news

STEP News is a compilation of current and relevant articles.  For more information contact Don Davis, STEP's Director of Information
  • Visonic completes London IPO   Jerusalem Post  April 9, 2004

    In the first initial public offering of an Israeli company in Europe in four years, electronic security systems provider Visonic has raised 9.6 million on the London Stock Exchange. The placement comprised of 10.8 million new ordinary shares, or 27 percent of the company's issued share capital, at 88 pence apiece. Based on this price, the company's market capitalization will be listed at approximately 35.4m. when it begins trading on April 15. Earlier reports had predicted a valuation of as high as $80m. The IPO was oversubscribed in England, France, and Israel. Cukierman & Co Investment House, Visonic's advisers in Israel and continental Europe, attributed the high interest to stock's low price/earnings ratio of 10. Tel Aviv-based Visonic manufactures electronic security systems and components, mainly for private homes. Its customers include international companies BT, ADT, Chubb, HoneyWell, and Siemens.  Last year, the company bought Ra'anana-based Elpas Local Positioning Systems, which specializes in tagging and personal-alarm equipment.

ENTERTAINMENT   April 8, 2004

  • Entertainment Content to Cell Phones   4/12/04

    SmartVideo Technologies, Inc. announced that it has formed a new alliance to deliver entertainment to cellular telephone subscribers through its state-of-the-art technology. The Company has also engaged the services of Media Consulting Associates, LLC (MCA) to be its representative in the entertainment and communications community. MCA was recently formed by four of the entertainment industry's top executives: Herman Rush (former CEO of Columbia Pictures Television Group), Jerry Katzman (former President of The William Morris Agency), Ave Butensky (former President of the Television Advertising Bureau) and Joe Indelli (former Executive Vice President of Orion Pictures Television Group). http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040412/125588_1.html SmartVideo http://www.smartvideo.com/

  • Will HDTV antipiracy plan unplug digital networks?   4\8\04

    Consumer groups and studios are trading barbs over a set of proposals before the Federal Communications Commission that could give studios unprecedented control over digital network technologies such as Firewire and wireless routers used in so-called Wi-Fi networks. They would be able to block recording capabilities, unilaterally turn off digital outputs deemed "unsafe," and degrade the quality of high-resolution signals coming out of today's analog outputs. http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5186881.html?tag=nefd.lede

  • Soleil Film and Television Begins Process to Select Distributors  4\8\04

    Soleil Film and Television, Inc. announced today that it has commenced the process of the selection of distributors for its feature film "Fallacy," starring John Savage ("Deer Hunter"), Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, Cary Tagawa, Agata Gotova and Carlene Moore. Described as "`Fargo' meets `American Beauty 'in a deceptive Malibu world," "Fallacy" weaves a tale of murder and deception in a world where you can't buy freedom -- you can only steal it. The company has had discussions with several interested distributors, but has not yet made a final decision on distribution. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040408/85161_1.html

  • American IDC Corp. Signs Letter of Intent to Merge with ETV Inc .  4\8\04

    American IDC Corp. has signed a letter of intent to merge with ETV Inc., a marketing and content delivery company that streams Hollywood films and special interest channels, 24/7, full screen in high definition over the Internet at www.etvhollywood.tv and will offer movie downloads for as little as 99 cents. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040408/85187_1.html American IDC http://www.americanidc.com/

TECHNOLOGY/INTERNET/SOFTWARE ISRAEL   April 8, 2004   4\8\04
  • Alcatel to sell BATM equipment worldwide      Sources inform ''Globes'' that BATM Advanced Communications has signed a contract with major communications equipment supplier Alcatel for worldwide distribution of a portion of BATM's product range. The specific product is BATM's T-series router switches, sold in Europe under the Titan brand name, intended for next generation broadband IP communications networks. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=786944&fid=942 Alcatel www.alcatel.com
  • Govt. Companies Authority picks Bezeq underwriters
A further step towards the privatization of telecommunications company Bezeq was taken this evening, when the Government Companies Authority and Bezeq selected the underwriter group to lead the companies share issue, expected to take place in May this year. The winning group comprises Leumi & Co., Discount Capital Markets, UBS, and Gmul Sahar Underwriters. The Bezeq issue is expected to be one of the largest ever held in Israel, amounting to NIS 2 billion or more. It will comprise shares and bonds. The state, together with Bezeq, plans to sell 6% of the company, worth some NS 1 billion, while Bezeq will make a bond issue of about the same value. Four groups of underwriters competed to manage the Bezeq issue. The losing groups were: Clal Issuing, Poalim IBI, Leader & Co., and Lehman Brothers; Excellence Nessuah, Tamir Fishman , and an unnamed overseas bank; and Harel Underwriters, United Mizrahi Bank, First International Bank of Israel, and HSBC.  http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=787098&fid=942
  • Elron stands to receive $10.7m from KIT eLearning sale 4\8\04
    Elron Electronic Industries announced the sale of KIT eLearning to OnLine Higher Education, a subsidiary of Sylvan Learning Systems (Nasdaq: SLVN) for $9.4 million in cash, and a future payment of up to $10 million, based on future earnings in 2006 and 2007. Elron owned 45% of KIT eLearning. Elron reports that KIT eLearning's revenue leaped 106% to $7 million in 2003, compared with $3.4 million in 2002. KIT eLearning's operating loss fell to $3.3 million in 2003, compared with a $6.1 million loss in 2002. The company reported that most of improvement in the loss was due to higher revenue. As of December 2003, KIT eLearning had 1,700 students, mostly from the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, China, and Singapore. KIT eLearning had 1,100 students in 2002. www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=787184&fid=942
  • CELTIC Program: New Call for Proposals
    CELTIC is a new European R&D Program in Telecommunications, initiated and led by Europe's large telecom vendors and operators, incl. Alcatel, Nokia, Ericsson, Thomson, FT, BT, Telefonica, Italtel & Telecom Italia. The deadline for submission of Proposal Outlines (PO) is April 28, 2004. For more information please visit http://www2.matimop.org.il/1/foreign/celtic.asp
    If you wish to submit a Project Outline please contact: Israel Shamay, Director, Industrial Cooperation Programs, E-mail: i_shamay@matimop.org.il
  • USISTF is Currently Recruiting Israeli Participants For a Technology Excellence Fellowship Program
    USISTF ( US-Israel Science & Technology Foundation ) is seeking qualified applicants for the Technology Excellence Fellowship (TEF) Program. This bilateral fellowship offers competitive grants to up to 15 mid-to-senior level technology professionals from the United States and Israel as Fellows for training in leading companies in both countries. Applicants must have at least five years experience in technology, and should be responsible for information systems or technology development, application evaluation, and/or implementation within their home organizations. USISTF is recruiting as well interested organizations as hosts, to provide Fellows with training activities that will focus on business skills enhancement in management, marketing, entrepreneurship, accounting, financing, and human resource skills. www.usistf.org/03_A_02.html   For further details please contact: Israel: USISTC Operations Manager Ms. Edith Moshe edith@usistc.org
    ISRAELI Joint Industrial R&D Program is Taking Off
    The Italian-Israeli joint commission has recently selected and approved six new joint R&D projects between Italian and Israeli companies for the year 2003. These new cooperative activities are taking place in the framework of the bilateral agreement between the two countries, which came into power on October 2002. The selected projects are entitled to governmental financial support, up to 50% of their approved costs. A new call for proposals for the year 2004 will be published soon in the two countries. For more information please visit: http://www2.matimop.org.il/1/general/eventitalynew.asp
WORLD
  • EarthLink to Announce First Quarter 2004 Earnings
    EarthLink announced it will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss its first quarter 2004 financial results. The earnings press release will be issued at 7:00 a.m. EDT. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040407/clw025_1.html
  • Gores Technology Group, LLC Completes Acquisition of Real Software NV
    Real's shareholders, during an extraordinary meeting, approved the conversion of 157,036,633.13 euros of debt into 150,996,763 new shares. Further, Gores has agreed to make available to Real up to 10 million euros for working capital. The remaining debt of 45 million euros is restructured such that the first interest and capital reimbursement payments are due in June 2006. Gores now controls 83 percent of Real Software.   http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040407/law102_1.html Gores Technology Group, LLC http://www.gores.com/ Real Software NV http://www.realsoftwaregroup.com/default.htm ITALIAN-
    BIO-TECH/BIO-MED
    ISRAEL
  • Indian high tech group Tata to visit Israel
    Senior representatives of Tata, the largest private sector group in India, will arrive in Israel in the next few weeks to look into cooperation in the fields of biotechnology and bioinformatics. They will visit the Weizmann Institute and participate in the annual Israeli Biotechnological Week. Tata employs 28,000 people in more than 100 branches located in 55 countries. Its income in 2003 was more than $1 billion. Tata is the largest software company in Asia. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/413420.html Tata http://www.tata.com/
  • 5 Israeli biotech cos chosen for US marketing program
    Five Israeli biotechnology companies have been chosen to participate in a program for acclimatization to and penetration of the US market. The Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC) initiated the program. Registration for a similar program for high-tech companies will begin shortly. The five companies chosen are Andante Medical Devices, which has developed an innovative weight-bearing monitor for gait rehabilitation; Chiasma, which has developed solutions for delivering protein-based drugs in a non-invasive manner; ETView, which has designed an innovative endotracheal tube for use in emergency surgery; MGVS, which technology for using patients’ cells to treat heart disease; and SLP, which develops disposable sensors for examining body function in the treatment of sleeping disorders. The two programs are receiving $266,000 in financing from the US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation, the financing arm of the US-Israel Science & Technology Commission. MIDC is supported by Maryland; the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor; and the Baltimore Jewish community. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=787167&fid=942 Andante Medical Devices http://www.icn.co.il/pages/andante.htm Chiasma ( Could not open web site.)   http://www.chiasmacorp.com/ ETView (Could not locate. ) MGVS (Could not locate.) SLP http://www.slp.co.il/
  • Israeli-Dutch Nanotechnology Event
    The event will include presentations by honorary speakers and the participants, one on one meetings between Israeli and Dutch companies and universities and info market. Amsterdam, April 15, 2004 http://www2.matimop.org.il/1/foreign/nanatechnology.asp
    BIO-TECH ISRAEL 2004
  • MATIMOP will assist in pre-scheduling of personal, one on one business meetings between the foreign companies and their Israeli counterparts.   Tel-Aviv, May 4-6, 2004 http://www.kenes.com/biotech/
BIO-DISC: German-Israeli Program in Biotechnology Announcing a Call for Proposals

The program focuses on applied research in biotechnology. The two countries have allocated each a dedicated budget of 3 million euro per year. The first deadline for pre-proposals is June 21, 2004. For further information please contact: Raul Goldemann, Technology & Industrial Cooperation, Israel-Germany. E-mail: raulg@matimop.org.il

MUSEUMS/PERFORMING ARTS/LIBRARIES
  • LeapFrog SchoolHouse Expands Popular Leveled Library with Interactive Books
    LeapFrog SchoolHouse, the school division of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc   introduced the Transitional Reading Series, a collection of six interactive titles and instructional materials to support students into and through the transitional reading phase so they can become independent readers. Based on recommendations made by the National Reading Panel, the Transitional Reading Series combines research-based instruction with the award-winning LeapPad® technology to create multisensory, focused learning experiences for transitional readers. Unlike print-only transitional reading books, the instruction in the Transitional Reading Series includes on-demand audio instructional support such as pre-reading activities to develop awareness of genre and vocabulary, advanced word analysis, tips for grasping story elements and integrated comprehension activities throughout. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040408/85142_1.html LeapFrog http://www.leapfrogschoolhouse.com/home/index.asp
  • LAVA - Los Angeles Venture Association Panel on April 8, 2003  Venture Capital form the Shores of the Mediterranean to the Shores of the Pacific - Expanding Opportunities between Israel and California moderated by Sharona Justman and hosted by BDO Seidman and the Israel Economic Mission.  Panelists inlcuded Gary Adelson of EastWest VentureGroup, Dr. Darius Sankey of Zone Ventures, Dr. Glenn Yago of Milken Institute, Seth Yakatan of Katan Associates, Robert Moskowitz of Shamrock Holdings, and Amos Barzilay of Walden International. Sponsored by Mizrahi Bank and Bank Leumi.  This was a very successful panel attended by over 140 VCs, Bankers, and Entrepreneurs.
  • Advisory Team Expands in First Quarter 2003                        Advisory expertise in corporate finance is enhanced with the addition of David Hackney, Managing Director in England.
  • Advisory Presence Grows in Fourth Quarter 2002
    STEP increases geographic reach as Advisor Nicolette De Joncaire Narten opens the Geneva office, further expanding our ability to service opportunities in the European Capital Markets.
  • Advisory Team Expands in Second Quarter 2002
    Advisory expertise grows under the direction of Israel Baharav, Managing Director in Israel.
  • STEPbio extends scope of services to support companies in the Bio-Tech / Bio-Med arena.
  • Knowledge Management
    The Cal-Tech MIT Enterprise Forum hosted a session on Knowledge Management moderated by Russ Frandsen and featuring Sharona Justman, CEO of STEP Strategy Advisors, as the key-note speaker. Sharona spoke as an expert in the field to an audience of over 200 participants at this prestigious forum. The April 17, 2001 evening featured other speakers and panelists including Greg Dyer of IDC, Steve Barth of Knowledge Management Magazine, Seth Earley of the Boston Knowledge Management Forum, Jim Armstrong of ideaLab! Capital Partners / Clearstone Venture Partners, Lior Kanfi of Tikal Knowledge, and Louise Wannier of Enfish Technology.
  • London Office Opened in February 2001
    STEP Strategy Advisors launches a London Office with Nicolette De Joncaire Narten serving as the Managing Director based in London for our European initiatives, expanding STEP into the European Capital Markets.