Who Owns Nokia Company?

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Who Really Controls Nokia?

Unraveling the question of "Who owns Nokia company?" is essential for anyone tracking the telecommunications giant. Understanding Nokia ownership provides critical insights into its strategic direction, investment potential, and overall market position. From its humble beginnings to its current global footprint, Nokia's ownership story is a fascinating journey through corporate evolution.

Nokia Corporation, a Finnish multinational, has a rich Nokia SWOT Analysis. Tracing its roots back to 1865, the company has transformed from a pulp mill to a telecommunications leader. Today, as a publicly traded entity, understanding the current ownership structure, including the major shareholders of Nokia, is key to grasping its future. The evolution of Nokia's ownership provides a crucial lens through which to view its strategic moves and financial health, considering its current market capitalization and where Nokia's headquarters is located.

The story of the Nokia company begins with Fredrik Idestam, who established a pulp mill in 1865 near Tampere, Finland. This marked the initial foray into what would become a global technology leader. The company's roots are firmly planted in Finnish soil, evolving from paper manufacturing to a diversified industrial entity.

Three years after the first mill, Idestam expanded his operations by building a second mill near the town of Nokia, which later lent its name to the company. In 1871, Idestam partnered with Leo Mechelin to formally establish Nokia Ab. This early partnership set the stage for the company's future growth and diversification.

While the exact ownership details of the founders at the company's inception aren't readily available in public records, the early vision clearly extended beyond paper production. This initial diversification laid the groundwork for the company's later ventures into various sectors, including telecommunications.

Early Beginnings

Fredrik Idestam founded a pulp mill in 1865, laying the foundation for the company. The second mill was built near the town of Nokia, giving the company its name. The company was formally established in 1871.

Diversification

The company expanded into various products throughout the 19th century. This diversification was a key strategy for growth. It set the stage for future ventures.

1967 Merger

In 1967, three companies merged to form Nokia Corporation. This merger restructured the company into four main businesses. The merger marked a significant change in the company's structure.

Early Ownership

Specific equity splits of the founders at the beginning are not readily available. The early vision included diversification beyond paper. This set the stage for future developments.

Industrial Footprint

The merger created a broad industrial footprint. The restructuring included forestry, cable, rubber, and electronics. This diversification was a key strategy.

Telecommunications

The diversification laid the groundwork for later ventures into telecommunications. This was a key strategic move. Nokia's future was shaped by these early decisions.

The 1967 merger of Nokia Company, Finnish Rubber Works, and Kaapelitehdas (Finnish Cable Works) created the Nokia Corporation, restructuring the company into forestry, cable, rubber, and electronics. While specific ownership details from this period are not extensively available, this diversification was crucial for the company's later success in telecommunications. To understand more about the company's financial structure, you can read about the Revenue Streams & Business Model of Nokia.

Key Takeaways

The company's origins trace back to a pulp mill in 1865. The name comes from the town of Nokia. The 1967 merger was a pivotal moment.

• Fredrik Idestam founded the original pulp mill.
• The company diversified into various industries.
• The merger formed the Nokia Corporation.
• Early ownership details are not widely available.

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The evolution of Nokia ownership has been marked by significant strategic shifts. Initially a Finnish company, it has transformed into a global entity with a complex ownership structure. Key events include the sale of its mobile phone business to Microsoft in 2014, which did not involve the sale of the Nokia corporation itself. This led to HMD Global licensing the Nokia brand for mobile phones, while Nokia focused on network equipment. Recent moves include acquiring China Huaxin's stake in Nokia Shanghai Bell and the acquisition of Infinera in early 2025.

Who owns Nokia is a question answered by examining its publicly traded status and major shareholders. The company's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the New York Stock Exchange. As of May 2025, institutional investors held a substantial portion of the shares. Key institutional holders include Vanguard, Artisan Partners, and Pzena Investment Management. In Finland, SOLIDIUM OY, Nokia Oyj (treasury shares), and KESKINÄINEN ELÄKEVAKUUTUSYHTIÖ ILMARINEN are among the major shareholders.

Understanding the ownership structure is crucial for assessing the company's strategic direction and financial health. The diverse shareholder base, including both institutional and Finnish entities, reflects its global presence and the continued interest in its network equipment business. For further insights into the company's strategic direction, consider reading about the Growth Strategy of Nokia.

Key Takeaways on Nokia's Ownership

Nokia's ownership is primarily held by institutional investors and Finnish entities.

• The company is publicly traded on major stock exchanges.
• Significant shareholders include Vanguard, Artisan Partners, and SOLIDIUM OY.
• Strategic acquisitions and brand licensing have shaped its ownership evolution.
• Nokia's focus remains on network equipment.

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The Board of Directors at Nokia plays a critical role in guiding the company's strategic direction and ensuring accountability to its shareholders. Sari Baldauf currently holds the position of Chair of the Board. The board is responsible for making key decisions, including leadership succession and share buyback programs. For example, a share buyback program was initiated in November 2024 to offset the dilutive effect of new shares issued for the Infinera acquisition. This program concluded on April 2, 2025, with 150,000,000 shares repurchased at an average price of approximately EUR 4.69, and subsequently cancelled in April 2025.

The board's resolutions are essential for significant financial and operational decisions. The issuance of shares for the Infinera acquisition, for instance, was based on the board's resolution on November 22, 2024. The voting structure generally follows a one-share-one-vote principle for public companies like Nokia. As of April 23, 2025, the total number of shares and votes in Nokia Corporation was 5,455,850,345.

Recent governance discussions have included the Board's continuous assessment of leadership succession planning. This process led to the announcement of Justin Hotard as the new President and CEO, effective April 1, 2025, succeeding Pekka Lundmark. This transition aligns with Nokia's strategic focus on AI and high-performance computing. Understanding Nokia's target market is also crucial for understanding its overall strategy.

Key Takeaways on Nokia's Board and Voting Power

The Board of Directors at Nokia is responsible for strategic decisions and oversight. The board's decisions significantly impact the company's financial and operational strategies. The voting structure generally follows a one-share-one-vote principle.

• Sari Baldauf serves as the Chair of the Board.
• Justin Hotard became the new President and CEO on April 1, 2025.
• The board initiated a share buyback program in November 2024.
• Total shares and votes as of April 23, 2025, were 5,455,850,345.

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Over the past few years, the Nokia ownership structure has seen considerable shifts, reflecting broader industry dynamics. A significant development was the completion of a share buyback program in April 2025, where the company repurchased 150 million shares at an average price of approximately EUR 4.69 and subsequently canceled them. As of June 6, 2025, Nokia held 65,699,046 treasury shares. These actions reflect an effort to manage capital and potentially increase shareholder value. This is part of a larger trend in the tech sector, with companies often using buybacks to offset share dilution and boost earnings per share.

In terms of mergers and acquisitions, Nokia finalized the acquisition of Infinera Corporation on February 28, 2025, for a US$1.7 billion equity value. This strategic move is designed to bolster Nokia's network infrastructure capabilities, particularly in data center IP networking. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2024, Nokia exercised its call option to become the sole shareholder of Nokia Shanghai Bell (NSB), streamlining its ownership in China. These moves, along with the sale of its submarine networks business, Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), to the French government for €350 million, demonstrate a strategic realignment towards core network infrastructure. These changes in ownership and business focus are crucial for understanding the current state of the Nokia company.

Leadership changes also played a role, with Justin Hotard succeeding Pekka Lundmark as President and CEO on April 1, 2025. Hotard’s background in Intel's Data Center & AI Group aligns with Nokia's strategic focus on AI and high-performance computing. These changes, combined with shifts in the company's strategic focus towards large-scale telecommunications infrastructure and technology development, highlight the ongoing evolution of Nokia's business model. The company is also making significant investments, with up to an additional EUR 100 million in annual operating expenses, to broaden its addressable market in data center IP networking, aiming for incremental net sales of EUR 1 billion by 2028. These developments are essential for anyone tracking the Nokia ownership.

Nokia's Strategic Shifts

Nokia's focus is on large-scale telecommunications infrastructure, technology development, and licensing. Recent acquisitions and divestitures reflect a strategic realignment.

Ownership Structure

The company's ownership profile has evolved with share buybacks and strategic acquisitions. Institutional ownership is also on the rise.

Leadership Transition

Justin Hotard took over as President and CEO on April 1, 2025. This change brings expertise in AI and high-performance computing.

Financial Strategy

Nokia is investing heavily in data center IP networking. These investments are aimed at boosting sales and market presence.

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