Russian millionaire eyes Norilsk stake

Potanin already owns a 25 percent stake in the company and the purchase of another 25 percent owned by Deripaska's UC Rusal aluminium firm would give him control of half the company. The Vedomosti and Kommersant newspapers said UC Rusal has not given an indication it is willing to sell the shares but said Potanin had already been in talks with key players, including the government, on the issue. Potanin, who owns the Interros holding company, told Vedomosti that the purchase of the UC Rusal stake in Norilsk Nickel would be an interesting transaction for him which could be examined.

Deripaska, who has lost his status as Russia's richest man amid the global crisis, bought the 25 percent stake in Norilsk Nickel in April last year when its share price was still riding high. Ironically, the man he brought the stake from, Mikhail Prokhorov, is now Russia's richest man.