OREANDA-NEWS. On February 11, 2007 RAO "UES of Russia" sold its 49% stake in OAO "Kostroma Retail Company" for RUB150 million to OOO "TK Altair", reported the press-centre of RAO "UES of Russia".

Kostroma Retail Company is one of the energy retail companies (ERCs) whose shares were not sold during the auctions held previously. As resolved by the Board of Directors of RAO "UES of Russia" on 30 November 2007, the stakes in such ERCs will be sold through the ISTRA information and trading system used to sell RAO UES assets.

The ISTRA system was launched on 6 February 2008. The system ensures an open process for selling the ERC stakes. Bids can be submitted by investors who have access to the ISTRA system and a system participant's electronic digital stamp.

Interested parties are granted access to the ISTRA system on the same terms as those currently used by RAO UES for public auctions to sell the ERCs.

The peculiar feature of the ISTRA System is that after the price of the unsold parcel of ERC shares is declared, the shares will be sold to the first bidder.

* The Board of Directors of RAO "UES of Russia" took a decision in principle to dispose of its stakes in ERCs at its meeting of 8 December 2006.