Document:

Guarantee, given by VimpelCom in favor of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)

 Exhibit 4.55 
  
 GUARANTEE 
  
 PREAMBLE 
  
 Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ), Kungsträdgårdsgatan 2, SE-106 70 Stockholm, Sweden (the “Lender”) and Open Joint Stock Company Vimpelcom-Region, (the “Borrower”)
8th Marta Street, 10, bldg. 14, Moscow 127083, Russia, have entered into a Credit Facility Agreement (the
“Agreement”), dated February 24, 2004 providing for a loan to the Borrower in the maximum aggregate amount of USD 69,700,000. The parent company of the Borrower, Open Joint Stock Company Vimpel-Communications (the
“Parent”), 8th Marta Street, 10 bldg. 14, Moscow 127083, Russia, which has full and complete
recognition of the Agreement, has undertaken to guarantee up to twenty (20) per cent. of the Borrower’s payment undertakings in respect of principal and interest on the Loan under the Agreement. 
  
 Open Joint Stock Company Vimpel-Communications consequently issues the following guarantee.
Words and expressions defined in the Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein. 
  
 GUARANTEE 
  

	1.1	The Parent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees towards the Lender, as principal obligor and not as surety only, the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of all and
any sums due and to become due under the Agreement in respect of principal and interest on the Loan whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The Parent undertakes with the Lender that it shall upon occurrence of an Event of Default under
the Agreement (if unremedied within applicable grace period) forthwith upon first demand by the Lender, pay twenty (20) per cent. of the principal amount outstanding at the time of such demand together with the relative proportion of accrued
interest thereon at any time under the Agreement, in the manner and at the times fixed or calculated under the Agreement for payment of the same, as if the Parent instead of the Borrower was the primary obligor. 

  

	1.2	This Guarantee is a continuing obligation and is in addition to and not in substitution for any other guarantees or other security now or hereafter held by the Lender. This
Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding on the Parent until (a) legally binding payment in full of all amounts payable under the Agreement have been made irrespective of any postponement of payment of any principal and/or
interest under the Agreement; or (b) all payments under the Guarantee are duly made by the Parent to the Lender in full as required hereunder. 

  
 This Guarantee shall not be impaired by any dispute, claim or counterclaim, action or legal proceedings with regard to the Borrower and the Exporter, or
any of them, or between the Borrower and the Lender. 
  

	1.3	The obligations of the Parent under this Guarantee will not be affected by any act, omission, matter or thing (other than payment) which would reduce, release or prejudice any of
its obligations under this Guarantee or prejudice or diminish those obligations in whole or in part, including (whether or not known to it or the Lender): 

  
  

	 	a)	any time or waiver granted to, or composition with, the Borrower or any other person, 

  

	 	b)	the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of the Borrower
or any other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security, 

  

	 	c)	any incapacity or lack of powers, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the status of the Borrower or any other person, 

  

	 	d)	any variation or replacement of the Agreement or any other document referred to therein or security so that references to the Agreement in this Guarantee shall include each
variation or replacement, 

  

	 	e)	any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under the Agreement or any other document referred to therein or security, to the intent that the
Parent obligations under this Guarantee shall remain in full force and the Guarantee shall be construed accordingly, as if there were no unenforceabililty, illegality or invalidity, or 

  

	 	f)	any postponement, discharge, reduction, non-provability or other similar circumstance affecting any obligation of the Borrower under the Agreement resulting from any liquidation or
dissolution proceedings or from any law, regulation or order so that each such obligation shall for the purposes of the Parent obligations under this Guarantee be construed as if there were no such circumstance. 

  
 2 PAYMENT 
  

	2.1	All payments made hereunder shall be free and clear of any deduction for any present or future taxes, levies, duties, charges, or other imposts, withholdings, commissions, set-offs,
conditions, bank expenses or costs of remittance of any nature so that the Lender shall receive the full amount due to the Lender under this Guarantee. 

  
 In the event that any payment by the Parent hereunder in a currency other than USD, whether pursuant to judgment or
otherwise, upon conversion to USD does not yield the full amount payable by the Parent under this Guarantee, the Lender shall have the right to receive the additional amount from the Parent necessary to yield the amounts due and owing to the Lender
upon provision by the Lender of the relevant documents confirming such difference. 
  
 Should the Parent fail to pay any amount payable by it under this Guarantee, it must immediately on demand by the Lender pay interest on the overdue amount from its due date up to the date of actual payment, both
before, on and after judgment. Interest on an overdue amount is payable at a rate determined by the Lender to be two (2) per cent. above the interest rate charged by the Lender on such unpaid amount according to the Agreement. 
  

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 3 WAIVER 
  

	3.1	After a claim has been made under this Guarantee, the Parent shall not claim from the Borrower such amount paid by the Parent or, with respect to the same amount, have the benefit
of any set-off or counterclaim or proof against dividend, composition or payment by the Borrower or have the benefit of a share in any guarantee or security now or hereinafter held by the Lender until all amounts due and payable in respect of such
claim have been paid in full to the Lender. 

  
 4 MISCELLANEOUS

  

	4.1	The Parent shall not have any right to assign its obligations hereunder. 

  

	4.2	The benefit of this Guarantee may be transferred to any permitted transferee by the Lender in whole or in part to the same extent as under the Agreement with the prior written
notification to the Parent. After such transfer the Lender shall, unless otherwise notified to the Parent, in all respects represent the transferee vis-à-vis the Parent with respect to this Guarantee. Notwithstanding any assignment of any or
all of the obligations of the Borrower that are guaranteed hereby, the Parent may discharge its obligations hereunder by making payment thereof directly to the Lender and the Parent shall have no obligation to enquire as to or see to (i) any
assignment; or (ii) the application of any payments made by it hereunder. 

  

	4.3	No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Lender, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other power or right. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies
provided by law. 

  

	4.4	This Guarantee will cease to be valid when the Parent has notified the Lender in accordance with Clause 7.2 of this Guarantee that Merger (as defined in the Agreement) is
consummated and all filings and registrations required for its accomplishment have been made provided that all conditions for the transfer of the Loan to the Parent have been fulfilled. 

  
 5 GOVERNING LAW; ARBITRATION 
  

	5.1	This Guarantee shall be governed by, construed, interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of Sweden. 

  

	5.2	Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this Guarantee or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the Rules of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of three (3) arbitrators. The place of arbitration shall be Stockholm. The language used in the arbitral proceedings shall be
English. 

  

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	5.3	Nothing herein limits the right of the Lender to bring proceedings against the Parent in connection with the Guarantee in any court of competent jurisdiction in Sweden or
Russia concerning claims for payment under the Agreement which have fallen due for payment to the Lender. Same comment as under Clause 27 of the Agreement. VIP suggests to limit the jurisdictions to Sweden and Russia only. 

 

	5.4	The Parties agree that in any legal action or proceedings against it or its assets in connection with this Guarantee no immunity from such legal action or proceedings shall be
claimed by or on behalf of it or with respect to its assets. The Parties hereby irrevocably waives any right of immunity which it or its assets now has or may hereafter acquire. 

  
 6 REPRESENTATIONS 
  

	6.1	The Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Lender that 

  

	 	(i)	it has full power, authority and legal right to incur the obligations provided for in this Guarantee, to execute and deliver this Guarantee, to perform and observe the terms and
provisions hereof, 

  

	 	(ii)	it has taken all actions required by the laws and regulations of Russia to authorise the execution and delivery of this Guarantee, and the performance and observance of the terms
and provisions hereof, 

  

	 	(iii)	the entry into and performance by it of this Guarantee do not and will not 

  

	 	-	conflict with any law or regulation or judicial or official order in Russia, or 

  

	 	-	conflict with any document which is binding upon it or any of its assets,  

  

	 	(iv)	neither it nor any of its assets has any right of immunity from legal proceedings or execution of judgment in the courts of Russia in respect of any matter arising out of or
relating to its obligations under this Guarantee, 

  

	 	(v)	it is subject to civil and commercial law with regard to its obligations under this Guarantee and those obligations constitutes direct, general and unconditional obligations,
binding upon it and enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof, 

  

	 	(vi)	its obligations hereunder are direct and unconditional and will rank pari passu with the claims of all of its other present or future unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations, 

  

	 	(vii)	submission to Swedish law as provided in Clause 5.1 and to arbitration as set forth in Clause 5.2 and the waiver of immunity made in Clause 5.4 are valid and binding upon the Parent
and there is no requirement for such validity that the Guarantee should be executed outside Russia, 

  

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	 	(viii)	under the laws of Russia, the Lender is not resident, domiciled or carrying on business in Russia by reason only of the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of this
Guarantee, 

  

	 	(ix)	no tax by way of deduction or withholding is payable in Russia in respect of sums paid or expressed to be payable by the Parent hereunder, 

  

	 	(x)	this Guarantee is, and the payments to be effected hereunder are exempt from all stamp, registration or similar taxes, duties or charges in Russia. 

  
 7 UNDERTAKINGS 
  

	7.1	The Parent undertakes to supply to the Lender and to EKN as soon as the same is available and within 180 (one hundred eighty) days of the end of each financial year its audited
consolidated financial statements for each of its financial year prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The Parent further undertakes to supply to the Lender and EKN such information regarding the financial condition and operations of the Parent in
connection hereof as the Lender or EKN may reasonably request. 

  

	7.2	The Parent undertakes to (1) inform the Lender in respect of the Merger when all registrations and filings required for the fulfilment of the Merger have taken place and (2) provide
the Lender a copy of the general information issued by the Parent when the Merger is consummated. 

  

	7.3	The Parent must ensure that its obligations under the Guarantee are direct and unconditional and rank at least pari passu with all its other present and future unsecured and
unsubordinated payment obligations, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying generally. 

  

	7.4	The Parent must comply with the material terms of and maintain in full force and effect all material authorisations, permits and consents required by laws and regulations in Russia
to enable the Parent to lawfully perform its obligations under the Guarantee and to ensure its legality, validity and enforceability in Russia. 

  

	7.5	The Parent must ensure that no substantial adverse change is made to the general nature of its business from that carried on at the date of this Guarantee. 

 

	7.6	If any change occurs in the ownership of the Parent by its major owners who, for the time being are Telenor ASA, Norway (through a subsidiary) and the Alfa Group, Russia (through an
affiliate), the Parent undertakes to give notice thereof to the Lender. 

  
 8 NOTICES 
  

	8.1	All notices, requests and other communications under this Agreement shall be made in English and shall be given or made in person, by reputable international courier, or by telefax.
All such notices, requests or other communications hereunder to any party shall be effective upon receipt. Remittances may, however, not be transferred by orders made in a telefax message unless they are confirmed by written notice delivered by
courier. 

  
  

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	8.2	Telefax messages despatched after normal business hours in the country of the addressee, or on a day which is not a Business Day in the country of the addressee shall be deemed to
be received on the next Business Day in the addressee’s country. 

  
  

 
  
 Communication to the Lender shall be sent to 
  
 Svenska
Handelsbanken AB (publ) 
 SE-106 70 STOCKHOLM 
 Sweden 
 Telefax No +46 8 701 10 69 
 for the attention of “Export and Project Finance” quoting the reference “UKR 15678” 
  
 Communication to the Parent shall be sent to 
 OJSC Vimpel-Communications 
 8th Marta Street, 10, bldg. 14 
 Moscow 125083 
 Russia 
 Telefax No + 7 0957554616 
 Attn: Mikola Dedukhin 
  
  
 Moscow February, 24 2004 
  
  
  

 Elena A. Shmatova 
 Acting on the basis of the power of attorney # 146 dt. February 19, 2004 
 On Behalf of

 OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS 
  

 6AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO VIP REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 Exhibit 4.57.1 
  
 AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO VIP REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT 
  
 This Amendment No. 1 to VIP Registration Rights Agreement (this “Amendment”), dated as of the 28th day of
August, 2003, by and among ECO TELECOM LIMITED, a company organized and existing under the laws of Gibraltar (“Eco Telecom”), TELENOR EAST INVEST AS, a company organized and existing under the laws of Norway
(“Telenor”) and OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY “VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS”, an open joint stock company organized and existing under the laws of the Russian Federation (the “Company”). 
  
 WHEREAS, Eco Telecom, Telenor and the Company are parties to that
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2001 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”); and 
  
 WHEREAS, Eco Telecom, Telenor and the Company desire to amend the Registration Rights Agreement on the terms set forth herein. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, to implement the foregoing and in consideration of the
mutual terms and conditions contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
  
 1. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein to the contrary, all provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement shall
remain valid, binding and in effect as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, except as necessary to give effect to the matters set forth in this Amendment. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to such terms in the Registration Rights Agreement. 
  
 2. The definition of “New Securities” in Section 1.01 of the Registration Rights Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 
  
 “New Securities” shall mean any capital stock of the Company, whether or not authorized, and any
rights, options, subscriptions, warrants, phantom stock rights or other contract rights to purchase or receive such capital stock, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for,
such capital stock of the Company. 
  

 3. The phrase “provided that the conditions specified in Section 6.02(c) of the VIP-R Shareholders
Agreement are met” in the last sentence of Section 5.02(c) of the Registration Rights Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following: 
  
 “provided, that neither Telenor nor Eco Telecom (nor any of their respective Permitted Transferees) may pursue any such Opportunity
more than twice prior to the second anniversary of the Closing; and provided, further, that the following conditions are met: 
  
 (i) Upon identifying any such Opportunity, the relevant Party shall promptly notify the Company thereof in writing, providing all relevant details to the
Company; 
  
 (ii) The Company shall have a right of first refusal
to pursue any such Opportunity, exercisable at no cost to the Company. The Board shall determine whether to exercise such right and pursue such Opportunity in accordance with the Management Regulations of the Company. If the Board determines that
the Company should pursue such Opportunity, the Company shall, within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such notice from such Party, notify such Party that the Company has elected to exercise its right of first refusal in respect of such Opportunity.
Thereafter, the Company may pursue such Opportunity as it shall, in its sole discretion, see fit, and such Party shall desist from pursuing such Opportunity; 
  

(iii) If the Board determines that the Company should not pursue such Opportunity, the Company shall, within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such
notice from such Party, notify such Party that the Company has elected not to exercise its right of first refusal in respect of such Opportunity. If such Party decides to pursue such Opportunity, it shall do so through a Russian special purpose
vehicle established solely for the purpose of owning and developing such Opportunity. Such special purpose vehicle shall have financial statements audited in accordance with GAAP commencing from the date of its establishment prepared by an
internationally recognized accounting firm. In such event: 
  
 (A) With respect to any Opportunity for which notice was given pursuant to Section 5.02(c)(i) prior to the second anniversary of the Closing, and with respect to any Opportunity in any subject (subyekt) of the Russian Federation in
which the Company then holds a license to engage in the Business for which notice was given pursuant to Section 5.02(c)(i) on or after the second anniversary of the Closing, the Company shall have a call option in respect of all of such Party’s
right, title and interest in and to the Opportunity, exercisable within three (3) years from the date of such Party’s notice to the Company pursuant to Section 5.02(c)(i) at an exercise price equal to the greater of the Fair Market Value of
such Opportunity and the cost of acquiring and developing such Opportunity through the date of exercise of such call option as evidenced by documents provided by such Party to the Company; and 
  
 (B) With respect to any Opportunity for which notice was given pursuant to
Section 5.02(c)(i) on or after the second anniversary of the Closing in any subject (subyekt) of the Russian Federation in which the Company does not then hold a license to engage in the Business, the Company shall have a call option in
respect of all of such Party’s right, title and interest in and to the Opportunity, exercisable within two (2) years from the date of such Party’s notice to the Company pursuant to Section 5.02(c)(i), at an exercise price equal to the
greater of the Fair 

  

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Market Value of such Opportunity and the cost of acquiring and developing such Opportunity through the date of exercise of such call option, as evidenced by
documents provided by such Party to the Company; 
  
 provided, however, that if such Party decides to sell or otherwise dispose of such Opportunity prior to the expiration of the relevant call option period, such Party shall provide thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to
the Company and the Company shall decide, prior to the expiration of such thirty (30) day period, whether to initiate the due diligence process set forth in Section 5.02(c)(iv) and thereafter, to exercise its call option in accordance with and
subject to the terms described in this Section 5.02; 
  
 (iv)
With respect to each call option described in Section 5.02(c)(iii), the Board shall determine whether to exercise such call option in accordance with the Management Regulations. If the Board determines that the Company should exercise such call
option, the Company shall, at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of such two (2) year period or three (3) year period, as the case may be, notify such Party that, subject to due diligence, obtaining the necessary approvals from all Governmental
and Regulatory Authorities and obtaining the representations and warranties, and guarantee set forth below, the Company wishes to exercise such call option. The Company shall have sixty (60) days to conduct a due diligence investigation in respect
of such Opportunity, commencing on the date on which the Board notifies such Party of the Company’s wish to exercise such call option. Such Party shall cooperate with the Company in connection with such due diligence investigation and, upon
request of the Company, its counsel, auditors or financial advisors, provide the Company with all documents and other information concerning such Opportunity. In addition, such Party agrees that it will not vote any of its Shares and/or New
Securities (and, in the case of Eco Telecom, exercise any other rights provided hereunder) against the sale or issuance by the Company of any shares of capital stock (provided such Party is given the opportunity to participate on a pro rata basis in
order to maintain its shareholding in the Company, and that such Party may make payment for such portion of the shares of capital stock of the Company by contributing the Opportunity (in whole or in part) to the Company (based on the Fair Market
Value of the Opportunity)), or the borrowing by the Company of any public debt securities, in each case, the proceeds of which will be used to finance, directly or indirectly, the purchase of such Opportunity. If following such due diligence
investigation the Company still wishes to exercise such call option, it shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of such two (2) year period or three (3) year period, as the case may be, notify such Party thereof and instruct its counsel to
prepare definitive documentation to effect the exercise of such call option, which definitive documentation will include the following: 
  
 (A) customary representations by the seller of the Opportunity and such Party substantially similar to those representations set forth on Schedule
5.02(c)(iv)(A); 
  

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 (B) delivery of financial statements of the relevant Person, audited by an internationally recognized
accounting firm in accordance with GAAP; and 
  
 (C) a guarantee
by the General Guarantor under (and as defined in) the Eco Telecom Guarantee Agreement or by the Guarantor under (and as defined in) the Telenor Guarantee Agreement, as applicable, of the representations and warranties of the seller of the
Opportunity and Eco Telecom or Telenor, as applicable, and performance by the seller of the Opportunity and Eco Telecom or Telenor, as applicable, of the covenants and other terms in connection with the sale of the Opportunity substantially in the
form of Schedule 5.02(c)(iv)(C). 
  
 (v) If for any reason the
Company has not exercised such call option due to the failure of such Party to meet the requirements set forth in Section 5.02(c)(iv) within ninety (90) days from the date the Company notified such Party of its election to exercise the call option
with respect to such Opportunity, such Party shall promptly sell or otherwise dispose of such Opportunity to a third party which shall not be an Affiliate of such Party and shall not be a Direct Competitor; provided, that in any event, such
sale or disposition shall be consummated within 18 months from the date of such notice by the Company to such Party; 
  
 (vi) For purposes hereof, the term “Direct Competitor” means, as at any date of determination, any Person, or any Controlling Person of such
Person, or any Controlled Affiliate of any such Controlling Person (other than the Company or any of its Controlled Affiliates), which is engaged in, or proposes to engage in, the Business and which owns or controls a telecommunications license for
the Business in the Moscow License Area or in any ten (10) subjects (subyekti) of the Russian Federation for which the Company or any of its Controlled Affiliates holds a telecommunications license for the Business; and 
  
 (vii) For purposes hereof, the term “Management Regulations” means
the Management Regulations on the Procedure for the Company to Conclude Transactions with Interested Parties (Rukovodstvo o sdelkakh, v sovershenii kotorykh imeetsya zainteresovannost) adopted by the shareholders of the Company pursuant to
Sections 9.2.15 and 9.2.19 of the Charter, as a supplement to the provisions set forth in the Charter which are applicable to such transactions, as the same may be amended by decisions of the shareholders of the Company. 
  
 4. The Registration Rights Agreement shall be amended by adding thereto new
Schedules 5.02(c)(iv)(A) and Schedule 5.02(c)(iv)(C) in the form attached as Annexes A and B, respectively, to this Amendment. 
  
 5. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Amendment shall become effective only upon (i) its execution by all parties hereto and (ii) the
termination of the VIP-R Shareholders Agreement. 
  

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 6. Except as herein provided, the Registration Rights Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force
and effect, and references in the Registration Rights Agreement to “this Agreement” (including indirect references such as “hereof”, “herein”, “thereof” and “therein”) shall be deemed to be
references to the Registration Rights Agreement as amended hereby. 
  
 7. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws principles thereof which would result in the application
of the laws of another jurisdiction. 
  
 8. This Amendment may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. 
  
 [Signature Page Follows] 
  

 5 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Amendment to be duly executed by its duly
authorized officer, effective as of the day and year first above written. 
  
 OPEN
JOINT STOCK COMPANY “VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS” 
  

			
		
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: Jo Lunder

	 	 	 Title: CEO/General Director

  

			
		
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: Dmitriy Steshchenko

	 	 	 Title: Chief Accountant

  

			
	 ECO TELECOM LIMITED

		
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: Pavel Kulikov

	 	 	 Title: Attorney-in-Fact

  

			
	 TELENOR EAST INVEST AS

		
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	 Name: Fridtjof Rusten

	 	 	 Title: Attorney-in-Fact

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