As previously disclosed, on June 27, 2024, Infinera Corporation (“Infinera”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Nokia Corporation (“Nokia”) and Neptune of America Corporation (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Infinera (the “Merger”), with Infinera surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of Nokia.
The completion of the Merger is conditioned on, among other things, the expiration or early termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”).
On August 9, 2024, following informal discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”), Nokia informed the DOJ that Nokia would voluntarily withdraw and refile its Premerger Notification and Report Form for the Merger, which was submitted under the HSR Act, to give the DOJ additional time to review the Merger. Nokia refiled its Premerger Notification and Report Form for the Merger on August 14, 2024.
The applicable waiting period under the HSR Act expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on September 13, 2024.
The Merger remains subject to the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions specified in the Merger Agreement. Infinera and Nokia continue to expect the Merger to close in the first half of 2025.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K may be characterized as forward-looking under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially.
Statements in this communication that are forward-looking may include statements regarding the anticipated timing of the closing of the Merger.
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 Merger are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals from Infinera’s stockholders for the Merger or required regulatory approvals to consummate the Merger 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 Merger Agreement; (3) possible disruption related to the Merger to the current plans, operations and business relationships of Infinera and Nokia, including through the loss of customers and employees; (4) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges incurred by Infinera and Nokia related to the Merger; (5) the possibility that the stock prices of Infinera and Nokia could fluctuate during the pendency of the Merger and may decline if the Merger is not completed; (6) for both Infinera and Nokia, 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 Merger; (8) potential litigation relating to the Merger; (9) uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the Merger and the ability of each party to consummate the Merger; and (10) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the periodic reports that Infinera and Nokia file with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K are based on information available to Infinera and Nokia as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and, except as required by law, neither Infinera nor Nokia 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.