OREANDA-NEWS. Nokia announced that its Board of Directors has resolved on a directed issuance of a maximum amount of 1 673 282 Nokia shares (NOKIA) held by the company to Nokia employees participating in the Employee Share Purchase Plan 2015. The savings period of the Employee Share Purchase Plan 2015 ended on June 30, 2016. Under the terms and conditions of the plan, Nokia will offer one matching share for every two shares purchased under the plan which the participant still held on July 31, 2016.

Additionally, the Board of Directors resolved on a directed issuance of a maximum amount of 610 300 Nokia shares (NOKIA) held by the company to Nokia employees participating in the Employee Share Purchase Plan 2016. The savings period of the plan started on July 1, 2016 and ends on June 30, 2017. The shares are issued to deliver 20 free shares to every plan participant making the first three consecutive monthly share purchases under the plan as resolved by the Board of Directors when the plan was approved.

The shares are issued without consideration. As the issued shares are held by the company, the total number of the company's outstanding shares does not change as a consequence of the share issuance. The shares under the Employee Share Purchase Plan 2015 will be delivered to the employees on or around October 19, 2016 and the shares under the Employee Share Purchase Plan 2016 on or around November 16, 2016.

The Board of Directors approved the launch of the Employee Share Purchase Plans 2015 and 2016 as part of the Nokia Equity Programs on January 28, 2015 and February 10, 2016, respectively, to encourage employee share ownership, commitment and engagement. The resolution to issue shares is based on the authorization granted to the Board of Directors by the Annual General Meeting on June 16, 2016.