Nokia Growth Partners raises USD 350 million investment fund for investments in Internet of Things
GlobeNewswire
Press Release
Announced by Nokia President and CEO Rajeev Suri at Mobile World Congress today, the new fund brings assets under management by NGP to well over USD 1 billion and serves to find the best entrepreneurs in the Internet of Things (IoT) globally, as well as support Nokia`s goal to become a leader in a world where everybody and everything is connected.
February 21, 2016
Espoo, Finland - Nokia Growth Partners (NGP) today announced the closing of a new USD 350 million fund for investments in IoT companies. The fund is sponsored by Nokia and will serve to identify new opportunities to grow the ecosystem in IoT solutions. The fund IV commitment brings NGP`s total assets under management to over USD 1 billion, including USD 500 million available for new investments.
The fund will invest in promising companies primarily around Connected Enterprise, Consumer Solutions, Connected Car and Digital Health, as well as enabling technologies with a focus on capabilities in big data and analytics. NGP`s reach spans the US, Europe, India and China.
"The $350 million Internet of Things investment fund, tasked with finding and funding the best entrepreneurs across the world, reflects our strong intent to be a leader in the technologies that connect people and things, while establishing successful partnerships for both Nokia and the investee companies," said Nokia President and CEO Rajeev Suri.
NGP has established a successful investment track record over the past ten years with partners who each have over 25 years of operating and investment experience. NGP has consistently delivered top quartile investment returns while facilitating partnerships for Nokia. Recent successes include early investments in GanJi and UCMobile, resulting in two of the largest tech acquisitions in China history, as well as the listing of Rocketfuel on the Nasdaq.
"Connecting everything through IoT solutions is the next big technological wave and it will affect all aspects of our lives. We are excited to continue working closely with Nokia to build the ecosystem while increasing partnering and company success," said NGP Managing Partner Bo Ilsoe. "With the new commitment from Nokia, NGP has more than USD 500 million of fresh capital to deploy behind the best entrepreneurs and teams out there."
The fund will support Nokia in defining future business opportunities and the technical underpinnings for the rapidly growing IoT market. Working closely with operators, enterprises and a strong ecosystem of partners through its IoT community, Nokia combines its mobile and fixed network infrastructure assets with secure IoT connectivity, distributed cloud, as well as IoT platforms with applications and analytics and individualized services. Nokia expects IoT to create new industries and opportunities in connected mobility, smart cities, public safety and healthcare and the connected home.
Nokia Growth Partners NGP invests in entrepreneurs building intelligent solutions connecting everybody and everything. Providing deep industry expertise and an extensive network, NGP helps entrepreneurs accelerate company growth. With offices in the US, Europe, India and China, NGP extends the reach of companies making their products and services local everywhere. Uniquely structured as a private and independent venture firm sponsored only by Nokia, NGP offers the rigor of a financial investor while facilitating strategic engagement with Nokia. Visit www.nokiagrowthpartners.com for more information.
About Nokia Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the innovation of Bell Labs and Nokia Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and licensing the technologies that are increasingly at the heart of our connected lives.
With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. www.nokia.com
RISKS AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS It should be noted that Nokia and its businesses are exposed to various risks and uncertainties and certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding: A) Nokia`s ability to integrate Alcatel-Lucent into its operations and achieve the targeted business plans and benefits, including targeted synergies in relation to the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent announced on April 15, 2015 and closed in early 2016 ("Acquisition"); B) Nokia`s ability to squeeze out the remaining Alcatel-Lucent shareholders in a timely manner or at all to achieve full ownership of Alcatel-Lucent; C) expectations, plans or benefits related to Nokia`s strategies; D) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of Nokia`s businesses; E) expectations, plans or benefits related to changes in our management and other leadership, operational structure and operating model, including the expected characteristics, business, organizational structure, management and operations following the Acquisition; F) expectations regarding market developments, general economic conditions and structural changes; G) expectations and targets regarding performance, including those related to market share, prices, net sales, income and margins; H) timing of the deliveries of our products and services; I) expectations and targets regarding our financial performance, results, operating expenses, taxes, cost savings and competitiveness, as well as results of operations, including targeted synergies; J) expectations and targets regarding collaboration and partnering arrangements, as well as the expected customer reach of Nokia following the Acquisition; K) outcome of pending and threatened litigation, arbitration, disputes, regulatory proceedings or investigations by authorities; L) expectations regarding restructurings, investments, uses of proceeds from transactions, acquisitions and divestments and our ability to achieve the financial and operational targets set in connection with any such restructurings, investments, divestments and acquisitions; and M) statements preceded by or including "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "foresee," "sees," "target," "estimate," "designed," "aim," "plans," "intends," "focus," "continue," "project," "should," "will" or similar expressions. These statements are based on the management`s best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Because they involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from the results that we currently expect. Factors, including risks and uncertainties, that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: 1) Nokia`s inability to achieve the targeted business and operational benefits and synergies or disruption caused by the Alcatel-Lucent transaction, including inability to integrate Alcatel-Lucent into Nokia operations and any negative effect from the implementation of the combination, for instance due to the loss of customers, loss of key executives or employees or reduced focus on day-to-day operations and business, or negative effects caused by delays or inability to squeeze out the remaining Alcatel-Lucent shareholders; 2) our ability to identify market trends and business opportunities to select and execute strategies successfully and in a timely manner, and our ability to successfully adjust our operations and operating models; 3) our ability to sustain or improve the operational and financial performance of our businesses and correctly identify or successfully pursue new business opportunities; 4) our dependence on general economic and market conditions, including the capacity for growth in internet and technology usage; 5) our exposure to regulatory, political or other developments in various countries or regions; 6) our ability to invent new relevant technologies, products and services, to develop and maintain our intellectual property portfolio and to maintain the existing sources of intellectual property related revenue and establish new such sources; 7) our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against third-party infringements and claims that we have infringed third parties` intellectual property rights ("IPR"), as well as increased licensing costs and restrictions on our ability to use certain technologies, and litigation related to IPR; 8) the potential complex tax issues, tax disputes and tax obligations we may face, including the obligation to pay additional taxes in various jurisdictions and our actual or anticipated performance, among other factors, which could reduce our ability to utilize deferred tax assets; 9) our ability to retain, motivate, develop and recruit appropriately skilled employees, for instance due to possible disruption caused by the Acquisition and related operational and other changes; 10) the performance of the parties we partner and collaborate with, as well as that of our financial counterparties, and our ability to achieve successful collaboration or partnering arrangements, including any disruption from the transaction in obtaining or maintaining the contractual relationships; 11) exchange rate fluctuations, particularly between the euro, which is our reporting currency, and the US dollar, the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan, as well as certain currencies; 12) the impact of unfavorable outcome of litigation, arbitration, contract-related disputes or allegations of health hazards associated with our businesses; 13) any inefficiency, malfunction or disruption of a system or network that our operations rely on or any impact of a possible cybersecurity breach; 14) our ability to achieve targeted benefits from or successfully implement planned transactions, such as acquisitions, divestments, mergers or joint ventures, and manage unexpected liabilities related thereto; 15) our ability to manage our operating expenses and reach targeted results through efforts aimed at improving our financial performance, for instance through cost savings and other efforts aimed at increased competitiveness; 16) Nokia`s ability to optimize its capital structure as planned and re-establish our investment grade credit rating; 17) Nokia`s ability to execute its strategy or to effectively and profitably adapt its business and operations in a timely manner to the increasingly diverse needs of its customers in the information technology and communications industries and related services market or to appropriately adapt to related technological developments; 18) Nokia`s ability to effectively and profitably invest in new competitive high-quality products, services, upgrades and technologies and bring them to market in a timely manner; 19) Nokia`s dependence on a limited number of customers and large multi-year agreements and adverse effects as a result of further operator consolidation; 20) Nokia`s ability to manage its manufacturing, service creation and delivery, as well as our logistics efficiently and without interruption; 21) Nokia`s dependence on a limited number of suppliers, who may fail to deliver sufficient quantities of fully functional products and components or deliver timely services meeting its customers` needs; 22) adverse developments with respect to customer financing or extended payment terms Nokia provides to customers; 23) Nokia Technologies` ability to maintain its existing sources of intellectual property related revenue or establish new sources; 24) Nokia Technologies` dependence on a limited number of key licensees that contribute proportionally significant patent licensing income, including the outcome of any pending arbitrations or negotiations; 25) Nokia Technologies` dependence on adequate regulatory protection for patented or other proprietary technologies; 26) Nokia Technologies` ability to execute its plans through business areas such as licensing the Nokia brand and other business ventures, including benefits and plans related to technology innovation and incubation; and 27) unexpected liabilities or issues with respect to the Acquisition, including pension and employee liabilities or higher than expected transaction costs, as well as the risk factors specified on pages 74 to 89 of Nokia`s latest annual report on Form 20-F under "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-Risk factors" as well as in Nokia`s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proven to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Nokia does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: NOKIA via GlobeNewswire HUG#1987900
