TEL AVIV, February 3, 2010 — RADVISION® Ltd. (Nasdaq: RVSN), a leading provider of video network infrastructure and developer tools for unified visual communications over IP, 3G, and emerging next-generation IMS networks, announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire selected assets of the Aethra group of companies (Aethra), of Ancona, Italy, including certain intellectual property and technology for high definition (HD) video conferencing endpoint systems. The purchase price for the assets acquired is approximately Euro 7.0 million cash (approximately $10 million). In addition, RADVISION will assume certain specific liabilities related to the acquisition of approximately Euro 3 million (approximately $4.3 million). The transaction is expected to be accretive starting in the fourth quarter of 2010. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and was incorporated in Aethra’s pre-insolvency plan that Aethra filed with the Italian court.
RADVISION plans to tightly integrate Aethra’s best-of-breed HD video endpoint technology with RADVISION’s award-winning video network infrastructure and desktop solutions to offer a full portfolio of video conferencing solutions in response to customer demand created by rapid change and consolidation in the video marketplace.
Aethra was founded 38 years ago and is a pioneer in the design and creation of video conferencing systems with an established reputation for innovation and elegant design. Its recently developed HD video conferencing technology offers top of the range 1080p performance and elegant Italian design in every detail from the set-top box to the customized camera, graphic user interface and remote control. The solutions are suitable for video conference sessions for a full range of enterprise conference rooms.
The addition of the Aethra technology assets enhances RADVISION’s existing video network infrastructure and desktop solutions to provide a more complete solution to enterprise customers. This is an important addition to RADVISION’s portfolio and complements RADVISION’s introduction late last year of the VC 240, a disruptive all-in-one HD desktop offering, which RADVISION partnered with SAMSUNG to develop, and is bringing to market at an affordable price that is much lower than competing Executive Desktop products. RADVISION also plans to use the Aethra technology to offer room conferencing systems with the same price-value advantage for which RADVISION is known.
RADVISION has had an OEM relationship with Aethra since 2005, through which RADVISION video infrastructure products and technology have been included in Aethra video solutions, allowing Aethra to offer the market a complete end-to-end solution.
The purchase agreements have a number of components. The major component is the purchase by RADVISION of certain Aethra intellectual property and technology, which the Italian court approved on January 25th, the finalization and closing of these agreements are subject to the fulfillment of a number of pre-conditions as set in the agreements. Other components of the transaction include the purchase of some additional fixed assets and selected commercial agreements, which remain subject to Italian court approval and other conditions as set in the agreements.
“We believe this is an extraordinary opportunity to extend our product portfolio at a time of substantial industry realignment that is creating significant new opportunity,” said Boaz Raviv, Chief Executive Officer. “Many of our customers and partners have urged us to provide them with a more complete video solution consistent with our technology-leading network infrastructure and our price-value advantage. The addition of the Aethra HD video assets will enable us to quickly provide a very high quality and competitive endpoint product for the enterprise market. In addition, we plan to capitalize on Aethra’s distribution network to deepen our overlapping channel relationships and add new ones.
“We also believe this transaction is a very effective use of our cash, while leaving us with a substantial cash position for continued investment in R&D, sales and marketing, and other strategic initiatives. We plan to introduce our new room conferencing system based on the acquired Aethra technology integrated with our existing SCOPIA portfolio later this year.”
Mr. Raviv concluded: “Most importantly, this transaction will enable us to effectively advance our strategy and more fully take advantage of new opportunities in the rapidly growing and dynamic video conferencing market.”
Source: http://www.radvision.com/Corporate/PressCenter/2010/2Feb2010_Aethra_Acquisition_PR.htm