VimpelCom to become global number five in mobile

Russian quad-play provider VimpelCom has acquired 100% ownership of Wind Italia and 51.7% of Orascom Telecom Holding (which has interests in Bangladesh and Tunisia) for a reported US$1.8bn (€1.3bn) in cash and shares through a deal with Weather Investments, the investment vehicle of Egyptian entrepreneur Naguib Sawiris.

The move makes VimpelCom the fifth largest mobile provider globally, with pro-forma net operating revenues of US$21.5bn and EBITDA of US$9.5bn for 2009. The transaction gives Weather a 20% stake in the Russian operator.