A Unique Business Environment

Another aspect of Israeli society, however, is not as widely celebrated in the western world. These are so called collective communities you may know in Hebrew as kibbutzim. Going back to the founding days of the state of Israel, these essentially socialist settlements focused on a communal life. In time, capitalist elements were embraced by the broader society, and the kibbutz movement began to decline. However, it remains present today and continues making its contribution to the Israeli economy.

Some kibbutzim, originally focused on the agricultural sector. Now, they entered the business world by providing products that stretch far beyond Israel's borders. In fact, there are currently 20 multinational businesses operating on kibbutzim today. One such community is kibbutz Yizre'el. Kibbutz Yizre'el is home to Maytronics Ltd, which serves as its main source of income. Maytronics' specialty is development, production, distribution and technical support for swimming pool equipment, specifically robots for cleaning swimming pools. In addition, it produces alarms for protecting swimmers from drowning and other products for treating swimming pool water. Over the years, the company's products have proved to be very successful. Its robots are currently used by approximately a third of public pools. Globally, they are used in almost half of all private pools.

Innovation In Israel In Action

However, this was not always a case. The story of Maytronics originated back in 1982. A member of the kibbutz saw commercial sense in developing cleaning robots in distant South Africa. He pitched this idea to the rest of the kibbutz to buy a patent and develop it further. At the time, the kibbutz was going through a difficult financial situation. Their combined debt stood at around 125 million shekels. In other words, the kibbutz’s total cashflow was not sufficient to pay the interest. Despite this, the members of the community agreed to Hirsh's wild idea, and forged ahead. Twenty years later, the company went public and is currently traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Earlier last month, Mayronics made history by being the first kibbutz-owned company on Israel’s major stock market index (Tel Aviv-35). The TA-35 consists of the country’s 35 largest publicly-traded companies. Kibbutz Yisre'el is still a majority holder of the company, whose market cap is over 5 billion shekels ($1.6 billion USD) in August. To put it differently, the members of the kibbutz share between themselves a whopping 3 billion shekels. Ironically, Yizre'el is one of the last communities that remains faithful to its socialist founding ideology. Regardless of their position within the community, company corporate ladder or level of income, each member gives 100% of his salary to the kibbutz. In return, each member receives a stipend.

The Kibbutz Makes a Bold Choice

Having said all that, the kibbutz came close to losing this vast wealth. One of the world leaders in the industry approached them with an offer to buy a controlling stake. Nine years ago, in 2011, Hayward's offer of NIS 180 million for a 67% stake, an extremely attractive premium.

The Israeli company's valuation stood at NIS 345 million. Not surprisingly, the kibbutz member said no to this lucrative offer after an emotional meeting . Now, looking back, that decision was wise as Maytronics’ value has skyrocketed. Since then, the company's shares ascended by an amazing 2,600%!

Back in 2017 the kibbutz sold 10% of its shares for NIS 235 million. On August 20, 2020 they sold another 3%, raising the total of NIS 385 million from both transactions. Even after reducing their stake to 54%, Yizre'el remains in control of its flagship company.

This recent event has only reminded its owners that they made the right decision not to sell its stake a few years ago. Especially, as two-thirds of its annual profits is distributed as dividends.

Where Maytronics Stands Today

With the summer period being a busy one for Maytronics, as seasonal private pools sales increase, the company must adjust to accommodate incoming orders. However, this year delivered another boost as Coronavirus pushed people to stay at home. This served as an incentive for those who can afford to build a backyard swimming pool. During the pandemic, as stated by Reuters, demand for pools reached unprecedented levels around the globe. Manufacturers and distributors are scrambling to meet a wave of demand as consumers stay at home and avoid the virus.

Consequently, Maytronics has been enjoying a significantly higher level of sales of its leading product, the pool cleaning robot called "Dolphin". Even with a favorable environment like this year, the potential for growth remains high due to the fact that most of the pools remain serviced manually. According to Maytronic's CEO Eyal Tryber, there are approximately 20 million pools globally that do not have robots at all. Therefore, the company remains optimistic as it sees plenty of room for growth. From 32% of the total market share back in 2010, the company has climbed up to 48% last year.

The company has been exporting its products around the world for many years now. Currently, the European market is the largest in terms of revenue generation (45% of total sales last year). The United States is second (39%), and starting in 2011, the market presence Australia and New Zealand (11%) grows at a steady pace.

 Source: Company presentation

The Company Still Grows In Size And Innovation

Maytronics sells hundreds of thousands of "Dolphin" units each year. But, it is not only robots that keep customers choosing the Israeli firm. Alongside its highly efficient device, the company markets its anti-drowning alarm system together with pool covers. The management takes safety issues seriously and sees it as one of the potential engines for growth. Accordingly, Maytronics had to expand its production facilities beyond its plant at Yisre'el. In fact, there are two more plants – one in La Ciotat in France and another one in the Upper Galilee in Israel. This way the company is able to cope with any increase in demand when needed. Finally, Maytronics does not rest on its laurels. They remain committed to continual heavy investment in its Research & Development to keep its cutting-edge advantage over its competitors.

It is fascinating to see, how someone's idea and perseverance in developing a simple product such as a swimming pool robot, could result in a multinational business that currently exports 98% of its products worldwide. And maybe this is why a firm from a small Israeli kibbutz is managing not only to outgrow its local market, but is now the global leader in its industry.

If you are interested in learning how Wise Money Israel can help you invest in companies like this one, please contact us here.

Sources: Reuters, Calcalist, Globes, Ha'Aretz, Hadassah Magazine

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In addition to the current English Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) website, on June 29, 2020 the TASE announced the launch of the English version of its “MAYA” immediate corporate reporting website. The English “MAYA” website is designed to make information regarding the TASE and the companies listed on it much more accessible to foreign investors, particularly in light of the growing interest expressed by investors from around the world in Israeli companies. There are 517 publicly traded Israeli stocks, 750 corporate bonds, 45 government bonds, 549 ETFs, and 1,169 open-ended mutual funds listed on the TASE that can be purchased by investors around the world.

For the first time, TASE is launching an English version of the MAYA website. The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) encourages companies to publish their reports in English as well, in order to make the information accessible to foreign investors. Corporate reporting includes, among others, notifications concerning announcements & transactions, financial statements, capital raising information, changes in the companies' management, interested parties, corporate actions, splits, mergers and more. These disclosures will be posted on the MAYA English language website, generating additional foreign investor exposure to these companies.

To serve this growing needs of international investors in Israel in English, Wise Money Israel Ltd (WMI) works closely with hundreds of clients from around the globe to invest in Israel's robust economy and strong capital market through Israeli investment accounts on the TASE. Where there is demand, there will also be supply, and the demand for purchasing equities and bonds of publicly-traded Israeli companies is rapidly rising. Accordingly, the TASE is continually adding new features and making information more accessible to the international investor, while WMI is positioned as the leading, ISA-licensed English-speaking Portfolio Management firm to manage local and international investors assets in the Israeli market in a prudent and effective way.

The MAYA website, which serves as a central website for investors active in the Israeli capital market, was initially launched in 2000 and is the go-to site for a wide array of corporate information such as corporate fact sheets for each company, summarizing key corporate information (fields of operation, principal shareholders, corporate securities and financial performance), management and officers, corporate filings, reference and payment dates, IPO and new secondary public offerings, financial report schedules, dividend distributions and payments, and more. The TASE also posts its own announcements on the "MAYA" site, such as general announcements, board of director resolutions, etc.

The TASE places great importance in the publication of disclosures in both English and Hebrew and believes that this will increase foreign investor exposure to and investment in TASE-listed Israeli companies.

To view the English MAYA system click the following link: https://maya.tase.co.il/en

Contact us for more information about opening an Israeli investment account

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_____
Sources:
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Bizportal Terminal 360

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Founded as The SodaStream Co. back in 1903 by W & A Gilbey Ltd., the famous London Gin distiller, its first soda maker was created by George Gilbey. The company first introduced two flavors in 1920 - sasparilla and cherry. By 1955 SodaStream had expanded its distribution introducing 14 new flavors.

In 1979 SodaStream developed the classic Soda Maker, which remained its top product for decades, and with successful television advertising campaigns grew its sales by fifty percent.

In 1985, the Cadbury Schweppes conglomerate acquired SodaStream, operating it as an independent business. However in 1991 SodaStream’s main distributor in Israel, Peter Wiseburgh, established his own company - Soda-Club. The company’s business was not confined to sales only, rather it also developed a new brand of domestic soda-making devices. The Israeli inventiveness proved to be a hit as the company reached foreign markets as far as South Africa and Australia. Eventually, Soda-Club’s success resulted in its purchase of SodaStream. This is how the Israeli company set out on the path to become the world’s largest home carbonation system supplier.

In the early 2000's, SodaStream grew its production to nearly two hundred flavors and developed a global distribution network. However quick growth came at a price as the company ran into financial difficulties. Consequently, this led to its sale in 2007 to Israeli private equity investment group Fortissimo Capital Fund, which appointed Daniel Birnbaum as the CEO. In 2010 the company listed shares on the Nasdaq and six years later also on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Under the new CEO's leadership, SodaStream rebranded itself as a fizzy water company. The company continued evolving, introducing its first line of natural sodas that contained no artificial colors, sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives.

It provided a healthier alternative to the soft drinks offered by its global competitors. In recent years, the company’s expansion has been credited to focusing on innovative and healthier beverages such as Soda­Stream My Water, SodaStream Caps, SodaStream Free, and other products.

In recent years SodaStream has been running a global marketing campaign that addresses one key message - one reusable Soda­Stream bottle can help eliminate the usage of thousands of disposable plastic bottles.

Advocating for a more sustainable way of life, SodaStream spreads the word that the global plastic bottle pollution issue must be resolved. For the health conscious consumer the company accentuated the fact that SodaStream owners consume 43-percent more water than non-owners and use the sparkling water maker to cut sugary drinks out of their diets entirely.

In addition, targeting green-leaning and health-conscious consumers with messages of excessive use of plastic bottles by global beverage conglomerates is what helped Israeli SodaStream grow from a plain maker of fizzy water into a mammoth worth $3.2 billion.

It is unfortunate to see an Israeli company being taken over by a global corporation and delisted from the Israeli stock exchange, especially since Wise Money Israel has been holding its shares in its client’s investment portfolios. However, the good news is that SodaStream will remain an independent firm within PepsiCo, with its headquarters and operations remaining based in Israel for the foreseeable future. This will allow it to maintain its own brand, expand even further and keep delivering its products to households far beyond Israel. And as for PepsiCo, purchasing SodaStream may prove to be a turning point for its brand which has been struggling for sometime.

cnn.com, timesof israel.com, responsemagazine.com, forbes.com

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For decades Israel’s high-tech start-up scene has been considered one of the most exciting and impressive in the world, on par with Silicon Valley, and producing game-changing technologies that continue to push the innovative envelope. Israel ranks #2 for venture capital availability, and is ranked #3 in the world for innovation[1]. With over 3,500 start-ups (mostly in hi-tech), there are more start-up companies in Israel than in any country in the world per capita, and only second to the U.S. in absolute terms[2].

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “Israel is a nation that sanctifies innovation. We’ve achieved great heights, but we cannot stop now; we want to continue climbing.” [3]

In Israel, the publicly traded market of stocks and bonds, aka the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (or TASE), is completed separated from privately owned companies, including start-ups in their initial stages of funding. This has limited the ability for investors around the world to gain exposure to Israeli start-ups rapid growth and frequent exit successes, and at the same time prevents the flow of much needed capital into the developing start-ups. As a result, many young Israeli start-ups end up being purchased by foreign companies causing the technology, manpower, jobs and overall economic value generated from Israeli high-tech start-ups to leave the Israel market.

However, change is in the wind as Israel’s financial decision makers are formulating means to make these Israel tech start-ups investable by large and small investors alike.

The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) is in the final stages of approving new financial instruments that will benefit both investors and start-ups alike, allowing investors to gain exposure to Israeli high-tech start-ups on the one hand, and start-ups to raise more capital on the other, serving as an incentive to keep Israeli tech in Israel. One of these instruments are closed-end mutual funds that will be fully traded on the TASE and open to all investors, both institutional and private.

These hybrid funds will invest part of their assets in Israeli private start-ups pre-IPO, and part of their assets in publicly traded Israeli tech firms already traded on the TASE. This will provide wide access to the excited world of Israeli innovation, while reducing the risks and high barriers of entry currently experienced by non-accredited and smaller investors. It also offers regulatory oversight and transparencies to these start-ups, as is standard with Israeli publicly traded companies.

The ISA plans to roll out four closed-end high-tech mutual funds with a minimum of 400 million NIS per fund (approximately $115 million) towards the end of 2017 and into 2018. The TASE states that “these funds will be entitled to invest up to 30% of the capital raised in non-traded financial assets, which may be adjusted to 50% in the future should investors be granted government guarantees to mitigate investor risk. At least 5% of the sum raised will be invested by the fund manager. The funds will be able to operate as fixed-term funds limited to a life span of 15 years.”[4]

Additionally, the State of Israel will offer loss protection for the investments in private growth companies up to 20% of the investment and will also guarantee debt raising of up to 25% of the funds size. This governmental backing signals their commitment to both the start-ups and to investors, giving a strong tailwind to the move.

Besides offering exposure to both public and private companies and gaining significant government incentives for investment, these funds will be fully liquid and transparent as with all the securities traded on the TASE.

The TASE is currently undergoing very positive structural and strategic upgrades which it estimates will “enhance competition in the capital market and attract new members from Israel and abroad. It is expected to benefit investors by rendering TASE more prominent and accessible to the public”[5].

Currently, investing in Israeli stocks and bonds through the TASE is the most secure and accessible way to invest in Israel, and with these upgrades coming, it will be all the more so.

[1] World Economic Forum, 2017-2018 Edition

[2] Israel21c.org

[3] nocamels.com

[4] tase.co.il

[5] tase.co.il

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In our previous articles, we discussed why you should invest in Israel. There are many reason for investing in Israel, among them currency diversification, geographical diversification, and the desire to support the Land and people of Israel. Other reasons include participating in the prosperity Israel is experiencing since its rebirth, and enjoying the fruit of a strong and robust economy that weathers the sometimes-stormy global financial climate.

So how can this be accomplished practically? There are three main ways to invest in Israel financially:

1. Investing in Israel’s capital market via Israeli stocks, bonds and mutual funds. This is done by opening an investment account with one of the established Israeli brokerage firms that are members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). Accounts may be opened remotely through the mail and can be overseen through a secure English online portal, just like a bank account. Citizens of all countries may invest in an Israeli brokerage account as individuals (single or joint), as an organization (for-profit and non-profit) and through U.S. retirement funds with a minimum entry limit of 20,000 Israeli Shekels (approximately $5,000 USD). Some additional information to know about investing in the Israeli capital market:
   1. The TASE provides a wide array of asset types (securities), ranging from Israeli stocks offering dividend payments, to secure Israeli government bonds, through inflation-protected corporate bonds paying fixed quarterly interest payments, to ETFs tracking market indices. These assets are spread over all the major business sectors offered in other markets around the world, including: technology, real estate, industry and manufacturing, communication, biomedical, agrotechnology, insurance, finance and banking, commerce and services etc. Of particular interest is the new oil/gas exploration sector, given Israel’s recent large-scale discoveries of these commodities, and of course the world-renown Israeli high tech sector that has supplied the world with many groundbreaking technologies.
   2. Individual stock and bonds capital gains, as well as bond interest payments, are not taxed in Israel for non-Israeli investors. The Israeli capital market has shown impressive returns over recent years:
      During the economic recovery year of 2009, the Tel Aviv 35 stock index returned 75% to investors, vs. the S&P 500 yield of 24%. Israel’s stock market has outperformed other developed markets by far since the year 2000 showing 184% total return for the Tel Aviv 35 compared to 63% total return for the S&P 500 (as of May 16, 2017). On the bond side, Israeli corporate bonds have yields over 6% average annual return with relatively low volatility since 2009.

2. Investing in Israeli Start-Up companies. This is done by purchasing equity in early stage start-ups as an angel investor or through a venture capital firm that is connected with various private companies and raise capital for them through a VC fund. Some additional information to know about investing in Israeli start-up companies:
   1. Investing as an angel investor or through a VC requires a relatively large investment principle, typically ranging between $150,000 to $2,000,000 USD but typically represents no more than 10% of the investors total investment portfolio. VC investing is usually done by “Accredited Investors”: individuals with a net worth of at least $1,000,000, excluding the value of the investor’s primary residence, or demonstrate an annual income of $200,000 or $300,000 for joint income for the last two years with the expectation for the same or higher income in the future.
   2. Since seed investments in start-ups and VC funds are of a much higher risk nature, investors should be prepared and able to potentially lose all of the principle investment. Start-ups have a success rate of 1 in 10, meaning that there is 90% chance that the start-up will fail and the principle will be lost. For this reason investors usually invest in dozens of start-ups simultaneously with the hopes that one of them will success and provide a good ROI (return on investment) to cover the losses gained from the other failed investments.
3. Investing in Israeli Real Estate. This can be done in two ways: first, by directly purchasing physical real estate such as an apartment, house, building, office etc. Second, by purchasing stocks and/or bonds of real estate companies or Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. This second method is less direct, i.e. you do not actually own the property but do enjoy the dividends and cashflow from the companies that build, sell and rent out the real estate. These dividends are legally tied to over 90% of the profits of the REIT. Some additional information to know about investing in Israeli real estate:
   1. The Israeli real estate market has seen good growth in since 2007 with prices of many assets rising close to and even over 100% since then, giving an approximate annual return of 7% (varying, significantly even, from asset to asset). Since the end of 2016 the rise in house prices has slowed significantly, with recent data indicating a very possible change in trend to housing prices as they begin to drop, though it is still too early to tell. There is a certain level of uncertainty currently in the real estate market, however some analysts are already determining that investors are beginning to sell their real estate assets.
   2. Investing in REITs and real estate companies put somewhat of a hedge between the investor and the assets, for the better. On the one hand it employs the REIT management and real estate company’s expertise in the market, eliminating the need to for the client to make those decisions and spend all that effort themselves. On the other hand, it is easy for the client to control their level on investment in the real estate market by purchasing or selling more stocks or bonds with the click of a button, without the need for finding a buyer for their physical property and not having to deal with the bureaucracy, taxation, legal work, fees etc. that go with selling (and purchasing) actual property. These advantages allows the investor to change weighting in their portfolio to other market sectors and asset classes swiftly and with minimal hassle, time and money consumption. This flexibility can be key in turbulent market times.

Investing in Israel is a great way to diversify your portfolio, support the Israeli economy and participate in the success of the nation. Before you decide how to do that, you should consider the information above and how that applies to your specific personal and financial situation.

Stefan Silver serves as the Director of Business Development & Operations at Wise Money Israel (WMI), the first licensed Investment Portfolio Management firm in Israel that works completely in English to serve local and international clients. WMI works with hundreds of individuals and organizations from around the globe to invest in Israel’s leading companies and technologies through Israel’s capital market – the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE).

Stefan holds a B.A.in Economics and Management, and an MBA from Haifa University. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Stefan immigrated to Israel in 1992 and served for four years in the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corp, including combat experience on the front lines of the Second Lebanon war. He is currently a Captain in the IDF Reserves.

LinkedIn: Stefan Silver

Sources:
Forbes, Investopedia

The post Israel Investment Possibilities Explained appeared first on Wise Money Israel.

When author Mark Twain visited the Land of Israel (then still called Palestine) in 1867, he penned impressions of what he witnessed in his book “Innocents Abroad”:

“A desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action. We reached Tabor safely. We never saw a human being on the whole route.  There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent – not for thirty miles in either direction. ...One may ride ten miles hereabouts and not see ten human beings. ...these unpeopled deserts, these rusty mounds of barrenness...”[i]

In conclusion Twain claimed that “Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes.... desolate and unlovely...”[ii]

Others described the land as “desolate and roamed through by Arab bands of robbers”[iii], “nothing but houses in ruins, cisterns rendered useless, and fields abandoned”[iv] and even late in the 19^th century a French traveler wrote that Haifa “can be crossed in five minutes”[v].

The picture is clear: a mere 100 years ago, the Land of Israel was desolate of people and of buildings, and villages that did exist were comprised of small, rural shacks. That is certainly not the scene that travelers arriving in Israel today first lay eyes upon.

“Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste, now you will be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away. The children born during your bereavement will yet say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.” - Isaiah 49:19-20

Construction in modern day Israel is booming, with apartment buildings, malls, hotels, highways, interchanges and high-rises springing up all over the country, like mushrooms after the rain. Today, Israel boasts over 750 skyscrapers that are 20 floors high or more – hardly a desolate wasteland with barely a village for “thirty miles in each direction” Israel is now a thriving and developed nation, constantly growing and building at an exceptional rate.

Especially notable is Israel’s largest city of Tel Aviv, where dozens of new corporate office buildings and luxury apartment buildings can be seen rising from the Ayalon freeway as it curves through the city. Major construction can also be seen in Kfar Saba, Kiryat Gat, Herzilya, Hadera and Rosh HaAyin with each city’s construction growth rate rising considerably compared to the same quarter last year by 309%, 260%, 114%, 109% and 100& respectively[vi]. The rise in construction is also reflected in Israel’s House Price Index which hit an all-time high in May of this year, up 114% in the past 10 years.[vii]. Israeli real estate prices even continued to rise during the 2008 global financial crisis, with no sub-prime or mortgage-backed securities setbacks.

Israeli real estate is seen by many as a solid and long term investment. However, purchasing real estate here requires a large amount of initial capital, comes with high entry and exit high fees (lawyers, bank fees, agents, taxes, etc.) and the investor must endure a hefty amount of bureaucracy. Property management from abroad is difficult, and unfortunately there aren’t companies here that offer that service to individual investors. Another disadvantage is the illiquidity of the funds used to purchase the real estate, and in times of need are difficult to obtain speedily without suffering significant losses.

That being said, there is a very practical way for investors to gain exposure in their global portfolios to Israel’s real estate market, and at the same time bypass the disadvantages that come with purchasing actual real estate. This is accomplished through purchasing real estate stocks and bonds in Israel’s financial market. The $5,000 investment brokerage account minimum allow the small and mid-size investor to have income-generating Israeli real estate in their portfolios that generate regular dividends.

There are several different options for purchasing real estate stocks or bonds on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange:

1. A REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust – buys, develops, manages and sells rental real estate assets and real estate loans (mortgages).  Its professionals manage a portfolio of real estate properties that generally include commercial rental properties (such as shopping centres, office buildings, hotels, industrial buildings, etc.) that return rental income for shareholders, typically through large dividends and long-term capital appreciation. This type of specialized company offers shareholders ownership of real estate through the purchase of stock. Investing in a REIT stock versus the direct purchase of real estate has become a popular way for individual and institutional investors (pension funds, mutual funds and insurance companies) to easily gain exposure to the real estate market. REITs have been operating in the United States for small to medium investors since the 1960s, and together are worth hundreds of billions of dollars.There is are a number of publicly-traded REIT investments on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. ”REIT 1” operates as a real estate investment trust with a property portfolio that includes office buildings, commercial spaces, and industrial properties. REIT 1’s stock price has risen by over 180% during the past five years and currently holds an impressive market capitalization of 1.88 billion NIS (approx. $500 million USD)[viii]. REIT 1 is purchasable either through direct stocks or corporate bonds. Sela Capital, another Israeli REIT, has returned 25% to investors in the past 12 months. Another REIT, focusing on residential real estate, had an IPO this month.
2. Stocks and bonds of individual construction companies and/or indexes that track the Israel real estate sector. For example the Tel Aviv Real Estate 15 index includes stock in the largest 15 real estate companies, including the Azrieli Group, Alony Hetz Properties & Investments, Airport City, Africa Israel Properties and Shikun & Binui. The index has risen 18% YTD and has gained approximately 90% over the past five years[ix].

It is amazing to see how Israel has transformed from a desolate, desert, swamp land into the established built-up land that it is today. It is nothing short of a miracle. According to the Scriptures, looking ahead we can foresee that this modern-day, “nation born in a day” miracle will continue to grow and thrive. If you desire to take part in building up the Land of Israel, literally, by investing in Israeli real estate, you now know that there is a simple and accessible way to own Israeli land and real estate without the hassles of purchasing it yourself.

Stefan Silver serves as the Director of Business Development & Operations at Wise Money Israel (WMI), the first licensed Investment Portfolio Management firm in Israel that works completely in English to serve local and international clients. WMI works with hundreds of individuals and organizations from around the globe to invest in Israel’s leading companies and technologies through Israel’s capital market – the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE).

Stefan holds a B.A.in Economics and Management, and an MBA from Haifa University. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Stefan immigrated to Israel in 1992 and served for four years in the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corp, including combat experience on the front lines of the Second Lebanon war. He is currently a Captain in the IDF Reserves.

LinkedIn: Stefan Silver

[i] Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad

[ii] Ibid

[iii] Brockhaus, Alig. deutsch Real-Encyklopaedie, 7th ed. (Leipzig, 1827), Vol. VIII, p. 206

[iv] Count Constantine F. Volney, Travels Through Syria and Egypt in the Years 1783, 1784, 1785 (London, 1788), Vol. 2, p. 147

[v] Brother Lievin de Hamme, Guide indicateur, Vol. Ill, pp. 163, 190

[vi] Globes

[vii] Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

[viii] Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

[ix] Ibid

The post Building a Nation: Israel’s Booming Real Estate Market appeared first on Wise Money Israel.