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Whether you're walking a tightrope or scribbling in your checkbook, balance is a good thing. And, one of the best ways to evaluate a company is to glance at its balance sheet to see what it owns with what it owes.
The balance sheet is a paragon of simplicity and is made up of three components: assets (the stuff it owns), liabilities (the money it owes), and shareholders' equity (the company's value to its shareholders).
Assets take two forms: short-term (or current) assets and long-term assets. Under short-term, there¿s good ol' hard cash. Then, there¿s something called "cash equivalents," which are assets like short-term bonds that can be sold so quickly, they might as well be cash. There you factor in inventory, which (if you're a reasonably competent business owner) you can sell to customers in return for--you guessed it--cash. (The raw materials a company owns to make that inventory also falls under this category.)
Long-term assets are things that are harder to convert into cash. (Think real estate and equipment.) Long-term assets depreciate, meaning they lose some value over time. Also under the long-term category are what's called intangible assets: things like patents and brands, that are important, but hard to quantify. Accountants earn their stripes figuring out the real overall value of these assets.
Once you know your assets, it's time for liabilities. As with assets, liabilities are separated into short-term or current, and long-term. Current liabilities are what a company owes in that year: Things like payments to employees or accounts payable to suppliers. Long-term liabilities are debts paid over several years.
Shareholders' equity is determined by subtracting the liabilities from the assets. That number represents the value of the company after all its bills are paid.
Obviously, investors should pay close attention to balance sheets. Spikes in the amount of debt carried, or a reduction in shareholders' equity, are usually red flags.
Home / Markets / Industries / Telecom
Monday, May 12, 2008
Reliance Communications and Alcatel-Lucent Form Global Joint Venture to Offer Managed Network Services to Telcos
Comtex
PARIS and MUMBAI, May 12, 2008 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX News Network) ----To Start With, Joint Venture to Provide Managed Services to Reliance Communications CDMA and GSM Networks
Reliance Communications, India's largest integrated telecommunications service provider, and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced forming a global joint venture. Combining the unique strengths of Alcatel-Lucent and Reliance Communications, the joint centure company would foray in the fast growing USD 16 billion Managed Network Services industry and will cater to telecom operators, both CDMA and GSM, across the globe.
The first assignment of this joint venture will be to provide Managed services for Reliance Communications nationwide CDMA & GSM networks in India.
"World over, the biggest challenge telecom operators are facing is to continuously improve competitiveness by reducing operating expenditure and enhancing network quality to provide superior customer experience. The combined expertise and experience of Reliance and Alcatel-Lucent would create an unmatched blend of leadership in technology, innovation, scale of operations and customer service to become the worlds leading Managed Network Services Provider," said Mr. Sandip Biswas, Head - Managed Network, Reliance Communications. "The joint venture is a leap forward in Reliance Communications' vision to continuously redefine the benchmarks of customer experience and enhance value for our 2 million shareholders."
With the unique combination of network management and operations expertise, consulting and IT experience, as well as technology, the Joint Venture would facilitate a proactive, quick-to-respond environment to fast-paced and dynamic market conditions to leading telecom service providers including Reliance Communications. The joint venture will support the expansion and growth of Reliance Communications, within and outside India, bringing predictability of the operations and related expenses, while maintaining the highest standards of customer experience.
"Alcatel-Lucent is committed to help Reliance retain its market leadership role by helping them increase their customer satisfaction and business capitalisation by operating and maintaining their networks together with managing complex network projects," said Andy Williams, President of Alcatel-Lucent's Services business. "This partnership confirms our trusted partner relationship with Reliance Communications and reinforces Alcatel-Lucent's position as a strong and competitive managed services provider."
A new legal entity is being formed as part of the joint venture. Alcatel-Lucent will have the operational control of the new entity. Reliance Communications is represented in the Joint Venture through its wholly owned subsidiary.
The joint venture would thereafter expand its operations in the global arena. This joint venture will create a unique cornerstone and cost-effective bridge for managed services globally.
About Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications Limited founded by the late Shri Dhirubhai H Ambani (1932-2002) is the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group currently has net worth in excess of Rs. 55,000 crore (USD 14 billion), cash flows of Rs. 11,000 crore (USD 2.8 billion), net profit of Rs. 7,700 crore (USD 1.9 billion) and zero net debt. Rated among "Asia's Top 5 Most Valuable Telecom Companies", Reliance Communications is India's foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider. The company, with a customer base of over 48 million including over 1.5 million individual overseas retail customers, ranks among the Top 10 Asian Telecom companies by number of customers. Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 1850 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 250 global carriers. Reliance Communications has established a pan-India, next generation, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network that is capable of supporting best-of-class services spanning the entire infocomm value chain, covering over 15,000 towns and 400,000 villages. Reliance Communications owns and operates the world's largest next generation IP enabled connectivity infrastructure, comprising over 165,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable systems in India, USA, Europe, Middle East and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit http://www.reliancecommunications.co.in
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprise and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organisations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 17.8 billion in 2007 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
Reliance Communications contact : Gaurav Wahi, V.P. - Corporate Communications, Reliance Communications, +91-93229-04680, gaurav.wahi@relianceada.com. Alcatel-Lucent Press Contacts: Regine Coqueran, Tel: +33-1-40-76-49-24, regine.coqueran@alcatel-lucent.com, Mark Burnworth, Tel: +33-1-40-76-50-84, mark.burnworth@alcatel-lucent.com. Alcatel-Lucent Investor Relations: Remi Thomas, Tel: +33-1-40-76-50-61, remi.thomas@alcatel-lucent.com, John DeBono, Tel: +1-908-582-7793, debono@alcatel-lucent.com, Tony Lucido, Tel: +33-1-40-76-49-80, alucido@alcatel-lucent.com, Don Sweeney, Tel: +1-908-582-6153, dsweeney@alcatel-lucent.com
Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire Europe
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