The Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Limited intends to file a claim in international arbitration for the termination of the contract for the reconstruction of the bypass road around Zhytomyr by the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor).
According to the company’s statement, Sinohydro considers it unfair that Ukravtodor, having failed to effectively fulfill its contractual obligations, unilaterally decided to terminate the contract, while the Dispute Settlement Council (created under the contract together with Ukravtodor in May 2020) is still considering disputes surrounding this contract and has already ruled on some of them, allowing Sinohydro to renew the contract.
Sinohydro says the untimely transfer of a land plot for public use by Ukravtodor, the introduction of a number of design changes not provided for in the contract, failure to fulfill payment obligations, as well as force majeure in the form of the COVID-19 epidemic and many other factors influenced the project schedule and led to a violation of the terms of work.
“Since June 2020, facing an unfavorable situation caused by the fact that Ukravtodor did not complete the interim payment for construction work on time, and the continuing impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, Sinohydro has advanced over EUR 5 million to meet its contractual obligations and reduce the delay,” the company said.
It is emphasized that in comparison with other sections of roads under construction in Ukraine at the same time, this project is being implemented at a rather fast pace and is already nearing completion.
“Under the circumstances, the Dispute Settlement Council decided on the first contract dispute initiated by Sinohydro in September 2020. It agreed to extend the contractor’s deadline for construction work by 87 days. However, when the Council began considering at least four disputes over damages to Sinohydro, Ukravtodor unexpectedly announced the termination of the contract,” the report says.
NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, as the sole shareholder of JSC Ukrtransnafta, has allowed the company to conclude an agreement for the sale of 80,000 tons of Azeri Light oil (plus or minus 10%) to the subsidiary of the Belarusian Oil Company – BNK (UK) Limited (the United Kingdom).
The decision of Naftogaz made on October 21 was published on the Ukrtransnafta’s website.
Earlier, on August 17, Naftogaz agreed on the possibility of Ukrtransnafta selling a batch of 90,000 tonnes of oil (± 10%) on FOB terms at the port of Pivdenny.
In addition, by the decision of October 15, Naftogaz agreed on the possibility of Ukrtransnafta selling the second batch of Azeri Light oil of 90,000 tonnes (± 10%) on the basis of EXW delivery to the tank farm of the Kremenchuk linear production and dispatching station (LPDS). Thus, it can be assumed that the buyer of oil will supply it for the needs of the Kremenchuk Refinery (Ukrtatnafta).
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 13/11/20
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of November 13
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Horizon Capital, a leading private equity firm in Emerging Europe, has increased its stake in Datagroup, Ukraine’s leading fiber infrastructure and digital services provider, from 73.46% to 96.13%, via its $370 million fund, Emerging Europe Growth Fund II, L.P. (EEGF II).
The deal participants said in a joint press release published on Thursday that EEGF II is pleased to be the sole investor in Datagroup, alongside CEO Mykhailo Shelemba, who holds 3.87%.
As a result of this transaction, the company’s founder Oleksandr Kardakov, and other minority investors, have fully exited Datagroup. Financial details of this deal were not disclosed.
“Since assuming operational control of the company in 2016, Datagroup has completed a full business turnaround, reducing net debt to EBITDA by 9 times to a low 0.3 level today, and delivering over 20% compound annual growth in EBITDA. Datagroup continues to invest heavily into CAPEX, embarking on a network modernization program that will enhance further the high quality of services and innovation provided to its valued clients,” Horizon Capital Principal Dmytro Boroday, who leads this transaction at Horizon Capital, Said.
He also said that Datagroup has boosted its leading position in B2B, wholesale, international traffic and satellite communication segments, and is poised to deliver continued solid growth, both organically and through M&A.
“I am proud of the company’s results and the successful transformation that has taken place over the past four years. I am pleased that the company has strengthened its partnership with Horizon Capital, an investor that has backed Datagroup for many years, and wish them success in their strategic ambitions. I am confident that, together with management, they will take Datagroup forward to a new stage of growth and development,” Oleksandr Kardakov, founder and former shareholder of Datagroup, said.
The money supply in Ukraine in October 2020 increased 2%, to UAH 1.757 trillion, according to preliminary data of monetary statistics on the website of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
According to the data, the monetary base (reserve funds) over the past month grew by 2.4%, to UAH 581.722 billion.
The central bank also said that off-bank funds (M0) in October also expanded by 2.2%, to UAH 485.906 billion.
According to the NBU, the deposit portfolio of banks over the past month increased 1.9%, to UAH 1.268 trillion, in particular, in national currency it grew by 2.6% (to UAH 764.932 billion), and in foreign currency by 0.5% (to UAH 502.980 billion).
At the same time, the loan portfolio of banks in October decreased 2%, to UAH 958.34 billion, including in the national currency – 1.8% (to UAH 595.417 billion) and in foreign currency – 2.3% (to UAH 362.923 billion ), the bank said.
According to the central bank, net forex reserves narrowed by 2.7% in October, to $15.368 billion.
