When it was announced in August that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would go to the northern Russian city of Norilsk, where Norilsk Nickel's largest operations are located, many experts were sure that the state was ready to intervene.

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Russia's Norilsk Nickel (otc: NILSY) is the world's biggest producer of nickel, which is what makes stainless steel shiny.

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Prokhorov's most notable transaction would probably be the sale of his 25% stake in Norilsk Nickel to Deripaska.

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