Monday, July 28, 2003

Alcatel Returns to Profitability

Alcatel returned to profitability in Q2, with all of its major segments at break-even or better. Reported quarterly sales were EUR 3.149 billion, up 6% compared to the previously quarter but down 26% compared to Q2 2002. Alcatel said its restructuring is on-track and starting to deliver positive results, despite a weak telecom environment overall. Some highlights:

  • revenues for Fixed Communications (service providers) increased sequentially by 6.8% to EUR 1.405 billion



  • revenues for Mobile Communications increased sequentially by 4.5% to EUR 834 million



  • revenues for Private Communications (enterprise) increased sequentially by 6.3% to EUR 1.012 billion



  • employee headcount is 72,000, down by 4,000 compared to the end of Q1 and down by 18,000 year-over-year. With its divestitures and on-going restructuring, Alcatel expects to have 60,000 employees by year-end 2003.



  • fixed operating costs were below EUR 1.3 billion, down 6% sequentially and 27% year-over-year



  • gross margin was 35.1%, up 1% sequentially and up 5% year-over-year



  • geographical distribution of sales were W. Europe (42%), other Europe (8%), North America (15%), Asia (17%) and rest-of-world (18%)


Alcatel expects the market in the second half of this year will be close to the second half of 2002, at a constant dollar/EUR exchange rate.
http://www.alcatel.com