VimpelCom Communication Starts strategic partnership with Global Telecom Holding for the sale of GTH's 51% stake in Orascom Telecom Algerie SpA for $2.64B to the Fonds National d'Investissement, the Algerian National Investment Fund
- OTA will distribute a dividend of USD 1.862 billion to GTH immediately prior to the closing of the transaction ("Closing"), which is expected to occur by the end of 2014.
- The total dividends and proceeds due to GTH at Closing are expected to amount to USD 4.0 billion, net of all taxes and after the settlement of all outstanding disputes between the parties and the payment of associated fines. All proceeds will be used to pay down the outstanding shareholder loans provided by VimpelCom to GTH.
- GTH and the FNI will enter into a shareholders agreement ("the Shareholders Agreement"), effective as of Closing, which will govern their relationship as shareholders in OTA going forward. GTH will continue to exercise operational control over OTA and, as a result, both GTH and VimpelCom will continue to fully consolidate OTA. This partnership with the FNI provides OTA with a strong and stable shareholder structure on which to build and strengthen its operations in Algeria.
- The terms of the Share Purchase Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement have been approved by the Algerian Conseil des Participations de l'Etat, the Conseil de Direction of the FNI, the VimpelCom Supervisory Board and the Global Telecom Holding Board of Directors.
- Prior to Closing and in order to facilitate the Closing OTA will contribute its operations (the "Contribution") to Optimum Telecom Algerie S.p.A. ("Optimum"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of OTA. In addition, at or prior to closing, Optimum intends to establish a credit facility with a syndicate of local banks in an amount of up to 82 billion dinars (approximately USD 1.0 billion).