Intel Capital announces seven investments at 10th annual CEO summit

HUNTINGTON BEACH, USA: Intel Capital, Intel Corp.'s global investment organization, reaffirmed its dedication to foster worldwide innovation with the announcement of seven new investments.

The new deals, which span three continents and total approximately $25 million, were announced today at the 10th annual CEO Summit, Intel Capital’s gathering of portfolio company CEOs, corporate innovators, academics and thought leaders from around the world.

The new investments, almost all led by Intel Capital, include US-based Joyent (cloud computing) and Active Storage (RAID storage systems for Apple users), Korea-based Crucialtec (optical modulation technology), Taiwan-based Gudeng Precision Industrial Co (semiconductor front-end equipment manufacturing), Japan-based V-cube (Web-based videoconferencing systems), China-based Phoenix New Media (Web information portal) and United Arab Emirates-based NeuString (telco pricing analytics software).

“Innovation does not stop during economic slowdowns,” said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president. “New technologies are the drivers of growth that help lead economies back to prosperity, and Intel Capital continues to be a leading investor in companies pioneering such advancement. These new and follow-on investments in companies at various stages of development and geographies demonstrate Intel Capital’s unwavering commitment to invest in technology innovation globally.”

At the CEO Summit Intel Capital also highlighted 10 new follow-on deals that have closed or have been signed pending satisfaction of closing conditions, demonstrating Intel Capital’s commitment to provide continued support for its portfolio companies.

These deals include Argentina-based Vostu (social gaming), Israel-based Safend (endpoint security provider), China-based China Digital Video Limited (video equipment and network solution provider), US- and China-based Verisilicon Holdings (design foundry), UK-based picoChip (baseband silicon for 3G femtocells and WiMAX infrastructure), India-based Financial Information Network & Operations Pvt. Ltd. (biometric smartcard enabled banking solutions), India-based Wortal Inc (local entertainment events portal, Buzzintown.com) and US-based Sendmail (messaging infrastructure provider) and Zend Technologies (PHP Company). Intel Capital also recently announced a $50 million investment in Clearwire.

Details on the new investments include:

Joyent Inc. (Sausalito, Calif.) provides cloud computing infrastructure and services to help customers rapidly and efficiently develop, deploy and manage Web applications and sites, and to improve datacenter performance. Joyent's unique cloud computing technologies produce unprecedented performance, utilization rates, savings and security. Joyent will use the funding to accelerate its product development and for increased global expansion.

Active Storage (Los Angeles) provides a robust media storage platform for Apple-based infrastructures. The company’s hardware RAID solutions are aimed toward the business and creative industries, particularly video post-production, broadcast, publishing, education and science. The company intends to focus this round of funding on R&D and sales and marketing.

Crucialtec (Cheon-Ahn City, Korea) is a manufacturer of specialized input devices that utilize optical technology for mobile phones, smart phones and IPTV remote controllers. Crucialtec’s Optical Trackball enables users to enjoy the full internet experience with mobile products as they do with a PC. Intel Capital’s investment will help with the development of a new generation of mobile solutions for the global market by providing Crucialtec with additional working capital.

Gudeng Precision Industrial Co (Taipei, Taiwan) is a semiconductor front-end equipment manufacturer that helps customers enhance product yield and reduce production cost by providing customized products with innovative design concepts. Presently, Gudeng Precision is the world’s leading photomask and wafer handling total solution provider, and the company’s products are accepted and certificated by worldwide tier-one customers. Gudeng Precision will use the funding to expand business in China and enhance working capital.

V-Cube (Tokyo) develops and markets Web-based videoconferencing systems. Its flagship “nice to meet you” service enables one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many interactive real-time communications and on-demand services over the Internet. Currently, V-cube is the largest service provider in Japan for Web-delivered visual communications. The investment will be used to further optimize the service for access from mobile Internet devices and netbooks, and to stream high-quality video over WiMAX wireless broadband networks.

NeuString (Dubai, UAE) delivers predictive analytics software and consulting services to mobile network operators, helping companies to achieve greater financial performance. The NeuString Optiprizer software allows operators to optimize pricing, reduce leakage and get real-time reporting on operational metrics. The investment from Intel Capital will be used for sales and marketing build-out and new product development.

Phoenix New Media (Beijing) provides dedicated and comprehensive portals to well-educated Chinese audiences of over 100 million. The portals, which are available on internet and mobile platforms, provide news and information generated from in-depth interviews, commentary columns, and social networks. The key features offered by Phoenix New Media help address Chinese netizens' diverse needs on information, expression, interaction and entertainment.

In addition, Onkyo Corp., a Japanese corporation listed on Jasdaq Securities Exchange, announced that its board of directors has approved the issuance to Intel Capital of a bond having a face value of ¥600 million, approx. $6.6 million at today’s exchange rates, convertible into common shares of Onkyo at Intel Capital’s option and a warrant to purchase common shares of Onkyo.

The convertible bond and the warrant would be issued to Intel Capital in December, subject to compliance with securities procedures and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The CEO Summit, in its 10th anniversary year, provides Intel Capital portfolio companies with company-building, deal-making, customer sourcing and learning opportunities through keynote presentations, expert panel discussions and more than 500 matchmaking meetings between portfolio company CEOs and industry executives.

This year's Summit, held through Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach (Calif.), will host more than 600 CEOs from Intel Capital's investment portfolio companies and executives from some of the largest Global 2000 companies.

Intel Capital CEO Summit 2009 is sponsored by KPMG International, Credit Suisse, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Capgemini, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Korn/Ferry International, Needham & Company, LLC, NYSE Euronext, and SVB Financial Group.