All posts by Michelle Grathers

About Michelle Grathers

Michelle Grathers is an international tax expert. She has consulted for a variety of firms and high net worth individuals on all tax- and legal-related issues. She also helps new companies develop payroll services, statutory audits and mergers and acquisitions. Contact Michelle at michelle[at]businessdistrict.com

B Communications

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B Communications (BCOM) owns a controlling interest in Bezek (Tase:BZEK), the major telecom group in Israel. Bezek is the largest Israeli communication group and it, together with its subsidiaries offer the entire spectrum of telecom services such as domestic, international and mobile phone services; multi-channel TV, rental lines, data communications and broadband internet service, etc. Bezek has a extensive digitized infrastructure. In May, 2010, about 25% of Israeli households were connected to Bezek’s  all-IP Network.

Bezek had a strong third quarter showing operating profits of $254 million.  Bezeq’s EBITDA for the third quarter of 2011 equaled US$ 350 million which represented an EBITDA margin of 44.5%.

B Communications LTD. (BCOM) is 78% owned by Internet Gold-Golden lines Ltd. Internet Gold is controlled by Eurocom.

Directors and managers of B Communications include: Debbie Saperia, Ehud Yahalom, Aliza Schloss, Shaul Elovitch and Doron Turgeman.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is insufficient to base investment decisions on. All decisions should be based on a thorough analysis of the investment.

How Do Telecommunications Companies Remain Viable?

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Where are the telephone companies headed? For years and years telephone and communication companies fought to build up wire networks. They tried to gain control over as much land area as possible. They put up poles with wires to every home, business and office. After the invention of wireless these companies get less revenue from their wire services. Now they are building, buying and or renting broadcast towers. Those companies that have the money and wherewithal to make the needed technology changes will survive and flourish. Those that are unable to adjust will be bought up or will go bankrupt.

One such company is Shenandoah Telecommunications Company. It supplies telecommunications services to both communications suppliers and also to end-users in the area between Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Shenandoah provides video, voice and data communications services. It also owns communication towers and leases tower space to other communication providers. The company also provides internet services thorough fiber optic cables. Aside from other communication suppliers, the company has approximately 130,000 end-user customers for all of its varieties of services.

This company has a market capitalization of $253 million and plant property and equipment worth $280 million. The enterprise value is $424 million. They are adapting to the changing reality of communications technology and we will watch how they proceed.

Some of the managers of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company are Adele M. Skolits, William L. Pirtle, Jonelle St. John, and Edward H. McKay.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is insufficient to base investment decisions on. All decisions should be based on a thorough analysis of the investment.

Its Technical Communications Corp For Cloak and Dagger Operations

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Technical Communications Corp (TCCO) has an interesting market niche. It develops, manufactures and sells communication security equipment around the world. Its products protect communication privacy between telephones, radios, fax machines and data processing equipment. The products protect information transmitted through telephone wires, fire optic cables, microwaves, radio waves and satellite links. The company sells various types of encryption devices to code and decode data in real time. Technical Communications sells to law enforcement agencies, governments, and multinational companies which need to protect their information.

The company is apparently well run according to the management effectiveness ratios of return on assets of 14.61% and return on equity of 18.14%. Also, the profitability margins look good with an operating margin of 28.65% and a profit margin of 18.75%.

The company’s stock is rated among the best 25 stocks in terms of dividend return according to an article in Forbes magazine. The stock itself has slide from $12 to $8 over the last year, but it offers a 5.37% yield which is some compensation.

Disclaimer: The information in this article may be incomplete. Before making any investment, the investment should be thoroughly analyzed.

Pepco Holdings Helping Minorities

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Yesterday, Pepco Holding, Inc. (PHI) conducted a one day Energy conference for certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE’s). The goal is provide reverse discrimination opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises. MBE executives will receive information about opportunities to serve as suppliers for various products and services as contractors and sub contractors. Another goal for the 16 utility companies that attend is to make a concerted effort to use MBE’s as suppliers, contractors and subcontractors.

Pepco regional president, Thomas Graham, said that “PHI has a standing commitment to include and expand opportunities for minority-owned businesses.” PHI supplier Diversity is a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Counsel which was founded in 1972 to increase business opportunities minority owned businesses.

Pepco is a Fortune 500 company.

The main executives at Pepco are: John Huffman, Anthony Kamerick, Beverly L. Perry, Kirk J. Emge, David M. Velazquez, and Joseph M. Rigby.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is insufficient to base investment decisions on. All decisions should be based on a thorough analysis of the investment.

Aware Inc. Biometrics Helps Cambridge

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Aware Inc. (AWRE) has four product areas which include: Biometrics, DSL Service Assurance, Medical Imaging and Advanced Imaging. Aware supplies technology and software for the telecommunications, healthcare and biometrics industries. The biometrics products includes software which helps government agencies in law enforcement, secure credentials, border management and national defense. Aware’s DSL provides diagnostic software for broadband providers to run their networks.

Recently the Biometrics division supplied Cambridge University’s international English exam group with a verification solution based on a biometrics software solution. The solution called “Identica,” enables the examiners to capture the facial images of the person taking the exam. Later, when the person presents his test certificate, the  organization can get the facial image to verify that it is the same person who took the test. This is necessary when assessments are needed for visas, citizenship requests and many other applications.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is insufficient to base investment decisions on. All decisions should be based on a thorough analysis of the investment.