PROSPECTUS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 425 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933 AND DEEMED FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 14D-2 UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
September 9, 2002
0-30340
(Exchange Act File No. of Subject Company)
THE FOLLOWING A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY TELIA AB ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2002.
Press release
2002-09-09
Changes in the Telia Management
Eva Lindqvist, Executive vice President of Telia International Carrier, has been appointed new Head of Telia International Carrier Business Area. Erik Heilborn, Head of the Telia International Carrier Business Area and Senior Vice President of Telia AB will according to the plans be appointed to an operational role in connection with the proposed merger between Telia and Sonera. Erik will immediately start to prepare for this new assignment.
Eva Lindqvist, born 1958, holds an MBA and a Master of Science. She was appointed Head of Telia Business Area Enterprises in year 2000 and then Head of Business Area Equity and Senior vice president of Telia AB. Before joining Telia she held a number of positions at Ericsson where she worked for almost 20 years.
Erik Heilborn, born 1962, holds a Master of Science. Before joining Telia and Business Area International Carrier last year he held a number of positions at Telenordia including the position as President and CEO.
– – –
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the timing of 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.
Cautionary Disclaimer/Legend
The combination of Sonera and Telia will be implemented through an exchange offer made by Telia to all shareholders of Sonera. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Sonera. Any offer in the United States will only be made through a prospectus which is part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). 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 and the prospectus included therein, the prospectus, the Schedule TO and other documents relating to the offer that will be filed by Telia 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 will be filed with the SEC by Sonera regarding the offer. You may obtain a free copy of these documents after they are filed with the SEC and other documents filed by Telia and Sonera with the SEC at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Once such documents are filed with the SEC, you will also be able to inspect and copy the registration statement on Form F-4, as well as any documents incorporated by reference therein, the Schedule TO 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 and 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.