Alcatel announces plans to create a tracking stock for its optical components business
Paris. Alcatel today announced that its Board of Directors has approved plans to create a new class of Alcatel stock which is intended to track the performance of its Optronics Division, the Company s optical components business. The plan to create a tracking stock is subject to shareholders approval, and the Board of Directors has called for an extraordinary general meeting of Alcatel s shareholders for September 20, 2000.
By creating a new class of Alcatel shares "Class O shares", the Alcatel Optronics Tracking Stock, Alcatel believes it will enhance market recognition of the Optronics Division s value and increase Alcatel s ability to respond to strategic opportunities in the optical industry, while maintaining control over the Division, which is a strategic business.
Alcatel s Optronics Division designs, manufactures and sells high performance optical components, modules and integrated sub-systems for use in terrestrial and submarine optical telecommunications networks. Alcatel s Optronics Division is a leading provider of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) active components, and has experience in integrating active and passive components and modules into sub-systems.
Subject to prevailing market and other conditions, Alcatel intends to complete the public offering of the Alcatel Optronics tracking stock in Q4 2000.
This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company. The offer will be made only by means of a prospectus.
About Alcatel Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com
Contacts Press relations Klaus Wustrack, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 11 79, klaus.wustrack@alcatel.fr Sarah Compton, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 16 16, sarah.compton@alcatel.fr
Investor relations Claire Pedini, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 13 93, claire.pedini@alcatel.fr Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 13 30, charlotte.laurent-ottomane@alcatel.fr Emmanuel Spite, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 76 16 04, emmanuel.spite@alcatel.fr Peter Campbell, Tel: +1 972 519 4347, peter.campbell@usa.alcatel.com
E-mail: peter.campbell@usa.alcatel.com
Web site: http://www.alcatel.com
