Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

OPENING OF TENANTS’ SPACE ON SECOND FLOOR OF CHERRY MALL IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 10

The opening of tenants’ space on the second floor of the Cherry Mall in Vyshneve, Kyiv region is scheduled for November 10, 2019.
“Today the second floor of the Cherry Mall is almost ready, most of the floor tenants are completing repairs. In particular, Budynok Іhrashok, Foxtrot, as well as a food court on the second floor, in particular, New York Street Pizza, Kryla, burger’s place and other fast food establishments. We set the task to open the second and second+ floors by November 10,” Technical Director of the shopping center Viktor Bleskin told Interfax-Ukraine.
He also said that Sport Life is actively carrying out repair work, which occupied the entire third floor, as well as the Linia Kino cinema chain and the Play & Jump children’s entertainment center on the fourth level.
“The official opening of the entire mall is tentatively planned for the middle of December. By this time, all tenants must complete repairs at their facilities,” Bleskin added.
According to CEO of Edelburg Development (the project developer) Serhiy Kucher, the development of megamalls today is an erroneous strategy.
“It is clear now that local facilities of 20,000-30,000 square meters will live much longer and grow faster,” he said.
As reported with reference to the project manager, partner of UTG (exclusive agent for the rental of retail space in the Cherry Mall), Artiom Neposedov, the first floor in the new Cherry Mall shopping center of 3,400 square meters was opened in September 2019.

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UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT STARTS WORKING VISIT TO JAPAN

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has begun a working visit to Japan; he will attend the ceremony of the new Japanese emperor’s enthronization amongst other events, the Office of the Ukrainian President said in a statement on Facebook. “The visit program includes the chief of states’ meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, heads of both chambers of the Japanese parliament, members of the Japan-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Association, heads of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Association of New Economy, and representatives of the Japanese business community,” the statement said.
The work schedule of the Ukrainian president also includes a series of bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, it said.

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UKRAINIAN METINVEST RAISES $350 MLN

Metinvest has completed a deal on the repurchase of $440 million eurobonds with a maturity in 2023 out of a total issue of $944.515 million through the placement of two new issues of eurobonds: $500 million due in 2029 and EUR 300 million due in 2025. The group’s debut two-currency offer, consisting of tranches denominated in U.S. dollars and euros, helped to effectively extend the maturity of $440 million 2023 eurobonds out of the amount of $944.515 million by six and a half years, while the net proceeds from the transaction amounted to approximately $350 million, the company said last week.
According to the Irish Stock Exchange, the new securities (in U.S. dollars with a coupon of 7.75% per annum and in euros with a coupon of 5.625% per annum) were admitted to circulation on October 17.
Metinvest said on the stock exchange that the total applications for the repurchase of eurobonds 2023, which were also issued with a coupon of 7.75%, amounted to $639.886 million.
As reported, the company held meetings with investors in the United States, the United Kingdom and continental Europe from September 18 to 27. The purpose of the offer is proactive management of debt repayment, extension of debt repayment terms and reduction of refinancing risks, Metinvest said.

UKRAINE EXPORTS 16 MLN TONNES OF GRAIN SINCE START OF 2019/2020 MARKETING YEAR

Ukraine since the beginning of the new 2019/2020 marketing year (MY, July-June) and as of October 18, 2019 had exported 16.106 million tonnes of grain and legumes, which is 40.8% more than on the same date of the previous MY.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, to date, Ukraine exported 10.06 million tonnes of wheat, 3.05 million tonnes of barley, and 2.76 million tonnes of corn.
As of October 11 this year, some 99,000 tonnes of flour had been also exported.
As reported, with reference to the ministry, in the 2018/2019 MY Ukraine exported a record 50.4 million tonnes of grain, legumes and flour, which is 23% more than in the previous MY.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in September raised its forecast for grain exports for the 2019/2020 MY by 400,000 tonnes compared with the August forecast, to 54.44 million tonnes.

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BRITISH FUND DUET PRIVATE EQUITY CLAIMS TO BUY OCEAN PLAZA MALL – KOMMERSANT

The British fund Duet Private Equity Ltd, part of Duet Group, claims to buy the Ocean Plaza trade and entertainment center in Kyiv.
“A new bidder, the British fund Duet Private Equity Ltd [part of Duet Group], appeared for the purchase of the Ocean Plaza mall controlled by TPS Real Estate,” the Kommersant edition said.
At the same time, Duet Private Equity and TPS Real Estate did not respond to requests from the publication. According to the edition, “the final clarity regarding the transaction will appear in three to four months.”
Duet Group was founded in 2002. Its portfolio includes projects worth more than $5.5 billion. In April 2019, Duet Private Equity acquired Gas Natural Fenosa, which manages most of Moldova’s energy networks, from the Spanish company Naturgy.
As reported, Lybid Investment Union LLC (Kyiv), which is the formal owner of the Ocean Plaza shopping center, in September 2019 amended the list of beneficial owners in the unified state register of legal entities and individuals.
According to the register, as of October 16, 2019, instead of the daughter of Russian businessman Arkady Rotenberg, Liliya, as well as Swiss citizens Andrea and Suzanne Vallabh, the ultimate beneficiary of Lybid became Ocean Plaza Project.
According to the register, Liliya Rotenberg also ceased to be listed as the founder of Avangard-Vilarti LLC (the owner of 100% of the charter capital of Lybid) in September.

HARVEST OF GRAIN IN UKRAINE IN 2019 COULD RAISE TO 71.8 MLN TONNES

The harvest of grain and leguminous crops in Ukraine in 2019, according to preliminary data from the regions, could reach 71.8 million tonnes, which is 1.7 million tonnes more than in 2018, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food has reported. According to the agency, wheat production may increase by 3.5 million tonnes, to 28.1 million tonnes, the yield of barley by 1.6 million tonnes, to 8.9 million tonnes, oats by 26,000 tonnes, to 444,000 tonnes, millet by 84,000 tonnes, to 165,000 tonnes.
At the same time, the ministry expects the reduction in the harvest of corn by 3 million tonnes, to 32.8 million tonnes, peas by 203,000 tonnes, to 572,000 tonnes, rye by 60,000 tonnes, to 333,000 tonnes, buckwheat by 52,000 tonnes, to 85,000 tonnes, rice by 6,000 tonnes, to 63,000 tonnes.
In addition, the forecast for rapeseeds in 2019 was raised by 472,000 tonnes, to 3.2 million tonnes, for sunflower seeds decreased by 589,000 tonnes, to 13.6 million tonnes, soybeans by 827,000 tonnes, to 3.6 million tonnes.
The Ministry of Agriculture expects that 9.8 million tonnes of sugar beets will be harvested, which is 4.2 million tonnes less than in 2018.
The forecast for potato was reduced by 2.2 million tonnes, to 20.3 million tonnes, vegetables by 575,000 tonnes, to 8.9 million tonnes.

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