A Faire IT week

The talks underway between Microsoft and Cable & Wireless to create a single UK cable TV company, and the discussions between Global Crossing and US West to create a merged entity in a deal valued at $30 billion, dominated the international business world of IT last week. Locally, everyone went off to the Computer Faire but there was little in the way of significant business announcements.

• we saw the listing of Sekunjalo Investments, which includes significant IT interests, on the JSE;
• good year-end results from Altron and OSI Holdings (maiden results);
• satisfactory year-end figures from Power Technologies;
• excellent interim numbers from ITI Technology Holdings;
• profit warnings from Infiniti; and
• the announcement by WenTech that a new acting MD has been appointed and drastic measures put in place to try to stem its dwindling share price.

[Local]

Cautionary Notices (see attachment)

Listing calendar (see attachment)

Other local news included:

• the name change of Tangram Computer Systems to Byxn, which allows the software company to register in the UK and Europe;
• the issuing of the prospectus for the Streamworks Group, due to list in the development capital sector of the JSE on 26 May;
• the launch of NeuraTech, a new subsidiary of Siltek; and
• the announcement of some restructuring within the Dimension Data group, including Dave Frankel`s move from The Internet Solution to another corporate position.

• we saw the announcement by NBC network that it plans to merge several of its Internet assets with direct marketer Xomm.com and portal site Snap.com to form a new company called NBC Internet or NBCi, in which it will hold a 49.9% stake;
• the news that USA Networks is to abandon its bid to acquire Lycos;
• yet another senior resignation at Compaq; and
• the announcement that Nortel Networks intends shedding 1 000 jobs.International acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures etc (see attachment).

We saw excellent figures from Netplex Group, TAVA Technologies and TTI Telecom International.

Losses came from 24/7 Media, Active Voice, Allstar Systems, Ariel (and revenue down by more than half!), Aseco (and revenue down by over 50%!), Asyst Technologies, BrightStar Information Technology Group, CMSI, Data Systems & Software, Computer Concepts, Davel Comms, ECI Telecom, En Pointe Technologies, ENStar, FirstLink Comms, FortuneCity.com, GCI, Global TeleSystems Group, Howtek, IA, iMall, IMSI, Infodata Systems, Integrated Security Systems, IXC Comms, Jenkon International, Merisel, Micro General, Miltope Group, Netrix, Paging Network, Pathnet, Pegasystems, Pointe Comms, Preferred Networks, Primus Telecomms, RMI.NET, Sentry Technology, Simtek, SoftNet Systems, Telident, Teligent, VDC Comms, ViaSat, Viisage Technology and V-ONE.

Good numbers were recorded by ASA International, Bell Microproducts, Cisco, Comcast (back in the black), CT Comms, MECON, Netsmart Technologies (back in the black), Perot Systems, Pinnacle Data Systems, Pomeroy Computer Resources, Sage Group, Sanderson Group, Singulus Technologies AG, SOFTRAX, Sterling Software, Turnit AB and Zing Technologies.

Satisfactory results were reported by Analogy (just back in the black), Dynatech, Elron Electronics, Equitrac and Harbinger (back in the black).

Mediocre returns came from MAI Systems (but back in the black), Murdock Comms (just in the black), Nestor (but back in the black), Radiant Technology and VSE. Very poor results came from Accent Software (but back in the black), ALPNET, Applied Graphics, Bowne & Co and CHS Electronics (just in the black).

Other financial news included profit warnings from Applied Magnetics, Entex (TAS division sale) and SSA; and share splits from Cisco and SDL.

Locally

Advtech-N (-17%)
Newly-listed CIH (-17.8%)
Dectronic (+18.2%)
Digicore (-15.2%)
Impotek Holdings (-15.7%)
Infiniti (-33.9%)
JemTech (-23.8%)
PentaCom (-17.9%)
Zaptronix (-18.2%)

Internationally

Checkpoint Software (+23%)
GartnerGroup (+21%)
IMSI (+20.6%)
Iridium (-27.4%)
JD Edwards (+35.9%)
Larscom (+35.3%)
MEMC Electronic Materials (+23.1%)
QMS (+24.9%)
Read-Rite (+21.4%)
Sanchez Computer Associates (23.4%)
Software AG (+24.2%)
SSA (-30.4%)
Sterling Software (+20.5%)
Telxon (+20%)

This week`s events will include the announcement of year-end figures from Softline and next week the listings of Streamworks and Ukukhanya, if everything goes as originally planned.