MOSCOW, April 28 (Reuters) - Novatek, Russia's No. 2 gas producer, is interested in buying a 51 percent stake in smaller player Northgas, although owner Gazprom is not yet ready to sell, Vedomosti reported on Thursday.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has agreed to provide Novatek with an independent valuation of the state-controlled gas export monopoly's stake in Northgas, sources close to the companies told the business daily.
Miller is not yet ready to cede control in Northgas, but that could change if Russian power trade Inter RAO succeeds in buying the other 49 percent from businessman Farhad Akhmedov, a source close to Gazprom management told Vedomosti.
Akhmedov said in January he expected $1.5 billion cash, although media reports suggest he has since increased the asking price to $1.8 billion and may decide not to sell at all in anticipation that the stake's value will increase further.
Gazprom and Akhmedov declined to comment, Vedomosti said.
(Writing by Toni Vorobyova; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott) Keywords: RUSSIA NORTHGAS/NOVATEK (antonina.vorobyova@reuters.com; Tel: +7495 7751242, Reuters Messaging: antonina.vorobyova.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has agreed to provide Novatek with an independent valuation of the state-controlled gas export monopoly's stake in Northgas, sources close to the companies told the business daily.
Miller is not yet ready to cede control in Northgas, but that could change if Russian power trade Inter RAO succeeds in buying the other 49 percent from businessman Farhad Akhmedov, a source close to Gazprom management told Vedomosti.
Akhmedov said in January he expected $1.5 billion cash, although media reports suggest he has since increased the asking price to $1.8 billion and may decide not to sell at all in anticipation that the stake's value will increase further.
Gazprom and Akhmedov declined to comment, Vedomosti said.
(Writing by Toni Vorobyova; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott) Keywords: RUSSIA NORTHGAS/NOVATEK (antonina.vorobyova@reuters.com; Tel: +7495 7751242, Reuters Messaging: antonina.vorobyova.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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