Nortel Dismisses Dunn

TORONTO -- Nortel Networks Corporation (NYSE:NT)(TSX:NT) today announced certain management changes and an update on a number of matters. These include (i) the status of the independent review being conducted by the Nortel Networks Audit Committee; (ii) planned restatements and revisions to 2003 and prior year financial results; (iii) the delay in the availability of financial results for the first quarter of 2004; and (iv) certain potential impacts.

Management Changes

As previously announced, the Nortel Networks Audit Committee has been undertaking an independent review of the circumstances leading to the restatement of Nortel Networks financial statements for 2000, 2001 and 2002 and the first and second quarters of 2003. As noted below, the independent review is ongoing. In that connection, the boards of directors of Nortel Networks Corporation and Nortel Networks Limited, the Company's principal operating subsidiary ("NNL"), today announced the following senior management changes, effective immediately:

In addition, the boards of directors of the Company and NNL announced that four individuals who were senior line of business finance executives of Nortel Networks during the periods under review have been placed on paid leave of absence pending further progress of the independent review.

"The Board of Directors believes that the actions announced today are about accountability for our financial reporting and are in the best interests of the Company and all of its stakeholders, including our investors, customers and employees," said Lynton (Red) Wilson, chairman of the board, Nortel Networks. "These actions are an important step in the process of restoring confidence in the Company's leadership and financial reporting."

Owens said: "I am fully committed to doing all that is necessary to maintain the business momentum and leadership position of this Company. I also want to express my unqualified support for the approximately 35,300 outstanding employees who are the lifeblood of this Company. As an organization, we remain committed to our business strategy of technology and solutions leadership in helping our customers transform their networks to drive revenue growth and improved productivity. And importantly, I want to see this Company meet the highest standards of integrity and transparency in its financial reporting."

Independent Review, Status of Restatements and Revisions to Financial Results

The independent review has been focused on management's practices regarding accruals and provisions. The Nortel Networks Audit Committee has determined to extend the time period being covered by the independent review to include all of 2003. While the Nortel Networks Audit Committee has not yet determined the full extent of the adjustments that will be required, it has determined that Nortel Networks previously announced unaudited results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003 will need to be revised. It has also determined that Nortel Networks will need to restate the financial results reported in each of its quarterly periods of 2003 and for earlier periods including 2002 and 2001.

Based on the Company's work to date with respect to the planned restatements and subject to the limitations described below, Nortel Networks preliminary partial estimates to date of the principal impacts of the restatements and revisions are as follows:

The Company's work to date with respect to the planned restatements and revisions is subject to a number of important limitations, including:

In addition, in light of the foregoing, the Company has not finalized its financial statements as at Dec. 31, 2003. Until the Company finalizes its financial statements, subsequent events or information may result in adjustments to certain estimates used in the preparation of the Company's year end and/or quarter end financial statements. At this time, the Company cannot estimate the impact of any such adjustments on its results of operations or financial position.

The Nortel Networks Audit Committee will take the necessary time so that its review of the issues is thorough and that appropriate corrective actions are implemented. The Audit Committee is striving to complete its work as soon as practicable. Following completion of the independent review, the Company will work to complete its full year 2003 and interim 2004 financial statements and the restated financial statements and to facilitate the completion of the related audits as soon as practicable.

Nortel Networks will continue to cooperate with the regulatory authorities in connection with their previously announced investigations.

The preliminary partial estimates of the impacts of the restatements described above have not been the subject of a review or audit engagement by Nortel Networks independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP. Pending the issuance by Deloitte & Touche LLP of its audit opinions in respect of the Company's and NNL's planned restated 2002 and 2001 financial statements, the financial statements of the Company and NNL for such periods and the auditors' reports thereon should not be relied upon. In addition, the Company's previously announced unaudited financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003 and the quarterly periods included therein should not be relied upon.

Availability of Q1 2004 Financial Results

As a result of all of the above, Nortel Networks is not in a position at this time to announce preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2004. The Company can report, on a preliminary unaudited basis, that its cash balance as at March 31, 2004 was approximately US$3.6 billion, down from approximately US$4.0 billion as at Dec. 31, 2003. The reduction was primarily due to payments made in the first quarter of 2004 under the Nortel Networks employee incentive compensation plans as well as cash outlays for restructuring and a real estate transaction.

Nortel Networks Ltd.