Markets in Brief

Just one day after Biondvax announced positive results of clinical trials on its universal flu vaccine under development, its controlling shareholders sold part of their shares and exposed the company to takeover. Altogether, the controlling shareholders sold NIS 3 million worth. To do so, Ron Babkov (14.3%), Rami Epstein (4%) and Yitzhak Dvash (4%) had to disband the control group, which means that at present, Biondvax isn't controlled by anybody. This in turn means that there is no legal impediment to stop anybody with a mind to gain control. Babkov, the firm's president and CEO, sold NIS 1.4 million worth of shares on the stock market. (Vadim Sviderski)

Biondvax had said results of its Phase I/II trial showed that the universal flu vaccine it's developing, Multimeric 001, is safe.

It had been tested on people aged 55 to 75. The vaccine had no significant side effects, Biondvax added. In a matter of weeks it should be announcing the results of tests on the vaccine's efficacy. (Vadim Sviderski)

Delek US Holdings, a subsidiary of Yitzhak Tshuva's Delek Group, reported yesterday a fourth-quarter 2009 net loss from continuing operations of $21.1 million, or 39 cents per share.

This compares with net income from continuing operations of $1.4 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.

For the full year, Delek US netted $2.3 million, or 4 cents per share, versus net income from continuing operations of $24.6 million, or 46 cents per share, in 2008.

Why the drop? Well, there was that fire at its refinery in Tyler, Texas, which caused it to shut down between November 2008 and mid-May 2009. Also, its refining margins tanked during the last quarter, Delek US explains. (TheMarker)

The U. Dori engineering group reported that it raised NIS 70 million, though its offering was certainly not oversubscribed. For the first nine months of 2009 the group reported a net profit of NIS 16.4 million, or 2.5% of turnover, a margin that complies with the norm in its industry. (Yael Halak)

Tahana, officially called The New Tel-Aviv Bus Terminal Co., would like you to know that it wants to delist its series B1 bonds. At this stage it can't say if and when it might do so, but it can say that its board has approved the move. It points out that before delisting the bonds it has to find the wherewithal to repay them. Stay tuned. (TheMarker)

Apropos delisting, VeriFone is also delisting, in its case - its shares from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. It had dual-listed in Tel Aviv after buying Lipman Electronic Engineering in April 2006, but will leave on July 15, 2010. Arrivederci, VeriFone! (TheMarker)

The real estate company Neot Hapisga Modi'in Ilit says it has been blocked from building a cellular antenna in Kiryat Tarshish by a temporary restraining order that applies to the client company Cellcom as well.

The motioner was a company called Kiryat Sefer, which, observing one day that work was proceeding to build an antenna, claimed that Cellcom was trespassing. It points out that it didn't hire Cellcom or anybody else to build an antenna on its grounds. (TheMarker)

Ilex Medical says its subsidiary Ilex South Africa has signed a five-year agreement with the National Health Laboratory Service of that country to test newborns to mothers with AIDS.

Ilex estimates that its South African unit will carry out 300,000 tests this year for income of about NIS 20 million. From 2011 its activity should double to 700,000 tests a year. Altogether the five-year contract should be worth about NIS 180 million, the company says. (Vadim Sviderski)

Soft drinks and beer company Tempo managed to raise NIS 120 million this week in an oversubscribed bond offering - demand reached NIS 160 million, the company says. The interest set at auction is 5.5%, slightly below the ceiling of 5.6%. The company will use the proceeds mainly to build a logistics center in Netanya, at an estimated cost of NIS 70 million, and will buy equipment to start brewing Heineken beer. (Yael Halak)

Leader Holdings and Investments will be booking a provision in the range of NIS 70 million to NIS 87 million for the fall in value of property owned by group companies. The provision will appear in its fourth-quarter financial statement. (TheMarker)

Gilatz Investments yesterday announced a memorandum of understanding to buy two solar parks in Italy, building on its solar empire in Spain. The parks are currently being developed. The company adds that by virtue of a ministerial decree, it is assured of a sweetheart price for the power it produces for 20 years. (TheMarker)