Ad-hoc | 5 June 2008 07:04
NEW VALUE AG / Miscellaneous
Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Providing access to IT technology for the elderly and disabled
New Value invests in Qualilife S.A.
New Value AG (SWX: NEWN) is acquiring an interest in Qualilife S.A., Lugano
(CH), a leading software vendor in the area of IT accessibility technology.
Qualilife has developed an IT solution that gives elderly or disabled
people full access to computer technology, thereby improving quality of
life. The software platform is also used in hospitals, where it allows
patients to access modern communications and information media such as the
internet as well as administrative applications. New Value is investing CHF
2.0 million in Qualilife in three tranches to help fund future growth. The
fresh capital will be used in particular to expand the company’s
international sales structure and for the development of new products in
the health care sector.
In industrialised countries, computers and Internet access have become an
integral part of life, both professional and private. Nevertheless, some
sections of the population still have no access to these technologies. One
reason for this is physical disability. Qualilife aims to resolve this
problem with its IT solution, a simple and intuitively understandable user
interface based on MS Windows that enables disabled people to use assistive
technologies like webcams, switches for building management or voice
control. Even completely paralyzed people can use this system. Due to its
easy usability, the Qualilife solution is also suitable for first-time
computer users and elderly people. Hospital patients with temporarily
restricted mobility can also access various applications of information
technologies or write emails from their bedside using patient terminals
equipped with Qualilife software. In addition, administrative processes
like ordering meals, checking in or checking out can be performed fully
automatically.
New Value is the lead investor in a new financing round for Qualilife that
will raise a total of CHF 2.6 million and will invest CHF 2.0 million in
three tranches. In the initial tranche New Value will acquire an 18.2%
interest in Qualilife. Its interest will increase to 30.2% once the third
stage of funding is completed. New Value will take a seat on the Board of
Directors of Qualilife and support the company’s future development. Peter
Letter, Head of Investment Management at New Value, underscored the
similarities between Qualilife’s and New Value’s investment approaches:
'Qualilife is a young company that has already developed a leading product,
set up business alliances with both local enterprises as well as global
companies and institutions, and established a good market presence with
initial sales. Qualilife is an excellent example of how companies with
strong ethics can create attractive market growth opportunities and value
creation potential.'
Partnership with leading technology companies
In 2004, Qualilife S.A. launched the first version of its IT solution
'QualiWorld' for people with physical disabilities. 'EasyAccess', a
platform designed for elderly people and first time users, and the health
care solution 'QualiMedical' were launched in 2005. Qualilife worked
closely together with Microsoft (USA) in developing these platforms.
Microsoft continues to serve as a technology partner for Qualilife and
supports Qualilife’s work through common presentations at congresses. At
the end of 2007, Qualilife was admitted to the 'Accessibility
Interoperability Alliance (AIA)', a specialist organization set up by
leading technology companies. The founder of Qualilife, Claudio Giugliemma,
is a member of the AIA’s Steering Committee along with a Microsoft and
Adobe representative. At the end of 2007 Qualilife started a pilot project
with Microsoft and Hewlett Packard to build an HP computer with custom
software from Microsoft and Qualilife specifically designed for elderly
people. Qualilife’s primary markets are currently Western Europe and North
America.
Expectations regarding quality of life are growing
Due to demographic developments in industrialised countries and the
increasing importance of the internet as a means of communication and
information, the need for solutions that also offer elderly and disabled
people easy, uncomplicated accessibility is increasing. 'Accessible
technology is going mainstream as more and more people, with and without
disabilities, begin to discover the many ways it can improve their quality
of life,' says Claudio Giugliemma, CEO of Qualilife.
Due to steadily increasing nursing costs, communications systems that
elderly and disabled people can use on their own can deliver huge cost
savings. With this objective in mind Qualilife is cooperating with
organizations that provide care to individuals with special needs as well
as with telecommunication providers and hardware manufacturers. Government
authorities also support the use of technology designed to improve quality
of life: in Switzerland, e.g., the Swiss Federal Disability Insurance
program covers all costs of a Qualilife system if patients have a physician
referral; the Canadian Health Insurance currently reimburses about 75% of
the costs.
Greater patient comfort and improved clinic efficiency
Technologies like the internet or video on demand offer patients in clinics
greater comfort and could therefore generate additional revenues for
clinics. Administration and nursing costs can also be reduced by
facilitating communication between patients and nursing staff and the
retrieval of patient data. Qualilife’s sales strategy in the health care
sector will initially focus on rehabilitation hospitals in Western Europe.
Global distribution via system administrators is planned at a later date.
Information about New Value AG
New Value, officially quoted at the SWX Swiss Exchange, invests directly in
promising private companies in Switzerland and neighbouring German-speaking
countries with above-average market and growth potential. As an investment
company, New Value offers firms with innovative business models venture
capital and helps guide them towards market success. It invests in
companies in different stages of development, starting with the market
introduction phase up to medium-sized enterprises with stable profits. This
is a deliberately broad investment approach. The portfolio contains
companies active in renewable energy, medical technology, health,
information technology and new materials. New Value attaches great value to
ethical business concepts and good corporate governance when selecting
their portfolio companies. Criteria such as purpose, social compatibility
and ecological sustainability are considered by New Value as decisive
competitive advantages that enhance the quality of products and services
offered, thereby significantly improving the ability to grow value. Since
the formation of New Value, EPS Value Plus AG, Zurich, has served as
investment manager.
Contact
New Value AG Tel. +41 43 344 38 38
Rolf Wägli Tel. +41 43 344 38 11, waegli@newvalue.ch
Peter Letter Tel. +41 43 344 38 18, letter@newvalue.ch
Information / www.newvalue.ch Email: info@newvalue.ch
Downloads www.epsvalueplus.ch Email: info@epsvalueplus.ch
05.06.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language: English
Issuer: NEW VALUE AG
Bodmerstrasse 9
8027 Zürich
Schweiz
Phone: +41-43-344 38 38
Fax: +41-43-344 38 39
E-mail: info@newvalue.ch
Internet: www.newvalue.ch
ISIN: CH0010819867
WKN: 552932
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf; Open
Market in Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) BX, SWX
End of News DGAP News-Service
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