LUKoil rejects talks with US companies on sale of shares

LUKoil does not intend to hold talks with US companies interested in buying state-owned shares in the Russian oil company, said LUKoil President Vagit Alekperov in a briefing held after the signing of a cooperation agreement with Saint Petersburg government yesterday. There have been reports that US company ChevronTexaco is interested in acquiring shares from LUKoil. But Alekperov said his upcoming trip to the US is connected with the acquisition by LUKoil of 800 gasoline stations in the northeast of the United States. Alekperov said the deal should be completed next month.