RusEnergy

RBC, 30.10.2006, Moscow 14:13:59.Rosneft did not confirm today's media reports about issuing a mandate to seven western banks with a view to raising $24.5bn in a loan. As the oil company's press office explained to RBC, the Board of Directors of Rosneft had not convened on this matter, "hence, such information is not true to fact." According to the press office, the corporation's Board of Directors does not plan to discuss this matter any time soon. Earlier reports stated that Rosneft was in talks with seven western banks, including Citigroup, ABN Amro, J.P.Morgan, over organizing financing worth $24.5bn for acquiring a number of assets, including YUKOS.