Telecom Finance 2007: Bumper Year for Emerging Markets Telecoms M&A And Investment Predicted.

LONDON -- Leading telecom executives, investment bankers, private equity investors, TMT specialists in law firms and other professional intermediaries focused on finance and strategy will gather at the Telecom Finance 2007 Conference in London from January 24 to 26 to celebrate a record year for Emerging Market telecoms.

Results of the Annual League Tables for 2006, predicted to be a bumper year and produced by Telecom Finance will be announced at the Awards Ceremony also taking place at the event. League Table Categories include: Debt Bank of the Year, M&A Bank of the Year; Emerging Markets Deal of the Year and Emerging Markets IPO of the Year.

Middle Eastern, African and Eastern European telecom companies have been more active than ever in 2006 raising billions of dollars of debt for expansion and M&A strategies. As such, the Emerging Markets Summit on 24 January will ask: Who will lead consolidation in the Emerging Markets? How are companies in the Middle East accessing the international financial markets? And what are the challenges for expanding into Eastern Europe and Central Asia?

Emerging Markets Speakers include:

* Neil Galloway, Head of European TMT Banking, ABN AMRO

* Alexey Reznikovich, CEO, Altimo

* Erik Arveschoug MD, Ceemea Head TMT, Citigroup

* Marten Pieters, CEO, Celtel

* Michael Foley, CCO, Emirates International Telecommunications LLC 

* Julian McIntyre, President and Treasurer, Gateway Communications

* Scott Campbell, Partner, Linklaters

* Craig Butcher, Partner, Mid-Europa Partners

* Dr Saad H Al Barrak, Deputy Chairman and CEO, MTC Group

* Sam Deeb, CFO, MTC Group

* Constantine Gonticas, MD, Novator

* Martin Venzky-Stalling, Director Ovum Consulting

* Paul Doany CEO, Oger Telecom

* Aldo Mareuse, Group CFO, Orascom Telecom

* Jeremy Sell, Senior VP Business Development, Qtel

* Guy Deslondes, MD Corporate Ratings, Head of European Telecoms Standard and Poors Arne-Kjetil Lian, Senior Vice President, Head of Mobile Expansion, Telenor ASA 

* Mohsen Khalil, Director of the Global ICT Department of the World Bank Group and IFC 

* Robert Feuer, Warburg Pincus International LLC

* Darragh Stokes, Managing Partner, Hardiman Telecommunications Ltd

"The emerging markets are the prime growth area for international telecom operators, and those that lead the land grab over the next 12 months will be in pole position to dominate future consolidation," commented Dominic Lowndes, editor of Telecom Finance.

"International financiers, especially those based in London, have begun supporting these expansion strategies with access to loan, equity and even fixed income markets. Deal flow from emerging market telcos in 2006 hit record levels, and it will continue to grow in 2007."

Please visit www.tmtfinance.com/tf2007 for registration details and the full list of speakers for the three day programme and Passport offer to the event. Special Early Bird Registration Rates End on December 22.