RT-SET acquires Evans & Sutherland's Virtual Studio Technology and Products

 

 

 

 

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.