KIEV, Aug. 26 - Ukraine's government prevailed in alegal battle over Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant, a huge ferroalloy maker, after a court ruled Friday privatization two years ago was illegal, thus returning the majority stake to the state.

The ruling, by the Supreme Economic Court, clears the way for the government to re-sell the 50%-plus-one-share stake in NFP later this year, now at a transparent tender.