FACTBOX-Facts about Egypt's Orascom Telecom

Dec 24 (Reuters) - Egypt's Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA) (ORTEq.L) has obtained a month-long a waiver from major lenders that will enable it to go ahead with a $800 million capital increase. [ID:nNLDE5BN0E]

Chief Executive Khaled Bichara told Reuters in an interview the waiver would not affect the firm's repayment schedule for $2.5 billion of debt.

Here are some key facts about Orascom Telecom:

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE

Weather Investments, the ownership vehicle of billionaire businessman Naguib Sawiris, controls 50.6 percent of Orascom Telecom, according to Reuters data.

SUBSIDIARIES

Cairo-based Orascom Telecom runs mobile phone operations from North Africa to North Korea. Its operations span the Middle East, South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It recently entered the Canadian telecom sector through its subsidiary Globalive.

ALGERIA TAX DISPUTE

In Algeria, OT operates through its subsidiary Orascom Telecom Algeria (Djezzy), which acquired a 15-year Algerian mobile telephone licence in 2001 for $737 million.

In November, Algeria's tax authority notified Oracom Telecom that it owed $596.6 million of outstanding taxes for 2005 to 2007. Djezzy had revenue of $1.8 billion in 2007.

Orascom Telecom said Algeria's tax demand was based on an "unfounded and unacceptable allegation" that it did not keep proper accounts in 2005-2007, a period for which Orascom says it was tax exempt. The company said it would take legal steps to challenge the assessment.

The Algerian tax regulator had previously said Djezzy owed $50 million of taxes from 2004, which Orascom also disputes.

In December Orascom Telecom said it was raising $800 million via a proposed rights issue to strengthen its balance sheet and that it would use the funds if it were unable to resolve its dispute with the Algerian tax authorities.

Weather Investments has agreed to subscribe to the rights issue in full, Orascom Telecom said.

FT DISPUTE

Orascom is also locked in a dispute with France Telecom (FTE.PA) over ownership of Egyptian mobile firm Mobinil (EMOB.CA)

For the latest story on the dispute click [ID:nGEE5BA0TP]

For a factbox on the dispute click [ID:nGEE5B92KB] (Compiled by Marwa Awad; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)