Chief Executive Fulvio Conti of Enel SpA (ENEL.MI) said Tuesday it will sign a deal with OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) by the end of April in which the Russian company will buy a controlling stake in a company that holds natural gas assets of former Yukos.
"We will sign by the end of April," CEO Conti told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Moscow. "The occasion will be the next bilateral meeting between the Italian and Russian prime ministers."
His comments were confirmed by an Enel spokeswoman.
Italian energy companies Enel and Eni SpA (E) bought some of the Russian gas assets of bankrupt Yukos in an April 2007 controversial auction. Immediately after the sale the Italian companies gave Gazprom a two-year option to buy a 51% stake in the assets, which were grouped in a company called Severenergia.