Juniper et HPE : le client passe
avant tout

6 février 2024

Rami Rahim, PDG, Juniper Networks

 

2024 commence sous les meilleures auspices.

Le mois dernier, nous avons annoncé l'accord définitif d'acquisition de Juniper Networks par HPE. Peu après, nous organisions le sales kickoff, où j'ai pu ressentir l'enthousiasme débordant de nos équipes commerciales venues du monde entier. Chez Juniper, nous sommes tous fiers du succès de notre technologie d'IA (et de la révolutionnaire AI-Native Networking Platformqui l'incarne désormais) et nous sommes confiants sur les opportunités qu'elle nous réserve.

Comme je le disais dans mon article de blog à l'annonce de l'acquisition, une opportunité unique comme l'IA demande des décisions audacieuses. D'où notre alliance avec HPE. Explosion du nombre d'utilisateurs et d'appareils, niveaux inédits de fiabilité imposés aux réseaux, pénurie de compétences dans le secteur… pour tous les défis modernes, notre approche axée sur l'expérience est une évidence. Mais les prouesses techniques ne suffisent pas à rentabiliser un investissement. Pour nous, l'expérience doit être durable.

Sur ce point, je veux donc être très clair : l'objectif de cette acquisition n'est pas d'éliminer des produits. Au contraire, nous voulons proposer plus de choix et d'innovation aux entreprises, aux fournisseurs de service et aux fournisseurs cloud qui nous font confiance.

Je sais qu'Antonio Neri, PDG de HPE, partage mon avis : en nous engageant pleinement pour nos clients, notre entreprise combinée peut véritablement révolutionner le secteur des réseaux avec l'IA. C'est pourquoi j'ai personnellement hâte de diriger nos activités réseau unifiées, impatient que les innovations avec lesquelles nous transformerons le secteur profitent à tous nos clients.

Nous venons tout juste d'entamer les discussions concernant le calendrier d'intégration, mais je vous assure que Juniper continuera de donner la priorité à ses clients et partenaires, et honorera ses engagements contractuels et ses politiques en matière d'assistance, de services et de cycle de vie des produits. Juniper est résolue à minimiser les perturbations et à débloquer un maximum de valeur pour ses clients et partenaires durant cette transaction et l'intégration qui suivra.

Lors de mes échanges avec Antonio, j'ai découvert qu'HPE avait beaucoup en commun avec Juniper : des valeurs fortes, le souci du bien-être au travail et un esprit d'innovation. Ensemble, nous voulons pouvoir attaquer de front les plus grands défis du secteur afin d'impacter positivement et durablement les réalités du numérique : le loisir, le travail et le quotidien. En combinant les avantages de leurs solutions, nos deux entreprises pourront maximiser la valeur que nous offrons aux clients.

À ce jour, la finalisation de l'acquisition est prévue pour la fin d'année civile 2024 ou début 2025. Pour l'heure, cependant, notre activité reste inchangée. Je vous garantis que Juniper continuera de servir ses clients et partenaires avec le même dévouement et la même attention dont nous faisons preuve depuis toujours.

Merci pour votre soutien et votre confiance indéfectibles.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on Juniper's current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions made by Juniper, all of which are subject to change. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business, financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “might,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “expect,” “target,” and similar expressions or the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. All forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Juniper's control, and are not guarantees of future results. These and other forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such statements, and caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (i) the completion of the proposed transaction on anticipated terms and timing or at all, including obtaining stockholder and regulatory approvals and other conditions to the completion of the transaction; (ii) the ability of HPE to integrate and implement its plans, forecasts and other expectations with respect to Juniper's business after the completion of the proposed transaction and realize additional opportunities for growth and innovation; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (iv) Juniper's ability to implement its business strategies; (v) potential significant transaction costs associated with the proposed transaction; (vi) the risks related to HPE's financing of the proposed transaction, (vii) potential litigation or regulatory actions relating to the proposed transaction; (viii) the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm Juniper's business, including current plans and operations, and risks related to diverting management's attention from Juniper's ongoing business operations and relationships; (ix) the ability of Juniper to retain and hire key personnel; (x) potential adverse business uncertainty resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction, including restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact Juniper's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (xi) legal, regulatory, tax and economic developments affecting Juniper's business; (xii) the unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak of war or hostilities or current or future pandemics or epidemics, as well as Juniper's response to any of the aforementioned factors; and (xiii) other risks described in Juniper's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings made by Juniper from time to time with the SEC. These risks should not be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainty, and are discussed more fully, along with other risks associated with the proposed transaction, in the Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Juniper does not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction between Juniper and HPE, Juniper will file with the SEC the Proxy Statement, the definitive version of which will be sent or provided to Juniper stockholders. Juniper may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document which Juniper may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement (when it is available) and other documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC by Juniper through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, Juniper's investor relations website at https://investor.Juniper.net or by contacting the Juniper investor relations department at the following:

Participants in the Solicitation

Juniper and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Juniper's directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in Juniper's proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023. Juniper stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction, including the interests of Juniper directors and executive officers in the transaction, which may be different than those of Juniper stockholders generally, by reading the Proxy Statement and any other relevant documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC relating to the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above.

To the extent holdings of Juniper's securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in such documents, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement relating to the proposed transaction when it is filed with the SEC.