STOCKHOLM, Sweden, October 22, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Marie Ehrling to head Telia's Swedish operations
On 1 January 2003, Marie Ehrling will take up the position of Head of Telia's Swedish operations. Ehrling will report directly to Telia's President and CEO Anders Igel.
Ehrling is 47 years old with a B.Sc. in Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics. Ehrling joins Telia from her most recent employer, SAS, where she has held a variety of positions over the last 20 years. In her latest role, she was Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer responsible for SAS Airline, with 22,000 employees and revenues in excess of SEK 40 billion. Within SAS, she has also had the responsibility for the Ground and Station Services Divisions, international traffic routes and the establishment of Star Alliance.
"With her extensive experience from both operational leadership and change management within a service company, Marie Ehrling has the right qualifications to head Telia's Swedish operations," says Telia's President and CEO Anders Igel. "Her experiences from the international scene, extensive Nordic co-operation plus the Star Alliance activities will be of great benefit to Telia."
After the planned merger between Telia and Sonera, Ehrling will have overall responsibility for TeliaSonera Sweden. From 1 January 2003, this new unit, which is presently being established, will combine all of Telia's Swedish activities, to include fixed, mobile and internet services. In addition, both the fixed and mobile networks will be an integrated part of the Swedish Profit Centre. 2001 revenues for the equivalent Swedish operations were SEK 46 billion with 13,000 employees.
For further information journalists can contact: Telia's Press Office, phone +46 8 713 58 30
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Telia's exchange offer to Sonera's shareholders and warrantholders. 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.
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