VimpelCom Announces the Completion of the Issuance of Loan Participation Notes in the Internation Bond Markets
30 Apr 2008
Moscow, May 5, 2008 — Open Joint Stock Company "Vimpel-Communications" ("VimpelCom" or the "Company") (NYSE: VIP), today announced the completion of the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of US$2 billion of new loan participation notes in the international bond markets, split equally between 5-year and 10-year tranches. The 5-year US$1 billion issue bears interest at an annual rate of 8.375% and is due in April 2013. The 10-year US$1 billion issue bears interest at an annual rate of 9.125% and is due in April 2018. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the debt financing to repay its existing bridge facility entered into in connection with its acquisition of Golden Telecom, Inc. and to continue the development and expansion of the Company’s networks, including through possible acquisitions or investments in existing wireless operators within Russia or abroad, by establishing new wireless operators or by entering into local partnerships or joint ventures within Russia or abroad.
This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. The notes have been offered and sold (i) to persons that are both qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and qualified purchasers within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and (ii) outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The notes will not be registered under the Securities Act. Unless and until so registered, the notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements,” as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements relate to the the Company’s use of the proceeds from the transaction described above and are based on management's best assessment of the Company’s strategic and financial position and of future market conditions and opportunities. These discussions involve risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may differ materially from these statements as a result of unforeseen developments from competition, governmental regulations of the telecommunications industry, general political uncertainties in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (“CIS”) and general economic developments in Russia and the CIS and other factors. As a result of such risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the effects of competition or current or future changes in the political, economic and social environment or current or future regulation of the telecommunications industry in Russia and the CIS will not have a material adverse effect on the VimpelCom Group and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to use the proceeds from the transaction in the manner described above. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements include the risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006 and other public filings made by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. VimpelCom disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.
This communication is directed solely at persons who (i) are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) are investment professionals within the meaning of article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Financial Promotion Order") or (iii) are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (e) of the Financial Promotion Order or (iv) is a person to whom such communication may otherwise lawfully be made in accordance with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
This notification constitutes an advertisement for the purposes of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the "Prospectus Regulations"). The final copy of the "prospectus" prepared pursuant to the Prospectus Regulations is available from the website of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority.
This press release is not a public offer or advertisement of securities in the Russian Federation, and is not an offer, or an invitation to make offers, to purchase any securities in the Russian Federation.
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