Business in Brief

The computer system at HOT has collapsed and the company can't handle problems, admit service representatives of the cable television company. Subscribers to its television, telephone or Internet service haven't been able to get answers from HOT for three days, according to calls to TheMarker. "The representatives are courteous, but they can't provide any service whatsoever," E., a triple-play (Internet, TV, phone) customer told TheMarker yesterday. "They can't even access data on urgent matters such as clarifying a charge." Service representatives at HOT confirmed the problem and say they aren't even taking people's contact information to call them back, because they have no idea when the trouble might be resolved. HOT noted that it has just installed a Customer Relation Management system that places the focus on the customer. (Barr Hayoun)

The Tax Authority has abandoned a claim filed seven years ago, then refiled last year. In 2002 the taxman sued the software startup Test-Ship and three of its executives for failure to file tax returns during seven months. The defendants were dropped from the claim one by one until naught but the company and one were left. Later that year the court threw out the case, saying to err is human but there were so many mistakes it seemed nobody had any idea what was going on. In 2003 the ITA reinstated the case but nothing happened until April, when charges were filed, this time against seven defendants. Their lawyer argued that the case deserved extinction because of the ITA's incompetence, and so it was. (Amit Benaroia)

The year 2008 was a grim one for Israel's nonprofit organizations, which raised 31% less in donations than in the previous year. A survey of 225 charities conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for the Israel Gives organization found that 4% of the NGOs that had participated in the previous year's survey had disappeared and about a quarter are cutting back on personnel. Half, however, reported raising more money this year as the global economic crisis receded, while 17% reported an increase in demand for their services. (Lior Dattel)

The French company Bombardier is prepared to invest hundreds of millions of shekels in Israel's aerospace and railway sectors if it wins tenders published by the Israeli government. Yesterday Bombardier signed a 5-year framework agreement, covering mutual procurement, with the arm of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in charge of industrial collaboration. If it wins a government contract Bombardier will have to procure goods or services equivalent to 20% of the value of the tender in Israel. Bombardier Israel's manager, Yossi Dekel, commented that the company has and will continue to strive to develop Israel's aviation and railway industries while working with local suppliers. (Ora Coren)

Evidently buying the controlling interest in Bezeq isn't enough for businessman Shaul Elovitch: Although the acquisition of the phone company hasn't been consummated yet Elovitch is storming the real estate market. His company EGRE is acquiring the controlling interest in Ravad from ex-Israeli businessman Igal Ahouvi. EGRE will be buying Ravad based on its market value on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, NIS 187 million. That in turn means that Ahouvi is selling at a discount of 30% below Ravad's shareholders equity, just two years after he'd bought the firm according to a company valuation of NIS 200 million. And that in turn means he's lost money on it. (Sharon Shpurer)