MOSCOW, Aug 7 - RIA Novosti/Prime. The merger of the Italian telecommunications operator Wind SpA, which is a "subsidiary" company VimpelCom Ltd., with the division of Hutchison - 3 Italia will not affect the chart of VimpelCom Ltd " Ba3 "with a stable prediction, informed the international Rating Agency Moody" S Investors Service.

Telecoms Firm VimpelCom And Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa on Thursday agreed to merge their offices in Italy. A joint venture between Hutchison 3G Italy Investments S. A. R. L will be owned by 3 Italia And Wind, and Hutchison And VimpelCom will indirectly own a 50% stake in the JV, which will deal with the management of telecommunications business in Italy.

The rating Agency believes that the rules of the Treaty will help to reduce the debt of VimpelCom group, And this, for its part, will not affect the Agency's view on the financial profile of the group And the ratio of debt to capital." Conversely, a weak macroeconomic environment in Russia And Ukraine will affect the Agency's assessment of the prospects of the group's operations And its sustainability in the face of risks in emerging markets, " adds Moody S.

The Holding Company VimpelCom Ltd. 100% owned by one of the largest Telecom operators in Russia VimpelCom. Major shareholders of VimpelCom - Norwegian Telenor (with a share of 33% of the economic interest And 43% of the voting shares) And L1 Telecom (former Altimo, part of LetterOne group created by the primary owner of "Alfa group" ) - 56, 2% 47, 9% respectively. From minority shareholders 10, 8% of the economic interest And 9, 2% of the vote.

sections: Politics