08/11/2001

BT reports second quarter losses of 1.3bn

Telecommunication giant BT has announced its results for the second quarter of the financial year, revealing losses of around £1.3 billion to the end of September.

While the sharp decline in the company’s profits can be pinpointed to the recent closure of a subsidiary – the corporate telecoms service venture Concert - the figure still falls below the amount predicted by most city analysts.

BT has also confirmed that its finance director, Philip Hampton is to step down next year. Mr Hampton is generally considered as the mastermind behind the company’s recent restructuring strategy, which has been BT’s debt mountain slashed in half, from a high of almost £30 billion. In leaving the company, Mr Hampton also joins chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield, who last week announced his decision to stand down, a year earlier than expected.

The focus will now fall on the fortunes of BT’s new wireless subsidiary, MMO2, which has now received shareholder approval. The demerger is set to happen on November 19, and BT has reported strong subscriber growth for the venture.

However, BT shares fell by six per cent before trading commenced on Thursday, and analysts have issued continuing warnings about the company’s ‘aggressive’ approach to demerging its array of businesses. (CL)

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