MEDIA RELEASE

21 August 2008

FNB and Pearl Coral 4 reward Best Business Practice in KZN

First National Bank (FNB) together with Pearl Coral 4, publishers of the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio, are currently in the final stages of preparation for the second FNB KZN Top Business Portfolio Awards.

The awards are a platform to honour great performance, both in the private sector workplace and in government organizations, that contributes to the socio-economic growth of KwaZulu-Natal.

According to David Montsho, FNB KZN Provincial Executive, "as KZN is one of the bank's top performing provinces in terms of sales, service, audit, innovations, people and profitability, it is only fitting that we should be integrally linked to these awards."

He says it is essential to showcase the positive contributions made by industrial players in the KZN economy, to build local and global investor confidence in the Province, given the currently volatile international markets.

"In line with current trend of promoting sustainable growth in South Africa," Montsho adds, "the top accolades of the evening will be awarded to a public private partnership (PPP) that is currently active in development projects in KwaZulu-Natal. Together, organizations can achieve what a single entity does not have the capacity, skills or resources to implement."

Grant Adlam, CEO of Pearl Coral 4, is the driving force behind the KZN Top Business Portfolio, a well respected marketing resource, which has been operating for the last ten years in the Province.

"Highlighting investment possibilities in the different municipalities, the Portfolio also profiles KZN's top businesses and government departments to the local and international investor market," Adlam says.

Participating companies will be profiled in the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio, which is produced as a printed document, on a CD-Rom and in line with today's ease of access to information is available on the website www.kzntopbusiness.co.za.

Nominated via Chambers of Business, CEO's, MD's and other senior management from companies around KwaZulu-Natal., the top businesses are chosen by independent judges who vote on the organization most worthy of recognition.

As economic development is a primary need in the Province, municipal awards for investment promotion and for the most pro-active government department promoting socio-economic growth, will also be handed out at the event.

Nominations across the categorised sectors in 2008 include:

Agriculture: Tongaat Hulett Ltd, Illovo Sugar Ltd, and NCT Forestry Co-Operative

Mining: Richards Bay Minerals, Corobrik, and NPC-Cimpor

Manufacturing: aQuellé,  Buckman Laboratories, Alltube, SA Shipyards, Elma Engineering Works, and Foskor Richards Bay

Construction: Group 5 KZN, J.T. Ross, Liviero

Trade:  Mr Price, SPAR Group KZN, iTalk Cellular, Afgri Producer Services

Transport: Grindrod Limited, Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Safmarine

Utilities: Umgeni Water, Mhlathuze Water

Business and Financial Services: DRGSiyaya, Shepstone and Wylie, Ilembe Technologies: The Development House, and Woodhead, Bigby and Irving

Community and Social Services:  KZNonSource, Mancosa and The KZN Graduate School of Business

Tourism:  Gooderson Leisure, The Stables Wine Estate, Durban Tourism

In short listing the finalists, the adjudicators used quantitative and qualitative information contained in the applications, as well as interviews with senior company representatives where necessary. The results will be audited by Roshan Morar and Associates, an independent management and professional services firm based in Pietermaritzburg.