Aeroflot up for privatization
Russia may sell a minority stake in the state airline company Aeroflot in 2011 as part of its privatization program, the country’s finance minister said.
Earlier this year Russia unveiled a large privatization program in a bid to reduce the budget deficit and improve efficiency and corporate governance at key companies. The Finance Ministry proposed selling state-owned shares in 10 state companies and banks, but preserving control over them, BarentsObserver reported.
The list of companies that the ministry suggested selling stocks in includes Tatneft oil company, Rosneft oil company, Russian Railways, Sberbank and Russia’s largest shipping company Sovcomflot.
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Tuesday that Aeroflot could now be added to the list, The Moscow Times reports. - Now we are discussing the sale of only a minority stake, so that 50 percent plus one share remains with the state, he said.
