'QUIETLY DISAPPEAR' The shareholder accord was brought back into focus in July when Potanin said a tie-up with Rusal could strengthen the companies' defences against sanctions. That idea is not expected to materialize, in part due to British sanctions imposed against Potanin. "The agreement will quietly disappear on December 31," another source said, adding that while there could be last minute changes "as of today the chances of that happening are slim to none." Nornickel remains strategically important to the Kremlin, employing 72,000 people and guaranteeing social stability in the Arctic city of Norilsk.