Nokia CEO meets President Hollande to confirm Nokia's strong involvement in the development of the technology ecosystem in Fr...
November 23 2015 - 02:57PM
Rajeev Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia, met
today with French President François Hollande and Minister of
Economy Emmanuel Macron to reiterate Nokia's strong involvement in
the development of the technology and digital ecosystem in France.
This meeting follows the recent launch of Nokia's public exchange
offer for Alcatel-Lucent securities as part of the planned
combination of the two companies, and was also attended by Marc
Rouanne, currently Executive Vice President, Mobile Broadband,
Nokia Networks, who would serve as Chief Innovation & Operating
Officer in the combined entity. Together, Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent
would be an innovation leader in next generation technology and
services for an IP connected world. Following the meeting with
President Hollande, Suri commented: "I was honored to be able to
reiterate Nokia's support for France to President Hollande in our
meeting today. The values of France are far stronger than those who
pose a threat to the country and I could see that in the resolve
and determination of the President. Nokia will not just be a larger
part of the technology ecosystem in the country in the future, but
a larger presence in France overall. Once the proposed transaction
with Alcatel-Lucent closes, we will have thousands of employees in
France, many of them engaged in cutting-edge research and
development. We are proud that we will inherit the rich history of
Alcatel, and proud of the contribution we will bring to France."
President Hollande renewed his support for the proposed combination
with Alcatel-Lucent and thanked Nokia for its commitment to
sustainably integrate France into the combined company's strategic
plans for the future. President Hollande said: "The involvement of
Nokia in the French digital ecosystem is fully consistent with our
strategy to develop new economic opportunies, by mobilizing and
leveraging the innovation and research capabilities of France."
Nokia intends to be a prominent contributor to the overall
development of France's technology ecosystem and a driver of
innovation across the French economy. The combined company would
build on France's strong competencies in key technology areas, on
the existing presence of Alcatel-Lucent in France and on the
exceptional technical talent emerging from the French higher
education system. It would drive the French telecom innovation
ecosystem through key experts localized in France (i.e. Bell Labs
France), participation in major initiatives such as Pôles de
compétitivité and active involvement and leadership in the French
industrial plan ("Industrie du Futur") in continuity of the current
efforts within "Souveraineté Télécom". Additionally, Nokia has
committed to creating a EUR 100 million investment fund dedicated
primarily to investing in start-ups and innovation in the Internet
of Things, Cyber Security and software platform enablers for next
generation networks. The proposed transaction is expected to be
completed in the first quarter of 2016, and remains subject to
Nokia shareholder approval and Nokia holding over 50% of
Alcatel-Lucent's fully diluted share capital following completion
of the exchange offer.
About Nokia By focusing on the human
possibilities of technology, Nokia embraces the connected world to
help people thrive. Our three businesses are leaders in their
fields: Nokia Networks provides broadband infrastructure, software
and services; HERE provides mapping, navigation and location
intelligence; and Nokia Technologies provides advanced technology
development and licensing. www.nokia.com
Media Enquiries:
Nokia Communications Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900 Email:
press.services@nokia.com
Microsite details Further
information on the transaction can be found at:
www.newconnectivity.com
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR
DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR
REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking
statements that reflect Nokia's and Alcatel Lucent's current
expectations and views of future events and developments. Some of
these forward-looking statements can be identified by terms and
phrases such as "believe," "will", "would" and similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
the opening and expected timeline of the exchange offer; the
positioning of the combined company to compete, statements made by
Mr. Suri, including with respect to the strategic rationale for the
transaction, Nokia's transformation and the expected benefits of
the proposed transaction. These forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from such statements. These forward-looking statements
are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future
performance, taking into account the information currently
available to us. These statements are only predictions based upon
our current expectations and views of future events and
developments. Risks and uncertainties include: the ability of Nokia
to integrate Alcatel Lucent into Nokia operations; the success
of the exchange offer; the performance of the global economy; and
the impact on the combined company (after giving effect to the
proposed transaction with Alcatel Lucent) of any of the foregoing
risks or forward-looking statements, as well as other risk factors
listed from time to time in Nokia's and Alcatel Lucent's filings
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The
forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the
other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere, including
the Risk Factors section of the Registration Statement (as defined
below), Nokia's and Alcatel Lucent's most recent annual reports on
Form 20-F, reports furnished on Form 6-K, and any other documents
that Nokia or Alcatel Lucent have filed with the SEC. Any
forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified
in their entirety by these cautionary statements, and there can be
no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by
us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they
will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our
business or operations. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This press
release relates to the public exchange offer by Nokia to exchange
all of the ordinary shares, American depositary shares ("ADSs") and
convertible securities issued by Alcatel Lucent for new ordinary
shares and ADSs of Nokia. This press release is for informational
purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or
exchange, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange, any
ordinary shares, ADSs or convertible securities of Alcatel Lucent,
nor is it a substitute for the Tender Offer Statement on Scheduled
TO; the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration
Statement") (Registration No. 333- 206365) or the Solicitation /
Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 each filed with the SEC,
the listing prospectus and listing prospectus supplement of Nokia
filed with the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority or Nokia's
offer document (note d'information) and Alcatel Lucent's response
document (note en réponse) filed with the Autorité des marchés
financiers ("AMF") on October 29, 2015 and which received the visa
of the AMF on November 12, 2015 (including the letters of
transmittal and related documents and as amended and supplemented
from time to time, the "Exchange Offer Documents"). No offering of
securities shall be made in the United States except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933. The tender offer is being made only through
the Exchange Offer Documents. The making of the exchange offer to
specific persons who are residents in or nationals or citizens of
jurisdictions outside France or the United States or to custodians,
nominees or trustees of such persons (the "Excluded Shareholders")
may be made only in accordance with the laws of the relevant
jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of the Excluded Shareholders
wishing to accept an exchange offer to inform themselves of and
ensure compliance with the laws of their respective jurisdictions
in relation to the exchange offer. The exchange offer will be made
only through the Exchange Offer Documents. INVESTORS AND SECURITY
HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE EXCHANGE OFFER DOCUMENTS AND ALL
OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT NOKIA OR ALCATEL LUCENT HAS FILED OR
MAY FILE WITH THE SEC, AMF, NASDAQ HELSINKI OR FINNISH FINANCIAL
SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS
SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING THE EXCHANGE
OFFER. The information contained in this press release must not be
published, released or distributed, directly or indirectly, in any
jurisdiction where the publication, release or distribution of such
information is restricted by laws or regulations. Therefore,
persons in such jurisdictions into which these materials are
published, released or distributed must inform themselves about and
comply with such laws or regulations. Nokia and Alcatel Lucent do
not accept any responsibility for any violation by any person of
any such restrictions. The Exchange Offer Documents and other
documents referred to above, if filed or furnished by Nokia or
Alcatel Lucent with the SEC, as applicable, are available free of
charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Nokia's offer document
(note d'information) and Alcatel Lucent's response document (note
en réponse), which received visa No. 15-573 and No. 15-574
respectively from the AMF, containing detailed information with
regard to the exchange offer, are available on the websites of the
AMF (www.amf-france.org), Nokia (www.nokia.com) and Alcatel Lucent
(www.alcatel-lucent.com).
HUG#1968881
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