VimpelCom Intends to Issue Ruble Bonds in the Amount of 20 Billion RUR

MOSCOW and NEW YORK, April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Open Joint Stock Company "Vimpel-Communications" ("VimpelCom" or the "Company") (NYSE: VIP), today announced that it intends to submit to the Russian Federal Financial Markets Service documentation required for the potential issuance of Russian ruble-denominated bonds through LLC VimpelCom-Invest, a consolidated Russian subsidiary of VimpelCom. The bonds may be issued depending on VimpelCom's funding needs within a period of one year from the date on which the Russian Federal Financial Markets Service registers the submitted documentation. The proposed amount of the issue is up to 20 billion Russian rubles, which is the equivalent of approximately $683 million at the Central Bank of Russia exchange rate on April 8, 2010. The bonds will be guaranteed by VimpelCom.  

The proposed maturity period is five years. The coupons are to be paid semiannually. The bond issue structure allows the issuer to grant investors a put option and/or retain a redemption right. The bonds may be issued in two series with face values of 10 billion rubles for each, and the coupon rate will be determined based on market conditions.

VimpelCom intends to use the proceeds from the bonds for financing development and expansion of VimpelCom's core business. 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities 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 securities will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Unless and until so registered, the securities 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.

The VimpelCom Group consists of telecommunications operators providing voice and data services through a range of wireless, fixed and broadband technologies. The Group includes companies operating in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia, as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia. The VimpelCom Group has licenses to operate in territories with a total population of about 340 million. The Group companies provide services under the "Beeline" brand. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). VimpelCom's ADRs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VIP".

This release contains "forward-looking statements", as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to the Company's intention to issue the bonds described above and are based on Management's best assessment of the Company's strategic and financial position and of future market conditions and trends. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the bonds will be issued.  The actual outcome may differ materially from these statements as a result of continued volatility in the economies in the markets in which the Company operates, unforeseen developments from competition, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries, general political uncertainties in the markets in which the Company operates and/or litigation with third parties. The actual outcome may also differ materially if the Company is unable to obtain all necessary corporate approvals relating to its business, if the Company is unable to successfully integrate newly-acquired businesses, developments relating to the exchange offer by VimpelCom Ltd. and other factors. There can be no assurance that such risks and uncertainties will not have a material adverse effect on the VimpelCom Group. 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, 2009 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.  

SOURCE Vimpel-Communications

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