TAIPEI, Taiwan (Oct. 8, 1999) -- Lucent and its employees worldwide have pooled their resources to contribute more than US$540,000 to the victims of the huge earthquake that struck Taiwan on Sept. 21.

Among the efforts to help with Taiwan's disaster relief work, the Lucent Technologies Foundation and Lucent Technologies Asia Pacific Ltd have provided $100,000 each; Lucent Technologies Taiwan Inc. and Lucent Technologies Taiwan Telecommunications, the joint venture in Taiwan, donated $160,000, while employees contributed an additional $53,000.

Some of the money was spent immediately on medicine, medical supplies, sleeping bags and clothes, which were sent to the victims two days after the quake by Lucent volunteers. The remaining $313,000, will be delivered by check to The Buddhist Compassion Relief, Tsu-Chi Foundation on September 30. This foundation, a non-profit organization. Headquartered in Taiwan, provides charity, medical treatment, educational development, and cultural promotion to the needy and to society worldwide.

"We offer our prayers and sympathy to the people of Taiwan. We hope that with the contributions from Lucent, we can be of some help to the country. Lucent employees worldwide are encouraged to keep in mind the people of Taiwan and to extend help to the victims," said Rich McGinn, chairman and chief executive officer, Lucent Technologies.

Lucent, the world's largest telecom equipment provider, has also set up its "Cross Continental Crisis Team," at its headquarters in Murray Hill, New Jersey, U.S., which serves as the coordinating center on volunteer assistance from employees worldwide who want to help Taiwan's earthquake victims.

Lucent's U.S.-based 4A-Lucent group, founded by employees of Asian heritage, also initiated a disaster fund drive within the company at various locations in the U.S. It has collected more than $60,000 by September 27. With Lucent's "Matching Gifts Program", which matches dollar for dollar donated by employees, the fund has doubled to more than $120,000. An additional $10,000 was contributed by the 4A organization itself. The total sum

raised has reached more than $130,000 by Sept. 28. Meanwhile, the disaster fund drive is still on at Lucent's worldwide locations and Lucent employees are still contributing.

The Sept. 21 earthquake, which hit large parts of Taiwan, measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. Buildings were toppled and telephone and power lines across most parts of the island were cut. It is the strongest quake to hit Taiwan in more than a century.

"Lucent believes in being a part of the communities where it has a presence. This means its people help when help is needed from us. Our company and our employees express our deepest sympathy to Taiwan's people and offer our help to them," said Michael Butcher, president and CEO, Lucent Technologies Asia Pacific.

"We are comforted by the help and prayers of our colleagues in Lucent. Our employees have initiated their own disaster relief fund drive to help as many people in as many areas as possible. With our team effort and hard work, we will get through this tragedy together and move forward to the recovery and healing of Taiwan's people," said Jason Chi, president, Lucent Technologies Taiwan.

Aside from the immediate disaster relief services that Lucent is supporting, the Lucent Technologies Foundation and Lucent Taiwan are also working together surveying possibilities of developing extended programs that seek to provide long-term relief services and home-building for the needy.

Lucent and its joint ventures have about 1,000 employees in Taiwan. Its offices and factories are located in Taipei, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

Lucent Taiwan Telecommunications manufactures and markets Lucent 5ESS® switches and transmission equipment.

This information is based on a press release written by Irene Chen of Lucent Technologies Media Relations.