Analysts doubt selling of YUKOS subsidiary for $15bn

The fact that Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein has estimated YUKOS' oil producing subsidiary Yuganskneftegaz at some $15bn to $17bn does not mean that this company will be sold at this price, a Zenit Bank analyst believes. He thinks that this is a pretty high price and it is pretty fair. "The pressure of state officials on the appraiser aimed at lowering the price of the asset has failed, however it is not obvious that Yuganskneftegaz will be sold at this price; new tricks are possible to ensure the selling of the company at prices acceptable for some agencies," the expert said.

Some analysts believe that the assessment of Yuganskneftegaz will not change the situation around YUKOS since there is still the risk of revoking the oil producing license of the enterprise.