RusEnergy

03 May 2007 - Upstream OnLine - Russian state-run player Rosneft won an auction for Yukos' East Siberian assets today with a bid of 175.70 billion roubles ($6.83 billion). The Tomskneft oil production unit and two refineries were up for grabs in the sale. Rosneft faced only one other bidder in the auction, the little-known Yunitex. The starting price was 166.3 billion roubles ($6.46 billion). After the sale, Rosneft said: "The acquisition is a significant step in Rosneft's development which will accelerate improvements in the company's operational and financial performance via improved vertical integration, resulting in earnings growth particularly from the attractive downstream market in Russia." Its statement made no mention of any intention to share the assets with other parties. Market players have said Rosneft might split the assets with gas monopoly Gazprom .