New
PC platform products will be incorporated into RT-NET, the new media
division of RT-SET, and will be demonstrated at NAB 2000
NYC-NY and Salt Lake City-Utah, March 31, 2000 - RT-SET (Real Time Synthesized
Entertainment Technology) Ltd, (Neuer Markt:
RTZ),
and Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation (E&S), announced that they
have finalized the sale of the E&S Digital Video Division, and the entire
MindSet Virtual Studio Systems product line, including the in process
E&S PC-based platform technology development, to RT-SET. RT-SET, a world
leading provider of fully integrated broadcast graphics solutions, will
also acquire MindSet's intellectual property, development team, customer
base around the world, and distribution network.
The
transaction will provide RT-SET with a complete 3D PC-based, open platform
virtual studio solution that complements its existing line of solutions.
Under the agreement, E&S will receive a total of approximately $5 million,
of which $1.4 million is in cash and the remainder in stock to be paid
over the next six months in accordance with completion of certain milestones
in the development of the new technology. "This acquisition further
solidifies our market leadership and underlines our mission to stay
at the forefront of broadcast technology. MindSet is a welcome addition
to RT-SET's Emmy Award winning line of products," said RT-SET's
President and CEO, Shlomo Nimrodi. "I have tremendous respect
for E&S and the technological achievements they have made over the last
30 years. The new MindSet product line provides RT-SET with a unique
open architecture PC-based platform, using the Windows operating system."
"This new technology is a perfect fit with RT-NET, our recently formed
New Media division. PC-based solutions are the right platform for the
new emerging markets resulting from the digital convergence we are witnessing
in the marketplace," added
Nimrodi. Evans & Sutherland CEO, James Oyler, said, "I
am extremely pleased about today's announcement, since the combination
of MindSet technology and RT-SET brings together two market leaders
with complementary strengths. The new MindSet product line will lead
the market in offering 3D broadcast quality solutions running on an
open PC-based platform. MindSet will benefit from RT-SET's strong brand
and market reach. This agreement enables E&S to concentrate fully on
developing and marketing outstanding products and superior technologies
in the markets where we are the leading supplier."
Following the acquisition, RT-NET will announce its first product, based
on the new in process technology, at the coming NAB 2000, in the Las-Vegas
Sands Convention Center at RT-SET booth #6551 and at RT-NET booth #3577,
April 10-13th. Greg Petroff, Vice President of RT-NET New Media,
said, "RT-NET will position this new product to provide webcasters
with the broadcast quality tools needed for content delivery in the
broadband market. With the increasing adoption rate of broadband in
the market place the quality expected from the web-caster is now no
less than from the traditional broadcaster." RT-SET will continue to
support E&S's existing MindSet customers around the world. "RT-SET has
a reputation for professional and responsive customer service, and we
will continue to provide this level of service to MindSet customers,"
said Nimrodi. "We look forward to working with MindSet's outstanding
and highly professional development team, a group that pioneered the
open platform, windows-based approach for the market place. Combining
these characteristics with those of RT-SET will provide our existing
and future customers with the most complete broadcast, as well as webcast
graphics, product line in the market place," added Nimrodi.
RT-SET (Real Time Synthesized Entertainment Technologies Ltd) is a leading
provider of fully-integrated broadcast graphics solutions, including
virtual studio systems, on-air graphics, character generator systems,
and creative design services. RT-SET (Real Time Synthesized Entertainment
Technology) Ltd, is traded on the Neuer Markt (RTZ). RT-SET is a 28%
owned affiliate of BVR Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:BVRT).
Evans & Sutherland develops and manufactures hardware and software to
produce highly realistic 3D synthetic worlds. E&S business units deliver
high quality visual systems for simulation and training in defense and
commercial applications as well as high-performance systems for workstation
graphics, digital theater, professional desktop visualization and other
applications throughout the world.