Published:
MTS Announces Recommended Amount of Dividends for FY 2007
MOSCOW, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS")
(NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator inRussia and the CIS,
announces the recommended amount of dividends for the full year 2007.
On May 19, 2008, MTS' Board of Directors (BoD) recommended the annual
general meeting of shareholders (AGM) approve annual dividends of RUR 14.84
per ordinary MTS share (approximately $3.12 per ADR(1)) for the 2007 fiscal
year, amounting to a total of RUR 29.58 billion ($1,242.9 million) or 60% of
US GAAP net income. As announced earlier, the record date for the Company's
share- and ADR-holders entitled to participate in the AGM and to receive
dividends was May 8, 2008. The AGM will be held on June 27, 2008.
The Company's dividend policy adopted in 2007 targets a return of a
minimum of 50% of annual US GAAP net income to its shareholders through
dividend payments. The amount could vary depending on a number of factors,
including the outlook for earnings growth, capital expenditure requirements,
cash flow from operations, potential acquisition opportunities as well as the
Company's debt position.
The Chairman of MTS' BoD, Vitaliy Savelyev, commented: "The dividend
amount is a clear sign of MTS' commitment to enhancing shareholder value. The
rewards enjoyed by our shareholders have historically grown inline with the
scale and profitability of our business. We endeavor to continue rewarding
our shareholders by continuing to employ a sound financial policy and running
profitable and efficient operations."
Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator in
Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over
85.68 million subscribers. The regions ofRussia, as well asArmenia,
Belarus,Turkmenistan,Ukraine, andUzbekistan, in which MTS and its
associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a
total population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000, MTS' Level 3 ADRs
have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).
Additional information about MTS can be found on MTS' website at
http://www.mtsgsm.com.
Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or
other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future
financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify
forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and
the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution
you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or
results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to
reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents
MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
specifically the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and
identify important factors, including those contained in the section
captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking
statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly
results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development
and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition
strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, risks
associated with operating inRussia and the CIS, volatility of stock price,
financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.
(1) According to the Russian Central Bank exchange rate of 23.7939 RUR/$
as of May 5, 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Mobile TeleSystems, Moscow Investor Relations
Tel: +7-495-223-2025
E-mail: ir@mts.ru
SOURCE Mobile TeleSystems OJSC
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