Ekaterinburg – April 09, 2008 – Uralsvyazinform (RTS: URSI/URSIP, ADR: UVYZY/ UVYZYP), the leading carrier of fixed-line and mobile services in the Urals region, Russia reports the placement results of its 08th series bond issue.

On April 9, 2008 Uralsvyazinform placed its 08 series ruble bond issue worth RUR 2 billion at MICEX. The issue lead manager is OAO AKB “Svyaz-Bank”.

The placement has been effected on the public subscription basis. The first coupon rate has been fixed at 9.6% p.a. The effective yield-to-put is 9.83% p.a.

76 bids equivalent to RUR 6.849 bln were made by investors during the placement session, with coupon rates ranging from 9.38% to 9.95% p.a.

"At first, investors were cautious about the two-year buyback, however the premium offered by the company helped attract the interest of a very broad range of investors. Both major international players and domestic investors demonstrated high levels of demand, backed up by the stabilization of international financial markets and improved liquidity, which ensured the accumulation of bids three times in excess of the issue’s nominal volume. We consider the placement to be successful, despite complicated market conditions which required significant effort on our part.” – comments Mikhail Avtukhov, Vice President of Sviaz-Bank.

The syndicate’s co-managers included: VTB Bank, Sberbank, Dresdner Bank.
Co-underwriters include: Bank Zenit, Bank Petrocommerce, BK Region, ING Bank (Eurasia), FC Otkritie, Absolut Bank, Bank of Moscow, SOUYZ Bank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Transcapitalbank, Raiffeisen Bank, Orgresbank.

The bonds have 5-year maturity, coupon period of 182 days, and a 2-year buy-back option.

The raised money will be used to re-finance the existing credit portfolio and finance the investment program.