TORONTO, ONTARIO (February 1, 2006) -- Aastra Technologies Limited - (TSX: “AAH”) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Yves Laliberte as its Executive Vice President. Mr. Laliberte has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunication and networking markets, which includes him recently serving as the Vice President – Strategic Alliances at Avaya Canada Corp. and, prior to that, as the Director of Operations-Service Providers at CISCO Systems of Canada. Mr. Laliberte has also been a member of Aastra’s Board of Directors since 1996, and his role and leadership in this regard have been instrumental to Aastra’s success. Aastra believes that Mr. Laliberte will make a valuable addition to its senior management team given his extensive industry experience and familiarity with Aastra.
As a result of his recent appointment, it is Aastra’s current intention that Mr. Laliberte will serve as a director until the earlier of the appointment of a successor by the Board or the election by shareholders of his successor at Aastra’s upcoming annual meeting. In addition, Mr. Laliberte has resigned as an independent member of Aastra’s audit committee, but until Aastra has completed its search for a qualified, independent successor for him, Mr. Laliberte will serve on the audit committee as a non-independent member on an interim basis in order for Aastra to fulfill its requirements under corporate and securities laws with respect to the composition of its audit committee.
About Aastra Technologies Limited
Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX: “AAH”), headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, develops and markets products and systems for accessing communication networks. Aastra’s products include a full range of residential and business telephone terminals, Enterprise Private Branch Exchanges (PBX), network access servers and high quality digital video gateways. Aastra serves the majority of telephone companies and certain broadcasters in North America and Europe. For more information on Aastra, visit our Web site at http://www.aastra.com.
This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “believes”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “intends” or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aastra, or developments in Aastra’s business or in its industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to: expectations regarding the status of Mr. Laliberte as a valuable addition to Aastra’s senior management, the availability, in due course, of a suitable replacement for Mr. Laliberte as a director and member of the audit committee, and Aastra’s compliance with the temporary exemptions under Multilateral Instrument 52-110-Audit Committees for limited circumstances. As described in detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Aastra’s annual information form filed on www.sedar.com, the material factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release include: integration of Aastra’s recent acquisitions of EADS’ enterprise telephony business and DeTeWe’s telephony business; continued demand for Aastra’s recently-acquired products; Aastra’s reliance on third party manufacturers and component suppliers (in general and related to the recently-acquired businesses); dependence on key personnel; risks related to expansion of Aastra’s business operations-domestically and internationally; exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to future acquisitions; requirements for additional financing of Aastra’s business; longer credit terms extended to Aastra’s customers; continued implementation of an enterprise resource planning system; potential fluctuations in quarterly financial results; possible volatility to Aastra’s share price; limited range of products that Aastra sells; risks associated with product returns and product defects; Aastra’s ability to protect its intellectual property; Aastra’s potential vulnerability to computer and information systems security breaches; competition from third parties; consolidation and reorganization in the telecommunications industry; rapid technological change; risk of third party claims for infringement of intellectual property rights by others; and risks related to technical standards and the certification our products. The material factors and assumptions that were applied in making the forward-looking statements in this press include: that Aastra will be able to find an independent, qualified nominee for nomination as a director and member of the audit committee in a timely manner; that Mr. Laliberte’s industry experience and familiarity with Aastra will be material factors with respect to his proposed contribution to Aastra’s senior management team; and that there will be no further changes to the composition of Aastra’s audit committee prior to Aastra’s upcoming annual meeting of shareholders.
It is important to note that: unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe Aastra’s expectations as of the date of this press release; Aastra cautions readers not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release as actual results may differ materially from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect Aastra’s business, or if estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Therefore, Aastra cannot provide any assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize and Aastra assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.
For further information contact:
Allan Brett, CFO
905-760-4160
abrett@aastra.com
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Press Contact
Aastra Technologies Ltd.
155 Snow Blvd.
Concord, Ontario
Canada
L4K 4N9
press@aastra.com
Media Contact:
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Contact Investor Relations:
investors@aastra.com
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