Updates

2012

15 February 2012: Telenor issued a press release announcing that Telenor had acquired 234 million preferred shares from Weather and had withdrawn the arbitration claim. The purchase price was US$374,400,000, and increased Telenor’s voting share in VimpelCom Ltd. to 36.36 %, subject to adjustment arising under certain put and call arrangements. Weather is the investment vehicle through which Mr. Naguib Sawiris and his family hold their interests in VimpelCom Ltd. (“VimpelCom”). See the full press release from Telenor

4 January 2012: On Wednesday 4 January 2012 Forrielite Limited filed with the SEC an amendment to their previous 13D filing of 13 June 2011, announcing that on 30 December 2011 they had sold and transferred their 123,600,000 shares of VimpelCom preferred stock to Bertofan Investments Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus for $111m.
See the complete filing

2011

31 Oct 2011: Telenor filed an amendment to its existing arbitration claim, stating that it believes Altimo’s purported sale of VimpelCom shares is an illicit stock parking transaction that violates the Shareholders Agreement and that it does not trigger a termination of the Shareholders Agreement.
See the filing from Telenor East Holding II AS with the SEC of the amendment

6 June 2011: Altimo announced that they had agreed to sell 6 per cent of their VimpelCom preference shares to Forrielite, a Cyprus based company owned by Oleg Kiselev, presently Deputy CEO of RUSNANO.

Press release from Altimo:
Altimo Sells 6% preference share stake in VimpelCom Ltd.

17 May 2011: VimpelCom announced additional senior management appointments in VimpelCom Ltd.

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom Ltd. announces senior management appointments

16 May 2011: VimpelCom announced the appointment of Jo Lunder as new Chief Executive Officer after Alexander Izosimov, who resigns. Augie Fabela replaces Jo Lunder as Chairman. VimpelCom also announced new Directors to be elected. Kjell Morten Johnsen replaces Jon Fredrik Baksaas.

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom announces appointment of Jo Lunder as new Chief Executive Officer and announces Directors proposed for election at upcoming annual meeting

15 April 2011: Altimo announces that they intend to trigger the termination of the current Shareholders Agreement with Telenor.

Press release from Altimo:
Altimo Seeks Standard Corporate Governance Arrangements for VimpelCom Ltd.

15 April 2011: VimpelCom completes combination with Wind Telecom.
Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom completes combination with Wind Telecom

17 March 2011: VimpelCom receives key regulatory approvals.

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom receives key regulatory approvals for combination with Wind Telecom S.p.A.

17 March 2011: VimpelCom shareholders approve combination with Wind Telecom.

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom shareholders approve combination with Wind Telecom S.p.A.

Press release from Telenor:
Telenor remains committed to VimpelCom Ltd. following vote in Special General Meeting

2 March 2011: Leading independent proxy firm recommends that shareholders vote against Wind Telecom transaction.

Leading independent proxy firm recommends that shareholders vote against Wind Telecom transaction

1 March 2011: VimpelCom, Altimo, Telenor and Weather Give Undertakings to the Court in Substitute for an Injunction.

Press release from Telenor:
VimpelCom, Altimo, Telenor and Weather Give Undertakings to the Court in Substitute for an Injunction

7 February 2011: Telenor Seeks Injunction in London.

Press release from Telenor:
Telenor Seeks Injunction to Protect its Pre-emptive Rights in the Wind Telecom Transaction

28 January 2011: Telenor commences arbitration against VimpelCom and Altimo to preserve Telenor’s pre-emptive rights in the Wind Telecom transaction.

Press release from Telenor:
Telenor Commences Arbitration against VimpelCom and Altimo to Preserve Telenor’s Pre-emptive Rights in the Wind Telecom Transaction (of 31 January 2011)

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom receives notice of arbitration from Telenor (VimpelCom’s web site)

17 January 2011: The Board of VimpelCom Ltd. approves the transaction but claims it is a related party transaction, depriving Telenor of its pre-emptive rights.

Press release from VimpelCom:
Telenor Says VimpelCom Acquisition of Wind Telecom Makes No Sense, Will Harm VimpelCom Minority Shareholders

2010

21 December 2010: The Board of VimpelCom Ltd. approves the transaction by a majority of six out of nine but asks for a renegotiated proposal.

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom supervisory board approves non-shareholder related aspects of combination with weather investments; Telenor states opposition as a shareholder (VimpelCom’s web site)

20 December 2010: Telenor notifies of opposition to the proposed transaction from financial and strategic reasons.

Press release from Telenor:
Telenor Does Not Support Proposed VimpelCom Acquisition of Weather Investments

Press release from VimpelCom:
Telenor, as a shareholder, opposes combination with weather investments (VimpelCom’s web site)

22 November 2010: Weather/Wind Telecom divests of its Tunisian asset – no longer making part of the proposed VimpelCom transaction.

Press release from VimpelCom:
Weather and VimpelCom Support Divestment of Orascom Telecom’s Tunisian Operations (VimpelCom’s web site)

15 November 2010:

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom announces payment of an interim dividend (VimpelCom’s web site)

19 October 2010:

Press release from VimpelCom:
Ukrainian anti-monopoly committee confirmed its prior approval of VimpelCom-Kyivstar transaction (VimpelCom’s web site)

4 October 2010: VimpelCom announces plan to combine with Weather (later renamed Wind).

Press release from VimpelCom:
VimpelCom Combines with Weather to Create New Global Telecom Group (VimpelCom’s web site)

21 April 2010:

Press release from Telenor:
VimpelCom Ltd. Successfully Completes Exchange Offer for OJSC VimpelCom Shares and American Depositary Shares

19 April 2010: Stock exchange notification:
Arrest of OJSC VimpelCom shares lifted (on newsweb.no)

16 April 2010:

Press release from Telenor:
Farimex Withdraws Claim Against Telenor and Tyumen Court Cancels Omsk Ruling and Terminates All Proceedings

16 April 2010:

Press release from Telenor:
VimpelCom Ltd. Announces Results of U.S. Exchange Offer

24 March 2010:

Press release from Telenor:
The Federal Arbitrazh (Business) Court of the West Siberian District Again Postpones Hearing of Telenor’s Appeal in Farimex Case

18 March 2010:

Press release from Telenor:
Combination of Kyivstar and OJSC VimpelCom cleared in Ukraine

9 February 2010:

Press release from VimpelCom:
OJSC VimpelCom board recommends exchange offer by VimpelCom Ltd. (VimpelCom’s web site)

3 February 2010:

Press release from Telenor:
Russian Government Approves Telenor/Altimo Deal

2009

30 November 2001:

Press release from Telenor:
CEO, chairman of the board and independent directors selected for VimpelCom Ltd.

5 October 2009:

Press release from Telenor:
Telenor and Altimo to create a leading emerging markets mobile operator

5 October 2009:
Telenor and Altimo to combine interests in VimpleCom and Kyivstar (Presentation)

Previous years

Historical background on Telenor Group’s presence in Russia and Ukraine