Kyivstar debuts on Nasdaq, trades under symbol KYIV

Kyivstar Group Ltd. has officially entered the U.S. Nasdaq stock exchange. Starting August 15, its shares will be traded under the ticker symbol KYIV, the company’s press service announced on Friday.

The listing of Ukraine’s largest telecom operator was achieved through a merger with Cohen Circle, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that had previously traded on Nasdaq under the ticker CCIRU. SPACs are formed specifically to merge with existing companies in order to list them on the stock exchange—an alternative to the traditional, but more complex, initial public offering (IPO) process.

Veon will remain Kyivstar’s majority shareholder, retaining an 89.6% stake in Kyivstar Group Ltd. after the merger’s completion.

On August 29, Kyivstar will take part in the Nasdaq Opening Bell ceremony in New York.

Kyivstar is Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, serving 23 million subscribers. The company also owns digital services such as Helsi, Kyivstar TV, and Uklon; provides corporate solutions in cloud technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence; and is preparing to launch Direct-to-Cell satellite communication technology in partnership with Starlink.

• On August 13, it was announced that Kyivstar’s owner had sold its business in Kyrgyzstan.