ESPOO, Finland, Jan. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nokia announced today that the USD 1.85 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued by Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc., comprising the USD 650 million 4.625% notes due July 2017, USD 500 million 8.875% notes due January 2020 and USD 700 million 6.750% notes due November 2020, will be redeemed in accordance with terms and conditions of the notes. Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc. is a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent S.A., the French company controlled by Nokia. The redemption is part of Nokia's planned EUR 7 billion capital structure optimization program announced on October 29, 2015, which focuses on, among other things, reducing interest-bearing liabilities of the combined Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent by approximately EUR 2 billion.
The notice of redemption has been sent today by Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc. to the noteholders, and the redemption will take place on February 10, 2016.
"We are pleased to move forward quickly with the implementation of our capital structure optimization program," said Timo Ihamuotila, Chief Financial Officer. "Lowering the Group's gross debt level is in line with Nokia's long-term target of re-establishing its investment grade credit rating".
Concurrent with the redemption of the Notes, Nokia will provide Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc. with a temporary revolving liquidity support facility until Nokia gains 100% ownership of Alcatel-Lucent.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This stock exchange release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Nokia'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 redemption and repayment of Alcatel-Lucent's and Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.'s senior notes, capital optimization program, the intragroup revolving credit facility and Nokia's investment grade rating. 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 offers; the performance of the global economy; and the impact on the combined company (after giving effect to the 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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