By Dominic Chopping
STOCKHOLM--Swedish telecommunications operator TeliaSonera AB
(TLSN.SK) said Wednesday it has assigned law firm Mannheimer
Swartling to review its investment in Uzbekistan in 2007, and at
the same time it has appointed Sweden's former ambassador to
Russia, Tomas Bertelman, as a strategic advisor on matters related
to Central Asian operations.
MAIN FACTS:
-Mannheimer Swartling have been asked by TeliaSonera to
investigate whether TeliaSonera's investment in a 3G-license,
frequencies and number series in Uzbekistan in 2007 involved any
form of corruption or money laundering.
-The review will be led by Biorn Riese, Mannheimer Swartling's
managing partner.
-Mr Riese will report to TeliaSonera's board of directors and
the results of the external review will be made public.
-Ambassador Bertelman will assist the board in its efforts to
manage the difficult trade-offs associated with conducting business
in the markets in question.
-Up until recently he was Sweden's ambassador to Russia, and has
previously also been ambassador in Madrid, Riga and Warsaw as well
as Consul General in the then Leningrad (St Petersburg). Mr
Bertelman has also been Secretary of the Parliamentary Foreign
Affairs Committee.
-Mr Bertelman will advise the board in relation to future
business decisions, as well as in more general matters where
conflicts of interest might arise due to the company's code of
conduct and international framework on one hand and the national
legislation and current market conditions on the other hand.
-At 1234 GMT shares traded 0.1% higher at SEK47.36.
-Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@dowjones.com
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