Debt Reduction- Advice On Credit Card Debt Reduction, Debt Reduction Services, And Debt Reduction Plans

asked:


Questions:
2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity structure of Lucent Technologies, as well as trends and changes found on the common-size balance sheet.
3. What concerns would investors and creditors have based on only this information?
4. What additional financial and nonfinancial information would investors and creditors need to make investing and lending decisions for Lucent Technologies?
Reading:
Executive Summary We design and deliver the systems, software and services that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, we use our strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for our customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Our customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. We have three segments organized around the products and services we sell. The reportable segments are Integrated Network Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions (“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services (“Services”). INS provides a broad range of software and wireline equipment related to voice networking (primarily consisting of switching products, which we sometimes refer to as convergence solutions, and voice messaging products), data and network management (primarily consisting of access and related data networking equipment and operating support software) and optical networking. Mobility provides software and wireless equipment to support radio access and core networks. Services provides deployment, maintenance, professional and managed services in support of both our product offerings as well as multi-vendor networks. Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global telecommunications market deteriorated, resulting from a decrease in the competitive local exchange carrier market and a significant reduction in capital spending by established service providers.This trend intensified during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal 2003. Reasons for the market deterioration included general economic slowdown, network overcapacity, customer bankruptcies, network build-out delays and limited availability of capital. We believe that the market for telecommunications equipment has stabilized and is starting to grow in certain areas. The growing demands of enterprises and consumers for additional services tailored to their needs is creating the need for a new convergence of networks, technologies and applications.

LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in Millions, Except per Share Amounts) September 30, September 30, 2004 2003 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821 Marketable securities 858 686 Receivables 1,359 1,511 Inventories 822 632 Other current assets 1,813 1,213 Total current assets 8,231 7,863 Marketable securities 636 — Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593 Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659 Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188 Other assets 928 1,608 Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072 Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080 Debt maturing within one year 1 389 Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393 Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934 Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669 Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494 Long-term debt 4,837 4,439 Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152 Other liabilities 1,132 1,594 Total liabilities 18,342 19,282 Commitments and contingencies 8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868 Shareowners’ Deficit Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares: 250; issued and outstanding: none — — Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares: 10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169 outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252 Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738) Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239) Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 15911

Justin Gate

ray H asked:


Executive Summary
We design and deliver the systems, software
and services that drive next-generation communications
networks. Backed by Bell Labs
research and development, we use our
strengths in mobility, optical, access, data and
voice networking technologies, as well as
services, to create new revenue-generating
opportunities for our customers, while
enabling them to quickly deploy and better
manage their networks. Our customer base
includes communications service providers,
governments and enterprises worldwide.
We have three segments organized
around the products and services we sell.
The reportable segments are Integrated Network
Solutions (“INS”), Mobility Solutions
(“Mobility”) and Lucent Worldwide Services
(“Services”). INS provides a broad range
of software and wireline equipment related
to voice networking (primarily consisting
of switching products, which we sometimes
refer to as convergence solutions, and voice
messaging products), data and network
management (primarily consisting of access
and related data networking equipment
and operating support software) and optical
networking. Mobility provides software and
wireless equipment to support radio access
and core networks. Services provides deployment,
maintenance, professional and managed
services in support of both our product
offerings as well as multi-vendor networks.
Beginning in fiscal 2001, the global
telecommunications market deteriorated,
resulting from a decrease in the competitive
local exchange carrier market and a significant
reduction in capital spending by established
service providers.This trend intensified
during fiscal 2002 and continued into fiscal
2003. Reasons for the market deterioration
included general economic slowdown, network
overcapacity, customer bankruptcies,
network build-out delays and limited availability
of capital.
We believe that the market for telecommunications
equipment has stabilized
and is starting to grow in certain areas. The
growing demands of enterprises and consumers
for additional services tailored to
their needs is creating the need for a new
convergence of networks, technologies and
applications.
Required
1. Using the Consolidated Balance
Sheets for Lucent Technologies for
September 30, 2004 and 2003, prepare
a common-size balance sheet.
2. Evaluate the asset, debt, and equity
structure of Lucent Technologies, as
well as trends and changes found on
the common-size balance sheet.
3. What concerns would investors and
creditors have based on only this
information?
4. What additional financial and nonfinancial
information would investors
and creditors need to make investing
and lending decisions for Lucent
Technologies?

LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in Millions, Except per Share Amounts)
September 30, September 30,
2004 2003
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,379 $ 3,821
Marketable securities 858 686
Receivables 1,359 1,511
Inventories 822 632
Other current assets 1,813 1,213
Total current assets 8,231 7,863
Marketable securities 636 —
Property, plant, and equipment, net 1,376 1,593
Prepaid pension costs 5,358 4,659
Goodwill and other acquired intangibles, net 434 188
Other assets 928 1,608
Total assets $ 16,963 $ 15,911
Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 872 $ 1,072
Payroll and benefit-related liabilities 1,232 1,080
Debt maturing within one year 1 389
Other current liabilities 2,361 2,393
Total current liabilities 4,466 4,934
Postretirement and postemployment benefit liabilities 4,881 4,669
Pension liabilities 1,874 2,494
Long-term debt 4,837 4,439
Liability to subsidiary trust issuing preferred securities 1,152 1,152
Other liabilities 1,132 1,594
Total liabilities 18,342 19,282
Commitments and contingencies
8.00% redeemable convertible preferred stock — 868
Shareowners’ Deficit
Preferred stock—par value $1.00 per share; authorized shares:
250; issued and outstanding: none — —
Common stock—par value $.01 per share;Authorized shares:
10,000; 4,396 issued and 4,395 outstanding shares as of
September 30, 2004,and 4,170 issued and 4,169
outstanding shares as of September 30, 2003 44 42
Additional paid-in capital 23,005 22,252
Accumulated deficit (20,793) (22,795)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,635) (3,738)
Total shareowners’ deficit (1,379) (4,239)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock
and shareowners’ deficit $ 16,963 $ 1591

Hannah Lewis