Nortel Networks has become the latest tech company to cry foul over the worsening economic climate, after revising its full-year outlook downwards, and has admitted it is seeking to explore a divestiture of its metro Ethernet network (MEN) unit.
Canada-based Nortel’s warning comes just hours after both broadline distributor Ingram Micro and PC vendor Dell issued negative trading statements.
According to CEO Mike Zafirovski, full-year revenues are expected to slip between 2% and 4%, with Q3 revenues coming in at around $2.3bn.
Nortel complained that a decline in capital expenditure among carrier customers had hit harder than expected, and added that deferred IT investments among enterprise and metro Ethernet customers were also starting to bite.
In a statement, Nortel said that since reporting its Q2 numbers it had started to see further pressure on revenue due to foreign exchange impact and product delivery delays.
Zafirovski said: “It is clear that the environment in which we operate requires immediate and decisive actions. A comprehensive review of our business is taking place and we are determined to reshape the company to establish a clear path for renewed value.”
He added that the divestiture of the MEN unit would go some way to strengthening Nortel’s flagging balance sheet and funding the anticipated restructuring.