China’s Hainan Airlines has requested to begin direct flights between Shanghai and Ben Gurion Airport; Charlie Airlines is the latest addition to the seven airlines operating between Tel Aviv and Larnaca, Cyprus; Israeli-founded Waze now allows drivers to “order ahead” and purchase coffee and other items from Dunkin’ Donuts, and much more.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Direct flights from Shanghai to Tel Aviv
Chinese airline Hainan Airlines has requested to begin direct flights between Shanghai and Ben Gurion Airport. Hainan is seeking to begin three weekly direct Shanghai flights from September 12 using Boeing 787s and Airbus 330s.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-hainan-airlines-to-launch-tel-aviv-shanghai-flights-1001190212
Now it’s Charlie Airlines
The interestingly named Charlie Airlines is the latest addition to the seven airlines operating between Tel Aviv and Larnaca, Cyprus. The company’s air fleet consists of one Airbus 319-100 with a capacity of 144 passengers.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-charlie-airlines-to-operate-flights-to-cyprus-1001190213
Collect your donuts on the way
Israeli-founded Waze now allows drivers to “order ahead” and purchase coffee and other items from Dunkin’ Donuts. If all goes well, Waze plans to team up with other merchants to order pizza, reserve parking spaces, fill prescriptions and even buy groceries from the same phone app.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/waze-gets-into-the-order-ahead-business-with-dunkin-donuts/
The first Israeli single-malt
Israel’s Milk & Honey Distillery (M&H) unveiled Israel’s first-ever single-malt whisky on World Whisky Day (May 20). 391 bottles will be sold in select Israeli stores in late June, after aging 3 years in special oak casks (see Dec 2013 article). Note that Israel’s Golan Heights distillery already produces Golani Two-grain whiskey.
http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2017/5/25/israels-first-ever-malt-whisky-to-go-on-sale-in-june
https://thewhiskeywash.com/reviews/whisky-review-golan-heights-golani-two-grain/
Porsche to invest in Israeli auto-tech
German carmaker Porsche, owned by Volkswagen, has announced that it would invest tens of millions of euros in smart car technologies startups in Israel. Porsche said, “Israel is a key main market for IT engineers and specialists.”
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-porsche-to-invest-in-israeli-auto-tech-1001190734
Frutarom’s second takeover of 2017
Israel’s flavors and natural specialty fine ingredients company Frutarom has signed an agreement for the purchase of René Laurent of France with activity also in Morocco for approximately $ 21.3 million (Euro 20 million). It gives Frutarom its first local French production site.
http://ir.frutarom.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=185607&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2259554
Moving into Italian plastics
Israel’s Ginegar Plastic Products produces and markets polyethylene sheets and nets for use in agriculture and industry. Ginegar has just completed a 7 million Euro takeover of Italy’s Flextech, which manufactures and sells plastic products to customers, mainly in the industrial market.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-ginegar-acquires-italian-co-flextech-for-%E2%82%AC7m-1001190868
Microsoft buys Israeli cybersecurity firm
Microsoft has acquired Israeli cyber security company Hexadite for $100 million. Hexadite’s solution rates the urgency of alerts identified by the anti-virus and firewall system, helping staff to investigate the most serious cyberattacks first.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-microsoft-acquires-cyber-security-co-hexadite-for-100m-1001189927
Syneron exits for $397 million
Israeli esthetic medical products company Syneron Medical is being acquired by private equity advisory firm Apax Partners for $397 million. Syneron has been featured previously many times in this newsletter. Its products are popular globally – even in Lebanon (see here).
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-apax-confirms-syneron-acquisition-for-397m-1001183742
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=bnKzoh3zDEw
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