UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 33)*
OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY
VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, nominal value 0.005 rubles per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
68370R109
(CUSIP Number)
Franz Wolf
Eco Telecom Limited
Suite 2
4 Irish Place
Gibraltar
+350 41977
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
June 25, 2007
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
With a copy to:
Alexey Reznikovich
Altimo Holdings & Investments Limited
Str. Novy Arbat, build. 21
GSP-2
119992 Moscow, Russia
+7 (495) 981-4449
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
1. | Name of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) |
|||
Eco Telecom Limited 000-00-0000 |
||||
2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group | |||
(a) ¨ | ||||
(b) x | ||||
3. | SEC Use Only | |||
4. | Source of Funds | |||
AF; OO | ||||
5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) | ¨ | ||
6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization | |||
Gibraltar |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With |
7. Sole Voting Power | |
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
8. Shared Voting Power | ||
0 | ||
9. Sole Dispositive Power | ||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
10. Shared Dispositive Power | ||
0 |
11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person | |||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||||
12. | Check If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares | ¨ | ||
13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) | |||
37.0% of Common Stock* | ||||
14. | Type of Reporting Person | |||
OO, HC |
* | Eco Telecom is also the direct beneficial owner of 6,426,600 (100%) shares of the Issuers type-A voting preferred stock (the Preferred Stock), which, together with the total number of shares of the Issuers common stock owned by Eco Telecom, represents approximately 44.0001% of the Issuers outstanding voting capital stock. See Item 5. |
1. | Name of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) |
|||
Altimo Holdings & Investments Limited 000-00-0000 |
||||
2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group | |||
(a) ¨ | ||||
(b) x | ||||
3. | SEC Use Only | |||
4. | Source of Funds | |||
OO | ||||
5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) | ¨ | ||
6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization | |||
British Virgin Islands |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With |
7. Sole Voting Power | |
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
8. Shared Voting Power | ||
0 | ||
9. Sole Dispositive Power | ||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
10. Shared Dispositive Power | ||
0 |
11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person | |||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||||
12. | Check If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares | ¨ | ||
13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) | |||
37.0% of Common Stock* | ||||
14. | Type of Reporting Person | |||
OO, HC |
* | The Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own 6,426,600 (100%) shares of the Issuers type-A voting preferred stock (the Preferred Stock), which, together with the total number of shares of the Issuers common stock that the reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own, represents approximately 44.0001% of the Issuers outstanding voting capital stock. See Item 5. |
1. | Name of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) |
|||
CTF Holdings Limited 000-00-0000 |
||||
2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group | |||
(a) ¨ | ||||
(b) x | ||||
3. | SEC Use Only | |||
4. | Source of Funds | |||
AF; OO | ||||
5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) | ¨ | ||
6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization | |||
Gibraltar |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With |
7. Sole Voting Power | |
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
8. Shared Voting Power | ||
0 | ||
9. Sole Dispositive Power | ||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
10. Shared Dispositive Power | ||
0 |
11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person | |||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||||
12. | Check If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares | ¨ | ||
13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) | |||
37.0% of Common Stock* | ||||
14. | Type of Reporting Person | |||
OO, HC |
* | The Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own 6,426,600 (100%) shares of the Issuers type-A voting preferred stock (the Preferred Stock), which, together with the total number of shares of the Issuers common stock that the reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own, represents approximately 44.0001% of the Issuers outstanding voting capital stock. See Item 5. |
1. | Name of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only) |
|||
Crown Finance Foundation 000-00-0000 |
||||
2. | Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group | |||
(a) ¨ | ||||
(b) x | ||||
3. | SEC Use Only | |||
4. | Source of Funds | |||
AF; OO | ||||
5. | Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) | ¨ | ||
6. | Citizenship or Place of Organization | |||
Liechtenstein |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With |
7. Sole Voting Power | |
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
8. Shared Voting Power | ||
0 | ||
9. Sole Dispositive Power | ||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||
10. Shared Dispositive Power | ||
0 |
11. | Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person | |||
18,964,799 shares of Common Stock* | ||||
12. | Check If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares | ¨ | ||
13. | Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) | |||
37.0% of Common Stock* | ||||
14. | Type of Reporting Person | |||
OO |
* | The Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own 6,426,600 (100%) shares of the Issuers type-A voting preferred stock (the Preferred Stock), which, together with the total number of shares of the Issuers common stock that the reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own, represents approximately 44.0001% of the Issuers outstanding voting capital stock. See Item 5. |
Item 1. | Security and Issuer. |
This Amendment No. 33 (this Amendment) to the Statement on Schedule 13D relates to the common stock, nominal value 0.005 rubles per share (the Common Stock), of Open Joint Stock Company Vimpel-Communications (VimpelCom). The initial Statement on Schedule 13D, previously filed jointly by Eco Telecom Limited (Eco Telecom), Eco Holdings Limited, CTF Holdings Limited (CTF Holdings) and Crown Finance Foundation (Crown Finance) on June 11, 2001 (as amended and supplemented by Amendment Nos. 1 through 32, the Statement), is hereby amended and supplemented with respect to the items set forth in this Amendment. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Statement.
Item 2. | Identity and Background. |
This Amendment is being filed on behalf of each of the following persons (each, a Reporting Person and, collectively, the Reporting Persons):
(i) | Eco Telecom; |
(ii) | Altimo Holdings & Investments Limited (formerly known as Alfa Telecom Limited) (Altimo); |
(iii) | CTF Holdings; and |
(iv) | Crown Finance. |
The Statement, as amended hereby, relates to the shares of Common Stock held for the account of Eco Telecom.
The Reporting Persons
Eco Telecom is a Gibraltar company, with its principal business address at 10/8 International Commercial Centre, Casemates Square, Gibraltar. The principal business of Eco Telecom is to function as a holding company. Current information concerning the identity and background of the directors and officers of Eco Telecom is set forth in Annex A hereto, which is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 2.
Altimo is a British Virgin Islands company, with its principal address at P.O. Box 3339, Geneva Place, Second Floor, 333 Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The principal business of Altimo is to function as a holding company. Altimo is the sole shareholder of Eco Telecom and, in such capacity, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock held for the account of Eco Telecom. Current information concerning the identity and background of the directors and officers of Altimo is set forth in Annex A hereto, which is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 2.
CTF Holdings is a Gibraltar limited liability company, with its principal address at Suite 2, 4 Irish Place, Gibraltar. The principal business of CTF Holdings is to function as a holding company. CTF Holdings indirectly owns a majority of the shares of Altimo and, in such capacity, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock held for the account of Eco Telecom. Current information concerning the identity and background of the directors and officers of CTF Holdings is set forth in Annex A hereto, which is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 2.
Crown Finance is a Liechtenstein foundation, with its principal address at Am Schragen Weg 14, P.O. Box 1618, FL-9490, Vaduz, Liechtenstein. The principal business of Crown Finance is investment and management of the assets and capital of the foundation. Crown Finance is the sole shareholder of CTF Holdings and, in such capacity, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock held for the account of Eco Telecom. Current information concerning the identity and background of the directors and officers of Crown Finance is set forth in Annex A hereto, which is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 2.
The Supervisory Board coordinates the strategic development of a group of affiliated entities, often referred to as the Alfa Group Consortium, which group includes the Reporting Persons. In certain instances, the Supervisory Board issues recommendations regarding strategic business decisions to the entities that are members of the Alfa Group Consortium. Current information regarding the identity and background of the members of the Supervisory Board is set forth in Annex A hereto, which is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 2.
During the past five years, none of the Reporting Persons and, to the best of the Reporting Persons knowledge, no other person identified in response to this Item 2, has been (a) convicted in a criminal proceeding or (b) a party to any civil proceeding or a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
No material change.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
Item 4 is hereby supplemented as follows:
The Reporting Persons are increasing their ownership of VimpelComs Common Stock to increase their influence over the corporate actions to be taken by VimpelCom. The Reporting Persons have acquired more than 44% but less than 50% of VimpelComs voting shares but may, from time to time, and reserve the right to, change their plans or intentions and take any and all actions that they deem appropriate to maximize the value of their investment in VimpelCom. An ownership interest of more than 44% of VimpelComs voting shares eliminates the requirement under the VimpelCom Shareholders Agreement that one of Eco Telecoms nominated directors to the VimpelCom board of directors be independent of Eco Telecom.
In a report on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by Telenor AS (Telenor) on June 20, 2007, Telenor published several false statements concerning the Alfa Group (Alfa), which includes the Reporting Persons. These statements include an assertion by Telenor that Alfa has increased its stake in VimpelCom through illegal street sweeps, swap transactions designed to circumvent Russian law, and without making its disclosures under US securities laws. This particular statement by Telenor is nothing more than a reiteration of allegations found in Telenors recently-filed lawsuit against the Reporting Persons and others. The Reporting Persons and the other defendants in Telenors new lawsuit will defend vigorously against Telenors claims by moving to dismiss Telenors claims and/or moving to compel arbitration of those claims, among other things. The Reporting Persons and the other defendants are confident that Telenors new claims, like Telenors previous claims, have no grounding in fact or law. The Reporting Persons and the other defendants also reserve their respective rights to seek affirmative relief against Telenor for its groundless assertions and improper litigation tactics.
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer. |
Item 5 is hereby supplemented as follows:
(a) The Reporting Persons may be deemed to be the direct or indirect beneficial owner of an aggregate of 6,426,600 shares of the Issuers type-A voting preferred stock, representing 100% of such class of securities, and an aggregate of 18,964,799 shares of the Issuers Common Stock. Approximately 6,401,016 shares of such Common Stock would be represented by 25,604,065 American Depositary Receipts of VimpelCom (the VimpelCom ADRs).
(b) Each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to have sole voting power to direct the voting and disposition of an aggregate of 18,964,799 shares of Common Stock, which number would include Common Stock represented by approximately 25,604,065 VimpelCom ADRs, and an aggregate of 6,426,600 shares of the Issuers type-A voting preferred stock held for the account of Eco Telecom.
(c) Pursuant to the Swap Agreement, as described and defined in Item 6 of the Reporting Persons Amendment 23 to Schedule 13D (the Swap Agreement), the expiration of which the parties thereto have waived, Rightmarch Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altimo (Rightmarch), received on June 25, 2007, pursuant an exercise of its rights thereunder, 473,290 VimpelCom ADRs. Jam Holding Asset Management Limited (Jam) acquired the 473,290 VimpelCom ADRs for an average of $100.087101 per VimpelCom ADR. Rightmarch acquired the 473,290 VimpelCom ADRs for an average of $100.087101 per VimpelCom ADR (exclusive of brokerage fees). Pursuant to instructions from Rightmarch, the VimpelCom ADRs were delivered to the account of Eco Telecom. Eco Telecom acquired the 473,290 VimpelCom ADRs for an average of $100.087101 per VimpelCom ADR (exclusive of brokerage fees). The ADRs, if converted into VimpelComs Common Stock, would be the equivalent to approximately 118,323 shares of VimpelCom Common Stock.
(d) No material change.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
No material change.
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
None.
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information in this Amendment is true, complete and correct.
Date: June 25, 2007 |
ECO TELECOM LIMITED | |||
By: | /s/ Marina Kushnareva | |||
Name: | Marina Kushnareva | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Date: June 25, 2007 |
ALTIMO HOLDINGS & INVESTMENTS LIMITED | |||
By: | /s/ Franz Wolf | |||
Name: | Franz Wolf | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Date: June 25, 2007 |
CTF HOLDINGS LIMITED | |||
By: | /s/ Franz Wolf | |||
Name: | Franz Wolf | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Date: June 25, 2007 |
CROWN HOLDINGS LIMITED | |||
By: | /s/ Franz Wolf | |||
Name: | Franz Wolf | |||
Title: | Attorney-in-Fact |
ANNEX A
Directors and Officers of Eco Telecom Limited
Name/Citizenship |
Principal Occupation |
Business Address | ||
Marina Kushnareva, Director (Russia) |
Manager, CTF Holdings Limited | Suite 2 4 Irish Place, Gibraltar | ||
Directors and Officers of Altimo Holdings & Investments Limited | ||||
Name/Citizenship |
Principal Occupation |
Business Address | ||
Geoffrey Piers Hemy, Director (United Kingdom) |
Director, Grand Financial Holding S.A. | 11 Boulevard Royale L-2449 Luxembourg | ||
Georgia Karydes, Director (Cyprus) |
Director, Feldmans Management (Overseas) Ltd. | 6 Nikou Georgiou Street Block C, Office 704 Nicosia 1098, Cyprus | ||
Olga Kichatova, Director (Russia) |
Senior Financial Advisor, CTF Holdings Limited | 3rd Floor, building 3, 6 Sechenovskiy per. Moscow Russia 109 034 | ||
Alexey Reznikovich, Chief Executive Officer (Russia) |
Chief Executive Officer, OOO ALTIMO Limited |
Str. Novy Arbat, build. 21 GSP-2 119992 Moscow, Russia | ||
Marina Kushnareva, Director (Russia) |
Director, CTF Holdings Limited | Suite 2 4 Irish Place, Gibraltar | ||
Franz Wolf, Director (Germany) |
Director, CTF Holdings Limited | Suite 2 4 Irish Place, Gibraltar | ||
Directors and Officers of CTF Holdings Limited | ||||
Name/Citizenship |
Principal Occupation |
Business Address | ||
Marina Kushnareva, Director (Russia) |
Director, CTF Holdings Limited | Suite 2 4 Irish Place, Gibraltar | ||
Franz Wolf, Director (Germany) |
Director, CTF Holdings Limited | Suite 2 4 Irish Place, Gibraltar | ||
Directors and Officers of Crown Finance Foundation | ||||
Name/Citizenship |
Principal Occupation |
Business Address | ||
Christian Rosenow, Director (Switzerland) |
Financial Adviser | Talacker 35, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland | ||
Dr. Norbert Seeger, Director (Liechtenstein) |
Attorney, Arcomm Trust Company |
Am Schragen Weg 14 P.O. Box 1618 FL-9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein | ||
Dr. Christian Zangerle, Director (Austria) |
Attorney, Law Office of Dr. Norbert Seeger |
Am Schragen Weg 14 P.O. Box 1618 FL-9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein | ||
Members of the Supervisory Board of Alfa Group Consortium | ||||
Name/Citizenship |
Principal Occupation |
Business Address | ||
Peter Aven, Director (Russia) |
President, OJSC Alfa Bank | 11 Mashy Poryvaevoy Street 107078 Moscow, Russia |
Alexandr Fain, Director (Russia) |
Chief Executive Officer, Alfa Eco LLC |
21 Novy Arbat Street 121019 Moscow, Russia | ||
Mikhail Fridman, Director (Russia) |
Chairman of the Board of Directors, OJSC Alfa Bank |
9 Mashy Poryvayevoy Street 107078 Moscow, Russia | ||
Michail Gamzin, Director (Russia) |
Director General, OAO Russian Technologies |
3 rd Golutvinsky Pereulok 10 Building 6 109180 Moscow, Russia | ||
German Khan, Director (Russia) |
Executive Director, TNK-BP Management |
18/2, Schipok Street 115093 Moscow, Russia | ||
Lev Khasis, Director (Russia) |
Chief Executive Officer, X 5 Retail Group N.V. |
Kapranova Pereulok 3 123242 Moscow, Russia | ||
Alexander Kosiyanenko, Director (Russia) |
Member of the Supervisory Board of X 5 Retail Group N.V. |
Apt. 421 Mozhayskoye shosse 2, B 121356 Moscow, Russia | ||
Andrei Kosogov Director (Russia) |
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alfa Asset Management |
12 Prospect Academic Sakharov 107078 Moscow, Russia | ||
Alexey Kuzmichev, Director (Russia) |
Chairman of Board of Directors, Alfa Eco LLC |
21 Novy Arbat Street 121019 Moscow, Russia | ||
Nigel John Robinson, Director (United Kingdom) |
Director of Corporate Development, Finance and Control, Alfa Group Consortium |
6 Sechenovskiy Pereulok Building 3, Floor 3 119034 Moscow, Russia | ||
Alexey Reznikovich, Director (Russia) |
Chief Executive Officer, OOO ALTIMO Limited |
Str. Novy Arbat, build. 21 GSP-2 119992 Moscow, Russia | ||
Alexander Savin, Director (Russia) |
Managing Director, A1 LLC |
12 Krasnopresenskaya Nab. International Trade Center 2, Entrance 7 123610 Moscow, Russia |
To the best of the Reporting Persons knowledge:
(a) | None of the above persons holds any shares of Common Stock. |
(b) | None of the above persons has any contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect to any shares of Common Stock. |