Greek energy and natural gas conglomerate Copelouzos Group proposed forming a partnership with Russian Railways to make a bid for Greek rail firm Trainose, Vedomosti reported Tuesday.
Copelouzos is active in Russia via its 50 percent stake of Prometheus Gas, a joint venture with Gazprom.
"We are constantly in contact with Russian Railways," said a representative of Copelouzos Group.
Russian Railways has yet to respond to Copelouzos Group about the possibility of a partnership.
In order to try to make a bid for Trainose, investors must express interest by Sept. 16. After an initial expression of interest, pre-qualified buyers can submit financial offers.
According to Greek media, a number of international companies from France, China, Italy and Germany are thought to be interested in acquiring Trainose.
Russian Railways first expressed interest in Trainose this spring and had been in discussions with Greek construction and energy group GEK Terna about creating a consortium to buy the company.
Last year, Russian Railways bought 75 percent of French logistics company Gefco for 800 million euros ($1.1 billion).
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.