Telenor moves to block VimpelCom’s merger with Weather
Norway-based Telenor has written to Russian carrier VimpelCom, in which it holds a 39.6 per cent stake, voicing its opposition to VimpelCom’s proposed merger with Weather Investments, which owns Orascom. In the statement, Telenor spokesman Dag Melgaard said: “We strongly support VimpelCom’s expansion in accordance with the principles agreed at the time the company was created.” But, he added: “In our capacity as a shareholder of Vimpelcom Ltd, we do not believe this transaction makes strategic of financial sense for VimpelCom’s shareholders.”