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Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over 96.17 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).
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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 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, 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, risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.
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"J.P. Morgan plc (“J.P. Morgan”) is acting for MTS (as represented by the Special Committee) in relation to the Transaction and for no one else and J.P. Morgan shall not regard any other person (including, without limitation, any person who is a director, officer, employee, shareholder or creditor of MTS) as its client in relation to the Transaction and shall not be responsible to any other person for providing protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan or advising any other person involved in the Transaction."
ING Bank N.V., London Branch ("ING"), which is authorized by the Dutch Central Bank, is acting exclusively for MTS and no one else in relation to the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than MTS for providing the protections afforded to clients of ING nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction or any other matters referred to in this announcement.