by Playfuls Staff |
24th March 2006
Lucent Technologies Inc, the largest telecommunications-equipment maker in the United States, and its French competitor Alcatel SA confirmed Friday that they are in merger talks. [more]
"We can confirm that Lucent and Alcatel are engaged in discussions about a potential merger of equals that is intended to be priced at market," the two firms said in a joint statement.
The statement added that the talks did not necessarily mean a merger would be forthcoming and the companies would have no further comment until a deal is reached or the talks are ended.
Alcatel is in the midst of a turnaround as it inks deals with such companies as US-based AT&T and SBC Communications and Australia's Telstra Corp to build networks for online, phone and television service.
Its smaller rival saw its sales unexpectedly drop in the first quarter, but Alcatel would benefit from its equipment line.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
