Russian govt wants to sell stake in gold miner UGC, find new owner for it - Siluanov

MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - The Russian government plans to sell the controlling stake in gold miner Uzhuralzoloto Group of Companies (UGC) , Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said.

"Everything that becomes state property is of course re-appraised for further use. We want those assets that the state has, businesses above all, to find a new owner so they can continue to operate. So the state will do the same with this package, as in other similar cases where assets have been transferred to the state by law enforcement agencies," Siluanov said.

"It will be sold," he said. "We sell most of these assets. You know, last year we had more than 100 billion rubles, this year we also estimate we'll receive more than 100 billion rubles from the sale of such assets [transferred to the state by court order]," he said.

The Sovetsky District Court in Chelyabinsk on July 11 granted a lawsuit by the Prosecutor General's Office to transfer to the government the 67.85% stake held by Konstantin Strukov in UGC and his 100% of UGC Management Company, as well as assets owned by Strukov's daughter Evgenia Kuznetsova and other individuals who, according to the PGO, held them on Strukov's behalf.