MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - Russneft has withdrawn from a deal to buy a stake in Slovak pipeline company Transpetrol from embattled oil company Yukos, a source close to the companies said.
Yukos announced in February a deal to sell a 49% stake in Transpetrol for $103 million to its fellow Russian oil holding, but Russneft failed to complete the deal within the set term of 90 days.
"The Polish concern [PKN Orlen] is now the most possible buyer," the source said.
Russneft refused to comment on media reports that appeared Wednesday citing Yukos Chairman Viktor Gerashchenko as saying that the purchase had been annulled.
The deal was expected to be completed in 90 days, after Slovak anti-monopoly agencies and the economic ministry approved the sale on April 29.
Yukos [RTS: YUKO] purchased Transpetrol in 2002 for $74 million. In 2005, the company pumped 10.662 million metric tons of oil. It owns pipelines totaling 1,032 km in length.
