EU warns Google

Oracle's planned listing move from the Nasdaq to the NYSE, and the EU's warning to Google regarding its privacy concerns, were the main international ICT stories last week.

At home, the various announcements regarding Telkom SA and its future, and Naspers' latest acquisition, were the main stories.

* Good year-end figures from Amecor, with revenue up 46.2% and profit up 18.3%.
* Naspers and Tencent, through their joint venture, Ibibo, acquired RedBus, an Indian online ticketing firm, for over $100 million.
* China Telecom Global is now offering services from Teraco Data Environments.
* Renewed JSE cautionaries by Labat Africa, Mvelaserve and TCS.
* The appointments of Christopher Hardy Boulle as non-executive chairman of Amecor; Jacques Malherbe (ex-CEO of Westcon) as executive of Advanced Technologies, a new division of AxizWorkgroup; and Mohamed Cassoojee as VP of South Africa for Software AG.
* Hugh Stephen Courtney resigned as non-executive chairman of Amecor.

* Intel has chosen Kenya as the first country in Africa that will get an investment boost from its global Software and Services Group, which will include the creation of programmes to help Kenyan software developers.
* Qatar's Ooredoo has withdrawn its offer for Maroc Telecom, leaving Etisalat as the remaining bidder.
* Nicky Sheridan was appointed senior VP of Africa for Software AG.
* Ahmed Nassef resigned as Yahoo's MD of the MEA region.

* Aruba Networks bought Meridan Apps, a company that provides a WiFi-based way of finding solutions for smartphones and tablets.
* Cisco purchased Composite Software, a data virtualisation software and services specialist, for $180 million.
* EMC acquired ScalelO, a storage start-up, for $300 million.
* NTT bought US-based Solutionary, a network security specialist, for Y20 billion.
* Paychex purchased HR Services, a provider of comprehensive HR solutions.
* Stratasys unveiled MakerBot, a consumer-oriented 3D printer supplier, for $403 million.
* Tsinghua Holdings (China) acquired Spreadtrum, a Chinese cellphone chip designer, for $1.38 billion.
* Twitter bought Spindle, a social start-up focused on the location and check-in space.
* Yahoo purchased Xobni, a contact start-up, for $40 million.
* Oracle has secured a judgment against ServiceKey and its CEO regarding copyright infringement.
* A Tokyo court said Samsung had infringed Apple's 'bounce-back' feature on earlier models of the former's phones.
* Oracle intends moving its listing from Nasdaq to the NYSE, the biggest exchange defection ever.
* The European data protection authorities have told Google to address their privacy concerns or risk heavy fines that could run into several hundred thousand euros.
* Sprint Nextel has raised its bid for the shares of Clearwire in a move aimed at stopping Dish Networks from acquiring the company in which it is currently the largest shareholder.
* Wi-Lan has agreed to a licensing deal with Samsung regarding the use of the latter's patents in its mobile devices.
* Satisfactory quarterly results from Micron Technology (back in the black and first profit since 2011), Oracle and Red Hat.
* Mediocre quarterly results from Adobe and Tibco Software.
* Mixed quarterly figures from Finisar, with revenue up but profit down; and Jabil Circuit, with revenue up but profit down.
* The appointments of Tom Bradley as HP's new executive focusing on improving the company's China business (ex-VP of HP's printing and personal systems unit); Johan Dennelind (ex-Vodacom International) as CEO of TeliaSonera; and Gavin Patterson as CEO of BT Group.
* Ian Livingstone resigned as CEO of BT Group.

Oracle intends moving its listing from Nasdaq to the NYSE, the biggest exchange defection ever.

International:
* SoftBank closing its $21.6 billion deal for the acquisition of Sprint Nextel.
* The battle for control of Kabel Deutschland, as Liberty Global enters the fray against Vodafone, which is also interested in the company.
* A buyer for Nokia Siemens Networks.
* A possible bid by Verizon Communications for Canada's Wind Mobile.
* Details of the asset sales recently announced by Alcatel-Lucent, in a move designed to cut costs by EUR1 billion.
* Sony's decision regarding its entertainment unit following pressure from Daniel Loeb, a US hedge fund manager who has a major stake in the company.
* The possible acquisition by Yahoo of Qwiki, an automated video application maker.
Africa:
* The establishment of an IT ministry in Nigeria.
South Africa:
* Further developments regarding Telkom SA and the disposal of its non-core assets.

* Worldwide government IT spending will be flat in 2013, according to Gartner.
* Mobile commerce transactions conducted via mobile handsets and tablets will exceed $3.2 trillion by 2017, up from $1.5 trillion this year, according to Juniper Research.
* Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment spend will decline 5.5% this year, says Gartner.

* JSE All share index: Down 3.2%
* Nasdaq: Down 1.9%
* Top SA share movements: Business Connexion (-9.2%), MiX Telematics (+18.8%), Poynting (+11.9%), Silverbridge Holdings (-50%), Telemasters (-20%) and Trustco (-18.6%)

FinWeek has published its annual 'The Top 200'. The following is an extract from a technology perspective:

Rankings by market capitalisation:

* 6: MTN
* 8: Naspers
* 11: Vodacom Group
* 67: Reunert

Return on total assets:

* 5 :Labat Africa
* 9: Vodacom Group
* 21: CompuClearing Outsourcing
* 23: ISA
* 25: Reunert
* 26: Metrofile
* 28: MTN
* 32: FoneWorx
* 40: Pinnacle Technology Holdings
* 55: Poynting
* 63: EOH
* 66: Ansys
* 90: MiX Telematics

Composite weighted financial ratio index:

* 35: AdaptIT
* 36: Stella Vista
* 37: Silverbridge Holdings
* 46: Altron
* 47: Altech
* 51: Digicore
* 52: Reunert
* 58: MICROmega Holdings
* 93: Sekunjalo Investments
* 98: Gijima Group
* 100: CompuClearing Outsourcing