MOSCOW, August 4 (RIA Novosti) -- Nafta-Moskva investment group denied Friday media reports that it is in negotiations to buy Yukos shares.
A number of Russian media, in particular newspaper Kommersant, reported Friday that the group was in talks to buy shares in the fallen oil company, which was declared bankrupt on Monday.
"Neither Nafta-Moskva nor its representatives have participated or intend to participate in negotiations related to Yukos or to the acquisition of its shares," the company said in a news release.
Analysts have suggested that Yukos assets are being sought by major state-controlled companies, such as Gazprom and Rosneft, as well as Russian-British joint venture TNK-BP.
Eduard Rebgun, formerly the Yukos temporary manager and now the court-appointed receiver, said cash raised from the sale of Yukos assets would not cover the crude producer's court-recognized debts.
Rebgun valued the company's property and assets at 581 billion rubles (about $21.5 billion) but said the company's proceeds would total 417 billion rubles (about $15.4 billion) after the assets sale and tax payments.
The company's liabilities recognized by the court total 491 billion rubles (about $18.2 billion), Rebgun said.
