STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 11, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Telia (Other OTC:TLAAF) (London:TLIAq) has today submitted a listing application to the Helsinki Exchanges. Telia's listing on the Helsinki Exchanges relates to the combination of the Swedish-company Telia and the Finnish-company Sonera and is subject to completion of the relating exchange offer launched by Telia to holders of Sonera shares and warrants.
Telia applies for listing on the main list of the Telia shares under the symbol TLS1V and one new class of Telia warrants (2002/2005A) under the symbol TLS1VEW102 offered in exchange for the listed Sonera warrants of class 1999A. The Telia securities to be listed on the Helsinki Exchanges will have the same identification number (ISIN code) in Finland as in Sweden.
Telia Press Office +46 8 713 58 30
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Telia's exchange offer to Sonera's shareholders and warrant holders. Statements that are not strictly historical statements, including statements about Telia's and Sonera's beliefs and expectations, constitute forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Telia and Sonera are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim such obligation to, update or alter their forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Restrictions on Ability of Certain Persons to Participate in the Exchange Offer Due to restrictions under the securities laws of Australia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, the exchange offer will not be extended to persons with registered addresses in, and who are residents of, any of Australia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Italy, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa.
Cautionary Disclaimer/Legend
The combination of Sonera and Telia will be implemented through an exchange offer being made by Telia to all shareholders of Sonera. The contents of this document are neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Telia. Any offer in the United States will only be made through a prospectus which is part of a registration statement on Form F-4 which Telia filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on October 1, 2002. Sonera shareholders who are U.S. persons or are located in the United States are urged to carefully review the registration statement on Form F-4, the prospectus included therein and other documents relating to the offer that Telia has filed or will file with the SEC because these documents contain important information relating to the offer. You are also urged to read the related solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 that was filed by Sonera with the SEC on October 1, 2002 regarding the offer. You may obtain a free copy of these documents at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. You may also inspect and copy the registration statement on Form F-4, as well as any documents incorporated by reference therein, and the Schedule 14D-9 at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. These documents may also be obtained free of charge by contacting Telia AB, Investor Relations, SE-12386 Farsta, Sweden. Attention: External Communications or Investor Relations (tel: +46 8 7137143, or Sonera, Teollisuuskatu 15, P.O. Box 106, FIN-00051 SONERA, Finland. Attention: Investor Relations (tel: +358 20401). You should read the prospectus and the schedule 14d-9 carefully before making a decision concerning the offer.
Telia is the Nordic leader in telecommunications. Over the past year, wehave streamlined the Group, focusing our core businesses making thecompany more flexible. Our four core businesses are: Mobilecommunications, Internet services, International carrier operations andFixed network operations. Telia is listed on Stockholmsborsen. Sales Jan-Mar 2002 totaled MSEK 13,900 (13,592) and the number of employees was16,804 (29,936). Sales 2001 totaled MSEK 57,196 and the number ofemployees was 17,149.
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The following files are available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/11/20021011BIT00660/wkr0001.doc
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/11/20021011BIT00660/wkr0002.pdf