Moscow, Russian Federation — January 27, 2003 — Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS” — NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile cellular operator in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe , today announces that it has successfully launched a $400 million five-year bond.
On Friday, 24 Jan 2003, Mobile TeleSystems (“MTS”) launched a $400 million Reg S/144a bond (Eurobond) due January 30, 2008. The issue was priced at par with a coupon of 9.75% payable semi-annually. The bond will be issued through MTS’ 100% beneficially-owned subsidiary, Mobile TeleSystems Finance S.A., a company organized under the laws of Luxembourg, and will be guaranteed by MTS.
The new MTS issue will be distributed primarily to asset managers based in the US and UK. The issue will be listed in Luxembourg and documented under New York law.
The proceeds of the bond are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions of mobile operators in various regions of Russia and the countries of the CIS.
The bond will be offered and sold outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act and in the United States to “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) in reliance on Rule 144A.
* * *Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (or “MTS”) — is Russia’s largest cellular operator serving over 6.7 million subscribers. MTS together with its subsidiaries is licensed to provide GSM 900/1800 services in 56 regions of Russia with a total population of 103.1 million or 72% of the nation’s population. Today, MTS’ network operates in 47 regions of Central (including Moscow and Moscow region), Northwestern (including St Petersburg and Leningrad region), Southern, Volga, Urals, Siberia and Far-Eastern federal districts. MTS operates a joint venture in the Republic of Belarus, which has a total population of ten million. Since June 2000, MTS’ shares have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol MBT. Additional information about MTS can be found on MTS’ website at www.mtsgsm.com
1 Measured in terms of number of subscribers.
* * *These materials are not an offer for sale of the notes in the United States. The notes may not be offered or sold in the United Sates absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Mobile TeleSystems OJSC has not and does not intend to register any portion of the offering in the United States or to conduct a public offering of notes in the United States.
* * *Stabilization/FSA. Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “may” or “might” the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically, the Company’s most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned “Risk Factors,” that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures; rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, risks associated with operating in Russia, volatility of stock price, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks.
For further enquiries contact:
Mobile TeleSystems, Moscow
Investor Relations
Andrey Braginski
tel: +7095 911-6553
e-mail: ir@mts.ru
Public Relations
Kirill Maslentsin
tel.: +7095 737-4530
e-mail: mkk@mts.ru
Press Secretary
Eva Prokofieva
tel.: +7095 737-4530
e-mail: evp@mts.ru
Gavin Anderson & Company, London
Halldor Larusson / Yolande Stratford
tel: +44 (0) 20 7554-1400 |
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