OFAC extends NIS operating licence to December 11 as MOL–Gazprom Neft talks falter

The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued Serbia's oil company NIS a new operating licence valid until December 11, NIS said. "This licence allows the maintenance of operations, contracts and other agreements," the company said. NIS applied on October 24, and the previous extension was granted on October 1.

Licences are issued for about 30 days at a time while talks continue on the sale of the majority Russian stake to Hungary's MOL. Forbes, citing unnamed sources, reports that the talks have "practically collapsed", while MOL repeats that the deal requires approval from OFAC and the Serbian authorities.

A third bidder

The Russian owners hold 56.15 percent of NIS and the Serbian state 29.87 percent. According to local media, Senator Treasury, a firm linked to businessman Ranko Mimović, has offered $2.3 billion for the Russian stake, but the seller has not confirmed the offer.