Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Mystery shrouds Yukos ownership

The mystery behind the new owner of Russia's embattled Yukos oil company swept Moscow politicians, energy analysts and media Monday. Yuganskneftegaz was purchased at auction Sunday by Baikal Finance Group, which bought 76.79 percent of Yukos' core asset f
|
|
 
  
Published: Dec. 20, 2004 at 9:26 AM
Advertisement

MOSCOW, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The mystery behind the new owner of Russia's embattled Yukos oil company swept Moscow politicians, energy analysts and media Monday.

Yuganskneftegaz was purchased at auction Sunday by Baikal Finance Group, which bought 76.79 percent of Yukos' core asset for $9.3 billion, payable Jan. 2.

But no one knows who is behind the group. The government of Vladimir Putin denies any involvement, as does the official Gazprom energy company, Itar-Tass said Monday.

Spokesmen for Lukoil, TNK-BP, Sibneft and Surgutneftegaz also told the Novosti news agency their companies had no relation to Baikal.

Representatives of Yugansk's new owner refused to participate in a press conference summing up the auction, and Novosti said reporters could not physically find a company located at the address on the formal bid.

Analyst Ronald Smith of Renaissance Capital told Itar-Tass he doubted the company would be able to pay the bid, and said he expected a new auction would be probably called.

Yukos' troubles began more than a year ago when its key shareholders were arrested, including founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky, now on trial on in Moscow on separate charges of tax evasion and fraud.

Topics: Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Ronald Smith
© 2004 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Business News Stories
1 of 25
Protests at the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago
View Caption
fark
You save your 5 year old from falling off a cliff, but lose your Jeep over the edge? That'll be...
All those witnesses who you've been basing your defense of George ZImmerman on? Yeah, sit down I...
Today's Hack: Turn a supersoaker into a shotgun
Stephen Colbert voted Maxim's 69th hottest woman in America. HA HA, dangly parts
Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow,...
I'm feeling really elitist with my $2 words and arugula right now. How do you enunciate your displeasure...