Our Assets
Altimo has its principal investment assets in three major mobile companies - VimpelComLtd, MegaFon and Turkcell, with a presence in 13 Eurasian markets and exposure to more than 202 million potential subscribers in several countries with further plans to expand its operations in these and other rapidly developing markets in Europe, Asia and Africa in the future.
VimpelCom Ltd. has been created as a result of a merger between of Vimpelcom, Russia and Kyivstar, Ukraine. The merger deal closed in H1 2010. The company is registered in Bermuda and its headquarters are situated in Amsterdam. The mainshareholders of the company are Altimo (44.7% voting interest) and Telenor (36.0%voting interest). The rest of the shares are listed on the NYSE.
The newly created Vimpelcom Ltd. consists of telecommunications operators providing voice and data services through a range of mobile, fixed and broadband technologies. The group includes companies operating in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Armenia as well as Vietnam and Cambodia, with a total population of over 340 million.
As of the end of 2009, the total number of active subscribers of Vimpelcom Ltd’s companies in Russia and the CIS exceeded 84 million (including 51 million in Russia, 6 million in Kazakhstan, 3 million in Uzbekistan and 24 million in Ukraine). To the end of 2009 this figure is close to exceeding 88 million subscribers, including two South-East Asian countries (Vietnam and Cambodia).
In summer 2009 VimpelCom Ltd was the first Russian company to launch commercial telecom operations in South-Eastern Asia – Cambodia and Vietnam. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in November 1996. Vimpelcom also listed on the NYSE in April 2010. Vimpelcom Ltd’s financials are top-rated among other EEMEA operators. As of the end of 2009 Vimpelcom Ltd had the pro-forma revenue $12 billion while OIBDA and FCF were $6.1 billion and $2.7 billion respectively.
MegaFon is the first Russian mobile operator to operate in the GSM 900/1800 standard, and is one of the largest Russian GSM 900/1800/3G providers. The licensed GSM and 3G coverage of the company extends to 100% of the Russian population (145 million).
The company holds licenses to provide a wide range of mobile communications services, giving it a major advantage over its competitors. MegaFon’s subscriber base by the end of 2009 exceeded 51 million subscribers, or 23.2% of the Russian mobile communications market. As of December 2009, MegaFon`s capitalization stood at $18 billion.
MegaFon operates in compliance with international standards in technology and subscriber services. The company uses state-of-the-art GSM equipment to provide Russian subscribers with world-class services. MegaFon uses advanced technologies, providing the Company’s subscribers with new possibilities for communication and data use. The suite of high-quality mobile communication services unique to the Russian mobile market is targeted at both individual and corporate subscribers.
On December 14 2009 MegaFon launched its 3G network in Moscow. The operator then began to rollout 3G base stations in the streets of the Russian capital city. May 2010 OJSC MegaFon completed its acquisition of Synterra, a federal telecommunications operator. The deal will strengthen MegaFon’s position in the markets of long-distance communications, fixed-line and mobile broadband Internet access and convergent services. The extensive network infrastructure of Synterra will significantly enhance MegaFon’s own fiber-optic network, thus providing a powerful platform for intensive development of the company’s business in future. MegaFon also provides mobile communications services in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Tajikistan, where its subsidiary TT-Mobile is one of the leading mobile communications providers.
Altimo owns 25.1% of Megafon.
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., which started providing GSM standard services to its national market in 1993, is today the country’s largest mobile operator and the largest public company in Turkey. As of December 2009, Turkcell has invested $ 7.6 billion in Turkey, including license costs. Turkcell is not only the leading operator in Turkey, but also the third largest GSM operator in Europe by subscriber numbers, having 35 million subscribers, or 57% of the Turkish market, as of December, 2009.
Turkcell has been working on facilitating the start of the 3G eria in Turkey and is actively investing in 3G - network rollout throughout the country.Turkcell`s shares have been traded on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) since July 11, 2000 and it is the first and only Turkish company ever to be listed on the NYSE. Turkcell has investments in foreign countries as well. Turkcell`s participation inAzerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Moldova through Fintur, has reached 13.6 million subscribers as of December 31, 2009 and its participation in Northern Cyprus has hit 300 thousand subscribers. The Astelit company that Turkcell holds the majority shares of in Ukraine, started its operations in February 2005 with its brand life:) . Life:) has reached 12.2 million subscribers as of December 31, 2009.
On July 30, 2008 Turkcell signed a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) to acquire a 80% stake in Belarusian Telecommunications Network (“BeST”). The acquisition of BeST represents an opportunity for Turkcell to gain access into a market with hugegrowth potential. BeST had 1.4 million subscribers as of March 31, 2010. Turkcell, with its wide coverage area and its large variety of services abroad, is able to provide its subscribers with mobile communication services in Turkey and around the world. With its investments, Turkcell now covers all the settlements in Turkey that have a population of more than 1.000. As of November 26, 2009, Turkcell signed contracts with 639 operators in 208 countries, ranking it among the top operators in the world in terms of provision of international services. Turkcell also ranks among the top operators in terms of GPRS roaming, with contracts signed with 438 operators from 161 countries.
Altimo owns 13, 22 % of Turkcell
