KazMunaiGas intends to get all shares of Mazeikiu nafta owned by UKOS and option right

/INTERFAX/BNS, Vilnius, August 2, 05/ - National oil and gas company of Kazakhstan KazMunaiGas will try to purchase all shares owned by OC UKOS of oil holding Mazeikiu nafta (MN), and also owned by UKOS right for purchase of additional emission of MN shares, informs press release of the company's Vilnius representative office Trade house KazMunaiGas. "Holding sufficient oil resources and opportunities to finance big projects, KazMunaiGas is ready to take stake of UKOS shares in MN together with all options in the frame of agreement with Lithuanian government", - head of representative office of KazMunaiGas in Lithuania Oleg Libman noted, whose words are given in the message. UKOS company owns 53.7% shares of Mazeikiu nafta through registered in Holland company Yukos International UK BV (included in the group OC UKOS), more 40.66% concern's shares are owned by the government Lithuania. According to agreement about investment, UKOS also owns top priority to purchase additional emission of shares of Mazeikiu nafta in 9.72% for $75 m. Lithuanian government also would like to take option right from UKOS and has already started negotiations with Russian company on this question. KazMunaiGas in July of this year founded its first representative office in Baltic countries (in Vilnius), now researches the market and opportunities of raw material supply to MN. About intention to purchase shares of MN, owned by UKOS, Kazakhstan company announced a months ago on the meetings of its representatives with management of Lithuania. Interest to shares of Mazeikiu nafta also show LUKOIL, Gasprom, TNK-VR, international oil trade company Vitol SA, American ConocoPhillips. Mazeikiu nafta includes the only in Baltic countries Mazeikiu PR, oil terminal Butinge and Lithuanian oil pipelines. [2005-08-02]