The Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia will sell its mobile phones in the U.S. computer giant Microsoft for € 5.44 billion, and throwing in the towel in a job which he was long a world leader. Nokia will now focus on the service sector and construction of equipment for network operators, a qualified “best way to move forward, both for Nokia and its shareholders’ decision, according to its president Risto Siilasmaa , said in a statement. Nokia was finalized in August redemption of 50% of Nokia Siemens Networks, which specializes in high-speed networks, owned by the German industrial Siemens to develop this activity, now considered vital. The Finnish group also announced the departure of its chief executive Stephen Elop, who will be replaced temporarily by Risto Siilasmaa. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of next year, after approval of shareholders and regulatory authorities. Some 32,000 Nokia employees spend at Microsoft, about 4700 for Finland alone. According to a statement issued separately by Microsoft, the price paid is composed of 3.79 billion euros for mobile phones and 1.65 billion business for the right to use patents the Finnish group. According to the announcement, the net gain from the transaction will be 3.2 billion euros, a very favorable value for the shareholders of Nokia, according to the company. The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of 2014. According to Risto Siilasmaa, the sale will “clearly strengthen the financial position” of the group and give “a solid basis for investment in the activities of Nokia in the future,” he said during a conference call. Speculation about the sale of Nokia were running for months, and the press and analysts have reported several other candidates, including China’s Huawei and Chinese PC maker Lenovo. With this acquisition, Microsoft will be able to” intensify its success in smartphones, “announced CEO Steve Ballmer during the conference call. Microsoft is following the footsteps of his great rival internet that Google has already invested in the “hardware”, buying U.S. handset maker Motorola. The acquisition of Nokia should also revive speculation about the fate of another great historical name of the mobile phone, the Canadian BlackBerry in great difficulties. Nokia dominated the mobile phone market for 14 years, until Samsung dethroned in 2012 as the best-selling brand in the world. Exceeded especially in smartphones from Apple (iPhone) and Samsung, the Finnish company had with Stephen Elop at the helm, based his entire strategy since 2011 on the alliance with Microsoft. Since then, sales of low-end mobile phones of Nokia began their inexorable decline. In the second quarter, this decline continued in value (- 39%) and in number, while in smartphones sales have plunged 24% from a year earlier. Lumia sales, the “smartphone” the “last chance” based on the operating system of Microsoft, reached 7.4 million units in the second quarter, struggling to convince industry analysts. For Finland, Nokia has a special importance, being the largest company in the country. Steve Ballmer wanted to reassure 4,700 employees in Finland, who become employees of Microsoft. “We have no significant relocate jobs worldwide as part of the merger plans,” he said during the conference call. “We recognize the role of Nokia here.”
particular importance for Finland
