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Technology Stocks : Global Crossing - GX (formerly GBLX) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SecularBull who wrote (4232)	2/10/2000 11:06:00 PM
From: TechMkt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 15615

Check out the second to last paragraph. Fez ______________ Thursday February 10, 6:52 pm Eastern Time Via Net.Works international flavor to draw investors Reshma Kapadia NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Internet service provider Via Net.Works Inc.'s international focus will be a hit when it makes its Wall Street debut Friday because investors are eager to own shares in companies targeting the Internet abroad, analysts said. The Reston, Va.-based company, which focuses on small- and medium-sized businesses located in Europe and Latin America, has revised the size of its initial public offering (IPO). It now plans to offer 14.3 million shares in $19-$21 range. The IPO will be made on the Amsterdam stock exchange and the Nasdaq on Feb. 11. ``Via.Networks looks very interesting because of the international factor,' said Corey Ostman, chief technology officer at www.ipo-alert.com. ``Right now, and for the last six months, IPOs that focus on Internet services and infrastructure on a global basis have done very well. Via Net.Works is certainly in the right sector.' It owns and operates a European and trans-Atlantic network, currently operating in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Analysts said its European strategy had made solid inroads and the company was getting its foot in the door in Latin America. ``We think it's an ambitious target,' said Marlowe Burke, research analyst at Wit Capital, about the company's dual region strategy. Christine Nairne, an analyst at EOffering called the Internet market opportunity in Europe ``fantastic'. ``Overall, in Europe they are maybe two years behind the U.S. in terms of penetration,' she said. ``Via Net.Works is employing the same strategy as Verio Inc. (NasdaqNM:VRIO - news) did in the U.S., rolling up web hosting companies across Europe and to a lesser extent in Latin America. (The strategy) has been very successful for Verio and it should help (Via) build a critical mass of subscribers quickly.' Analysts said the revenue and growth potential was strong, given that both Europe and Latin America's Internet markets were in the early stage of development. ``It's tricky to work well in this range of countries with a variety of different circumstances, but the companies that can do that well have a fantastic opportunity,' Nairne said. ``The main thing is probably having in-country execution expertise.' Via is using a management team based in the United States, combined with local sales forces that cater to local cultures and languages. ``It's the right strategy to enhance sales while ensuring a cohesive growth strategy,' Barlowe said. Via has $181.0 million in investments from Centennial Funds, Norwest Equity Capital, Telecom Partners II, HarbourVest International, Providence Equity Partners, Verio Inc. and Boston Millennia Partners. It has permission to use Global Crossing Ltd.'s (NasdaqNM:GBLX - news) fiber optic system to route Internet traffic between its European and North American networks.* Competitors includes major international telecom companies that offer Internet services, cable operators and online service providers.