KIEV, Aug. 15 - Ukraine's authorities permitted Metinvest Holding, the country??™s biggest mining and steel company, to acquire majority stake in Skif Shipping, one of the biggest forwarding agents at the Mariupol commercial seaport.

The acquisition would allow Metinvest, owned by Ukraine??™s wealthiest businessman Rinat Akhmetov, to consolidate position in the shipping as the company depends on steel exports.