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Thanks Eric. I don't think that insiders' purchases have been ever reported. But it would be safe to assume that they never paid a penny for those shares - all of them are a result of reverse mergers, acquisitions, etc. And most of the shares are restricted from trading. BTW, I believe actual float is much higher than ~40 mln that everybody keeps talking about. We mentioned on NWOG board that restricted shares from BIO Tracking Security expired this Summer. I suspect insiders were selling during that $1+ spike, and current float is few times higher than we used to believe. Still, in any case, 60-80% or more OS belong to insiders, and they are not going to let them die worthless.
IMO.
I think this accusation is a very serious matter… and British police is able to find out the truth like nobody else. As stated in the article: “a Chechen separatist leader claimed yesterday that Mr Litvinenko's … was a victim of state-sponsored assassination”, and one of the versions in Russian press – Litvinenko was killed by Chechens to hurt Putin’s image in Europe. Interesting coincidence – all recent “political” murders happened just before important for Russia international meetings. I don’t know… Putin maybe a devil, but he is very smart… too smart to make stupid mistakes like this. BTW, similar accusations related to Ukrainian President Yushenko were also made against Putin and KGB. And nobody mentions them anymore. Guess why? After elections Yushenko started criminal investigation that was suddenly stopped (or forgotten). The rumors are – it was “local” Ukrainian case and some people close to Ukrainian President are involved. That’s how they get him elected and gained wide international support.
Again, whoever murdered Litvinenko made a big mistake – I believe British Police will find the killers, and I can’t believe that Putin could be that stupid.
IMO.
I am pretty sure they are Russian – somebody from Saratov management. Actually, Mr. Malyshev looks more “foreign” than the rest of them. :) Few detective hints:
1. Russian rarely smile (even for pictures), and if they do, they don’t show teeth, which is a sign of fake “American” smile.
2. Russians ware wedding rings on the right hands.
I don’t think TA is useful for penny stocks (which are moved by PRs, rumors, dilutions, etc.). But, anyway, one of the most reliable and simple indicators, that is used by pretty sophisticated technical traders: look for positive or negative MF divergence with respect to the share price. If PPS is trending down but CMF is green – “big boys” are buying (accumulation), negative CMF on the uptrend – distribution. By this criteria NWOG is in accumulation mode now. Because we never know how low they can drive the price, the idea is – look for the signs of trend change (“buy signal”). I would say we are close to this point (oversold, stochastic and MACD are ready to turn "green", SAR is also close to that point). If NWOG manages to hold current support few more days it will have to go up. :) OTOH, we are in a tax selling season, and it’s hard to expect miracles at this time.
IMO.
Well… I looked through the posts, I checked out a dozen of recent forward splits in penny world, and it’s still unclear to me: “What is the game plan for pink sheet stocks, that announced forward split? Looking at the charts I didn’t find price spike effect we usually see on “big” exchanges… Am I missing anything? Am I looking at wrong stocks? What is the expected pattern you guys trying to play here? Again, I am talking about forward split for penny stocks (kind of mystery – why would companies need it at all?). Thanks.
"In compliance with rule 17b of the Securities and Exchange Commission, WSR has received or expects to receive $10,000 in cash and 450,000 shares of 144 restricted stock for due diligence fees and consulting services provided to U.S. Sustainable Energy from November of 2006 through April of 2007." (page 38)
We don’t. Just a few tips from Russian press, including an old article where both NWOG and Carlyle managements confirmed joint plans for future, and recent article about Liepaja terminal purchase, that mentioned Carlyle again as the force behind the deal. The rest is speculation. If investors knew for sure they would pay for NWOG shares much more than 11 cents.
PostCog, by saying "this is not a discussion forum" I ment that I have a full time job and may won't be able to moderate the board 24/7, timely respond to the questions, and keep conversation alive. I do appreciate your interest and would gladly read other posters opinions and recommendations. Moreover, I don’t mind to hear negatives about my “model holdings”… if they go beyond just “Scam!” statement and have some rationale. We are trying to make money, after all…
Again, thank you for your interest, and don’t hesitate to post here.
BTW, almost all Carlyle deals in energy sector go through it's energy partner:
Riverstone Holdings LLC
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
United States
P +1 212 993 0076
F +1 212 993 0077
That's where all business proposals from NWOG (if any) should be submitted:
http://www.carlyle.com/eng/industry/industryproposalsl4-500.html
and this is our probable partner in JV: NWOG - Callyle/Riverstone: http://www.riverstonellc.com/index.html
Transpetrol acquisition would perfectly fit Middle East – Latvia projects. Oil refinery and transportation is one of the main spheres of interests for Carlyle, who I suspect is behind all this recent activity. NWOG distributes and sells in Europe oil and oil products from it’s own wells, Belarus’ refineries, Middle East producers, etc. Sounds good to me… Too good to be true? We will see…
and SPRL is currently #1 in Planeta's POWERSCAN list:
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg_ig.asp?message_id=15061368
will definitely attract some attention.
To start trading in London they would need audited finances. This fact alone (if results are even remotely close to PRs) will move NWOG price much higher. Further trading depends on AIM:US Pink shares ratio. We discussed this many times before, and I am still of the opinion that they need to significantly decrease US traded float, or even stop trading here at all. Otherwise, Pink sheet manipulations will dictate the share price and pull the London valuations down as well.
IMO.
You remember, of course, the “Transpetrol deal”: 49% of this former Yukos asset (pipeline in Slovakia) was sold to Russneft, although NWOG’s bid was much higher; this caused a scandal (Malyshev even threatened to bring the case to court), Slovakian government vetoed the auction’s results, Russneft withdrew the bid, Slovakia asked NWOG (as the higher bidder) to start further negotiations, Sozina said: ”We will think about this. We are working on many other projects now.” ...links were posted on this board earlier.
Well, looks like the deal will be closed soon.
“In Moscow, Slovak Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek discussed a possible buyback of a 49-percent stake in Slovak crude oil pipeline operator Transpetrol with head of the Russian Cabinet Office Sergey Naryshkin. They agreed that either Slovakia or the Russian Federation would acquire the stake currently in the hands of Yukos Finance B.V., a Dutch arm of the insolvent Russian oil major Yukos. Mr. Jahnatek's spokesman, Branislav Zvara, said that the matter is clear now. “ The representatives agreed just on these two possibilities,” he said. Mr. Zvara, however, refused to specify which Russian company could gain the Transpetrol stake from Yukos. He said that Mr. Jahnatek and Mr. Naryshkin would deal with the matter later. “
http://hnonline.sk/c6-10145900-19701330-k13900_detail-economic-news-summary-november-7
“Ownership of a Minority Stake in Transpetrol is Still Contested
The Slovak Economy Ministry claims that the representative of the Russian side cannot decide over matters of Slovak crude oil pipeline operator Transpetrol without an agreement of original representatives of Yukos Finance B.V.”
http://hnonline.sk/c6-10145900-19808730-k13900_detail-economic-news-summary-november-21
Possible outcomes:
1. Slovakia takes those 49%. They want to, but need Russians to agree, and… don’t have money. From interview with Malyshev we remember, that in this case Slovakia will still look for support from some big plyers.
2. Russneft will renew it’s lost ownership. Unlikely (IMO). They are done with this.
3. Gazprom – it was the Russian plan from every beginning. Slovakia opposed to let this Russian monopoly in. But they have new government now, they negotiated some conditions with Russia… Possible.
4. NWOG. It would be fair and possible solution. Slovakia would support it. Russia would still have control. Carlyle Group was (and probably is) ready to finance.
I would vote for 4. Of course, if Mrs. Sozina could put her other plans aside and accept this offer. :)
My penny holdings at the moment: NWOG, SPRL, CKYS, AURC, CWRN, NNRF, SIBN, PYPR (in dollar descending order). The order approximately reflects my opinion about long term potential: CKYS would be the first to add to the portfolio, AURC – second, etc. But… didn’t we all like SLJB a couple of weeks ago? :) Check any iHub message board – people consider all other stocks to be a garbage and scam, but, of course, their pick is a rare exception – real gem and long term hold. So, the model portfolio is the place for my subjective rare exceptions. I hold/trade/study those two stocks for a long time and feel safe to hold till the first deadline: July, 1, 2007. Means, no flipping! (well, almost :) Which doesn’t mean that something couldn't go terribly wrong – we are in the pinky world. I may increase that portfolio before the year end, and it would probably be some stocks from the above list. For now, they are just pinkies I like.
I don’t make any recommendations! iHUB is generous enough to let everyone create his/her own portfolio and put it for public view.
mfbeale… I am holding small AURC position (just 20K), like this stock, and actually am in the green (unlike NWOG). IMO: The first report with real production numbers will move price much higher. And we know, Krong is producing gold now. OTOH, at this time (tax sale season) any significant news will be offset by heavy selling. Hopefully, I will have time to increase my AURC position by EOY… Maybe I am wrong, but anyway I need to sell something first. :)
Well, first weekend – first portfolio update. Not bad start:
Week #1
Portfolio 1: $12,236.84 up 22.37%
Portfolio 2: $11,118.42 up 11.18%.
Looking at the charts:
1. SPRL is starting an uptrend. Next important resistance: 0.03-0.035.
2. NWOG is fighting to hold 0.11 support. Down trend with positive CMF is called “accumulation” in my over-simplified TA book. :)
One question that I was asked more than once: “Are you going to add other stocks to your portfolio?” I don't know… the whole idea was “buy & hold”. So, to keep it clean, I can’t sell model positions. I may consider adding new cash to buy new stocks, but won’t do this often. The main criteria: a). stock should look like long-term "fundamentally sound" holding; b). it should be significant part of my real portfolio. Don’t forget, this is a "trader anonymous" board that serves very practical purpose. :)
Although language could be a barrier, of course, you would be surprised how many Russians understand and speak English... Especially, young people and people with college degrees. Traditionally, if Russian knows any foreign language at all - it would be English. "Learn the language of your enemy!" - old Soviet slogan. :)
Thanks Wendel. Happy Thanksgiving and happy investing to you!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I’ve just put myself for public humiliation by creating model portfolios:
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/board.asp?board_id=7536
Hopefully, it’s something I will be thankful for next year. :)
This is model portfolios - number of shares calculated to get total $10,000 value. My actual holdings are not fractional and much bigger.
The main reason for July, 1, 2007 deadline – a big chunk of NWOG insiders’ shares is restricted until May – June. One would expect to see a price appreciation by the time insiders will be able to start taking some profits. OTOH, by that time SPRL will show a few quarters of stable revenues which should help this stock. We will see…
When contacting the company introduce yourself as a representative of big investment community that holds *** shares of NWOG (we can run the poll to get a count). This works sometimes. We can, actually, collectively generate questions that could be asked. Good luck with your plans!
"Stratton Stevens was congratulated on his recent acquisition of a computer (!) and his appointment to the board of Directors of S.D.I.L. International Lottery Development Inc, a Québec-based corporation operating in the lottery field and offering to foreign countries the same technological expertise and operational systems as currently used in Québec. "
http://www.wednesday-night.com/Wed898Bunker.htm
<<THIS IS OUR PRESIDENT....Malyshev is just a guy with 'a plan' >>
Don't forget, OUR PRESIDENT used to be "a guy with a plan" working as director of oil company - Harken Energy. :)
I also had an order @0.017 (through Ameritrade) that was partially filled for 24K shares total.
I basically agree. OTOH, Strat can stay in profitable refining business “forever” if it does all the right steps with “internal” knowledge of Russian specifics. Hopefully, Sam has managed to pull into JV some high level officials from local administration and oil industry. Bashkorostan – Tatarstan region is a petrochemical center of Russia. Many giant refineries (NPZ) process millions tons of oil w/o any access to international markets. In a couple of years one of them may decide to go public by buying Strat or “reverse merging” with the company.
IMO.
If anybody thinks about buying PYPR... According to PYPR board http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg_ig.asp?message_id=14987517 Lebed is pumping it again with 0.01 target.
FWIW.
<<What are the rest of you doing?>>
I am aggressively holding. :)
(using wrongjoe’s financial terminology)
<<and they have unlimited resources for additional sludge>>
If I was sure that this is the case, I would buy entire float the same day. :) We do need additional JVs to generate working cash. This would have an exponential effect: more cash -> more new JVs (plants) -> even more cash -> even more plants, etc. “Unlimited resources of additional sludge” would mean unlimited growth potential. That’s why Strat needs to buy new reservoirs as fast as possible. Even better – secure the future sludge supply by signing long-term contracts with big local players (NPZs) about future delivery of sludge with negotiated physical characteristics, which would guarantee the % of extractable product. As I stated before, competition can and will increase in future, when locals realize that Strat is making money from the trash. Strat needs to monopolize the local market by that time (couple of years, I think). Then it couldn’t be ignored and would become an attractive buyout target for bigger players.
IMO.
SLJB. Just because I mentioned my last purchase I have to report now that I am out with small total loss (counting past trading history). Stopped the pain when this last gamble has eaten all previous gains. Removed this stock from my watch list to avoid temptation in a future, and feel lucky. Good luck for those who keep fighting! :)
Using last reported OS of 162,321,351 http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg_ig.asp?message_id=13787860
this gives net earnings/share:
2007...........$0.071
2008...........$0.148
2009...........$0.141
2010...........$0.126
2011...........$0.11
And share price for ultra conservative P/E=5 (I like IHDR’s 10 better but think it’s too aggressive for Russian Oil pinky):
2007...........$0.355
2008...........$0.74
2009...........$0.705
2010...........$0.63
2011...........$0.55
At least 20-30 bagger from current level. No comment… :)
<<I guess I've grown more pessimistic in this world of pinks>>
Among different investment tools pinkies' place is somewhere next to the poker game – higher than lottery tickets but below the “big board” stocks. I mean – you need skills and experience to win, but it’s still a gamble. The rule is: don’t make big stakes, which you can’t afford to lose, and diversify. I like the signature I saw somewhere on iHub, something like this: “It’s easy to invest in good stock, but you need to do a lot of DD to convince yourself to buy a garbage.” :) That’s the reason of all disasters we see on iHub. People put all their life savings in a penny with “good DD”. I am not the smartest investor and don’t have millions to invest, but I (we) do have a stable source of income (jobs), small real estate investments (rental properties), sizeable i-Bonds position, and some “solid” stocks on IRA. Those funds are “untouchable” survival kit, and I would never move them to the pinky world. Pennies couldn’t be the source of income if you are not a professional player. You can not make living by playing poker, but you can learn not to lose money, and even win a couple of games. :)
IMO (I hope this didn’t sound like a lecture)
jhhyatt, you are probably right! Deloitte was “Reporting accountant” for dozens of companies in “Oil & Gas – Exploration & Production” sector: http://www.watstart.com/resources/AIMintro.pdf
but advertising their expertise they say: “Our role as Reporting Accountant / auditor / even Nomad!” like if nomad function is something not-suitable for them (“even”). I just checked one of their clients: Caspian Energy. Deloitte was “reporting accountant”, but when you check corporate information page http://www.caspianenergyinc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=56 :
NOMINATED ADVISOR AND BROKER
Canaccord Capital (Europe) Limited
REPORTING ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP
AUDITORS TO THE COMPANY AND CEL
Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP
BANKERS
CIBC
Maybe hiring Deloitte is the way for companies with complex collection of assets in different countries to get some respect and trust during the registration process.
I will stick with your interpretation for now. :)
PostCog,
I definitely agree that this inaccuracy is disturbing. I just don’t understand why would they do this – nobody asked them about those deadlines, especially to put them to “the next November” (like in terminal case). Sounds like naiveness and lack of experience to me… Yes, I still try to find excuses for NWOG’s management: they’ve just come from private Russian company to the public American market. I think with their PR policy NWOG completely rely on Parkin&Co, who supposedly “understands US markets and knows how it works”. Unfortunately, Mr. Parkin’s understanding and attitude is pinky… and Russians don’t feel the difference yet.
<<Combine this emerging pattern with the change of auditor (non-nomad per debelg) and I get a big red flag. >>
They didn’t change an auditor, and this is not a red flag… yet. My take on this “audit news”:
1. We need independent confirmation from Deloitte that NWOG is among it’s clients.
2. Assuming that p. 1 is confirmed… NWOG may deny Deloitte being AIM nomad because they have not done a formal decision yet, and don’t want to leak this important “market moving” information. If Deloitte is an auditor and isn’t nomad there could be two explanations:
a. they are very expensive, NWOG will get solid audit and then hire “cheap” nomad who will rely on Deloitte data… sounds unlikely.
b. The purpose of audit is not AIM listing but… buyout in works (let me know if you have another explanation). Potential buyer would want to see audited finances before making a formal bid.
Personally, I think that we (US holders) will do better with AIM IPO. Buyout is also not bad, but at this point, I suspect it wouldn’t be friendly to people who bought in $1 range. I could be wrong, of course…
Finally, here is how I see the NWOG today: small ambitious company with big plans, good connections, and big support from authorities. Russian Oil/Gas sector is very competitive, government support may disappear in 2008. So, to grow and reach their ambitious targets they have to act fast, aggressively, in many directions, looking for places with less resistance and “easy money”. That’s why they didn’t dig themselves in NWOG-MOL Surgut-7 deal, which required years of boring work. NWOG doesn’t have much cash on hands. They have Government support, which is better than cash in Russia. NWOG is a government’s power, influence and connections that are looking for a financial refuge before possible political changes that can come in 2008. Unless, something disastrous happens on “upper level” they will succeed. Hopefully, they will share this success with us – small shareholders. At least, this is my bet.
All IMO.
Well, if I was in a mood to speculate :) I would suggest that we can find them at 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 – New York headquarters of Carlyle Group http://www.carlyle.com/eng/index.html . All NWOG’s recent activity (Liepaja, Syria-Yemen, gas stations, possible Transpetrol negotiations, etc.) indirectly points to the “hand of Carlyle”. We have talked about this many times, we see the same speculations in Russian press now. And remember, the likelihood of such a JV was confirmed both by Carlyle and NWOG http://www.rbcdaily.ru/archive/2006/04/25/217825 . To realize what kind of news that would be for NWOG shareholders just read about Carlyle Group, it’s business activity, involvement with Bush family, etc.
This seems to be an office building in the center of Moscow:
http://www.greki.ru/images/newmap.gif
For example, Greek tour agency takes offices 303-306 on the 3rd floor:
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:NmShViZp3YMJ:www.greki.ru/index.php%3Fid_menu%3D97+%D0%A1%D1%82%....
The ground floor is occupied by restaurants (like “Happy Dan” http://www.maxrelax.ru/restaurants/art1773.html ).
Pretty famous night club “Aloe” (center for music and literature elite) is there: http://www.lmasnow.com/newsdetail.php?NewsID=20061017 .
And, of course, the Central Fire Department station #75 is right there:
http://www.moscowmap.ru/sprav/showkont.asp?id=391080
My NWOG price theory: “It’s a 5-bagger, doesn’t matter what the price is.” :) So, I just try to keep my average close to the current price. Currently it’s ~0.18, and I am "almost green".
IMO: NWOG is legitimate company with great future… which doesn’t mean that management doesn't want “a piece of you”. I don’t think it’s in their interests to hurt small pinky holders (why bother?), but I am prepared for the worst… which is “5-bagger from the current price”.
Some interesting details on Liepaja deal. I don’t have time to “clean” English version, so here is the Babel Fish caricature with Russian link for those who want better translation:
“North Western petroleum group (SZNG) is near completion of transaction in the acquisition of terminal in the port of city Liyepaya (Latvia). The sum of transaction is not revealed. In the opinion of analysts, it was about 44 million dollars and it became the continuation of collaboration SZNG with investfondom Carlyle Group, which will come out by the final buyer of Russian oil of group. Liyepayskiy port occupies the third place in the value of freight traffic in Latvia. In 2005 it moved by 4,5 million t it is cargo. In the first half-year of 2006 of feeding are cargo moved by 528,4 thousand t (+37,4%), of them petroleum products - 414,1 thousand t (+62%), crude oil - 103,3 thousand t (-4,9%). SZNG is created in 2004. According to business- plan SZNG, comprised by the auditorial company RSM Top Audit, the only shareholder of group is the citizen of Russia DINA - dinitroxydiethylnitramine vygovskaya. The summary natural resources of group are 7-8 million t. In 2006 SZNG it declared about the signing of agreement about the confluence with the petroleum company Nord Oil International Inc registered in Montreal. (NOI Inc.). In the beginning of October SZNG signed agreement with the the Hungarian MOL Group about sale of its portion in the company OF SZNG-.MOL, which developed section Surgut -7, in 15,5 million dollars. Latvian OF THE MEDIA reported that SZNG was near completion of transaction in the purchase of petroleum residue occupied by trans-shipment and vacuum gas oil of terminal in The liyepayskom port. Trans-shipment in the port is achieved predominantly from Mozyrskogo and Novopolotskogo NPZ (Belorussia). In this case are used two terminals, that belong to companies Glen Oil and Baltic Bunkering Company. On the version of the Latvian OF THE MEDIA, the Russian company will acquire precisely Baltic Bunkering Company, which manage Artis Of khartmanis (42,2%), Panamanian firm Shipeco Inc. (22,5%), Iveta Bohr (20%) and Anna Weismann (15%). The Director-General OF SZNG Julia Sozina confirmed transaction. "thus far go negotiations, we do not reveal information. We hope to shut transaction to the first decade of 2007 ", it reported. The number of tankers serviced in it substantially will grow after the end of dredging works in the port. In particular, port Liyepaya will be able fully to assume and to attend to the refusal the loaded vessels of the type Panamax and Handymax. Furthermore, SZNG will obtain additional incomes from the rendering of transit services. Analysts evaluate transaction into the sum from 10 millions to 43 million dollars. Nikolai saperov from IR "Sovlink" says that the cost of the port of group Ventspils nafta is equal the order of 300 million dollars with the trans-shipment 40 million t of oil per year. "taking into account that the portion of fuel oil in general freight traffic of terminal in The liyepayskom port it was cargo equal to 35% in 2005, the total cost of terminal it is possible to estimate maximum in 10 million dollars", calculated analyst. But Constantine Cherepanov from Rye, Man & Gor Securities evaluates terminal in 44 million dollars. Cherepanov considers that Liyepaya will be used for the output to the new export markets. "the purchase of this terminal will allow group to export not only its own oil, but also to obtain transit gain with the possible expansion of the power of terminal", he says field engineers. Andrey gromadin from the MDM- bank considers that "the terminal will make it possible to improve logistics". It is remarkable, that SZNG together with investfondom Carlyle Group pretended in the portion Of yuKOSa in the slovakian pipeline company Transpetrol, expecting to be concentrated for pumping of oil. He stated after failure with the acquisition of investfond that will continue the collaboration with SZNG. Expert, who asked about the anonymity, does not exclude, that SZNG and Carlyle Group can organize treyderskoye SP, after using an example "To sibnefti" (present By "gazprom oil"). "in its time this petroleum company sold to its affilirovannomu trader oil on 2 dollars. per barrel it is cheaper than on the average on the market, profit was honestly divided in half ", says collocutor. In the opinion of representative of one of the petroleum companies, the collaboration with Europe for SZNG is more interesting than internal deliveries.”
http://www.au92.ru/msg/20061116_bcs4nfw.html
Notice: Sozina is not talking about November, but "by 1st qrt of 2007". Why do the keep mentioning any dates at all if they can't follow them?
November, 14-15. Moscow conference “Investing in Russian Oil and Gas Industry”.
NWOG was represented by lawyer Sanasar Kostanov:
http://www.au92.ru/msg/20061108_ojtt8fu.html
Kostanov’s other titles (links in Russian):
Director General of AF “FEDERAL AUDIT ST”, member of Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (subcommittee): http://www.tpprf.ru/img/uploaded/2005021412314825.doc
Executive director of RCSTR (~Russian center of independent lawyers): http://www.arbitrage.spb.ru/Centr/e.htm
Kind of big figure with proper connections…
This “Telegraph” article caused a big discussion in Latvian press (“Russians are coming!”). Short summary:
1. The terminal doesn’t belong to Baltic Bunkering Company but is leased.
2. The management of Liepaja’s special economic zone (LSEZ) has never heard about this deal. Improvements that need to be done for oil shipments using big vessels will take five years or more. And nobody contacted LSEZ about this yet.
3. NWOG management is in New York now and nobody could be reached except secretary they left in office.
Bottom line:
1. Liepaja’s Port is a former Soviet military base. NWOG probably reached them through it’s military sources. It was just recently turned into a business mode. That’s why they have tax advantages (LSEZ) – to attract new investors.
2. This deal is still a question. If ever happens, NWOG will probably buy not “terminal” but Latvian company that leases this terminal.
3. It would be “cash generating” asset, but to compete with Riga (as stated by “Telegraph”) they would need a few years and additional investments.
4. The deal will likely to cause opposition from environmental groups and Liepaja locals.
5. What kind of business NWOG has in New York is anybody’s guess. "Everyone from management is over there now." Hopefully, taking care of their shareholders. BTW, “they are in New York” in Russian slang could also mean Montreal, Toronto, or even Frankfurt or London. :)
Of course, we are not. This list doesn’t include even TatNeft and RussNeft, which both are bigger than NWOG. Looking at your list: Rosneft and Gazprom are on the acquisition spree, and about to create JV for this purposes; Surgutneftegas – is a friendly enterprise (close to Kremlin and helped to create NWOG); TNK-BP is under Government’s fire now, forced to sell some assets, and mentioned as the next Yukos in some sources.
NWOG is still a small potato with big ambitions and big potential. :)