Rusal asks for probe of Norilsk stake

Rusal asks for probe of Norilsk stake : Aluminum giant Rusal stepped up the pressure Thursday on tycoon Vladimir Potanin — the largest shareholder in mining firm Norilsk Nickel — calling on Russia's financial watchdog to probe the size of his shareholding along with the circumstances surrounding a surprise offer earlier this week. Rusal's move comes in response to a statement Tuesday from billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov that his Onexim Group was consolidating and intends to sell a 16.7 percent stake in Norilsk to Potanin for $10 billion under the terms of an "irrevocable" offer. Interros, Potanin's holding, said at the time it had received no concrete proposals from Onexim. Potanin already has around 30 percent of Norilsk Nickel through Interros. Gaining the additional stake would strengthen his control of the world's largest... [read full story]