The Hungarian MOL company announced that it received an additional license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury to carry out preparatory operations as part of the process of purchasing Russian shares in the oil industry of Serbia (shekel). "The license authorizes certain actions necessary for the transfer of securities in a Russian issue of MOL Serbia Investment Kft, as well as the performance of related actions, including obtaining the required approvals from the Russian government authorities. The license is valid until February 28, 2027," says the MOL Group, which continues negotiations on the purchase of shares in the Serbian Gazprom Neft company. The statement clarifies that "this license does not grant the right to complete a transaction that would result in the cessation of Russian ownership and control of the shekel." "To carry out such a transaction, a separate permit from OFAC will be required," the MOL Group stated. Shekel owners are forced to sell their assets because they are subject to American sanctions. In January 2025, the US Treasury included the Serbian company on the sanctions list along with its majority shareholder, Gazprom Neft. After several delays, the restrictions went into effect on October 9. The Serbian Ministry of Energy reported on November 11 that the Russian owners of NIS had informed the United States of their willingness to transfer control of the company to a third party. On January 19, 2026, Gazprom and MOL announced the signing of an agreement of intent to sell a stake in shekels. The Serbian authorities announced an increase in their stake in the company from 30 to 35%, which will allow them to influence some of the shareholders' decisions. In the past, MOL has repeatedly stated that negotiations have progressed and that it expects to "soon complete the documentation for the transaction". For its part, the Serbian side made it clear that all issues were agreed upon with it.

The Hungarian MOL company announced that it received an additional license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury to carry out preparatory operations as part of the process of purchasing Russian shares in the oil industry of Serbia (shekel). "The license authorizes certain actions necessary for the transfer of securities in a Russian issue of MOL Serbia Investment Kft, as well as the performance of related actions, including obtaining the required approvals from the Russian government authorities. The license is valid until February 28, 2027," says the MOL Group, which continues negotiations on the purchase of shares in the Serbian Gazprom Neft company. The statement clarifies that "this license does not grant the right to complete a transaction that would result in the cessation of Russian ownership and control of the shekel." "To carry out such a transaction, a separate permit from OFAC will be required," the MOL Group stated. Shekel owners are forced to sell their assets because they are subject to American sanctions. In January 2025, the US Treasury included the Serbian company on the sanctions list along with its majority shareholder, Gazprom Neft. After several delays, the restrictions went into effect on October 9. The Serbian Ministry of Energy reported on November 11 that the Russian owners of NIS had informed the United States of their willingness to transfer control of the company to a third party. On January 19, 2026, Gazprom and MOL announced the signing of an agreement of intent to sell a stake in shekels. The Serbian authorities announced an increase in their stake in the company from 30 to 35%, which will allow them to influence some of the shareholders' decisions. In the past, MOL has repeatedly stated that negotiations have progressed and that it expects to "soon complete the documentation for the transaction". For its part, the Serbian side made it clear that all issues were agreed upon with it.