Russia's MTS Gets Approval to Buy Landline Operator

Russia's Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) says that it has received approval from the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) to acquire the Russian landline operator, Comstar UTS, based on its application filed on May 22, 2009.

If realized, the transaction would create an integrated telecommunications operator in Russia and the CIS.

As MTS announced on May 22, 2009, because a potential transaction would involve related parties, MTS' Board of Directors has established a Special Committee of its three Independent Directors to oversee the transaction process and decide whether to recommend the acquisition of Comstar UTS to the full Board of Directors. Independent financial and legal advisors, hired through a tender process and reporting to the Committee, will provide fairness opinions, legal analyses and additional advisory services to the Committee members.

Sistema owns nearly 50.9% of Comstar UTS and 53.1% of MTS.

No decision has yet been made with respect to the size or structure of any potential transaction.

Posted to the site on 19th June 2009