PKN Orlen tipped to buy Slovakian Transpetrol

So far the shares have belonged to Yukos. At the beginning of this year it was said the shares would be sold to a Russian company Russnieft, which co-operates with Hungarian MOL. Yukos Finance BV, a Dutch subsidiary of Yukos, came to terms with Russnieft in February to sell the pipeline for about USD 103 million. However, Russian news agency RIA Novosti announced last week that Russnieft withdrew from the deal, leaving PKN Orlen as the most serious candidate. Both Orlen and the Slovakian government refused to comment on the reports. (Parkiet, p.1) J.L.