Paul BoothConsultant Paul Booth keeps you abreast of the notable deals and developments in the local and international tech space.
International deals
• Accenture has acquired three companies: Altima, a full-service digital
commerce agency; IBB Consulting, a strategy consulting firm focused on the tech and media space; and Matter, a design firm focused on products and experiences for the connected world.
• Alphabet led a $1 billion investment in Lyft, the ride-hailing service.
• Amazon bought Body Labs, a startup focused on creating 3D models that
accurately mimic the body of a person who is scanned.
• Apple acquired New Zealand-based PowerbyProxi, which designs wireless
power products for consumers and industry.
• A Bain Capital-led consortium, which includes Apple and Dell
Technology, acquired Toshiba's chip unit for $18 billion. Western Digital
is seeking an injunction to block the sale.
• Broadcom has proposed a $130 billion bid for rival Qualcomm.
• Cisco bought Perspica, a streaming data startup; hyperconvergence
software company Springpath for $320 million; and telecoms software
company BroadSoft in a deal worth $1.9 billion.
• Extreme Networks purchased Brocade Communications Systems'
datacentre business directly from the vendor, before Brocade itself was
acquired by Broadcom for $5.5 billion.
• Facebook acquired tbh, an app popular among teens.
• Forcepoint acquired RedOwl, a security analytics company.
• Garmin acquired Navionics, a provider of electronic navigational charts and
mobile apps for the marine industry.
• Google bought HTC's Pixel division for $1.1 billion.
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise purchased Amazon Web Services
consultancy Cloud Technology Partners, in a move designed to bolster its
hybrid IT prowess.
• IBM purchased Vivant Digital, an Australia-based digital and
innovation agency.
• Juniper Networks acquired Cyphort, a software security company.
• Lenovo Group bought a 51% stake in Fujitsu's personal computer unit for
$269 million.
• Microsoft acquired social virtual reality application provider AltspaceVR,
and Cycle Computing, which offers a suite of high-performance computing services for cloud orchestration, provisioning and data management in the cloud.
• NetApp bought Greenqloud, an Iceland-based developer of enterprise-scale cloud management technology.
• Samsung, via its investment arm Samsung Ventures, and LG, through its LG Display division, have invested €25 million ($30 million) in German OLED company Cynora.
• SAP purchased Gigya, a market leader for customer identity and access management.
• VMware bought VeloCloud, a cloud networking startup.
• Western Digital bought Tegile Systems, less than ve months after
leading an investment in the ash-storage company; and Upthere, a cloud services startup.
international developments
• A strategic partnership was announced between Accenture and Apple
to build enterprise apps for their customers, focusing initially on financial
services and retail.
• Alibaba Group Holding is launching a $15 billion drive to build overseas
research hubs as the deep-pocketed rm looks to compete with global
leaders in e-commerce, logistics and cloud technology.
• The European Commission is taking Ireland to the European Court of Justice
for its failure to recover up to €13 billion of tax due from Apple.
• The EU has ordered Amazon to pay €250 million in back taxes.
• Former rivals Intel and AMD are partnering on a next-generation
laptop computer chip for PC users, in a move likely meant to challenge
competitor Nvidia.
• Microsoft will drop a lawsuit against the US government after the
Department of Justice changed data request rules on alerting internet
users about agencies accessing their information.
• Sharp has requested the US International Trade Commission to investigate
Hisense Group, escalating a dispute over patent infringement.
Local deals
• Newly JSE-listed 4Sight Holdings acquired Age, an IoT systems integrator, in a deal worth R80 million; BluESP an engineering technology company focused on the mining and manufacturing sectors for R54.8 million; and Digitata, a Mauritius-based international telecoms solutions provider.
• Alviva acquired a 51% shareholding in Sintrex, an infrastructure management company; and also bought 75% of Gridcars, a specialist in electric vehicle charge points.
• Ansys acquired LAWtrust, a provider of cyber and information security solutions, for R108.5 million.
• BCX has announced the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary Netcampus, with current managing executive, Tebogo Makgatho taking 70% of the company while the remaining 30% will be sold to Telkom FutureMakers.
• Bitdefender has appointed Rectron as an authorised distributor for the Southern African region, which includes South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.
• Bytes Technology Group acquired Uk-based Phoenix Software.
• Cognosec has completed the acquisition of Intact Software Distribution for €506 000 (R3.8 million).
• Dial a Nerd has announced a merger with Turrito Networks, following a two year-long partnership.
• Drive Control Corporation has been appointed an official South African distributor of Acronis.
• DXC Technology acquired Datatec's subsidiary Logicalis Group's service management consultancy operation.
• HeroTel has bought a number of WISPs across the country: Hi-Tech Wireless in Mpumalanga, IGEN Wireless in Port Elizabeth, and Sonic Telecoms in Cape Town.
• Rectron has extended its storage portfolio through an exclusive distribution agreement with PQI.
• Amanda Dambuza, founder and CEO of Uyandiswa, bought back 49% of the company from Adapt IT.
• Velocity Group bought a majority stake in MLC Solutions, an IT services business.
Local developments
• South African-based Ascent Technology is opening its first international office in Dubai.
• Dartcom Fibre Solutions unveiled its R100 million bre-optic plant facility in Waltloo, Tshwane.
• SAP has undertaken to publish the outcome of an external probe into alleged wrongdoing at its South African unit.
Africa developments
• Work has begun on the Indian Ocean Exchange (IOX) Cable System – an undersea cable connecting South Africa with Mauritius, Rodrigues, Reunion and India. Completion is targeted for 2019.
• Oracle has opened a new of ce in Mauritius. • Initial planning work has started on the PEACE undersea cable project, which will connect South Asia (via Pakistan) and East Africa (via Djibouti and kenya). Completion is targeted for Q4 2019.
• PwC acquired Agilitude, a Salesforce reseller and platinum consulting partner in Africa.
• Seaborn Networks is planning to build an undersea cable connecting South Africa with Brazil and onward to the US. It will also connect with the IOX cable to connect the US to India.
• The Tanzanian government has announced that, from early 2018, it will use more than 100 drones from four distribution centres to make up to 2 000 deliveries of emergency medical supplies each day.