Form 6-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of August 2004

 

Commission File Number 1-14522

 


 

Open Joint Stock Company

“Vimpel-Communications”

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

10 Ulitsa 8-Marta, Building 14, Moscow, Russian Federation 127083

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F  x  Form 40-F  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):             .

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):             .

 

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes  ¨  No  x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-            .

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

            OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY
           

“VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS”


            (Registrant)
Date:  

August 17, 2004


  By:  

/s/ Alexander V. Izosimov


        Name:   Alexander V. Izosimov
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer and General Director


LOGO

 

VIMPELCOM RECEIVES NUMBERING CAPACITY

 

Moscow (August 17, 2004) - Open Joint Stock Company “Vimpel-Communications” (“VimpelCom” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VIP) today announced it has received the numbering capacity from the Federal Agency on Communications (“the Agency”), whose activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. The Agency granted VimpelCom the right to immediately use the initial tranche of telephone numbers in the federal 906 code.

 

Commenting on today’s announcement, Alexander Izosimov, Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, said, “We highly appreciate the decision of the Federal Agency on Communications. The willingness of the regulator to cut through some legal uncertainties in order to resolve the numbering issue will enable us to resume regular full-scale operations.”

 

VimpelCom is a leading provider of telecommunications services in Russia, operating under the “Bee Line GSM” brand. The VimpelCom Group’s license portfolio covers approximately 94% of Russia’s population (136 million people), including the City of Moscow, the Moscow Region and the City of St. Petersburg. VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). VimpelCom’s ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VIP”.

 

This Form 6-K contains “forward-looking statements”, as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements are based on Management’s best assessment of the Company’s strategic and financial position and of future market conditions and trends. These discussions involve risks and uncertainties. The actual outcome may differ materially from these statements as a result of unforeseen developments from competition, governmental regulations of the wireless telecommunications industry, general political uncertainties in Russia and general economic developments in Russia, and other factors. VimpelCom cannot assure investors that the numbering issue has been fully resolved and will not be repeated in the future. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements include the risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003 and other public filings made by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. VimpelCom disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 6-K, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Valery Goldin   Christopher Mittendorf
VimpelCom (Moscow)   Edelman Financial Worldwide
Tel: 7(095) 974-5888   Tel: 1(212) 704-8134
vgoldin@vimpelcom.com   christopher.mittendorf@edelman.com