VimpelCom raises its stake in ZAO ArmenTel to 100%
18 Apr 2007

Moscow and New York (April 18, 2007) — Open Joint Stock Company "Vimpel-Communications" ("VimpelCom" or the "Company") (NYSE: VIP), today announced the closing of the transaction to acquire 10% of the shares of ZAO ArmenTel from the Government of Armenia. The price of these shares is approximately Euro 38.6 million, which constitutes 1/9 of the final price paid by VimpelCom for 90% of the shares of ZAO ArmenTel acquired in November 2006.  In addition, VimpelCom will pay an amount representing 10% of the retained net profit of ZAO ArmenTel for the period following the closing of the acquisition of 90% of the ArmenTel shares and up to the closing of the acquisition of 10% of the ArmenTel shares from the Government of Armenia. 

ArmenTel is a fixed-line and mobile operator in Armenia with licenses in the GSM-900 and CDMA standards.  ArmenTel’s subscriber base includes approximately 608,500 fixed-line subscribers and 452,000 mobile subscribers.

The VimpelCom Group includes cellular companies operating in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and recently acquired companies in Georgia and Armenia. The VimpelCom Group's cellular license portfolio covers a territory with a population of about 240 million. This includes 77 regions of Russia (136.5 million people, representing 94% of the Russia's population), and the entire territories of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Armenia. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). VimpelCom's ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VIP".

VimpelCom Ltd.

Altimo, a leading private equity group, operating on some of the world's most desirable and potentially lucrative mobile telecommunications markets, was created in 2005 from Alfa Telecom, which itself was established in 2004 to hold the telecoms investments of the Alfa Group Consortium (VimpelCom Ltd., MegaFon and Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S.). Those assets are in Russia, the CIS and other promising emerging markets.

VimpelCom Ltd. provides voice and data services through a range of wireless, fixed and broadband technologies. VimpelCom Ltd. is headquartered in Amsterdam and has operations in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Algeria, Bangladesh, Canada, Italy, Pakistan, Burundi, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Central African Republic covering territory with a total population of about 843 million with over 181 mln subscribers. VimpelCom Ltd. operating companies provide services under the "Beeline", "Kyivstar", "Djuice", "Wind", "Infostrada", "Mobilink", "Leo", "Banglalink", "Telecel" and "Djezzy" brands. VimpelCom Ltd. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VIP". As of 31 December 2010, Altimo owned 44.65% of the voting shares of VimpelCom Ltd. (since June 2011 -  24.99%).

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