UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ | Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2005
OR
o | Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the Transition Period From ___________ to ___________
Commission file number: 001-07260
Nortel Networks Corporation
Canada
|
Not Applicable | |
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
8200 Dixie Road, Suite 100 |
||
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
|
L6T 5P6 | |
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number including area code (905) 863-0000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ü No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ü No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as at May 16, 2005.
4,268,236,086 shares of common stock without nominal or par value
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PAGE |
||||
ITEM 1. | 5 | |||
ITEM 2. | 47 | |||
ITEM 3. | 107 | |||
ITEM 4. | 107 | |||
PART II OTHER INFORMATION |
||||
ITEM 1. | 114 | |||
ITEM 5. | 114 | |||
ITEM 6. | 115 | |||
SIGNATURES | 116 |
2
All dollar amounts in this document are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.
NORTEL, NORTEL (Logo), NORTEL NETWORKS the Modified GLOBEMARK, NT, and > THIS IS THE WAY > THIS IS NORTEL (designmark) are trademarks of Nortel Networks.
MOODYS is a trademark of Moodys Investor Services, Inc.
NYSE is a trademark of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
SAP is a trademark of SAP AG.
S&P and STANDARD & POORS are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.
3
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PAGE |
||||
ITEM 1. | Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
5 | ||
ITEM 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
|
47 | ||
ITEM 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
107 | ||
ITEM 4. | Controls and Procedures
|
107 |
4
NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
|
||||||||
Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Revenues |
$ | 2,536 | $ | 2,444 | ||||
Cost of revenues |
1,479 | 1,391 | ||||||
Gross profit |
1,057 | 1,053 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
574 | 542 | ||||||
Research and development expense |
474 | 471 | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
2 | 3 | ||||||
Special charges |
21 | 7 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of businesses and assets |
1 | | ||||||
Operating earnings (loss) |
(15 | ) | 30 | |||||
Other income (expense) net |
46 | 86 | ||||||
Interest expense |
||||||||
Long-term debt |
(50 | ) | (44 | ) | ||||
Other |
(3 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes,
minority interests and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies |
(22 | ) | 64 | |||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(16 | ) | 9 | |||||
(38 | ) | 73 | ||||||
Minority interests net of tax |
(14 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||
Equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies net of tax |
1 | (1 | ) | |||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
(51 | ) | 58 | |||||
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations net of tax |
2 | 1 | ||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (49 | ) | $ | 59 | |||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share |
||||||||
from continuing operations |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||
from discontinued operations |
0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share |
||||||||
from continuing operations |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||
from discontinued operations |
0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
5
NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars, except for share amounts) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 3,431 | $ | 3,686 | ||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents |
81 | 80 | ||||||
Accounts receivable net |
2,780 | 2,551 | ||||||
Inventories net |
1,316 | 1,414 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
248 | 255 | ||||||
Other current assets |
424 | 356 | ||||||
Total current assets |
8,280 | 8,342 | ||||||
Investments |
148 | 159 | ||||||
Plant and equipment net |
1,594 | 1,651 | ||||||
Goodwill |
2,260 | 2,303 | ||||||
Intangible assets net |
75 | 78 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
3,706 | 3,736 | ||||||
Other assets |
694 | 715 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 16,757 | $ | 16,984 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Trade and other accounts payable |
$ | 983 | $ | 996 | ||||
Payroll and benefit-related liabilities |
462 | 515 | ||||||
Contractual liabilities |
506 | 569 | ||||||
Restructuring liabilities |
152 | 254 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
2,869 | 2,823 | ||||||
Long-term debt due within one year |
1,290 | 15 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
6,262 | 5,172 | ||||||
Long-term debt |
2,571 | 3,862 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
144 | 144 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
3,466 | 3,189 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
12,443 | 12,367 | ||||||
Minority interests in subsidiary companies |
629 | 630 | ||||||
Guarantees, commitments and contingencies (notes 10, 11 and 17) |
||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Common shares, without par value Authorized shares: unlimited;
Issued and outstanding shares: |
||||||||
4,272,671,213 as of March 31, 2005 and 4,272,671,213 as
of December 31, 2004 |
33,840 | 33,840 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
3,301 | 3,282 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(32,632 | ) | (32,583 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(824 | ) | (552 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders equity |
3,685 | 3,987 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 16,757 | $ | 16,984 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
6
NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
|
||||||||
Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities |
||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (51 | ) | $ | 58 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) from continuing operations to
net cash from (used in) operating activities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures of businesses: |
||||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
82 | 90 | ||||||
Equity in net (earnings) loss of associated companies net of tax |
(1 | ) | 1 | |||||
Stock option compensation |
19 | 15 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
8 | (4 | ) | |||||
Other liabilities |
78 | 60 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on sale or write down of investments, businesses and assets |
6 | (33 | ) | |||||
Other net |
(105 | ) | 27 | |||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities |
(298 | ) | (554 | ) | ||||
Net cash from (used in) operating activities of continuing operations |
(262 | ) | (340 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities |
||||||||
Expenditures for plant and equipment |
(54 | ) | (43 | ) | ||||
Proceeds on disposals of plant and equipment |
| 5 | ||||||
Acquisitions of investments and businesses net of cash acquired |
(2 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
Proceeds on sale of investments and businesses |
83 | 55 | ||||||
Net cash from (used in) investing activities of continuing operations |
27 | 14 | ||||||
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities |
||||||||
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to minority interests |
(14 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||
Increase in notes payable |
20 | 10 | ||||||
Decrease in notes payable |
(26 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
| (97 | ) | |||||
Repayments of capital leases payable |
(1 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
Issuance of common shares |
| 30 | ||||||
Net cash from (used in) financing activities of continuing operations |
(21 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
(35 | ) | 13 | |||||
Net cash from (used in) continuing operations |
(291 | ) | (395 | ) | ||||
Net cash from (used in) in operating activities of discontinued operations |
36 | (3 | ) | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(255 | ) | (398 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
3,686 | 3,997 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 3,431 | $ | 3,599 | ||||
See note 3 for supplemental cash flow information.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
7
NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
(millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts, unless otherwise stated)
1. | Significant accounting policies |
|
Basis of presentation |
||
The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nortel Networks Corporation (Nortel)
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States (U.S.) (GAAP) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC) for the preparation of interim financial information. They do not
include all information and notes required by U.S. GAAP in the preparation of annual
consolidated financial statements. The accounting policies used in the preparation of the
unaudited consolidated financial statements are the same as those described in Nortels audited
consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the year ended
December 31, 2004. Although Nortel is headquartered in Canada, the unaudited consolidated
financial statements are expressed in U.S. dollars as the greater part of the financial results
and net assets of Nortel are denominated in U.S. dollars. |
||
Nortel makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the
consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Estimates are used when
accounting for items and matters such as revenue recognition and accruals for losses on
contracts, allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable and customer financing, receivables
sales, inventory obsolescence, product warranty, amortization, asset valuations, impairment
assessments, employee benefits including pensions, taxes and related valuation allowance,
restructuring and other provisions, stock-based compensation and contingencies. |
||
Nortel believes all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods
presented have been made and all such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. The
financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of
financial results for the full year. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be
read in conjunction with Nortels Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004 filed with the SEC (Nortels 2004 Annual Report). |
||
Comparative figures |
||
Certain 2004 figures in the unaudited consolidated financial statements have been
reclassified to conform to the 2005 presentation. |
||
Recent accounting pronouncements |
(a) | In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached consensus on Issue No.
03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain
Investments (EITF 03-1). EITF 03-1 provides guidance on determining when an investment
is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary and the measurement
of an impairment loss. EITF 03-1 is applicable to marketable debt and equity securities
within the scope of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115,
Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS 115), and SFAS
No. 124, Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations, and
equity securities that are not subject to the scope of SFAS 115 and not accounted for under
the equity method of accounting. In September 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-1, Effective Date of
Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
and Its Application to Certain Investments, which delays the effective date for the
measurement and recognition criteria contained in EITF 03-1 until final application
guidance is issued. The delay does not suspend the requirement to recognize
other-than-temporary impairments as required by existing authoritative literature. The
adoption of EITF 03-1 is not expected to have a material impact on Nortels results of
operations and financial condition. |
||
(b) | In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs (SFAS 151). SFAS 151 requires that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material (spoilage) be recognized as current period charges rather than capitalized as a component of inventory costs. In addition, SFAS 151 requires allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. This statement is effective for inventory costs incurred in fiscal periods |
8
beginning after June
15, 2005. The guidance should be applied prospectively. Nortel is currently assessing the
impact of SFAS 151 on its results of operations and financial condition. |
|||
(c) | In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment
(SFAS 123R), which requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of
employee stock options, to be recognized as compensation expense in the consolidated
financial statements based on their fair values. SFAS 123R also modifies certain
measurement and expense recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation (SFAS 123), that will impact Nortel, including the requirement to estimate
employee forfeitures each period when recognizing compensation expense, and requiring that
the initial and subsequent measurement of the cost of liability-based awards each period be
based on the fair value (instead of the intrinsic value) of the award. This statement is
effective for Nortel as of January 1, 2006. Nortel previously elected to expense employee
stock-based compensation using the fair value method prospectively for all awards granted
or modified on or after January 1, 2003 in accordance with SFAS No. 148, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure an Amendment of FASB Statement No.
123 (SFAS 148). Nortel is currently assessing the impact of SFAS 123R on its results of
operations and financial condition, as well as the impact of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin
107, Share-Based Payment (SAB 107). SAB 107 was issued by the SEC in March 2005, and
provides supplemental SFAS 123R application guidance based on the views of the SEC. |
||
(d) | In March 2005, the FASB issued FSP No. 46(R)-5, Implicit Variable Interests under FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (FSP FIN 46R-5). FSP FIN 46R-5 provides guidance for a reporting enterprise on whether it holds an implicit variable interest in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) or potential VIEs when specific conditions exist. This FSP is effective in the first period beginning after March 3, 2005 in accordance with the transition provisions of FIN 46 (Revised 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (FIN 46R). Nortel has determined that the adoption of FSP FIN 46R-5 will not have an impact on its results of operations and financial condition. |
2. | Accounting changes |
(a) | The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share |
||
On September 30, 2004, the EITF reached a consensus on Issue No. 04-8, The Effect of
Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share (EITF 04-8), which addresses
when the dilutive effect of contingently convertible debt instruments should be included in
diluted earnings (loss) per share. EITF 04-8 requires that contingently convertible debt
instruments be included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share regardless
of whether the market price trigger has been met. EITF 04-8 also requires that prior period
diluted earnings (loss) per share amounts presented for comparative purposes be restated.
EITF 04-8 was effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2004. The adoption
of EITF 04-8 did not have an impact on Nortels diluted earnings (loss) per share. |
|||
(b) | Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity |
||
In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments
with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (SFAS 150). SFAS 150 clarifies the
accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and
equity, including mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests, and requires that those
instruments be classified as liabilities on the balance sheets. Previously, many of those
financial instruments were classified as equity. SFAS 150 is effective for financial
instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and otherwise is effective at the
beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. In November 2003, the
FASB issued FSP FAS 150-3, Effective Date, Disclosures, and Transition for Mandatorily
Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily
Redeemable Non-controlling Interests under FASB Statement No. 150, Accounting for Certain
Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity (FSP FAS
150-3), which deferred indefinitely the effective date for applying the specific provisions
within SFAS 150 related to the classification and measurement of mandatorily redeemable
non-controlling interests. |
|||
Nortel continues to consolidate two enterprises with limited lives. Upon liquidation in 2024, the net assets of these entities will be distributed to the owners based on their relative interests at that time. The minority interests included in the consolidated balance sheets related to these entities were a total of $49 and $50 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Nortel has |
9
not yet determined the fair value of these minority interests as of March 31, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 150, as amended by FSP FAS 150-3, did not have a material impact on Nortels results of operations and financial condition. |
3. | Consolidated financial statement details |
|
The following consolidated financial statement details are presented for each of the three
months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 for the consolidated statements of operations, as of March
31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 for the consolidated balance sheets and for each of the three
months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 for the consolidated statements of cash flows. |
||
Consolidated statements of operations |
||
Other income (expense) net: |
|
||||||||
Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Interest income |
$ | 14 | $ | 15 | ||||
Gain (loss) on sale or write down of investments |
(5 | ) | 33 | |||||
Currency exchange gains (losses) |
26 | 1 | ||||||
Other net |
11 | 37 | ||||||
Other income (expense) net |
$ | 46 | $ | 86 | ||||
Hedge ineffectiveness and the discontinuance of cash flow hedges and fair value hedges that
were accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities (SFAS 133) had no material impact on the net earnings (loss) for the three
months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 and were reported within other income (expense) net in
the consolidated statements of operations. |
||
Consolidated balance sheets |
||
Accounts receivable net: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Trade receivables |
$ | 1,982 | $ | 2,010 | ||||
Notes receivable |
198 | 42 | ||||||
Contracts in process |
707 | 608 | ||||||
2,887 | 2,660 | |||||||
Less: provision for doubtful accounts |
(107 | ) | (109 | ) | ||||
Accounts receivable net |
$ | 2,780 | $ | 2,551 | ||||
Inventories net: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Raw materials |
$ | 915 | $ | 935 | ||||
Work in process |
64 | 125 | ||||||
Finished goods |
1,802 | 1,863 | ||||||
2,781 | 2,923 | |||||||
Less: provision for inventory |
(1,087 | ) | (1,141 | ) | ||||
Inventories net |
1,694 | 1,782 | ||||||
Less: long-term inventory (a) |
(378 | ) | (368 | ) | ||||
Current inventories net |
$ | 1,316 | $ | 1,414 | ||||
(a) | Long-term portion of inventory related to deferred costs discussed below which is included in other assets. |
10
Finished goods inventory includes certain direct and incremental costs associated with
arrangements where title and risk of loss was transferred to the customer but revenue was
deferred due to other revenue recognition criteria not being met. As of March 31, 2005 and
December 31, 2004, these deferred costs totaled $799 and $829, respectively. |
||
Other current assets: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Prepaid expenses |
$ | 199 | $ | 175 | ||||
Income taxes recoverable |
34 | 38 | ||||||
Current assets of discontinued operations (a) |
13 | 14 | ||||||
Other |
178 | 129 | ||||||
Other current assets |
$ | 424 | $ | 356 | ||||
(a) | Includes accounts receivable of $2 and $3 and inventories of $57 and $58 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, which were fully provided for. |
Plant and equipment net: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Cost: |
||||||||
Land |
$ | 56 | $ | 63 | ||||
Buildings |
1,331 | 1,514 | ||||||
Machinery and equipment |
2,575 | 2,497 | ||||||
3,962 | 4,074 | |||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation: |
||||||||
Buildings |
(436 | ) | (502 | ) | ||||
Machinery and equipment |
(1,932 | ) | (1,921 | ) | ||||
(2,368 | ) | (2,423 | ) | |||||
Plant and equipment net (a) |
$ | 1,594 | $ | 1,651 | ||||
(a) | Included assets held for sale with a carrying value of $43 and $29 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, related to owned facilities that were being actively marketed. These assets were written down to their estimated fair values less costs to sell. The write downs were included in special charges. Nortel expects to dispose of all of these facilities during 2005. |
Goodwill: |
||
The following table outlines goodwill by reportable segment: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Carrier | GSM and | |||||||||||||||||||
Packet | CDMA | UMTS | Enterprise | |||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Networks | Networks | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Balance net as of December 31, 2004 |
$ | 571 | $ | 28 | $ | 9 | $ | 1,695 | $ | 2,303 | ||||||||||
Changes: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Disposal |
(37 | ) | | | | (37 | ) | |||||||||||||
Foreign exchange |
(3 | ) | (1 | ) | | (2 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||||||
Balance net as of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 531 | $ | 27 | $ | 9 | $ | 1,693 | $ | 2,260 | ||||||||||
Due to the change in operating segments and reporting segments as described in note 4, a triggering event occurred requiring a goodwill impairment test in the first quarter of 2005 in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Nortel performed this test and concluded that there was no impairment. |
11
Intangible assets net: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Other intangible assets (a) |
$ | 35 | $ | 38 | ||||
Pension intangible assets |
40 | 40 | ||||||
Intangible assets net |
$ | 75 | $ | 78 | ||||
(a) | Other intangible assets are being amortized over a ten year period ending in 2013, based on their expected pattern of benefit to future periods using estimates of undiscounted cash flows. The amortization expense is denominated in a foreign currency and may fluctuate due to changes in foreign exchange rates. |
Other accrued liabilities: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Outsourcing and selling, general and administrative related provisions |
$ | 324 | $ | 323 | ||||
Customer deposits |
39 | 28 | ||||||
Product related provisions |
53 | 57 | ||||||
Warranty provisions (note 10) |
258 | 275 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
1,225 | 1,210 | ||||||
Miscellaneous taxes |
49 | 53 | ||||||
Income taxes payable |
95 | 112 | ||||||
Current liabilities of discontinued operations |
2 | | ||||||
Interest payable |
34 | 65 | ||||||
Advance billings in excess of revenues recognized to date on contracts |
624 | 581 | ||||||
Other |
166 | 119 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
$ | 2,869 | $ | 2,823 | ||||
Other liabilities: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Pension, post-employment and post-retirement benefit liabilities |
$ | 2,269 | $ | 2,208 | ||||
Restructuring liabilities (note 5) |
199 | 209 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
506 | 509 | ||||||
Other long-term provisions |
492 | 263 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
$ | 3,466 | $ | 3,189 | ||||
Consolidated statements of cash flows |
||
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
||||||||
Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 1 | $ | 1 | ||||
Accounts receivable net |
(245 | ) | 92 | |||||
Inventories net |
39 | (54 | ) | |||||
Income taxes |
(18 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||
Restructuring liabilities |
(128 | ) | (84 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable, payroll and contractual liabilities |
(83 | ) | (452 | ) | ||||
Other operating assets and liabilities |
136 | (34 | ) | |||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities |
$ | (298 | ) | $ | (554 | ) | ||
12
Interest and taxes paid (recovered): |
|
||||||||
Three months ended March 31, |
||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Cash interest paid |
$ | 84 | $ | 76 | ||||
Cash taxes paid (recovered) net |
$ | 14 | $ | 9 | ||||
4. | Segment information |
|
General description |
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During 2004, Nortels operations were organized and represented by four operating segments,
which were also its reportable segments: Wireless Networks, Enterprise Networks, Wireline
Networks, and Optical Networks. Effective October 1, 2004, Nortel established a new streamlined
organizational structure that included, among other things, combining the businesses represented
by its four operating segments at that time into two business organizations: (i) Carrier
Networks and Global Operations and (ii) Enterprise Networks. |
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The two business organizations include four operating segments. Nortels Carrier Networks and
Global Operations organization is comprised of the following operating segments: (a) Carrier
Packet Networks, which is substantially an amalgamation of Nortels previous Wireline Networks
and Optical Networks operating segments; (b) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Networks,
which previously represented a portion of the Wireless Networks operating segment; (c) Global
System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems
(UMTS) Networks, which also previously represented a portion of the Wireless Networks
operating segment. The Enterprise Networks operating segment remains substantially
unchanged and is a separate operating segment. |
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Although certain structural changes were made to reflect the reorganization effective October 1, 2004, Nortel did not meet the criteria to change its reportable segments under SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (SFAS 131), for the 2004 fiscal year. Nortels operating results on a segmented basis for the new business organizations were not available for review by the chief operating decision maker (CODM) during the 2004 fiscal year, as a significant amount of Nortels finance resources were allocated to the restatement activity that was completed during January 2005. Commencing in the first quarter of 2005, Nortel met the criteria under SFAS 131 to change its reportable segments to reflect the four operating segments of the two business organizations established effective October 1, 2004. Nortels four reportable segments and other business activities are described below: |
| Carrier Packet Networks provides: (i) circuit and packet voice solutions, (ii)
data networking and security solutions and (iii) optical long-haul and metropolitan optical
network solutions. Together, these solutions provide or transport data, voice and
multimedia communications solutions to Nortels service provider customers that operate
wireline networks. These service provider customers include local and long distance
telephone companies, wireless service providers, cable operators and other communication
service providers. |
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| CDMA Networks provides communication network solutions that incorporate CDMA and Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network solutions to enable Nortels wireless service
provider customers to offer their customers, the subscribers for wireless communication
services, the ability to be mobile while they send and receive voice and data
communications using wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital
assistants and other computing and communications devices. |
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| GSM and UMTS Networks also provides communication network solutions to Nortels wireless
service provider customers; however, these solutions incorporate GSM and UMTS network
solutions. |
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| Enterprise Networks provides: (i) circuit and packet voice solutions and (ii) data networking and security solutions which provide data, voice and multimedia communications solutions to Nortels enterprise customers. Nortels Enterprise Networks customers consist of a broad range of enterprise customers around the world, including large businesses and their branch offices, small businesses and home offices, as well as government agencies, educational and other institutions and utility organizations. |
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| Other represents miscellaneous business activities and corporate functions. None of these activities meet the quantitative criteria to be disclosed separately as reportable segments. Costs associated with shared services and other corporate costs are allocated to the segments based on usage determined generally by headcount. Costs not allocated to the segments are primarily related to Nortels corporate compliance and other non-operational activities and are included in Other. |
Nortels vice-chairman and chief executive officer (the CEO) has been identified as the CODM in assessing the performance of the segments and the allocation of resources to the segments. The CEO relies on the information derived directly from Nortels management reporting system. The primary financial measure used by the CEO in assessing performance and allocating resources to the segments is management earnings (loss) before income taxes (Management EBT), a measure that includes the cost of revenues and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense, research and development (R&D) expense, interest expense, other income (expense) net, minority interests net of tax and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies net of tax. The CEO does not review asset information on a segmented basis in order to assess performance and allocate resources. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those applied to the consolidated financial statements.
Segments
The following tables set forth information by segment for each of the three months ended:
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March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Revenues |
||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 664 | $ | 683 | ||||
CDMA Networks |
535 | 569 | ||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
788 | 656 | ||||||
Enterprise Networks |
547 | 534 | ||||||
Other |
2 | 2 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 2,536 | $ | 2,444 | ||||
Management EBT |
||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | (31 | ) | $ | (59 | ) | ||
CDMA Networks |
168 | 224 | ||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
53 | 1 | ||||||
Enterprise Networks |
23 | 17 | ||||||
Other |
(224 | ) | (124 | ) | ||||
Total |
(11 | ) | 59 | |||||
Amortization of intangibles |
(2 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
Special charges |
(21 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses and assets |
(1 | ) | | |||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(16 | ) | 9 | |||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (51 | ) | $ | 58 | |||
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5. | Special charges |
During 2001, Nortel implemented a work plan to streamline operations and activities around core markets and leadership strategies in light of the significant downturn in both the telecommunications industry and the economic environment, and capital market trends impacting operations and expected future growth rates (the 2001 Restructuring Plan).
In addition, activities were initiated in 2003 to exit certain leased facilities and leases for assets no longer used across all segments. The liabilities associated with these activities were measured at fair value and recognized under SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS 146).
In 2004 and 2005, Nortels focus is on managing each of its businesses based on financial performance, the market and customer priorities. In the third quarter of 2004, Nortel announced a strategic plan that includes a work plan involving focused workforce reductions, including a voluntary retirement program, of approximately 3,250 employees, real estate optimization and other cost containment actions such as reductions in information services costs, outsourced services and other discretionary spending across all segments, but primarily in Carrier Packet Networks (the 2004 Restructuring Plan). Nortel estimates charges to earnings associated with the 2004 Restructuring Plan in the aggregate of approximately $450 comprised of approximately $220 with respect to the workforce reductions and approximately $230 with respect to the real estate actions. No additional special charges are expected to be recorded with respect to the other cost containment actions. Approximately $160 of the aggregate charges were incurred in 2004 with the remainder expected to be incurred in 2005.
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, Nortel continued to implement these restructuring work plans. Changes in the provisions related to special charges recorded from January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2005 were as follows:
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Contract | ||||||||||||||||
settlement | Plant and | |||||||||||||||
Workforce | and lease | equipment | ||||||||||||||
reduction | costs | write downs | Total | |||||||||||||
2001 Restructuring Plan |
||||||||||||||||
Provision balance as of December 31, 2004 (a) |
$ | 15 | $ | 326 | $ | | $ | 341 | ||||||||
Revisions to prior accruals |
(3 | ) | | (1 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||
Cash drawdowns |
(2 | ) | (40 | ) | | (42 | ) | |||||||||
Foreign exchange and other adjustments |
(1 | ) | (4 | ) | 1 | (4 | ) | |||||||||
Provision balance as of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 9 | $ | 282 | $ | | $ | 291 | ||||||||
2004 Restructuring Plan |
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Provision balance as of December 31, 2004 (a) |
$ | 122 | $ | | $ | | $ | 122 | ||||||||
Other special charges |
18 | 8 | 1 | 27 | ||||||||||||
Revisions to prior accruals |
(2 | ) | | | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Cash drawdowns |
(86 | ) | | | (86 | ) | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange and other adjustments |
| | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision balance as of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 52 | $ | 8 | $ | | $ | 60 | ||||||||
Total provision balance as of March 31, 2005 (a) |
$ | 61 | $ | 290 | $ | | $ | 351 | ||||||||
(a) | As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the short-term provision balance was $152 and $254, respectively, and the long-term provision balance was $199 and $209, respectively. |
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Regular full-time (RFT) employee notifications resulting in special charges for both restructuring plans were as follows:
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Employees (approximate) |
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Direct (a) | Indirect(b) | Total | ||||||||||
RFT employee notifications for the three months ended March 31, 2005 |
20 | 220 | 240 | |||||||||
(a) | Direct employees included employees performing manufacturing, assembly, testing and inspection activities associated with the production of Nortels products. | ||
(b) | Indirect employees included employees performing manufacturing, management, sales, marketing, research and development and administrative activities. |
2001 Restructuring Plan
Three months ended March 31, 2005
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, Nortel recorded revisions of $4 related to prior accruals.
The workforce reduction provision balance was drawn down by cash payments of $2 during the three months ended March 31, 2005. The remaining provision is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2005.
No new contract settlement and lease costs were incurred during the period. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the provision balance for contract settlement and lease costs was drawn down by cash payments of $40. The remaining provision, net of approximately $241 in estimated sublease income, is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2013.
Three months ended March 31, 2004
During the three months ended March 31, 2004, Nortel recorded special charges of $7, which included revisions of $1 related to prior accruals.
Workforce reduction charges of $6 were related to severance and benefit costs associated with approximately 80 employees notified of termination during the three months ended March 31, 2004 which related entirely to Carrier Packet Networks. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the workforce reduction provision balance was drawn down by cash payments of $27.
No new contract settlement and lease costs were incurred during the period. Revisions to prior accruals for contract settlement and lease costs of $1 were identified for the three months ended March 31, 2004. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the provision balance for contract settlement and lease costs was drawn down by cash payments of $57.
In 2003, Nortel initiated activities to exit certain leased facilities and leases for assets no longer used, across all segments. The costs associated with these planned activities have been valued using the estimated fair value method prescribed under SFAS 146. The table below summarizes the total costs estimated to be incurred as a result of these activities, which have met the criteria described in SFAS 146, the balance of these accrued expenses as of March 31, 2005 and the movement in the accrual for the three months ended March 31, 2005. These costs are included in the provision balance above as of March 31, 2005.
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Payments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Costs | made | Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||
during the | during the | during the | ||||||||||||||||||
Accrued | three months | three months | three months | Accrued | ||||||||||||||||
balance as of | ended | ended | ended | balance as of | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2004 | March 31, 2005 | March 31, 2005 | March 31, 2005 | March 31, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||
Lease costs (a) |
$ | 31 | $ | | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 3 | $ | 33 | |||||||||
(a) | Total estimated costs, net of estimated sublease income, associated with these accruals are $69, of which $19 was drawn down by cash payments of $21 and offset by non-cash adjustments of $2 prior to January 1, 2005. |
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Special charges by segment
The following table outlines special charges incurred by segment for the three months ended March 31:
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Contract | ||||||||||||||||
settlement | Plant and | |||||||||||||||
Workforce | and lease | equipment | ||||||||||||||
reduction | costs | write downs | Total | |||||||||||||
2001 Restructuring Plan |
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Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | (1 | ) | $ | | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | |||||
CDMA Networks |
| | | | ||||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
(1 | ) | | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
(1 | ) | | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Total
special charges for the three months ended March 31, 2005 |
$ | (3 | ) | $ | | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | |||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 6 | $ | 1 | $ | | $ | 7 | ||||||||
Total special charges for the three months
ended March 31, 2004 |
$ | 6 | $ | 1 | $ | | $ | 7 | ||||||||
As described in the definition of Management EBT in note 4, segment Management EBT does not include special charges. A significant portion of Nortels provisions for workforce reductions and contract settlement and lease costs is associated with shared services. These costs have been allocated to the segments in the table above based generally on headcount.
2004 Restructuring Plan
Three months ended March 31, 2005
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, Nortel recorded special charges of $25, which included revisions of $2 related to prior accruals.
Workforce reduction charges of $16, net of revisions to prior accruals of $2, were related to severance and benefit costs associated with approximately 240 employees notified of termination during the three months ended March 31, 2005. The workforce reduction provision balance was drawn down by cash payments of $86 during the three months ended March 31, 2005. The workforce reduction was primarily in the U.S., Canada and EMEA and extended across all segments. The remaining provision is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2005.
Contract settlement and lease costs of $8 consisted of negotiated settlements to cancel or renegotiate contracts and net lease charges related to leased facilities (comprised of office space) and leased furniture that were identified as no longer required primarily in the U.S. and in the Enterprise Networks segment. These lease costs, net of anticipated sublease income, included costs relating to non-cancelable lease terms from the date leased facilities ceased to be used and termination penalties. This provision is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2016.
Special charges by segment
The following table outlines special charges incurred by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2005:
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Contract | ||||||||||||||||
settlement | Plant and | |||||||||||||||
Workforce | and lease | equipment | ||||||||||||||
reduction | costs | write downs | Total | |||||||||||||
2004 Restructuring Plan |
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Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 9 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 11 | ||||||||
CDMA Networks |
1 | | | 1 | ||||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
3 | | | 3 | ||||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
3 | 7 | | 10 | ||||||||||||
Special charges for the three months
ended March 31, 2005 |
$ | 16 | $ | 8 | $ | 1 | $ | 25 | ||||||||
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6. | Income taxes |
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, Nortel recorded a tax expense of $16 on a loss from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies of $22. Nortel recorded a tax expense against the earnings of certain taxable entities and recorded additional valuation allowances against the tax benefit of current period losses of other entities. The tax expense of $16 is primarily related to the drawdown of Nortels deferred tax assets and current tax provisions in certain taxable jurisdictions and various corporate minimum and other taxes, partially offset by the recognition of R&D related incentives.
During the three months ended March 31, 2004, Nortel recorded a tax benefit of $9 on earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies of $64. Nortel recorded a tax expense against the earnings of certain taxable entities and recorded additional valuation allowances against the tax benefit of current period losses of other entities. The tax benefit of $9 resulted from the settlement of certain tax audits partially offset by the drawdown of Nortels deferred tax assets and current income tax provisions in certain taxable jurisdictions and various corporate minimum related income taxes.
As of March 31, 2005, Nortels deferred income tax assets, excluding discontinued operations, were $3,810. The most significant components of the gross deferred income tax assets are the tax benefit of loss carryforwards and investment tax credits and temporary differences related to certain liabilities (primarily provisions, pensions and other post retirement obligations). The majority of the carryforward amounts do not begin to expire until 2017.
The deferred income tax assets are net of a valuation allowance of $3,589. The valuation allowance of $3,589 was recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a companys deferred tax assets will not be realized. The valuation allowance was determined based on an assessment of the positive and negative evidence of the recoverability of deferred tax assets, which included the carryforward periods attributable to the significant tax assets, Nortels history of generating taxable income in its material jurisdictions, and Nortels cumulative loss position. Primarily as a result of the losses realized in 2001 and 2002, Nortel determined that it is more likely than not that a portion of its deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Accordingly, a valuation allowance has been recorded against a portion of the assets. However, due to the fact that the majority of the carryforward amounts do not expire in the near future, Nortels extended history of profitability in its material tax jurisdictions, exclusive of the 2001 and 2002 losses, and Nortels future projections of profitability, Nortel determined that it is more likely than not that the remaining portion of its deferred income tax assets recorded as of March 31, 2005 will be realized.
Nortel is subject to ongoing examinations by certain tax authorities of the jurisdictions in which it operates. Nortel regularly assesses the status of these examinations and the potential for adverse outcomes to determine the adequacy of the provision for income and other taxes. Nortel believes that it has adequately provided for tax adjustments that are probable as a result of any ongoing or future examinations.
7. | Employee benefit plans |
Nortel maintains various retirement programs covering substantially all of its employees, consisting of defined benefit, defined contribution and investment plans.
Nortel has four kinds of capital accumulation and retirement programs: balanced capital accumulation and retirement programs (the Balanced Program) and investor capital accumulation and retirement programs (the Investor Program) available to substantially all of its North American employees; flexible benefits plan, which includes a group personal pension plan (the Flexible Benefits Plan), available to substantially all of its employees in the United Kingdom (U.K.); and traditional capital accumulation and retirement programs that include defined benefit pension plans (the Traditional Program) which are closed to new entrants in the U.K. and portions of which are closed to new entrants in the U.S. and Canada. Although these four kinds of programs represent Nortels major retirement programs and may be available to employees in combination and/or as options within a program, Nortel also has smaller pension plan arrangements in other countries.
Nortel also provides other benefits, including post-retirement benefits and post-employment benefits. Employees in the Traditional Program are eligible for their existing Company sponsored post-retirement benefits or a modified version of these benefits, depending on age or years of service. Employees in the Balanced Program are eligible for post-retirement benefits at reduced Company contribution
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levels, while employees in the Investor Program have access to post-retirement benefits by purchasing a Nortel-sponsored retiree health care plan at their own cost.
The following details the net pension expense, all related to continuing operations, for the defined benefit plans for the three months ended:
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March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Pension expense: |
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Service cost |
$ | 35 | $ | 30 | ||||
Interest cost |
116 | 104 | ||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(109 | ) | (102 | ) | ||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
1 | 1 | ||||||
Amortization of net losses (gains) |
23 | 19 | ||||||
Curtailment loss (gain) |
1 | | ||||||
Net pension expense |
$ | 67 | $ | 52 | ||||
The following details the net cost components, all related to continuing operations, of post-retirement benefits other than pensions for the three months ended:
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March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Post-retirement benefit cost: |
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Service cost |
$ | 2 | $ | 3 | ||||
Interest cost |
10 | 10 | ||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(1 | ) | | |||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
(1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
Amortization of net losses (gains) |
| 1 | ||||||
Net post-retirement benefit cost |
$ | 10 | $ | 13 | ||||
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, contributions of $69 were made to the defined benefit plans and $7 to the post-retirement benefit plans. Nortel expects to contribute an additional $23 in 2005 to the defined benefit pension plans for a total contribution of $92, and an additional $22 in 2005 to the post-retirement benefit plans for a total contribution of $29.
8. | Divestitures and change in investments |
Divestitures
Manufacturing operations
On June 29, 2004, Nortel announced an agreement with Flextronics International Ltd. (Flextronics), regarding the divestiture of substantially all of Nortels remaining manufacturing operations, including product integration, testing and repair operations carried out in Calgary and Montreal, Canada and Campinas, Brazil, as well as certain activities related to these locations, including the management of the supply chain, related suppliers and third-party logistics. In Europe, Flextronics has made an offer to purchase similar Nortel operations at Monkstown, Northern Ireland and Chateaudun, France, subject to the completion of the required information and consultation process.
Under the terms of the agreement and offer, Flextronics will also acquire Nortels global repair services, as well as certain design assets in Ottawa, Canada and Monkstown related to hardware and embedded software design, and related product verification for certain established optical products.
Nortel and Flextronics have entered into a four year supply agreement for manufacturing services (whereby Flextronics will manage approximately $2,500 of Nortels annual cost of revenues) and a three year supply agreement for design services. The portion of the transaction related to the optical design activities in Ottawa and Monkstown was completed on November 1, 2004. On February 8, 2005, Nortel announced the completion of the portion of the transaction related to the manufacturing activities in Montreal. Nortel previously
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reported that the portion of the transaction related to the manufacturing activities in Calgary was expected to close in the second quarter of 2005 and that the balance of the transaction was expected to close on separate dates occurring during the first half of 2005. Nortel and Flextronics are currently discussing the timing of the closing of the balance of the transaction in order to optimize the business transition between the companies. As a result of these discussions, it is now expected that the balance of the transaction, relating to the manufacturing operations in Chateaudun, Calgary and Monkstown, will close by the end of the first quarter of 2006. As a result, Nortel and Flextronics intend to enter into an amendment agreement to extend the term of the original agreement and offer to reflect this updated schedule. These transactions are subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
The successful completion of the agreement and offer with Flextronics will result in the transfer of approximately 2,500 employees from Nortel to Flextronics. As of the first quarter of 2005, Nortel has transferred approximately 1,040 of its employees to Flextronics. Nortel expects to receive cash proceeds ranging from approximately $675 to $725, which will be allocated to each separate closing. Nortel previously announced that the estimated cash proceeds would be received substantially in 2005. Nortel and Flextronics are currently discussing the timing of the cash payments based on the expected change to the original schedule. Such payments will be subject to a number of adjustments, including potential post-closing date asset valuations and potential post-closing indemnity payments. Nortel is expecting proceeds on the sale of this business to exceed the net book value of the assets transferred (including goodwill and foreign currency translation adjustments) and the direct and incremental costs of the transaction (including transition, potential severance, pension adjustments, information technology and real estate costs). The resulting net gain on sale of this business will be recognized once substantially all of the risks and other incidents of ownership have been transferred.
As of March 31, 2005 Nortel has received net cash of approximately $85, transferred approximately $193 of inventory and equipment to Flextronics relating to the closing of the optical design activities in Ottawa and Monkstown and the manufacturing activities in Montreal and recorded deferred charges of approximately $108 and deferred income of approximately $250. As Flextronics has the ability to exercise rights to sell back to Nortel certain inventory and equipment after the expiration of a specified period (up to fifteen months) following each respective closing date, Nortel has retained these assets on its balance sheet to the extent they have not been consumed as part of ongoing operations as at March 31, 2005. Nortel does not expect that such rights will be exercised with respect to any material amount of inventory and/or equipment.
Change in investments
On February 3, 2004, Nortel sold approximately 7 million common shares of Entrust Inc. (Entrust) for cash consideration of $33, and recorded a gain of $18 in other income (expense) net. As a result of this transaction, Nortel no longer holds any equity interest in Entrust.
During March 2004, Nortel sold 1.8 million shares of Arris Group, Inc. (Arris Group) for cash consideration of $17, which resulted in a gain of $13, which was recorded in other income (expense) net. Following this transaction, Nortel owned 3.2 million Arris Group common shares or 4.2 percent of Arris Group outstanding common shares.
Other
On January 20, 2005, Nortel signed a Joint Venture Framework Agreement with China Putian Corporation to establish a joint venture for R&D, manufacture and sale of third generation (3G) mobile telecommunications equipment and products to customers in China. Nortel expects to have a definitive joint venture agreement by June 30, 2005. Nortel anticipates that it will own 49% of the joint venture and China Putian will own 51%.
On January 23, 2005, Nortel signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with LG Electronics, Inc. to establish a joint venture for providing high quality, leading edge telecommunications equipment and networking solutions to Korea and other markets globally. The proposed joint venture is subject to negotiation of final terms and execution of a definitive agreement. Nortel expects to complete this transaction in the second half of 2005. In the proposed joint venture, Nortel anticipates that it will have an ownership interest of 50% plus one share.
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9. | Long-term debt, credit and support facilities |
As a result of the delay in the filing of Nortels and Nortel Networks Limiteds (NNL) 2003 Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (the 2003 Annual Reports), 2004 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first, second and third quarters of 2004 (the 2004 Quarterly Reports) and 2004 Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the 2004 Annual Reports, and together with the 2003 Annual Reports and the 2004 Quarterly Reports, the Reports), Nortel and NNL were not in compliance with their obligations to deliver their respective SEC filings to the trustees under Nortels and NNLs public debt indentures as of March 31, 2005. Approximately $1,800 of notes of NNL (or its subsidiaries) and $1,800 of convertible debt securities of Nortel were outstanding under such indentures as of March 31, 2005.
These delays did not result in the automatic event of default and acceleration of the long-term debt of Nortel or NNL and such default and acceleration could not have occurred unless notice of such non-compliance from holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of any relevant series of debt securities were provided to Nortel or NNL, as applicable, and Nortel or NNL, as applicable, failed to deliver the relevant report within 90 days after such notice was provided, all in accordance with the terms of the indentures. While such notice could have been given at any time after March 30, 2004 as a result of the delayed filing of the Reports, neither Nortel nor NNL received a notice as of March 31, 2005. See note 18 for additional information relating to the delayed filings.
Approximately $1,275 of the 6.125% Notes are due in February 2006, and have been reclassified from long-term debt to current liabilities. Nortel expects to have sufficient cash to meet this future obligation.
Support facility
On February 14, 2003, Nortels principal operating subsidiary, NNL, entered into an agreement with Export Development Canada (EDC) regarding arrangements to provide for support, on a secured basis, of certain performance related obligations arising out of normal course business activities for the benefit of Nortel (the EDC Support Facility). On December 10, 2004, NNL and EDC amended the terms of the EDC Support Facility by extending the termination date of the EDC Support Facility to December 31, 2006 from December 31, 2005.
On February 14, 2003, NNLs obligations under the EDC Support Facility became secured on an equal and ratable basis under the security agreements entered into by NNL and various of its subsidiaries that pledged substantially all of the assets of NNL in favor of the banks under the NNL and Nortel Networks Inc. (NNI) $750 April 2000 five year credit facilities (the Five Year Facilities) and the holders of Nortels public debt securities. This security became effective in favor of the banks and the public debt holders on April 4, 2002. For additional information relating to the security agreements, see note 20.
The EDC Support Facility provides up to $750 in support, all on an uncommitted basis as of March 31, 2005. As of March 31, 2005, there was approximately $213 of outstanding support utilized under the EDC Support Facility, approximately $145 of which was outstanding under the revolving small bond sub-facility.
The delayed filing of the Reports with the SEC, the trustees under Nortels and NNLs public debt indentures and EDC gave EDC the right to (i) terminate its commitments under the EDC Support Facility, relating to certain of Nortels performance related obligations arising out of normal course business activities, and (ii) exercise certain rights against the collateral pledged under related security agreements or require NNL to cash collateralize all existing support.
Throughout 2004 and into 2005, NNL obtained waivers from EDC with respect to these matters to permit continued access to the EDC Support Facility in accordance with its terms while Nortel and NNL worked to complete their filing obligations. The waivers also applied to certain related breaches under the EDC Support Facility relating to the delayed filings and the restatements and revisions to Nortels and NNLs prior financial results (the Related Breaches). In connection with such waivers, EDC reclassified the previously committed $300 revolving small bond sub-facility of the EDC Support Facility as uncommitted support during the applicable waiver period. The $300 revolving small bond sub-facility will not become committed support until all delayed filings have been filed with the SEC, the trustees under Nortels and NNLs public debt indentures and EDC and NNL obtains a permanent waiver of the Related Breaches.
On January 14, 2005 and February 15, 2005, NNL obtained waivers from EDC of certain defaults and the Related Breaches by NNL under the EDC Support Facility relating to the delayed filings of Nortels and NNLs financial reports. Both of these waivers expired and on March 15, 2005, NNL obtained a new waiver from EDC (the March Waiver).
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The March Waiver remained in effect until the earliest of certain events including the date on which Nortel and NNL filed their respective Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2004 and the 2004 Annual Reports, or April 30, 2005. As previously announced, Nortel and NNL have filed the 2004 Quarterly Reports and the 2004 Annual Reports. See note 18 for additional information relating to the delayed filings.
10. | Guarantees |
Nortel has entered into agreements that contain features which meet the definition of a guarantee under FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others an Interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107 and Rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34 (FIN 45). FIN 45 defines a guarantee as a contract that contingently requires Nortel to make payments (either in cash, financial instruments, other assets, common shares of Nortel Networks Corporation or through the provision of services) to a third party based on changes in an underlying economic characteristic (such as interest rates or market value) that is related to an asset, a liability or an equity security of the guaranteed party or a third partys failure to perform under a specified agreement. A description of the major types of Nortels outstanding guarantees as of March 31, 2005 is provided below:
(a) | Business sale and business combination agreements |
In connection with agreements for the sale of portions of its business, including certain discontinued operations, Nortel has typically retained the liabilities of a business which relate to events occurring prior to its sale, such as tax, environmental, litigation and employment matters. Nortel generally indemnifies the purchaser of a Nortel business in the event that a third party asserts a claim against the purchaser that relates to a liability retained by Nortel. Some of these types of guarantees have indefinite terms while others have specific terms extending to June 2008.
Nortel also entered into guarantees related to the escrow of shares in business combinations in prior periods. These types of agreements generally include indemnities that require Nortel to indemnify counterparties for loss incurred from litigation that may be suffered by counterparties arising under such agreements. These types of indemnities apply over a specified period of time from the date of the business combinations and do not provide for any limit on the maximum potential amount.
Nortel is unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnification guarantees as the business sale agreements generally do not specify a maximum amount and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined.
Historically, Nortel has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no significant liability has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these guarantees.
In conjunction with the sale of a subsidiary to a third party, Nortel guaranteed to the purchaser that specified annual volume levels would be achieved by the business sold over a ten year period ending December 31, 2007. The maximum amount that Nortel may be required to pay under the volume guarantee as of March 31, 2005 is $9. A liability of $8 has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligation associated with this guarantee as of March 31, 2005.
(b) | Intellectual property indemnification obligations |
Nortel has periodically entered into agreements with customers and suppliers that include limited intellectual property indemnification obligations that are customary in the industry. These types of guarantees typically have indefinite terms and generally require Nortel to compensate the other party for certain damages and costs incurred as a result of third party intellectual property claims arising from these transactions.
The nature of the intellectual property indemnification obligations generally prevents Nortel from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay to its customers and suppliers. Historically, Nortel has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements. A liability of $6 has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these guarantees as of March 31, 2005.
22
(c) | Lease agreements |
Nortel has entered into agreements with its lessors that guarantee the lease payments of certain assignees of its facilities to lessors. Generally, these lease agreements relate to facilities Nortel vacated prior to the end of the term of its lease. These lease agreements require Nortel to make lease payments throughout the lease term if the assignee fails to make scheduled payments. Most of these lease agreements also require Nortel to pay for facility restoration costs at the end of the lease term if the assignee fails to do so. These lease agreements have expiration dates through June 2015. The maximum amount that Nortel may be required to pay under these types of agreements is $46 as of March 31, 2005. Nortel generally has the ability to attempt to recover such lease payments from the defaulting party through rights of subrogation.
Historically, Nortel has not made any significant payments under these types of guarantees and no significant liability has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these guarantees.
(d) | Third party debt agreements |
Nortel has guaranteed the debt of certain customers. These third party debt agreements require Nortel to make debt payments throughout the term of the related debt instrument if the customer fails to make scheduled debt payments. These third party debt agreements have expiration dates extending to May 2012. The maximum amount that Nortel may be required to pay under these types of debt agreements is $7 as of March 31, 2005. Under most such arrangements, the Nortel guarantee is secured, usually by the assets being purchased or financed. No liability has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these financial guarantees as of March 31, 2005.
(e) | Indemnification of banks and agents under EDC Support Facility and security agreements |
Nortel has agreed to indemnify EDC under the EDC Support Facility against any legal action brought against EDC that relates to the provision of support under the EDC Support Facility. Nortel has also agreed to indemnify the collateral agent under the security agreements against any legal action brought against the collateral agent in connection with the collateral pledged under the security agreements. These indemnifications generally apply to issues that arise during the term of the credit and support facilities, or for as long as the security agreements remain in effect (see notes 9 and 18).
Nortel is unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnification guarantees as the agreements typically do not specify a maximum amount and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time.
Historically, Nortel has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no significant liability has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these indemnification guarantees.
Nortel has agreed to indemnify certain of its counterparties in certain receivables securitization transactions. The indemnifications provided to counterparties in these types of transactions may require Nortel to compensate counterparties for costs incurred as a result of changes in laws and regulations (including tax legislation) or in the interpretations of such laws and regulations, or as a result of regulatory penalties that may be suffered by the counterparty as a consequence of the transaction. Certain receivables securitization transactions include indemnifications requiring the repurchase of the receivables if the particular transaction becomes invalid. As of March 31, 2005, Nortel had approximately $205 of securitized receivables which were subject to repurchase under this provision, in which case Nortel would assume all rights to collect such receivables. The indemnification provisions generally expire upon expiration of the securitization agreements, which extend through 2006, or collection of the receivable amounts by the counterparty.
Nortel is generally unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnification guarantees as certain agreements do not specify a maximum amount and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time.
23
Historically, Nortel has not made any significant indemnification payments or receivable repurchases under such agreements and no significant liability has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these guarantees.
(f) | Other indemnification agreements |
Nortel has also entered into other agreements that provide indemnifications to counterparties in certain transactions including investment banking agreements, guarantees related to the administration of capital trust accounts, guarantees related to the administration of employee benefit plans, indentures for its outstanding public debt and asset sale agreements (other than the business sale agreements noted above). These indemnification agreements generally require Nortel to indemnify the counterparties for costs incurred as a result of changes in laws and regulations (including tax legislation) or in the interpretations of such laws and regulations and/or as a result of losses from litigation that may be suffered by the counterparties arising from the transactions. These types of indemnification agreements normally extend over an unspecified period of time from the date of the transaction and do not typically provide for any limit on the maximum potential payment amount.
The nature of such agreements prevents Nortel from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay to its counterparties. The difficulties in assessing the amount of liability result primarily from the unpredictability of future changes in laws, the inability to determine how laws apply to counterparties and the lack of limitations on the potential liability.
Historically, Nortel has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no significant liability has been accrued in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligations associated with these guarantees.
Product warranties
The following summarizes the accrual for product warranties that was recorded as part of other accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2005:
Balance as of December 31, 2004 |
$ | 275 | ||
Payments |
(56 | ) | ||
Warranties issued |
42 | |||
Revisions |
(3 | ) | ||
Balance as of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 258 | ||
24
11. | Commitments |
Bid, performance related and other bonds
Nortel has entered into bid, performance related and other bonds associated with various contracts. Bid bonds generally have a term of less than twelve months, depending on the length of the bid period for the applicable contract. Other bonds primarily relate to warranty, rental, real estate and customs contracts. Performance related and other bonds generally have a term of twelve months and are typically renewed, as required, over the term of the applicable contract. The various contracts to which these bonds apply generally have terms ranging from two to five years. Any potential payments which might become due under these bonds would be related to Nortels non-performance under the applicable contract. Historically, Nortel has not had to make material payments under these types of bonds and does not anticipate that any material payments will be required in the future. The following table sets forth the maximum potential amount of future payments under bid, performance related and other bonds, net of the corresponding restricted cash and cash equivalents, as of the following dates: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Bid and performance related bonds (a) |
$ | 265 | $ | 362 | ||||
Other bonds (b) |
44 | 68 | ||||||
Total bid, performance related and other bonds |
$ | 309 | $ | 430 | ||||
(a) | Net of restricted cash and cash equivalent amounts of $38 and $36 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. | |
(b) | Net of restricted cash and cash equivalent amounts of $35 and $28 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. |
Venture capital financing
Nortel has entered into agreements with selected venture capital firms where the venture capital firms make and manage investments in start-ups and emerging enterprises. The agreements require Nortel to fund requests for additional capital up to its commitments when and if requests for additional capital are solicited by the venture capital firm. Nortel had remaining commitments, if requested, of $15 as of March 31, 2005. These commitments expire at various dates through 2012. |
12. | Financing arrangements |
Customer financing
Pursuant to certain financing agreements, Nortel is committed to provide future financing in connection with purchases of Nortels products and services. Commitments to extend future financing generally have conditions for funding, fixed expiration or termination dates and specific interest rates and purposes. Nortel attempts to limit its financing credit risk by utilizing an internal credit committee that monitors the credit exposure of Nortel. The following table sets forth customer financing related information and commitments, excluding discontinued operations, as of the following dates: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Drawn and outstanding gross |
$ | 56 | $ | 118 | ||||
Provisions for doubtful accounts |
(39 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||
Drawn and outstanding net (a) |
17 | 80 | ||||||
Undrawn commitments
|
64 | 69 | ||||||
Total customer financing |
$ | 81 | $ | 149 | ||||
(a) | Included short-term and long-term amounts. Short-term and long-term amounts were included in accounts receivable net and other assets, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. |
During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, net customer financing bad debt
expense as a result of settlements and adjustments to other existing provisions was not
significant. |
||
During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, Nortel entered into certain agreements to restructure and/or settle various customer financing and related receivables, including rights to accrued interest. As a result of these transactions, Nortel received |
25
cash consideration of approximately $110 ($36 of the proceeds was
included in discontinued operations) and $15 to settle outstanding receivables with a net
carrying value of $100 ($33 of the net carrying value was included in discontinued operations)
and $14, respectively. |
||
During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, Nortel reduced undrawn customer financing commitments by $5 and $114, respectively, as a result of the expiration or cancellation of commitments and changing customer business plans. As of March 31, 2005, all undrawn commitments were available for funding under the terms of the financing agreements. |
Consolidation of variable interest entities
Certain lease financing transactions of Nortel were structured through single transaction
VIEs that did not have sufficient equity at risk as defined in FIN 46R. Effective July 1, 2003,
Nortel prospectively began consolidating two VIEs for which Nortel was considered the primary
beneficiary following the guidance of FIN 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities an
interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements
(FIN 46), on the basis that Nortel retained certain risks associated with guaranteeing
recovery of the unamortized principal balance of the VIEs debt, which represented the majority
of the risks associated with the respective VIEs activities. The amount of the guarantees will
be adjusted over time as the underlying debt matures. During the three months ended March 31,
2004, the debt related to one of the VIEs was extinguished, and as a result, consolidation of
this VIE was no longer required. As of March 31, 2005, Nortels consolidated balance sheet
included $94 of long-term debt and $93 of plant and equipment net related to the remaining
VIE. These amounts represented both the collateral and maximum exposure to loss as a result of
Nortels involvement with the VIE. |
||
As of March 31, 2005, Nortel did not have any variable interests related to transfers of financial assets. Nortel has other financial interests and contractual arrangements which would meet the definition of a variable interest under FIN 46R, including investments in other companies and joint ventures, customer financing arrangements, and guarantees and indemnification arrangements. As of March 31, 2005, none of these interests or arrangements were considered significant variable interests and, therefore, did not meet the requirements for consolidation or disclosure under FIN 46R. |
13. | Capital stock and stock-based compensation plans |
Common shares
Nortel Networks Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value. The outstanding number of common shares and prepaid forward purchase contracts included in shareholders equity consisted of the following as of the following date: |
|
||||||||
March 31, 2005 |
||||||||
Number | $ | |||||||
(Number of common shares in thousands) |
||||||||
Common shares: |
||||||||
Balance at beginning of the period |
4,272,671 | $ | 33,840 | |||||
Shares issued pursuant to: |
||||||||
Prepaid forward purchase contracts (a) |
| | ||||||
Balance at end of the period |
4,272,671 | $ | 33,840 | |||||
(Number of prepaid forward purchase contracts) |
||||||||
Prepaid forward purchase contracts: (b) Balance at beginning of the period |
3,840 |
$ |
82 |
|||||
Prepaid
forward purchase contracts settled (a) |
| | ||||||
Balance at end of the period |
3,840 | $ | 82 | |||||
(a) | During the three months ended March 31, 2005, no common shares were issued as a result of the early settlement of prepaid forward purchase contracts. | |
(b) | Included in additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheets. |
26
At the Nortel annual and special shareholders meeting on April 24, 2003, shareholders approved the reconfirmation and amendment of Nortels shareholder rights plan, which will expire at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2006 unless it is reconfirmed at that time. Under the rights plan, Nortel issues one right for each Nortel Networks Corporation common share outstanding. These rights become exercisable upon the occurrence of certain events associated with an unsolicited takeover bid. |
Stock-based compensation plans
On March 10, 2004, Nortel announced, among other things, that it was likely that Nortel
would need to revise certain previously announced results and restate previously filed financial
results for one or more earlier periods. As a result of Nortels March 10, 2004 announcement,
Nortel suspended as of March 10, 2004: the purchase of Nortel Networks Corporation common
shares under the stock purchase plans for eligible employees in eligible countries, and a stock
purchase plan for eligible unionized employees in Canada (collectively, the ESPPs); the
exercise of outstanding options granted under the Nortel Networks Corporation 2000 Stock Option
Plan (the 2000 Plan); Nortel Networks Corporation 1986 Stock Option Plan As Amended and
Restated (the 1986 Plan), and the grant of any additional options under those plans, or the
exercise of outstanding options granted under employee stock option plans previously assumed by
Nortel in connection with mergers and acquisitions; and the purchase of units in a Nortel stock
fund or purchase of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares under Nortels defined
contribution and investment plans, until such time, at the earliest, that Nortel and NNL are in
compliance with U.S. and Canadian regulatory securities filing requirements. |
||
Effective January 1, 2003, Nortel elected to adopt the fair value based method for measurement
and recognition of all stock-based compensation prospectively for all awards granted, modified,
or settled on or after January 1, 2003 in accordance with SFAS 148. Prior to January 1, 2003,
Nortel, as permitted under SFAS 123, applied the intrinsic value method under Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related
interpretations in accounting for its employee stock-based compensation plans. |
||
The fair value at grant date of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock option vesting period. Adjustments to compensation expense due to not meeting employment vesting requirements are accounted for in the period when they occur. |
27
Pro forma disclosure
Had Nortel applied the fair value method to all stock-based compensation awards in all periods, reported net earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per common share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated below for the three months ended: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Net earnings (loss) reported |
$ | (49 | ) | $ | 59 | |||
Stock-based compensation reported |
18 | 59 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation pro forma (a) |
(25 | ) | (106 | ) | ||||
Net earnings (loss) pro forma |
$ | (56 | ) | $ | 12 | |||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: |
||||||||
Reported |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||
Pro forma |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.00 | |||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: |
||||||||
Reported |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||
Pro forma |
$ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.00 | |||
(a) | Stock-based compensation pro forma expense was net of tax of nil in each period. |
The following table presents stock-based compensation recorded for the three months ended:
|
||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Stock-based compensation: |
||||||||
Stock option expense |
$ | 19 | $ | 15 | ||||
Employer portion of ESPPs (a) |
| | ||||||
Restricted Stock Units expense (a) |
| 41 | ||||||
Deferred Stock Units expense (a) |
(1 | ) | 3 | |||||
Total stock-based compensation reported net of tax |
$ | 18 | $ | 59 | ||||
(a) | Compensation related to employer portion of ESPPs, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) was net of tax of nil in each period. |
During the three months ended March 31, 2004, approximately 38 million stock options were granted. No stock options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2005. The following weighted-average assumptions were used in computing the fair value of stock options for purposes of expense recognition and pro forma disclosures, as applicable, for the three months ended: |
|
||||
March 31, | ||||
2004 | ||||
Black-Scholes weighted-average assumptions Expected dividend yield |
0.00 | % | ||
Expected volatility |
94.47 | % | ||
Risk-free interest rate |
2.96 | % | ||
Expected option life in years
|
4 | |||
Weighted-average
stock option fair value per option granted |
$ | 5.21 | ||
28
14. | Earnings (loss) per common share |
The following table details the weighted-average number of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares outstanding for the purposes of computing basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for the three months ended: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
(Number of common shares in millions) | 2005(a) | 2004 | ||||||
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding: |
||||||||
Issued and outstanding |
4,273 | 4,236 | ||||||
Prepaid forward purchase contracts (b) |
65 | 99 | ||||||
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding |
4,338 | 4,335 | ||||||
Weighted-average shares dilution adjustments: |
||||||||
Dilutive stock options |
| 44 | ||||||
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding |
4,338 | 4,379 | ||||||
Weighted-average shares dilution adjustments exclusions |
||||||||
Stock options |
293 | 269 | ||||||
4.25% Convertible Senior Notes (c) |
180 | 180 | ||||||
(a) | As a result of the net loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005, all potential dilutive securities were considered anti-dilutive. | |
(b) | The minimum number of common shares to be issued upon settlement of the prepaid forward purchase contracts on a weighted-average basis was 65 and 99 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. As of March 31, 2005 and 2004, the minimum number of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares to be issued upon settlement of the prepaid forward purchase contracts was 65 and 65, respectively. | |
(c) | The 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes were anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2005. |
15. | Comprehensive income (loss) |
The following are the components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for each of the three months ended: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (49 | ) | $ | 59 | |||
Other comprehensive income (loss) adjustments: |
||||||||
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment (a) |
(259 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments net (b) |
(7 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||
Minimum pension liability adjustment net |
2 | 1 | ||||||
Unrealized derivative gain (loss) on cash flow hedges net (c) |
(8 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | (321 | ) | $ | 31 | |||
(a) | The change in the foreign currency translation adjustment was not adjusted for income taxes since it related to indefinite term investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. The change in foreign currency translation adjustment includes $187 released due to a divestiture in the first quarter of 2005. | |
(b) | Certain securities deemed available-for-sale by Nortel were measured at fair value. Unrealized holding gains (losses) related to these securities were excluded from net earnings (loss) and were included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Unrealized gain (loss) on investments was net of tax of nil and nil for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. | |
(c) | During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, net derivative gains of $8 and $3, respectively, were reclassified to other income (expense) net. Nortel estimates that $9 of net derivative gains (losses) included in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into net earnings (loss) within the next 12 months. |
16. | Related party transactions |
In the ordinary course of business, Nortel purchases certain inventory for its Carrier Packet Networks business from Bookham, Inc. (Bookham), a related party due to Nortels equity interest in Bookham. Bookham is a sole supplier of key optical components to Nortels optical networks solutions in its Carrier Packet Networks segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, Nortels aggregate purchases from Bookham were $4 and $19, respectively. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, accounts payable to Bookham were nil and $5, respectively. Nortel also has certain notes receivable due from Bookham with a carrying amount of $19 and $20 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. |
29
On December 2, 2004, Nortel and Bookham entered into a restructuring agreement which, among
other changes, extended the maturity date of a senior secured note (the Series B Note) by one
year from November 8, 2005 to November 8, 2006, and eliminated the conversion feature of a
senior unsecured note (the Series A Note). Bookham also agreed to secure the Series A Note,
provide additional collateral for the Series A Note and the Series B Note, and provide Nortel
with other debt protection covenants. |
||
In February 2005, Nortel agreed to waive until November 6, 2006 the requirement under the Series A Note and Series B Note for Bookham to maintain a minimum cash balance. In May 2005, Nortel entered into an amendment to adjust the prepayment provisions of these notes and received additional collateral for these notes. In May 2005, Nortel entered into an amendment to its supply agreement with Bookham to include for a twelve month period price increases for certain products, and acceleration of certain planned purchase orders and invoice payment terms. These May 2005 amendments were agreed to by Nortel to provide Bookham with financial flexibility to continue the supply of optical components for Nortels Carrier Packet Networks products. |
17. | Contingencies |
Subsequent to the February 15, 2001 announcement in which Nortel provided revised guidance
for financial performance for the 2001 fiscal year and the first quarter of 2001, Nortel and
certain of its then current officers and directors were named as defendants in more than
twenty-five purported class action lawsuits. These lawsuits in the U.S. District Courts for the
Eastern District of New York, for the Southern District of New York and for the District of New
Jersey and in courts in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia in Canada, on behalf of
shareholders who acquired Nortel Networks Corporation securities as early as October 24, 2000
and as late as February 15, 2001, allege, among other things, violations of U.S. federal and
Canadian provincial securities laws. These matters also have been the subject of review by
Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities. On May 11, 2001, the defendants filed
motions to dismiss and/or stay in connection with the three proceedings in Quebec primarily
based on the factual allegations lacking substantial connection to Quebec and the inclusion of
shareholders resident in Quebec in the class claimed in the Ontario lawsuit. The plaintiffs in
two of these proceedings in Quebec obtained court approval for discontinuances of their
proceedings on January 17, 2002. The motion to dismiss and/or stay the third proceeding was
heard on November 6, 2001 and the court deferred any determination on the motion to the judge
who will hear the application for authorization to commence a class proceeding. On December 6,
2001, the defendants filed a motion seeking leave to appeal that decision. The motion for leave
to appeal was dismissed on March 11, 2002. On October 16, 2001, an order in the Southern
District of New York was filed consolidating twenty-five of the related U.S. class action
lawsuits into a single case, appointing class plaintiffs and counsel for such plaintiffs. The
plaintiffs served a consolidated amended complaint on January 18, 2002. On December 17, 2001,
the defendants in the British Columbia action served notice of a motion requesting the court to
decline jurisdiction and to stay all proceedings on the grounds that British Columbia is an
inappropriate forum. The motion has been adjourned at the plaintiffs request to a future date
to be set by the parties. |
||
A class action lawsuit against Nortel was also filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York on behalf of shareholders who acquired the securities of JDS Uniphase
Corporation (JDS) between January 18, 2001 and February 15, 2001, alleging violations of the
same U.S. federal securities laws as the above-noted lawsuits. |
||
On April 1, 2002, Nortel filed a motion to dismiss both the above consolidated U.S. shareholder class action and the above JDS shareholder class action complaints on the grounds that they failed to state a cause of action under U.S. federal securities laws. With respect to the JDS shareholder class action complaint, Nortel also moved to dismiss on the separate basis that JDS shareholders lacked standing to sue Nortel. On January 3, 2003, the District Court granted the motion to dismiss the JDS shareholder class action complaint and denied the motion to dismiss the consolidated U.S. class action complaint. Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of the JDS shareholder class action complaint. On November 19, 2003, oral argument was held before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on the JDS shareholders appeal of the dismissal of their complaint. On May 19, 2004, the Second Circuit issued an opinion affirming the dismissal of the JDS shareholder class action complaint and on July 14, 2004 the Second Circuit denied plaintiffs motion for rehearing. On October 12, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. On November 12, 2004, the defendants filed Brief for the Respondents in Opposition, and on November 22, 2004, the plaintiffs filed Reply to Brief in Opposition. On January 10, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari. With respect to the consolidated U.S. shareholder class action, the plaintiffs served a motion for class certification on March 21, 2003. On May 30, 2003, the defendants served an opposition to the motion for class certification. Plaintiffs reply was served on August 1, 2003. The District Court held oral arguments on September 3, 2003 and issued an order granting class certification on September 5, 2003. On September 23, 2003, the defendants filed a motion in the Second Circuit for permission to appeal the class certification decision. The plaintiffs opposition to the |
30
motion was filed on October 2, 2003. On November 24, 2003, the Second Circuit denied the
motion. On March 10, 2004, the District Court approved the form of notice to the class which
was published and mailed. |
||
On July 17, 2002, a new purported class action lawsuit (the Ontario Claim) was filed in the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Commercial List, naming Nortel, certain of its current and
former officers and directors and its auditors as defendants. The factual allegations in the
Ontario Claim are substantially similar to the allegations in the consolidated amended complaint
filed in the U.S. District Court described above. The Ontario Claim is on behalf of all
Canadian residents who purchased Nortel Networks Corporation securities (including options on
Nortel Networks Corporation securities) between October 24, 2000 and February 15, 2001. The
plaintiffs claim damages of Canadian $5,000, plus punitive damages in the amount of Canadian
$1,000, prejudgment and postjudgment interest and costs of the action. On September 23, 2003,
the Court issued an order allowing the plaintiffs to proceed to amend the Ontario Claim and
requiring that the plaintiffs serve class certification materials by December 15, 2003. On
September 24, 2003, the plaintiffs filed a notice of discontinuance of the original action filed
in Ontario. On December 12, 2003, plaintiffs counsel requested an extension of time to January
21, 2004 to deliver class certification materials. On January 21, 2004, plaintiffs counsel
advised the Court that the two representative plaintiffs in the action no longer wished to
proceed, but counsel was prepared to deliver draft certification materials pending the
replacement of the representative plaintiffs. On February 19, 2004, the plaintiffs counsel
advised the Court of a potential new representative plaintiff. On February 26, 2004, the
defendants requested the Court to direct the plaintiffs counsel to bring a motion to permit the
withdrawal of the current representative plaintiffs and to substitute the proposed
representative plaintiff. On June 8, 2004, the Court signed an order allowing a Second Fresh as
Amended Statement of Claim that substituted one new representative plaintiff, but did not change
the substance of the prior claim. |
||
A purported class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of
Tennessee on December 21, 2001, on behalf of participants and beneficiaries of the Nortel
Long-Term Investment Plan (the Plan) at any time during the period of March 7, 2000 through
the filing date and who made or maintained Plan investments in Nortel Networks Corporation
common shares, under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for Plan-wide relief
and alleging, among other things, material misrepresentations and omissions to induce Plan
participants to continue to invest in and maintain investments in Nortel Networks Corporation
common shares in the Plan. A second purported class action lawsuit, on behalf of the Plan and
Plan participants for whose individual accounts the Plan purchased Nortel Networks Corporation
common shares during the period from October 27, 2000 to February 15, 2001 and making similar
allegations, was filed in the same court on March 12, 2002. A third purported class action
lawsuit, on behalf of persons who are or were Plan participants or beneficiaries at any time
since March 1, 1999 to the filing date and making similar allegations, was filed in the same
court on March 21, 2002. The first and second purported class action lawsuits were consolidated
by a new purported class action complaint, filed on May 15, 2002 in the same court and making
similar allegations, on behalf of Plan participants and beneficiaries who directed the Plan to
purchase or hold shares of certain funds, which held primarily Nortel Networks Corporation
common shares, during the period from March 7, 2000 through December 21, 2001. On September 24,
2002, plaintiffs in the consolidated action filed a motion to consolidate all the actions and to
transfer them to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs
then filed a motion to withdraw the pending motion to consolidate and transfer. The withdrawal
was granted by the District Court on December 30, 2002. A fourth purported class action
lawsuit, on behalf of the Plan and Plan participants for whose individual accounts the Plan held
Nortel Networks Corporation common shares during the period from March 7, 2000 through March 31,
2001 and making similar allegations, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York on March 12, 2003. On March 18, 2003, plaintiffs in the fourth purported
class action filed a motion with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to transfer all
the actions to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for coordinated or
consolidated proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 1407. On June 24, 2003, the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued a transfer order transferring the Southern District of
New York action to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (the
Consolidated ERISA Action). On September 12, 2003, the plaintiffs in all the actions filed a
consolidated class action complaint. On October 28, 2003, the defendants filed a motion to
dismiss the complaint and a motion to stay discovery pending disposition of the motion to
dismiss. On March 30, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a motion for certification of a class
consisting of participants in, or beneficiaries of, the Plan who held shares of the Nortel Stock
Fund during the period from March 7, 2000 through March 31, 2001. On April 27, 2004, the Court
granted the defendants motion to stay discovery pending resolution of defendants motion to
dismiss. On June 15, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a First Amended Consolidated Class Action
Complaint that added additional current and former officers and employees as defendants and
expanded the purported class period to extend from March 7, 2000 through to June 15, 2004. |
||
Subsequent to the March 10, 2004 announcement in which Nortel indicated it was likely that it would need to revise its previously announced unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2003, and the results reported in certain of its quarterly reports for 2003, and to restate its previously filed financial results for one or more earlier periods, Nortel and certain of its then current and former |
31
officers and directors were named as defendants in 27
purported class action lawsuits. These lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of New York on behalf of shareholders who acquired Nortel Networks Corporation
securities as early as February 16, 2001 and as late as May 15, 2004, allege, among other
things, violations of U.S. federal securities laws. These matters are also the subject of
investigations by Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory and criminal investigative
authorities. On June 30, 2004, the Court signed Orders consolidating the 27 class actions and
appointing lead plaintiffs and lead counsel. The plaintiffs filed a consolidated class action
complaint on September 10, 2004, alleging a class period of April 24, 2003 through and including
April 27, 2004. On November 5, 2004, Nortel Networks Corporation and the Audit Committee
Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated class action complaint. On January 18,
2005, the lead plaintiffs, Nortel and the Audit Committee Defendants reached an agreement in
which Nortel would withdraw its motion to dismiss and plaintiffs would dismiss Count II of the
complaint which asserts a claim against the Audit Committee Defendants. On May 13, 2005, the
plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. |
||
On April 5, 2004, Nortel announced that the SEC had issued a formal order of investigation in
connection with Nortels previous restatement of its financial results for certain periods, as
announced in October 2003, and Nortels announcements in March 2004 regarding the likely need to
revise certain previously announced results and restate previously filed financial results for
one or more periods. The matter had been the subject of an informal SEC inquiry. On April 13,
2004, Nortel announced that it had received a letter from the staff of the Ontario Securities
Commission (OSC) advising that there is an OSC Enforcement Staff investigation into the same
matters that are the subject of the SEC investigation. |
||
On May 14, 2004, Nortel announced that it had received a federal grand jury subpoena for the
production of certain documents, including financial statements and corporate, personnel and
accounting records, in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the
U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. |
||
On May 18, 2004, a purported class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the
Middle District of Tennessee on behalf of individuals who were participants and beneficiaries of
the Plan at any time during the period of December 23, 2003 through the filing date and who made
or maintained Plan investments in Nortel Networks Corporation common shares, under the ERISA for
Plan-wide relief and alleging, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duty. On September 3,
2004, the Court signed a stipulated order consolidating this action with the Consolidated ERISA
Action described above. On June 16, 2004, a second purported class action lawsuit, on behalf of
the Plan and Plan participants for whose individual accounts the Plan purchased Nortel Networks
Corporation common shares during the period from October 24, 2000 to June 16, 2004, and making
similar allegations, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
On August 6, 2004, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued a conditional transfer
order to transfer this action to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
for coordinated or consolidated proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 1407 with the
Consolidated ERISA Action described above. On August 20, 2004, plaintiffs filed a notice of
opposition to the conditional transfer order with the Judicial Panel. On December 6, 2004, the
Judicial Panel denied the opposition and ordered the action transferred to the U.S. District
Court for the Middle District of Tennessee for coordinated or consolidated proceedings with the
Consolidated ERISA Action described above. On January 3, 2005, this action was received in the
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and consolidated with the Consolidated
ERISA Action described above. |
||
On July 28, 2004, Nortel and NNL, and certain directors and officers, and certain former
directors and officers, of Nortel and NNL, were named as defendants in a purported class
proceeding in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on behalf of shareholders who acquired
Nortel Networks Corporation securities as early as November 12, 2002 and as late as July 28,
2004. This lawsuit alleges, among other things, breaches of trust and fiduciary duty,
oppressive conduct and misappropriation of corporate assets and trust property in respect of the
payment of cash bonuses to executives, officers and employees in 2003 and 2004 under the Nortel
Return to Profitability bonus program and seeks damages of Canadian $250 and an order under the
Canada Business Corporations Act directing that an investigation be made respecting these bonus
payments. |
||
On July 30, 2004, a shareholders derivative complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain directors and officers, and certain former directors and officers, of Nortel alleging, among other things, breach of fiduciary duties owed to Nortel during the period from 2000 to 2003 including by causing Nortel to engage in unlawful conduct or failing to prevent such conduct; causing Nortel to issue false statements; and violating the law. On February 14, 2005, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the derivative complaint. On April 29, 2005, the plaintiffs filed an opposition to the motions to dismiss. |
32
On August 16, 2004, Nortel received a letter from the Integrated Market Enforcement Team of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) advising Nortel that the RCMP would be commencing a
criminal investigation into Nortels financial accounting situation. |
||
On February 16, 2005, a motion for authorization to institute a class action on behalf of
residents of Québec, who purchased Nortel securities between January 29, 2004 and March 15,
2004, was filed in the Québec Superior Court naming Nortel as a defendant. The motion alleges
that Nortel made misrepresentations about 2003 financial results. |
||
On March 9, 2005, Nortel and certain of its current and former officers and directors and its
auditors were named as defendants in a purported class action proceeding filed in the Ontario
Superior Court of Justice, Commercial List, on behalf of all Canadian residents who purchased
Nortel Networks Corporation securities from April 24, 2003 to April 27, 2004. This lawsuit
alleges, among other things, negligence, misrepresentations, oppressive conduct, insider trading
and violations of Canadian corporation and competition laws in connection with Nortels 2003
financial results and seeks damages of Canadian $3,000, plus punitive damages in the amount of
Canadian $1,000, prejudgment and postjudgment interest and costs of the action. |
||
Except as otherwise described herein, in each of the matters described above, the plaintiffs are
seeking an unspecified amount of monetary damages. |
||
Nortel is also a defendant in various other suits, claims, proceedings and investigations which
arise in the normal course of business. |
||
Nortel is unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact to Nortel of the above matters which, unless otherwise specified, seek damages from the defendants of material or indeterminate amounts or could result in fines and penalties. Nortel cannot determine whether these actions, suits, claims and proceedings will, individually or collectively, have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity of Nortel. Nortel and any named directors and officers of Nortel intend to vigorously defend these actions, suits, claims and proceedings. Nortel will continue to cooperate fully with all authorities in connection with the regulatory and criminal investigations. |
Environmental matters
Nortels operations are subject to a wide range of environmental laws in various
jurisdictions around the world. Nortel seeks to operate its business in compliance with such
laws. In 2004, Nortel became subject to new European product content laws and product takeback
and recycling requirements that will require full compliance by 2006. It is expected that these
laws will require Nortel to incur additional compliance costs. Although costs relating to
environmental matters have not resulted in a material adverse effect on the business, results of
operations, financial condition and liquidity in the past, there can be no assurance that Nortel
will not be required to incur such costs in the future. Nortel has a corporate environmental
management system standard and an environmental program to promote such compliance. Moreover,
Nortel has a periodic, risk-based, integrated environment, health and safety audit program. |
||
Nortels environmental program focuses its activities on design for the environment, supply
chain and packaging reduction issues. Nortel works with its suppliers and other external groups
to encourage the sharing of non-proprietary information on environmental research. |
||
Nortel is exposed to liabilities and compliance costs arising from its past and current
generation, management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. As of March 31, 2005,
the accruals on the consolidated balance sheet for environmental matters were $30. Based on
information available as of March 31, 2005, management believes that the existing accruals are
sufficient to satisfy probable and reasonably estimable environmental liabilities related to
known environmental matters. Any additional liabilities that may result from these matters, and
any additional liabilities that may result in connection with other locations currently under
investigation, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of
operations, financial condition and liquidity of Nortel. |
||
Nortel has remedial activities under way at 12 sites which are either currently or previously
owned or occupied facilities. An estimate of Nortels anticipated remediation costs associated
with all such sites, to the extent probable and reasonably estimable, is included in the
environmental accruals referred to above in an approximate amount of $30. |
||
Nortel is also listed as a potentially responsible party under the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) at six Superfund sites in the U.S. An estimate of Nortels share of the anticipated remediation costs associated |
33
with such Superfund sites is expected to be de minimis
and is included in the environmental accruals of $30 referred to above. |
||
Liability under CERCLA may be imposed on a joint and several basis, without regard to the extent of Nortels involvement. In addition, the accuracy of Nortels estimate of environmental liability is affected by several uncertainties such as additional requirements which may be identified in connection with remedial activities, the complexity and evolution of environmental laws and regulations, and the identification of presently unknown remediation requirements. Consequently, Nortels liability could be greater than its current estimate. |
Other
In August 2004, Nortel entered into a contract with Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited (BSNL)
to establish a wireless network in India for total expected revenues of approximately $500 to be recognized
substantially in 2005. This resulted in a project loss of approximately $160 in 2004. Nortel expects to record an
additional loss of approximately $20 substantially in the second quarter of 2005 as a result of
additional orders received in that period. The losses on this contract are primarily driven by
the pricing pressures as a result of the competitive nature of Indias telecom market and also
Nortels start up costs to become a significant GSM vendor in this market. |
||
In addition to the orders under the existing contract, BSNL may increase the amounts purchased under the contract up to an additional 50% of the existing contract level to allow for business expansion. Nortel expects that there is the potential for further product losses, which will be determined by the product mix and magnitude of additional orders. |
18. | Subsequent events |
EDC Support Facility
On April 14, 2005, Nortel and NNL announced that the
filing of Nortels and NNLs Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2005 (the 2005 First
Quarter Reports) were
expected to be delayed and that, if necessary, NNL intended to seek a new waiver from EDC in
connection with such delay. |
||
On April 29, 2005, NNL obtained a new waiver from EDC (the April Waiver) of certain defaults
and related breaches by NNL under the EDC Support Facility. The April Waiver remains in effect
until the earliest of certain events including the date on which Nortel and NNL have filed the
2004 Annual Reports and the 2005 First Quarter Reports, or May 31, 2005. |
||
On May 31, 2005, NNL obtained a permanent waiver from EDC (the Permanent Waiver) of certain
defaults and the Related Breaches by NNL under the EDC Support Facility. With the filing of the
2005 First Quarter Reports and the Permanent Waiver, NNL will be in compliance with its
obligations under the EDC Support Facility. |
||
As of May 16, 2005, there was approximately $228 of outstanding support utilized under the EDC Support Facility, approximately $160 of which was outstanding under the small bond sub-facility. |
Debt securities
As a result of the delay in filing the Reports and the 2005 First Quarter Reports, Nortel and NNL were not in compliance with their obligations to deliver their respective SEC filings to relevant parties under Nortels and NNLs public debt indentures. With the filing of the 2005 First Quarter Reports with the SEC and the delivery of the 2005 First Quarter Reports to the trustees under Nortels and NNLs public debt indentures, Nortel and NNL will be in compliance with their delivery obligations under the public debt indentures. |
Stock exchanges
As a result of the delay in filing the Reports and the 2005 First Quarter Reports, Nortel was in breach of the continued listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). With the filing and delivery of the 2005 First Quarter Reports, Nortel will be in compliance with the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. |
Prepaid forward purchase contracts
As a result of the delayed filing of the Reports and the 2005 First Quarter Reports, Nortel is unable to permit holders of Nortels prepaid forward purchase contracts to exercise certain early settlement rights and receive Nortel Networks Corporation common shares in advance of the otherwise applicable August 15, 2005 settlement date. These rights would again become exercisable upon the effectiveness of a registration statement (or a post-effective amendment to the shelf registration statement) filed with the SEC (with respect to the Nortel Networks Corporation common shares to be delivered) that contains a related current prospectus. Under the terms of the Purchase Contract and Unit Agreement which governs the purchase contracts, Nortel has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to have, in effect, a registration statement covering the Nortel Networks Corporation common shares to be delivered and to provide a prospectus in connection therewith. Nortel does not believe that it will be able, through the use of commercially reasonable efforts, to have an effective long-form registration statement relating to the exercise of certain early settlement rights by holders of Nortels prepaid forward purchase contracts on file with the SEC in advance of August 15, 2005. Accordingly, holders continue not to be able to exercise these rights in advance of the otherwise applicable settlement date of August 15, 2005. |
34
Other
On April 26, 2005, Nortel announced that NNI, a wholly
owned subsidiary of NNL, had entered
into an agreement with PEC Solutions, Inc. (PEC) providing for the acquisition of all of the
outstanding shares of PEC for $15.50 per share in cash, or approximately $448 (net of cash
acquired), plus transaction costs and expenses. The acquisition is subject to
certain conditions, including the successful completion of a tender offer and regulatory
approvals. Nortel currently expects to complete the acquisition during the second quarter of
2005. |
||
On May 20, 2005, Nortel announced the signing of an agreement with International Business Machines (IBM), designed to support customized products across a range of market segments. Nortel will establish a Nortel-IBM Joint Development Center to collaborate on the design and development of new products and services. |
19. | Reconciliation from U.S. GAAP to Canadian GAAP |
New Canadian regulations allow issuers that are required to file reports with the SEC, upon
meeting certain conditions, to satisfy their Canadian continuous disclosure obligations by using
financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, for fiscal 2005 and
2004, Nortel is including in the notes to its consolidated financial statements a reconciliation
highlighting the material differences between its financial statements prepared in accordance
with U.S. GAAP as compared to financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in Canada (Canadian GAAP). Subsequent to 2005, no further
reconciliation will be required under current Canadian regulations. Prior to 2004, Nortel
prepared financial statements (with accompanying notes) and Managements Discussion and Analysis
Canadian Supplement in accordance with Canadian GAAP and Canadian securities regulations, all
of which were presented as a separate report and filed with the relevant Canadian securities
regulators in compliance with its Canadian continuous disclosure obligations. |
||
The consolidated financial statements of Nortel have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the accounting rules and regulations of the SEC which differ in certain material respects from those principles and practices that Nortel would have followed had its consolidated financial statements been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. The following is a reconciliation of the net earnings (loss) between U.S. GAAP and Canadian GAAP for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, and accumulated deficit as of March 31, 2005 and 2004 and earnings per share data under Canadian GAAP for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004: |
|
||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
||||||||
U.S. GAAP |
$ | (49 | ) | $ | 59 | |||
Derivative accounting (b) ((i)(i)) |
(4 | ) | 22 | |||||
Financial instruments (c) |
(17 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||
Other |
| 4 | ||||||
Canadian
GAAP |
$ | (70 | ) | $ | 69 | |||
Accumulated
deficit |
||||||||
Deficit at the beginning of the period |
$ | (32,203 | ) | $ | (32,098 | ) | ||
Net earnings (loss) |
(70 | ) | 69 | |||||
Accretion of prepaid forward purchase contracts |
(2 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
Deficit at the end of the period |
$ | (32,275 | ) | $ | (32,031 | ) | ||
Canadian
GAAP: |
||||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share |
||||||||
- - from continuing operations |
$ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||
- from discontinued operations |
0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share |
||||||||
- - from continuing operations |
$ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||
- from discontinued operations |
0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share |
$ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||
35
The following details the material differences between U.S. GAAP and Canadian GAAP for balance sheet information as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31, 2005 |
December 31, 2004 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. | Canadian | U.S. | Canadian | |||||||||||||||||||||
GAAP | Adjustments | GAAP | GAAP | Adjustments | GAAP | |||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets (g) |
$ | 8,280 | $ | 5 | $ | 8,285 | $ | 8,342 | $ | 5 | $ | 8,347 | ||||||||||||
Investments (d)(g) |
148 | (10 | ) | 138 | 159 | (16 | ) | 143 | ||||||||||||||||
Plant and equipment net |
1,594 | (4 | ) | 1,590 | 1,651 | (2 | ) | 1,649 | ||||||||||||||||
Goodwill (a) |
2,260 | (910 | ) | 1,350 | 2,303 | (910 | ) | 1,393 | ||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets net (h) |
75 | (40 | ) | 35 | 78 | (40 | ) | 38 | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net (h) |
3,706 | (215 | ) | 3,491 | 3,736 | (220 | ) | 3,516 | ||||||||||||||||
Other assets (b)(h) |
694 | 21 | 715 | 715 | (19 | ) | 696 | |||||||||||||||||
Total
assets |
$ | 16,757 | $ | (1,153 | ) | $ | 15,604 | $ | 16,984 | $ | (1,202 | ) | $ | 15,782 | ||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities (g) |
$ | 6,262 | $ | 6 | $ | 6,268 | $ | 5,172 | $ | (41 | ) | $ | 5,131 | |||||||||||
Long-term debt (b)(c) |
2,571 | (260 | ) | 2,311 | 3,862 | (287 | ) | 3,575 | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net (h) |
144 | 13 | 157 | 144 | 14 | 158 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities (b)(h) |
3,466 | (1,364 | ) | 2,102 | 3,189 | (1,360 | ) | 1,829 | ||||||||||||||||
Total
liabilities |
12,443 | (1,605 | ) | 10,838 | 12,367 | (1,674 | ) | 10,693 | ||||||||||||||||
Minority interests in subsidiary companies |
629 | | 629 | 630 | | 630 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total shareholders equity (b)(c)(d)(g)(h) |
3,685 | 452 | 4,137 | 3,987 | 472 | 4,459 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 16,757 | $ | (1,153 | ) | $ | 15,604 | $ | 16,984 | $ | (1,202 | ) | $ | 15,782 | ||||||||||
There were no material differences between U.S. GAAP and Canadian GAAP affecting statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. | ||
The significant differences between U.S. GAAP and Canadian GAAP that impact the consolidated financial statements of Nortel include the following: |
(a) | Business combinations |
All of Nortels business combinations have been accounted for using the purchase
method. Until June 30, 2001, under Canadian GAAP, when common share consideration was
involved, the purchase price of Nortels acquisitions was determined based on the average
trading price per Nortel Networks Corporation common share for a reasonable period before
and after the date the transaction was closed. Under U.S. GAAP, when common share
consideration was involved, the purchase price of the acquisitions was determined based on
the average price per Nortel Networks Corporation common share for a reasonable period
before and after the date the acquisition was announced or the date on which the exchange
ratio became fixed. After June 30, 2001, treatment under Canadian GAAP was the same as
under U.S. GAAP for measurement of share consideration. As a result of the difference
between Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP until June 30, 2001, the value of purchase price
consideration assigned to acquisitions may have varied significantly depending on the length
of time between the announcement date and the closing date of the transaction and the
volatility of Nortel Networks Corporation common share price within that time frame. |
|||
Stock options assumed on acquisitions were recorded at fair value for acquisitions on or after July 1, 2000 under U.S. GAAP, and for acquisitions on or after July 1, 2001 under Canadian GAAP. Beginning with acquisitions completed subsequent to July 1, 2000, U.S. GAAP requires an allocation of a portion of the purchase price to deferred compensation related to the intrinsic value of unvested options held by employees of the companies acquired. The deferred compensation is amortized to net earnings (loss) based on the remaining vesting period of the option awards. With the adoption of The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) Handbook Section 3870, Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments, on January 1, 2002, unearned compensation is recorded on unvested options held by employees of acquired companies. Previously, there was no requirement to record deferred compensation in respect of such unvested options under Canadian GAAP. Nortel has not completed any acquisitions subsequent to January 1, 2002. The difference in accounting for options assumed or issued to the value ascribed under U.S. GAAP, as part of acquisitions discussed above, can result in a different balance being ascribed to goodwill under U.S. GAAP. |
36
The potential differences in the initial measurement of goodwill in business combinations
under Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP may result in a difference in the amount of any subsequent
goodwill impairment charge. Effective January 1, 2002, under both U.S. GAAP and Canadian
GAAP, the method used in accounting for goodwill changed from an amortization method to an
impairment only method, thereby eliminating any impact on net earnings (loss) due to the
amortization of different amounts of goodwill during these periods. |
|||
(b) | Derivative accounting |
||
Under U.S. GAAP, effective January 1, 2001, Nortel adopted SFAS 133, which was
subsequently amended by SFAS No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and
Certain Hedging Activities an Amendment of SFAS No. 133, and SFAS No. 149, Amendment of
Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. Under Canadian GAAP, gains
and losses on derivatives that are designated as hedges and that manage the underlying risks
of anticipated transactions are not recorded until the underlying hedged item is recorded in
net earnings (loss) and hedge ineffectiveness is not recorded until settlement. Under U.S.
GAAP, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended
use of the derivative and the resulting designation. For fair value hedges, changes in the
fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are
reported in net earnings (loss) from continuing operations immediately. For cash flow
hedges, the effective portion of the gains or losses is reported as a component of other
comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion is reported in net earnings (loss)
from continuing operations immediately. Foreign currency hedges can be either fair value
hedges or cash flow hedges and are accounted for accordingly. |
|||
Under U.S. GAAP, an embedded derivative is accounted for at fair value separate from the
host contract when certain specified conditions are met. Under Canadian GAAP, embedded
derivatives are not accounted for separately from the host contract. |
|||
(c) | Financial instruments |
||
Under Canadian GAAP, a financial instrument that contains both a liability and equity
component must be allocated to those components based on fair value. As a result, the
$1,800 proceeds on the 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes issued on August 15, 2001, convertible
at the holders option into Nortel Networks Corporation common shares, were allocated based
on the fair value of the debt component calculated at $1,325, with the residual of $475
being assigned to the equity component. Under Canadian GAAP, the debt component is accreted
to the face value of the 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes over their seven year term, with the
resulting charge recorded in interest expense. Under U.S. GAAP, such instruments are not
broken out into their component parts but rather are reported as the type of instrument of
which they are principally comprised. Therefore the 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes are
reported as debt under U.S. GAAP. |
|||
(d) | Investments |
||
Under U.S. GAAP, certain investment securities deemed available-for-sale by Nortel are re-measured to fair value each period, with unrealized holding gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Under Canadian GAAP, these investments are recorded at historical cost unless a loss that is considered other than temporary occurs. |
37
(e) | Other financial statement presentation differences |
||
Under Canadian GAAP, global investment tax credits are required to be deducted from R&D
expense while under U.S. GAAP, these amounts are deducted from the income tax benefit
(expense). The impact of this difference in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
of $9 and $11, respectively, was to increase or decrease net earnings (loss) from continuing
operations before income taxes, non-controlling interests and equity in net loss of
associated companies under Canadian GAAP, with a corresponding increase or decrease in
income tax benefit (expense). |
|||
(f) | Other |
||
Under U.S. GAAP, translation adjustments for self-sustaining subsidiaries are reported
as a component of other comprehensive income (loss), whereas, under Canadian GAAP, these
translation adjustments are classified as foreign currency translation adjustment, also a
component of shareholders equity. |
|||
(g) | Joint ventures |
||
Nortel has a number of joint ventures with other parties. Under U.S. GAAP, investments
in joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method, whereas, under Canadian GAAP,
the proportionate consolidation method is used. The difference in accounting does not
impact net earnings (loss), but does impact certain other consolidated financial statement
items. |
|||
(h) | Pension and other post-retirement benefits |
||
Under U.S. GAAP, a minimum pension liability adjustment must be recognized in the
amount of the excess of the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation over the recorded
pension benefit liability. An offsetting intangible pension asset is recorded equal to the
unrecognized prior service costs, with any difference recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive loss. No such adjustments are required under Canadian GAAP. |
|||
(i) | Accounting changes |
(i) | Derivative accounting |
||
Effective January 1, 2004, Nortel adopted CICA Accounting Guideline (AcG) 13, Hedging
Relationships (AcG-13), which establishes specific criteria for derivatives to qualify
for hedge accounting. Nortel had been previously applying these criteria under U.S.
GAAP. Therefore, there was no impact on adoption of AcG-13. |
|||
Concurrent with the adoption of AcG-13, Nortel also adopted the CICAs Emerging Issues
Committee (EIC) 128, Accounting for Trading, Speculative or Non-Hedging Derivative
Financial Instruments (EIC 128), which requires that certain freestanding derivative
instruments that give rise to a financial asset or liability, and do not qualify for
hedge accounting under AcG-13, be recognized on the balance sheet and measured at fair
value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings (loss) in each period. As a
result of the adoption of EIC 128, certain warrants, which had been previously recorded
at cost under Canadian GAAP, are required to be recorded at fair value consistent with
U.S. GAAP. The impact of this accounting change, which has been recorded prospectively
as at January 1, 2004, was an increase to investments and other income of $23 for the
three months ended March 31, 2004. |
|||
(ii) | Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease |
||
In December 2004, the EIC issued abstract 150, Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease (EIC 150). EIC 150 provides guidance on how to determine whether an arrangement contains a lease that is within the scope of CICA Handbook Section 3065, Leases. The guidance in EIC 150 is based on whether the arrangement conveys to the purchaser the right to use a tangible asset, and is effective for Nortel for arrangements entered into or modified after January 1, 2005. Equivalent guidance in U.S. GAAP has already been adopted by Nortel. The adoption of EIC 150 did not have any material impact on Nortels results of operations and financial condition. |
38
(iii) | Financial Instruments Presentation and Disclosure |
||
In January 2004, the CICA issued amendments to CICA Handbook Section 3860, Financial Instruments Presentation and Disclosure (Section 3860), to require obligations that must or can be settled at the issuers option, by a variable number of the issuers own equity instruments to be presented as liabilities. Thus, securities issued by an enterprise that give the issuer unrestricted rights to settle the principal amount in cash or in the equivalent value of its own equity instruments will no longer be presented as equity. The amendments to Section 3860 are applicable to Nortel beginning January 1, 2005 on a retroactive basis. The adoption of the amendments to Section 3860 did not have any material impact on Nortels results of operations and financial condition. |
(j) | Recently issued accounting pronouncements |
(i) | In January 2005, the EIC issued amended abstract 144, Accounting by a customer
(including a reseller) for certain consideration received from a vendor. The
amendment is effective retroactively for periods commencing on or after February 15,
2005. The amendment requires companies to recognize the benefit of non-discretionary
rebates for achieving specified cumulative purchasing levels as a reduction of the cost
of purchases over the relevant period, provided the rebate is probable and reasonably
estimable. Otherwise, the rebates would be recognized as purchasing milestones are
achieved. Nortel does not expect
the adoption of the new amendment will have a material impact on its results of operations or financial condition. |
||
(ii) | In January 2005, the CICA issued Section 3855, Financial Instruments Recognition and Measurement, Section 1530, Comprehensive Income, and Section 3865, Hedges. The new standards will be effective for interim and annual financial statements commencing in 2007. Earlier adoption is permitted. Most significantly for Nortel under Canadian GAAP, the new standards will introduce comprehensive income to Canadian GAAP, a concept Nortel has been following under U.S. GAAP. Foreign exchange gains and losses on the translation of the financial statements of self-sustaining subsidiaries previously recorded in a separate section of shareholders equity will be presented in comprehensive income. Also, mark-to-market adjustments on available for sale investments will be recorded in comprehensive income. Derivative financial instruments will be recorded in the balance sheet at fair value and the changes in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges will be reported in comprehensive income. |
20. | Supplemental consolidating financial information |
|
As of March 31, 2005, and as a result of NNLs credit ratings, various liens, pledges and
guarantees were effective under security agreements entered into by NNL and various of its
subsidiaries (see note 9). |
||
The security agreements were originally entered into in connection with the $1,510 December 2001
364-day credit facilities (which expired on December 13, 2002). The security became effective
April 4, 2002, following Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys) downgrade of NNLs senior
long-term debt rating to below investment grade, in respect of the then existing credit
facilities including the Five Year Facilities. Consequently, on April 4, 2002 and in accordance
with the negative pledge covenants in the indentures for all Nortels outstanding public debt
securities, all such public debt securities became, under the terms of the security agreements,
secured equally and ratably with the obligations under NNLs and NNIs then existing credit
facilities. NNLs obligations under the EDC Support Facility became secured on an equal and
ratable basis under the security agreements on February 14, 2003. |
||
As a result of NNL terminating the Five Year Facilities, certain foreign security agreements entered into by NNL and various of its subsidiaries under which shares of certain subsidiaries of NNL incorporated outside of the U.S. and Canada were pledged in favor of the banks under the Five Year Facilities, EDC and the holders of Nortels and NNLs outstanding public debt securities also terminated in accordance with their terms. In addition, guarantees by certain subsidiaries of NNL incorporated outside of the U.S. and Canada terminated in accordance with their terms. As of March 31, 2005, the security agreements pledge substantially all of the assets of NNL located in the U.S. and Canada and those of most of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, including the shares of certain of NNLs U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, in favor of EDC and the holders of Nortels and NNLs outstanding public debt securities (see note 9). In addition, certain of NNLs wholly owned subsidiaries, including NNI, most of NNLs Canadian subsidiaries, Nortel Networks (Asia) Limited, Nortel Networks (Ireland) Limited and Nortel Networks U.K. Limited, have guaranteed NNLs obligations under the EDC Support Facility and Nortels and NNLs outstanding public debt securities (the Guarantor Subsidiaries). Non-guarantor subsidiaries (the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) represented either wholly owned subsidiaries of NNL whose shares were pledged, or were the remaining |
39
subsidiaries of NNL which
did not provide liens, pledges or guarantees. |
||
If NNLs senior long-term debt rating by Moodys returns to Baa2 (with a stable outlook) and its
rating by Standard & Poors returns to BBB (with a stable outlook), the security and guarantees
will be released in full. If the EDC Support Facility is terminated, or expires, the security
and guarantees will also be released in full. NNL may provide EDC with cash collateral in an
amount equal to the total amount of its outstanding obligations and undrawn commitments and
expenses under the EDC Support Facility (or any other alternative collateral or arrangements
acceptable to EDC) in lieu of the security provided under the security agreements. Accordingly,
if the EDC Support Facility is secured by cash or other alternate collateral or arrangements
acceptable to EDC, the security and guarantees will also be released in full. |
||
The following supplemental consolidating financial data illustrates, in separate columns, the
composition (as described below) of Nortel Networks Corporation, NNL, the Guarantor
Subsidiaries, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, eliminations and the consolidated total for the
three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 and as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004,
respectively. |
||
Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method for purposes of the supplemental consolidating financial data. Net earnings (loss) of subsidiaries are therefore reflected in the investment account and net earnings (loss). The principal elimination entries eliminate investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions. The financial data may not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations or financial position had the subsidiaries been operating as independent entities. |
40
Supplemental Consolidating Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nortel | Nortel | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Guarantor | Guarantor | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | Corporation | Limited | Subsidiaries | Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | | $ | 514 | $ | 1,620 | $ | 1,026 | $ | (624 | ) | $ | 2,536 | |||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
| 390 | 965 | 748 | (624 | ) | 1,479 | |||||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
| 124 | 655 | 278 | | 1,057 | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
| 138 | 318 | 118 | | 574 | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expense |
| 37 | 363 | 74 | | 474 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
| | | 2 | | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Special charges |
| 5 | 9 | 7 | | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of businesses and assets |
| | 2 | (1 | ) | | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings (loss) |
| (56 | ) | (37 | ) | 78 | | (15 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Other income (expense) net |
| 21 | 19 | 6 | | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
(21 | ) | (19 | ) | (3 | ) | (7 | ) | | (50 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other |
| (2 | ) | (12 | ) | 11 | | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before
income taxes, minority interests and equity in
net earnings (loss) of associated companies |
(21 | ) | (56 | ) | (33 | ) | 88 | | (22 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
| (2 | ) | (12 | ) | (2 | ) | | (16 | ) | ||||||||||||||
(21 | ) | (58 | ) | (45 | ) | 86 | | (38 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Minority interests net of tax |
| | | (5 | ) | (9 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies net of tax |
(30 | ) | 49 | 100 | 15 | (133 | ) | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
(51 | ) | (9 | ) | 55 | 96 | (142 | ) | (51 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations net of tax |
2 | 2 | 1 | | (3 | ) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (49 | ) | $ | (7 | ) | $ | 56 | $ | 96 | $ | (145 | ) | $ | (49 | ) | ||||||||
41
Supplemental Consolidating Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nortel | Nortel | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Guarantor | Guarantor | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | Corporation | Limited | Subsidiaries | Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | | $ | 898 | $ | 1,678 | $ | 902 | $ | (1,034 | ) | $ | 2,444 | |||||||||||
Cost of revenues |
| 487 | 1,188 | 750 | (1,034 | ) | 1,391 | |||||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
| 411 | 490 | 152 | | 1,053 | ||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
| 104 | 330 | 108 | | 542 | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development expense |
| 194 | 201 | 76 | | 471 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
| | | 3 | | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Special charges |
| 3 | | 4 | | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of businesses and assets |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating earnings (loss) |
| 110 | (41 | ) | (39 | ) | | 30 | ||||||||||||||||
Other income (expense) net |
(1 | ) | 33 | 60 | (6 | ) | | 86 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
(21 | ) | (16 | ) | (1 | ) | (6 | ) | | (44 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other |
| | (20 | ) | 12 | | (8 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before
income taxes, minority interests and equity in
net earnings (loss) of associated companies |
(22 | ) | 127 | (2 | ) | (39 | ) | | 64 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
| 37 | (25 | ) | (3 | ) | | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
(22 | ) | 164 | (27 | ) | (42 | ) | | 73 | ||||||||||||||||
Minority interests net of tax |
| | | (5 | ) | (9 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in
net earnings (loss) of associated companies
net of tax |
80 | (48 | ) | (113 | ) | 2 | 78 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
58 | 116 | (140 | ) | (45 | ) | 69 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations net of tax |
1 | 1 | 1 | | (2 | ) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | 59 | $ | 117 | $ | (139 | ) | $ | (45 | ) | $ | 67 | $ | 59 | ||||||||||
42
Supplemental Consolidating Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2005:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nortel | Nortel | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Guarantor | Guarantor | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | Corporation | Limited | Subsidiaries | Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 36 | $ | (7 | ) | $ | 2,175 | $ | 1,227 | $ | | $ | 3,431 | |||||||||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents |
| 45 | 27 | 9 | | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable net |
| 702 | 1,308 | 770 | | 2,780 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intercompany/related party accounts receivable |
49 | 486 | 864 | 962 | (2,361 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Inventories net |
| 215 | 669 | 432 | | 1,316 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
| 45 | 202 | 1 | | 248 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other current assets |
| 60 | 183 | 181 | | 424 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total current assets |
85 | 1,546 | 5,428 | 3,582 | (2,361 | ) | 8,280 | |||||||||||||||||
Investments |
5,561 | 2,228 | (6,992 | ) | 529 | (1,178 | ) | 148 | ||||||||||||||||
Intercompany advances |
| 354 | 1,490 | 1,689 | (3,533 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Plant and equipment net |
| 464 | 752 | 378 | | 1,594 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
| (9 | ) | 1,917 | 352 | | 2,260 | |||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets net |
| 36 | 2 | 37 | | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
| 1,817 | 1,801 | 88 | | 3,706 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other assets |
22 | 43 | 291 | 338 | | 694 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 5,668 | $ | 6,479 | $ | 4,689 | $ | 6,993 | $ | (7,072 | ) | $ | 16,757 | |||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade and other accounts payable |
$ | 2 | $ | 512 | $ | 449 | $ | 20 | $ | | $ | 983 | ||||||||||||
Intercompany/related party accounts payable |
174 | (3,513 | ) | 3,584 | 2,116 | (2,361 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
Payroll and benefit-related liabilities |
1 | 66 | 268 | 127 | | 462 | ||||||||||||||||||
Contractual liabilities |
| 126 | 195 | 185 | | 506 | ||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring liabilities |
| 17 | 111 | 24 | | 152 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
6 | 418 | 1,736 | 709 | | 2,869 | ||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt due within one year |
| 1,287 | 12 | (9 | ) | | 1,290 | |||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
183 | (1,087 | ) | 6,355 | 3,172 | (2,361 | ) | 6,262 | ||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
1,800 | 235 | 118 | 418 | | 2,571 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
| | 108 | 36 | | 144 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities |
| 1,275 | 1,961 | 230 | | 3,466 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intercompany advances |
| | 297 | 3,236 | (3,533 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
1,983 | 423 | 8,839 | 7,092 | (5,894 | ) | 12,443 | |||||||||||||||||
Minority interests in subsidiary companies |
| | | 93 | 536 | 629 | ||||||||||||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred shares |
| 536 | 237 | 48 | (821 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Common shares |
33,840 | 1,211 | 5,416 | 2,398 | (9,025 | ) | 33,840 | |||||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
3,301 | 22,126 | 787 | 19,698 | (42,611 | ) | 3,301 | |||||||||||||||||
Deferred stock option compensation |
| | | (9 | ) | 9 | | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(32,632 | ) | (17,008 | ) | (11,146 | ) | (22,510 | ) | 50,664 | (32,632 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(824 | ) | (809 | ) | 556 | 183 | 70 | (824 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total shareholders equity |
3,685 | 6,056 | (4,150 | ) | (192 | ) | (1,714 | ) | 3,685 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 5,668 | $ | 6,479 | $ | 4,689 | $ | 6,993 | $ | (7,072 | ) | $ | 16,757 | |||||||||||
43
Supplemental Consolidating Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nortel | Nortel | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Guarantor | Guarantor | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | Corporation | Limited | Subsidiaries | Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 74 | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 2,414 | $ | 1,200 | $ | | $ | 3,686 | |||||||||||
Restricted cash and cash equivalents |
| 52 | 20 | 8 | | 80 | ||||||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable net |
| 476 | 1,244 | 831 | | 2,551 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intercompany/related party accounts receivable |
49 | 541 | 1,135 | 1,067 | (2,792 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Inventories net |
| 298 | 608 | 508 | | 1,414 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
| 45 | 211 | (1 | ) | | 255 | |||||||||||||||||
Other current assets |
| 33 | 166 | 157 | | 356 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total current assets |
123 | 1,443 | 5,798 | 3,770 | (2,792 | ) | 8,342 | |||||||||||||||||
Investments |
5,845 | 2,222 | (6,772 | ) | 508 | (1,644 | ) | 159 | ||||||||||||||||
Intercompany advances |
| 346 | 1,102 | 1,687 | (3,135 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Plant and equipment net |
| 480 | 771 | 400 | | 1,651 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
| | 1,946 | 357 | | 2,303 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets net |
| 37 | 1 | 40 | | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
| 1,824 | 1,814 | 98 | | 3,736 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other assets |
24 | 80 | 288 | 323 | | 715 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 5,992 | $ | 6,432 | $ | 4,948 | $ | 7,183 | $ | (7,571 | ) | $ | 16,984 | |||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trade and other accounts payable |
$ | 1 | $ | 486 | $ | 391 | $ | 118 | $ | | $ | 996 | ||||||||||||
Intercompany/related party accounts payable |
178 | (3,561 | ) | 3,626 | 2,549 | (2,792 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||
Payroll and benefit-related liabilities |
1 | 68 | 306 | 140 | | 515 | ||||||||||||||||||
Contractual liabilities |
| 175 | 218 | 176 | | 569 | ||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring liabilities |
| 32 | 184 | 38 | | 254 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
25 | 380 | 1,642 | 776 | | 2,823 | ||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt due within one year |
| 13 | 12 | (10 | ) | | 15 | |||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
205 | (2,407 | ) | 6,379 | 3,787 | (2,792 | ) | 5,172 | ||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
1,800 | 1,520 | 120 | 422 | | 3,862 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes net |
| | 108 | 36 | | 144 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities |
| 995 | 1,928 | 266 | | 3,189 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intercompany advances |
| | 297 | 2,838 | (3,135 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
2,005 | 108 | 8,832 | 7,349 | (5,927 | ) | 12,367 | |||||||||||||||||
Minority interests in subsidiary companies |
| | | 94 | 536 | 630 | ||||||||||||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred shares |
| 536 | 237 | 47 | (820 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
Common shares |
33,840 | 1,211 | 5,417 | 2,394 | (9,022 | ) | 33,840 | |||||||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
3,282 | 22,107 | 775 | 19,694 | (42,576 | ) | 3,282 | |||||||||||||||||
Deferred stock option compensation |
| | | (9 | ) | 9 | | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(32,583 | ) | (16,992 | ) | (10,931 | ) | (22,648 | ) | 50,571 | (32,583 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(552 | ) | (538 | ) | 618 | 262 | (342 | ) | (552 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total shareholders equity |
3,987 | 6,324 | (3,884 | ) | (260 | ) | (2,180 | ) | 3,987 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 5,992 | $ | 6,432 | $ | 4,948 | $ | 7,183 | $ | (7,571 | ) | $ | 16,984 | |||||||||||
44
Supplemental Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nortel | Nortel | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Guarantor | Guarantor | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | Corporation | Limited | Subsidiaries | Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (51 | ) | $ | (9 | ) | $ | 55 | $ | 96 | $ | (142 | ) | $ | (51 | ) | ||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss)
from continuing operations to net cash from
(used in) operating activities, net of effects
from acquisitions and divestitures of businesses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
| 12 | 46 | 24 | | 82 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity in
net (earnings) loss of associated companies net of tax |
30 | (49 | ) | (100 | ) | (15 | ) | 133 | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Stock option compensation |
| 4 | 11 | 4 | | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
| | 11 | (3 | ) | | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities |
| 25 | 50 | 3 | | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale or write-down of
investments, businesses and assets |
| | 6 | | | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other net |
(242 | ) | (156 | ) | 77 | 207 | 9 | (105 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities |
(18 | ) | (34 | ) | (157 | ) | (89 | ) | | (298 | ) | |||||||||||||
Intercompany/related party activity |
243 | 129 | (211 | ) | (161 | ) | | | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) operating activities of continuing operations |
(38 | ) | (78 | ) | (212 | ) | 66 | | (262 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenditures for plant and equipment |
| (9 | ) | (30 | ) | (15 | ) | | (54 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Acquisitions of investments and businesses net of cash acquired |
| | (2 | ) | | | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Proceeds on sale of investments and businesses |
| 76 | 7 | | | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
of continuing operations |
| 67 | (25 | ) | (15 | ) | | 27 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred shares |
| (9 | ) | | | 9 | | |||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid by subsidiaries
to minority interests |
| | | (5 | ) | (9 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Increase in notes payable |
| | | 20 | | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
Decrease in notes payable |
| | | (26 | ) | | (26 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Repayments of capital leases payable |
| 2 | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Issuance of common shares |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
of continuing operations |
| (7 | ) | (2 | ) | (12 | ) | | (21 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
on cash and cash equivalents |
| | (23 | ) | (12 | ) | | (35 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) continuing operations |
(38 | ) | (18 | ) | (262 | ) | 27 | | (291 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) operating activities of
discontinued operations |
| 13 | 23 | | | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents |
(38 | ) | (5 | ) | (239 | ) | 27 | | (255 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
at beginning of period |
74 | (2 | ) | 2,414 | 1,200 | | 3,686 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 36 | $ | (7 | ) | $ | 2,175 | $ | 1,227 | $ | | $ | 3,431 | |||||||||||
45
Supplemental Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2004:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nortel | Nortel | Non- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Networks | Networks | Guarantor | Guarantor | |||||||||||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | Corporation | Limited | Subsidiaries | Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | 58 | $ | 116 | $ | (140 | ) | $ | (45 | ) | $ | 69 | $ | 58 | ||||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss)
from continuing operations to net cash from
(used in) operating activities, net of effects
from acquisitions and divestitures of businesses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
| 10 | 44 | 36 | | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equity in
net (earnings) loss of associated companies net of tax |
(80 | ) | 48 | 113 | (2 | ) | (78 | ) | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Stock option compensation |
| 2 | 11 | 2 | | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
| (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other liabilities |
| 20 | 30 | 10 | | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale or write-down of
investments, businesses and assets |
| | (35 | ) | 2 | | (33 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other net |
(18 | ) | (16 | ) | (5 | ) | 57 | 9 | 27 | |||||||||||||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities |
(17 | ) | (239 | ) | (242 | ) | (56 | ) | | (554 | ) | |||||||||||||
Intercompany/related party activity |
25 | 100 | 16 | (141 | ) | | | |||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) operating activities
of continuing operations |
(32 | ) | 40 | (209 | ) | (139 | ) | | (340 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenditures for plant and equipment |
| (8 | ) | (31 | ) | (4 | ) | | (43 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds on disposals of plant and equipment |
| 4 | 1 | | | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions of investments and businesses net of cash
acquired |
| | (3 | ) | | | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Proceeds on sale of investments and businesses |
| | 55 | | | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
of continuing operations |
| (4 | ) | 22 | (4 | ) | | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred shares |
| (9 | ) | | | 9 | | |||||||||||||||||
Dividends paid by subsidiaries
to minority interests |
| | | | (9 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Increase in notes payable |
| | | 10 | | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
Decrease in notes payable |
| | | (13 | ) | | (13 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
| | (85 | ) | (12 | ) | | (97 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Repayments of capital leases payable |
| | (3 | ) | | | (3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common shares |
30 | | | | | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
of continuing operations |
30 | (9 | ) | (88 | ) | (15 | ) | | (82 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
on cash and cash equivalents |
| | 12 | 1 | | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) continuing operations |
(2 | ) | 27 | (263 | ) | (157 | ) | | (395 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net cash from (used in) operating activities of
discontinued operations |
1 | 4 | (7 | ) | (1 | ) | | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents |
(1 | ) | 31 | (270 | ) | (158 | ) | | (398 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
at beginning of period |
68 | (8 | ) | 2,963 | 974 | | 3,997 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 67 | $ | 23 | $ | 2,693 | $ | 816 | $ | | $ | 3,599 | ||||||||||||
46
ITEM 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Table of Contents |
Business overview |
49 | |||
Our business |
49 | |||
Our segments |
49 | |||
Our strategy and outlook |
50 | |||
Strategy |
50 | |||
Financial targets |
51 | |||
2005 Outlook |
51 | |||
Evolution of our supply chain strategy |
52 | |||
Developments in 2005 |
53 | |||
First quarter 2005 consolidated results summary |
53 | |||
Significant business developments |
54 | |||
Acquisitions |
54 | |||
Joint ventures |
54 | |||
Optical components operations |
54 | |||
Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract |
54 | |||
Nortel Audit Committee Independent Review; restatements; related matters |
55 | |||
Restatements and Independent Review |
55 | |||
Revenue Independent Review |
55 | |||
Material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting |
56 | |||
EDC Support Facility |
56 | |||
Debt securities |
57 | |||
Shelf registration statement; forward purchase contracts |
57 | |||
Regulatory actions and pending litigation |
57 | |||
Stock-based compensation plans |
58 | |||
Results of operations continuing operations |
58 | |||
Consolidated information |
58 | |||
Revenues |
58 | |||
Geographic revenues |
58 | |||
Gross profit and gross margin |
60 | |||
Operating expenses |
61 | |||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
61 | |||
Research and development expense |
61 | |||
Special charges |
62 | |||
Other income (expense) net |
65 | |||
Interest expense |
65 | |||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
65 | |||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
66 | |||
Segment information |
66 | |||
Carrier Packet Networks |
67 | |||
CDMA Networks |
68 | |||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
69 | |||
Enterprise Networks |
70 | |||
Other |
71 | |||
Liquidity and capital resources |
72 | |||
Cash flows |
72 | |||
Operating activities |
72 | |||
Investing activities |
75 | |||
Financing activities |
75 | |||
Uses of liquidity |
76 |
47
Contractual cash obligations |
76 | |||
Customer financing |
77 | |||
Acquisitions |
77 | |||
Sources of liquidity |
77 | |||
Credit facilities |
78 | |||
Available support facility |
78 | |||
Shelf registration statement and base shelf prospectus |
79 | |||
Credit ratings |
79 | |||
Off-balance sheet arrangements |
79 | |||
Bid, performance related and other bonds |
79 | |||
Receivables securitization transactions |
80 | |||
Application of critical accounting policies and estimates |
80 | |||
Provisions for doubtful accounts |
81 | |||
Provisions for inventory |
81 | |||
Provisions for product warranties |
82 | |||
Tax asset valuation |
83 | |||
Goodwill valuation |
83 | |||
Special charges |
84 | |||
Accounting changes and recent accounting pronouncements |
84 | |||
Accounting changes |
84 | |||
Recent accounting pronouncements |
84 | |||
Canadian supplement |
85 | |||
Accounting changes |
85 | |||
Outstanding share data |
86 | |||
Market risk |
86 | |||
Equity price risk |
87 | |||
Environmental matters |
87 | |||
Legal proceedings |
87 | |||
Risk factors/forward looking statements |
87 | |||
Risks relating to our restatements and related matters |
88 | |||
Risks relating to our business |
94 |
48
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read this Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, or MD&A, in combination with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. A number of our and Nortel Networks Limiteds past filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, remain subject to ongoing review by the SECs Division of Corporation Finance. Ongoing SEC review may require us to amend this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or our other public filings further. See Risk factors/forward looking statements.
This section contains forward looking statements and should be read in conjunction with the risk factors described below under Risk factors/forward looking statements. All dollar amounts in this MD&A are in millions of United States, or U.S., dollars unless otherwise stated.
Where we say we, us, our or Nortel, we mean Nortel Networks Corporation or Nortel Networks Corporation and its subsidiaries, as applicable, and where we refer to the industry, we mean the telecommunications industry.
Business overview
Our business
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the worlds most critical information. Serving both service provider and enterprise customers, we deliver innovative technology solutions encompassing end-to-end broadband, Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, multimedia services and applications, and wireless broadband solutions designed to help people solve the worlds greatest challenges. Our networking solutions consist of hardware, software and services. Our business consists of the design, development, manufacture, assembly, marketing, sale, licensing, installation, servicing and support of these networking solutions. A substantial portion of our business has a technology focus and is dedicated to making strategic investments in research and development, or R&D. This focus forms a core strength and is a factor that we believe differentiates us from many of our competitors. We believe our acknowledged strength is strong customer loyalty as a result of providing value to our customers through high reliability networks, a commitment to ongoing support and an evolution of solutions as technology advancements in the products are made.
The common shares of Nortel Networks Corporation are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, and Toronto Stock Exchange, or TSX, under the symbol NT. Nortel Networks Limited, or NNL, is our principal direct operating subsidiary and its results are consolidated into our results. Nortel holds all of NNLs outstanding common shares but none of its outstanding preferred shares. NNLs preferred shares are reported in minority interests in subsidiary companies in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and dividends and the related taxes on preferred shares are reported in minority interests net of tax in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Our segments
During 2004, our operations were organized and represented by four operating segments which were also our reportable segments: Wireless Networks, Enterprise Networks, Wireline Networks, and Optical Networks. Effective October 1, 2004, we established a new streamlined organizational structure that included, among other things, combining the businesses represented by our four operating segments at that time into two business organizations: (i) Carrier Networks and Global Operations and (ii) Enterprise Networks.
Our two business organizations include four operating segments. Our Carrier Networks and Global Operations organization is comprised of the following operating segments: (a) Carrier Packet Networks, which is substantially an amalgamation of our previous Wireline Networks and Optical Networks operating segments; (b) Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, Networks, which previously represented a portion of our Wireless Networks operating segment; and (c) Global System for Mobile communications, or GSM, and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems, or UMTS, Networks which also previously represented a portion of our Wireless Networks operating segment. Our Enterprise Networks operating segment remains substantially unchanged and is a separate operating segment.
49
Although certain structural changes were made to reflect the reorganization effective October 1, 2004, we did not meet the criteria to change our reportable segments under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, or SFAS 131, for the 2004 fiscal year. Our operating results on a segmented basis for the new business organizations were not available for review by our chief operating decision maker during the 2004 fiscal year, as a significant amount of our finance resources were allocated to the restatement activity that was completed during January 2005. Commencing in the first quarter of 2005, we met the criteria under SFAS 131 to change our reportable segments to reflect the four operating segments of the two business organizations established effective October 1, 2004. These four reportable segments and other business activities are described below:
| Carrier Packet Networks provides: (i) circuit and packet voice solutions, (ii) data networking and security solutions and (iii) optical long-haul and metropolitan optical network solutions. Together, these solutions provide or transport data, voice and multimedia communications solutions to our service provider customers that operate wireline networks. These service provider customers include local and long distance telephone companies, wireless service providers, cable operators and other communication service providers. | ||
| CDMA Networks provides communication network solutions that incorporate CDMA and Time Division Multiple Access, or TDMA, network solutions to enable our wireless service provider customers to offer their customers, the subscribers for wireless communication services, the ability to be mobile while they send and receive voice and data communications using wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants and other computing and communications devices. | ||
| GSM and UMTS Networks also provides communication network solutions to our wireless service provider customers; however, these solutions incorporate GSM and UMTS network solutions. | ||
| Enterprise Networks provides: (i) circuit and packet voice solutions and (ii) data networking and security solutions which provide data, voice and multimedia communications solutions to our enterprise customers. Our Enterprise Networks customers consist of a broad range of enterprise customers around the world, including large businesses and their branch offices, small businesses and home offices, as well as government agencies, educational and other institutions and utility organizations. | ||
| Other represents miscellaneous business activities and corporate functions. None of these activities meet the quantitative criteria to be disclosed separately as reportable segments. Costs associated with shared services and other corporate costs are allocated to the segments based on usage determined generally by headcount. Costs not allocated to the segments are primarily related to our corporate compliance and other non-operational activities and are included in other. |
Our vice chairman and chief executive officer, or CEO, has been identified as our chief operating decision maker in assessing the performance of the segments and the allocation of resources to the segments. The CEO relies on the information derived directly from our management reporting system. The primary financial measure used by the CEO in assessing performance and allocating resources to the segments is management earnings (loss) before income taxes, or Management EBT. This measure includes the cost of revenues, selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expense, R&D expense, interest expense, other income (expense) net, minority interests net of tax and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies net of tax. The CEO does not review asset information on a segmented basis in order to assess performance and allocate resources. See Segment information General description in note 4 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Our strategy and outlook
Strategy |
We are driving our business forward on a platform of integrity with a focus on cash, costs and revenues as strategic goals. We remain committed to our business strategy of technology and solutions evolution in helping our customers transform their networks and implement new applications and services to drive improved productivity, reduced costs and revenue growth.
The principal components of our strategic plan, first announced in August 2004, are:
| a commitment to best corporate practices and ethical conduct; | ||
| a streamlined organizational structure to reflect alignment with carrier converged networks; | ||
| an increased focus on the enterprise market and customers; | ||
| optimized R&D programs for highly secure, available and reliable converged networks; | ||
| a focus on partnerships, new markets and acquisitions; |
50
| a focus on overall marketing strategy; | ||
| the strategic review of embedded services to assess opportunities in the professional services business; and | ||
| a distinct focus on government and defense customers. |
Our strategic plan also includes a work plan involving focused workforce reductions, including a voluntary retirement program, of approximately 3,250 employees, real estate optimization and other cost containment actions such as reductions in information services costs, outsourced services and other discretionary spending, or the 2004 Restructuring Plan. Our workforce actions are focused to disproportionately protect customer and sales facing roles as well as continue our focus on new innovative solutions. We anticipate cost savings of approximately $500 in 2005 related to this work plan, partially offset by planned investments in certain strategic areas such as the finance organization. For further information related to our work plan, see Results of operations continuing operations Operating expenses Special charges.
Other key strategic initiatives include our finance transformation project which will include, among other things, implementing a new information technology program (SAP) to provide an integrated global financial system; our supply chain evolution strategy with Flextronics International Ltd., or Flextronics; planned new joint ventures in Asia Pacific; and improvements in the effectiveness of our strategic alliances.
Financial targets |
Our financial targets focus on cash, costs and revenue. We expect to achieve targeted improvements in cash flow from operations by driving improved earnings performance and working capital management. We measure working capital performance through the use of various metrics, and in particular, we are focused on improvements in accounts receivable performance and levels of inventory (see Liquidity and capital resources Cash flows).
We have also set targets for cost reductions that include reducing our operating expenditures, which is our combined SG&A and R&D spending, as a percentage of revenue. We are also focused on maximizing cost effectiveness as we continue to experience pricing pressures for many of our products. We have implemented a variety of programs to drive lower costs including our work plan involving focused workforce reductions. Our model of outsourced manufacturing, including our agreement with Flextronics, is important to maximizing our long-term cost effectiveness.
As a global supplier in the communications equipment market, one of the keys to our long-term success is revenue growth. In addition to efficiently providing global sales and support and product development, it is important that we maintain or gain market share for us to be viewed by our customers as a long-term, innovative networking solutions supplier. We are focusing on government, security and services to drive revenue growth as evidenced by our April 26, 2005 announcement of our planned acquisition of PEC Solutions, Inc., or PEC.
In addition to our focus on cash, costs and revenue, we also monitor performance in the following areas: status with our key customers on a global basis; the achievement of expected milestones of our key R&D projects; and the achievement of our key strategic initiatives. In an effort to ensure we are creating value for our customers and maintaining strong relationships with those customers, we monitor our project implementation, customer service levels and the status of key contracts. We also conduct regular customer satisfaction and loyalty surveys to monitor customer relationships. With respect to our R&D projects, we measure content, quality and timeliness versus project plans.
2005 Outlook |
We expect continued consolidation of certain service providers, particularly in the U.S. for the remainder of 2005. We expect this trend to result in a net reduction in customer spending as these service providers focus on improving the efficiency of their combined networks rather than network expansion. Competition in the industry remains strong and our traditional large competitors, newer competitors, particularly from China, and certain smaller niche competitors continue to increase their market share and create pricing and margin pressures. We and our competitors remain focused on certain key factors such as customer relationships, installed networks, innovative and reliable products, services and price.
In 2005, we are focusing on regions and networking solutions that we believe will be areas of potential growth and importance to our customers. On a regional basis, we see potential significant growth opportunities in emerging markets such as China and India. Evidence of our focus on these emerging market opportunities includes our contract with Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited, or BSNL, to establish a wireless network in India, our investment in Sasken Communication Technologies Ltd. of India to develop new software and deploy our networking equipment and our planned joint venture with China Putian Corporation. Globally, we believe security and reliability for service provider networks are increasingly important to governments, defense interests and enterprises around the world.
51
In 2005, we expect our Management EBT to increase as compared to 2004 primarily due to expected higher revenues, the impact of cost savings generated by our work plan, and lower costs resulting from the substantial completion of our restatement activities. We expect that the increase will be partially offset by increased investment costs in certain parts of the business and accruals for expected employee bonuses for 2005 that were not incurred in 2004. The expected increase in Management EBT is also expected to be partially offset by increased special charges in 2005 compared to 2004 associated with our work plan and an expected absence of gain on sale of businesses and assets and income tax recoveries that were included in our 2004 results.
For the remainder of 2005, we expect continued growth in revenues compared to 2004 and gross margins in the range of 40 to 44 percent of revenue. We expect operating expenses as a percent of revenue to be approximately 35 percent by the end of 2005 primarily driven by benefits from our previously announced restructuring work plan and lower costs resulting from the substantial completion of our restatement activities and expected higher revenues.
Evolution of our supply chain strategy
On June 29, 2004, we announced an agreement with Flextronics regarding the divestiture of substantially all of our remaining manufacturing operations, including product integration, testing and repair operations carried out in Calgary and Montreal, Canada and Campinas, Brazil, as well as certain activities related to these locations, including the management of the supply chain, related suppliers, and third-party logistics. In Europe, Flextronics has made an offer to purchase similar operations at our Monkstown, Northern Ireland and Chateaudun, France locations, subject to the completion of the required information and consultation process.
Under the terms of the agreement and offer, Flextronics will also acquire our global repair services, as well as certain design assets in Ottawa, Canada and Monkstown related to hardware and embedded software design, and related product verification for certain established optical products.
We have entered into a four year supply agreement with Flextronics for manufacturing services (whereby Flextronics will manage approximately $2,500 of our annual cost of revenues) and a three year supply agreement for design services. The transfer of the optical design operations and related assets in Ottawa and Monkstown closed in the fourth quarter of 2004. In the first quarter of 2005, we completed the portion of the transaction related to the manufacturing activities in Montreal. We previously reported that the portion of the transaction related to the manufacturing activities in Calgary was expected to close in the second quarter of 2005 and that the balance of the transaction was expected to close on separate dates occurring during the first half of 2005. We and Flextronics are currently discussing the timing of the closing of the balance of the transaction in order to optimize the business transition between the companies. As a result of these discussions, it is now expected that the balance of the transaction, relating to the manufacturing operations in Chateaudun, Calgary and Monkstown, will close by the end of the first quarter of 2006. As a result, we and Flextronics intend to enter into an amendment agreement to extend the term of the original agreement and offer to reflect this updated schedule. These transactions are subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
The successful completion of the agreement and offer with Flextronics will result in the transfer of approximately 2,500 of our employees to Flextronics. As of the first quarter of 2005, we have transferred approximately 1,040 of our employees to Flextronics. We expect to receive cash proceeds ranging from approximately $675 to $725, which will be allocated to each separate closing. We previously announced that the estimated cash proceeds would be received substantially in 2005. We and Flextronics are currently discussing the timing of the cash payments based on the expected change to the original schedule. Such payments will be subject to a number of adjustments, including potential post-closing date asset valuations and potential post-closing indemnity payments. We are expecting proceeds on the sale of this business to exceed the net book value of the assets transferred (including goodwill and foreign currency translation adjustments) and the direct and incremental costs of the transaction (including transition, potential severance, pension adjustments, information technology and real estate costs). The resulting net gain on sale of this business will be recognized once substantially all of the risks and other incidents of ownership have been transferred.
As of March 31, 2005 we have received net cash of approximately $85, transferred approximately $193 of inventory and equipment to Flextronics relating to the closing of the optical design activities in Ottawa and Monkstown and the manufacturing activities in Montreal and recorded deferred charges of approximately $108 and deferred income of approximately $250. As Flextronics has the ability to exercise rights to sell back to us certain inventory and equipment after the expiration of a specified period (up to fifteen months) following each respective closing date, we have retained these assets on our balance sheet to the extent they have not been consumed as part of ongoing operations as at March 31, 2005. We do not expect that such rights will be exercised with respect to any material amount of inventory and/or equipment.
52
Developments in 2005
First quarter 2005 consolidated results summary
Summary of unaudited consolidated statements of operations data for the three months ended:
|
||||||||||||||||
March 31, | % of | March 31, | % of | |||||||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) | 2005 | revenues | 2004 | revenues | ||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 2,536 | $ | 2,444 | ||||||||||||
Gross profit |
1,057 | 41.7 | 1,053 | 43.1 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
574 | 22.6 | 542 | 22.2 | ||||||||||||
Research and development expense |
474 | 18.7 | 471 | 19.3 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
2 | | 3 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||
Special charges |
21 | 0.9 | 7 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of businesses and assets |
1 | | | | ||||||||||||
Operating earnings (loss) |
(15 | ) | (0.5 | ) | 30 | 1.2 | ||||||||||
Other income (expense) net |
46 | 1.8 | 86 | 3.5 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
(50 | ) | (2.0 | ) | (44 | ) | (1.8 | ) | ||||||||
Other |
(3 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (8 | ) | (0.3 | ) | ||||||||
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes,
minority interests and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies |
(22 | ) | (0.8 | ) | 64 | 2.6 | ||||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(16 | ) | (0.6 | ) | 9 | 0.4 | ||||||||||
(38 | ) | (1.4 | ) | 73 | 3.0 | |||||||||||
Minority interests net of tax |
(14 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (14 | ) | (0.6 | ) | ||||||||
Equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies net of tax |
1 | | (1 | ) | | |||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
(51 | ) | (1.9 | ) | 58 | 2.4 | ||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations net of tax |
2 | | 1 | | ||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) |
$ | (49 | ) | (1.9 | ) | $ | 59 | 2.4 | ||||||||
Our consolidated revenues increased 4% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004 primarily due to a substantial increase in GSM and UMTS Networks. GSM and UMTS Networks revenues increased 20% primarily due to revenue recognized in Asia Pacific on our BSNL contract in the first quarter of 2005 and in EMEA and CALA due in part to expansion and enhancement of existing networks by our service provider customers. For further information related to the BSNL contract, see Significant business developments Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract.
Our gross margin as a percentage of revenues decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 41.7% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 43.1% in the same period in 2004. The decrease was primarily due to pricing pressures on certain of our products due to increased competition, unfavorable product mix and unfavorable impact related to a wireless network contract with BSNL. This was partially offset by continued improvements in our cost structure, overall higher sales volumes and lower inventory and warranty provisions.
SG&A expense as a percentage of revenues increased by 0.4 percentage points to 22.6% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 22.2% in the same period in 2004 primarily due to increased costs related to our restatement and related activities, unfavorable foreign exchange rate fluctuation impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, euro and British pound against the U.S. dollar and bad debt expense. This was partially offset by a decrease in our stock based compensation primarily related to a payout under our restricted stock unit, or RSU, program in the first quarter of 2004 that was not repeated in the first quarter of 2005 as the RSU program was terminated and cost savings associated with our 2004 Restructuring Plan.
53
R&D expense as a percentage of revenues decreased by 0.6 percentage points to 18.7% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to 19.3% in the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to the savings associated with our 2004 Restructuring Plan partially offset by increased investments in certain product areas and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, euro and British pound against the U.S. dollar.
Special charges increased substantially in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period of 2004 due to activities associated with the implementation of our 2004 Restructuring Plan. For further information related to our 2004 work plan, see Results of operations continuing operations Operating expenses Special charges.
We reported a net loss of $49 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to net earnings of $59 in the same period of 2004 primarily due to the factors discussed above.
Significant business developments
Acquisitions |
On April 26, 2005, we announced that Nortel Networks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NNL, had entered into an agreement with PEC providing for the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of PEC for $15.50 per share in cash, or approximately $448 (net of cash acquired) plus transaction costs and expenses. The acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including the successful completion of a tender offer and regulatory approvals. We currently expect to complete the acquisition during the second quarter of 2005.
Joint ventures |
On January 20, 2005, we signed a Joint Venture Framework Agreement with China Putian Corporation to establish a joint venture for R&D, manufacture and sale of third generation, or 3G, mobile telecommunications equipment and products to customers in China. We expect to enter into a definitive joint venture agreement by June 30, 2005. We anticipate that we will own 49% of the joint venture and China Putian will own 51%.
On January 23, 2005, we signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with LG Electronics, Inc. to establish a joint venture for providing high quality, leading edge telecommunications equipment and networking solutions to Korea and other markets globally. The proposed joint venture is subject to negotiation of final terms and execution of a definitive agreement. We expect to complete this transaction in the second half of 2005. In the proposed joint venture, we anticipate that we will have an ownership interest of 50% plus one share.
On May 20, 2005, we signed an agreement with International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, designed to support customized products across a range of market segments. As the first step in this relationship, we plan to establish a Nortel-IBM Joint Development Center to collaborate on the design and development of new products and services. We believe that this agreement with IBM is an important component of our strategy to increase R&D collaboration while reducing our R&D expenses and to introduce products while serving a broad range of customers more rapidly.
Optical components operations |
On December 2, 2004, we entered into a restructuring agreement with Bookham Technology plc, or Bookham, a sole supplier of key optical components for our optical networks solutions in our Carrier Packet Networks segment. In February 2005, we agreed to waive until November 6, 2006, minimum cash balance requirements under certain Bookham notes and in May 2005, we adjusted the prepayment provisions of these notes and received additional collateral for these notes. In May 2005, we amended our supply agreement with Bookham to provide Bookham with financial flexibility to continue the supply of optical components for our optical networks solutions. See Related party transactions in note 16 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract |
In August 2004, we entered into a contract with BSNL to establish a wireless network in India for total expected revenues of approximately $500 to be recognized substantially in 2005. This resulted in a project loss of approximately $160 in 2004. We expect to record an additional loss of approximately $20 substantially in the second quarter of 2005 as a result of additional orders expected to be received in that period. The losses on this contract are primarily driven by the pricing pressures as a result of the competitive nature of Indias telecommunications market
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and also our start up costs to become a significant GSM vendor in this market. We believe that the revenue volumes driven by this contract will create cost reduction benefits for our overall GSM business.
In addition to the orders under the existing contract, BSNL may increase the amounts purchased under the contract up to an additional 50% of the existing contract level to allow for business expansion. We expect that there is the potential for further losses, which will be determined by the product mix and magnitude of additional orders.
Nortel Audit Committee Independent Review; restatements; related matters
Restatements and Independent Review |
In May 2003, we commenced certain balance sheet reviews at the direction of certain members of former management that led to a comprehensive review and analysis of our assets and liabilities, or the Comprehensive Review, which resulted in the restatement (effected in December 2003) of our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 and for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2003, or the First Restatement. In late October 2003, the Audit Committees of our and NNLs Board of Directors, or the Audit Committee, initiated an independent review of the facts and circumstances leading to the First Restatement, or the Independent Review, and engaged the law firm now known as Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP, or WCPHD, to advise it in connection with the Independent Review. The Audit Committee sought to gain a full understanding of the events that caused significant excess liabilities to be maintained on the balance sheet that needed to be restated, and to recommend that our Board of Directors adopt, and direct management to implement, necessary remedial measures to address personnel, controls, compliance and discipline. In January 2005, the Audit Committee reported the findings of the Independent Review, or the Independent Review Summary, together with its recommendations for governing principles for remedial measures that were developed for the Audit Committee by WCPHD. Each of our and NNLs Board of Directors has adopted these recommendations in their entirety and directed our management to develop a detailed plan and timetable for their implementation, and will monitor their implementation.
As the Independent Review progressed, the Audit Committee directed new corporate management to examine in depth the concerns identified by WCPHD regarding provisioning activity and to review certain provision releases. That examination, and other errors identified by management, led to the restatement of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, June 30, 2003 and 2002 and September 30, 2003 and 2002, or the Second Restatement, and our revision of previously announced unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2003. The need for the Second Restatement resulted in delays in filing of our and NNLs 2003 Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, or the 2003 Annual Reports, our and NNLs 2004 Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, or the 2004 Annual Reports, our and NNLs Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first, second and third quarters of 2004, or the 2004 Quarterly Reports, and our and NNLs Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2005, or the 2005 First Quarter Reports, beyond the SECs required filing dates. We refer to the 2003 Annual Reports, the 2004 Annual Reports, the 2004 Quarterly Reports and the 2005 First Quarter Reports together as the Reports.
Revenue Independent Review |
Over the course of the Second Restatement process, management identified certain accounting practices that it determined should be adjusted as part of the Second Restatement. In particular, management identified certain errors related to revenue recognition and undertook a process of revenue reviews. In light of the resulting adjustments to revenues previously reported, the Audit Committee is reviewing the facts and circumstances leading to the restatement of these revenues for specific transactions identified in the Second Restatement. The review has a particular emphasis on the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues. The Audit Committee is seeking a full understanding of the historic events that required the revenues for these specific transactions to be restated and will consider any appropriate additional remedial measures, including those involving internal controls and processes. The Audit Committee has engaged WCPHD to advise it in connection with this review, or the Revenue Independent Review.
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Material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting |
As described in Item 9A of the 2004 Annual Report, two material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting were identified at the time of the First Restatement. Over the course of the Second Restatement process, we and our independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP, or Deloitte, identified a number of additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. On January 10, 2005, Deloitte confirmed to the Audit Committee these material weaknesses, listed below:
| lack of compliance with written Nortel procedures for monitoring and adjusting balances related to certain accruals and provisions, including restructuring charges and contract and customer accruals; | ||
| lack of compliance with Nortel procedures for appropriately applying applicable GAAP to the initial recording of certain liabilities including those described in SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, or SFAS No. 5, and to foreign currency translation as described in SFAS No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation, or SFAS No. 52; | ||
| lack of sufficient personnel with appropriate knowledge, experience and training in U.S. GAAP and lack of sufficient analysis and documentation of the application of U.S. GAAP to transactions, including but not limited to revenue transactions; | ||
| lack of a clear organization and accountability structure within the accounting function, including insufficient review and supervision, combined with financial reporting systems that are not integrated and which require extensive manual interventions; | ||
| lack of sufficient awareness of, and timely and appropriate remediation of, internal control issues by Nortel personnel; and | ||
| an inappropriate tone at the top, which contributed to the lack of a strong control environment; as reported in the Independent Review Summary included in the 2003 Annual Reports, there was a Management tone at the top that conveyed the strong leadership message that earnings targets could be met through application of accounting practices that finance managers knew or ought to have known were not in compliance with U.S. GAAP and that questioning these practices was not acceptable. |
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX 404, management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2004, using the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO, in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on that assessment, management determined that the first five of the six material weaknesses listed above continued to exist as at December 31, 2004 and therefore concluded that, as at December 31, 2004, we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting based on the COSO criteria. Our independent auditors issued an attestation report with respect to that assessment and conclusion, which is included in Item 8 of the 2004 Annual Report.
Management also determined, based on that assessment, that the sixth material weakness, relating to an inappropriate tone at the top, was eliminated as at December 31, 2004 as a result of certain modifications to our internal control over financial reporting, remedial measures and other actions.
The first five of these six material weaknesses remain unremedied. We continue to identify, develop and implement remedial measures to address these material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
See Item 9A of the 2004 Annual Report, the Controls and Procedures section of this report and Risk factors/forward looking statements Risks related to our restatements and related matters.
EDC Support Facility |
The delayed filing of the Reports with the SEC, the trustees under our and NNLs public debt indentures and Export Development Canada, or EDC, gave EDC the right to (i) terminate its commitments under the $750 EDC support facility, or the EDC Support Facility, relating to certain of our performance related obligations arising out of normal course business activities, and (ii) exercise certain rights against the collateral pledged under related security agreements or require NNL to cash collateralize all existing support.
Throughout 2004 and into 2005, NNL obtained waivers from EDC with respect to these matters to permit continued access to the EDC Support Facility in accordance with its terms while we and NNL worked to complete our filing obligations. The waivers also applied to certain related breaches under the EDC Support Facility relating to the delayed filings and the restatements and revisions to our and NNLs prior financial results, or the Related Breaches. In connection with such waivers, EDC reclassified the previously committed $300 revolving small bond
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sub-facility of the EDC Support Facility as uncommitted support during the applicable waiver period. The $300 revolving small bond sub-facility will not become committed support until all delayed filings have been filed with the SEC, the trustees under our and NNLs public debt indentures and EDC and NNL obtains a permanent waiver of the Related Breaches.
On May 31, 2005, NNL obtained a permanent waiver from EDC, or the Permanent Waiver, of certain defaults and the Related Breaches by NNL under the EDC Support Facility. With the filing and delivery to the trustees of the 2005 First Quarter Reports and the Permanent Waiver, NNL will be in compliance with its obligations under the EDC Support Facility and the $300 revolving small bond sub-facility will be reclassified as committed support.
As of May 16, 2005, there was approximately $228 of outstanding support utilized under the EDC Support Facility, approximately $160 of which was outstanding under the small bond sub-facility. See Liquidity and capital resources Sources of liquidity Available support facility and Risk factors/forward looking statements.
Debt securities |
As a result of the delay in filing the Reports, we and NNL were not in compliance with our obligations to deliver our respective SEC filings to the trustees under our and NNLs public debt indentures. With the filing of the 2005 First Quarter Reports with the SEC and the delivery of the 2005 First Quarter Reports to the trustees under our and NNLs public debt indentures, we and NNL will be in compliance with our delivery obligations under the public debt indentures.
Shelf registration statement; forward purchase contracts |
As a result of the delayed filing of the Reports, we and NNL continue to be unable to use, in its current form as a short-form shelf registration statement, the remaining approximately $800 of capacity under our shelf registration statement filed with the SEC on May 13, 2002 for various types of securities. We will again become eligible for short-form shelf registration with the SEC after we have completed timely filings of our financial reports for twelve consecutive months. We do not believe that we will be able, through the use of commercially reasonable efforts, to have an effective long-form registration statement relating to the exercise of certain early settlement rights by holders of our prepaid forward purchase contracts on file with the SEC in advance of August 15, 2005. Accordingly, holders continue not to be able to exercise these rights in advance of the otherwise applicable settlement date of August 15, 2005.
Regulatory actions and pending litigation |
We are under investigation by the SEC and the Ontario Securities Commission, or OSC, Enforcement Staff. In addition, Nortel has received a U.S. federal grand jury subpoena for the production of certain documents sought in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Further, the Integrated Market Enforcement Team of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP, has advised us that it would be commencing a criminal investigation into our financial accounting situation. We will continue to cooperate fully with all authorities in connection with these investigations and reviews. See Legal proceedings and Risk factors/forward looking statements.
In addition, numerous class action complaints have been filed against us and NNL, including class action complaints under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA. In addition, a derivative action complaint has been filed against Nortel. These pending civil litigation actions and regulatory and criminal investigations are significant and if decided against us, could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity by requiring us to pay substantial judgments, settlements, fines or other penalties or requiring us to issue additional common shares which could potentially result in the dilution of our shareholders percentage ownership. See Liquidity and capital resources, Legal proceedings and Risk factors/forward looking statements.
On May 31, 2004, the OSC issued a final order prohibiting all trading by our directors, officers and certain current and former employees in the securities of Nortel Networks Corporation and Nortel Networks Limited. This order will remain in effect until two full business days following the receipt by the OSC of all filings required to be made by us and NNL pursuant to Ontario securities laws. Because such filings would require amendments to our and NNLs previous filings for each of the quarterly periods of 2003 and for earlier periods including 2002 and 2001, which we do not believe to be feasible for the same reasons mentioned in Item 9A of our 2004 Annual Reports with respect to the restatement of 2000 selected financial data, we and NNL plan to apply to the OSC to have this order revoked now that we and NNL have become current with our financial reporting obligations for the first quarter of 2005 under Ontario securities laws. The OSC may, in its discretion, revoke the order where in its opinion to do so would not be prejudicial to the public interest.
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As a result of our delay in filing the Reports, we were in breach of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. With the filing and delivery of the 2005 First Quarter Reports, we and NNL will be in compliance with the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. See Risk factors/forward looking statements.
Stock-based compensation plans |
As a result of our March 10, 2004 announcement that we and NNL would need to delay the filing of our 2003 Annual Reports, we suspended as of March 10, 2004: the purchase of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares under the stock purchase plans for eligible employees in eligible countries that facilitate the acquisition of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares; the exercise of outstanding options granted under the Nortel Networks Corporation 2000 Stock Option Plan, or the 2000 Plan, or Nortel Networks Corporation 1986 Stock Option Plan as amended and restated, or the 1986 Plan, or the grant of any additional options under those plans, or the exercise of outstanding options granted under employee stock option plans previously assumed by us in connection with mergers and acquisitions; and the purchase of units in a Nortel stock fund or purchase of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares under our defined contribution and investments plans, until such time as, at the earliest, that we and NNL are in compliance with U.S. and Canadian regulatory securities filing requirements. We intend to lift the suspension of these plans as soon as practicable.
Results of operations continuing operations
Consolidated information
Revenues
The following chart summarizes our recent quarterly revenues:
Geographic revenues
The following table summarizes our geographic revenues based on the location of the customer:
|
||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
United States |
$ | 1,146 | $ | 1,217 | $ | (71 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||
EMEA (a) |
722 | 596 | 126 | 21 | ||||||||||||
Canada |
114 | 154 | (40 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||||||||
Asia Pacific |
402 | 347 | 55 | 16 | ||||||||||||
CALA (b) |
152 | 130 | 22 | 17 | ||||||||||||
Consolidated |
$ | 2,536 | $ | 2,444 | $ | 92 | 4 | |||||||||
(a) | The Europe, Middle East and Africa region, or EMEA. | |
(b) | The Caribbean and Latin America region, or CALA. |
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
Our consolidated revenues increased 4% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004 primarily due to a substantial increase in GSM and UMTS Networks.
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Carrier Packet Networks revenues decreased 3% primarily due to a substantial decline in our traditional circuit switching products revenues. This substantial decline was primarily due to continued reductions in capital expenditures by our U.S., Canada and EMEA service provider customers and a reduction in spending on our mature products in all regions. The substantial decline in traditional circuit switching product revenues was partially offset by the substantial increase in revenues related to our packet voice solutions in the U.S., Canada and EMEA regions as customers continue to transition to these next-generation products from our traditional circuit switching products. However, the amount of decline of our traditional circuit switching revenues is higher than the growth in our next generation carrier packet technologies. In addition, overall Carrier Packet Networks revenues decreased due in part to pricing pressures driven by increased competition.
CDMA Networks revenues decreased 6% primarily due to a substantial decline in Asia Pacific due to the completion of certain customer network deployments during the first half of 2004. This was partially offset by new contracts with certain customers and other customers expanding their existing networks to meet increased subscriber demand primarily in the U.S. and Canada.
GSM and UMTS Networks revenues increased 20% primarily due to revenue recognized in Asia Pacific on our BSNL contract in the first quarter of 2005. For further information related to the BSNL contract, see Developments in 2005 Significant business developments Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract. In addition, revenues in EMEA and CALA increased substantially due in part to customers expanding their existing networks to meet increased subscriber demand or enhancing their networks to support more sophisticated communication services.
Enterprise Networks revenues increased 2% primarily due to a substantial increase in revenues associated with our Internet Protocol, or IP, telephony solutions as customers continued to migrate towards converged packet voice solutions from our traditional circuit switching products. In addition, data networking and security revenues increased primarily due to growth from improved market penetration of certain new data products partially offset by a decline in our legacy routing portfolio revenues and associated declines in new service contracts and service contract renewals and pricing pressures driven by increased competition.
Q1 2005 vs. Q4 2004 |
Our consolidated revenues decreased 3% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the fourth quarter of 2004 primarily due to declines in revenue across all segments with the exception of a significant increase in GSM and UMTS Networks.
Carrier Packet Networks revenues decreased 3% primarily due to a significant decline in our traditional circuit switching products revenues. This significant decline was primarily due to continued reductions in capital expenditures by our EMEA, U.S. and Canada service provider customers and a reduction in spending on our mature products in all regions. The significant decline in traditional circuit switching product revenues was partially offset by a slight increase in revenues related to our packet voice solutions in the U.S. as customers continue to transition to these next-generation products from our traditional circuit switching products. In addition, overall Carrier Packet Networks revenues decreased due in part to pricing pressures driven by increased competition.
CDMA Networks revenues decreased 13% primarily due to typically higher seasonal volumes in the fourth quarter in the U.S. and Canada.
GSM and UMTS Networks revenues increased 18% primarily due to increased revenue recognized in Asia Pacific on our BSNL contract in the first quarter of 2005. For further information related to the BSNL contract, see Developments in 2005 Significant business developments Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract. In addition, revenues in EMEA increased substantially due in part to customers expanding their existing networks to meet increased subscriber demand or enhancing their networks to support more sophisticated communication services.
Enterprise Networks revenues decreased 16% primarily due to typically higher seasonal volumes in the fourth quarter in EMEA, Asia Pacific and CALA regions.
2005 |
Based on current customer orders in emerging markets, particularly in Asia Pacific and CALA and increased deployments of VoIP and next generation wireless technologies, including UMTS, we believe that we are well positioned to grow our revenues in 2005.
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For 2005, we expect overall continued revenue growth over 2004 primarily due to:
| continued growth in our voice over packet technologies and our 3G wireless technologies; however, the timing of when service provider customers will deploy packet-based technologies on a wider scale is still unclear; | ||
| build-out of the BSNL contract in the Asia Pacific region. For further information related to the BSNL contract, see Developments in 2005 Significant business developments Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract; | ||
| expansion and enhancement of existing networks by our customers due to subscriber growth and competitive pressures; | ||
| anticipated growth in our Enterprise Networks business, particularly in our converged networks products; | ||
| a focus by our customers on new technologies that create opportunities to optimize existing networks while limiting capital expenditures and operating costs; | ||
| expected continued growth in metro optical and carrier VoIP; and | ||
| expected focus on new product areas, such as Wireless Local Area Networks, or WLAN, and carrier routing. |
Revenue growth generated from spending by our customers in the above areas of our business is expected to be partially offset by revenue declines from:
| customers limiting their investment in mature technologies as they focus on maximizing return on invested capital; | ||
| pricing pressures on sales of certain of our products as a result of increased competition, particularly from low cost suppliers; | ||
| consolidation of service providers which may reduce overall spending on telecommunications equipment, including to date in our GSM and UMTS Networks segment; and | ||
| the impact of our financial restatement activities and the internal restructuring and realignment programs that were initiated in August 2004. For additional information, see Developments in 2005 Nortel Audit Committee Independent Review; restatements; related matters. While customer support generally remains strong, we believe that these activities will continue to have an adverse impact on business performance in 2005. |
See Risk factors/forward looking statements for other factors that may affect our revenues. While we have seen encouraging indicators in certain parts of the market, we can provide no assurance that the growth areas that have begun to emerge will continue in the future.
Gross profit and gross margin
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||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
Gross profit |
$ | 1,057 | $ | 1,053 | $ | 4 | | |||||||||
Gross margin |
41.7 | % | 43.1 | % | (1.4 pts) | |||||||||||
Gross profit increased $4 (while gross margin, which is gross profit calculated as a percent of revenues, decreased 1.4 percentage points) in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to:
| an increase of approximately $80 due to continued improvements in our cost structure primarily as a result of lower material pricing; | ||
| an increase of approximately $50 due to overall higher sales volumes; and | ||
| an increase of approximately $40 primarily due to recoveries in inventory provisions due to sale of inventory and lower warranty costs as a result of improved product quality; partially offset by | ||
| a decrease of approximately $161 primarily as a result of (i) pricing pressures on certain of our products due to increased competition for service provider and enterprise customers; and (ii) unfavorable product mix associated with increased sales of our next generation products which typically have lower gross margins in the early stages of product evolution; and | ||
| a decrease of approximately $5 related to a contract in India with BSNL and its adverse impact on our overall gross margin mix. For further information related to the BSNL contract, see Developments in 2005 Significant business developments Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract. |
While we cannot predict the extent to which changes in product mix and pricing pressures will continue to impact our gross margin, we continue to see the effects of improvements in our product costs primarily due to favorable supplier pricing.
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Considering the impacts of our strategic plan described under Business overview Our strategy and outlook and the higher costs associated with initial customer deployments in emerging markets, we expect that gross margin will continue to trend in the range of 40% to 44% of revenue for the full year 2005. See Risk factors/forward looking statements for factors that may affect our gross margins. For a discussion of our gross margins by segment, see Management EBT under Segment information.
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expense |
|
||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
SG&A expense |
$ | 574 | $ | 542 | $ | 32 | 6 | |||||||||
As % of revenues |
22.6 | % | 22.2 | % | 0.4 | pts | ||||||||||
SG&A expense increased $32 and increased from 22.2% to 22.6% as a percentage of revenues in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to:
| costs related to our restatement and related activities of approximately $32 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to approximately $6 in the first quarter of 2004; | ||
| increased investments in our finance organization; | ||
| significant unfavorable foreign exchange impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, euro and British pound against the U.S. dollar; and | ||
| an increase in bad debt expense; partially offset by | ||
| a decrease of approximately $41 in our stock based compensation primarily related to a payout under our RSU program in the first quarter of 2004 that was not repeated in the first quarter of 2005 as the RSU program was terminated; and | ||
| cost savings associated with our 2004 Restructuring Plan. |
For a discussion of our SG&A expense by segment, see Management EBT under Segment information.
Research and development expense |
|
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For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
R&D expense |
$ | 474 | $ | 471 | $ | 3 | 1 | |||||||||
As % of revenues |
18.7 | % | 19.3 | % | (0.6 | pts) | ||||||||||
R&D expense increased by $3 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to increased investments in certain product areas, unfavorable foreign exchange impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, euro and British pound against the U.S. dollar, partially offset primarily by the savings associated with our 2004 Restructuring Plan.
Our continued strategic investments in R&D are aligned with technology leadership in anticipated growth areas. In the first quarter of 2005, we maintained a technology focus and commitment to invest in new innovative solutions where we believed we would achieve the greatest future benefit from this investment. Our R&D expense as a percentage of our consolidated revenues declined by 0.6 percentage points in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.
We expect to continue to manage R&D expense according to the requirements of our business, allocating resources and investment where customer demand dictates, and reducing resources and investment where opportunities for improved efficiencies present themselves. Our R&D efforts are currently focused on secure and reliable converged networks including:
| packetization of voice and multimedia IP telephony solutions services; | ||
| services edge capability to realize simplification of customer network operations and broadband access technologies, including wireless and wireline; and | ||
| enhanced network security to ensure the level of reliability and performance that has traditionally existed in carrier networks. |
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We expect that our R&D expense as a percentage of revenue in 2005 will be lower than 2004 as we seek to achieve ongoing cost reductions in R&D as part of our 2004 Restructuring Plan. For a discussion of our R&D expense by segment, see Management EBT under Segment information.
We expect operating expenses (both SG&A expense and R&D expense combined) as a percent of revenue to be approximately 35 percent by the end of 2005 primarily driven by benefits from our previously announced restructuring work plan and reductions in restatement, accounting and reporting costs. See Business overview Our strategy and outlook.
Special charges |
During 2001, we implemented a work plan to streamline operations and activities around core markets and leadership strategies in light of the significant downturn in both the telecommunications industry and the economic environment, and capital market trends impacting operations and expected future growth rates, or the 2001 Restructuring Plan.
In addition, we initiated activities in 2003 to exit certain leased facilities and leases for assets no longer used across all segments.
In 2004 and 2005, our focus is on managing each of our businesses based on financial performance, the market and customer priorities. Our 2004 Restructuring Plan includes a work plan involving focused workforce reductions, including a voluntary retirement program, of approximately 3,250 employees, real estate optimization and other cost containment actions such as reductions in information services costs, outsourced services and other discretionary spending across all segments but primarily in Carrier Packet Networks. Approximately 73% of employee actions related to the focused workforce reduction were completed by the end of the first quarter of 2005, including approximately 62% who were notified of termination or acceptance of voluntary retirement, with the remainder comprised of voluntary attrition of employees who were not replaced. The remainder of employee actions is expected to be completed by June 30, 2005. This workforce reduction is in addition to the workforce reduction that will result from our agreement with Flextronics. For more information on our agreement with Flextronics, see Business Overview Evolution of our supply chain strategy. We expect the real estate actions to be completed by the end of 2005.
We estimate charges to earnings associated with the 2004 Restructuring Plan in the aggregate of approximately $450 comprised of approximately $220 with respect to the workforce reductions and approximately $230 with respect to the real estate actions. No charges are expected to be recorded with respect to the other cost containment actions. We incurred aggregate charges of $160 in 2004 with the remainder expected to be incurred in 2005.
The associated cash costs of the 2004 Restructuring Plan of approximately $430 are expected to be split approximately equally between the workforce reductions and real estate actions. Approximately 10% of these cash costs were incurred in 2004 and approximately 40% are expected to be incurred in 2005. The remaining 50% of the cash costs relate to the real estate actions and are expected to be incurred in 2006 through to 2022 for ongoing lease costs related to impacted real estate facilities. In addition to the above, we also expect to incur capital cash costs of approximately $50 in 2005 for facility improvements related to the real estate actions.
In the first quarter of 2005, we realized costs savings of approximately $93 related to the 2004 Restructuring Plan primarily due to reductions to cost of revenues, SG&A expense and R&D expense of approximately 20%, 40% and 40% as a percentage of the realized cost savings, respectively, across all segments but primarily in Carrier Packet Networks. For the remainder of 2005, we expect additional cost savings of approximately $400 to be substantially realized in the results of operations in the second half of 2005, which we expect will be partially offset by the costs associated with new hires added throughout 2005. We anticipate that the remainder of the cost savings will be consistent with the level of cost savings experienced in the first quarter of 2005 in terms of the impact to cost of revenues, SG&A expense and R&D expense and our segments. We expect that this work plan will primarily be funded with cash from operations.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we continued to implement these restructuring work plans. Changes in the provisions related to special charges recorded from January 1, 2005 to March 31, 2005 were as follows:
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Contract | ||||||||||||||||
settlement | Plant and | |||||||||||||||
Workforce | and lease | equipment | ||||||||||||||
reduction | costs | write downs | Total | |||||||||||||
2001 Restructuring Plan |
||||||||||||||||
Provision balance as of December 31, 2004 (a) |
$ | 15 | $ | 326 | $ | | $ | 341 | ||||||||
Revisions to prior accruals |
(3 | ) | | (1 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||
Cash drawdowns |
(2 | ) | (40 | ) | | (42 | ) | |||||||||
Foreign exchange and other adjustments |
(1 | ) | (4 | ) | 1 | (4 | ) | |||||||||
Provision balance as of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 9 | $ | 282 | $ | | $ | 291 | ||||||||
2004 Restructuring Plan |
||||||||||||||||
Provision balance as of December 31, 2004 (a) |
$ | 122 | $ | | $ | | $ | 122 | ||||||||
Other special charges |
18 | 8 | 1 | 27 | ||||||||||||
Revisions to prior accruals |
(2 | ) | | | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Cash drawdowns |
(86 | ) | | | (86 | ) | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange and other adjustments |
| | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Provision balance as of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 52 | $ | 8 | $ | | $ | 60 | ||||||||
Provision balance as of March 31, 2005 (a) |
$ | 61 | $ | 290 | $ | | $ | 351 | ||||||||
(a) | As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the short-term provision balance was $152 and $254, respectively, and the long-term provision balance was $199 and $209, respectively. |
2001 Restructuring Plan
Three months ended March 31, 2005
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we recorded revisions of $4 related to prior accruals.
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the workforce reduction provision balance was drawn down by cash payments of $2. The remaining provision is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2005.
No new contract settlement and lease costs were incurred during the period. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the provision balance for contract settlement and lease costs was drawn down by cash payments of $40. The remaining provision, net of approximately $241 in estimated sublease income, is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2013.
Three months ended March 31, 2004
During the three months ended March 31, 2004, we recorded special charges of $7, which included revisions of $1 related to prior accruals.
Workforce reduction charges of $6 were related to severance and benefit costs associated with approximately 80 employees notified of termination during the three months ended March 31, 2004 which related entirely to Carrier Packet Networks. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the workforce reduction provision balance was drawn down by cash payments of $27.
No new contract settlement and lease costs were incurred during the period. Revisions to prior accruals for contract settlement and lease costs of $1 were identified for the three months ended March 31, 2004. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the provision balance for contract settlement and lease costs was drawn down by cash payments of $57.
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Special charges by segment
The following table outlines special charges incurred by segment for the three months ended March 31:
|
||||||||||||||||
Contract | ||||||||||||||||
settlement | Plant and | |||||||||||||||
Workforce | and lease | equipment | ||||||||||||||
reduction | costs | write downs | Total | |||||||||||||
2001 Restructuring Plan |
||||||||||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | (1 | ) | $ | | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (2 | ) | |||||
CDMA Networks |
| | | | ||||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
(1 | ) | | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
(1 | ) | | | (1 | ) | ||||||||||
Special charges for the three months
ended March 31, 2005 |
$ | (3 | ) | $ | | $ | (1 | ) | $ | (4 | ) | |||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 6 | $ | 1 | $ | | $ | 7 | ||||||||
Special charges for the three months
ended March 31, 2004 |
$ | 6 | $ | 1 | $ | | $ | 7 | ||||||||
The definition of segment Management EBT does not include special charges. A significant portion of our provisions for workforce reductions and contract settlement and lease costs is associated with shared services. These costs have been allocated to the segments in the table above based generally on headcount.
2004 Restructuring Plan
Three months ended March 31, 2005
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we recorded special charges of $25, which included revisions of $2 related to prior accruals.
Workforce reduction charges of $16, net of revisions to prior accruals of $2, were related to severance and benefit costs associated with approximately 240 employees notified of termination during the three months ended March 31, 2005. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, the workforce reduction provision balance was drawn down by cash payments of $86. The workforce reduction was primarily in the U.S., Canada and EMEA and extended across all segments. The remaining provision is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2005.
Contract settlement and lease costs of $8 consisted of negotiated settlements to cancel or renegotiate contracts and net lease charges related to leased facilities (comprised of office space) and leased furniture that were identified as no longer required primarily in the U.S. and in the Enterprise Networks segment. These lease costs, net of anticipated sublease income, included costs relating to non-cancelable lease terms from the date leased facilities ceased to be used and termination penalties. This provision is expected to be substantially drawn down by the end of 2016.
Special charges by segment
The following table outlines 2004 Restructuring Plan special charges incurred by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2005:
|
||||||||||||||||
Contract | ||||||||||||||||
settlement | Plant and | |||||||||||||||
Workforce | and lease | equipment | ||||||||||||||
reduction | costs | write downs | Total | |||||||||||||
2004 Restructuring Plan |
||||||||||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 9 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 11 | ||||||||
CDMA Networks |
1 | | | 1 | ||||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
3 | | | 3 | ||||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
3 | 7 | | 10 | ||||||||||||
Special charges for the three months
ended March 31, 2005 |
$ | 16 | $ | 8 | $ | 1 | $ | 25 | ||||||||
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For additional information related to our restructuring activities, see Special charges in note 5 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Other income (expense) net
The components of other income (expense) net were as follows:
|
||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Interest income |
$ | 14 | $ | 15 | ||||
Gain (loss) on sale or write down of investments |
(5 | ) | 33 | |||||
Currency exchange gains (losses) |
26 | 1 | ||||||
Other net |
11 | 37 | ||||||
Other income (expense) net |
$ | 46 | $ | 86 | ||||
In the first quarter of 2005, other income (expense) net was $46, which primarily included:
| foreign exchange gains of $26 primarily related to day-to-day transactional activities; | ||
| a gain of $10 resulting from a restructured customer financing arrangement; and | ||
| dividend income of $9 on our short-term investments; partially offset by | ||
| losses of $5 related to changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments that did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting. |
In the first quarter of 2004, other income (expense) net was $86, which primarily included:
| a gain of $23 related to prepaid equity forward purchase contracts that were entered into in connection with the issuance of restricted stock units; | ||
| a gain of $18 related to the sale of our remaining 7 million common shares of Entrust Inc., or Entrust; | ||
| a gain of $13 related to the sale of Arris Group, Inc., or Arris Group, shares; and | ||
| dividend income of $5 on our short-term investments. |
Interest expense
Interest expense was $53 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $52 in the first quarter of 2004.
We expect that the quarterly interest expense for the remainder of 2005 will remain at a level similar to 2004.
Income tax benefit (expense)
During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we recorded a tax expense of $16 on pre-tax loss of $22 from continuing operations before minority interests and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies. We recorded a tax expense against the earnings of certain taxable entities and recorded additional valuation allowances against the tax benefit of current period losses of other entities. The tax expense related primarily to the drawdown of our deferred tax assets and current tax provisions in certain taxable jurisdictions and various corporate minimum and other taxes, partially offset by the recognition of R&D related incentives.
In the first quarter of 2004, we recorded a tax benefit of $9 on pre-tax earnings of $64 from continuing operations before minority interests and equity in net earnings (loss) of associated companies. This tax benefit resulted from the settlement of certain tax audits partially offset by the drawdown of our deferred tax assets and current income tax provisions in certain taxable jurisdictions and various corporate minimum related income taxes.
As of March 31, 2005, we have substantial loss carryforwards and valuation allowances in our significant tax jurisdictions. These loss carryforwards will serve to minimize our future cash income related taxes. We will continue to assess the valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. The valuation allowance is in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, which requires that a tax valuation allowance be established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a companys deferred tax assets will not be realized. Given the magnitude of our valuation allowance, future adjustments to this valuation allowance based on actual
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results could result in a significant adjustment to our effective tax rate. For additional information, see Application of critical accounting policies and estimates Tax asset valuation.
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations
As a result of the items discussed above under Results of operations continuing operations, net loss from continuing operations was $51 in the first quarter of 2005. This amount represented a decline of $109 compared to our net earnings from continuing operations of $58 in the first quarter of 2004.
Segment information
The following tables set forth revenues, segment Management EBT and its reconciliation to net earnings (loss) from continuing operations by segment:
|
||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 664 | $ | 683 | $ | (19 | ) | (3 | ) | |||||||
CDMA Networks |
535 | 569 | (34 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
788 | 656 | 132 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
547 | 534 | 13 | 2 | ||||||||||||
Other (a) |
2 | 2 | | | ||||||||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 2,536 | $ | 2,444 | $ | 92 | 4 | |||||||||
Segment Management EBT |
||||||||||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | (31 | ) | $ | (59 | ) | $ | 28 | 47 | |||||||
CDMA Networks |
168 | 224 | (56 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
53 | 1 | 52 | 5,200 | ||||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
23 | 17 | 6 | 35 | ||||||||||||
Other (a) |
(224 | ) | (124 | ) | (100 | ) | (81 | ) | ||||||||
Total segment Management EBT |
(11 | ) | 59 | (70 | ) | (119 | ) | |||||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
(2 | ) | (3 | ) | 1 | 33 | ||||||||||
Special charges |
(21 | ) | (7 | ) | (14 | ) | (200 | ) | ||||||||
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses and assets |
(1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | ||||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(16 | ) | 9 | (25 | ) | (278 | ) | |||||||||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (51 | ) | $ | 58 | $ | (109 | ) | (188 | ) | ||||||
(a) | Other represented miscellaneous business activities and corporate functions. |
Management EBT is a measure that includes the cost of revenues, SG&A expense, R&D expense, interest expense, other income (expense) net, minority interests net of tax and equity in net loss of associated companies net of tax.
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The following table sets forth the positive (negative) contribution to segment Management EBT by each of its components:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2005 compared to March 31, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | SG&A | R&D | Other items (b) | Total $ change | ||||||||||||||||
Carrier Packet Networks |
$ | 13 | $ | 7 | $ | 11 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | 28 | |||||||||
CDMA Networks |
(62 | ) | 2 | | 4 | (56 | ) | |||||||||||||
GSM and UMTS Networks |
46 | 6 | | | 52 | |||||||||||||||
Enterprise Networks |
15 | (9 | ) | (2 | ) | 2 | 6 | |||||||||||||
Other (a) |
(8 | ) | (38 | ) | (12 | ) | (42 | ) | (100 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Change |
$ | 4 | $ | (32 | ) | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (39 | ) | $ | (70 | ) | ||||||
(a) | Other represented miscellaneous business activities and corporate functions. | |
(b) | Other items is comprised of interest expense, other income (expense) net, minority interests net of tax and equity in net loss of associated companies net of tax. |
Carrier Packet Networks
Revenues
The following chart summarizes recent quarterly revenues for Carrier Packet Networks:
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
Carrier Packet Networks revenues decreased 3% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004.
Revenues from the traditional circuit switching products declined substantially primarily due to continued reductions in capital expenditures by our U.S., Canada and EMEA service provider customers and a reduction in spending on our mature products in all regions. The substantial decline in traditional circuit switching product revenues was partially offset by the substantial increase in revenues related to our packet voice solutions in the U.S., Canada and EMEA regions as customers continue to transition to these next-generation products from our traditional circuit switching products. However, the amount of decline of our traditional circuit switching revenues is higher than the growth in our next generation carrier packet technologies.
Revenues from the data networking and security portion of this segment increased primarily due to new contracts with certain customers and other customers expanding their existing networks to meet increased subscriber demand or enhancing their networks to support more sophisticated communication services in the U.S., Canada and EMEA.
Revenues in the optical networking portion of this segment increased primarily due to new contracts with certain service provider customers and other customers expanding their existing networks in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, we recognized revenues, which had previously been deferred in prior periods, as a result of the final acceptance of a customer contract in the first quarter of 2005. This increase was partially offset by a reduction due to shipping delays to our customers in the U.S. and Canada as a result of the completion of a portion of the Flextronics transaction relating to manufacturing facilities in Montreal in the first quarter of 2005. In addition, customers continued to focus on maximizing return on invested capital by increasing the capacity utilization rates and efficiency of existing networks.
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In addition, overall Carrier Packet Networks revenues decreased due in part to pricing pressures driven by increased competition.
Management EBT
Management EBT for the Carrier Packet Networks segment increased by $28 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily as a result of the items discussed below.
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
Carrier Packet Networks gross margin increased by approximately 3.0 percentage points (while gross profit increased $13) primarily due to:
| continued improvements in our cost structure primarily as a result of lower material pricing; | ||
| recovery in inventory provision due to sale of inventory that was previously fully provided for; and | ||
| lower warranty costs; partially offset by | ||
| unfavorable product mix associated with increased sales of our next generation products which typically have lower gross margins in the early stages of product evolution; and | ||
| continued pricing pressures on certain of our products due to increased competition. |
Carrier Packet Networks SG&A expense decreased $7 primarily due to:
| the continued impact of our workforce reductions across all regions and associated reductions in other related costs such as information services and real estate; partially offset by | ||
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar; and | ||
| increased bad debt expense. |
Carrier Packet Networks R&D expense decreased $11 primarily due to:
| the continued impact of our workforce reductions that targeted a level of R&D expense that was more representative of the volume of our business; partially offset by | ||
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. |
CDMA Networks
Revenues
The following chart summarizes recent quarterly revenues for CDMA Networks:
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
CDMA Networks revenues decreased 6% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004 primarily due to a
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substantial decline in Asia Pacific due to the completion of certain customer network deployments during the first half of 2004. This was partially offset by new contracts with certain customers and other customers expanding their existing networks to meet increased subscriber demand primarily in the U.S. and Canada.
Management EBT
Management EBT for the CDMA Networks segment decreased by $56 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily as a result of the items discussed below.
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004
CDMA Networks gross margin decreased by approximately 7.6 percentage points (while gross profit decreased $62) primarily due to:
| unfavorable product mix associated with increased sales of our next generation products which typically have lower gross margins in the early stages of product evolution; | ||
| pricing pressures on certain of our products due to increased competition for service provider customers; and | ||
| lower sales volumes of network expansion products and software upgrades that typically have higher margins; partially offset by | ||
| continued improvements in our cost structure primarily as a result of lower material pricing. |
CDMA Networks SG&A expense decreased $2 primarily due to the ongoing focus on efficiencies and cost reduction activities.
CDMA Networks R&D expense was essentially flat primarily due to:
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar and euro against the U.S. dollar, largely offset by | ||
| reduced spending due to project timing and completions. |
GSM and UMTS Networks
The following chart summarizes recent quarterly revenues for GSM and UMTS Networks:
Revenues
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
GSM and UMTS Networks revenues increased 20% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004.
Revenues from GSM networks solutions increased substantially primarily due to revenue recognized in Asia Pacific on our BSNL contract in the first quarter of 2005. For further information related to the BSNL contract, see Developments in 2005 Significant business developments Bharat Sanchar Nigram Limited contract. In addition, revenues increased substantially in EMEA and CALA due in part to customers expanding their existing networks to meet increased subscriber demand or enhancing their networks to support more sophisticated communication services.
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Revenues from UMTS networks solutions were essentially flat. This was primarily due to increased subscriber demand, new contracts with certain service provider customers and other customers expanding their existing networks and the continued transition to this next generation technology, offset by a loss of a contract due to industry consolidation of certain of our service provider customers, primarily in the U.S.
Management EBT
Management EBT for the GSM and UMTS Networks segment increased by $52 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 as a result of the items discussed below.
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004
GSM and UMTS Networks gross margin increased by approximately 0.2 percentage points (while gross profit increased $46) primarily due to:
| overall higher sales volumes; and | ||
| continued improvements in our cost structure primarily as a result of lower material pricing; partially offset by | ||
| loss of approximately $5 related to our contract in India with BSNL; and | ||
| pricing pressures on certain of our products due to increased competition for service provider customers. |
GSM and UMTS Networks SG&A expense decreased $6 primarily due to:
| lower net trade and customer financing receivable expense; and | ||
| decreases in employee related expenses; partially offset by | ||
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the euro against the U.S. dollar. |
GSM and UMTS Networks R&D expense was essentially flat primarily due to:
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the euro and Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar; | ||
| continued investment in the development of new UMTS products; and | ||
| acceleration of programs to increase the feature content in our GSM product offering; largely offset by | ||
| the impact of our workforce reductions across all regions and associated reductions in other related costs such as information services and real estate. |
Enterprise Networks
The following chart summarizes recent quarterly revenues for Enterprise Networks:
Revenues
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
Enterprise Networks revenues increased approximately 2% in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004
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primarily due to a slight increase in the circuit and packet voice portion and the data networking and security portion of this segment.
Revenues from the circuit and packet voice portion of this segment increased slightly primarily due to a substantial increase in revenues associated with our IP telephony solutions as customers continued to migrate towards converged packet voice solutions from our traditional circuit switching products.
Revenues associated with the data networking and security portion of this segment increased slightly primarily due to growth from improved market penetration of certain new data products. This increase was partially offset by a decline in revenues associated with our legacy routing portfolio and associated declines in new service contracts and service contract renewals. In addition, we experienced a decline in revenue from certain of our data networking products primarily due to pricing pressures driven by increased competition.
Management EBT
Management EBT for the Enterprise Networks segment increased by $6 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily as a result of the items discussed below.
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004
Enterprise Networks gross margin increased by approximately 1.7 percentage points (while gross profit increased $15) primarily due to:
| higher sales volumes of software upgrades that typically have higher margins; and | ||
| continued improvements in our cost structure primarily as a result of lower material pricing; partially offset by | ||
| pricing pressures on certain of our products due to increased competition for enterprise customers. |
Enterprise Networks SG&A expense increased $9 primarily due to:
| increases in sales and marketing expenses; | ||
| an increase in bad debt expense; | ||
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the euro against the U.S. dollar; and | ||
| increases in employee related expenses; partially offset by | ||
| the continued impact of our workforce reductions. |
Enterprise Networks R&D expense increased $2 primarily due to:
| acceleration of R&D programs related to IP technologies; partially offset by | ||
| effectively prioritizing investment in data products and increased outsourcing activity. |
Other
Management EBT
Other Management EBT decreased by $100 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily as a result of the items discussed below.
Q1 2005 vs. Q1 2004 |
Other segment SG&A expense increased $38 primarily due to:
| costs associated with our restatement activities and additional investment in our finance organization; and | ||
| unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar and euro against the U.S. dollar; partially offset by | ||
| a decrease in stock based compensation in the first quarter of 2005 due to the RSU expense that was incurred in the first quarter of 2004 and not repeated in 2005 as the program was terminated in 2004. |
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Other segment R&D expense increased by $12 primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts associated with the strengthening of the Canadian dollar and euro against the U.S. dollar partially offset by savings associated with our 2004 Restructuring Plan.
Other segment other items expense increased by $42 primarily due to:
| losses related to the sale of investments in the first quarter of 2005 compared to gains in the first quarter of 2004 primarily related to the sale of shares in Arris Group and Entrust; and | ||
| losses related to changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting compared to a gain in the first quarter of 2004; partially offset by | ||
| foreign exchange gains of $25 primarily related to day-to-day transactional activities. |
Liquidity and capital resources
In the first quarter of 2005, we continued to maintain our strong liquidity position. As of March 31, 2005, we had cash and cash equivalents excluding restricted cash, or cash, of $3,431 compared to $3,686 as of December 31, 2004 primarily due to cash outflow from operations of $262 which included cash payments for restructuring of $128 and payments of approximately $55 to our supplemental pension funding, partially offset by cash proceeds from the sale of certain customer financing notes receivable of $110 ($36 of which is included in discontinued operations).
Cash flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows by activity and cash on hand as of March 31:
|
||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Net cash from (used in) operating activities of continuing operations |
$ | (262 | ) | $ | (340 | ) | ||
Net cash from (used in) investing activities of continuing operations |
27 | 14 | ||||||
Net cash from (used in) financing activities of continuing operations |
(21 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
(35 | ) | 13 | |||||
Net cash from (used in) continuing operations |
(291 | ) | (395 | ) | ||||
Net cash from (used in) discontinued operations |
36 | (3 | ) | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(255 | ) | (398 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
3,686 | 3,997 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 3,431 | $ | 3,599 | ||||
Operating activities |
In the first quarter of 2005, our cash flows used in operating activities were $262 due to a net loss from continuing operations of $51, plus net adjustments of $87 for non-cash and other items less $298 related to the change in our operating assets and liabilities.
In the first quarter of 2004, our cash flows used in operating activities were $340 due to net earnings from continuing operations of $58, plus net adjustments of $156 for non-cash and other items, less an adjustment of $554 related to the net change in our operating assets and liabilities.
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
In the first quarter of 2005, the use of cash of $298 relating to the change in our operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $213 reduction in cash flows associated with our working capital performance as discussed further below under Working capital metrics, restructuring outflows, supplemental pension funding and other changes in operating assets and liabilities partially offset by collection of long-term or customer financing receivables.
In the first quarter of 2005, we received cash proceeds of approximately $74 from the sale of certain customer financing notes receivable. We had cash outflows for restructuring activities of $128 primarily related to our 2004 Restructuring Plan and approximately $55 in supplemental pension funding.
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Other changes in other operating assets and liabilities included the following:
| income tax payments of $14 in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $9 in the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to an increase in income in certain taxable jurisdictions; and | ||
| an increase of $38 in cash from other changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily due to an increase in long-term provisions which was primarily a result of a deferred gain associated with the transition of certain manufacturing facilities to Flextronics, partially offset by a reduction in liabilities, including the project loss associated with BSNL. |
In the first quarter of 2004, the use of cash of $554 relating to the change in our operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to restructuring outflows and other changes in assets and liabilities partially offset by collection of long-term or customer financing receivables. Other significant operating items included payments of approximately $280 in the first quarter of 2004 associated with our employee bonus plan and restricted stock unit program based on 2003 performance.
We do not expect additional significant proceeds from customer financing receivables for the remainder of 2005. We expect cash outflows of approximately $280 in 2005 related to both our 2001 Restructuring Plan and 2004 Restructuring Plan. Our pension funding in 2005 is expected to be $92. We do not expect to have significant payments related to our employee bonus program in 2005 based on 2004 performance and our 2003 RSU program has been terminated.
Working capital metrics |
Working capital for each segment is primarily managed by our regional finance organization which manages accounts receivable performance and by our global operations organization which manages inventory and accounts payable. The $213 reduction in cash flows associated with our working capital performance in the first quarter of 2005 was due to an increase in accounts receivable of $245 and a decrease in accounts payable of $7, partially offset by a reduction in inventories of $39, as further described below.
Accounts receivable net |
Days sales outstanding in accounts receivables, or DSO, measures the average number of days our accounts receivables are outstanding. DSO is a metric that approximates the measure of the average number of days from when we recognize revenue until we collect cash from our customers.
The following table shows our quarterly DSO (a):
(a) | DSO for each quarter is calculated by dividing the quarter end accounts receivable-net balance by revenues for the quarter, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, and multiplying by 90 days. |
DSO increased as of March 31, 2005 compared to March 31, 2004 primarily due to:
| an increase of approximately 7 days due to a note receivable that resulted from the transfer of one of our manufacturing facilities to Flextronics, which did not have a corresponding revenue impact; | ||
| reduced accounts receivable securitizations; and | ||
| increased GSM/UMTS Networks revenues from a large number of contracts involving progress billings, with |
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significant portions of collections occurring upon project completion; partially offset by | |||
| a reduced focus on collection activities, particularly in the first quarter of 2004, due to our restatement activities. |
In 2005, we will continue to focus on improving our collections process. Offsetting this expected improvement is an expected increase in the number of contracts involving progress billings and the impact of the Flextronics payments and the associated notes receivable. We expect to experience fluctuations in collections performance in individual quarters.
Inventories net |
Net inventory days, or NID, is a metric that approximates the average number of days from procurement to sale of our product.
The following table shows our quarterly NID (a):
(a) | NID for each quarter is calculated by dividing the average of the current quarter and prior quarter inventories net by the cost of revenues for the quarter, in each case as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and multiplying by 90 days. Finished goods inventory includes certain direct and incremental costs associated with arrangements where title and risk of loss was transferred to the customer but revenue was deferred due to other revenue recognition criteria not being met. As of March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004, these deferred costs totaled $799 and $407, respectively. |
NID increased as of March 31, 2005 compared to March 31, 2004 primarily due to the increased deferred costs associated with deferred revenues as described in note (a) of the table above and an increase in inventory to meet new contract requirements, particularly in Asia Pacific for wireless projects, including BSNL.
In 2005, we expect that NID will fluctuate from quarter to quarter due in part to the fluctuations in deferred costs associated with deferred revenues and will normally be highest in the third quarter as inventory is held to support sales in the fourth quarter, which is typically our strongest quarter of the year in terms of revenues.
Inventory management continues to be an area of focus as we balance the need to maintain strategic inventory levels to ensure competitive delivery performance to our customers against the risk of inventory obsolescence due to rapidly changing technology and customer spending requirements.
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Days of purchases outstanding in accounts payable |
Days of purchases outstanding in accounts payable, or DPO, is a metric that approximates the average number of days from when we receive purchased goods and services until we pay our suppliers.
The following table shows the quarterly DPO (a):
(a) | DPO for each quarter is calculated by dividing the quarter end trade and other accounts payable by the cost of revenues for the quarter, in each case, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and multiplying by 90 days. |
DPO increased to 59 days as of March 31, 2005 from 53 days as of March 31, 2004 as we placed additional focus on establishing competitive payment terms with our suppliers and improving the processing of payments to match payment terms.
DPO will normally be highest in the third quarter and lowest in the fourth quarter due to the impact of purchasing inventory in the third quarter to support sales in the fourth quarter, which is generally our strongest quarter of the year in terms of revenue. However, the lower DPO in the third and the higher DPO in the fourth quarter of 2004 did not reflect this trend primarily due to the impact of the project loss related to the BSNL project and the deferred cost increases in the fourth quarter as described above. DPO was also slightly higher in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 due to the impact of the BSNL project.
While we will continue our focus on managing our DPO, we expect that DPO will continue to fluctuate on a quarter by quarter basis. However, we expect DPO to be highest in the third quarter and lowest in the fourth quarter due to the impact of purchasing inventory in the third quarter to support sales in the fourth quarter, which is generally our strongest quarter of the year in terms of revenue.
Investing activities |
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, cash flows from investing activities were $27 and were primarily due to proceeds of $83 including $76 related to the transfer of certain manufacturing assets to Flextronics and $7 from the sale of certain investments and businesses which we no longer considered strategic. These amounts were partially offset by $54 in plant and equipment expenditures and $2 associated with acquisitions of certain investments and businesses.
For the three months ended March 31, 2004, cash flows from investing activities were $14 and were primarily due to proceeds of $55 from the sale of certain investments and businesses which we no longer considered strategic including $17 related to the sale of the common shares of Arris Group and $33 related to the sale of the common shares of Entrust. We also recorded proceeds of $5 primarily from the sale of plant and equipment in the U.S. These amounts were partially offset by $43 in plant and equipment expenditures and $3 associated with acquisitions of certain investments and businesses.
Financing activities |
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, cash flows used in financing activities were $21 and were primarily due to dividends of $14 primarily paid by NNL related to its outstanding preferred shares and a reduction of our notes payable by a net of $6.
For the three months ended March 31, 2004, cash flows used in financing activities were $82 and were primarily due to $97 used to reduce our long-term debt, a reduction of our notes payable by a net of $3, a repayment of capital leases payable of $3 and dividends of $9 paid by NNL related to its outstanding preferred shares. These amounts were partially offset by $30 of proceeds from the issuance of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares from the exercise of stock options. The reduction of our long-term debt was primarily due to the extinguishment of debt of $87 related to the purchase of land and two buildings in the U.S.
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In the first quarter of 2005, our cash decreased $35 due to unfavorable effects of changes in foreign exchange rates. Approximately $32 of the unfavorable impact was the result of unfavorable changes in the euro and the British pound against the U.S. dollar.
In the first quarter of 2004, our cash increased $13 due to favorable effects of changes in foreign exchange rates. The increase was primarily a result of favorable changes in the British pound of approximately $20 partially offset by unfavorable changes in the euro of approximately $7.
In the first quarter of 2005, cash flows from our discontinued operations were $36 compared to net cash used of $3 in the first quarter of 2004, primarily due to the collection of a customer financing receivable.
Uses of liquidity
As of March 31, 2005, our cash requirements for the next 12 months are primarily expected to fund operations, including our investments in R&D and the following items:
| debt service, including repayment of our debt of $1,275 due in February 2006; | ||
| our planned acquisition of PEC for an estimated $448, net of cash acquired; | ||
| costs relating to workforce reduction and other restructuring activities; | ||
| capital expenditures; | ||
| investments in certain businesses, including planned joint ventures in Asia Pacific; | ||
| pension and post-retirement benefits; and | ||
| costs in relation to the restatement activities, matters related to the Revenue Independent Review and other related matters, including regulatory and other legal proceedings. |
We believe that we have sufficient cash to repay our debt of $1,275 due in February 2006. However, we continue to routinely monitor the capital markets for opportunities to improve our capital structure and financial flexibility.
We are subject to significant pending civil litigation actions and regulatory and criminal investigations which could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity by requiring us to pay substantial judgments, settlements, fines or other penalties. See Risk factors/forward looking statements.
Also, from time to time, we may purchase our outstanding debt securities and/or convertible notes in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise, in compliance with applicable laws. As well, we expect to be required to fund some portion of our aggregate undrawn customer financing commitments as further described below.
Contractual cash obligations |
Our contractual cash obligations for long-term debt, purchase obligations, operating leases, outsourcing contracts, obligations under special charges, pension, post-retirement and post-employment obligations and other long-term liabilities reflected on the balance sheet remained substantially unchanged as of March 31, 2005 from the amounts disclosed as of December 31, 2004 in our 2004 Annual Report.
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Customer financing |
Generally, customer financing arrangements may include financing with deferred payment terms in connection with the sale of our products and services, as well as funding for non-product costs associated with network installation and integration of our products and services. We may also provide funding to our customers for working capital purposes and equity financing. The following table provides information related to our customer financing commitments, excluding our discontinued operations as of:
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Drawn and outstanding gross |
$ | 56 | $ | 118 | ||||
Provisions for doubtful accounts |
(39 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||
Drawn and outstanding net (a) |
17 | 80 | ||||||
Undrawn commitments |
64 | 69 | ||||||
Total customer financing |
$ | 81 | $ | 149 | ||||
(a) | Included short-term and long-term amounts. Short-term and long-term amounts were included in accounts receivable net and other assets, respectively, in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. |
During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, we entered into certain agreements to restructure and/or settle various customer financing and related receivables including rights to accrued interest. As a result of these transactions, we received cash consideration of approximately $110 ($36 of the proceeds was included in discontinued operations) and $15, to settle outstanding receivables with a net carrying value of $100 ($33 of the net carrying value was included in discontinued operations) and $14, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, we reduced undrawn customer financing commitments by $5 and $114, respectively, as a result of the expiration or cancellation of commitments and changing customer business plans. As of March 31, 2005, all undrawn commitments were available for funding under the terms of the financing agreements.
Acquisitions |
On April 26, 2005, we announced that Nortel Networks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NNL, had entered into an agreement with PEC, providing for the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of PEC for $15.50 per share in cash, or approximately $448 (net of cash acquired), plus transaction costs and expenses. The acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including the successful completion of a tender offer and regulatory approvals. We currently expect to complete the acquisition during the second quarter of 2005.
Sources of liquidity
As of March 31, 2005, we had cash of $3,431, excluding $81 of restricted cash and cash equivalents. We believe this cash will be sufficient to fund the changes to our business model in accordance with our strategic plan (see Business overview Our strategy and outlook), fund our investments and meet our customer commitments for at least the next 12 months. However, if capital spending by service providers and other customers changes from what we currently expect, we may be required to adjust our current business model. As a result, our revenues and cash flows may be materially lower than we expect and we may be required to further reduce our investments or take other measures in order to meet our cash requirements. In the future, we may seek additional funds from liquidity generating transactions and other sources of external financing. We continue to routinely monitor the capital markets for opportunities to improve our capital structure and financial flexibility. Our ability and willingness to access the capital markets is based on many factors including market conditions and overall financial objectives. Currently, our ability is limited due to the impact of the delay in filing the Reports and the findings of the Independent Review and related matters. We cannot provide any assurance that our net cash requirements will be as we currently expect, that we will continue to have access to the EDC Support Facility when and as needed or that liquidity generating transactions or financings will be available to us on acceptable terms. In addition, we have not assumed the need to make any payments in respect of judgments, settlements, fines or other penalties in connection with our pending civil litigation or investigations related to the First Restatement and Second Restatement, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity, other than anticipated professional fees and expenses. See Risk factors/forward looking statements.
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As of the first quarter of 2005, we have received proceeds of approximately $85 relating to the Flextronics transaction. We expect to receive an additional portion of the total expected net proceeds of $675 to $725 from the Flextronics transaction which is expected to be partially offset by cash outflows attributable to direct transaction costs and other costs associated with the transaction. In 2005, we expect the contribution to cash flow from investments and customer financing asset sales to be substantially lower. The sale of a customer financing receivable for cash consideration of $110 in the first quarter of 2005 is expected to be the only significant customer financing asset sale in 2005. Although we do not have any significant debt repayments planned in 2005, we have a $1,275 debt due in February 2006. We believe that we have sufficient cash to repay this debt; however, we continue to routinely monitor the capital markets for opportunities to improve our capital structure and financial flexibility.
Credit facilities |
As of March 31, 2005, we had no material credit facilities in place.
Available support facility |
On February 14, 2003, NNL entered into the EDC Support Facility. As of March 31, 2005, the facility provided for up to $750 in support including:
| $300 of uncommitted revolving support for performance bonds or similar instruments, of which $145 was outstanding; | ||
| $150 of uncommitted support for receivables sales and/or securitizations, of which none was utilized; and | ||
| $300 of uncommitted support for performance bonds and/or receivables sales and/or securitizations, of which $68 was outstanding. |
For additional information relating to the EDC Support Facility subsequent to March 31, 2005 and waivers obtained in connection with certain defaults arising under the EDC Support Facility from the delay in filing the Reports, see Developments in 2005 Nortel Audit Committee Independent Review; restatements; related matters EDC Support Facility and Risk factors/forward looking statements.
The EDC Support Facility provides that EDC may suspend its obligation to issue NNL any additional support if events occur that would have a material adverse effect on NNLs business, financial position or results of operation. The EDC Support Facility will expire on December 31, 2006.
The EDC Support Facility does not materially restrict NNLs ability to sell any of its assets (subject to certain maximum amounts) or to purchase or pre-pay any of its currently outstanding debt. The EDC Support Facility can be suspended or terminated if NNLs senior long-term debt rating by Moodys Investors Service, or Moodys, has been downgraded to less than B3 or if its debt rating by Standard & Poors, or S&P, has been downgraded to less than B-.
As of March 31, 2005, NNLs obligations under the EDC Support Facility were secured on an equal and ratable basis under the security agreements entered into by NNL and various of our subsidiaries that pledged substantially all of NNLs and its subsidiaries assets in favor of the holders of NNLs public debt securities and the holders of our 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes. As of March 31, 2005, the security provided under the security agreements was comprised of:
| pledges of substantially all of the assets of NNL and those of most of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries; and | ||
| guarantees by certain of NNLs wholly owned subsidiaries organized in the U.S., Canada, England, Ireland and Hong Kong. |
If NNLs senior long-term debt rating by Moodys returns to Baa2 (with a stable outlook) and its rating by S&P returns to BBB (with a stable outlook), the security and guarantees will be released in full. If the EDC Support Facility is terminated, or expires, the security and guarantees will also be released in full. NNL may provide EDC with cash collateral in an amount equal to the total amount of its outstanding obligations and undrawn commitments and expenses under this facility (or any other alternative collateral or arrangements acceptable to EDC) in lieu of the security provided under the security agreements. Accordingly, if the EDC Support Facility is secured by cash or other alternate collateral or arrangements acceptable to EDC, the security and guarantees will also be released in full.
For information related to our outstanding public debt, see Long-term debt, credit and support facilities in note 9 of the accompanying
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unaudited consolidated financial statements. For additional financial information related to the security pledged, those subsidiaries providing guarantees as of March 31, 2005, see Supplemental consolidating financial information in note 20 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. For information related to our debt ratings, see Credit ratings below. See Risk factors/forward looking statements for factors that may affect our ability to comply with covenants and conditions in our EDC Support Facility in the future.
Shelf registration statement and base shelf prospectus |
In 2002, we and NNL filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC on May 13, 2002 and a base shelf prospectus with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada, to qualify the potential sale of up to $2,500 of various types of securities in the U.S. and/or Canada. The qualifying securities include common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants to purchase equity or debt securities, share purchase contracts and share purchase or equity units (subject to certain approvals). As of March 31, 2005, approximately $1,700 under the shelf registration statement and base shelf prospectus had been utilized. As of June 6, 2004, the Canadian base shelf prospectus expired. As a result of the delayed filing of the Reports, we and NNL continue to be unable to use, in its current form as a short-form shelf registration statement, the remaining approximately $800 of capacity for various types of securities under our SEC shelf registration statement. We will again become eligible for short-form shelf registration with the SEC after we have completed timely filings of our financial reports for twelve consecutive months. For the same reasons, we are also unable to permit holders of our prepaid forward purchase contracts to exercise certain early settlement rights and receive Nortel Networks Corporation common shares in advance of the otherwise applicable August 15, 2005 settlement date. These rights would again become exercisable upon the effectiveness of a registration statement (or a post-effective amendment to the shelf registration statement) filed with the SEC (with respect to the Nortel Networks Corporation common shares to be delivered) that contains a related current prospectus. Under the terms of the Purchase Contract and Unit Agreement which governs the purchase contracts, we have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to have, in effect, a registration statement covering the Nortel Networks Corporation common shares to be delivered and to provide a prospectus in connection therewith. We do not believe that we will be able, through the use of commercially reasonable efforts, to have an effective long form registration statement relating to the exercise of certain early settlement rights by holders of our prepaid forward purchase contracts on file with the SEC in advance of August 15, 2005. Accordingly, holders continue not to be able to exercise these rights in advance of the otherwise applicable settlement date of August 15, 2005. See Risk factors/forward looking statements.
Credit ratings
|
||||||
Rating on long-term | Rating on | |||||
debt issued or | preferred shares | |||||
guaranteed by Nortel | issued by | |||||
Networks Limited/Nortel | Nortel Networks | |||||
Rating agency | Networks Corporation | Limited | Last change | |||
Standard & Poors Ratings Service
|
B | CCC | April 28, 2004 | |||
Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
|
B3 | Caa3 | November 1, 2002 | |||
On April 28, 2004, S&P downgraded its ratings on NNL, including its long-term corporate credit rating from B to B and its preferred shares rating from CCC to CCC. At the same time, it revised its outlook to developing from negative. Moodys outlook changed to review for potential downgrade from uncertain on April 28, 2004. There can be no assurance that our credit ratings will not be lowered or that these ratings agencies will not issue adverse commentaries, potentially resulting in higher financing costs and reduced access to capital markets or alternative financing arrangements. A reduction in our credit ratings may also affect our ability, and the cost, to securitize receivables, obtain bid, performance related and other bonds, access the EDC Support Facility and/or enter into normal course derivative or hedging transactions.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
Bid, performance related and other bonds
We have entered into bid, performance related and other bonds in connection with various contracts. Bid bonds generally have a term of less than twelve months, depending on the length of the bid period for the applicable contract. Performance related and other bonds generally
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have a term of twelve months and are typically renewed, as required, over the term of the applicable contract. The various contracts to which these bonds apply generally have terms ranging from two to five years. Any potential payments which might become due under these bonds would be related to our non-performance under the applicable contract. Historically, we have not had to make material payments and we do not anticipate that we will be required to make material payments under these types of bonds.
The following table provides information related to these types of bonds as of:
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Bid and performance related bonds (a) |
$ | 265 | $ | 362 | ||||
Other bonds (b) |
44 | 68 | ||||||
Total bid, performance related and other bonds |
$ | 309 | $ | 430 | ||||
(a) | Net of restricted cash and cash equivalents amounts of $38 and $36 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. | |
(b) | Net of restricted cash and cash equivalents amounts of $35 and $28 as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. |
The criteria under which bid, performance related and other bonds can be obtained changed due to the industry environment primarily in 2002 and 2001. During that timeframe, in addition to the payment of higher fees, we experienced significant cash collateral requirements in connection with obtaining new bid, performance related and other bonds. Given that the EDC Support Facility is used to support bid and performance bonds with varying terms, including those with at least 365 day terms, we will likely need to increase our use of cash collateral to support these obligations beginning on January 1, 2006 absent a further extension of the facility.
Any bid or performance related bonds with terms that extend beyond December 31, 2006 are currently not eligible for the support provided by this facility. See Liquidity and capital resources Sources of liquidity Available support facility for additional information on the EDC Support Facility and the security agreements and see Developments in 2005 Nortel Audit Committee Independent Review; restatements; related matters EDC Support Facility for developments in connection with the EDC Support Facility subsequent to March 31, 2005.
Receivables securitization transactions
We have agreed to indemnify some of our counterparties in certain receivables securitization transactions. The indemnifications provided to counterparties in these types of transactions may require us to compensate counterparties for costs incurred as a result of changes in laws and regulations (including tax legislation) or in the interpretations of such laws and regulations, or as a result of regulatory penalties that may be suffered by the counterparty as a consequence of the transaction. Certain receivables securitization transactions include indemnifications requiring the repurchase of the receivables if the particular transaction becomes invalid. As of March 31, 2005, we had approximately $205 of securitized receivables which were subject to repurchase under this provision, in which case, we would assume all rights to collect such receivables. The indemnification provisions generally expire upon expiration of the securitization agreements, which extend through 2005, or collection of the receivable amount by the counterparty. We are generally unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for all of these types of indemnification guarantees as certain agreements do not specify a maximum amount and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Historically, we have not made any significant indemnification payments or receivable repurchases under these agreements and no significant liability has been accrued in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements with respect to the obligation associated with these guarantees.
Application of critical accounting policies and estimates
Our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are based on the selection and application of accounting policies generally accepted in the U.S., which require us to make significant estimates and assumptions. We believe that the following accounting policies and estimates may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application and represent our critical accounting policies and estimates: revenue recognition, provisions for doubtful accounts, provisions for inventory, provisions for product warranties, income taxes, goodwill valuation, pension and post-retirement benefits, special charges and other contingencies.
In general, any changes in estimates or assumptions relating to revenue recognition, provisions for doubtful accounts, provisions for inventory
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and other contingencies (excluding legal contingencies) are directly reflected in the results of our reportable operating segments. Changes in estimates or assumptions pertaining to our tax asset valuations, our pension and post-retirement benefits and our legal contingencies are generally not reflected in our reportable operating segments, but are reflected on a consolidated basis.
We have discussed the application of these critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
We have not identified any changes to the nature of our critical accounting policies and estimates as described in our 2004 Annual Report other than the material changes in the recorded balances and other updates noted below. For further information related to our critical accounting policies and estimates, see our 2004 Annual Report.
Provisions for doubtful accounts
In establishing the appropriate provisions for trade, notes and long-term receivables due from customers, we make assumptions with respect to their future collectibility. Our assumptions are based on an individual assessment of a customers credit quality as well as subjective factors and trends, including the aging of receivable balances. Generally, these individual credit assessments occur prior to the inception of the credit exposure and at regular reviews during the life of the exposure and consider:
| a customers ability to meet and sustain its financial commitments; | ||
| a customers current and projected financial condition; | ||
| the positive or negative effects of the current and projected industry outlook; and | ||
| the economy in general. |
Once we consider all of these individual factors, we make a determination as to the probability of default. An appropriate provision is then made, which takes into consideration the severity of the likely loss on the outstanding receivable balance based on our experience in collecting these amounts. In addition to these individual assessments, in general, outstanding trade accounts receivable amounts for which recovery is not expected that are greater than 365 days are fully provisioned for and amounts greater than 180 days are 50% provisioned for.
The following table summarizes our accounts receivable and long-term receivable balances and related reserves of our continuing operations as of:
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Gross accounts receivable |
$ | 2,887 | $ | 2,660 | ||||
Provision for doubtful accounts |
(107 | ) | (109 | ) | ||||
Accounts receivable net |
$ | 2,780 | $ | 2,551 | ||||
Accounts receivable provision as a percentage of gross accounts receivables |
4 | % | 4 | % | ||||
Gross long-term receivables |
$ | 96 | $ | 159 | ||||
Provision for doubtful accounts |
(66 | ) | (65 | ) | ||||
Net long-term receivables |
$ | 30 | $ | 94 | ||||
Long-term receivable provision as a percentage of gross long-term receivables |
69 | % | 41 | % | ||||
Provisions for inventory
Management must make estimates about the future customer demand for our products when establishing the appropriate provisions for inventory.
When making these estimates, we consider general economic conditions and growth prospects within our customers ultimate marketplace, and the market acceptance of our current and pending products. These judgments must be made in the context of our customers shifting technology needs and changes in the geographic mix of our customers. With respect to our provisioning policy, in general, we fully reserve for surplus inventory in excess of our 365 day demand forecast or that we deem to be obsolete. Generally, our inventory provisions have an inverse
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relationship with the projected demand for our products. For example, our provisions usually increase as projected demand decreases due to adverse changes in the conditions mentioned above. We have experienced significant changes in required provisions in recent periods due to changes in strategic direction, such as discontinuances of product lines, as well as declining market conditions. A misinterpretation or misunderstanding of any of these conditions could result in inventory losses in excess of the provisions determined to be appropriate as of the balance sheet date.
The following table summarizes our inventory balances and other related reserves of our continuing operations as of:
|
||||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Gross inventory |
$ | 2,781 | $ | 2,923 | ||||
Inventory provisions |
(1,087 | ) | (1,141 | ) | ||||
Inventories net (a) |
$ | 1,694 | $ | 1,782 | ||||
Inventory provisions as a percentage of gross inventory |
39 | % | 39 | % | ||||
(a) | Includes long-term portion of inventory related to the deferred costs which is included in other assets. |
As of March 31, 2005, our inventory provisions as a percentage of gross inventory were 39%. We have recorded inventory provisions related to continuing operations of $1,087 as of March 31, 2005 and $1,141 as of December 31, 2004. Inventory provisions decreased due to $6 as a result of foreign exchange fluctuations, reclassifications and other adjustments, $32 of scrapped inventory and $33 of reductions due to sale of inventory offset by $17 of additional inventory provisions. In the future, we may be required to make significant adjustments to these provisions for the sale and/or disposition of inventory that was provided for in prior periods.
Provisions for product warranties
Provisions are recorded for estimated costs related to warranties given to customers on our products to cover defects. These provisions are calculated based on historical return rates as well as on estimates which take into consideration the historical material replacement costs and the associated labor costs to correct the product defect. Known product defects are specifically provided for as we become aware of such defects. Revisions are made when actual experience differs materially from historical experience. These provisions for product warranties are part of the cost of revenues and are accrued when the products are sold. They represent the best possible estimate, at the time the sale is made, of the expenses to be incurred under the warranty granted. Warranty terms generally range from one to six years from the date of sale depending upon the product.
We accrue for warranty costs as part of our cost of revenues based on associated material costs and technical support labor costs. Material cost is estimated based primarily upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the cost to repair or replace the product. Technical support labor cost is estimated based primarily upon historical trends in the rate of customer warranty claims and projected claims within the warranty period.
The following table summarizes the accrual for product warranties that was recorded as part of other accrued liabilities in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of:
|
||||
March 31, | ||||
2005 | ||||
Balance as
of December 31, 2004 |
$ | 275 | ||
Payments |
(56 | ) | ||
Warranties issued |
42 | |||
Revisions |
(3 | ) | ||
Balance as
of March 31, 2005 |
$ | 258 | ||
We engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of our component suppliers. Our estimated warranty obligation is based upon warranty terms, ongoing product failure rates, historical material replacement costs and the associated labor to correct the product defect. If actual product failure rates, material replacement costs, service or labor costs differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty provision would be required. If we experience an increase in warranty claims compared
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with our historical experience, or if the cost of servicing warranty claims is greater than the expectations on which the accrual is based, our gross margin could be negatively affected.
Tax asset valuation
Our net deferred tax assets balance, excluding discontinued operations, was $3,810 at March 31, 2005 and $3,847 at December 31, 2004. The $37 decrease was primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange effects related primarily to the British pound and a drawdown of deferred tax assets in profitable jurisdictions. We currently have deferred tax assets resulting from net operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards and deductible temporary differences, all of which are available to reduce future taxes payable in our significant tax jurisdictions. Generally, our loss carryforward periods range from seven years to an indefinite period. As a result, we do not expect that a significant portion of these carryforwards will expire in the near future.
We assess the realization of these deferred tax assets quarterly to determine whether an income tax valuation allowance is required. Based on available evidence, both positive and negative, we determine whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the remaining net deferred tax assets will be realized. The main factors that we consider include:
| cumulative losses in recent years; | ||
| history of loss carryforwards and other tax assets expiring; | ||
| the carryforward period associated with the deferred tax assets; | ||
| the nature of the income that can be used to realize the deferred tax assets; | ||
| our net earnings (loss); and | ||
| future earnings potential determined through the use of internal forecasts. |
In evaluating the positive and negative evidence, the weight given to each type of evidence must be proportionate to the extent to which it can be objectively verified. If it is our belief that it is more likely than not that some portion of these assets will not be realized, an income tax valuation allowance is recorded.
Primarily as a result of losses realized in 2001 and 2002, we concluded that it was more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets would not be realized. Accordingly, an income tax valuation allowance has been recorded against these deferred income tax assets. However, due to the fact that the majority of the carryforwards do not expire in the near future, our extended history of earnings in our material tax jurisdictions exclusive of 2001 and 2002, and our future expectations of earnings, we concluded that it is more likely than not that the remaining net deferred income tax asset recorded as of March 31, 2005 will be realized.
In the first quarter of 2005, our gross income tax valuation allowances decreased to $3,589 as of March 31, 2005 compared to $3,596 as of December 31, 2004. The decrease was primarily due to the impacts of foreign exchange offset by additional valuation allowances against current period losses in certain jurisdictions. We assessed positive evidence including forecasts of future taxable income to support realization of the net deferred tax assets, and negative evidence including our cumulative loss position, and concluded that the valuation allowances as of March 31, 2005 were appropriate.
We continue to review all available positive and negative evidence on a jurisdictional basis and our valuation allowance may need to be adjusted in the future as a result of this ongoing review. Given the magnitude of our valuation allowance, future adjustments to this allowance based on actual results could result in a significant adjustment to our net earnings.
Goodwill valuation
The carrying value of goodwill was $2,260 as of March 31, 2005 and $2,303 as of December 31, 2004. The decrease primarily relates to the divestiture of our manufacturing operations to Flextronics and foreign exchange fluctuations associated with the minority interests in our French and German operations.
Due to the change in our operating segments and reporting units as described in Business overview Our segments, a triggering event occurred requiring a goodwill impairment test in the quarter in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets. We performed this test and concluded that there was no impairment.
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Special charges
At each reporting date, we evaluate our accruals related to workforce reduction charges, contract settlement and lease costs and plant and equipment write downs to ensure that these accruals are still appropriate. As of March 31, 2005, we had $61 in accruals related to workforce reduction charges and $290 in accruals related to contract settlement and lease costs, which included significant estimates, primarily related to sublease income over the lease terms and other costs for vacated properties. In certain instances, we may determine that these accruals are no longer required because of efficiencies in carrying out our restructuring work plan. Adjustments to workforce reduction accruals may also be required when employees previously identified for separation do not receive severance payments because they are no longer employed by Nortel or were redeployed due to circumstances not foreseen when the original plan was initiated. In these cases, we reverse any related accrual to earnings when it is determined it is no longer required. Alternatively, in certain circumstances, we may determine that certain accruals are insufficient as new events occur or as additional information is obtained. In these cases, we would increase the applicable existing accrual with the offset recorded against earnings. Increases or decreases to the accruals for changes in estimates are classified within special charges in the statement of operations.
Accounting changes and recent accounting pronouncements
Accounting changes
Our consolidated financial statements are based on the selection and application of accounting policies, generally accepted in the U.S. For more information related to the accounting policies that we adopted as a result of new accounting standards, see Accounting changes in note 2 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. The following summarizes the accounting changes that we have adopted:
| The effect of contingently convertible debt on diluted earnings per share the adoption of the Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, Issue No. 04-8, The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings Per Share in 2004 did not have an impact on our diluted earnings (loss) per share. | ||
| Accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity the adoption of SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity in 2003 did not have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition. |
Recent accounting pronouncements
In March 2004, the EITF reached consensus on Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments, or EITF 03-1. EITF 03-1 provides guidance on determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary and the measurement of an impairment loss. EITF 03-1 is applicable to marketable debt and equity securities within the scope of SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, or SFAS 115, and SFAS No. 124, Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations, and equity securities that are not subject to the scope of SFAS 115 and not accounted for under the equity method of accounting. In September 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position, or FSP, EITF 03-1-1, Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments, which delays the effective date for the measurement and recognition criteria contained in EITF 03-1 until final application guidance is issued. The delay does not suspend the requirement to recognize other-than-temporary impairments as required by existing authoritative literature. The adoption of EITF 03-1 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs, or SFAS 151. SFAS 151 requires that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material (spoilage) be recognized as current period charges rather than capitalized as a component of inventory costs. In addition, SFAS 151 requires allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. This statement is effective for inventory costs incurred in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The guidance should be applied prospectively. We are currently assessing the impact of SFAS 151 on our results of operations and financial condition.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, or SFAS 123R, which requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized as compensation expense in the unaudited consolidated financial statements based on their fair values. SFAS 123R also modifies certain measurement and expense recognition provisions of SFAS 123, that will impact us, including the requirement to estimate employee forfeitures each period when recognizing compensation expense,
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and requiring that the initial and subsequent measurement of the cost of liability-based awards each period be based on the fair value (instead of the intrinsic value) of the award. This statement is effective for us as of January 1, 2006. We had previously elected to expense employee stock-based compensation using the fair value method prospectively for all awards granted or modified on or after January 1, 2003 in accordance with SFAS 148. We are currently assessing the impact of SFAS 123R on our results of operations and financial condition.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FSP No. 46(R)-5, Implicit Variable Interests under FASB Interpretation No., or FIN, 46 (Revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, or FSP FIN 46R-5. FSP FIN 46R-5 provides guidance for a reporting enterprise on whether we hold an implicit variable interest in Variable Interest Entities, or VIEs, or potential VIEs when specific conditions exist. This FSP is effective in the first period beginning after March 3, 2005 in accordance with the transition provisions of FIN 46 (Revised 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, or FIN 46R. We have determined the adoption of FSP FIN 46R-5 will not have an impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Canadian supplement
New Canadian securities regulations and, as of March 8, 2005, amendments to the regulations under the Canada Business Corporations Act, allow issuers that are required to file reports with the SEC, upon meeting certain conditions, to satisfy their Canadian continuous disclosure obligations by using financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We have provided the following supplemental information to highlight the significant differences that would have resulted in the MD&A had it been prepared using Canadian GAAP information.
The principal continuing reconciling differences that affect consolidated net earnings (loss) under Canadian GAAP are accounting for derivatives, financial instruments and goodwill impairment arising from historical differences in carrying value. We adopted new Canadian accounting standards for asset retirement obligations and for derivatives in 2004 that are substantially consistent with U.S. GAAP. Other historical differences between U.S. GAAP and Canadian GAAP were primarily due to facts and circumstances related to prior years that are not expected to affect future earnings (loss) under Canadian GAAP, including business combinations.
See note 19 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation from U.S. GAAP to Canadian GAAP, including a description of the material differences affecting our unaudited consolidated statements of operations and unaudited consolidated balance sheets. There were no significant differences affecting the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows.
Accounting changes
Under Canadian GAAP, we adopted the following accounting changes as more fully described in note 19(i) of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements:
| Derivative accounting Effective January 1, 2004, we adopted Accounting Guideline 13, Hedging Relationships, or AcG-13, which establishes specific criteria for derivatives to qualify for hedge accounting. We had been previously applying these criteria under U.S. GAAP; therefore, there was no impact on adoption of AcG-13. Concurrent with the adoption of AcG-13, we also adopted the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, or CICAs, Emerging Issues Committee, or EIC, 128, Accounting for Trading, Speculative or Non-Hedging Derivative Financial Instruments, or EIC 128. As a result of the adoption of EIC 128, certain warrants, which had been previously recorded at cost under Canadian GAAP, are required to be recorded at fair value consistent with U.S. GAAP. The impact of this accounting change, which has been recorded prospectively as at January 1, 2004, was an increase to investments and other income of $23 for the three months ended March 31, 2004. | ||
| Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease In December 2004, the EIC issued abstract 150, Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease, or EIC 150. EIC 150 provides guidance on how to determine whether an arrangement contains a lease that is within the scope of CICA Handbook Section 3065, Leases. The guidance in EIC 150 is based on whether the arrangement conveys to the purchaser the right to use a tangible asset, and is effective for us for arrangements entered into or modified after January 1, 2005. We have already adopted equivalent guidance under U.S. GAAP. The adoption of EIC 150 did not have any material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. |
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| Financial Instruments Presentation and Disclosure In January 2004, the CICA issued amendments to CICA Handbook Section 3860, Financial Instruments Presentation and Disclosure (Section 3860), to require obligations that must be or may be settled, at the issuers option, by a variable number of the issuers own equity instruments to be presented as liabilities. Thus, securities issued by an enterprise that give the issuer unrestricted rights to settle the principal amount in cash or in the equivalent value of its own equity instruments will no longer be presented as equity. The amendments to Section 3860 are applicable to us beginning January 1, 2005 on a retroactive basis. The adoption of the amendments to Section 3860 did not have any material impact on our results of operations and financial condition. |
Outstanding share data
As of May 16, 2005, Nortel Networks Corporation had 4,268,236,086 outstanding common shares.
As of May 16, 2005, 292,519,839 issued and assumed stock options were outstanding and are exercisable for common shares of Nortel Networks Corporation on a one-for-one basis .
On June 12, 2002, concurrent with the offering of our common shares, 28,750 equity units were offered, each initially evidencing ownership of a prepaid forward purchase contract, or purchase contract, entitling the holder to receive our common shares and specified zero-coupon U.S. treasury strips. As of March 31, 2005, 3,840 purchase contracts were outstanding. The aggregate number of our common shares issuable on the settlement date of the remaining purchase contracts will be between approximately 65 million and 78 million shares, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments (which include adjustments for a possible consolidation of our common shares), depending on the applicable market value of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares. The settlement date for each purchase contract is August 15, 2005, subject to acceleration or early settlement in certain cases. See Risk factors/forward looking statements for additional information.
In addition, Nortel Networks Corporation previously issued U.S. $1.8 billion of 4.25 percent Convertible Senior Notes, or Senior Notes, due on September 1, 2008. The Senior Notes are convertible, at any time, by holders into common shares of Nortel Networks Corporation, at an initial conversion price of $10 per common share, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events including the potential consolidation of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares.
Market risk
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our unaudited consolidated financial statements through adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our market risk exposure results primarily from fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. To manage the risk from these fluctuations, we enter into various derivative-hedging transactions that we have authorized under our policies and procedures. We maintain risk management control systems to monitor market risks and counterparty risks. These systems rely on analytical techniques including both sensitivity analysis and value-at-risk estimations. We do not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
We manage foreign exchange exposures using forward and option contracts to hedge sale and purchase commitments. Our most significant foreign exchange exposures are in the Canadian dollar, the British pound and the euro. We enter into U.S. to Canadian dollar forward and option contracts intended to hedge the U.S. to Canadian dollar exposure on future revenues and expenditure streams. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, we recognize the gains and losses on the effective portion of these contracts in earnings when the hedged transaction occurs. Any ineffective portion of these contracts is recognized in earnings immediately.
We expect to continue to expand our business globally and, as such, expect that an increasing proportion of our business may be denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. As a result, fluctuations in foreign currencies may have a material impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We try to minimize the impact of such currency fluctuations through our ongoing commercial practices and by attempting to hedge our major currency exposures. In attempting to manage this foreign exchange risk, we identify operations and transactions that may have exposure based upon the excess or deficiency of foreign currency receipts over foreign currency expenditures. Given our exposure to international markets, we regularly monitor all of our material foreign currency exposures. However, if significant foreign exchange losses are experienced, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
A portion of our long-term debt is subject to changes in fair value resulting from changes in market interest rates. We have hedged a portion of
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this exposure to interest rate volatility using fixed for floating interest rate swaps. The change in fair value of the swaps are recognized in earnings with offsetting amounts related to the change in the fair value of the hedged debt attributable to interest rate changes. Any ineffective portion of the swaps is recognized in income immediately. We record net settlements on these swap instruments as adjustments to interest expense.
Historically, we have managed interest rate exposures, as they relate to interest expense, using a diversified portfolio of fixed and floating rate instruments denominated in several major currencies. We use sensitivity analysis to measure our interest rate risk. The sensitivity analysis includes cash, our outstanding floating rate long-term debt and any outstanding instruments that convert fixed rate long-term debt to floating rate.
Equity price risk
The values of our equity investments in several publicly traded companies are subject to market price volatility. These investments are generally in companies in the technology industry sector and are classified as available for sale. We typically do not attempt to reduce or eliminate the market exposure on these investment securities. We also hold certain derivative instruments or warrants that are subject to market price volatility because their value is based on the common share price of a publicly traded company. These derivative instruments are generally acquired through business acquisitions or divestitures. In addition, derivative instruments may also be purchased to hedge exposure to certain compensation obligations that vary based on future Nortel Networks Corporation common share prices. We do not hold equity securities or derivative instruments for trading purposes.
Environmental matters
We are subject to numerous environmental protection laws and regulations in various jurisdictions around the world, primarily due to our manufacturing operations. As a result, we are exposed to liabilities and compliance costs arising from our past and current generation, management and disposition of hazardous substances and wastes.
We have remedial activities under way at twelve of our facilities which are either currently occupied or were previously owned or occupied. We have also been listed as a potentially responsible party at six Superfund sites in the U.S. An estimate of our anticipated remediation costs associated with all such facilities and sites, to the extent probable and reasonably estimable, is included in our environmental accruals in an approximate amount of $30.
For a discussion of Environmental matters, see Contingencies in note 17 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements.
Legal proceedings
Nortel and/or certain of our directors and officers have been named as defendants in various class action lawsuits. We are unable to determine the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact to us in these legal matters, which unless otherwise specified, seek damages from the defendants of material or indeterminate amounts. We are also a defendant in various other suits, claims, proceedings and investigations which are in the normal course of business. We cannot determine whether these matters will, individually or collectively, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. We, and any of our named directors or officers, intend to vigorously defend these actions, suits, claims, proceedings and investigations. We are also subject to significant pending civil litigation and ongoing regulatory and criminal investigations in the U.S. and Canada which could require us to pay substantial judgments, settlements, fines or other penalties. For additional information related to our legal proceedings, see Contingencies in note 17 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Legal Proceedings section of this report and Risk factors/forward looking statements.
Risk factors/forward looking statements
You should carefully consider the risks described below before investing in our securities. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also impair our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Unless required by applicable securities laws, we do not have any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain words such as could, expects, may, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, plans, envisions, seeks and other similar language and are considered forward looking statements. These statements are based on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment, economies and markets in which we operate. In addition, other written or oral statements which are considered forward looking may be made by us or others on our behalf. These statements are subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and the actual outcome may be materially different. In particular, the risks described below could cause actual events to differ materially from those contemplated in forward looking statements.
Risks relating to our restatements and related matters
Our two restatements of our consolidated financial statements and related events have had, and will continue to have, a material adverse effect on us.
In May 2003, we commenced certain balance sheet reviews at the direction of certain members of former management that led to the Comprehensive Review, which resulted in the First Restatement. In late October 2003, the Audit Committee initiated the Independent Review and engaged WCPHD to advise it in connection with the Independent Review. The Audit Committee sought to gain a full understanding of the events that caused significant excess liabilities to be maintained on the balance sheet that needed to be restated, and to recommend that our Board of Directors adopt, and direct management to implement, necessary remedial measures to address personnel, controls, compliance and discipline. As the Independent Review progressed, the Audit Committee directed new corporate management to examine in depth the concerns identified by WCPHD regarding provisioning activity and to review certain provision releases. That examination, and other errors identified by management, led to the Second Restatement and our revision of previously announced unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2003. The need for the Second Restatement resulted in delays in filing the Reports.
Over the course of the Second Restatement process, management identified certain accounting practices that it determined should be adjusted as part of the Second Restatement. In particular, management identified certain errors related to revenue recognition and undertook a process of revenue reviews. In light of the resulting adjustments to revenues previously reported, the Audit Committee has determined to review the facts and circumstances leading to the restatement of these revenues for specific transactions identified in the Second Restatement. The review has a particular emphasis on the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues. The Audit Committee is seeking a full understanding of the historic events that required the revenues for these specific transactions to be restated and will consider any appropriate additional remedial measures, including those involving internal controls and processes. The Audit Committee has engaged WCPHD to advise it in connection with this review.
For more information on the Comprehensive Review, Independent Review, First Restatement, Second Restatement and Revenue Independent Review, see the MD&A section of this report and Item 9A of the 2003 Annual Report and 2004 Annual Report.
As a result of these events, we have become subject to the following key risks, each of which is described in more detail below. Each of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
| We are subject to ongoing regulatory and criminal investigations in the U.S. and Canada, which could require us to pay substantial fines or other penalties. | ||
| We are subject to significant pending civil litigation, which if decided against us or as a result of settlement, could require us to pay substantial judgments, settlements or other penalties and could result in the potential dilution of our common shares. | ||
| Material adverse legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, which could be very significant. | ||
| We cannot predict the outcome of the Revenue Independent Review being undertaken by our Audit Committee. | ||
| We and our independent auditors have identified a number of material weaknesses related to our internal control over financial reporting and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is ineffective, which could continue to impact our ability to report our results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely manner. |
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| The governing principles of the Independent Review particularly as they relate to remedial measures may take time to implement. | ||
| The delayed filing of the Reports and related matters caused us to breach our public debt indentures. In addition, the delay in filing the Reports and related matters resulted in a breach of our obligations under the EDC Support Facility and caused us to seek waivers from EDC under the EDC Support Facility. Any future delays in filing our periodic reports could cause us to similarly breach our public debt indentures and our obligations under the EDC Support Facility and seek waivers from EDC under the EDC Support Facility. In such circumstances, it is possible that the holders of our public debt would seek to accelerate the maturity of that debt and EDC would not grant NNL further waivers. | ||
| Our credit ratings have been downgraded, we are currently unable to access in its current form our shelf registration statement filed with the SEC and NNL terminated the Five Year Facilities, each of which may affect our liquidity. | ||
| The delay in filing of the Reports caused us to be in breach of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. Any future breach of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX could cause the NYSE and/or the TSX to commence suspension or delisting procedures in respect of Nortel Networks Corporations common shares or other of our or NNLs listed securities. | ||
| Continuing negative publicity has and may adversely affect our business and the market price of our publicly traded securities. | ||
| We may not be able to attract or retain the personnel necessary to achieve our business objectives. | ||
| Ongoing SEC review may require us to amend our public disclosures further. |
We are subject to ongoing regulatory and criminal investigations in the U.S. and Canada, which could require us to pay substantial fines or other penalties.
We are under investigation by the SEC and the OSC. On April 5, 2004, we announced that the SEC had issued a formal order of investigation in connection with our previous restatement of financial results for certain periods and our announcements in March 2004 regarding the likely need to revise certain previously announced results and restate previously filed financial results for one or more earlier periods.
On April 13, 2004, we announced that we had received a letter from the staff of the OSC advising us of an OSC Enforcement Staff investigation into the same matters that are the subject of the SEC investigation.
We have also received a U.S. federal grand jury subpoena for the production of certain documents sought in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Further, on August 16, 2004, we received a letter from the Integrated Market Enforcement Team of the RCMP advising us that it would be commencing a criminal investigation into our financial accounting situation.
Our senior management and Board of Directors have been required to devote significant time to these investigations and related matters. We cannot predict when these investigations will be completed, nor can we predict what the results of these investigations may be. Expenses incurred in connection with these investigations (which include substantial fees of lawyers and other professional advisors and potential obligations to indemnify officers and directors who may be parties to such actions) could adversely affect our cash position. We may be required to pay material fines, consent to injunctions on future conduct or suffer other penalties, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. The investigations may adversely affect our ability to obtain, and/or increase the cost of obtaining, directors and officers liability insurance and/or other types of insurance, which could have a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the findings and outcomes of the Independent Review, the Revenue Independent Review and the regulatory and criminal investigations may affect the course of the civil litigation pending against us, which are more fully described below.
The effects and results of these or other investigations may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
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We are subject to significant pending civil litigation, which if decided against us or as a result of settlement, could require us to pay substantial judgments, settlements or other penalties and could potentially result in the dilution of our common shares.
In addition to being subject to litigation in the ordinary course of business, we are currently, and may in the future be, subject to class actions, other securities litigation and other actions arising in relation to our accounting restatements. Subsequent to our March 10, 2004 announcement of the likely need for the Second Restatement, numerous class action complaints, including ERISA class action complaints and a derivative action complaint, have been filed against Nortel and certain current and former officers and directors.
We expect that this litigation will be time consuming, expensive and distracting from the conduct of our daily business. The adverse resolution of any specific lawsuit could have a material adverse effect on our ability to favorably resolve other lawsuits and on our financial condition and liquidity. We are unable at this time to estimate what our ultimate liability in these matters may be, and it is possible that we will be required to pay substantial judgments, settlements or other penalties and incur expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and such effects could be very significant. In addition, the resolution of those matters may require us to issue additional common shares, which could potentially result in the dilution of our common shares. Expenses incurred in connection with these matters (which include substantial fees of lawyers and other professional advisors and potential obligations to indemnify officers and directors who may be parties to such actions) could adversely affect our cash position.
Material adverse legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, which could be very significant.
We estimate that as of March 31, 2005 our available cash and our cash flow from operations will be adequate to fund our operations and service our debt for at least the next twelve months. In making this estimate, we have not assumed the need to make any payments in connection with our pending civil litigation or investigations related to the First Restatement and Second Restatement, other than our anticipated professional fees and expenses. We believe that we have sufficient cash to repay our debt of $1,275 relating to NNLs 6.125% notes due February 2006. However, we continue to routinely monitor the capital markets for opportunities to improve our capital structure and financial flexibility. We can provide no assurances that any capital markets transactions will be completed on favorable terms, or at all. Any material adverse legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements arising from the pending civil litigation and investigations could require additional funding which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, including by:
| requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash and/or cash flow from operations to payments of such judgments, fines, penalties or settlements, thereby reducing the availability of our cash and/or cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, R&D efforts and other general corporate purposes, including debt reduction; | ||
| making it more difficult for us to satisfy our payment obligations with respect to our outstanding indebtedness; | ||
| increasing the difficulty and/or cost to us of refinancing our indebtedness; | ||
| increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; | ||
| limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our businesses and the industries in which we operate; | ||
| making it more difficult for us to make acquisitions and investments; | ||
| limiting our ability to obtain, and/or increase the cost of obtaining, directors and officers liability insurance and/or other types of insurance; and | ||
| restricting our ability to introduce new technologies and products and/or exploit business opportunities. |
We cannot predict the outcome of the Revenue Independent Review being undertaken by our Audit Committee.
As more fully discussed in Developments in 2005 Nortel Audit Committee Independent Review; restatements; related matters and the
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Controls and Procedures section of this report, our Audit Committee initiated the Revenue Independent Review to achieve a full understanding of the historic events that required revenues for certain specific transactions to be restated. The Revenue Independent Review has a particular emphasis on the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues. The review will also consider any appropriate additional remedial measures, including those involving internal controls and processes. The Audit Committee has engaged WCPHD to advise it in connection with this review. We cannot predict the outcome of the Revenue Independent Review.
We and our independent auditors have identified a number of material weaknesses related to our internal control over financial reporting, five of which remain unremedied, and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as at December 31, 2004, which could continue to impact our ability to report our results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely manner.
Two material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting were identified at the time of the First Restatement. Over the course of Second Restatement, we and Deloitte identified a number of additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Deloitte confirmed to the Audit Committee these material weaknesses, listed below, on January 10, 2005:
| lack of compliance with written Nortel procedures for monitoring and adjusting balances related to certain accruals and provisions, including restructuring charges and contract and customer accruals; | ||
| lack of compliance with Nortel procedures for applying applicable GAAP to the initial recording of certain liabilities, including those described in SFAS No. 5, and to foreign currency translation as described in SFAS No. 52; | ||
| lack of sufficient personnel with appropriate knowledge, experience and training in U.S. GAAP and lack of sufficient analysis and documentation of the application of U.S. GAAP to transactions, including, but not limited to, revenue transactions; | ||
| lack of a clear organization and accountability structure within the accounting function, including insufficient review and supervision, combined with financial reporting systems that are not integrated and which require extensive manual interventions; | ||
| lack of sufficient awareness of, and timely and appropriate remediation of, internal control issues by Nortel personnel; and | ||
| an inappropriate tone at the top, which contributed to the lack of a strong control environment; as reported in the Independent Review Summary set forth in Item 9A of the 2003 Annual Reports; there was a Management tone at the top that conveyed the strong leadership message that earnings targets could be met through application of accounting practices that finance managers knew or ought to have known were not in compliance with U.S. GAAP and that questioning these practices was not acceptable. |
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2004 pursuant to SOX 404 and the related SEC rules and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as at December 31, 2004. Specifically, they concluded that the first five of these six material weaknesses continue to exist and existed as at December 31, 2004. Deloitte has also assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2004 and has also concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as at December 31, 2004. The first five of these six material weaknesses remain unremedied. We continue to identify, develop and implement remedial measures to address these material weaknesses. These material weaknesses, if not fully addressed, could result in accounting errors such as those underlying the restatements of our consolidated financial statements more fully discussed in Item 9A of the 2003 Annual Report and the 2004 Annual Report. While our Board of Directors has approved the adoption of all of the recommendations for remedial measures contained in the Summary of Findings and of Recommended Remedial Measures of the Independent Review in the Controls and Procedures section of our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our management has adopted a number of measures to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and address the material weaknesses identified above, we may be unable to address such material weaknesses in a timely manner, which could adversely impact the accuracy and timeliness of future reports and filings we make with the SEC and OSC.
While we are implementing steps to ensure the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, failure to restore the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could continue to impact our ability to report our financial condition and results of operations accurately and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
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The governing principles of the Independent Review particularly as they relate to remedial measures may take time to implement.
As a result of the Independent Review, a number of significant remedial steps have been identified as necessary to improve our process and procedures. These remedial steps may take time to implement. In addition, the process of implementing the governing principles of the Independent Review may be time consuming for our senior management and disrupt our business.
The delayed filing of the Reports and related matters caused us to breach our public debt indentures. In addition, the delay in filing the Reports and related matters resulted in a breach of our obligations under the EDC Support Facility and caused us to seek waivers from EDC under the EDC Support Facility. Any future delays in filing our periodic reports could cause us to similarly breach our public debt indentures and our obligations under the EDC Support Facility and seek waivers from EDC under the EDC Support Facility. In such circumstances, it is possible that the holders of our public debt would seek to accelerate the maturity of that debt and EDC would not grant NNL further waivers.
As a result of the delayed filing of the Reports, we and NNL breached our obligations to deliver the Reports to the trustees under our and NNLs public debt indentures. With the filing of the 2005 First Quarter Reports with the SEC and the delivery of the 2005 First Quarter Reports to the trustees under our and NNLs public debt indentures, we and NNL will be in compliance with our delivery obligations under the public debt indentures.
The delayed filings did not result in an automatic event of default and acceleration of the outstanding long-term debt and such default and acceleration could not have occurred unless notice of such non-compliance from holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of any relevant series of debt securities was provided to us or NNL, as applicable, and we or NNL, as applicable, failed to deliver the relevant report within 90 days after such notice was provided, all in accordance with the terms of the indentures. While such notice could have been given at any time after March 30, 2004 as a result of the delayed filings of the Reports, neither we nor NNL received a notice.
As a result of the delayed filing of our Reports and the Related Breaches, we were also required to seek waivers from EDC under the EDC Support Facility. On May 31, 2005, NNL obtained the Permanent Waiver of the Related Breaches by NNL under the EDC Support Facility. With the filing of the 2005 First Quarter Reports and the Permanent Waiver, NNL will be in compliance with its obligations under the EDC Support Facility.
Any future delay in the filing of our periodic reports with the SEC would similarly result in a breach of our public debt indentures and require us to seek additional waivers from EDC under the EDC Support Facility, which could reduce our access to the EDC Support Facility and may adversely affect our liquidity. In such circumstances, it is possible that the holders of our public debt would seek to accelerate the maturity of that debt and that EDC would not grant an additional waiver or that the terms of such a waiver would be unfavorable.
Our credit ratings have been downgraded, we are currently unable to access, in its current form, our shelf registration statement filed with the SEC and NNL terminated the Five Year Facilities, each of which may adversely affect our liquidity.
On April 28, 2004, S&P downgraded its ratings of NNL, including its long-term corporate credit rating from B to B- and its preferred share rating from CCC to CCC-. At the same time, it revised its outlook to developing from negative. Moodys current long-term debt rating for NNL is B3 and its preferred share rating is Caa3. On April 28, 2004, Moodys changed its outlook to potential downgrade from uncertain. These ratings are below investment grade. Our credit ratings could be lowered or rating agencies could issue adverse commentaries in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. These ratings and our current credit condition affect, among other things, our ability to raise debt, access the commercial paper market (which is currently closed to us), engage in alternative financing arrangements, obtain bank financings and affect our ability, and the cost to securitize receivables, obtain customer bid, performance-related and other bonds and contracts, access the EDC Support Facility and/or enter into normal course derivative or hedging transactions and also affect the price of our stock.
As a result of a ratings downgrade in 2002, security agreements became effective under which substantially all of NNLs assets located in the U.S. and Canada and those of most of our U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, including the shares of certain of NNLs U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, were pledged. In addition, certain of NNLs wholly owned subsidiaries have guaranteed NNLs obligations under the EDC Support Facility and NNLs and Nortels outstanding debt securities. These agreements will continue to secure the EDC Support Facility and our and NNLs outstanding public debt until the EDC Support Facility expires, alternative collateral is provided, or NNLs public debt ratings return to at least BBB (with a stable outlook) by S&P and Baa2 (stable outlook) by Moodys. The continued existence of these security arrangements may adversely affect our ability to incur additional debt or obtain alternative financing arrangements. In addition, EDC is not
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obligated to make any support available under the EDC Support Facility if NNLs senior long-term rating by Moodys is downgraded to less than B3 or if its debt rating by S&P is downgraded to less than B-.
In addition, in April 2004, NNL terminated the Five Year Facilities. Absent this termination, the banks would have been permitted, upon 30 days notice, to terminate their commitments under the Five Year Facilities as a result of NNLs failure to file the NNL 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K by April 29, 2004. Although the Five Year Facilities were undrawn at termination, this termination may adversely affect our liquidity.
Further, as a result of the delayed filing of the Reports, we and NNL continue to be unable to use, in its current form as a short-form shelf registration statement, the remaining approximately $800 of capacity for various types of securities under our SEC shelf registration statement. We will again become eligible for short-form shelf registration with the SEC after we have completed timely filings of our financial reports for twelve consecutive months. As a result, our ability to access the capital markets is constrained, which may adversely affect our liquidity.
The delay in filing the Reports caused us to be in breach of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. Any future breach of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE or TSX could cause the NYSE and/or the TSX to commence suspension or delisting procedures in respect of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares or other of our or NNLs listed securities.
As a result of the delay in filing the Reports, we were in breach of the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. With the filing and delivery of the 2005 First Quarter Reports, we will be in compliance with the continued listing requirements of the NYSE and TSX. However, any future breach of the continued listing requirements could cause the NYSE or TSX to commence suspension or delisting procedures in respect of our or NNLs listed securities. The commencement of any suspension or delisting procedures by either exchange remains, at all times, at the discretion of such exchange and would be publicly announced by the exchange.
If a suspension or delisting were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted securities. In addition, our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing, and attract and retain personnel by means of equity compensation, would be greatly impaired. Furthermore, with respect to any suspended or delisted securities, we would expect decreases in institutional and other investor demand, analyst coverage, market making activity and information available concerning trading prices and volume, and fewer broker-dealers would be willing to execute trades with respect to such securities. A suspension or delisting would likely decrease the attractiveness of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares or other listed securities of Nortel Networks Corporation and NNL to investors and cause the trading volume of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares or other listed securities of Nortel Networks Corporation and NNL to decline, which could result in a decline in the market price of such securities.
Continuing negative publicity may adversely affect our business and the market price of our publicly traded securities.
As a result of the First Restatement and Second Restatement, we have been the subject of continuing negative publicity. This negative publicity has contributed to significant declines in the prices of our publicly traded securities. This negative publicity has and may have an effect on the terms under which some customers and suppliers are willing to continue to do business with us and could affect our financial performance or financial condition. We also believe that many of our employees are operating under stressful conditions, which reduce morale and could lead to increased employee turnover. Continuing negative publicity could have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our publicly traded securities.
As a result of the delay in the filing of the 2004 Annual Reports (containing our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004), we were required to apply to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for an order permitting the postponement of our 2004 Annual Shareholders Meeting, or the Meeting. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted that order, which permitted us to extend the time for calling the Meeting to a date not later than June 30, 2005. The order permitted us to comply with a specific SEC rule which requires us, in our circumstances, to provide to shareholders our 2004 audited financial statements either prior to or concurrently with the mailing of proxy materials for the Meeting. The postponement has, among other things, contributed to the continuing negative publicity related to us, which may adversely affect our business and the market price of our publicly traded securities.
We may not be able to attract or retain the personnel necessary to achieve our business objectives.
Competition for certain key positions and specialized technical personnel in the high-technology industry remains strong. Our future success depends in part on our continued ability to hire, assimilate in a timely manner and retain qualified personnel, particularly in key senior management positions and in our key areas of potential growth. An important factor in attracting and retaining qualified employees is our
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ability to provide employees with the opportunity to participate in the potential growth of our business through programs such as stock option plans, restricted stock unit plans and employee investment and share purchase plans. The scope and value of these programs will be adversely affected by the volatility or negative performance of the market price for Nortel Networks Corporations common shares.
In connection with the delay in filing our 2003 Annual Reports, as of March 10, 2004, we suspended the purchase of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares under the stock purchase plans for eligible employees in eligible countries that facilitate the acquisition of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares; the exercise of outstanding options granted under the 2000 Plan or the 1986 Plan, or the grant of any additional options under those plans, or the exercise of outstanding options granted under employee stock option plans previously assumed by us in connection with mergers and acquisitions; and the purchase of units in Nortels stock fund or purchase of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares under our defined contribution and investments plans until such time as, at the earliest, we are in compliance with U.S. and Canadian regulatory securities filing requirements. On May 31, 2004, the OSC issued a final order prohibiting all trading by our directors, officers and certain current and former employees in Nortel Networks Corporations securities and those of NNL. Now that we and NNL have become current with our financial reporting obligations for the first quarter of 2005 under Ontario securities laws, we and NNL plan to apply to the OSC to have this order revoked. Such revocation will be at the discretion of the OSC. Accordingly, our ability to provide employees with the opportunity to participate in Nortel stock option plans, restricted stock unit plans and employee investment and share purchase plans has been adversely affected and certain employees have not been able to trade in our securities. The current suspension of these programs and OSC trading order, and any future suspension or OSC order, may have a material adverse effect on our ability to hire, assimilate in a timely manner and retain qualified personnel.
In addition, in 2004 we terminated for cause our former president and chief executive officer, former chief financial officer, former controller and seven additional individuals with significant responsibilities for financial reporting. We have also commenced litigation against our former president and chief executive officer, former chief financial officer and former controller, seeking the return of payments made to them under our bonus plan in 2003. In August and September 2004, as part of our new strategic plan, we announced an anticipated workforce reduction of approximately 3,250 employees. Approximately 73% of employee actions related to the focused workforce reduction were completed by March 31, 2005, including approximately 62% that were notified of termination or acceptance of voluntary retirement, with the remainder comprised of voluntary attrition of employees that were not replaced. The remainder of employee actions is expected to be completed by June 30, 2005. In addition, in 2001, 2002 and 2003, we implemented a company-wide restructuring plan, which included a reduction of approximately two-thirds of our workforce over the three-year period.
We may find it more difficult to attract or retain qualified employees because of our recent significant workforce reductions, business performance, management changes, restatement activities and resulting negative publicity and the resulting impacts on our incentive programs and incentive compensation plans. If we have not properly sized our workforce and retained those employees with the appropriate skills, our ability to compete effectively may be adversely affected. We are also more dependent on those employees we have retained, as many have taken on increased responsibilities due to workforce reductions. If we are not successful in attracting, recruiting or retaining qualified employees, including members of senior management, we may not have the personnel necessary to achieve our business objectives, including the implementation of our remedial measures.
Ongoing SEC review may require us to amend our public disclosures further.
We have received comments on our periodic filings from the staff of the SECs Division of Corporation Finance. As part of this comment process, we may receive further comments from the staff of the SEC relating to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other periodic filings. As a result, we may be required by the SEC to amend this Form 10-Q or other reports filed with the SEC in order to make adjustments or additional disclosures.
Risks relating to our business
We continue to restructure our business to respond to industry and market conditions. The assumptions underlying our restructuring efforts may prove to be inaccurate and we may have to restructure our business again in the future.
We continue to restructure our business to realign resources and achieve desired cost savings in an increasingly competitive market. Our new strategic plan includes an anticipated further workforce reduction of approximately 3,250 employees. We have based our restructuring efforts on certain assumptions regarding the cost structure of our business. Our current assumptions may or may not be correct and as a result, we may determine that further restructuring in the future will be needed. Our restructuring efforts may not be sufficient for us to achieve improved results and meet the changes in industry and market conditions, including increased competition. In particular, we face increased competition
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from low cost competitors such as Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and ZTE Corporation. We must manage the potentially higher growth areas of our business, as well as the non-core areas, in order for us to achieve improved results.
We have made, and will continue to make, judgments as to whether we should further reduce our workforce or exit, or dispose of, certain businesses. These workforce reductions may impair our ability to achieve our current or future business objectives. Costs incurred in connection with restructuring efforts may be higher than estimated. Any decision by management to further limit investment or exit, or dispose of, businesses may result in the recording of additional charges. As a result, the costs actually incurred in connection with the restructuring efforts may be higher than originally planned and may not lead to the anticipated cost savings and/or improved results.
As part of our review of restructured businesses, we look at the recoverability of their tangible and intangible assets. Future market conditions may trigger further write downs of these assets due to uncertainties in:
| the estimates and assumptions used in asset valuations, which are based on our forecasts of future business performance; and | ||
| accounting estimates related to the useful life and recoverability of the net book value of these assets, including inventory, goodwill, net deferred taxes and other intangible assets. |
We will continue to review our restructuring work plan based on our ongoing assessment of the industry and the business environment.
Our operating results have historically been subject to yearly and quarterly fluctuations and are expected to continue to fluctuate, which may adversely affect the market price of our publicly traded securities.
Our operating results have historically been, and are expected to continue to be, subject to quarterly and yearly fluctuations as a result of a number of factors. These factors include:
| our ability to execute our strategic plan, including the planned workforce reductions, without negatively impacting our relationships with our customers, the delivery of products based on new and developing technologies at competitive prices, the effectiveness of our internal processes and organizations and the retention of qualified personnel; | ||
| our ability to focus on the day-to-day operation of our business while implementing improvements in our internal controls and procedures, including our accounting systems, and addressing the civil litigation actions and investigations related to our restatements; | ||
| our ability to successfully implement programs to stimulate customer spending by anticipating and offering the kinds of products and services customers will require in the future to increase the efficiency and profitability of their networks; | ||
| our ability to successfully complete programs on a timely basis to reduce our cost structure, including fixed costs, to streamline our operations and to reduce product costs; | ||
| our ability to successfully manage our manufacturing operations, which are substantially outsourced to contract manufacturers; | ||
| our ability to successfully comply with increased and complex regulations; | ||
| our ability to focus our business on what we believe to be potentially higher growth, higher margin businesses and to dispose of or exit non-core businesses; | ||
| increased price and product competition in the networking industry, including from low cost competitors; | ||
| our ability to compete with low cost competitors, including those offering attractive customer financing arrangements; | ||
| the inherent uncertainties of using forecasts, estimates and assumptions for asset valuations and in determining the amounts of accrued liabilities, provisions and other items in our unaudited consolidated financial statements; | ||
| the impact of changes in global capital markets and interest rates on our pension plan assets and obligations; | ||
| fluctuations in our gross margins; | ||
| the development, introduction and market acceptance of new technologies, and integrated networking solutions, as well as the adoption of new networking standards; | ||
| the overall trend toward industry consolidation and rationalization among our customers, competitors and suppliers; | ||
| our ability to make investments, including acquisitions, to strengthen our business; |
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| the ability of our customers and suppliers to obtain financing to fund capital expenditures; | ||
| variations in sales channels, product costs and the mix of products sold; | ||
| the size and timing of customer orders and shipments; | ||
| our ability to obtain payment from customers on a timely basis; | ||
| our ability to continue to obtain customer performance bonds and contracts; | ||
| our ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels; | ||
| the impact of acquired businesses and technologies; | ||
| our ability to fund and sustain our research and development activities; | ||
| the impact of our product development schedules, product quality variances, manufacturing capacity and lead times required to produce our products; and | ||
| the impact of higher insurance premiums and deductibles and greater limitations on insurance coverage. |
Our decision to adopt fair value accounting for employee stock options on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2003 has caused us to record an expense over the stock option vesting period, based on the fair value at the date the options are granted, and could have a significant negative effect on our reported results.
Additionally, we are required to perform goodwill impairment tests on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances, to value our deferred tax assets and to partially accrue unfunded pension liabilities, each of which may result in a negative effect on our reported results.
We enter into agreements that may require us to make certain indemnification payments to third parties in the event of certain changes in an underlying economic characteristic related to assets, liabilities or equity securities of such third parties. The occurrence of events that may cause us to become liable to make an indemnification payment is not within our control and an obligation to make a significant indemnification payment under such agreements could have a significant negative effect on our reported results.
As a consequence, operating results for a particular future period are difficult to predict, and therefore, prior results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Any of the foregoing factors, or any other factors described herein, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition that could adversely affect the price of our publicly traded securities.
Global economic conditions and other trends and factors affecting the telecommunications industry are beyond our control and may result in reduced demand and pricing pressure on our products.
There are trends and factors affecting the industry that are beyond our control and may affect our operations. These trends and factors include:
| adverse changes in the public and private equity and debt markets and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers and suppliers, to obtain financing or to fund working capital and capital expenditures; | ||
| adverse changes in the credit quality of our customers and suppliers; | ||
| adverse changes in the market conditions in our industry and the specific markets for our products; | ||
| the trend towards the sale of converged networking solutions, which could lead to reduced capital spending on multiple networks by our customers; | ||
| visibility to, and the actual size and timing of, capital expenditures by our customers; | ||
| inventory practices, including the timing of product and service deployment, of our customers; | ||
| the amount of network capacity and the network capacity utilization rates of our customers, and the amount of sharing and/or acquisition of new and/or existing network capacity by our customers; | ||
| policies of our customers regarding utilization of single or multiple vendors for the products they purchase; | ||
| the overall trend toward industry consolidation and rationalization among our customers, competitors and suppliers; | ||
| conditions in the broader market for communications products, including data networking products and computerized information access equipment and services; | ||
| increased price competition, particularly from low cost competitors; | ||
| changes in legislation or accounting rules and governmental and environmental regulation or intervention affecting communications or data networking; | ||
| computer viruses, break-ins and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems; and |
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| acts of war or terrorism that could lead to disruptions in general global economic activity, changes in logistics and security arrangements and reduced customer demand for our products and services. |
Cautious capital spending in our industry has affected, and could affect, demand for, or pricing pressures on, our products.
Our gross margins may decline, which would reduce our operating results and could contribute to volatility in the market price of our publicly traded securities.
Our gross margins may be negatively affected as a result of a number of factors, including:
| increased price competition, particularly from low cost competitors; | ||
| increased industry consolidation among our customers, which may lead to decreased demand for, and downward pricing pressure on the prices of, our products; | ||
| changes in product and geographic mix; | ||
| customer and contract settlement costs; | ||
| higher product, material or labor costs; | ||
| increased inventory provisions or contract and customer settlement costs; | ||
| warranty costs; | ||
| obsolescence charges; | ||
| loss of cost savings on future inventory purchases as a result of high inventory levels; | ||
| introduction of new products and costs of entering new markets; | ||
| increased levels of customer services; | ||
| changes in distribution channels; | ||
| excess capacity or excess fixed assets; | ||
| accruals for employee incentive bonuses; | ||
| further restructuring costs; and | ||
| costs related to our restatements, including the possibility of substantial fines, settlements and/or damages or other penalties, and/or remedial actions. |
Lower than expected gross margins would negatively affect our operating results and could contribute to volatility in the market price of our publicly traded securities.
Cash flow fluctuations may affect our ability to fund our working capital requirements or achieve our business objectives in a timely manner. Additional sources of funds may not be available or may not be available on acceptable terms.
Our working capital requirements and cash flows historically have been, and are expected to continue to be, subject to quarterly and yearly fluctuations, depending on such factors as timing and size of capital expenditures and debt repayments, levels of sales, timing of deliveries and collection of receivables, inventory levels, customer payment terms, customer financing obligations and supplier terms and conditions. In addition, if the industry or our current condition deteriorates, notwithstanding the EDC Support Facility, an increased portion of our cash and cash equivalents may be restricted as cash collateral for customer performance bonds and contracts. As of March 31, 2005, we believe our cash on hand will be sufficient to fund our current business model, manage our investments and meet our customer commitments for at least the next 12 months. In making this estimate, we have not made provision for any material payments in connection with our pending civil litigation actions and investigations related to the First Restatement and Second Restatement, other than our anticipated professional fees and expenses. We believe that we have sufficient cash to repay our debt of $1,275 relating to NNLs 6.125% notes due February 2006. However, we continue to routinely monitor the capital markets for opportunities to improve our capital structure and financial flexibility. We can provide no assurances that any capital markets transactions will be completed on favorable terms, or at all. Any material adverse legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements arising from these pending civil litigation actions and investigations could require additional funding which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. This could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, which could be very significant.
In addition, a greater than expected slow down in capital spending by service providers and other customers may require us to adjust our current business model. As a result, our revenues and cash flows may be materially lower than we expect and we may be required to further reduce our capital expenditures and investments or take other measures in order to meet our cash requirements.
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We may seek additional funds from liquidity-generating transactions and other sources of external financing (which may include a variety of debt, convertible debt and/or equity financings). We cannot provide any assurance that our net cash requirements will be as we currently expect, that we will continue to have access to the EDC Support Facility when and as needed, or that liquidity-generating transactions or financings will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Our inability to manage cash flow fluctuations resulting from the above factors and the potential reduction, expiry or termination of the EDC Support Facility could have a material adverse effect on our ability to fund our working capital requirements from operating cash flows and other sources of liquidity or to achieve our business objectives in a timely manner.
We may be materially and adversely affected by cautious capital spending by our customers. Increased consolidation among our customers and the loss of customers in certain markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Continued cautiousness in capital spending by service providers and other customers may affect our revenues more than we currently expect. Our revenues and operating results have been and may continue to be materially and adversely affected by the continued cautiousness in capital spending by our customers. We have focused on the larger customers in certain markets, which provide a substantial portion of our revenues. Increased industry consolidation among our customers may lead to downward pressure on the prices of our products, or reduced spending, a loss, reduction or delay in business from one or more of these customers. Such increased industry consolidation among our customers, reduced spending, a loss, reduction or delay in business from one or more of these customers, or a failure to achieve a significant market share with these customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
Our business may be materially and adversely affected by our high level of debt.
In order to finance our business, we have incurred significant levels of debt compared to historical levels, and we may need to obtain additional sources of funding, which may include debt or convertible debt financing, in the future. A high level of debt, arduous or restrictive terms and conditions related to accessing certain sources of funding, failure to meet the covenants in the EDC Support Facility and any significant reduction in, or access to, such facility, poor business performance or lower than expected cash inflows could materially and adversely affect our ability to fund the operation of our business.
Other effects of a high level of debt include the following:
| we may have difficulty borrowing money in the future or accessing other sources of funding; | ||
| a high debt level may affect our ability to refinance our existing debt, including the $1,275 of debt relating to NNLs 6.125% Notes due February 2006 should we decide to do so; | ||
| we may need to use a large portion of our cash flow from operations to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, which would reduce the amount of cash available to finance our operations and other business activities; | ||
| a high debt level, arduous or restrictive terms and conditions, or lower than expected cash flows would make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in our business; and | ||
| if operating cash flows are not sufficient to meet our operating expenses, capital expenditures and debt service requirements as they become due, we may be required, in order to meet our debt service obligations, to delay or reduce capital expenditures or the introduction of new products, sell assets and/or forego business opportunities including acquisitions, R&D projects or product design enhancements. |
An increased portion of our cash and cash equivalents may be restricted as cash collateral if we are unable to secure alternative support for certain obligations arising out of our normal course business activities.
The EDC Support Facility may not provide all the support we require for certain of our obligations arising out of our normal course of business activities. As of May 16, 2005, there was approximately $228 of outstanding support utilized under the EDC Support Facility, approximately $160 of which was outstanding under the small bond sub-facility. In addition, bid and performance related bonds with terms that extend beyond December 31, 2006, which, absent any early termination of the EDC Support Facility, is the expiry date of this facility, are currently not eligible for the support provided by the EDC Support Facility. Given that the EDC Support Facility is used to support bid and performance bonds with varying terms, including those with at least 365 days, we may need to increase our use of cash collateral to support these obligations beginning on January 1, 2006 absent a further extension of the facility. Unless EDC agrees to extend the facility or agrees to
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provide support outside the scope of the facility, we may be required to provide cash collateral to support these obligations. We cannot provide any assurance that we will reach an agreement with EDC on these matters. Under the terms of the waiver letter with EDC dated March 29, 2004, EDC may also suspend its obligation to issue NNL any additional support if events occur that have a material adverse effect on NNLs business, financial position or results of operations. If we do not have access to sufficient support under the EDC Support Facility, and if we are unable to secure alternative support, an increased portion of our cash and cash equivalents may be restricted as cash collateral, which could adversely affect our ability to fund some of our normal course business activities, capital expenditures, R&D projects and our ability to borrow in the future.
An inability of our subsidiaries to provide us with funding in sufficient amounts could adversely affect our ability to meet our obligations.
We may at times depend primarily on loans, dividends or other forms of financing from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations to pay interest and principal on outstanding public debt and to pay corporate expenses. If our subsidiaries are unable to pay dividends or provide us with loans or other forms of financing in sufficient amounts, it could adversely affect our ability to meet our obligations.
We may need to make larger contributions to our defined benefit plans in the future.
We currently maintain various defined benefit plans in North America and the U.K. which cover various categories of employees and retirees, which represent our major retirement plans. In addition, we have smaller retirement plans in other countries. Our obligations to make contributions to fund benefit obligations under these plans are based on actuarial valuations, which themselves are based on certain assumptions about the long-term operation of the plans, including employee turnover and retirement rates, the performance of the financial markets and interest rates. If experience differs from the assumptions, the amounts we are obligated to contribute to the plans may increase. In particular, the performance of the financial markets is difficult to predict, particularly in periods of high volatility in the equity markets. If the financial markets perform lower than the assumptions, we may have to make larger contributions in the future than we would otherwise have to make and expenses related to defined benefit plans could increase. Similarly, changes in interest rates can impact our contribution requirements. In a low interest rate environment, the likelihood of required contributions in the future increases. If interest rates are lower in the future than we assume they will be, then we would probably be required to make larger contributions than we would otherwise have to make.
In addition, the 2004 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Superintendent of Financial Services has caused companies in Canada that sponsor defined benefit plans, including us, to review certain of our past activities that may have triggered partial wind-ups of such plans to determine whether a distribution of plan surplus, if any, should have occurred at the time of any triggering event. Although the full impact of the decision remains unclear and we have not yet made any determination regarding our plans, if it is determined that a distribution of plan surplus should have occurred at the time of any triggering event, we may be required to make a distribution out of our plan assets, which may lead to an increase in the amount of future contributions that we are required to make.
If market conditions deteriorate or future results of operations are less than expected, an additional valuation allowance may be required for all or a portion of our deferred tax assets.
We currently have deferred tax assets, which may be used to reduce taxable income in the future. We assess the realization of these deferred tax assets quarterly, and if we determine that it is more likely than not that some portion of these assets will not be realized, an income tax valuation allowance is recorded. If market conditions deteriorate or future results of operations are less than expected, future assessments may result in a determination that it is more likely than not that some or all of our net deferred tax assets are not realizable. As a result, we may need to establish an additional valuation allowance for all or a portion of our net deferred tax assets, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our performance may be materially and adversely affected if our expectations regarding market demand for particular products prove to be wrong.
We expect that data communications traffic will grow at a faster rate than the growth expected for voice traffic and that the use of the Internet will continue to increase. We expect the growth of data traffic and the use of the Internet will significantly impact traditional voice networks, both wireline and wireless. We believe that this will create market discontinuities, which will make traditional voice network products and services less effective as they were not designed for data traffic. We believe that these market discontinuities in turn will lead to the convergence of data and voice through upgrades of traditional voice networks to transport large volumes of data traffic or through the
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construction of new networks designed to transport both voice and data traffic. Either approach would require significant capital expenditures by service providers. We also believe that such developments will give rise to the demand for IP optimized networking solutions, and third generation, or 3G, wireless networks.
We cannot be sure what the rate of this convergence of voice and data networks will be, due to the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the communications business, the technology involved and the availability of capital. Consequently, market discontinuities and the resulting demand for IP-optimized networking solutions or 3G wireless networks may not continue. Alternatively, the pace of that development may be slower than currently anticipated. On a regional basis, growth of our revenues from sales of our networking solutions in emerging markets, such as China and India, may be less than we anticipate if current customer orders are not indicative of future sales, strong growth in our UMTS technology does not occur, build-out of the BSNL contract is slower than we expect, or those emerging markets experience slower growth or fewer deployments of VoIP and wireless data networks than we anticipate. The market may also develop in an unforeseen direction. Certain events, including the commercial availability and actual implementation of new technologies, including 3G networks, or the evolution of other technologies, may occur, which would affect the extent or timing of anticipated market demand, or increase demand for products based on other technologies, or reduce the demand for IP-optimized networking solutions or 3G wireless networks. Any such change in demand may reduce purchases of our networking solutions by our customers, require increased expenditures to develop and market different technologies, or provide market opportunities for our competitors. Our performance may also be materially and adversely affected by a lack of growth in the rate of data traffic, a reduction in the use of the Internet or a reduction in the demand for IP-optimized networking solutions or 3G wireless networks in the future, and slower than anticipated revenue growth from our network solutions such as WLAN and carrier routing.
We also cannot be sure that the metro optical portion of our Carrier Packet Networks business will continue to represent as large of a percentage of our overall Carrier Packet Networks revenues as we expect, or that our current growth in carrier VoIP will continue, or that the continued decline in sales of our traditional circuit switching solutions will not decline more rapidly than we anticipate, any or all of which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We have made, and may continue to make, strategic acquisitions. If we are not successful in operating or integrating these acquisitions, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
In the past, we acquired companies that we believed would enhance the expansion of our business and products. We may make selective opportunistic acquisitions of companies or businesses with resources and product or service offerings capable of providing us with additional product and/or market strengths. Acquisitions involve significant risks and uncertainties, including:
| the industry may develop in a different direction than anticipated and the technologies we acquire may not prove to be those we need; | ||
| the future valuations of acquired businesses may decrease from the market price we paid for these acquisitions; | ||
| the revenues of acquired businesses may not offset increased operating expenses associated with these acquisitions; | ||
| potential difficulties in completing in-process research and development projects and delivering high quality products to our customers; | ||
| potential difficulties in integrating new products, software, businesses and operations in an efficient and effective manner; | ||
| our customers or customers of the acquired businesses may defer purchase decisions as they evaluate the impact of the acquisitions on our future product strategy; | ||
| potential loss of key employees of the acquired businesses; | ||
| diversion of the attention of our senior management from the operation of our daily business; | ||
| entering new markets in which we have limited experience and where competitors may have a stronger market presence; | ||
| the potential adverse effect on our cash position as a result of all or a portion of an acquisition purchase price being paid in cash; | ||
| potential issuance of common shares that would dilute our shareholders percentage ownership; and | ||
| potential assumption of liabilities. |
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Our inability to successfully operate and integrate newly acquired businesses appropriately, effectively and in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on our ability to take advantage of further growth in demand for IP-optimized network solutions and other advances in technology, as well as on our revenues, gross margins and expenses.
Acquisitions are inherently risky, and no assurance can be given that our previous or future acquisitions will be successful and will not materially adversely affect our business, operating results, or financial condition. Failure to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions could materially harm our business and operating results.
We operate in highly dynamic and volatile industries characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and short product life cycles.
The markets for our products are characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and short product life cycles. Our success depends, in substantial part, on the timely and successful introduction of high quality new products and upgrades, as well as cost reductions on current products to address the operational speed, bandwidth, efficiency and cost requirements of our customers. Our success will also depend on our ability to comply with emerging industry standards, to operate with products of other suppliers, to integrate, simplify and reduce the number of software programs used in our portfolio of products, to address emerging market trends, to provide our customers with new revenue-generating opportunities and to compete with technological and product developments carried out by others. The development of new, technologically advanced products, including IP-optimized networking solutions, software products and 3G wireless networks, is a complex and uncertain process requiring high levels of innovation, as well as the accurate anticipation of technological and market trends. Investments in this development may result in our expenses growing at a faster rate than our revenues, particularly since the initial investment to bring a product to market may be high. We may not be successful in targeting new market opportunities, in developing and commercializing new products in a timely manner or in achieving market acceptance for our new products.
The success of new or enhanced products, including IP-optimized networking solutions and 3G wireless networks, depends on a number of other factors, including the timely introduction of those products, market acceptance of new technologies and industry standards, the quality and robustness of new or enhanced products, competing product offerings, the pricing and marketing of those products and the availability of funding for those networks. Products and technologies developed by our competitors may render our products obsolete. Hackers may attempt to disrupt or exploit our customers use of our technologies. If we fail to respond in a timely and effective manner to unanticipated changes in one or more of the technologies affecting telecommunications and data networking or our new products or product enhancements fail to achieve market acceptance, our ability to compete effectively in our industry, and our sales, market share and customer relationships could be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, unanticipated changes in market demand for products based on a specific technology, particularly lower than anticipated, or delays in, demand for IP-optimized networking solutions, particularly long-haul and metro optical networking solutions, or 3G wireless networks, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition if we fail to respond to those changes in a timely and effective manner.
We face significant competition and may not be able to maintain our market share and may suffer from competitive pricing practices.
We operate in a highly volatile industry that is characterized by industry rationalization and consolidation, vigorous competition for market share and rapid technological development. Competition is heightened in periods of slow overall market growth. These factors could result in aggressive pricing practices and growing competition from smaller niche companies, established competitors, as well as well-capitalized computer systems and communications companies, which, in turn, could separately or together with consolidation in the industry have a material adverse effect on our gross margins.
Since some of the markets in which we compete are characterized by the potential for rapid growth and, in certain cases, low barriers to entry and rapid technological changes, smaller, specialized companies and start-up ventures are now, or may in the future become, principal competitors. We may also face competition from the resale of used telecommunications equipment, including our own on occasion, by failed, downsized or consolidated high technology enterprises and telecommunications service providers. In addition, we face the risk that certain of our competitors may enter into additional business combinations, accelerate product development, or engage in aggressive price reductions or other competitive practices, which make them more powerful or aggressive competitors.
We expect that we will face additional competition from existing competitors and from a number of companies that have entered or may enter
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our existing and future markets. In particular, we currently, and may in the future, face increased competition from low cost competitors such as Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and ZTE Corporation. Some of our current and potential competitors have greater marketing, technical and financial resources, including access to capital markets and/or the ability to provide customer financing in connection with the sale of products. Many of our current and potential competitors have also established, or may in the future establish, relationships with our current and potential customers. Other competitive factors include the ability to provide new technologies and products, end-to-end networking solutions, and new product features, such as security, as well as conformance to industry standards. Increased competition could result in price reductions, negatively affecting our operating results, reducing profit margins and could potentially lead to a loss of market share.
We face certain barriers in our efforts to expand internationally.
We intend to continue to pursue international and emerging market growth opportunities. In many international markets, long-standing relationships between potential customers and their local suppliers and protective regulations, including local content requirements and type approvals, create barriers to entry. In addition, pursuing international opportunities may require significant investments for an extended period before returns on such investments, if any, are realized and such investments may result in expenses growing at a faster rate than revenues. Furthermore, those projects and investments could be adversely affected by:
| reversals or delays in the opening of foreign markets to new competitors; | ||
| trade protection measures; | ||
| exchange controls; | ||
| currency fluctuations; | ||
| investment policies; | ||
| restrictions on repatriation of cash; | ||
| nationalization of local industry; | ||
| economic, social and political risks; | ||
| taxation; | ||
| interest rates; | ||
| challenges in staffing and managing international opportunities; | ||
| other factors, depending on the country involved; and | ||
| acts of war or terrorism. |
Difficulties in foreign financial markets and economies and of foreign financial institutions, particularly in emerging markets, could adversely affect demand from customers in the affected countries. An inability to maintain or expand our business in international and emerging markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
As an increasing proportion of our business may be denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our primary currency exposures are to Canadian dollars, British pounds and the euro. These exposures may change over time as we change the geographic mix of our global business and as our business practices evolve. For instance, if we increase our presence in emerging markets, we may see an increase in our exposure to emerging market currencies, for example, the Indian rupee. These currencies may be affected by internal factors and external developments in other countries. Also, our ability to enter into normal course derivative or hedging transactions in the future may be impacted by our current credit condition. We cannot predict whether foreign exchange losses will be incurred in the future, and significant foreign exchange rate fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, or if we are subject to adverse judgments or settlements arising out of disputes regarding intellectual property rights, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Our industry is subject to uncertainty over adoption of industry standards and protection of intellectual property rights. Our success is
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dependent on our proprietary technology, for the protection of which we rely on patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws. Our business is global and the level of protection of our proprietary technology provided by those laws varies by jurisdiction. Our issued patents may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and our rights under issued patents may not provide us with competitive advantages. Patents may not be issued from pending applications, and claims in patents issued in the future may not be sufficiently broad to protect our proprietary technology. In addition, claims of intellectual property infringement or trade secret misappropriation may be asserted against us or our customers in connection with their use of our products and the outcome of any of those claims may be uncertain. An unfavorable outcome in such a claim could require us to cease offering for sale the products that are the subject of such a claim, pay substantial monetary damages to a third party and/or make ongoing royalty payments to a third party. In addition, any defense of claims of intellectual property infringement or trade secret misappropriation may require extensive participation by senior management and/or other key employees and may reduce their time and ability to focus on other aspects of our business. A failure by us to react to changing industry standards, the lack of broadly-accepted industry standards, successful claims of intellectual property infringement or other intellectual property claims against us or our customers, or a failure by us to protect our proprietary technology could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if others infringe on our intellectual property rights, we may not be able to successfully contest such challenges.
Rationalization and consolidation in the industry may lead to increased competition and harm our business.
The industry has experienced consolidation and rationalization and we expect this trend to continue. There have been adverse changes in the public and private equity and debt markets for industry participants which have affected their ability to obtain financing or to fund capital expenditures. Some operators have experienced financial difficulty and have, or may, file for bankruptcy protection or be acquired by other operators. Other operators may merge and we and one or more of our competitors may each supply products to the companies that have merged or will merge. This rationalization and/or consolidation could result in our dependence on a smaller number of customers, purchasing decision delays by the merged companies and/or our playing a lesser role, or no longer playing a role, in the supply of communications products to the merged companies and downward pressure on pricing of our products. This rationalization and/or consolidation, including the acquisition by Cingular Wireless of AT&T Wireless, could also cause increased competition among our customers and pressure on the pricing of their products and services, which could cause further financial difficulties for our customers. A rationalization of industry participants could also increase the supply of used communications products for resale, resulting in increased competition and pressure on the pricing for our new products. In addition, telecommunications equipment suppliers may enter into business combinations, or may be acquired by or sell a substantial portion of their assets to other competitors, resulting in accelerated product development, increased financial strength, or a broader base of customers, creating even more powerful or aggressive competitors. We may also see rationalization among equipment/component suppliers. The business failures of operators, competitors or suppliers may cause uncertainty among investors and in the industry generally and harm our business.
Changes in regulation of the Internet and/or other aspects of the industry may affect the manner in which we conduct our business and may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Investment decisions of our customers could be affected by regulation of the Internet or other aspects of the industry in any country where we operate. We could also be materially and adversely affected by an increase in competition among equipment suppliers or by reduced capital spending by our customers, as a result of a change in the regulation of the industry. If a jurisdiction in which we operate adopts measures which affect the regulation of the Internet and/or other aspects of the industry, we could experience both decreased demand for our products and increased costs of selling such products. Changes in laws or regulations governing the Internet, Internet commerce and/or other aspects of the industry could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In the U.S., on February 20, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, announced a decision in its triennial review proceeding of the agencys rules regarding unbundled network elements, or UNE. The text of the FCCs order and reasons for the decision were released on August 21, 2003. The uncertainty surrounding the impact of the FCCs decision, judicial review of the decision, the adoption of interim rules, and the subsequent adoption of new unbundling rules with an effective date of March 11, 2005 is affecting, and may continue to affect, the decisions of certain of our U.S.-based service provider customers regarding investment in their telecommunications infrastructure. These UNE rules and/or material changes in other country-specific telecommunications or other regulations may affect capital spending by certain of our service provider customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In Europe, we are subject to new product content laws and product takeback and recycling requirements that will require full compliance by
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2006. We expect that these laws will require us to incur additional compliance costs. Although compliance costs relating to environmental matters have not resulted in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition in the past, they may result in a material adverse effect in the future.
Our stock price has historically been volatile and further declines in the market price of our publicly traded securities may negatively impact our ability to make future acquisitions, raise capital, issue debt and retain employees.
Our publicly traded securities have experienced, and may continue to experience, substantial price volatility, including considerable decreases, particularly as a result of variations between our actual or anticipated financial results and the published expectations of analysts and as a result of announcements by our competitors and us, including our announcements related to the Independent Review, the Revenue Independent Review, our management changes, the First Restatement and the Second Restatement, the regulatory and criminal investigations, the class action litigations and other civil proceedings and related matters. Our credit quality, any equity or equity related offerings, operating results and prospects, restatements of previously issued financial statements, any exclusion of our publicly traded securities from any widely followed stock market indices, among other factors, will also affect the market price of our publicly traded securities.
The stock markets have experienced extreme price fluctuations that have affected the market price and trading volumes of many technology and telecommunications companies in particular, with potential consequential negative effects on the trading of securities of those companies. A major decline in the capital markets generally, or an adjustment in the market price or trading volumes of our publicly traded securities, may negatively impact our ability to raise capital, issue debt, secure customer business, retain employees or make future acquisitions. These factors, as well as general economic and geopolitical conditions, and continued negative events within the technology sector, may in turn have a material adverse effect on the market price of our publicly traded securities.
Early settlement of our purchase contracts is currently not available to holders of purchase contracts. Acceleration of the settlement date on early settlement of our purchase contracts could contribute to volatility in the market price of our common shares.
We are unable to permit holders of our prepaid forward purchase contracts to exercise certain early settlement rights and receive Nortel Networks Corporation common shares in advance of the otherwise applicable August 15, 2005 settlement date. These rights would again become exercisable upon the effectiveness of a registration statement (or a post-effective amendment to the shelf registration statement) filed with the SEC (with respect to the common shares to be delivered) that contains a related current prospectus. Under the terms of the Purchase Contract and Unit Agreement, which governs the purchase contracts, we have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to have in effect a registration statement covering the common shares to be delivered and to provide a prospectus in connection therewith. We do not believe that we will be able, through the use of commercially reasonable efforts, to have an effective long-form registration statement relating to the exercise of certain early settlement rights by holders of our prepaid forward purchase contracts on file with the SEC in advance of August 15, 2005. Accordingly, holders continue not to be able to exercise these rights in advance of the otherwise applicable settlement date of August 15, 2005.
On June 12, 2002, concurrent with the closing of a public offering of our common shares, 28,750 equity units were sold, each initially evidencing ownership of a prepaid forward purchase contract, or purchase contract, entitling the holder to receive our common shares, and specified zero-coupon U.S. treasury strips. As of May 16, 2005, 3,840 purchase contracts were outstanding. The aggregate number of our common shares issuable on the settlement date of the remaining purchase contracts will be between approximately 65 million and 78 million shares, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments (which include adjustments for a possible consolidation of our common shares), depending on the applicable market value of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares. The settlement date for each purchase contract is August 15, 2005, subject to acceleration or early settlement in certain cases.
If we are involved in a merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or other reorganization event (other than with or into NNL or certain other subsidiaries) in which all of our common shares are exchanged for consideration of at least 30% of the value of which consists of cash or cash equivalents, then a holder of purchase contracts may elect to accelerate and settle some or all of its purchase contracts, for our common shares. The settlement date under each purchase contract will automatically accelerate upon the occurrence of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us. Upon acceleration of the settlement date, holders will be entitled to receive 20,263.12 common shares per purchase contract (regardless of the market price of our common shares at that time), subject to some anti-dilution adjustments. An acceleration of the settlement date of our purchase contracts could contribute to volatility in the market price of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares.
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Industry concerns could continue and increase our exposure to our customers credit risk and the risk that our customers will not be able to fulfill their payment obligations to us under customer financing arrangements.
The competitive environment in which we operate has required us in the past to provide significant amounts of medium-term and long-term customer financing. Customer financing arrangements may include financing in connection with the sale of our products and services, funding for certain non-product and service costs associated with network installation and integration of our products and services, financing for working capital and equity financing. While we have significantly reduced our customer financing exposure, we expect we may continue in the future to provide customer financing to customers in areas that are strategic to our core business activity.
We expect to continue to hold most current and future customer financing obligations for longer periods prior to any possible placement with third-party lenders, due to, among other factors, recent economic uncertainty in various countries, adverse capital market conditions, our current credit condition, adverse changes in the credit quality of our customers and reduced demand for telecommunications financing in capital and bank markets. In addition, risks generally associated with customer financing, including the risks associated with new technologies, new network construction, market demand and competition, customer business plan viability and funding risks, may require us to hold certain customer financing obligations over a longer term. We may not be able to place any of our current or future customer financing obligations with third-party lenders on acceptable terms.
Certain customers have been experiencing financial difficulties and have failed to meet their financial obligations. As a result, we have incurred charges for increased provisions related to certain trade and customer financing receivables. If there are further increases in the failure of our customers to meet their customer financing and receivables obligations to us or if the assumptions underlying the amount of provisions we have taken with respect to customer financing and receivables obligations do not reflect actual future financial conditions and customer payment levels, we could incur losses in excess of our provisions, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and operating results.
Negative developments associated with our supply contracts and contract manufacturing agreements including in our Carrier Packet Networks segment as a result of using a sole supplier for key optical components of our Carrier Packet Networks solutions may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and supply relationships.
We have entered into supply contracts with customers to provide products and services, which in some cases involve new technologies currently being developed, or which we have not yet commercially deployed, or which require us to build networks. Some of these supply contracts contain delivery and installation timetables, performance criteria and other contractual obligations which, if not met, could result in our having to pay substantial penalties or liquidated damages and/or the termination of the supply contract. Unexpected developments in these supply contracts could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, cash flows and relationships with our customers.
In particular, we currently rely on a sole supplier, Bookham, for key optical components of the optical networks portion of our Carrier Packet Networks solutions and our supply of such components used in our solutions could be materially adversely affected by adverse developments in the supply arrangement with that supplier. In February 2005, we agreed to waive for a period of time Bookhams obligation to maintain a minimum cash balance under certain secured and unsecured notes and in May 2005 we entered into an agreement to adjust the prepayment provisions under these notes and an amendment to our supply agreement with Bookham to provide certain product price increases and accelerated purchase orders and invoice payment terms. The inability of such supplier to meet its contractual obligations under our supply arrangements and of us to make alternative arrangements could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, cash flows and relationships with our customers.
Our ability to meet customer demand is, in part, dependent on us obtaining timely and adequate component parts and products from suppliers, contract manufacturers, and internal manufacturing capacity. As part of the transformation of our supply chain from a vertically integrated manufacturing model to a virtually integrated model, we have outsourced, or are in the process of outsourcing, substantially all of our manufacturing capacity to contract manufacturers, including an agreement with Flextronics announced on June 29, 2004 regarding the divestiture of certain of our manufacturing operations and related activities. The transfer to Flextronics of our optical design operations and related assets in Ottawa, Canada and Monkstown, Northern Ireland was completed in the fourth quarter of 2004. In the first quarter of 2005, we completed the portion of the transaction relating to our manufacturing activities in Montreal, Canada. We and Flextronics are currently discussing the timing of the closing of the balance of the remaining transaction in order to optimize the business transition between the companies. As a result of these discussions, it is now expected that the balance of the transaction relating to the manufacturing operations in Chateaudun, Calgary and Monkstown will close by the end of the first quarter of 2006. As a result, we and Flextronics intend to enter into an
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amendment agreement to extend the term of the original agreement and offer to reflect this updated schedule. These transitions are subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Upon the completion of the divestiture, a significant portion of our supply chain will be concentrated with Flextronics. We work closely with our suppliers and contract manufacturers to address quality issues and to meet increases in customer demand, when needed, and we also manage our internal manufacturing capacity, quality, and inventory levels as required. However, we may encounter shortages or interruptions in the supply of quality components and/or products in the future. In addition, our component suppliers and contract manufacturers have experienced, and may continue to experience, a consolidation in the industry and financial difficulties, both of which may result in fewer sources of components or products and greater exposure to the financial stability of our suppliers. A reduction or interruption in component supply or external manufacturing capacity, a significant increase in the price of one or more components, or excessive inventory levels could materially and negatively affect our gross margins and our operating results and could materially damage customer relationships.
There is no assurance that we will be able to complete, on a timely basis or otherwise, the remaining portion of the transaction with Flextronics, which could materially and negatively impact our cash flows and operating results and impede achievement of our strategic goal to improve our business efficiency and operating cost performance.
Many of our current and planned products are highly complex and may contain defects or errors that are detected only after deployment in telecommunications networks, which could harm our reputation and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our products are highly complex, and some of them can be fully tested only when deployed in telecommunications networks or with other equipment. From time to time, our products have contained undetected defects, errors or failures. The occurrence of any defects, errors or failures could result in cancellation of orders, product returns, diversion of our resources, legal actions by our customers or our customers end users and other losses to us or to our customers or end users. Any of these occurrences could also result in the loss of or delay in market acceptance of our products and loss of sales, which would harm our business and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business may suffer if our strategic alliances are not successful.
We have entered into a number of strategic alliances with suppliers, developers and members in our industry to facilitate product compatibility, encourage adoption of industry standards or to offer complementary product or service offerings to meet customer needs. In some cases, the companies with which we have strategic alliances also compete against us in some of our business areas. If a member of a strategic alliance fails to perform its obligations, if the relationship fails to develop as expected or if the relationship is terminated, we could experience delays in product availability or impairment of our relationships with our customers.
In addition to the investigations and litigation arising out of our restatements, we are also subject to numerous class actions and other lawsuits as well as lawsuits in the ordinary course of business.
In addition to the investigations and litigation arising out of our restatements, we are currently a defendant in numerous class actions and other lawsuits, including lawsuits initiated on behalf of holders of Nortel Networks Corporation common shares, which seek damages of material and indeterminate amounts, as well as lawsuits in the ordinary course of our business. In the future, we may be subject to similar litigation. The defense of these lawsuits may divert our managements attention, and we may incur significant expenses in defending these lawsuits (including substantial fees of lawyers and other professional advisors and potential obligations to indemnify officers and directors who may be parties to such actions). In addition, we may be required to pay judgments or settlements that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
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ITEM 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the consolidated financial statements of Nortel due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Nortels market risk exposure is primarily a result of fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. Disclosure of market risk is contained in Market Risk in the MD&A section of this report and in our 2004 Annual Report filed with the SEC on May 2, 2005.
ITEM 4. | Controls and Procedures |
Management Conclusions Concerning Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the current CEO and current CFO (William A. Owens and Peter W. Currie, respectively), pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as at March 31, 2005 (the end of the period covered by this report) and as at May 31, 2005. The CEO and CFO were appointed to such positions as at April 28, 2004 and February 14, 2005, respectively.
In making this evaluation, the CEO and CFO considered, among other matters:
| the Second Restatement and the revisions to our preliminary unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2003; | |||
| the findings of the Independent Review summarized in the Summary of Findings and of Recommended Remedial Measures of the Independent Review, submitted to the Audit Committee in January 2005 by WCPHD and Huron Consulting Services LLC, or the Independent Review Summary, included in Item 9A of our 2003 Annual Report; | |||
| the terminations for cause of our former president and chief executive officer, former chief financial officer, former controller and seven additional senior finance employees during the course of the Independent Review and the reasons therefor as described in the Independent Review Summary; | |||
| the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that we and our external auditor, Deloitte, have identified (as more fully described below); | |||
| the measures we have identified, developed and begun to implement, beginning in November 2003, to remedy those material weaknesses (as more fully described below); | |||
| managements assessment of our internal control over financial reporting and conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as at December 31, 2004, and Deloittes attestation report with respect to that assessment and conclusion, each pursuant to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, included in Item 8 and Item 9A of our 2004 Annual Report; and | |||
| the decision of the Audit Committee to undertake the Revenue Independent Review (as more fully described below). |
Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as at March 31, 2005 and as at May 31, 2005 were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file and submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.
In light of this conclusion and as part of the extensive work undertaken in connection with the Second Restatement, the preparation of our 2004 Annual Report and this report, we have applied compensating procedures and processes as necessary to ensure the reliability of our financial reporting. Accordingly, management believes, based on its knowledge, that (i) this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report and (ii) the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as at, and for, the periods presented in this report.
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* * * * * *
Material Weaknesses in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with applicable GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting should include those policies and procedures that:
| pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; | |||
| provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with applicable GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board of Directors; and | |||
| provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As previously disclosed in Item 9A of our 2004 Annual Report, management, including the current CEO and current CFO, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2004 and concluded that five material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting existed as at December 31, 2004.
These material weaknesses, which remain unremedied, are:
| lack of compliance with written Nortel procedures for monitoring and adjusting balances related to certain accruals and provisions, including restructuring charges and contract and customer accruals; | |||
| lack of compliance with Nortel procedures for appropriately applying applicable GAAP to the initial recording of certain liabilities, including those described in SFAS No. 5, and to foreign currency translation as described in SFAS No. 52; | |||
| lack of sufficient personnel with appropriate knowledge, experience and training in U.S. GAAP and lack of sufficient analysis and documentation of the application of U.S. GAAP to transactions, including, but not limited to, revenue transactions; | |||
| lack of a clear organization and accountability structure within the accounting function, including insufficient review and supervision, combined with financial reporting systems that are not integrated and which require extensive manual interventions; and | |||
| lack of sufficient awareness of, and timely and appropriate remediation of, internal control issues by Nortel personnel. |
As used above, the term material weakness means a significant deficiency (within the meaning of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 2), or a combination of significant deficiencies, that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by employees in the normal course of their assigned functions.
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For additional information with respect to the material weaknesses and other deficiencies identified at the time of the First Restatement and the Second Restatement, as well as certain additional background information regarding the First Restatement and the Second Restatement, see Item 9A of our 2003 Annual Report and 2004 Annual Report, note 3 to the audited consolidated financial statements accompanying our 2003 Annual Report and Developments in 2004 Restatements in the MD&A section of our 2003 Annual Report.
* * * * * *
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Remedial Measures
We continue to identify, develop and begin to implement remedial measures to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. At the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors adopted all of the recommendations for remedial measures contained in the Independent Review Summary. The governing principles of the recommendations developed by WCPHD and provided to the Audit Committee were the following:
| establishing standards of conduct to be enforced through appropriate discipline; | |||
| infusing strong technical skills and experience into the finance organization; | |||
| requiring comprehensive, on-going training on increasingly complex accounting standards; | |||
| strengthening and improving internal controls and processes; | |||
| establishing a compliance program throughout the Company which is appropriately staffed and funded; | |||
| requiring management to provide clear and concise information, in a timely manner, to the Board of Directors to facilitate its decision-making; and | |||
| implementing an information technology platform that improves the reliability of financial reporting and reduces the opportunities for manipulation of results. |
See the Independent Review Summary for further information concerning these governing principles as they translate into recommendations regarding three categories people, processes and technology.
The Board of Directors has directed management to develop a detailed plan and timetable for the implementation of these recommendations and will monitor their implementation. Management has begun to address certain of these recommendations as set forth in more detail below and is also in the process of reviewing its other remedial measures in light of these recommendations.
We have identified, developed and begun to implement a number of measures to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and address the material weaknesses identified above, as discussed below. These measures are in the process of being reviewed in light of the recommendations of the Independent Review, and certain of these measures may be modified or superseded as managements plan progresses, or as a result of the Revenue Independent Review.
| Appointment of New Senior Leadership with High Ethical and Moral Standards. |
| In April 2004, we terminated for cause our former president and chief executive officer, former chief financial officer and former controller (the former chief financial officer and former controller having been placed on paid leaves of absence in March 2004), and in August 2004, we terminated for cause seven additional senior finance employees with |
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significant responsibilities for our financial reporting as a whole or for their respective business units and geographic regions. | ||||
| We appointed new senior leadership with high ethical and moral standards: In April 2004, we appointed a new permanent CEO, and in March 2004, we appointed an interim CFO and Controller, who each became permanent in April 2004. Since then we appointed a new CFO, Peter Currie, in February 2005, and a new controller, Paul W. Karr, in May 2005, both more fully described below. |
| Emphasis by New Senior Management of Honesty and Ethical Behavior. |
| In August 2004, we adopted a new strategic plan that includes a renewed commitment to best corporate practices and ethical conduct, including the establishment of the office of a chief ethics and compliance officer, which has now been filled with the permanent appointment of Susan E. Shepard, effective February 21, 2005. |
| Emphasis on Reliable and Transparent Financial Reporting. |
| Over the course of and subsequent to the Second Restatement process, our current CEO, William A. Owens, our CFO through the Second Restatement process, William R. Kerr, and starting February 14, 2005, our current CFO, Peter Currie, have communicated to employees the importance of the Second Restatement process and the ongoing need for reliable and transparent financial reporting and ethical conduct. Those communications included formal presentations as part of our annual executive conference in November 2004. Additionally, our CFO through the Second Restatement process and our current CFO have encouraged finance personnel to bring matters of concern to managements attention without fear of retribution. | |||
| Beginning in July 2004, we have emphasized the importance of internal control over financial reporting throughout the organization, including through numerous education sessions, to various levels of management. | |||
| Beginning in September 2004, we implemented mandatory training procedures for senior management with respect to our internal back-up certification process, with an emphasis on the accountability of senior management both for their individual areas of responsibility and for the business as a whole as members of the senior leadership team. | |||
| Beginning in 2004, we implemented a process to increase visibility to management after the close of a financial period of potential adjustments to the financial statements. |
| Alignment of Leadership Compensation with Financial Accountability. |
| In June 2004, management recommended, the joint leadership resources committee recommended and the Board of Directors subsequently approved the inclusion of financial accountability as a key qualitative factor in the individual leadership performance objectives for determination of incentive cash awards under our annual incentive plan. | |||
| In January 2005, we received notification from certain senior executives that they would as a matter of corporate leadership and integrity pay an amount equal to their Return to Profitability bonuses, conveying their deep disappointment over the circumstances that led to the Second Restatement and their determination to make it clear to employees, investors and others that such activities are unacceptable to them. |
| Extended Balance Sheet Reviews. In March 2005, we implemented extended and enhanced balance sheet review procedures for financial periods beginning with the third quarter of 2004, as follows: |
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| We have scheduled regular balance sheet reviews across all segments and major statutory entities in advance of our periodic report filings; and | |||
| We clarified accountability within Nortel for review of significant balance sheet accounts and required specific focus on accounts involving significant estimates and judgments. |
| Finance Department Organizational Structure. We announced, and have begun to implement, plans to transform our finance organization, which include a renewed commitment to transparency, accuracy, accountability and competency as fundamental goals. Measures we have begun to implement include: |
| In the first quarter of 2004, we began to enhance our global technical accounting group and established global revenue governance and global finance governance teams. | |||
| In March 2004, we began hiring additional full-time finance personnel (with a focus on qualified accounting professionals) as part of an initiative introduced by the CFO at that time, William R. Kerr, and the controller at that time, MaryAnne E. Pahapill. This initiative is aimed at both strengthening the finance organizations technical skills and experience, including at a senior level, and addressing employee attrition. | |||
| In May 2005, we appointed Paul W. Karr, an experienced financial and accounting executive and an expert in U.S. GAAP, as controller. | |||
| We established a global corporate finance Sarbanes-Oxley compliance group beginning in the third quarter of 2004. | |||
| We engaged Accenture, a global management consulting and technology services firm, in the third quarter of 2004 to assess the finance organizations structure, processes and systems. The assessment was completed in February 2005. We appointed a global finance transformation leader in the first quarter of 2005 and expect to begin the detailed design phase of our finance transformation project in the later portion of the second quarter of 2005. We expect the implementation of this project will continue into 2007 and will include, among other things, implementing an information technology platform (SAP) to provide an integrated global financial system. | |||
| In connection with our assessment of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we began to modify or enhance existing processes and implement new control activities, including improved levels of documentation, and enhanced monitoring and supervision of processes such as reconciliation of account balances and compliance with internal policies. |
| Training Initiatives. |
| We re-established our formal training group in the second quarter of 2004 (led by the global finance governance team described above) to implement ongoing training programs for finance personnel globally to strengthen the finance organizations technical skills and experience. The groups focus includes training with respect to SFAS No. 5; accounting for hedging and derivatives; revenue recognition, accruals and provisions; and SFAS No. 52. | |||
| In the first quarter of 2005, the global revenue governance team provided additional training sessions for finance personnel including more in-depth focus on revenue recognition guidelines and U.S. GAAP. |
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| Internal Audit. |
| In the first quarter of 2004, we modified the mandate of our internal audit function to place a greater emphasis on the adequacy of, and compliance with, procedures relating to internal control over financial reporting. | |||
| In October 2004, we engaged outside consultants to conduct a strategic performance review of the internal audit function. The objective of this review is to ensure that internal audit meets professional internal audit standards and moves towards audit best practices. The strategic review has been completed and management has begun to implement certain of the recommendations of the review. |
| Manual Journal Entry Processes. |
| We developed new procedures related to manual journal entries, which focus on approvals, more stringent documentation processes and reduction of user access to manual journal entry functions. We continue to work towards achieving full implementation of these procedures. |
The above mentioned changes in internal control over financial reporting materially affected our internal control over financial reporting, and these changes and expected changes as a result of remedial measures to be developed and implemented are reasonably likely to materially affect and strengthen our internal control over financial reporting in the future. We intend to continue to make ongoing assessments of our internal controls and procedures periodically and as a result of the recommendations of the Independent Review and any additional recommendations of the Revenue Independent Review (as more fully described below).
In the period covered by this report the following changes occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our control over financial reporting:
| The appointment of our current CFO, the appointment of a permanent chief ethics and compliance officer, the notifications by senior executives related to the Return to Profitability bonuses, the implementation of extended and enhanced balance sheet review procedures, the appointment of a global finance transformation leader, and the additional training sessions held by the global revenue governance team for finance personnel, all of which are more fully described above. | |||
| Concurrent with and arising from the completion of the portion of the Flextronics transaction related to the manufacturing activities in Montreal, Canada in the first quarter of 2005, as described in greater detail under Business Overview Evolution of our supply chain strategy in the MD&A section of this report, or the Montreal Closing, we expanded and implemented upgrades to the existing enterprise resource planning system, or ERP System. These changes were required to support the accounting and supply chain processes related to the transfer of these manufacturing operations, including migration of related accounts payable functions at certain of our other locations, to the ERP System. As described in Employee relations in Item 1 of our 2004 Annual Report, approximately 910 employees from various business support functions located in Montreal were transferred in connection with the completion of the Montreal Closing. |
* * * * * *
Revenue Independent Review
As more fully described in Item 9A of our 2003 Annual Report and 2004 Annual Report, over the course of the Second Restatement process, management identified certain accounting practices that it determined should be adjusted as part of the Second Restatement. In particular, management identified certain errors related to revenue recognition and undertook a process of revenue reviews. In light of the resulting
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adjustments to previously reported revenues, the Audit Committee has determined to review the facts and circumstances leading to the restatement of these revenues for specific transactions identified in the Second Restatement. The Revenue Independent Review has a particular emphasis on the underlying conduct that led to the initial recognition of these revenues. The Audit Committee is seeking a full understanding of the historic events that required the revenues for these specific transactions to be restated and will consider any appropriate additional remedial measures, including those involving internal controls and processes. The Audit Committee has engaged WCPHD to advise it in connection with the Revenue Independent Review.
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PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | Legal Proceedings |
The following includes updated information relating to certain of our material legal proceedings as previously reported in our 2004 Annual Report.
Subsequent to the March 10, 2004 announcement in which Nortel indicated it was likely that it would need to revise its previously announced unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2003, and the results reported in certain of its quarterly reports for 2003, and to restate its previously filed financial results for one or more earlier periods, Nortel and certain of its then current and former officers and directors were named as defendants in 27 purported class action lawsuits. These lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of shareholders who acquired Nortel Networks Corporation securities as early as February 16, 2001 and as late as May 15, 2004, allege, among other things, violations of U.S. federal securities laws. These matters are also the subject of investigations by Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory and criminal investigative authorities. On June 30, 2004, the Court signed orders consolidating the 27 class actions and appointing lead plaintiffs and lead counsel. The plaintiffs filed a consolidated class action complaint on September 10, 2004, alleging a class period of April 24, 2003 through and including April 27, 2004. On November 5, 2004, Nortel Networks Corporation and the Audit Committee Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated class action complaint. On January 18, 2005, the lead plaintiffs, Nortel and the Audit Committee Defendants reached an agreement in which Nortel would withdraw its motion to dismiss and plaintiffs would dismiss Count II of the complaint which asserts a claim against the Audit Committee Defendants. On May 13, 2005, plaintiff filed a motion for class certification.
On July 30, 2004, a shareholders derivative complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain directors and officers, and certain former directors and officers, of Nortel alleging, among other things, breach of fiduciary duties owed to Nortel during the period from 2000 to 2003 including by causing Nortel to engage in unlawful conduct or failing to prevent such conduct; causing Nortel to issue false statements; and violating the law. On February 14, 2005, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the derivative complaint. On April 29, 2005, the plaintiffs filed an opposition to the motions to dismiss.
Except as noted above, there have been no material developments in our material legal proceedings. For additional discussion of our material legal proceedings, see Contingencies in note 17 of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and Risk Factors/forward looking statements in the MD&A section of this report.
ITEM 5. | Other Information |
On April 26, 2005, Nortel Networks Inc. (NNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nortel Networks Limited, entered into a merger agreement with PEC Solutions, Inc. (PEC), providing for the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of PEC for $15.50 per share in cash, or approximately $448 (net of cash acquired), plus transaction costs and expenses. The merger agreement provides for NNI to acquire PEC in a two-step transaction in which a cash tender offer will be made for all outstanding shares of PEC common stock at a price of $15.50 per share, followed by a merger in which the holders of the remaining outstanding shares of PEC common stock will also receive $15.50 per share in cash, without interest. The consummation of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including the tender of a specified number of shares of PEC, receipt of regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions. We currently expect to complete the acquisition during the second quarter of 2005.
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ITEM 6. | Exhibits |
Exhibit No. |
Description |
|||
10.1* | Letter, dated January 10, 2005, to Mr. Lynton (Red) Wilson, the Chairman of the Board of
Nortel Networks Corporation, from the indicated members of Nortels core executive leadership
team (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Nortel Network Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K dated
January 11, 2005). |
|||
10.2 | Peter Currie, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Employment Letter dated
January 20, 2005. |
|||
10.3 | Second Amending Agreement to the Asset Purchase Agreement effective February 7, 2005 among
Nortel Networks Limited, Flextronics Telecom Systems Ltd. and Flextronics International Ltd. |
|||
10.4 | Amendment No. 1 to the Master Repair Services Agreement effective February 8, 2005 between
Nortel Networks Limited and Flextronics Telecom Systems Ltd. |
|||
10.5 | Amendment No. 1 to the Master Contract Logistics Services Agreement effective February 8,
2005 between Nortel Networks Limited and Flextronics Telecom Systems Ltd. |
|||
10.6 | Gary Daichendt, President and Chief Operating Officer Employment Letter dated March 2, 2005. |
|||
10.7* | Master Facility Agreement dated as of February 13, 2003, and amended July 10, 2003, between
Nortel Networks Limited and Export Development Canada, and as further amended by letter
agreements dated March 29, 2004, May 28, 2004, August 20, 2004, September 29, 2004, December
10, 2004, October 29, 2004, November 19, 2004, December 10, 2004, January 14, 2005, February
15, 2005 and March 15, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Nortel Networks Corporations Current
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2005). |
|||
10.8 | Summary statement of terms of the additional special pension benefits for the Vice-Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer approved by the Joint Leadership Resources Committee of the Board
of Directors of Nortel Networks Corporation and Nortel Networks Limited and the Independent
members of the Board of Directors of Nortel Networks Corporation and Nortel Networks Limited
on March 22, 2005. |
|||
10.9 | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 25, 2005, by and among Nortel Networks Inc.,
PS Merger Sub, Inc. and PEC Solutions, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 99(d)(1) to Nortel Networks Inc.
Current Report on Form SC TO-T dated May 3, 2005). |
|||
31.1 | Certification of the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
|||
31.2 | Certification of the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
|||
32 | Certification of the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-President
and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
* | Incorporated by reference. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Chief Financial Officer
|
Chief Accounting Officer | |
/s/ PETER W. CURRIE | /s/ PAUL W. KARR | |
PETER W. CURRIE Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer |
PAUL W. KARR Controller |
Dated: May 31, 2005
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