Alcatel Lucent pondering Enterprise sell-off again - reports

Rumoured move expected to form part of its €1bn cost-cutting agenda

Alcatel Lucent is looking for a buyer for its Enterprise arm for the second time, according to reports.

Reuters cites multiple sources close to the matter and claims the firm has enlisted financial advisory firm Lazard to assist in the sale.

Last month, the French firm was reported to be cutting 10,000 jobs amid efforts to save €1bn (£0.8bn) by 2015, and Reuters said this morning that today's sell-off rumours are linked to that.

It is not the first time Alcatel's Enterprise arm has been on the chopping block. Back in 2011 it confirmed it was "exploring [its] strategic options", but it found no takers.

Instead, it sold off its software business Genesys to private equity firm Permira for $1.5bn (£0.9bn).

When contacted by CRN this morning, Alcatel Lucent was not available to comment, but earlier this year its newly appointed UK and Ireland Enterprise boss Peter Tebbut said the region's channel was a key focus for the company.