SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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
November 12, 2002
Telia AB
(Name of Filer)
SONERA CORPORATION
(Subject Company)
0-30340
(Exchange Act File No. of Subject Company)
THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY TELIA AB ON NOVEMBER 11, 2002.
Press release
2002-11-11
Telia extends the offer period in the offer for shares and warrants in Sonera
Telia has decided to extend the offer period for the offer to holders of shares, including shares in the form of ADSs, and warrants in Sonera. The extended offer period will expire at 16:00 Helsinki time (09:00 a.m. New York City time) on Friday, November 15, 2002.
The uncertainties related to the discussions between the main owners of Telia and Sonera concerning the composition of the combined TeliaSonera board, were resolved on November 7, 2002.
Telia has understood that the short time period between the announcement on November 7, and the original expiration of the exchange offer, may have resulted in certain shareholders, particularly non-Finnish investors, being logistically unable to meet the original time of expiry. The extension is intended to give all shareholders sufficient time to tender.
Based on preliminary estimates, as of November 10, 2002, shares and ADSs representing approximately 88% of the outstanding shares of Sonera have been tendered.
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.
For further information journalists can contact:
Michael Kongstad, Senior Vice President Communications, Telia AB,
phone + 46 8 713 64 10
Tobias Lennér, Head of Investor Relations, Telia AB,
phone + 46 8 713 66 49