Nokia to sell Espoo headquarters for $220 mn

Nokia Corp plans to sell its head office in Espoo to real estate investors for Euro 170 million ($220 million) as the struggling cellphone maker continues to cut costs.

The Finnish company has operated in the glass and steel structure, known as Nokia House, since 1997.

CFO Timo Ihamuotila says the deal, to be concluded later this month, is in line with aims to shed non-core activities, adding that Nokia will continue to operate from the Espoo headquarters "on a long-term basis".

Tuesday's announcement comes amid fierce competition in the smartphone market in which the former No.1 phone maker has been edged out by Samsung Electronics and Apple Inc's iPhone.

Nokia has announced 10,000 job cuts and is streamlining operations to save Euro 1.6 billion by the end of 2013.