Form 6-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of October 2008

Commission File Number 1-14522

 

 

Open Joint Stock Company “Vimpel-Communications”

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

10 Ulitsa 8-Marta, Building 14, Moscow, Russian Federation 127083

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  [X]    Form 40-F  [    ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):             .

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):             .

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  [    ]    No  [X]

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-            .

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY
    “VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS”
   

(Registrant)

Date: October 24, 2008     By:  

/s/ Alexander V. Izosimov

    Name:   Alexander V. Izosimov
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer and General Director

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIMPELCOM ENTERS INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT TO RAISE UP TO EUR 600 MILLION

Moscow and New York (October 23, 2008)—Open Joint Stock Company “Vimpel-Communications” (“VimpelCom” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VIP) today announced that it has signed a new unsecured loan agreement with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Barclays Capital (the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC), BNP Paribas, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, Standard Bank Plc, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited and WestLB AG, London Branch as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners.

The facility has a 3 year tenor and an amortizing structure, with repayments due in five equal semi-annual installments starting from the date falling 12 months after the signing date. The rate of interest for the facility is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of EURIBOR plus a margin of 2.30%.

VimpelCom intends to use the proceeds from the loan to continue the development and expansion of its networks, including through possible acquisitions or investments in existing operators, and to repay indebtedness.

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. The VimpelCom Group has licences 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”.

 

For more information, please contact:  
Alexander Boreyko   Michael Polyviou
VimpelCom   FD
Tel: 7 (495) 910-5977   Tel: 1 (212) 850-5600
Investor_Relations@vimpelcom.com   mpolyviou@fd-us.com