OREANDA-NEWS. Alcatel-Lucent reports revenues for Q1 2016 in the context of its combination with Nokia. Revenues for the quarter were Euro 3,017 million, a decrease of 7% compared to the year ago quarter.

From the first quarter 2016, Alcatel-Lucent has aligned its reporting structure with Nokia’s, under two reportable segments for the Networks business: (i) Ultra Broadband Networks comprising Mobile Networks and Fixed Networks business groups, (ii) IP Networks and Applications comprising IP/Optical Networks and Applications & Analytics business groups. Group Common and Other makes-up a third segment, composed of businesses run as separate operations (Alcatel Submarine Networks and RFS), Bell Labs operating expenses as well as certain corporate-level and centrally managed functions. For comparison purposes, Alcatel-Lucent has also recast its Q1 2015 and Q4 2015 revenues according to these reporting segments.

Commenting on the first quarter, Philippe Camus, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel-Lucent, said: “Following the strength experienced in Q4 2015, and in the context of the integration with Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent delivered a respectable performance in Q1 2016. In a challenging wireless infrastructure market, we believe Q1 decline in Mobile Networks primarily reflected the timing of projects, which was affected by the focus placed on quickly aligning future portfolio roadmaps with top customers, rather than a loss of footprint. From this perspective, we are encouraged by the progress achieved thus far, and we are confident that the integration process is moving forward according to plan.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF Q1 2016

Revenues highlights

  • On a Group level, revenues in Q1 2016 totaled Euro 3,017 million, a decrease of 7% year-over-year both at actual and constant currencies.
  • Networks revenues totaled Euro 2,769 million, a decrease of 8% year-over-year both at actual and constant currencies. Within Networks, growth in IP Networks and Applications was more than offset by the decline in Ultra Broadband Networks.
  • Ultra Broadband Networks revenues were Euro 1,588 million in Q1 2016, a 16% decline year-over-year both at actual and constant currencies. This decline was primarily driven by Mobile Networks, which experienced lower levels of activity notably with certain North American customers. Fixed Networks posted solid double digit growth led by continued positive trends in vectoring.
  • IP Networks and Applications revenues were Euro 1,181 million in Q1 2016, growing 5% year-over-year at actual rates and 6% at constant currencies. Growth in IP Networks and Applications was driven by strength in the IP/Optical Networks business, itself reflecting growth in both Optical Networks and to a lesser extent IP Routing. Applications & Analytics decreased year-on-year primarily due to the timing of projects, as well as the absence of net sales related to a large implementation, which was completed in the first quarter 2015.
  • Group Common and Other revenues totaled Euro 248 million, increasing by 11% year-over-year at actual rates and by 1% at constant currencies, reflecting growth in Alcatel Submarine Networks offset by a decline in RFS.

Key Events

  • Qualcomm notified the Group that they were exercising their right to terminate one of the two license agreements (that were signed on April 1, 2015) with immediate effect upon the closing of the Nokia Offer. Pursuant to the license agreement, Qualcomm had the right to terminate the license agreement upon a change of control. The termination resulted in the acceleration of all remaining unpaid quarterly royalty payments of Euro 274 million in the first quarter. The full carrying amount of the patent rights recognized in “other intangible assets” has been impaired for Euro 288 million in the first quarter.
  • Alcatel-Lucent terminated the Euro 504 million revolving credit facility entered into on December 17, 2013 with a syndicate of twelve international banks, which had remained undrawn.
  • Alcatel-Lucent repaid the Euro 190 million remaining outstanding under its 8.50% Senior Notes, on the maturity date of these notes.
  • In connection with the success of the initial Nokia Offer, Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc. exercised its option to redeem early in full the entire outstanding $700 million principal amount of its 6.750% Senior Notes due 2020, the entire outstanding $500 million principal amount of its 8.875% Senior Notes due 2020 and the entire outstanding $650 million principal amount of its 4.625% Senior Notes due 2017, in accordance with the terms of the Notes and of the respective Indentures.
  • Nokia and Alcatel Lucent USA Inc. entered into a US$ 2 billion Revolving Liquidity Support Facility, divided in the following three tranches: Facility A, for US$ 686 million, with a maturity date of June 30, 2017; Facility B for US$ 546 million, with a maturity date of December 31, 2019; and Facility C, for US$ 768 million, with a maturity date of November 15, 2020. This Facility was available for the financing of the redemption of 2017 and 2020 Senior Notes, and is also available for the general purposes of the Alcatel Lucent Group. This Revolving Liquidity Support Facility has been fully drawn.
  • Nokia Corporation and Alcatel-Lucent Participations entered into a Euro 1 billion Revolving Credit Facility for a two-year term. This Revolving Credit Facility is available for the general purposes of Alcatel-Lucent Participations. To-date, Euro 250 million of this Revolving Credit Facility has been drawn.
  • In accordance with Nokia’s Capital Structure Optimization Program announced in October 2015, the planned reduction in the sale of receivables of approximately Euro 1 billion was completed in Q1 2016. This was fully compensated from a liquidity standpoint by the Euro 1 billion Revolving Credit Facility provided by Nokia, the terms of which translate in a net reduction in financial expenses for Alcatel-Lucent.
  • Following the announcement by the AMF of the results of the reopened Nokia Offer, and the conversion by Nokia of all the OCEANE 2018 it held less than 15% of the OCEANE 2018 initially issued remained outstanding. Consequently, and pursuant to the prospectus of the 2018 OCEANE, Alcatel-Lucent informed the holders of OCEANE 2018 that the Group would redeem at par plus accrued and unpaid interest all of the outstanding OCEANE 2018. The redemption was completed on March 21, 2016.
  • Subsequent to the Nokia Offer, Alcatel-Lucent Board of Directors resolved to terminate its ADS program. Notice of the termination of the ADS program was provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. to holders of ADSs evidenced by the Alcatel Lucent ADRs on January 26, 2016. The deposit agreement terminated on February 24, 2016. The option for holders of ADRs representing ADSs to surrender their ADRs to the Depositary in exchange for Alcatel-Lucent ordinary shares expired on April 25, 2016.
  • Following the acquisition of a majority of the shares in Alcatel-Lucent by Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent is implementing its integration plan with Nokia, which includes product portfolio decisions and the application of the Master Services Agreement between Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent. The combination will reduce the uncertainty in Alcatel-Lucent’s Wireless business, especially on the scale and capacity of Alcatel-Lucent to market 5G solutions, as well as serve its large customers in the United States. As a result, the Group is in the process of assessing the impact on tax attributes carried forward and the recoverability of significant tax losses. Alcatel-Lucent expects the assessment to be completed and reflected in its accounts for the first six months of 2016, ended June 30, 2016.