics team to Teradyne to accelerate the development of cost-effective, high-throughput test solutions for wafer-level, die/multi-die and co-packaged optical module testing.”
“By combining Quantifi Photonics’ deep expertise in photonic testing and Teradyne’s leadership in semiconductor ATE, we are uniquely positioned to revolutionize photonics high-volume manufacturing,” said Quantifi Photonics co-founder and CEO Iannick Monfils. “The silicon photonics market is at an inflection point that requires innovative, state-of-the-art solutions to unlock its full potential. By combining our strengths, Teradyne and Quantifi Photonics will provide customers with complete turn-key photonic test solutions that allow them to scale. Quantifi Photonics is excited to join the Teradyne family.”
About Quantifi Photonics
Quantifi Photonics provides test solutions to help customers unlock scalable and cost-effective high-volume manufacturing of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), co-packaged optics and pluggable optics. The company’s portfolio includes a wide range of photonic test instruments, and digital sampling oscilloscopes, available as benchtop or the industry-standard PXI format to support cost-effective, high-throughput design verification testing and high-volume manufacturing.
About Teradyne
Teradyne (NASDAQ:TER) designs, develops, and manufactures automated test equipment and advanced robotics systems. Its test solutions for semiconductors and electronics products enable Teradyne’s customers to consistently deliver on their quality standards. Its advanced robotics business includes collaborative robots and mobile robots that support manufacturing and warehouse operations for companies of all sizes. For more information, visit teradyne.com. Teradyne® is a registered trademark of Teradyne, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. Source: https://www.quantifiphotonics.com/
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to New York and Washington DC later this week for discussions on world affairs and to continue to build New Zealand's ties with the United States.
Mr Peters will hold meetings with members of the Trump Administration including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, other US political contacts, and senior representatives of the United Nations.
"The United States is one of New Zealand's closest and most important partners," Mr Peters says.
"This visit provides a chance for the New Zealand Government to engage directly with the Trump Administration in Washington on our mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.
"New Zealand and the United States have a long history of close and broad cooperation in pursuit of shared interests, and we look forward to discussing in Washington how to continue building on that in the months and years ahead."
A wide range of international issues will also be discussed during Mr Peters’ visit.
"Whether Ukraine, Gaza, the Indo-Pacific or security cooperation, there's a lot to discuss - and we look forward to doing so both in New York and in Washington DC."
Mr Peters departs New Zealand on Thursday 13 March and arrives back on Friday 21 March.
Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
Marcel Portmann – Global Development Duck Donuts, Martin van der Velden, Melissa Sweeney – U.S. Consul General, Jonathan Watt – Commercial Specialist, Nathan Bonney – Iridium Partners
Duck Donuts, the beloved U.S.-based donut franchise, is making its way to New Zealand, thanks to the leadership of Martin van der Velden. A successful franchisee himself, Martin has taken the next step in his franchising journey by becoming the Master Franchisee for Duck Donuts in New Zealand. Along with his wife Anita, Martin is set to introduce Kiwi communities to the brand’s famous warm, made-to-order donuts.
With an extensive background in food and beverage franchising, Martin is no stranger to running a successful business. Having previously owned and operated two Bakers Delight stores in the Bay of Plenty, he understands what it takes to build a thriving franchise. Now, he’s channelling that expertise into launching and growing Duck Donuts across New Zealand.
“We’re delighted to welcome Martin and Anita to the Duck Donuts family,” said Devon Mailey, Chief Executive Officer at Duck Donuts. “We look forward to seeing them bring our brand to life across New Zealand and deliver the unique Duck Donuts experience to local customers.”
Martin’s journey exemplifies what comes after franchisee success—a path outlined in the article What Comes After Franchisee Success? by Iridium Partners. Taking on the role of Master Franchisee represents a significant step forward, allowing him not only to operate his own locations but also to support and grow a network of franchisees across the country.
The search for a Master Franchisee was led by Nathan Bonney of Iridium Partners, with support from the U.S. Commercial Service, spearheaded by Jonathan Watt, Commercial Specialist. The recent signing was celebrated under the watchful eye of Melissa Sweeney, U.S. Consul General, marking an exciting milestone in Duck Donuts’ international expansion.
Founded in 2006, Duck Donuts has earned a reputation for its customizable donut experience, where customers can create their perfect donut with a variety of flavours and toppings. With Martin and Anita at the helm, New Zealanders will soon have the opportunity to indulge in this delicious, made-to-order treat.
Stay tuned for updates as Duck Donuts begins its journey in New Zealand—bringing warmth, sweetness, and a taste of something special to our local communities!
Source: https://www.iridium.net.nz/
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced the Government’s plan to reform the Overseas Investment Act and make it easier for New Zealand businesses to receive new investment, grow and pay higher wages.
“New Zealand is one of the hardest countries in the developed world for overseas people to invest in businesses, and our productivity growth is woeful. Those two facts are closely linked.
“We are introducing reforms to improve New Zealand’s overseas investment laws. The package will speed up decisions and provide more confidence to investors, while protecting our national interests.
“Overseas investment can support economic growth because when workers work with better tools and technologies, they are more productive and get paid more.
“I’ve seen the difference that overseas investment can make. I once visited two businesses in the same industry on the same afternoon. Both had skilled and passionate people with good ideas. One had overseas investment, though, and benefited in two ways. They had more money for machinery, and they had more know-how for manufacturing and marketing their product by receiving knowledge from their partners offshore.
“New Zealand’s productivity growth has closely tracked the amount of capital workers have had to work with. Our capital-to-labour ratio has seen very little growth in the last 10 years, averaging approximately 0.7 per cent annually. That’s compared to growth of around 2 percent a year in the previous 10 to 15 years. Unsurprisingly, productivity growth averaged 1.4 percent a year between 1993 and 2013, but only 0.2 percent between 2013 and 2023.
“The Government has agreed on a reform package which includes:
“High-value investments, such as significant business assets, existing forestry and non-farmland, account for around $14 billion of gross investment each year. Cabinet has agreed to remove the barriers for these investments, while retaining existing protections for residential land, farmland and fishing quota.
“Nearly every other developed country has less obstructive laws than New Zealand. They benefit from the flow of money and the ideas that come with overseas investment. If we are going to raise wages, we can’t afford to ignore the simple fact that our competitors gain money and know-how from outside their borders.” Overseas investment changes paper Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
Auckland, 20 February 2025 —Banyan Software, a global software investor with a growing footprint in Australia and New Zealand, has acquired Medtech Global, a leading provider of health technology to the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Banyan has acquired 100% of the shares in Medtech Global. The company was previously owned by Advent Partners, an Australian private equity firm, and Geoffrey Sayer, the CEO/Managing Director of Medtech Global.
The acquisition includes Medtech Evolution and Medtech Artia Practice Management Systems, Medeor® payment solutions, and Medtech ALEX®. Medtech ALEX®, an ecosystem of third-party digital healthcare applications. Sayer will remain as CEO under Banyan’s ownership, and Medtech’s senior leadership team will remain in place.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, Medtech collaborated with medical centres and healthcare practitioners to develop the country’s first Practice Management System.
In 2020, Sayer and Advent Partners acquired Medtech Global from its previous owners. As CEO/Managing Director, Sayer led Medtech’s innovation programs with the development of ALEX® and Medeor® with further expansions into Australia underfoot.
With Banyan, Medtech will continue to lead in health tech innovation across Australia and New Zealand. Together, they will strengthen support for medical practices, delivering solutions that allow healthcare professionals to focus on what matters most: the health of their patients and the success of their practices, which sit at the heart of healthcare systems.
“Geoff and the leadership team at Medtech have done a tremendous job over the past 5 years and we are thrilled to support such a strong team in helping the company reach even greater heights,” says David Berkal, CEO of Banyan Software. We are committed to providing the best permanent home and partner for successful these software companies, their employees and customers. Once we invest in a business, we continue to grow the business for life, never selling it again. Every company that joins the Banyan family, including MedTech, is an industry leader with a strong foundation of innovation. Medtech will have support from a global community of software businesses, ensuring it has the resources needed to fuel its continued success.”
Rob Hooke, Partner at Advent Partners, said: “Advent purchased Medtech in 2020 because we recognised it as an innovative and market leading New Zealand software company with potential to expand its service offerings in both New Zealand and Australia. We supported Medtech’s enhancements to its PMS and new product introductions, including innovative cloud-based services with enhanced data privacy protection, security and back up services.”
“We are proud to have been part of Medtech’s growth and delighted to be handing it on to a company that can further assist it in achieving its potential in providing services to medical practices in global markets. We look forward to seeing Medtech’s next phase of growth,” says Hooke.
“Partnering with Banyan represents a dramatic advance for both Medtech and medical practice management in New Zealand and Australia,” says Sayer. “Our mission has always been to strengthen the delivery of primary care and general practice through innovative health technology. With Banyan we now have the relationships, resources and long-term commitment that ensure we can continue to invest in developing Medtech software. That’s good news for practices, their patients and the overall healthcare system.”
“Banyan has a proven track record of long-term partnerships with the software companies it invests in. By retaining their culture and autonomy, these businesses continue to grow and serve their customers effectively. This philosophy aligns with Medtech’s mission to support medical practices in operating at their best today while preparing for the future.”
Banyan has completed over 70 acquisitions globally since its founding in 2016, including many across Australia and New Zealand. With a dedicated team in Australia, Banyan is committed to growing its portfolio of software companies in the region.
Medtech was advised by Allier Capital, HSF, PwC and LEK. Banyan Software was advised by KPMG, Cornwalls, Anthony Harper, Genesis Advisory and EY Port Jackson
About Medtech Global
Medtech is a health technology provider. Founded in 1989 as Healthcare Technology Limited, a specialist IT organisation serving the healthcare community, it designed New Zealand’s first Patient Management System in collaboration with medical centres and healthcare practitioners. It serves healthcare providers in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and the Cook Islands, providing healthcare technologies including the Medtech PMS, interoperability solutions, clinical business intelligence, cloud hosting, and healthcare payment solutions. For more information, see https://medtechglobal.com/
About Banyan Software
Banyan Software provides the best permanent home for successful enterprise software companies, their employees, and customers. Banyan’s mission is to acquire, build, and grow great software businesses all over the world with dominant positions in niche verticals. Founded in 2016, the company follows a buy-and-hold-for-life strategy, and is set up with a permanent capital base to preserve the legacy of founders. As a purpose-driven company, Banyan is committed to making an enduring, positive impact on the world. For more information, see https://banyansoftware.com/apac
About Advent Partners
Advent Partners is one of Australasia’s leading private equity firms with approximately ~$1b of funds under management. Since 1984, Advent has focused on partnering with innovative companies to support their growth ambitions. Advent does this by working with leading founders and helping them build their businesses with capital, network access, and strategic guidance. For more information, see http://www.advent.com.au
Auckland, New Zealand – 20 February 2025: Spark and Microsoft have announced the country’s largest-ever Microsoft public cloud partnership, reinforcing their commitment to accelerate cloud adoption across the country and fuel AI innovation. The agreement will also enable Spark to further modernise its own hybrid cloud environment, while accelerating its AI strategy with a large-scale deployment of Microsoft 365 Copilot across its organisation.
In the era of AI, the telecom industry is embracing technology to elevate customer experiences, optimise business operations, modernise the network, and unlock new revenue streams. This partnership is a testament to how Spark is driving innovation and growth through the Microsoft Cloud and its AI capabilities. The partnership builds on the recent launch of Microsoft’s NZ North cloud region, providing Spark and its customers with expanded access to world-class cloud infrastructure and services.
Key commitments include:
“We are thrilled to establish this strategic partnership with Microsoft,” says Jolie Hodson, Spark CEO. “We are like-minded companies, with a focus on enabling New Zealand businesses, investing in the digital infrastructure that underpins a modern economy, and creating the next generation of technology leaders.
“We have a long-term strategic focus on hybrid cloud at Spark. This partnership enables us to improve our overall cloud economics by modernising our own hybrid cloud environment while continuing to collaborate with Microsoft on the best hybrid cloud solutions for our customers.
“We also have a significant focus on embedding AI into our business, and extending our use of Microsoft 365 Copilot will support more of our people to leverage the benefits generative AI can deliver, both within our business and for our customers.”
In a recent Accenture report on unlocking the potential of generative AI in New Zealand, helping more businesses adopt public cloud was one of the key recommendations that would see Aotearoa add $76 billion to its economy every year, demonstrating the need for regions such as NZ North.
“For us, this partnership is not just about helping Spark evolve its own cloud environments and sharing innovation for the benefit of both our companies – it’s about helping our country move forward and grow as a truly digital nation,” added Sorenson.
As part of the partnership, Microsoft and Spark will collaborate on an internal skilling programme to support the uptake of AI across the business. In December, Microsoft committed to training 100,000 New Zealanders in AI and digital skills over the next two years, creating long-term benefits for the economy as digital technologies transform the way we live and work.
Microsoft New Zealand Managing Director Vanessa Sorenson said the partnership recognised how much the needs of New Zealand businesses and people were changing.
“Great companies think alike, and we both know the future of business relies on a trusted cloud partner with the innovative AI capabilities to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s customer. You can’t scale up generative AI innovation without hyperscale public cloud,” Sorenson said.
“Azure is the most trusted and comprehensive cloud platform, with industry-leading cloud and AI services; more than 95% of the Fortune 500 choose Azure as their cloud provider.”
Wellington, New Zealand – Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX:BPG) has announced the beta launch of Bebop, an AI-powered sales intelligence platform designed to put an end to cold calls, costly Meta ad spends and the dominance of Silicon Valley data providers.
“Imagine unlocking unlimited revenue opportunities and cutting-edge business intelligence - for just $49/month!” says Nick Lissette, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blackpearl Group. “Bebop changes the game. It’s like ChatGPT, but built for sales and revenue growth.”
“The average SME has been locked out of high quality sales intelligence because platforms like ZoomInfo, Clearbit and Apollo charge insane amounts” says Lissette “Bebop doesn’t just even the playfield - it’s a major competitive advantage."
In just four seconds, Bebop scans millions of US-based companies to generate a hyper-targeted list of thousands of decision-makers. Users can ask Bebop to identify potential customers that have a need for their goods and services and specifically how they would benefit. It can even craft a hyper-personalised email or LinkedIn InMail - eliminating hours of manual research.
Disrupting an industry – at a fraction of the cost
Bebop starts at just US$49 per month for a list of 3,000 qualified targets, making enterprise-grade sales intelligence accessible to SMEs for the first time. Lissette compares Bebop’s impact to ChatGPT’s disruption of search - redefining how users access and apply information.
The previous generation of B2B tools, like Apollo and ZoomInfo, relied on SQL queries over large databases, with apps designed to make that experience as seamless as possible. The new generation, however, has intelligence at its core - genuinely understanding what a business provides and exactly who needs it. This shift moves from a one-way, user-driven push to a two-way connection between supply and demand. Bebop delivers a fundamentally different experience, transforming interactions and unlocking deep insights that fuel growth.
Ambitious growth
Bebop was developed in just a single quarter, only made possible by Blackpearl Group’s proprietary software and data platform - formerly known as Pearl Engine - a testament to the company’s rapid innovation and robust technology infrastructure.
In the Quarter Three report for the period ending 31 December 2024, Lissette highlighted the need for companies to move fast to stay ahead. “Winners and losers in this new world will be defined by those who innovate at hyper-speed,” believes Lissette.
The launch of Bebop follows the success of Pearl Diver, Black Pearl Group’s flagship prospect identification platform. Pearl Diver transforms website visitors into prospects by using AI-driven identity resolution technology, unlocking new revenue streams and reducing dependence on costly digital advertising.
“With Bebop, Black Pearl Group is redefining how businesses take control of their sales and growth. By eliminating unnecessary reliance on costly data providers and inefficient ad spend, Bebop empowers companies to take charge of their own success. In a world where adaptability defines success, Bebop gives businesses the power to scale smarter, faster and on their own terms,” concludes Lissette.
About Blackpearl Group (NZX: BPG)
Blackpearl Group is a market-leading data technology company that pioneers AI-driven, sales and marketing solutions for the US market.
Specifically engineered for small-medium-sized businesses (SMEs), Blackpearl Group consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is simple: ‘Creating Motivating Opportunities.’
Blackpearl creates the opportunities that motivate action. We create high-impact products that pivot at speed to serve what businesses really need, kick-starting action – turning data into dollars.
Founded in 2012, Blackpearl Group is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona. blackpearl.com
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The Government is modernising visa settings to incentivise migrants to invest in New Zealand.
“Foreign investment has the potential to provide jobs for Kiwis, lift incomes by delivering new businesses and investing in existing ones. We should be rolling out the welcome mat and encouraging investor migrants to choose New Zealand as a destination for their capital,” Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says.
“Unfortunately, changes made to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa category by the previous government had the effect of discouraging potential investors from seeking New Zealand residence. Since 2022, migrants entering New Zealand under the AIP category have invested just $70 million. By contrast, in the two years prior to COVID-19 migrants invested $2.2 billion.
“Rather than turning potential investors away, this Government is intent on welcoming people who want to contribute to New Zealand. We are already making it easier for digital nomads to work remotely while visiting here and have established Invest New Zealand to promote investment into this country,” Ms Willis says.
“Capital is highly mobile and in an increasing complex world, people are looking for a safe and stable country to do business. We are now making our investor visa simpler and more flexible to incentivise investors to choose New Zealand as a destination not just for their capital, skills and international connections, but to build a life for themselves and their family here,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.
From 1 April the current complex weighting system for the AIP will be replaced with two simplified investment categories:
Other changes include expanding the scope of acceptable investments and removing potential barriers to investment, such as the English language requirement.
“Incentivising, simplifying and broadening the investment offerings will make New Zealand more attractive and accessible to more foreign high-value investors. These changes will turbocharge our economic growth, bringing brighter days ahead for all Kiwis,” Ms Stanford says.
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say.
“The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto a faster growth track,” Nicola Willis says.
“Tourism is New Zealand’s second largest export earner generating revenue of almost $11 billion and creating nearly 200,000 jobs.
“Making the country more attractive to ‘digital nomads’ – people who work remotely while travelling – will boost New Zealand’s attractiveness as a destination.”
Erica Stanford says updating the visitor visa reflects the realities of the modern, flexible working environment.
“This is a brand-new market of tourist New Zealand can tap into. We want people to see our country as the ideal place to visit and work while they do it.
“From today, visitor visas will allow people to work remotely for a foreign employer while they are holidaying here. Anyone who intends to work remotely for more than 90 days should look at possible tax implications.
“The change will enable many visitors to extend their stays which will lead to more money being spent in the country.”
Tourism Minister Louise Upston says digital nomad visas are becoming more common as ways of working become increasingly more digitised and flexible.
“Many countries offer digital nomad visas and the list is growing, so we need to keep pace to ensure New Zealand is an attractive destination for people who want to ‘workcation’ abroad.
“Compared to other kinds of visitors, international remote workers have the potential to spend more time and money in New Zealand, including during the shoulder season.”
The change applies to all visitor visas, including tourists and people visiting family, as well as partners and guardians on longer-term visas.
Only remote work which is based overseas is allowed. Visitors whose employment requires them to be in New Zealand such as sales representatives of overseas companies, performers and people coming to work for New Zealand employers must still obtain visas relevant to their circumstances.
“This Government is committed to supporting a smarter, efficient and predictable immigration system to grow our economy. Delivering economic growth is critical to improving our quality of life, strengthening local businesses, lifting incomes, and creating opportunities for Kiwis,” Erica Stanford says.
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The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy.
“Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment across critical infrastructure, fostering greater innovation in key sectors and attracting world-class talent to our shores,” Mr McClay says.
The new agency, modelled on Irish and Singaporean best practice, will focus on:
Invest New Zealand will incubate within New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and then transition to a new Autonomous Crown Entity, which operates with a clear mandate to attract international capital, infrastructure investment, ideas, and expertise.
Meanwhile, NZTE will be refocused with a single mandate to support Kiwi businesses to export more and grow international markets.
Both agencies will retain all NZTE staff to help achieve the Government’s ambitious goal of doubling exports by value in ten years.
“This initiative will help unlock tens of billions of dollars in global investment opportunities, significantly increase the capital available to support key roading and energy infrastructure and make New Zealand a more attractive and predictable destination for investors.
“With Invest New Zealand leading the charge, we’re rolling out the welcome mat to the world. Streamlining processes and supporting investors as they navigate our legal and commercial landscape,” Mr McClay says.
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