Court calls retrial in Rosneft case against Russneft

MOSCOW, June 24 (Reuters) - A Moscow court ordered a new trial in a 5 billion rouble case brought by state-run giant oil firm Rosneft (ROSN.MM) against Russneft, giving the smaller private rival a six month respite until its ownership is clarified.

Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday the $158.4 million case against Russneft over its purchase of a former unit of bankrupt oil firm YUKOS would start from scratch on Dec. 15.

Rosneft, which has taken over most assets of YUKOS and which is chaired by powerful Vice Prime Minister Igor Sechin, rarely loses court cases.

In April, the Moscow Arbitration Court ruled in favour of Rosneft, which is disputing Russneft's purchase of the Zapadno-Malobalykskoye production unit from YUKOS [ID:nLO111387].

Rosneft had been long viewed by market players as a potential candidate to acquire Russneft, which is currently controlled by indebted businessman Oleg Deripaska.

The latter was forced to put up Russneft shares as collateral against loans with Russia's top bank, state-run Sberbank SBER03.MM.

Russian media reported Sberbank wanted to change the ownership at Russneft. In June the oil arm of state gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM), Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM), said it would be interested in buying Russneft if the price was right. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by David Cowell)