Ampal Announces an Additional Investment In PowerDsine Ltd.

Business & Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2000

Ampal-American Israel Corporation (AMEX:AIS) announced today that it made an additional $1.8 million investment in PowerDsine Ltd. as part of an approximately $22 million private placement. Upon the completion of this transaction, Ampal will have an approximately 10.8% equity interest in PowerDsine.

PowerDsine develops cutting edge power component solutions for advanced telecom and data communications equipment. PowerDsine's revolutionary Power-over-LAN technology will pave the path for a unified network that supplies data, voice and power through a single access point. PowerDsine has become a leading player in the telecom component market with more than 200 design wins and sales to over 100 telecom equipment providers, including Nortel, Fujitsu, Newbridge Networks, Lucent Technologies, Alcatel, Ericsson and Siemens.

Ampal and its subsidiaries primarily acquire interests in businesses located in the State of Israel or that are Israel-related. Ampal's primary investment focus is the growing high-technology and communications sectors. Ampal has diversified interests in the following sectors: high-technology and communications, real estate, capital markets, leisure-time, energy distribution, and industry.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.