Bashneft sale part of privitisation drive
MOSCOW, Oct 12 (Reuters) – The Russian government has completed the sale of a controlling stake in mid-sized oil producer Bashneft to the Kremlin-owned Rosneft for 329.69 billion roubles ($5.30 billion), the economy ministry said on Wednesday.
The sale is a part of a government privatisation drive aimed at narrowing the state budget deficit.
The ministry, citing the minister, Alexei Ulyukayev, said Rosneft’s bid was higher than a valuation of between 297 billion roubles and 315 billion roubles, while the unidentified second bidder offered a lower bid.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the Kremlin-controlled Rosneft has used its own funds to buy a controlling stake in the mid-sized oil producer.
Earlier on Wednesday, Putin said that Russia’s privatisation drive will be more efficient after Rosneft purchases the state’s stake in Bashneft.
(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Adrian Croft)