Articulate in fast lane on Malay Super Corridor
Founded in 1994 by ex-pat Dutchman Peter Farid Faisal, Articulate produces interactive gameshows for Malaysia broadcasters RTM and MetroVision, 3-D animation and content for CD-ROMs and computer games. Articulate's gross revenues last year totaled about $13.3 million.
After the capital raising led by Citicorp Capital an affiliate of Citicorp Capital Asia of Hong Kong, private investors now own nearly 19% of Articulate, with an option to increase that to 30% anytime in the next four years.
Faisal told Daily Variety the new coin will enable Articulate to form a subsid in Singapore to produce interactive gameshows for that market and to proceed with a co-venture in India with the powerful Hindustan cable company.
Articulate recently sold its interactive telephone technology to Norway's Telecom, and Faisal is looking for agents to distribute that software in the U.S. and Europe.
Articulate is one of 16 Malaysian companies that have been awarded "MSC status," meaning it qualifies for tax breaks and other assistance from the government, which is developing the corridor --- an area of 270 square miles adjacent to the capital --- for companies to create, distribute and use multimedia products and services.
Faisal has obtained a five-acre site where he plans to build a studio and multimedia complex, due to be completed in about a year. He says it will turn out educational content for CD-ROMs, animation and 3-D animation. Currently in development at Articulate is a 13-episode 3-D animated series for children titled "Kampong Cyber."
