Kremlin hopes shareholder spat not to hurt Norilsk’s operations

MOSCOW, Feb 16 (PRIME) -- The Kremlin will not interfere in disagreements between shareholders of metals giant Norilsk Nickel, but hopes they will not hurt its operations, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

Tycoon Vladimir Potanin’s Interros, the owner of 30.3% in Norilsk Nickel, offered to buy a 4.95% stake in the company from Crispian Investments Ltd, affiliated with Roman Abramovich and his partners. But a subsidiary of aluminum giant UC RUSAL, the owner of 27.8% in Norilsk Nickel, filed a suit to a London court demanding suspension of the deal.

“First, the Kremlin cannot partake in relations of shareholders. No one reported on that to (President Vladimir) Putin, we keep track of the story via media reports,” Peskov said.

Norilsk Nickel is a large company with expanded social and environmental programs.

“The company is very important, it is developing dynamically and shows very positive results. We obviously hope that any discussions, if they are actually being held, will have no impact on the positive dynamics of the company’s development,” he said.

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