Russian telecoms group Vimpelcom (VIP.N) said it would pay $244 million in the final tranche of 2010 dividends, bringing the total payout for last year to over $1 billion. The company declared a final $0.15 per share dividend in relation to 2010 results, it said in a Thursday statement. It has already paid $600 million, or $0.46 per share, in November last year, and this February announced an additional $250 million, or $0.19 per share. Vimpelcom is about to close a $6-plus billion deal for Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris's telecoms assets, Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA) and unlisted Italian group Wind, which will see it diversify into new markets and take on huge debt. Norway's Telenor (TEL.OL) and Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman's Alfa Group are Vimpelcom's biggest shareholders.
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