Russian businessman Roman Abramovich and his partners are selling a 40.06% stake in Russian mid-sized gold producer Highland Gold to a Russian businessman, who will make a cash offer to remaining shareholders, they said on Friday.
Abramovich, Chelsea soccer club owner, is selling Highland Gold, in which he was a shareholder for many years, at a time when gold price is close its record high as the Covid-19 pandemic drives investors towards the metal as a safe haven.
Fortiana Holdings Limited, a Cyprus-registered company of Vladislav Sviblov with interests in zinc and gold projects in Siberia, agreed to buy 145 759 871 shares in Highland Gold from Abramovich and his partners at 3.00 pounds per share.
Highland Gold is one of the top 10 gold producers in Russia with several mines in Russia’s Far East. The offer will value the entire company at $1.4-billion, with a 4% premium to the market close on Thursday.