3 Israelis on Forbes' 'Midas List'
Israeli investors ranked 39, 69 and 89 in business magazine's list of top 100 users of venture capital
Three Israeli hi-tech investors made an appearance on Forbes' annual Midas List, which ranks international venture capitalists of note.
Schlomo Kalish of Jerusalem Global Ventures headed the Israeli contingent in 39th place. Erel Margalit of Jerusalem Venture Partners was ranked 69 and Yossi Sela of Gemini Israel Funds placed 89.
According to the Forbes Web site, the Midas List seeks to indentify successful users of venture capital, who help build stable long-standing companies, as well as providing high returns for their investors.
It ranks "the top 100 dealmakers in technology and life sciences based on the exit valuations of the companies they have taken public or sold in the past five years".
Only technological and life sciences companies that have gone public or been acquired within the past five years are considered.
According to Forbes, the ranking formula ignores the original amount invested in a deal, and rather weights most heavily the market capitalization of a venture-backed company on the close of the first day of trading or the final closing price of an acquisition.
Lesser weight is given to the change in value of each investment since going public or being sold. Ranking also depends on a candidate's length of involvement in and depth of influence on a company.
The results are based on extensive reporting and surveys sent to thousands of professionals, including angel investors, bankers, lawyers and venture capitalists.
The Forbes Web site reported that venture firms raised USD 25 billion in new money last year. In the past three years, the length of a typical investment cycle, they have raised USD 75 billion.
In 2007, as in previous years, Internet-related investment continued to dominate the Midas List rankings, due partly to YouTube's acquisition by Google in November 2006.
