Moscow and New York (May 23, 2006) — 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$600,000,000 of new loan participation notes (the “New Notes”) in the international bond markets. The New Notes were issued by, but without recourse to, UBS (Luxembourg) S.A. (the “Bank”) for the sole purpose of funding a loan to VimpelCom in a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes. The New Notes will bear an annual interest rate of 8.25% and will be due May 23, 2016.
The US$600,000,000 principal amount of New Notes are comprised of (i) an aggregate principal amount of US$232,766,000 issued in exchange for the validly tendered and accepted 10% Loan Participation Notes due 2009, which were issued in June and July 2004, by, but without recourse to, the Bank for the sole purpose of funding loans aggregating $450,000,000 in principal amount to VimpelCom and (ii) an aggregate principal amount of US$367,234,000 issued by, but without recourse to, the Bank for the sole purpose of funding the new US$600,000,000 loan to VimpelCom.
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