Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Alcatel (ALA) and France -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: larry pollock who wrote (3051)	2/21/2001 1:48:05 PM
From: Steve Fancy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3891

oh, oh...if there is no truth to it I would expect Serge to squash it fast. If he does not I'd guess there is some truth to it. Does anyone have any opinions on this possibility? Thanks, sf

To: larry pollock who wrote (3051)	2/21/2001 1:55:39 PM
From: larry pollock	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3891

Lucent May Sell Optical Fiber Unit RELATED SYMBOLS: (LU)(GLW) MURRAY HILL, N.J., Feb 21, 2001 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Lucent Technologies may sell its highly profitable optical-fiber business to raise the billions of dollars that lenders have been hesitant to give the financially distressed communications equipment company. A deal to sell the Georgia-based operation, the world's second-largest producer of fiber-optic cable behind Corning, could come as soon as next month, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. A Lucent spokeswoman said Wednesday the company would not comment on the report, which follows last week's news that lenders have balked at giving Lucent a new $4 billion credit line and two debt rating agencies cut Lucent's credit rating to a notch above junk-bond status. The company's Fiber Optical Solutions unit could be worth several times the division's annual sales of about $2 billion, according to analysts cited by the Journal. However, it could be hard to fetch that type of price with the financial markets stricken by signs of a severe economic slowdown, especially in the telecommunications market. At a time when Lucent's financial picture was dark and getting darker, the optical fiber unit logged 60 percent sales growth in the company's fiscal year ended Sept. 30. It also was the company's only core service provider business to show increased sales in the final three months of 2000. The unit, based in Norcross, Ga., employs 6,000 people. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Lucent's accounting practices because it twice restated already-reported revenues last fall. Meanwhile, its stock has plummeted from a high of $84 in December 1999. In late morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Lucent was off 19 cents per share at $12.15.