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EXHIBIT 99.1
[GTI LOGO]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Golden Telecom, Inc. Appoints Robert J. Amman as Director and
Chairman of the Board.
October 2, 2000 -- Golden Telecom, Inc. ("GTI") (Nasdaq: GLDN), a leading
telecommunications and Internet services provider across Russia and member
countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), today announced that
Robert J. Amman has been named as a director and Chairman of the Board of GTI,
effective September 19, 2000.
Amman was also appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global
TeleSystems, Inc. ("GTS") on September 19, 2000. He has been the President and
Chief Operating Officer of GTS since March, 1999 and a director of GTS since
May, 1998. GTS is the leading provider of e*business and borderless broadband
services across Europe, serving businesses and carriers with a range of
broadband, hosting, Internet/IP and voice services.
Robert J. Amman possesses extensive experience in the telecommunications, data
processing and financial services industries. In 1987, Mr. Amman managed an $850
million recapitalization of Western Union Corporation concurrent with Western
Union's acquisition of ITT Worldcom. Following the recapitalization, which
included $500 million of new financing, Amman became the President and Chief
Executive Officer of Western Union and developed the firm into a highly
profitable, marketing-driven, international consumer financial services company.
In 1994, he engineered the sale of Western Union to First Financial Management
Corporation ("FFMC"). From 1995-1998, he was Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of John H. Harland Company, the printing services and database
marketing firm.
About Golden Telecom, Inc.
Golden Telecom, Inc. is a leading facilities-based provider of integrated
telecommunications and Internet services throughout Russia and other countries
of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). It operates through several
affiliated companies under the Golden Telecom trademark. Golden Telecom offers
competitive local exchange carrier services using its local access overlay
networks in Moscow, Kiev and Saint Petersburg. In addition, the company offers
data and long-distance services using a fiber optic and satellite-based network
-- including more than 100 combined network access points in Russia and other
countries of the CIS. Golden Telecom also provides mobile services using
cellular networks in Kiev.
Arlington, Virginia-based Global TeleSystems (GTS), (NYSE: GTS; Easdaq: GTSG;
Frankfurt: GTS), (www.gtsgroup.com) holds approximately sixty-three percent of
Golden Telecom's outstanding shares.
For additional information, contact:
Golden Telecom, Inc. Moscow
Investor Relations
Tel.: +7 501 797-9309
Fax: +7 501 797-9332
e-mail: [email protected]
or
Irena Fadeeva
Tel.: +7 501 960-2794
Fax: 7 501 258-4169
e-mail: [email protected]
Statements made in this press release are forward looking and are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
It is important to note that such statements involve risks and uncertainties,
which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these
statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause results
to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements are contained
in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
including, but not limited to, the Company's prospectus dated June 30, 2000
included in the Registration Statement No. 333-39260 on Form S-1, the Company's
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000, and the Company's
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. Additional
information may also be contained in the filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission submitted by Global TeleSystems, Inc., the majority
shareholder in the Company.
