Alcatel-Lucent – ALU – Euro 1.25Bn restructuring program underway with Euro 450m savings achieved

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) announced third quarter 2012 results and detailed progress of restructuring plan.

Ben Verwaayen, CEO Alcatel-Lucent, commented: “Our third quarter results are reflective of the significant transformation we are undertaking both in terms of scope and timing. In addition, our revenue growth and gross margin were impacted by overall carrier spending dynamics and product mix, especially in wireless.”

“During this transition period we are very focused on insulating our core operating business by maintaining our commitment to innovation and our investment levels in R&D. Our recent significant wins in the U.S, China and Brazil as well as the 20% growth in the order book for our HLN products have emphasized our relevance with the leading carriers as they roll-out their next generation networks.”

Mr Verwaayen added: “We are making good progress with The Performance Program. Costs savings are in excess of Euro 450 million since the beginning of the year and five managed services contracts will be addressed by the end of this year. We are also progressing according to our plan to reduce headcount and are targeting 5 500 positions. We will complete these cost reductions by the end of 2013.”

“We ended the quarter with Euro 4.7Bn in cash and marketable securities and we target a positive net cash situation at year end 2012. We are taking action to strengthen our balance sheet and we are reviewing a variety of options, which we will communicate when appropriate.”

ALU – Key numbers for the third quarter 2012

• Revenues of Euro 3,599 million, up 1.5% quarter-over-quarter and lower by -2.8% year-over-year on a reported basis
• Adjusted gross profit of Euro 1,004 million or 27.9% of revenues
• Adjusted operating loss of Euro (125) million or -3.5% of revenues
• Operating cash-flow of Euro 7 million
• Net (debt)/cash of Euro (84) million as of September 30, 2012
• Adjusted operating margin in the second half of 2012 to be better than first half
• Target a positive net cash position at year-end 2012
• Funding status of US pension plans further improved: no extra contribution expected at least through 2016

About Alcatel-Lucent – ALU

The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. ALU is home to Bell Labs, one of the world’s foremost research centers, responsible for breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Alcatel-Lucent was named one of MIT Technology Review’s 2012 Top 50 list of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” for breakthroughs such as lightRadio™, which cuts power consumption and operating costs on wireless networks while delivering lightning fast Internet access. Through such innovations, Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission – Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.

With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. ALU achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billion in 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.

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Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.