Ilan Ben-Dov
Ilan Ben-Dov | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 16, 1957 Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor |
Ilan Ben-Dov (; born 16 January 1957 in Tel Aviv, Israel) is a prominent Israeli entrepreneur and investor.
Business career
Starting his professional journey at the age of 17, Ilan Ben-Dov initially operated gaming machines and, thirteen years later, began importing SEGA electronic gaming products. In 1991, he established Suny Electronics Ltd, which successfully raised NIS 20 million through an initial public offering amid the 1993 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange boom.
By 1998, Ben-Dov obtained the Israeli franchise rights to import Samsung Electronics mobile phones and acquired the Achla web portal in 1999. He further broadened his online presence by purchasing the Tapuz web portal in 2001 for $450,000 via Achla. In 2000, he co-founded GoNext, Israel’s pioneering wireless Internet company, and divested his shares two years later for NIS 42 million. Additionally, in 2004, he sold a 3% holding in IDB Holding Corp. to Nochi Dankner.
Ben-Dov co-established the video chat platform BlogTV in 2004, which achieved international recognition by 2006. The following year, he increased his ownership in Giron to 6.3% and launched Tao Tsuot Ltd., an investment firm specializing in leveraged acquisitions of publicly traded companies. Unfortunately, Tao Tsuot experienced significant losses during the 2008 financial downturn, resulting in a deficit of shareholders' equity.
In response to these challenges, Ben-Dov reorganized Suny’s assets in 2008 by transferring the Samsung import operations to its subsidiary Scailex Corp. Suny continued to hold stakes in internet ventures such as Tapuz People Ltd and BlogTV. In August 2009, he gained control over Partner Communications from Hutchison Telecommunications International for approximately NIS 4.7 billion (around $1.38 billion), financing the acquisition through bank loans and a seller loan from Hutchison. Early in 2010, he divested a 4.92% share of Azorim Investment for NIS 36.8 million.
Expanding his telecommunications portfolio further, Ben-Dov acquired 012 Smile for NIS 1.5 billion in October 2010. By December 2012, he sold a controlling interest of 30.7% in Partner Communications to Haim Saban. In May 2013, Tapuz was listed for sale under his direction.
In July 2013, Tao Tsuot was ordered into liquidation by a court ruling; soon after, Bank Leumi initiated foreclosure proceedings on Ben-Dov's assets. Subsequently, in September 2013, Tapuz was sold to Trendline Information and Communication Services Ltd. for NIS 4.3 million. In June 2014, Ben-Dov was removed from his position as chairman of Scailex by its board of directors.
Throughout his professional tenure, Ben-Dov has engaged in diverse financial ventures, with Suny maintaining investments including shares in IDB Holding Corp.
Holdings
- User Trend (previously Tapuz People)
- BlogTV
- Partner Communications Company Ltd.
- 012 Smile
- Suny.com Ltd.
- Derech HaLotus Ltd.
- Refuat Halotus Ltd.
- Tao Tsuot Real Estate Ltd.
- Ben Dov Investments Ltd.
- I. Ben Dov Investments Ltd.
- Harmony (Ben Dov) Ltd.