The results floodgates open

The on-going battle between Mannesmann - which is now working with Deutsche Bank to create a pan-European Internet-based bank - and Vodafone; and the aftermath of the announced merger between AOL and Time Warner, including AOL`s excellent quarterly figures, continued to dominate the international world of IT and telecommunications during the last two weeks.

At homethe appointment of a new CEO at Comparex ahead of the release of its new strategic plan this week if not today, and the re-statement of year-end financials by Bryant Technology made local headlines.

• we saw a significant re-statement of the year-end results from Bryant Technology, which now show a loss (a loss warning for current year also forecast);

• satisfactory interim numbers from Interconnective Solutions;

• the change of ownership of Auto Space Age Systems (ASAS) to Strider Holdings together with a profit warning for the 10 months ending 31 December 1999;

• the announcement that Integrated Holdings (ITech) intends to de-list from the JSE;

• Aplitec intends to transfer from the venture capital sector of the JSE to the IT sector;

• I-Fusion`s board has rejected CEO Ron Sackstein`s offer to resign following insider trading allegations and confirmed its full on-going support for him; and

• out of the ashes of Infiniti emerges a new networking company, Dynamic Information Networks (DNI), reborn from Pin-Point Networking by some of Infiniti`s former employees.

[Local]

Local acquisitions, mergers, investments etc (see attachment).

Local Cautionary Notices (see attachment).

Local Listing calendar (see attachment).

Local Result Summaries (see attachment).

Local Major Event Summary (see attachment).

Other local news included:

• the opening by Cisco of an office in Zimbabwe, by TAS Software (UK) in a joint venture with Accfinity Technologies, and by Stella Vista in the US;

• the resignations of Chris de Beyer, MD of Sun Microsystems SA, and Paul Dinsmore, MD of SecureData;

• the handing over of the CEO`s position at Comparex from Roux Marnitz to Rian du Plessis;

• the announcement by EDS Africa that it is retrenching some 80 staff; and

• the announcement that Dutch-based Origin is making a second attempt to enter the local market via a venture with Elcym, following an abortive try last year with Siltek.

Additionally, Information Industry SA has elected Adrian Schofield as its first president.

• we saw the announcement that Compuware had called off its acquisition of Viasoft;

• Beyond.com is to shed some 20% of its staff;

• Western Digital will exit the high-end hard drive business and lay-off staff as a direct result; and

• Creative Computers has changed its name to IdeaMall.

[International]

International acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures etc (see attachment).

Other international news included:

• the

  appointments

  of Bruce Albertson as CEO of Iomega, Stephen Bennett as CEO of Intuit, Michael Greenbaum as CEO of Hybrid Networks, Larry Mueller as president of Ariba, James Travers as CEO of Harbinger, and Rick Wills as president and CEO of Tektronix;

• the

  resignations

  of the CEO of Beyond.com, Mark Breier, and Marty Sprinzen, CEO of Forte Software; and

• the lay-off of some 150 staff at Amazon.com.

We saw excellent figures from Alliance Semiconductor (back in the black), AOL, Asyst Technologies (back in the black), Broadcom, BroadVision, Carrier Access, Check Point Software, Citrix Systems, Cognex, Conexant Systems (back in the black), eBay, Emulex, Entrust Technologies (back in the black), Extreme Networks (back in the black), Fairchild Semiconductor (back in the black), Flextronics International, Hi/fn, i2 Technologies, JDA Uniphase, Juniper Networks (back in the black), LAM Research, Latitude Comms, Legend Group, Macromedia, MicroStrategy, NEON Systems, Novellus Systems, Precision Response, Radcom, RadiSys, RealNetworks (back in the black), Redback Networks (back in the black), Sagent Technology, SanDisk, Sanmina (back in the black), Sapient, Siebel, Silicon Storage Technology, Silicon Valley Group, Somera Comms, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Teradyne, Terayon Communications, Varian Semiconductor, VeriSign (back in the black), WebTrends, Wipro, Xilinx and Zomax.

Losses came from Accrue Software, ACT Networks, Active Software, Active Voice, Aerial Comms, Akamai Technologies, Alysis Technologies, American Semiconductor, Analogy, Ancor Comms, Andover.net, Aseco, Ask Jeeves, Auspex, Autoweb.com, BackWeb Technologies, Be Inc., Bell Canada, Beyond.com, Broadwing, Cadence Design Systems, Celeritek, CIDCO, Clarent, Cobalt Networks, Commerce One, Computer Network Technology, Concentric Network, Concurrent Computer, Cotelligent, Creative Computers, Covad Comms, CTC Comms, CyberCash, Cybersource, Daleen Technologies, Digital Island, Digital River, Digital Transmission Systems, E*Trade Group, Efficient Networks, eGain Comms, Exabyte, Exodus Comms, FlexiInternational Software, Focal, Globix, Go2Net, GRIC Comms, HIE, HNC Software, Hutchinson Technologies, ImageX.com, iManage, Inprise/Borland, Infinium, Informatica, Inktomi. Insignia Solutions, Interactive Intelligence, Interleaf, InterNAP Network Services, JDS Uniphase, JSB Software Technologies, Kana Comms, Komag, Lionbridge, McAfee.com, Madge Networks, Marimba, MEMC Electronic Materials, Micromuse, MicroTouch Systems, Microwave Power Devices, MMC Networks, Mobius Management, MyPoints.com, NBC Internet, Netegrity, NetManage, NetObjects, Network Peripherals, New Era of Networks, ODS Networks, OnDisplay, OpenTV, OSI, Pervasive Software, Phone.com, Pilot Network Services, Pliant Systems, Proxim, Quad Systems, Quantum HDD, Retek, Robocom, Ross Systems, SalesLogix, SCC Comms, Scient, SCT, Secure Computing, Silicon Image, Software.com, Technology Solutions, Telula, Telxon, theglobe.com, USinternetworking, USWeb/CKS, Veritas Software (but revenue nearly tripled), Versant, Vignette, Virata, Vitria Technology, Vitrix, Wavo, Westell Technologies, Western Digital, Worldtalk, Xenos Group, Zilog and Zitel.

Good numbers were recorded by ACS, Acxiom, Adaptec, Advent Software, Alltel, Altera, AMD (better than expected), Anaren Microwave, APC, Apex, Apple Computer, Ardent Software, ASM Lithography, Atmel, Avant!, Barra, Bisys Group, Brio Technology (back in the black), Brooks Automation (back in the black), C-Cor.net (back in the black), C-Cube, Cam Data Systems, CACI International, Cap Gemini SA, CGI Group, Computer Associates, Compuware, Cybex Computer Products, Cypress Semiconductor, Datatel, Diamond Technology Partners, Digital Island, Digital Microwave (back in the black), DST Systems, Eastman Kodak, Elantec Semiconductor (back in the black), Electronics for Imaging, EMC, Ericsson, ESS Technology, Equifax, Excite@Home (back in the black), F5 Networks (back in the black), First Data, Geoworks (back in the black), Globecomm Systems (back in the black), Guillemot, IDT (back in the black), Ikos Systems, ISS, Kronos, Lattice Semiconductor (back in the black), Legato Systems, Lexmark (better than expected), Lightbridge (back in the black), Linear Technology, LSI Logic, MapInfo, Mentor, Mercury Interactive, Micro Component Technology (back in the black-just), Micros, Microsoft, Mission Critical Software (back in the black), Motorola, MTI Technology, Muse Technologies (back in the black), National Instruments, NetIQ (back in the black), NetSolve, Nortel Networks (back in the black), Optibase, Pericom Semiconductor, Polycom, Proxicom (back in the black), Qualcomm, Quantum DLT & Storage Systems (back in the black), RDL Group, Remedy, RF Micro Devices, Rambus, RSA Security, Samsung Electronics, SAP, SBC Comms, SBS Technologies, SCI Systems, Scientific-Atlanta, Siemens, Siliconix, Spyglass (back in the black), STMicroelectronics NV, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, TelCom Semiconductor, Telident, Tellabs, Texas Instruments, Timberline Software, Trident Microsystems (back in the black), US Cellular, V3 Semiconductor, Whittman-Hart and Xircom.

Satisfactory figures came from ACS, ADP, Aspen Technology, Axent Technologies, BellSouth, Brightpoint, CellStar, Coherent, Comdisco, Concord Comms, Consolidated Graphics, Danka Business Systems (back in the black), Diebold, Digi International, Excel Technology, FileNET (back in the black), Giga-tronics, GTE, IKON Office Solutions, Informix (back in the black but revenue down), International Business Systems AB, Iomega, Logic Devices, Mitel, MCT (back in the black-just), Paradyne Networks (back in the black), Pitney Bowes, QRS, Quantum HDD Group (back in the black), RCM Technologies, Rockwell International, SCO, Sybase (back in the black), Teledyne Technologies, The Management Network Group and Wavecom.

Mediocre returns came from Andrew Corp, Applix, Aspect Development, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BMC Software, Bsquare, BTG (but back in the black), Ceridian, Clarify, Compaq, CoorsTek, Corel, Creative Technology, CSG Systems International, Data Research Associates, Deutsche Telekom, Gateway, Harris, Hyperion, IBM, Imation, Iona Technologies, Ixos Software, Lanier Worldwide, Lucent Technologies, Mapics, Mastech, Maxtor, Microsemi, Misys, Mitel, NCR, Network Associates, PanAmSat, Parametric Technologies, PSDI, Saga Systems, Sapiens International, Savoir Technology, SGI, Sony, Unisys, US West, Viasoft and Xerox.

Very poor results were reported by ACE*COMM, Adept Technology, Align-Rite, Allaire (back in the black), Aspect Communications, California Micro Devices (but back in the black), Citation Computer, Comshare, Continuous Software (but back in the black - just), Documentum, Genesis Microchip, Gentia Software, International Highway AB, IXYS, JDA Software (but back in the black), Larscom (but back in the black), Micro Linear, Microtest (but back in the black), Overland Data, Salient 3 Comms, Silicom, Symix and Video Display.

Other financial news included profit warnings from Dell, E.Piphany (RightPoint acquisition charge), ECI Telecomms, Eidos, IMRglobal, Peerless Systems, Sterling Commerce (sale of XcelleNet), Sykes Enterprises and Xerox (more restructuring charges). There were share split announcements from Active Voice, Allaire, Broadcom, Citrix Systems, Dallas Semiconductor, ESI, Lam Research, Linear Technology, LSI Logic, Nortel Networks, Qlogic, SanDisk, Sanmina, SCI Systems, Sycamore Networks, USA Networks, Vertical Computer Systems and Veritas Software.

Locally

Aplitec (-26.3%)

Bynx (-33.3%)

C-Tech (-27.8%)

CCH (+25.8%)

CIH (-33.3%)

Contlan (-40%)

Control (+28.6%)

Crux (-27.1%)

Elexir (-23.5%)

Explorer (-25%)

Jasco (-26%)

Micrologix (+58.3%)

MMW (-25%)

NetActive (-32.8%)

Paracon (+33.3%)

PentaCom (-25%)

Pinnacle (-23.5%)

PTH (-27.3%)

Skills Accel (-46.7%)

Wentech (+50%)

Internationally

4Front Technologies (+34.9%)

All American Semiconductor (+53.8%)

Brooks Automation (+31.7%)

CompUSA (+76.2%)

Computron (+40.9%)

Creative Computers (+54.4%)

Datapoint (+80%)

Geoworks (+110.1%)

ILOG SA (+56.4%)

INFONET SVCS CP (+34.4%)

LanOptics (+33.3%)

Legato (-54.6%)

Madge Networks (+84.9%)

Onyx Software (+52.4%)

Orckit Comms (+30.1%)

Ortel (+36.4%)

Siliconix (+54%)

Sybase (+38.6%)

Sykes Enterprises (-45.8%)

Varian Semiconductor (+31.8%)

VerticalNet (+90.4%)

Whittman-Hart (-32.3%)

I`ve just returned from a printing and imaging symposium in the US run by the leading research company in this market space, Lyra Research, and will report on this shortly. Since this issue is already very lengthy, just think about the following:

"Intel giveth but Microsoft taketh away."