Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Gazprom Meets Citigroup
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller met with the head of Citigroup's global banking division, Michael Klein, on Tuesday to discuss possible financing deals and cooperation on diversifying the gas giant's business Tuesday, Gazprom said in a statement.
The talks come amid reports that Gazprom is preparing a bid to buy Roman Abramovich's 72 percent stake in Sibneft. The gas giant has been shopping for a $10 billion loan to finance the deal, a person familiar with the situation. Citibank has acted as a financial consultant for Sibneft for the past eight years and has also taken part in syndicated loan deals to Gazprom.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov declined to comment on whether the two executives discussed a possible Sibneft deal. He declined to elaborate on what was discussed. (MT)"
The talks come amid reports that Gazprom is preparing a bid to buy Roman Abramovich's 72 percent stake in Sibneft. The gas giant has been shopping for a $10 billion loan to finance the deal, a person familiar with the situation. Citibank has acted as a financial consultant for Sibneft for the past eight years and has also taken part in syndicated loan deals to Gazprom.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov declined to comment on whether the two executives discussed a possible Sibneft deal. He declined to elaborate on what was discussed. (MT)"
