KYIV, July 22 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved the allocation of $217.5 million - half of the $435 million allocated jointly with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to finance the merged company Datagroup-Volia - Lifecell after the completion of the deal of French-based NJJ's purchasing the Ukrainian assets of Turkcell.

The bank made the corresponding decision on July 17, according to a report on its official website.

"Loan to support NJJ Holding and Horizon Capital with their plans to create a leading fixed-mobile operator in Ukraine by merging Lifecell Group, a mobile telecom operator, and Datagroup-Volia, a fixed-line operator and existing client of the bank," the report says.