The Urals mega-regional telecom company held a presentation in Moscow on September 13 for shareholders of the company's regional divisions and analysts. The presentation was sponsored by OAO Svyazinvest and LV Finance, the financial consultant for Ural-based telecoms.

In addition to representatives from the companies that organized the event, the presentation was attended by the general coordinator of the supra-regional merger OAO Svyazinvest, Arthur Andersen and CEOs from seven companies currently engaged in the merger process (OAO Uralsvyazinform, OAO Svyazinform of the Chelyabin region, OAO Tyumentelecom, OAO Uraltelcom, OAO Khantymansiiskokrtelecom, OAO Electrosvyaz of the Kurgan region, OAO Yamalelectrosvyaz).

Reports on the progress of ongoing mergers and the outlook for mega-regional telecoms were delivered by the vice general director of OAO Svyazinvest V.E. Belov, the managing director of LV Finance V.B. Smolyaninov, the general director of OAO Uralsvyazinform (core company of the Urals group) V.I. Rybakin and the acting general director of OAO Yamalelectrosvyaz O.V. Tereshenko.

The speakers were pleased to note that the merger process is proceeding according to plan and within the prescribed timeframe. The swap terms for the mega-regional merger have been well-received and are expected to be profitable for the shareholders of all Urals operators.