Explanatory Note
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.
In connection with the Merger, Nokia filed a registration statement on Form F-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 1, 2024, and amended that registration statement on August 16, 2024 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement contained (1) a preliminary prospectus with respect to the Nokia ordinary shares to be issued in the Merger; and (2) a preliminary proxy statement of Infinera in respect of a special meeting of Infinera’s stockholders, which is scheduled to be held on October 1, 2024 (the “Special Meeting”). The SEC declared the Registration Statement effective on August 21, 2024. On August 21, 2024, Nokia and Infinera filed the definitive proxy statement and prospectus with the SEC (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”).
In connection with the Merger, three complaints have been filed. One complaint was filed in United States District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Alcantar v. Infinera Corporation, et al., Case No. 5:24-cv-05979 (filed August 26, 2024). Two complaints were filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York and are captioned Williams v. Infinera Corporation, et al., Index No. 654775/2024 (filed September 12, 2024) and Jones v. Infinera Corporation, et al., Index No. 654784/2024 (filed September 13, 2024). The complaint filed in California federal court alleges that the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is materially incomplete and misleading in violation of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The complaints filed in New York state court allege that the Proxy Statement/Prospectus is materially incomplete and misleading and assert claims for negligent misrepresentation, concealment and negligence in violation of New York common law. The three complaints are referred to collectively as the “Merger Actions.” The Merger Actions name as defendants Infinera and members of Infinera’s Board of Directors (the “Infinera Board”). The Merger Actions seek, among other relief, corrective disclosures, an injunction of the Merger, rescission or rescissory damages (if the Merger is consummated), damages and attorneys’ fees.
In addition, Infinera has received multiple demand letters from purported stockholders of the Company (the “Demand Letters”), each of which make similar allegations to those in the Merger Actions regarding the purported deficiencies and/or incomplete information in the preliminary proxy statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or both.
Infinera believes that the disclosures set forth in the preliminary proxy statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus comply fully with all applicable law and that the allegations contained in the Merger Actions and Demand Letters are without merit. However, in order to moot the purported stockholders’ unmeritorious disclosure claims, alleviate the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation, and provide additional information to its stockholders, Infinera has determined to voluntarily supplement the Proxy Statement/Prospectus with certain supplemental disclosures set forth below (all such disclosures, the “Supplemental Disclosures”). Nothing in the Supplemental Disclosures shall be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under applicable laws of any of the disclosures in this Current Report on Form 8-K. To the contrary, Infinera specifically denies all allegations by the purported stockholders in the Merger Actions and Demand Letters that any additional disclosure was or is required or material. The Supplemental Disclosures will not affect the timing of the Special Meeting.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY.
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