Nortel to restate, again

Just when you thought Nortel had straightened out its financial entanglements, the company has once again been forced to restate results for the past 33 months.

The restatements are due to revenue incorrectly recognized in prior periods that should have been deferred, the company said. Nortel was thought to have completed a wrenching restatement period for years 2001 to 2003 early last year but company executives had apparently spoken too soon.

The restatements of years 2003, 2004 and nine months of 2005, and adjustments to periods prior to 2003, have forced Nortel to delay filing its annual report for 2005 and results for the fourth quarter of that year, until April 30. Required amendments to previous periods will be released thereafter, the company says.

Nonetheless, Nortel did release preliminary, unaudited results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2005. The company lost $2.2 billion on revenue of $2.9 billion. The loss includes a $2.5 billion litigation expense.

Preliminary unaudited year 2005 results include revenues of $10.8 billion and net loss of $2.4 billion.

Nortel expects revisions to its previously reported 2003 and 2004 financial results to lower revenue by $157 million and $77 million and net earnings/loss by $91 million and $93 million, respectively. The company also expects revisions to its previously reported 2005 nine month results to lower revenue by $162 million and net earnings/loss by $95 million.

For results prior to 2003, Nortel expects revisions to negatively impact revenue by $470 million and net earnings/loss by $99 million.

Nortel last week was expected to disclose specifics of plans to earmark $1.9 billion in R&D spending this year but those details will instead be shared over the next 12 months.