PRAGUE, Nov. 17??“ The CEZ Group (the Czech Republic) is planning to buy stakes in some Ukrainian-based power distribution companies from VS Energy International N.V. (the Netherlands), a source close to the deal has said.

Talks are under way on the purchase of VS Energy International's stakes in all nine power distribution companies, but the talks are focused primarily on the stakes that are larger than a controlling stake. This concerns stakes in the following four power distribution companies: OAO SevastopolEnergo (95.18%), OAO KhersonOblEnergo (94.51%), OAO KirovohradOblEnergo (94%), and OAO ZhytomyrOblEnergo (91.6%).