FILED BY NOKIA CORPORATION
PURSUANT TO RULE 425 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SUBJECT COMPANY: ALCATEL-LUCENT
FILE NO. 001-11130
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STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE |
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Nokia gains control of Alcatel-Lucent through successful public exchange offer; Nokia to hold nearly 80% of outstanding Alcatel-Lucent shares
Nokia Corporation
Stock Exchange Release
January 4, 2016 at 09:25 (CET +1)
Nokia gains control of Alcatel-Lucent through successful public exchange offer; Nokia to hold nearly 80% of outstanding Alcatel-Lucent shares
Espoo, Finland – The French stock market authority, Autorité des Marchés Financiers (the “AMF”), today published the interim results of the initial offer period of Nokia’s public exchange offer for Alcatel-Lucent securities in France and in the United States (the “Offer”), and has declared the Offer successful.
Rajeev Suri, President and CEO of Nokia, said: “We are delighted that the Offer has been successful, and that Alcatel-Lucent’s investors share our confidence in the future of the combined company. We will move quickly to combine the two companies and execute our integration plans. As of January 14, 2016, Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent will offer a combined end-to-end portfolio of the scope and scale to meet the needs of our global customers. We will have unparalleled R&D and innovation capabilities, which we will use to lead the world in creating next-generation technology and services.”
The interim results indicate that 2 052 812 101 outstanding Alcatel-Lucent ordinary shares, 264 183 778 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), 206 784 349 OCEANE 2018 convertible bonds, 37 880 652 OCEANE 2019 convertible bonds, and 16 138 206 OCEANE 2020 convertible bonds have been tendered into the French and/or U.S. offers. As a consequence, if these interim results are confirmed by the AMF in its notice of final results expected on January 5, 2016, and following settlement of the Offer on January 7, 2016, Nokia would hold 76.31% of the share capital and at least 76.01% of the voting rights of
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Alcatel-Lucent, 89.14% of the outstanding OCEANEs 2018, 24.34% of the outstanding OCEANEs 2019, and 15.11% of the outstanding OCEANEs 2020; this equates to Nokia holding 70.52% of the share capital on a fully diluted basis.
The completion of the Offer was subject to the number of Alcatel-Lucent securities validly tendered into the Offer representing more than 50% of the shares on a fully diluted basis. This condition has been satisfied and the Offer is therefore successful.
Subject to the confirmation of aforementioned numbers by the AMF and assuming conversion of the OCEANEs tendered into the Offer at the improved conversion ratio, Nokia would hold, following settlement of the Offer, 79.32% of the share capital and at least 78.97% of the voting rights of Alcatel-Lucent, as mentioned in the AMF’s notice published today.
Following the announcement by the AMF of the final results of the Offer, the two companies will begin to progress their integration plans, with the first day as an operationally combined group on January 14, 2016.
In accordance with Article 232-4 of the AMF General Regulation, the offers in France and in the U.S. will be reopened at the same exchange ratios within 10 French trading days of the publication by the AMF of the final results (which should occur on January 5, 2016). The AMF will publish the timetable of the reopened Offer. Nokia believes it is in the best interests of Alcatel-Lucent shareholders to tender their remaining securities, and invites the remaining Alcatel-Lucent securities holders to tender their shares, ADSs or OCEANE convertible bonds into the reopened Offer.
Any Alcatel-Lucent shares, Alcatel-Lucent ADSs or OCEANE convertible bonds not tendered into the reopened Offer will remain outstanding. After completion of the Offer, Nokia intends to delist Alcatel-Lucent’s ADSs from the New York Stock Exchange, meaning they would not be tradeable on any regulated securities exchange, and intends to commence the process of terminating the Alcatel-Lucent ADR program. Subject to applicable law, Alcatel-Lucent would also be de-registered under U.S. securities laws, which would mean significantly less information would be available about the company.
Following closing of the transaction, as previously announced and subject to Nokia shareholder approval, Nokia plans to execute a EUR 7 billion program to optimize its capital structure and return excess capital to Nokia shareholders. This program is planned to include approximately EUR 4 billion in distributions to Nokia shareholders. Nokia has no plans to provide capital returns to remaining holders of Alcatel-Lucent securities.
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If Nokia reaches 95% ownership of the share capital and voting rights of Alcatel-Lucent, it intends to squeeze out the remaining shares. In addition, if Nokia reaches 95% ownership of Alcatel-Lucent’s fully diluted shares, it intends to squeeze-out the remaining OCEANE convertible bonds.
In addition, Nokia reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to cause Alcatel-Lucent to redeem at par value, plus, as applicable, accrued interest from the date the interest was last paid, to the date set for the early redemption all of the outstanding OCEANEs 2018, OCEANEs 2019 or OCEANEs 2020, if less than 15% of the issued OCEANEs of any such series remain outstanding.
About Nokia
By focusing on the human possibilities of technology, Nokia embraces the connected world to help people thrive. Our businesses are leaders in their respective fields: Nokia Networks provides broadband infrastructure, software and services; 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
Investor Enquiries:
Nokia Investor Relations
Tel. +358 4080 3 4080
Email: investor.relations@nokia.com
Microsite details
Further information on the transaction can be found at: www.newconnectivity.com
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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 stock exchange 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 “intend”, “may”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to: the expected announcement of the final results of the Offer, the reopened offer, the operations of the combined company and Nokia’s plans or intentions after the closing of the reopened offer period. 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 reopened exchange offer and the implementation of the squeeze-out, if any; the final results of the initial offer matching the interim results; 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 stock exchange 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.
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IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This stock exchange 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 stock exchange 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 Schedule 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 exchange 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 proposed 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 PROPOSED EXCHANGE OFFER.
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The information contained in this stock exchange 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).