Morozov & Partners

LONDON, August 5, 2010 - An upcoming sale by Russian aluminium giant Rusal, controlled by Oleg Deripaska, of its stake in Norilsk Nickel (LSE: MNOD, OTCBB: NILSY) to the Russian Government would end the long drawn-out conflict between the principal shareholders of the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium and increase the likelihood of the creation from it of a Russian "national champion" in metals.