SAN JOSE, Calif. and FREMONT, Calif., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Oclaro, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR), a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser solutions, and Opnext, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPXT), a global leader in the design and manufacture of optical modules, components and subsystems, today provided an update regarding their proposed merger.

At their respective stockholder meetings today, stockholders of Opnext approved the merger of the two companies. This approval was the final milestone needed from Opnext stockholders to close the merger.

The stockholders of Oclaro were asked to approve two proposals. The first proposal was to issue Oclaro shares to the Opnext stockholders as consideration in the merger. This proposal was approved.

Oclaro stockholders were also asked to approve a second proposal to increase the number of authorized shares, in order to have sufficient shares to deliver to the Opnext stockholders. During today's stockholder meeting, Oclaro received approximately 46% of the >50% majority vote needed to approve this proposal and close the merger. Of the votes cast today, approximately 89% were in favor of the proposal.

As a result, Oclaro stockholders approved a proposal to adjourn the stockholder meeting until July 23, 2012, 5:00 p.m. PDT, at the company headquarters at 2560 Junction Ave., San Jose, California, in order to solicit the additional votes required to complete the merger.

"The Oclaro and Opnext teams have been working diligently and our integration plans are on schedule," said Alain Couder, chairman and CEO, Oclaro. "We are ready to operate as a single company and look forward to taking our place as the #2 global provider of optical components, modules and subsystems."

How to Vote
Oclaro urges all stockholders of record (i.e. who held shares on May 23, 2012) to vote their shares. Stockholders eligible to vote who did not receive voting instructions or who have misplaced their proxy materials can obtain the information required to vote by sending an email to stockadmin@oclaro.com or by calling 408-919-6081. Stockholders must include their full name and zip code in their email to obtain the voting control information.

About Oclaro
Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR) is a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser components, modules and subsystems for a broad range of diverse markets, including telecommunications, industrial, scientific, consumer electronics and medical. Oclaro is a global leader, dedicated to photonics innovation with cutting-edge research and development (R&D) and chip fabrication facilities in the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Israel, Korea and Italy, and in-house and contract manufacturing sites in China and Thailand with design, sales and service organizations in each of the major regions around the world. www.oclaro.com.

About Opnext
Opnext (NASDAQ: OPXT) is the optical technology partner of choice supplying systems providers and OEMs worldwide with one of the industry's largest portfolios of 10Gbps and higher next generation optical products and solutions. The Company's industry expertise, future-focused thinking and commitment to research and development combine in bringing to market the most advanced technology to the communications, defense, security and biomedical industries. Formed out of Hitachi, Opnext has built on more than 30 years of experience in advanced technology to establish its broad portfolio of solutions and solid reputation for excellence in service and delivering value to its customers. For additional information, visit www.opnext.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release, including statements by management, contain statements about management's future expectations, plans or prospects and its business, and together with the assumptions underlying these statements contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to: (i) statements about the benefits of the merger involving Oclaro and Opnext, including potential synergies and cost savings and the timing thereof; (ii) future financial and operating results following the merger; (iii) the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; (iv) the competitive position and opportunities for the combined company; (v) the impact of the merger on the market for the combined company's products; (vi) the non-GAAP operating income and integration costs of the combined company; and (vii) other statements identified by words such as "potential," "expected," "plan," "estimate," "intend," "will," "should", "believe", "target", or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Oclaro's and Opnext's management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oclaro and Opnext. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of the merger to close for any reason; (ii) the competitive position and opportunities for the combined company; (iii) general business and economic conditions; (iv) the performance of financial markets; (v) risks relating to the consummation of the contemplated merger, including the risk that required stockholder approval might not be obtained in a timely manner or at all or that other closing conditions are not satisfied; (vi) the impact of the merger on the markets for the combined companies optical, industrial and consumer products; (vii) the failure of the combined company to realize synergies and cost-savings from the transaction or delay in realization thereof; (viii) the businesses or employees of Oclaro and Opnext not being combined and integrated successfully, or such combination taking longer or being more difficult, time-consuming or costly to accomplish than expected; (ix) operating costs and business disruption following the merger, including adverse effects on employee retention and on our business relationships with third parties; (x) the future performance of the combined company following the closing of the merger; (xi) the combined company's ability to maintain gross margins; (xii) effects of fluctuating product mix on results; (xiii) the combined company's ability to timely develop and commercialize new products; (xiv) the combined company's ability to respond to evolving technologies and customer requirements; (xv) the combined company's dependence on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of its projected revenues; (xvi) the combined company's ability to effectively compete with companies that have greater name recognition, broader customer relationships and substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources; (xvii) increased costs related to downsizing and compliance with regulatory requirements in connection with such downsizing, competition and pricing pressure; (xviii) the combined company's potential lack of availability of credit or opportunity for equity based financing; (xix) the combined company's risks associated with international operations; (xx) the combined company's outcome of tax audits or similar proceedings; and (xxi) the outcome of pending litigation against Oclaro or Opnext. Additional factors that can cause the results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the proxy materials previously distributed to Oclaro's and Opnext's stockholders and the most recent Form 10-Q, most recent Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed by Oclaro and Opnext with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They each anticipate subsequent events and developments may cause their views and expectations to change. Neither Oclaro nor Opnext assumes any obligation, and they specifically disclaim any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
This press release is being issued in connection with the proposed business combination involving Oclaro and Opnext. In connection with the proposed transaction, each of Oclaro and Opnext has mailed a proxy statement to its stockholders, and each of Oclaro and Opnext may file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders of Oclaro and Opnext are urged to carefully read the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by Oclaro and Opnext as they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC on Oclaro's website at www.oclaro.com or Opnext's website at www.opnext.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Oclaro, Opnext and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the proposed transaction. Information regarding the interests of these directors and executive officers in the proposed transaction is included in the proxy statement. Additional information regarding the directors and executive officers of Oclaro is also included in Oclaro's definitive proxy statement dated (and filed with the SEC on) September 9, 2011.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Oclaro, the Oclaro logo, and certain other Oclaro trademarks and logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Oclaro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Information in this release is subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Oclaro, Inc.