Israel Active

Israeli-founded cyber security giant Check Point is acquiring Israel’s Avanan, a provider of cloud email security for some $300 million. Avanan’s technology will integrate with Check Point’s threat prevention software capabilities “to deliver the world’s most secure email security offering”.

Israel’s XM Cyber (see previously), cofounded by former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, is to deploy its cybersecurity products to protect Gulf region gas, oil and financial infrastructures.

Israeli startups raised $1.05 billion in August, bringing the total to $15.3 billion in the first eight months of 2021 – more than the record $10 million raised in the whole of 2020.

Israel’s economy grew by 15.4% in the second quarter of 2021 (Apr to Jun). This was more than most other OECD countries (e.g., Canada 13.8% and the United States 12.2%).

International data center solutions giant EdgeConneX has acquired Israel’s Global Data Center (GDC – see previously) for an estimated $300 – $400 million (approximately NIS 1 million). GDC has only 20 employees and operates only in Israel. This may soon change.

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Israeli cloud server monitoring startup Epsagon (see previously) has been taken over by US giant Cisco for $500,000. It is Cisco's second-largest acquisition of an Israeli company, following the purchase of NDS for $5 billion in 2012.

Jared Kushner is reported to be in the final stage of launching an investment firm, Affinity Partners, based in Miami. He is also looking to open an office in Israel to pursue regional investments connecting Israel's economy with those of India, North Africa and the Gulf.

Boutique airline La Compagnie is launching a business-class-only service to New York via Paris.  All 76 seats on the plane are Business Class.  The service will commence on 5th Sept – if the pandemic situation allows for it.

Sales at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) during the first half of 2021 rose by 22% to a record $2.2 billion. IAI employs around 15,000 people and is responsible for the Beresheet lunar lander, the Ofek 16 satellite and the Arrow 3 defense system. It has also won four Israel Security awards.