Alcatel Plans Optical Tracking Stock

PARIS -- Alcatel today announced that its Board of Directors has approved plans to create a new class of Alcatel stock which is intended to track the performance of its Optronics Division, the Company's optical components business. The plan to create a tracking stock is subject to shareholders' approval, and the Board of Directors has called for an extraordinary general meeting of Alcatel's shareholders for September 20, 2000.

By creating a new class of Alcatel shares "Class O shares", the Alcatel Optronics Tracking Stock, Alcatel believes it will enhance market recognition of the Optronics Division's value and increase Alcatel's ability to respond to strategic opportunities in the optical industry, while maintaining control over the Division, which is a strategic business.

http://www.alcatel.com/vpr/index.htm?body=/latestnews/27072000_1uk