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2024-06-27 22:50:00 CEST 2024-06-27 22:50:02 CEST REGULATED INFORMATION Nokia - Inside informationInside Information: Nokia to acquire Infinera to increase scale in Optical Networks and accelerate product roadmapNokia Corporation Inside Information: Nokia to acquire Infinera to increase scale in Optical Networks and accelerate product roadmap
Espoo, Finland and San Jose, California, USA – Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN), a global supplier of innovative open optical networking solutions and advanced optical semiconductors, today announced a definitive agreement under which Nokia will acquire Infinera in a transaction valuing the company at $6.65 per share or an enterprise value of US$ 2.3 billion. The transaction represents a premium of 28% to Infinera’s share price at the close of 26 June 2024 and a 37% premium to the trailing 180-day volume weighted average price (VWAP). At least 70% of the consideration will be paid in cash and Infinera’s shareholders can elect to receive up to 30% of the aggregate consideration in the form of Nokia ADSs. Nokia’s Board of Directors has committed to increase and accelerate Nokia’s share buyback program to offset the dilution from the deal. Nokia believes the transaction has compelling financial and strategic merit. The combination with Infinera is projected to accelerate Nokia’s journey to a double-digit operating margin in its Optical Networks business. Nokia targets to achieve EUR 200 million of net comparable operating profit synergies by 2027*. This transaction along with the recently announced sale of Submarine Networks will create a reshaped Network Infrastructure built on three strong pillars of Fixed Networks, IP Networks and Optical Networks. Nokia targets mid-single digit organic growth for the overall Network Infrastructure business and to improve its operating margin to mid-to-high teens level. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Nokia’s comparable EPS in the first year post close and to deliver over 10% comparable EPS accretion by 2027*, with a return on invested capital (RoIC) comfortably above Nokia’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Federico Guillén, President of Network Infrastructure at Nokia, said: “Today, Network Infrastructure offers a unique portfolio across the fixed access, optical and IP networks domains built on leading technology innovation and a strong customer focus. This acquisition will further strengthen the optical pillar of our business, expand our growth opportunities across all our target customer segments and improve our operating margin. I am extremely pleased that we are bringing together these two talented and dedicated teams. Separately, we have long respected each other as competitors. Together, we find the logic of combination irresistible.” David Heard, CEO of Infinera, said: “We are really excited about the value this combination will bring to our global customers. We believe Nokia is an excellent partner and together we will have greater scale and deeper resources to set the pace of innovation and address rapidly changing customer needs at a time when optics are more important than ever – across telecom networks, inter-data center applications, and now inside the data center. This combination will further leverage our vertically integrated optical semiconductor technologies. Furthermore, our stakeholders will have the opportunity to participate in the upside of a global leader in optical networking solutions.” Compelling strategic benefits for Nokia, Infinera and customers
Transaction details In conjunction with this transaction, Nokia’s Board of Directors has committed to increasing and accelerating Nokia’s on-going share buyback program to mitigate any dilution from the equity component of the acquisition. This will be in addition to Nokia’s on-going EUR 600 million buyback program. At or around the time of closing of the transaction Nokia will repurchase Infinera’s outstanding convertible notes for an estimated total value of approximately US$760 million including estimated change of control costs which is already considered in the previously mentioned US$2.3 billion enterprise value. The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both Nokia and Infinera. It is targeted to close during the first half of 2025, subject to approval by Infinera’s shareholders, regulatory approvals including antitrust, CFIUS and other foreign direct investment approvals and other customary closing conditions. Oaktree Optical Holdings, L.P., which owned approximately 11% of Infinera common stock as of 27 June 2024, has agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction. *References to the 2027 timeline for net operating profit synergies and EPS accretion are based on the transaction closing during the first half of 2025. Any delay to the closing of the transaction could impact the timing of realizing the targeted synergies. Advisors Centerview Partners LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Infinera. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation served as legal advisor. Conference call details The event will be webcast and attendees only wishing to listen to the call are encouraged to join this way where they will be able to listen to the call and view the accompanying slides. The presentation slides will also be available to download at www.nokia.com/investors. To join the webcast follow this link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/7yaea3qj The call will include a Q&A session and we encourage analysts who wish to ask a question to pre-register for the conference call using the link below. Participants who pre-register will be given a conference passcode and unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. To pre-register: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10190379/fcf4b207d2 For those who do not wish to pre-register, please use the following dial-in numbers and ask for the “Nokia Conference Call”:
About Nokia As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Inquiries: Nokia Communications, Corporate Nokia Investor Relations About Infinera Additional Information and Where to Find It; Participants in the Solicitation Promptly after the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is declared effective by the SEC, Infinera will mail the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and a WHITE proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting to consider the Transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, SECURITY HOLDERS OF INFINERA AND NOKIA ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT INFINERA OR NOKIA WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INFINERA, NOKIA AND THE TRANSACTION. Stockholders may obtain free of charge, when filed, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant documents filed by Infinera or Nokia with the SEC in connection with the Transaction at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant documents filed by Infinera with the SEC in connection with the Transaction will also be available, free of charge, at Infinera’s investor relations website (https://investors.infinera.com/), or by emailing Infinera’s investor relations department (apassi@infinera.com). Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other relevant documents filed by Nokia with the SEC in connection with the Transaction will also be available, free of charge, at Nokia’s investor relations website (https://www.nokia.com/about-us/investors/), or by emailing Nokia’s investor relations department (investor.relations@nokia.com). No Offer or Solicitation Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this communication that are forward-looking may include statements regarding: (1) the transaction between Nokia and Infinera (the “Transaction”); (2) the expected timing of the closing of the Transaction; (3) considerations taken into account in approving and entering into the Transaction; (4) the anticipated benefits to, or impact of, the Transaction on Nokia’s and Infinera’s businesses; and (5) expectations for Nokia and Infinera following the closing of the Transaction. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be consummated. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, in addition to those identified above, include: (1) the possibility that the conditions to the closing of the Transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals from Infinera’s stockholders for the Transaction or required regulatory approvals to consummate the Transaction are not obtained, on a timely basis or at all; (2) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to a right to terminate the Transaction; (3) possible disruption related to the Transaction to the current plans, operations and business relationships of Nokia and Infinera, including through the loss of customers and employees; (4) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges incurred by Nokia and Infinera related to the Transaction; (5) the possibility that the stock prices of Nokia or Infinera could fluctuate during the pendency of the Transaction and may decline if the Transaction is not completed; (6) for both Nokia and Infinera, the possible diversion of management’s time and attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; (7) the response of competitors and other market participants to the Transaction; (8) potential litigation relating to the Transaction; (9) uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the Transaction and the ability of each party to consummate the Transaction; and (10) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the periodic reports that Nokia and Infinera file with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this communication are based on information available to Nokia and Infinera as of the date of this communication, and, except as required by law, neither Nokia nor Infinera assumes any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Attachment |
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