Roneo Alcatel Ltd, UK arm of the new Alcatel NV, has, as expected (CI No 638) signed to buy the assets and undertakings of STC Data Systems, the IBM-compatible peripherals marketing company that has been managed by ICL since ICL was acquired by STC. No value was given for the transaction. STC Data Systems, based in Cockfosters, London, has 160 employees and sells 3270-compatible screens from ITT Courier, 37XX-compatible communications processors from NCR-Comten, ITT Xtra IBM Personalikes and sundry other SNA-related products from sundry ITT units. It had an operating profit of about UKP2m on turnover of UKP20m in 1986. It will be incorporated as a new division of Roneo Alcatel Ltd – called Data Systems, and will be the cornerstone for Alcatel to diversify Roneo from an office equipment company into a full-scale telecommunications equipment company. Roneo Alcatel, which is expecting to report net profits of around UKP650,000 on turnover of UKP45m for 1986, is confident that the deal will expand its UK presence, where it employs around 1,000 people. ICL says STC Data Systems did not fit into its focus on vertical markets.