2009

The last year has been a fateful one for many Russian companies - some of which have been on the brink of bankruptcy. The year was certainly anything but simple for the 'Basic Element' group of companies, whose debt totals approximately $20 billion. However, in December it was reported that all the group's companies had succeeded in coming to agreement with their creditors on debt restructuring.

Vremya Novostei

Negotiations on SMR Group debt refinancing entered the final stage.

Spanish media have today reported claims that Oleg Deripaska is being asked by Spanish law enforcement authorities to give evidence in relation to a money-laundering case. The case involves a number of Russian and Spanish companies.

We would like to point out that Mr Deripaska has never been approached by the Spanish law enforcement authorities.

Members of Oleg Deripaska's Basic Element (BasEl) holding had combined earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of approximately $1.5 billion in the first ten months of 2009, the group's CFO, Alexander Lukin, told Interfax, quoting interim management accounts.

Interfax

Leading Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published op-ed piece written by Oleg Deripaska in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.