A potential MOL acquisition of a majority stake in Serbia’s NIS remains unresolved as an October deadline approaches. A new US authorisation allows negotiations to continue until 30 October. There has been no official confirmation that the proposed acquisition has collapsed.
MOL said talks are active and that any transaction requires approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and other authorities. The company also indicated that approvals are needed before the deal can proceed. The status of the ownership process therefore remains tied to regulatory clearances.
Shareholders’ agreement talks and state position
Serbia has completed negotiations with MOL on a separate shareholders’ agreement. The agreement is designed to govern the state’s position if a Hungarian group becomes majority owner. The framework relates specifically to how Serbia would act under that ownership scenario.
Sanctions, operating continuity, and Pančevo refinery
Short-term licences have allowed NIS to continue operating despite sanctions associated with its Russian majority ownership. The licensing arrangements have supported continued activity while ownership discussions remain under way. NIS also owns Serbia’s only refinery.
The refinery is located at Pančevo, and continuity there is described as central to domestic fuel supply. With the latest extension in place, time is preserved for a negotiated solution. However, the extension does not provide certainty that an ownership deal will be completed before the next deadline.
