Rosneft takeover moves forward.(Gazprom)(Rosneft)(Gazprom Russian Joint Stock Co.)

The government and Gazprom are this week pushing ahead with the logistical side of the gas giant's planned takeover of Rosneft.

Economy and trade minister German Gref said last week that he expected President Vladimir Putin to sign a ruling excluding Rosneft from the list of strategically important enterprises within a month, making a share swap between Rosneft and Gazprom possible.

Gazprom's managers met last week to discuss a change in the company's charter to remove a requirement that any shareholder buying more than 5pc of the company in excess of a 30pc interest must buy out all the other shareholders.

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