Gazprom negotiaties acquisition of 25% stake in OMV?

Russian gas giant Gazprom is negotiating the acquisition of IPIC's 24.9 percent stake in Austrian oil and gas company OMV with that Abu Dhabi-based investment fund, Reuters cited a source familiar with the matter as saying.

The UAE national fund International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) holds a 24.9 percent stake in OMV and is bound by a contract with Austria's state-owned holding OIAG that owns 32 percent of shares in OMV. OIAG officials said they knew nothing about IPIC's plans to sell its stake in OMV.

Gazprom, IPIC and OMV declined to comment on the news.

On Tuesday, while Russian President Vladimir Putin was on a visit to Austria, Gazprom signed an agreement with OMV in Vienna to build the Austrian arm of South Stream gas pipeline.