OREANDA-NEWS. December 18, 2012. “VimpelCom Ltd.” (“VimpelCom”, “Company” or “Group”) (NYSE:VIP),  a leading global provider of telecommunications services, announces today that the Supervisory Board has authorized the payment of a dividend of USD 0.80 per American Depositary Share (“ADS”).  This amount includes USD 0.35 per ADS in relation to the Company’s final 2011 results, bringing the total dividend in relation to the Company’s 2011 results to USD 0.80 per ADS, which is in line with the Company's dividend guidelines*.  The announced dividend also includes USD 0.45 per ADS in relation to the Company’s interim 2012 results.  Each ADS represents one common share.  The total dividend payment amount will be approximately USD 1.3 billion.

The record date for the Company’s shareholders entitled to receive the dividends has been set for December 27, 2012.  The ex-dividend date is December 24, 2012.  It is expected that the dividend will be paid by January 15, 2013. The Company will make appropriate tax withholdings of up to 15% when the dividend is paid to the Company’s ADS depositary, The Bank of New York Mellon.

Jo Lunder, Chief Executive Officer comments: "Our strategy of profitable growth and increasing cash flows has provided strong results in 2012, enabling us to announce today the payment of USD 0.80 dividend per common share or USD 1.3 billion in total. Going forward,  we remain committed to pay annual dividends of at least USD 0.80 per common share, in line with our previously disclosed dividend guidelines."