OFAC authorisation extends negotiations to October 30
MOL says negotiations to acquire a controlling stake in Serbia’s NIS remain active, rejecting reports that discussions with the company’s Russian shareholders have collapsed. A new authorisation from the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control allows the Hungarian group to continue talks until October 30. Any completed transaction would still require OFAC approval and clearance from other relevant regulators.
The extension provides additional time for negotiations, but it does not settle the sale. The decisive steps remain agreement on the transaction and regulatory approval sufficient to secure continued refinery and fuel-supply operations.
June shareholder agreement sets governance framework
Serbia’s government and MOL signed a shareholder agreement in June setting out how NIS would be governed if the acquisition proceeds. The framework is intended to maintain operations, protect domestic fuel supply and preserve the functioning of the Pančevo refinery during an ownership transition.
Russian companies continue to control NIS, keeping ownership negotiations closely tied to sanctions affecting the business. MOL’s statement links the ongoing talks to the new US authorisation while noting that further regulatory clearances would be required for any deal completion.
