In the fourth quarter, 115 Israeli high-tech companies raised $503 million, a 21 percent increase from the $414 million raised by 108 companies in the third quarter and a 5 percent increase from Q4 2006. Capital raising in the fourth quarter - the highest in five years - included an especially large financing round of over $100 million for MobilEye. Even after adjustment, the figures indicate a stable level of capital raised relative to 2006.
"Both investments and exits in 2008 will be dependent, to a large extent, on economic activity in the US," said Zeev Holtzman, Chairman of IVC Research Center and Giza Venture Capital.
"A possible crisis on NASDAQ would mean fewer IPOs and lower acquisition values, which would impact the high-tech industry in Israel. Yet, we expect that the $1.6 billion average investment level of the last few years will be maintained in 2008."
In Q4 2007, the average company financing round was $4.37 million, compared with $3.8 million in the previous quarter and $4.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Israeli VC investment activity
In 2007, Israeli VCs invested $678 million in Israeli high-tech companies. The Israeli VC share of the total amount invested in Israeli high-tech companies was 39 percent as compared to $651 million or 40 percent in 2006 and $655 million or 49 percent in 2005.
In the fourth quarter, Israeli VCs invested $142 million, which accounted for a low 28 percent share of the total invested in Israeli high-tech companies (35 percent excluding the $100 million MobilEye round). The remainder came from other investment entities, mostly foreign. The Israeli VC investment share was also substantially below the 42 percent average of the previous nine years.
First investments made by Israeli VCs were 43 per cent of the total amount invested by Israeli VCs in 2007, equal to 2006 levels. The average First and Follow-on investments were $2.48 million and $0.89 million, respectively.
In the fourth quarter First investments made by Israeli VCs accounted for 33 percent of their investments, compared to 51 percent in the third quarter and 55 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Israeli VC activity in foreign companies
Capital raised by sector
Capital raised by Ssage
In the fourth quarter, Seed companies attracted only 4 percent, compared with 7 percent in the previous quarter and 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006. Late Stage companies captured $180 million or 36 percent of the total capital raised. This relatively high share was as a result of the $100 million MobilEye round.
Sol-Gel Signs $24.7m deal for dermatology drug delivery
Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd. has announced that it has entered into a development and licensing agreement with a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company for the development and commercialization of a major dermatologic product.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sol-Gel Technologies will receive $24.7 million, comprised of an initial non-refundable payment as well as additional payments upon the successful completion of various milestones. The U.S. partner will fund the product's development. Sol-Gel will be entitled to receive royalties from net sales.
"This collaboration is further confirmation of the value of Sol-Gel's unique technology and an important step in our goal of becoming a leading provider of advanced encapsulated solutions and controlled drug-delivery for the pharmaceutical industry." said Dr. Alon Seri-Levy, co-founder and CEO.
"As Sol-Gel has retained the right to market this product outside of North America, we look forward to marketing it together with additional partners in the rest of the world," said Daniela Mavor, Senior VP for Business Development.
In 2007, 462 Israeli high-tech companies raised $1.76 billion from local and foreign venture investors, 8.5 percent above the $1.62 billion raised in 2006 and 31.5 percent above 2005 levels.
Israeli VCs invested $50 million in foreign companies during 2007 (in addition to their investments in Israeli high-tech companies), compared to $60 million in 2006 and $95 million in 2005. Three of the 39 investments were First investments and the remainders were Follow-ons.
In 2007, the Cosunications sector led capital raising with $371 million or 21 percent of total capital raised, followed by the Life Sciences with $351 million or 20 percent. Semiconductors garnered 19 percent of total investments in 2007 and 31 percent in the fourth quarter. The figures reflected, in part, MobilEye's $100 million round. The Internet sector, with $257 million raised, has markedly increased its share of investment, which reached 15 percent in 2007. This compares with figures ranging from 2 to 5 percent in the last 5 years.
In 2007, 78 Seed companies attracted $151 million, the highest amount raised since 2001. At 8 percent, the share attracted by Seed companies remained consistent with that of the previous four years.