MOSCOW, March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Moscow, Russian Federation - Mobile
TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" or the
"Company" - NYSE: MBT; MOEX: MTSS),
the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces the
acquisition of shares representing 3.29% of its
charter capital.
The shares, which equal 67,995,335 ordinary shares (in
the form of 33,997,667 ADRs), previously were held by Mobile
TeleSystems Bermuda Limited ("MTS Bermuda"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of MTS. The shares were originally acquired as part of a
share repurchase program launched in 2006. On December 17, 2015, the Board of Directors of MTS
reached a decision to liquidate MTS Bermuda, a process through
which MTS has taken possession of the shares.
As shares now directly held as treasury shares in accounts
controlled by MTS, the Company is not permitted under Russian
law to pay dividends on these shares.
Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor
Relations Department at http://www.mtsgsm.com/blog/
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Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" - NYSE:MBT; MOEX:MTSS) is the
leading telecommunications group in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe. We provide wireless
Internet access and fixed voice, broadband and pay-TV to over 100
million customers who value high quality of service at a
competitive price. Our wireless and fixed-line networks deliver
best-in-class speeds and coverage throughout Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. To keep pace with evolving customer
demand, we continue to grow through innovative products,
investments in our market-leading retail platform, mobile payment
services, e-commerce and IT solutions. For more information, please
visit: 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 undertake
or 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,
the severity and duration of current economic and financial
conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates,
commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the
impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government programs to
restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies, our
ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our
funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so,
strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our
success in integrating acquired businesses, 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, governmental regulation of the
telecommunications industries and other risks associated with
operating in Russia and the CIS,
volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future
growth subject to risks.
* * *
For further information, please contact in Moscow:
Joshua B. Tulgan
Director, Department of Corporate Finance and Investor
Relations
Mobile TeleSystems PJSC
Tel: +7-495-223-2025
E-mail: ir@mts.ru
SOURCE Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)