FORM 6-K
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of September, 2006
Commission File Number 1-11130
ALCATEL
(Translation of registrants name into English)
54, rue La Boétie
75008 Paris France
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form
20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F þ Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (1):
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (7):
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant
is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No þ
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with
Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Alcatel
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Date: September 1st, 2006 |
By: |
/S/ Jean-Pascal Beaufret
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Jean-Pascal Beaufret |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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This
report on Form 6-K is not incorporated by reference into Registration
Statement No. 333-133919 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Press release
Alcatel intends to acquire Nortels UMTS radio access business to strengthen its
leadership position in UMTS
Set to become a strong number 3 in UMTS and HSxPA
Paris, September 1, 2006 Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) announced today that it has
signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Nortel to acquire its UMTS radio access
business (UTRAN) and related assets for USD 320 million. This is a key step in Alcatels strategy
to further strengthen its UMTS market position, and thus expand its global leadership in broadband
access.
With this deal, Alcatel should become one of the worlds largest suppliers of UMTS radio access
solutions, and further reinforce its technology edge at a time when the UMTS market is expanding
rapidly. The proposed acquisition would enhance Alcatels industry-leading mobile radio expertise
and product portfolio with technology and products that enjoy strong recognition among leading
operators such as the Vodafone and Orange groups. Alcatel also intends to benefit from
significantly strengthened research and development capabilities, amongst the most advanced in the
world, with the scale and know-how to lead innovation in broadband wireless access, especially in
HSxPA and 3G Long-Term Evolution (3G LTE), fully leveraging Alcatels expertise in multi-standard
radio solutions and Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology.
Under the transaction, Alcatel intends to acquire Nortels UMTS radio access technology and product
portfolio, associated patents and tangible assets as well as customer contracts. It is anticipated
that a significant majority of employees of Nortels UMTS access business, will be transferred to
Alcatel.
Following the transaction, Alcatel would serve an additional fourteen UMTS customers around the
world for a combined global footprint that amounts to one in four UMTS operators. Alcatel would
also significantly reinforce its presence with Tier-1 operators, especially in world-leading 3G
markets such as South Korea, Italy, Spain, France, and the UK. While strengthening its presence in
developed mobile markets, the transaction would also put Alcatel in a unique position to serve the
needs of major upcoming 3G markets, such as China and other key fast-growing regions, where the
company already enjoys a strong GSM/EDGE footprint.
The expertise of Nortels UMTS team is well-known. I am confident that the scale resulting from
our combined forces (including those of Lucent, pending the conclusion of the merger) will pave the
way for further success in the wireless market. We are clearly poised to become a strong number 3
in UMTS and HSxPA, said Marc Rouanne, President of Alcatels mobile communications activities.
Combined with our strong GSM/EDGE position, our early leadership in WiMAX and our strong
commitment to LTE, this acquisition will add further momentum to Alcatels broadband wireless
access strategy. Through the contemplated merger with Lucent, the combined company will also enjoy
a leading position in CDMA EV-DO, including a clear commitment to Rev C, thus offering the most
comprehensive and innovative wireless access portfolio in the industry, he added.
Together with
our long-standing leadership in DSL, it makes us the partner of choice to assist our customers in
their network transformation towards seamless broadband.
This deal will be a win-win for both companies and our customers, said Richard Lowe, president,
Mobility and Converged Core Networks, Nortel. We will work closely with our UMTS access customers
during the planned transition to make it as seamless as possible and will continue to provide the
best support for other Nortel solutions deployed in their networks.
The acquisition is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement and other closing conditions.
The parties are targeting to complete the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Alcatel has and will continue to involve Lucent in the conclusion and implementation of this
project in order to achieve the most efficient fit within the combined company.
Alcatel will hold a press briefing call today at 2:00 pm CET (8:00 am EST). Dial in
instructions are listed below.
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USA:
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(800) 230-1096 |
International:
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+ 1 612 288 0340 |
Please ask for the Alcatel teleconference and state your name.
Slides of the presentation will be available from September 1, 2006 at 2 PM CET at the following
website:
http://www.alcatel.com/lead/nortel.htm.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers
and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees.
Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and
services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of
EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For
more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet:
http://www.alcatel.com
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Alcatel Press Contacts |
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Régine Coqueran
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Tel: + 33 (0)1 40 76 49 24
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regine.coqueran@alcatel.com |
Mark Burnworth
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Tel: + 33 (0)1 40 76 50 84
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mark.burnworth@alcatel.com |
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Alcatel Investor Relations |
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Pascal Bantegnie
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Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 52 20
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pascal.bantegnie@alcatel.com |
Nicolas Leyssieux
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Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 37 32
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nicolas.leyssieux@alcatel.com |
Maria Alcon
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Tel : +33 (0)1 40 76 15 17
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maria.alcon@alcatel.com |
Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane
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Tel : +1 703 668 7016
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charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.com |
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements regarding the proposed transaction between Nortel and
Alcatel, their expectations regarding the execution of definitive agreements, the expected
timetable for completing the transaction, benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction and
other statements about Alcatels future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects that are
based on current expectations and assumptions about the integration of Nortels UMTS Access
business within Alcatels other activities and eventually those of the Alcatel Lucent combined
company. These statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as expects, anticipates,
targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, variations of
such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements which
are not statements of historical facts. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
assess. Therefore, actual outcomes and
results may differ materially from what is expressed or
forecasted in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are based upon a
number of important factors including, among others: foremost, the ability of the parties to agree
on the specific terms of the transaction, and therefore proceed with it; the ability consummate the
proposed transaction once the parties have agreed to its terms and conditions; difficulties and
delays in obtaining regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction; difficulties and delays in
achieving synergies; difficulties in effecting a smooth transition of the activities from Nortel to
Alcatel, and in particular with regards to customer demands; fluctuations in the telecommunications
market, and more specifically the UMTS Access market as well as the emergence of competing
technologies; the pricing, cost and other risks inherent in long-term sales agreements; the social,
political and economic risks associated with Nortels UMTS Access operations; changes to existing
regulations or technical standards; and difficulties and costs in protecting intellectual property
rights and exposure to infringement claims by others. Except as required under the US federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Alcatel
disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the
distribution of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events,
developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise. With regards to the proposed transaction between
Alcatel and Lucent, which is not the object of this press release, please refer to Alcatels
registration statement on Form F-4 (File no. 33-133919) which contains a description of a number of
the identified risks relating thereto.