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Aeroflot stake buy plans

Russian airline Aeroflot may buy a 25.8 percent stake in the company from Alexander Lebedev, ridding itself of a major independent shareholder.

Aeroflot said a deal with Lebedev could take place, while a source told Reuters the businessman, who owns London's Evening Standard newspaper, would be forced to accept a discount of around 30 percent to market value. A 25.8 percent stake in Aeroflot was worth just under $500 million based on Tuesday's closing share price. Aeroflot is more than 50 percent owned by the Russian government.