* Fraport, VTB consortium beats Derispaka, Flughafen Wien
* Fraport says deal to be signed by year-end
* Fraport shares ease 1.2 percent
(Adds details, background)
FRANKFURT, June 25 (Reuters) - A consortium of Fraport, Russian state bank VTB and Greek conglomerate Copelouzos Group has been named preferred bidder for Russia's Pulkovo airport, Fraport said on Thursday.
The consortium beat bids by aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska's Basic Element in partnership with Singapore's Changi airport and another group led by Flughafen Wien and Leader, a local investment house founded by Gazprom.
Fraport said it expected a 30-year concession contract to develop, modernise and operate the airport near St. Petersburg to be signed by the end of this year.
"We are optimistic to be awarded the contract following the final negotiations," the German airport operator's Chief Executive Wilhelm Bender said in company statement.
Pulkovo handled 7.1 million passengers in 2008, compared with 53.5 million at Fraport's main airport in Frankfurt. Shares of Fraport were down 1.2 percent at 29.00 euros by 1011 GMT, in line with the German midcap index. (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk and Maria Sheahan)