South Africa’s Allied Technologies (Altech) has announced its acquisition of Germany’s SetOne, a provider of DVB-based products and solutions in the German-speaking region of Europe.

Altech said that SetOne, which specialises in digital video broadcasting (DVB) STB receivers, has built alliances with key players in the value chain of its products and services offering within Asia and Europe—including licence agreements with companies such as Sisvel, MPEG LA and Rovi.

UK investment vehicle Vallares, headed by the former CEO of BP Tony Hayward, is to merge with Turkey’s Genel Energy in a £2.5 billion deal.

The transaction, which will give Vallares oil fields in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region, will see the new company trading as Genel Energy Plc, with Hayward as CEO.

The semi-autonomous Kurdistan region is thought to contain about 40 billion barrels of oil and 60 trillion cubic feet of gas.

UK oil company Northern Petroleum has announced the commencement of operations for an extended well test of the Markwells Wood oil discovery in West Sussex, England.

The test will enable Northern Petroleum and its joint venture partners—Magellan Petroleum and Egdon Resources—to evaluate the potential and plan future development of the Markwells Wood oil accumulation.

Northern holds a 50 per cent interest in the licence; Magellan holds 40 per cent; and Egdon Resources 10 per cent.

Ashish Vij, chief operating officer of Sudarshan Chemical Industries, talks to Jayne Flannery about the company’s drive to become a leading global pigment producer whilst adhering to the highest international safety and environmental standards.

The past few years have been difficult trading periods for retailers and as Alan Swaby learns, even the most prestigious names in the business have had to learn new tricks.

“Anyone who doesn’t think that a business has to reinvent itself periodically,” says Hilton Mer, executive chairman of Stuttafords—South Africa’s most prestigious department store—“is deluding themselves and by so doing, will prejudice the sustainability of the business. One has to be proactive in keeping in touch with markets and consumers.”

When a product idea has been around for over 100 years it must be doing something right; but as Alan Swaby learns, even the best ideas often need a second chance.

How many ‘novelty’ products have you owned over the years that are still in daily use? The answer, almost certainly, is frighteningly few. Gadgets that seem to offer an attractive alternative to store-bought products all too often find their way into the garage rather than claiming a permanent place in the kitchen.

Pantaloon Retail is India’s most successful and fastest growing retail business; and the secret of its success lies in questioning every received management mantra.

Gary Whalley, chief operating officer of Babcock Ntuthuko Powerlines, says that the company’s long track record of engineering excellence means it is now ideally positioned to expand its footprint across Southern Africa. Jayne Alverca reports.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has announced its intention to sell its shareholding in South Africa’s Palabora Mining.

Rio Tinto currently holds a 57.7 per cent share in Palabora, whose primary asset is a copper mine in the Ba-Phalaborwa area of Limpopo, South Africa.

The mine has a current mine life until early 2016, and studies are underway for a potential extension to 2030.