Investors
Dexia
Ventures is the Private Equity and Venture Capital arm of Dexia. Created in
1996 in view of the introduction of the euro, Dexia is currently unifying its
structure to form the first banking group with a truly European identity. A
precursor of the new European banking sector, the group continues to increase
its profitability in conditions of exemplary security that are reflected in
its ratings, which are among the highest awarded to listed banks worldwide.
Dexia is leader on the European
local public sector (with a 17% market share at the end of 1999) and on the
North American market (with a nearly 25% market share of American municipal
bond enhancement). Furthermore, Dexia holds a major position in the retail banking
and bancassurance market in Belgium and Luxembourg. Finally, Dexia is active
in investment management services (private banking, asset management and investment
fund administration) in Europe. The group provides private banking services
for wealthy and affluent individuals, asset management services for its private
banking clients, mutual funds and institutional investors and investment fund
administration which consists of custodian, administrative and transfer agent
services.
The group is active in almost
all of the countries of the European Union as well as in the United States and
is listed on the Brussels, Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges and ranks in
the first third of the Euronext100. The group totals 220 bln USD in assets and
has a market cap of USD 18 bln.Year 2000 net income increased by 31.5% to EUR
1 bln.
Eastman
Chemical Company ((NYSE:EMN) - a leading international chemical company with
headquarters in Kingsport, Tennessee - produces more than 400 chemicals, fibers,
and plastics. Eastman, an e-business leader within the chemical industry, is
the world's largest supplier of polyester plastics for packaging; a leading
supplier of coatings, raw materials, specialty chemicals, and plastics; and
a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers and basic chemicals. The company
is one of the top 10 global suppliers of custom-manufactured fine chemicals
for pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and other markets.
MERCATOR
VENTURES is a management consulting and investment services firm offering a
broad range of business advisory services to start-up and emerging growth companies.
Mercator Ventures has advised and led companies through start-up, initial and
mezzanine financing rounds, IPO, and sale. Mercator Ventures also has a broad
base of experience in mergers and acquisitions, sales, marketing, operations,
finance, information systems, legal, and human resources. Their clients include
FairMarket (NASDAQ:FAIM); beFree (NASDAQ:BFRE), and Elcom (NASDAQ:ELCO). Companies
that they have funded include FairMarket, Color Kinetics, FitLinxx, and EquipNet,
Inc.
NETInvest
- An investment company, that provides institutional and private investors with
access to marketable securities and private equity investments in the fields
of the Internet, multimedia, electronic commerce, communications, and computers.
Orchard Capital Fund is an $11 million angel venture capital fund established in 1997. Orchard's investors are mainly successful Toronto-based IT entrepreneurs who contribute capital, their expertise, networks, and operational & strategic insights to Orchard's portfolio companies. Orchard focuses on IT companies with service-oriented business models which have a large component of recurring revenues. Orchard's portfolio includes EquipNet (outsourcer of capital asset disposal services), Cimtek Automation Systems Inc. (test engineering), Orillion Inc. (telecom software), Fitability Systems Inc. (human resources software), and PaylinX Corporation (payment processing software), which was acquired by Cybersource Corporation in September 2000. Peter Tolnai has 20 years of venture capital investing experience with Helix Investments, Clairvest Inc., and Citicorp Venture Capital. He is Chairman of Cimtek, and on the board of directors of EquipNet, Butterfield & Company, International Survey Research and The Outsourcing Institute.
ProSeed
Capital Holdings CVA is a leading international investment institution for which
no development stage is too early. The company is incorporated in Belgium with
offices in Brussels, Boston and Tel-Aviv. ProSeed primarily invests in very early
stage technology and life sciences startups in Europe, the US, and Israel. ProSeed
was founded in April 1999 upon the common vision of two Harvard graduates and
currently involves a complete management team, distinguished advisory committee
members, and an extensive and fast-growing network of analysts and alliances.
ProSeed currently has 29 companies in its portfolio. To learn more, please visit:
www.proseedcapital.com.