Sonus Networks Announces Privately-Negotiated Share Repurchase

Sonus Networks Announces Privately-Negotiated Share Repurchase

WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sonus Networks, Inc. (NAS: SONS) , a global leader in SIP-based communications, today announced that as part of the Company's previously announced stock buyback program, it has agreed to repurchase approximately 7.4 million shares of the Company's common stock in a privately negotiated transaction with Galahad Securities Limited and its affiliated entities (together, the "Legatum Group") at $3.40 per share, the market closing price on August 22, 2013, for a total purchase price of approximately $25 million. The Company will pay for the share repurchase using cash on hand.

Prior to the transaction, as reflected in filings made by the Legatum Group with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Legatum Group owned 67.3 million shares, or approximately 24%, of the Company's outstanding common stock. The repurchased shares will be cancelled, resulting in 275.5 million shares of the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding. As a result of the transaction, the Legatum Group will own 59.9 million shares, or approximately 22%, of the Company's outstanding common stock.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Sonus Networks, Ray Dolan, commented, "This transaction with the Legatum Group will allow us to reduce the concentration of our largest shareholder in an orderly fashion."

The Company announced on July 29, 2013 that the Board of Directors had authorized a stock buyback program to repurchase up to $100 million of the Company's common stock from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and amount of any shares repurchased will be determined by the Company's management based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors. Repurchases may also be made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which would permit shares to be repurchased when the Company might otherwise be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws. The buyback program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The buyback program will be funded using the Company's working capital. As of June 28, 2013, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $304.0 million. As of July 18, 2013, and prior to the transaction with the Legatum Group, there were 282.8 million shares of the Company's common stock outstanding.

Tags

Sonus Networks, Sonus, SONS, share repurchase, stock, buyback, IP-based network solutions, SBC, SBC 1000, SBC 2000, SBC 5100, SBC 5200, SBC 9000, session border controller, VX series, session management, SIP trunking, Cloud VoIP communications, unified communications, UC, VoIP, IP, TDM.

About Sonus Networks

Sonus helps the world's leading communications service providers and enterprises embrace the next generation of SIP-based solutions including VoIP, video and Unified Communications through secure, reliable and scalable IP networks. With customers around the globe and over 15 years of experience transforming networks to IP, Sonus has enabled service providers to capture and retain users and both service providers and enterprises to generate significant ROI. Sonus products include session border controllers, policy/routing servers, subscriber feature servers and media and signaling gateways. Sonus products are supported by a global services team with experience in design, deployment and maintenance of some of the world's largest and most complex IP networks. For more information, visit www.sonus.net or call 1-855-GO-SONUS.

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "anticipates", "believes", "could", "estimates", "expects", "expectations", "intends", "may", "plans", "seeks", "projects" and other similar language, whether in the negative or affirmative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: plans, expectations, objectives, outlook, goals, strategies, future events or performance, trends, liquidity and financial positions, revenues and earnings, performance and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements are discussed in Part I, Item 2 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", Part I, Item 3 "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We therefore caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

Sonus is a registered trademark of Sonus Networks, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Sonus Networks, Inc.
Patti Leahy, 978-614-8440
pleahy@sonusnet.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

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