Britain has blocked oil and gas deal with firm LetterOne

The UK authorities blocked the acquisition of 12 oil and gas fields in the North sea company LetterOne created by the owners of the Russian Alfa group Mikhail Fridman and German Khan, out of fear that businessmen have the opportunity to get in the future in the sanction lists, reports.

Purchase deposits had to go under the agreement to acquire oil and gas division of RWE - Dea AG for ? 5 billion Russian LetterOne. Under the revised terms of the agreement, the Company LetterOne proposed to separate the British division of the Dea from other activities RWE Dea for several years in case of imposition of punishment on its owners.

"After careful consideration, the Minister (the UK energy ed Davey) decided that the initiative does not adequately and reliably to dispel these fears," said in the call of the Ministry.

Davey said that he is concerned about the effect that future potential punishment imposed on LetterOne have the opportunity to provide for the continuation of the work of the fields " and "serious risk to health, safety (employees) and natural factors that have the ability eventually to occur," writes the Agency.

"When making purchases in the current form, he (the Minister) attended to would Like to require organizations to arrange a future sale of a suitable third party" - quoted by Reuters the Ministry.

It clarifies the Agency, businessmen hired the former CEO of Neftechala British Petroleum's John Browne for the organization's expansion abroad.
LetterOne wanted to get a letter of guarantee from the British government guarantees that it will not impose detention on the oil fields, if the punishment will be used to Russian businessmen.

The deal between RWE and LetterOne was concluded by the end of March 2014, it amounted to $ 5, 1 billion euros. RWE AG is among the five largest in the EU energy companies engaged in supplying and selling electricity and gas. RWE AG provides electricity to approximately 20 million customers, gas - 10 million customers.

A private Company LetterOne is based in Luxembourg. On December 31, 2013 assets are estimated at 29 billion dollars.


Western countries from March 2014 has repeatedly imposed punishment on a number of Russian politicians, businessmen and organizations because of the position of Russia in Ukraine. The last case of the use of such practices was the list of individual penalties against persons, which the EU considers responsible for the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine, released in February.


sections: Politics