Amsterdam-based multinational telecoms group Veon announced that it has completed its exit from Russia with the closing of the sale of its Russian operations to a group of senior members of the PJSC VimpelCom (Beeline Russia) management team, led by PJSC VimpelCom's CEO on October 9, 2023.
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Strategic Focus
Veon Group's CEO commented, "The closing of the sale and the completion of our exit from Russia allow us to fully focus our energy on the way forward, meeting the growing demand in our markets - Pakistan, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan - with our digital operator strategy. I am pleased to note that we are now in a much stronger position to deliver our strategic priorities. We would like to thank all our stakeholders and regulatory bodies, including the US Treasury, who have supported our company through this process."
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No Buy-Back Arrangements
As previously announced, the transaction does not include any buy-back arrangements and signifies a complete exit from the Russian market for Veon. In its official release, the company stated that this move will help it achieve higher growth while operating with lower leverage and ample liquidity, focusing on six high-potential emerging markets.
Veon's Global Presence
Veon is a digital operator that provides converged connectivity and digital services to nearly 160 million customers, operating across six countries that are home to more than 7 percent of the world's population.