MOSCOW, May 4 - RAPSI, Sergei Feklyunin. The court will hear on May 28 a lawsuit filed by Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer, requesting corporate performance reports from Norilsk Nickel as its shareholder.

At a preliminary hearing, the defendant applied to involve Glencore International as a third party.

Norilsk Nickel is concerned that Rusal is acting in the interests of Glencore International, its direct rival on the nickel and copper production and sales markets and holder of a 35-percent stake in Xstrata, another major producer in this industry.

The defendant has also stated that Glencore International is a key Rusal shareholder and has access to Rusal information under an agreement between En+, SUAL Partners, Glencore International and Onexim.

This dispute has already been considered in court. The Krasnoyarsk Territorial Commercial Court sided with Rusal in its lawsuit in March 2011 and ordered Norilsk Nickel to supply it with all the requested documents, including the minutes of the 2009-2010 board meetings.

Rusal owns a blocking share in Norilsk Nickel. During the hearing it explained it required the documents so as to check the integrity of Norilsk Nickels management and to appraise the companys financial status objectively.