Several firms head to stock exchanges worldwide

Last week saw Ariba`s acquisition of FreeMarkets, a raft of quarterly results and an ever-growing list of organisations wishing to list on various stock exchanges across the globe.

From a technology perspective on the Financial Times` sixth annual 'World`s most respected companies` survey, Microsoft came in at number two (same as last year), IBM at number four (was third) and Dell at seven (up from 10).

Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners

Locally, Altech`s investment in Econet Wireless Global stole much of the local ICT headline space.

• We saw good interim numbers from OneLogix (revenue up and back in the black);
• Negative profit/earnings warnings from Altech and Altron; and
• Positive earnings warnings from Advtech, BTG and Digicore.

Other local news included:

* The appointments of Johan du Preez as CEO of Compu-Clearing, Arnold Garber as executive chairman of Compu-Clearing, Shaun Liebenberg as CEO of Grintek and Pakamile Pongwana as acting director-general at the Department of Communications;

* The green light from the Competition Commission for Altech`s acquisition of NamITech; and

* Altech announced a joint venture with Econet Wireless.

Furthermore, on the local front look out for MTN`s possible investment in Kencell, one of Kenya`s cellular operators.

* We saw the name changes of Dutch-based MSI Cellular Investments to Celtel International following its announcement that it had raised $62 million to help fund its local and international growth and OneLink to Spectre Gaming;

* The sell-off by Telecom Italia of its remaining 14.8% stake in Telekom Austria;

* UK-based Xansa withdrew from the US; and

* Nortel Networks is to quit manufacturing and is likely to sell its manufacturing operations to Flextronics International.

An international strategic partnership was announced between Alias, a Silicon Graphics company, and Weta Digital.

Additionally, look out for a possible bankruptcy filing by Cabletel Comms.

Other international news included:

* The appointments of David Andrews as MD of Jasmin, Erick Caron as president and CEO of Globecom, Lou DiNardo as co-chairman of Xicor, Eric Evans as president and COO of Diebold, Jon Lauck as CEO of Fuego, Don LeBeau as president and CEO of Aruba Wireless Networks, Eitan Naor as president and CEO of ECTel, Anthony Naughtin as CEO of Network Clarity, Irfhan Rajani as CEO of Apparent Networks and Damian Smith as interim CEO of LookSmart;

* The resignations of Jason Kellerman as CEO of LookSmart, Anthony Naughtin as co-founder of InterNAP Network Services, Mark Thelkin as CEO of Fuego and Glenn Wong as CEO of Apparent Networks;

* The retirement of Dan McCranie as co-chairman of Xicor (later this year); and

* Job loss announcements from Alltel, Eastman Kodak, France Telecom, KPN, MCI, PalmOne and Wavecom SA.

We saw excellent* figures from AMD (back in the black), Callidus Software (back in the black), Carrier Access (back in the black), eBay, NetScreen Technologies, Netflix (back in the black), Netopia (back in the black), SanDisk, SSA Global, SST (back in the black), UTStarcom and Yahoo Japan.

Very good* numbers were posted by Adtran, Amdocs, Amphenol, Atmel (back in the black), Bolt Technology (back in the black), Cabot Microelectronics, CACI, F5 Networks, FormFactor, Kulicke & Soffa Industries (back in the black), MapInfo (back in the black), NVE, Overland Storage, PMC-Sierra (back in the black), RF Micro Devices (back in the black), SupportSoft, Symantec, Synaptics, Tetra Tech, Tollgrade Comms and Xilinx (back in the black).

Good figures* were recorded by ACS, Actel (back in the black), Aladdin Knowledge Systems (back in the black), Aprisma Management Technologies, C-COR.net (back in the black), Click Commerce (back in the black), Computer Associates (back in the black), Concord Comms, Cypress Semiconductor (back in the black), EMC (back in the black), FileNet, IDS Scheer AG, IDT (back in the black), ILOG (back in the black), Infineon (back in the black), Informatica, Innovex (back in the black), Integrated Circuit Systems, International Game Technology, Komag (back in the black), Logitech, Lucent Technologies (back in the black), Macromedia, Maxtor, Microsemi (back in the black), Morse, National Instruments, Navarre, Open Text, Optika, Peak International, PLX Technology (back in the black), Power Integrations, Qualcomm, Sanmina-SCI (back in the black), Satyam Computer Services, SBS Technologies, ScanSource, SchlumbergerSema, Scientific-Atlanta, Secure Computing, Siemens, Sony Ericsson Comms AB (back in the black), Storage Technology, Stratos Global, Trident Microsystems (back in the black), TSYS, Westell Technologies and Xicor (back in the black).

Satisfactory* figures were reported by Acxiom, Alltel, AMX, Aspect Comms, Aspen Technology (back in the black), Atos Origin SA, BellSouth, Ceridian, Check Point Software Technologies, Convergys (back in the black), Excel Technology, Global Imaging, Hutchinson Technology, II-IV, KLA-Tencor, Lam Research, Microchip Technology, MIPS Technologies (back in the black), MobileOne, Motorola, MRO Software, MTS, Nokia, Omtool (back in the black), Seagate Technology, Skyworks, Unisys and Vignette.

Mediocre* returns came from ADP, AT&T, Black Box, CDW, ChoicePoint, Cirrus Logic (but back in the black), Citrix, Compuware, Equifax, Hyperion, Lightbridge, Mercury Interactive, Microsoft, Misys, Pervasive Software, SAP, Semitool (but back in the black), Siebel Systems (but back in the black), Verilink, Verisity, Western Digital and Wipro.

Very poor results* were posted by CyberSource (but back in the black), Eastman Kodak, Genesis Microchip (but back in the black), JDA Software and Plexus (but back in the black).

Losses* came from Adept Technology, Applied Micro Circuits, AsiaInfo, AT&T Wireless, Avistar Comms, Blue Martini Software, Broadvision, CheckFree, Cingular Wireless, Ciprico, Corning, Eclipsys, Epic Data, Hifn, Hummingbird, IGate Global Solutions, Instinet Group, Iomega, Iona Technologies, Kana, Kemet, Micro Linear, Network Engines, NMS Comms, Nuvo Network Management, Openwave, Oplink Comms, Orckit Comms, Parametric Technology, PhotoWorks, Pinnacle Systems, Plumtree Software, Powerwave Technologies, PTC, Redback Networks, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Sento, Sify, Stellent, Stratex Networks, Stratus Technologies International, Technitrol, Tellabs, Tessco Technologies, TranSwitch, Tumbleweed Comms, Virage Logic, Vitesse Semiconductor, Vyyo, WebMethods and Zarlink Semiconductor.

Other financial news included analyst upgrades for Amdocs, CACI, Check Point Software, Entravision Comms, FileNet, Informatica, Sanmina-SCI, Skyworks and Symantec; analyst downgrades for BEA Systems and ILOG SA; private placement of shares by DDi and VerticalNet; share offerings from MTC, NaviSite, Reuters and Tibco; and share buy-back announcements from infoUSA, Storage Technology, Symantec and Verizon Comms.

There were positive results/profit warnings from Harris, NSB Retail and Radyne ComStream; negative results/profit warnings (often veiled) from Digimarc, Eidos, IQE, Misys and PEC Solutions; share split announcements from National Instruments (3:2), Netflix (2:1), OmniVision Technologies (2:1) and SanDisk (2:1); planned IPOs on Nasdaq from Jazz Semiconductor and Chinese technology company, Linktone; a planned IPO in Japan by Japanese semiconductor company, Renesas Technology; a planned IPO in Paris by French Internet group, Iliad; and a planned IPO in London from Bluetooth specialist, Cambridge Silicon Radio.

Additionally, Redback Networks emerged from Chapter 11 and the Securities Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Computer Associates` Lloyd Silverstein, accusing him of participating in improper revenue recognition over 16-year period.

Locally

Cape Empowerment Trust (+66.7%)
Cycad (-66.7%)
Digicore (+25.5%)
Elexir (-25%)
Faritec (+15.4%)
Global Technology (+50%)
Infowave (-27.3%)
Maxtec (+50%)
Reunert (-15.4%)
Sethold (-15.4%)
Zaptronix (-33.3%)

Internationally

Applied Microsystems (-40%)
Celltalk Group (+35.7%)
ID Data (+30.2%)
Intershop (+34%)
Scipher (+70.1%)
SDL (+36%)
SONICblue (-50%)
Tadpole Technology (+53.4%)
Tower Semiconductor (-30.7%)
VerticalNet (+34.1%)

In terms of indices, Nasdaq was down 0.8% and the JSE up 0.5% for the week.

The UK`s Financial Times has published its sixth annual 'World`s most respected companies` survey. From a technology perspective, Microsoft came in at number two (same as last year), IBM at number four (was third) and Dell at seven (up from 10). Also included are the world`s most respected leaders, with Microsoft`s Bill Gates at number one (same as last year), Michael Dell of Dell at six (was four) and Lou Gerstner of IBM at seven (was number three but has subsequently retired).

As one might expect, the telecoms companies were well down the list, with UK`s Vodafone being the highest ranked at 47, up from last year`s 56.

* NB

Guidelines for the categorisation of results are as follows and are always in comparison with the equivalent period for the previous year; pro forma numbers are ignored (the terminology may vary slightly from country to country).

* Excellent: Both revenue and net income growth are in excess of 50%.
* Very good: Both revenue and net income growth are in excess of 25%.
* Good: Both revenue and net income growth are in excess of 10%.
* Satisfactory: Revenue is within 10% of previous year and net income is up.
* Mediocre: Either revenue and/or net income is down.
* Very poor: Net income is less than 1% of revenue.
* Loss: A loss has been recorded.