Russia's pipeline monopoly Transneft is excluded from the Ministry of Finance 2011-2013 privatization list, a source close to the company said on Monday. "The initial list consisted of 10 companies, including Transneft, which was later removed. A closed meeting of the Ministry for Economic Development took place last Wednesday to discuss a Finance Ministry suggestion to sell the government's stakes in state companies. Transneft was not on the list then," the source said. Transneft declined to comment on the situation, although it earlier said an additional share issue in favor of the government was aimed at backing the construction of the Zapolyarye-Purpe oil pipeline. Several private investors suggested the company should place its shares on the open market, but Transneft refused.
Transneft's controlling stake of 78 percent, which corresponds to a 100 percent of the company's voting stock, belongs to the government. Its preferred shares are traded.
The Finance Ministry said privatization would bring 298 billion rubles ($9.8 billion) to the state coffers in 2011, 276.1 billion rubles ($9.1 billion) in 2012 and 309.4 billion rubles ($10.2 billion) in 2013. The ministry has suggested selling 27.1 percent in Tatneft oil company, in which the government owns 78.1 percent, and 24.16 percent in Rosneft oil company, in which the government's holding equals 75.16 percent. The ministry also suggested selling 25 percent minus one share in Russian Railways, which currently fully belongs to the government, and 9.3 percent in the country's top lender Sberbank, in which the state owns 60.3 percent.
Under the plan, the government could sell 24.5 percent in VTB bank, where it holds a 85.5 percent stake and 28.11 percent in FSK UES electricity grid, where its stake equals 79.11 percent. A sale of 9.38 percent in RusHydro, in which the state owns 60.38 percent, and 49 percent in government-owned Russian Agency for Housing Mortgage Lending could also help fill the coffers. The government could also sell 49 percent in the fully state-owned Russian Agricultural Bank and a quarter minus one share in Sovcomflot, also fully state-owned.
