Kazakh govt unaware of Kazakhmys merger plans -source

ALMATY, July 23 (Reuters) - The Kazakh government, which holds 15 percent in Kazakhmys (KAZ.L), has not been approached by the company for approval to proceed with a merger with any other entity, a government source said on Wednesday.

The Financial Times' Alphaville website said last week Kazakhmys was in talks with Russia's Metalloinvest about a reverse takeover.

On Wednesday, the source said the government had not been contacted regarding any merger talks -- a requirement under Kazakh legislation, since the government owns a large stake.

"Kazakhmys has not officially approached us," the source told Reuters.

"We'll have to see how feasible it would be (for Kazakhstan). It will depend on many factors. But since we have not received any written notifications, there is nothing to talk about yet."

Kazakhmys, the world's 10th biggest copper producer, later confirmed merger talks with an unnamed firm but then denied it might involve a reverse takeover.

Sources close to the discussions told Reuters last week Metalloinvest was the suitor, and a main driver for its interest in the Kazakh firm was as an alternative to its own plan to list its shares in London in the autumn.

Metalloinvest is estimated to be worth more than twice as much as Kazakhmys, which has a stock market capitalisation of $13.8 billion. In May, sources close to the firm's proposed IPO said a listing would show the firm to be worth $30-$35 billion. (Reporting by Raushan Nurshayeva; Writing by Maria Golovnina, editing by Will Waterman)