The Reuters agency announced that a recently founded Serbian company offered two billion euros to Russian companies Gazprom Neft and Gazprom for their joint share of 56,1 percent in NIS, which manages the only oil refinery in Serbia, said its owner Ranko Mimović, adding that the offer was "in principle accepted" by the Russian owners of NIS.
The offer of KFT Senator Treasury GT7 Two LLC (Senator), which was founded last summer, is a challenge for Hungary's MOL, which is trying to buy a majority stake in NIS, which has been under US sanctions since October last year, writes Reuters.
The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on NIS as part of broader measures aimed at the Russian energy sector due to the war in Ukraine, Reuters reminds.
It demanded the disposal of NIS shares owned by Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, its Russian majority owners.
Gazprom Neft has announced that it is preparing to sell its stake in NIS to a Hungarian company.
"Gazprom Neft is actively preparing the sale of its stake in NIS to the Hungarian company MOL. The necessary corporate and regulatory procedures are underway. The company is not conducting any other negotiations on this matter," the statement sent by email states.
No comments from Gazprom and NIS
Gazprom and NIS did not immediately respond to emailed inquiries from Reuters.
The Senator company announced that on October 30 it initiated proceedings before OFAC in order to secure a license to purchase a majority stake in NIS, and that on November 4 it informed Gazprom Neft of its plans. OFAC's website states that the request is "under management review."
Gazprom has an 11,3 percent stake in NIS, while Gazprom Neft owns 44,9 percent. The Government of Serbia has 29,9 percent, while the rest is held by small shareholders and employees.
On January 19, MOL signed an agreement on the purchase of the joint share of Gazprom Neft and Gazprom in NIS. OFAC gave the Russian companies until May 22 to complete the sale. Serbia also wants to increase its share by an additional five percent.
Mimović also said that on April 21, he informed the cabinet of President Aleksandar Vučić about his plans.
Vucic's office did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
On January 26, Vučić said that MOL is ready to pay one billion euros for a majority stake in NIS.
Source: Reuters
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