The launch of Windows XP by Microsoft, and the continued flood of poor quarterly results, particularly from Compaq, Ericsson and Xerox, dominated the international world of IT and telecommunications last week.
Deloitte & Touche has just published its Fast 50 survey results, which show the IPS Group at the top.
Paul Booth, MD, Global Research Partners
At home, the continued speculation of the eventual fate of Siltek and its various components, and the fiasco re the Tel.com exhibition/conference stole much of the local headline space.
On the local front
we saw excellent interim figures from IST (net profit up over fivefold);
a full-year loss from Set Point Technology Holdings (revenue also down); and
the termination of the listing of Metropolis.
[Local]
Other local news included:
the announcement that a new consortium has been formed to take over AfriCam;
the proposal that Fintech become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altron, and the shares of the former will thus be suspended and the company subsequently de-listed;
the formation of Trade Logic Services, a new division of Affinity Logic, which is also likely to undergo a MBO from its parent Wooltru;
the appointment of Christo Nel as the new non-executive chairman of Ixchange and the proposal that a reverse share-split of Ixchange/Front Range Solutions be instigated;
the appointments of Michael Hill as MD of Y2Ktec and Russell Chambers (replacing Roux Marnitz) as the chairman of Comparex;
the proposed name change of Cyberhost, which has now been re-established; and
we await the outcome of the bids/MBOs from the demise of Siltek.
On the international front
we saw the launch of Microsoft XP; and
the tie-up of Dell with EMC for storage equipment.
Additionally, watch out for the possible acquisition of Comdisco`s recovery business by HP.
[International]
Other international news included:
the
appointments
of Manny Carter as president and COO of Eagle Broadband, David Lockwood as president of InterTrust, George Merrick as president and CEO of Com21, Richard Nardone as president and CEO of EMCEE, Paul Shorthose as CEO of Arts Technology Group and Marty Singer as CEO of PCTEL;
the
resignations
of James DeStefano, president and CEO of EMCEE Broadcast Products, Lars Ramqvist, chairman of Ericsson, and Jeet Singh as CEO of ART to become its co-chairman;
the
retirement
of Mike Shabazian, president of En Pointe Technologies; and
job loss announcements
from ADC Telecomms, Agere, Allied Riser Comms, ART, Belgacom, Eastman Kodak, Electronic Arts, Flextronics, Fujitsu, Hummingbird, KPN, Level 3 Comms, Lexmark, Lucent Technologies, Multex.com, Napster, Net2000, Netia, Patsystems, Pivotal, Purchase Pro, SBC Comms and Superscape.
Financial results
We saw excellent figures from Cytec, HPL Technologies, Input/Output (back in the black), Overture Services (formerly GoTo), PEC Solutions, Tensilica, WebSense (back in the black), UTStarcom, and XEL Comms.
Good numbers were recorded by Acta Technology, AT&T Wireless, Avaya, Bisys Group, Citrix Systems, Cymer (back in the black), ECTel, EPIQ Systems, Fiserv, Logitech, Metro One Telecomms, Sanchez Computer Associates (back in the black), Satyam Computer Services, ScanSoft (back in the black), ScanSource, Syprix Solutions, Telus and Western Digital (back in the black).
Satisfactory results were posted by AT&T, Colt Telecom, CompuTrac (back in the black), DST Systems, Dynamic Research, Equant, France Telecom, Hyperion (back in the black), Imation (back in the black), Inter-Tel, Interactive Data (back in the black), ITT Industries, Lexmark, Lockheed Martin (back in the black), MCSi, Micronetics Wireless, Omnicom Group, PC Mall, Pegasystems (back in the black), Quality Systems, SBC Comms, SCT, StorageTek, Terayon Comms Systems and Tessco.
Mediocre returns came from 3M, Acxiom, Altera, Anaren Microwave, Andrew, Anixter International, Ansys, APC, Ascential Software, Avant!, Advantest, Belden, Borland, Cabot Microelectronics, Cobra Electronics, Comms Systems, CommScope, CompuCom Systems, CompX International, Cox Comms, CT Comms, Dassault Systemes, Datascope, Deltek, Diebold, DSP Group, Eastman Kodak, EchoStar Comms (but back in the black), EDS, Elantec Semiconductor, ESS Technology, FEI, Forrester Research, Foundry Networks, ICT Group, Information Holdings, Ingenico SA, Integrated Circuit Systems, Interlogix, International Rectifier, InterTAN, Keane, Lightbridge, Microchip Technology, National Instruments, New Horizons, OnTrack International, Open Text, Plexus, Power Integrations, QLogic, Quantum, Sanmina, Sanyo, Scala Business Solutions NV (but back in the black), Semcon, Technology Solutions, Teledyne Technologies, Trend Micro, TTM Technologies, Veeco Instruments and Zebra Technologies.
Very poor results were posted by ChoicePoint, Datum, Kemet, Lexent, MetaSolv Software, Metro Information Services, Micrel, Micromuse, Micros (but back in the black), OSI Systems (but back in the black), Par Technology (but back in the black), Pentacon, Pericom Semiconductor, Precise Software (back in the black), Radyne ComStream, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Versant, Walker Interactive Systems (but back in the black) and WorldCom.
Losses were reported by 724 Solutions, 8x8, Accrue Software, ACE*COMM, Actel, Adept Technology, Adera, Advanced Power Technology, Aetrium, Agere Systems, Allegiance Telecom, Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Amazon.com, Amkor, AML Comms, Applied Microsystems, Applix, Apropos Technology, Arris, Ariba, Arrow Electronics, Artisan Components, Artisoft, ASC, ASE Test limited, ASM International NV, Aspen Technology, Asyst Technologies, ATG, AvantGo, Avaya, Avici Systems, Avnet, Axcelis, AXT, BackWeb Technologies, BCE, Bell Canada International, Beyond.com, Billserv, Blue Martini Software, Bluefly, BMC Software, Bottomline Technologies, Brio Software, Broadvision, Bsquare, Butler International, California Micro Devices, Caliper Technology, Call-Net, CellStar, Centillium Comms, Ceragon Networks, Chartered Semiconductor, Chordiant Software, Cintech, Cirrus Logic, Clare, Clarus, Click Commerce, Click2Learn, ClickAction, CNET Networks, Cohu, Commtouch, Compaq, Compugen, Comshare, Concurrent Computer, CoorsTek, Copper Mountain Networks, Corio, Corvis, CoSine Comms, Creative Technology, CyberOptics, Daleen Technologies, Data I/O, Datakey, Datastream Systems, Davox, DDi, Dialog Semiconductor, Digital Impact, Digital Insight, Digital River, Digex, Dynacore Holdings, E.piphany, EarthLink, Elastic Networks, Electronic Arts, Eloquent, eMachines, Embratel Participacoes SA, ENCAD, Endcore Wire, Endwave, Enea Data AB, Entrust, Eprise, Ericsson, eSoft, Evolving Systems, Exchange Applications, EXE Technologies, F5 Networks, Fairchild Semiconductor, Fiberstars, Firstwave Technologies, Flextronics, FreeMarkets, Fujitsu, General Cable, General Magic, Getty Images, Giga-tronics, Glenayre, GRIC Comms, GSI Lumonics, Helix, Hummingbird, i3 Mobile, iBasis, Ibis Technology, Icon Medialab AB, ICOS Vision Systems, Identix, ILOG, InfoSpace, InfoVista SA, Innoveda, INSpire Insurance Solutions, Integrated Telecom Express, Intentia, Interactive Telesis, InterDigital, inTEST, Intevac, Intrado, ITXC, j2 Global Comms, Jaco Electronics, JDA Software Group, JDS Uniphase, JNI, Key Tronic, Keynote Systems, Kopin, Kronos, Landmark Systems, Lattice Semiconductor, Leap Wireless, Legato Systems, Level 3 Comms, LSI Logic, Lucent Technologies, Luminent, Marimba, MatrixOne, Maxcom Telecomms, Maxtor, Meta4 NV, Metawave, Micro Linear, Microdevices, Micronic Laser Systems AB, Microtune, Millicom International Cellular SA, Mind CTI, Mobius Management Systems, MSC.Software, Multex.com, NCR, NEC, Net Perceptions, Net2Phone, Netegrity, NetIQ, Network Plus, New Focus, Nextel Comms, Nextel Partners, NIC, Nocom AB, Novadigm, Novatel Wireless, Oak Technology, On2 Technologies, Online Resources, Oplink Comms, OTG Software, P-Com, PCD, PCTEL, Peco II, Peregrine Systems, Perficient, Persistence Software, Photon Dynamics, Pinnacle Systems, Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Pivotal, Predictive Systems, Presstek, Primus, Quest Software, Radcom, Radiant Systems, RadView Software, Rainbow Technologies, Reptron Electronics, Roxio, RWD Technologies, Samsung Electronics, Sapient, Scient, Scientific Learning, SCM Microsystems, SeeBeyond, Segue software, Signal Technology, SignalSoft, Silicom, Silicon Graphics, Silicon Image, Silicon Labs., SilverStream Software, Simplex Solutions, Smith Micro Software, Socket Comms, SofTech, Sonera, Sonic Innovations, Sony, SoundView Technology, Spectrum Signal Processing, SpeechWorks International, SRS Labs, ST Assembly Starbase, Symmetricom, Tanning Technology, Telesp Celular Participacoes SA, Test Services, Stamps.com, Stellent, Superconductor Technologies, Sybase, Syntellect, TCSI, Tele2 AB, Tellium, Toshiba, Tricom, Trimble, Tvia, Ultimate Software, US Lec, USA Networks, USDATA, Varian Semiconductor, Vastera, Ventro, Verilink, VeriSign, VerticalNet, Viasystems, Vignette, Virata, Vitesse Semiconductor, Vitria, Vixel, VocalTec, Voss Net Plc., Vyyo, WebMethods, WorldGate Comms, Xerox, Zilog and Zoom Telephonics.
Other financial news included share buy-back announcements from Comverse Technology, Ditech Comms, Eastman Kodak, Ecsoft Group, ESS, Forrester Research and Level 3 Comms; profit warnings from ASM International NV, C-Mac Industries, Casio Computer, Colt Telecom, Compaq, Ericsson, Fujitsu, JDS Uniphase, Lexmark, Multex.com, NTT, Satyam Computer services, SDL, Softbank, Software AG and Vitesse Semiconductor; and share split announcements from Activision and Kronos.
Stock movements
Locally
Edutech (+40%)
Elexir (-33.3%)
Ixchange (+60%)
MBTech (+18.6%)
Micrologix (-50%)
Mustek (+19.6%)
Pinnacle (+25%)
Sekunjalo (+20%)
Sethold (+36.4%)
Y2Ktec (+50%)
Internationally
Arris (+54.5%)
CompleTel Europe NV (+61.1%)
Cirrus Logic (+49.9%)
ConMat Technologies (-42.9%)
Elite Information Group (+49.8%)
Epicor (+41.4%)
Exchange Applications (+40.9%)
ILOG (+40.5%)
Jupiter Media Metrix (+184%)
SGI (+153.7%)
VerticalNet (+41.8%)
Final word
Deloitte & Touche has just published its Fast 50 survey results, which show the IPS Group at the top, followed by Aplitec, Resolution Software, Vesta Technology Holdings and Datatec.
It was interesting to note that only 15 of the 50 companies were listed per se; a handful were SA subsidiaries of overseas operations or members of a locally listed entity, while the majority were privately-owned.
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