The joint-stock company Ukrainian Defense Industry (UDI) has saved almost UAH 50 million when jointly purchasing electricity in the Prozorro system for about 60 of its enterprises from the state-owned energy trader Energy Company of Ukraine JSC (EKU JSC).
According to a Ukroboronprom press release on Thursday, the total amount of the purchase exceeds UAH 1 billion.
“Six leading domestic electricity suppliers – both state-owned and private – took part in the auction, which was held in three lots. The competitive struggle continued until the last step of the auction. The winner was the state energy trader JSC “EKU”, – stated in the document.
As noted in “Ukroboronprom”, it is the centralized purchase of electricity, which did not take place, for example, in 2022, allows for significant savings.
“We are changing the procurement system of Ukroboronprom.” Savings are very important for us, because they can be directed to the development of the production potential of enterprises”, – said the Director General of “Ukrainian defense industry” German Smetanin.
In turn, as noted by Vitaliy Butenko, General Director of JSC “EKU”, whose words are quoted in the press release, the victory at such an important auction confirms the competitiveness of the state not only in the production of electricity, but also in the segment of energy trading.
“The intensification of competition due to the entry of the state energy trader into the market gives a win-win result. On the one hand – a significant reduction of state-owned companies’ expenditures on electricity procurement. On the other hand – an increase in the state’s revenues from trading in those segments of the energy market where it was almost absent before,” he added.
The state-owned energy trading company JSC Energy Company of Ukraine (JSC EKU) operates in the domestic and foreign energy markets. A modern trading platform is being created on the basis of JSC EKU, which will allow the state to become an efficient and competitive player in the energy markets of Ukraine, Europe and, in the future, in the global energy markets.
The government and PJSC “Ukrainian Financial Housing Company” (Ukrfinjitlo) have significantly increased the financing of the program “eOsela”, thanks to which the monthly issuance of loans will increase from 0.7-0.8 billion UAH to 2 billion UAH, and a minimum of 10 thousand families will be able to get a preferential mortgage by the end of the year.
“We have seen how great demand for this program is among people. They want to build their lives in Ukraine despite the war. Therefore, the government with Ukrfinzhytl found opportunities and attracted additional funds for the program – both on the open financial market and credit,” the Economy Ministry release on Wednesday quoted First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko as saying.
The release specifies that “those who were rejected for lack of financing can reapply to Dia.”
As reported, from January to the end of May, due to lack of funds, the implementation of the program “eOsela” was suspended.
“There are funds to finance 10 thousand families until the end of this year. This is about 11.9 billion UAH, as envisaged by the financial plan. Of these already for 2.8 billion UAH issued affordable mortgages from the beginning of 2023”, – specified to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine” in the press service of Ukrfinzhitlo.
As reported, the program of affordable mortgage lending “єOselia” has worked in Ukraine since October 2022. On a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum for up to 20 years with a down payment of 20% of the cost of housing can qualify for contract servicemen of the AFU, security and defense sector workers, medical workers, teachers, researchers. Since its launch in 2022, partner banks have already issued more than UAH 3.4 billion in loans to more than 2.4 thousand participants.
Since August 1, to apply for participation in the program “єOsela” at 7% can be war veterans, combatants, IDPs and citizens who do not have their own housing more than the standard area.
Chairman of the Board of Ukrfinzhitlo Eugene Metzger emphasized that for a mortgage at 7% borrowers can choose an apartment in a house not older than three years at the time of the contract, or under construction. “We focus specifically on the primary real estate market. It is important that “eOselia” can give the economy a positive multiplier effect, and this is possible only thanks to the push of construction”, – says Eugene Metzger.
Six partner banks take part in the program “eOselia”: Oschadbank, Privatbank, Ukrgasbank, Globus Bank, Sky Bank and Ukreximbank. You can apply for participation in the program in the mobile application “Diya”.
At the end of 2022, the government additional capitalized Ukrfinzhytlo by UAH 30 billion through the issue of internal state loan bonds (ISLBs). According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko, such financing is enough to issue 12-15 thousand mortgage loans in 2023.
At the end of April, the Ministry of Economy, as the single shareholder of Ukrfinzhytlo, approved repo operations with these government bonds for up to a year in the amount of UAH 15 billion. Later it was reported that the rate on these transactions could be up to 20% per annum, while the government bonds themselves were issued for up to 5 years at 19.5% per annum.
In addition, on August 3, Ukrfinzhytlo’s supervisory board approved an increase in PrivatBank’s loan secured by the company’s government bonds to UAH 1.5bn.
Agroliga Group (Kharkiv Oblast) has generated EUR1.00m of consolidated net profit in January-June 2023, up 24.6% year-on-year.
According to the company’s report on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, its revenue for the first half of the year decreased by 9.4% to EUR24.61 mln.
Due to a smaller increase in the cost of sales, gross profit fell by only 0.7% to EUR3.30m, but distribution costs, which rose by a third to EUR1.54m, led to a 30.0% drop in operating profit to EUR1.44m.
Agroholding notes that its free cash flow at the end of the first half of the year fell to EUR0.20m from EUR2.54m due to a reduction in debt at the end of 2022, while investments fell fivefold year-on-year to EUR0.22m in the reporting period.
The main shareholders of the group are Alexander Berdnik and Irina Poplavskaya with 41.66% stakes each, while another 16.68% of shares are in free float.
As reported, Agroliga Group reported a EUR2.21m net loss in 2022, down from a EUR8.13m net profit a year earlier, due to Russian full-scale aggression. Its revenue rose 18.9% to EUR47.46m.
In its annual report, the agroholding said it operates about 8,000 hectares of land, pressed oil plants with an annual capacity of 42,000 tons, and an oil extraction plant with an annual processing capacity of 100,000 to 180,000 tons of sunflower seeds, which can also produce soybean and rapeseed oil. In addition, the group has completed the construction of energy facilities that operate on a green tariff and ensure waste-free production.
The company employs 332 people as of August 15.
As reported, Agroliga Group earned EUR0.77m in net profit in January-March 2023, up 70.5% year-on-year in January-March 2022. Its revenue for the first quarter increased by 32.4% to EUR12.91m.
The Ukrainian squash community is preparing for the biggest event of the year. On August 19-20, 2023, the charity squash tournament Zenit Ukraine Open 2023 will take place at the SPORT LIFE fitness center in Kyiv, 8 Samaila Kishky Street. The competition will last two days and will start at 09.00 on August 19.
This tournament is the most famous and largest international squash competition in the history of independent Ukraine. Its scale is evidenced not only by the number of participants and countries represented, but also by the large number of organizations that have joined the preparation and holding of the tournament.
The competition will be held in six categories: for men, these are categories A, B, C, D, and for women, A and B. Among the tournament participants are players from France, the United States, Moldova, Turkey and many Ukrainian cities: Kyiv, Lviv, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, and Odesa.
The events will culminate in an award ceremony to be held on August 20 at 17.00 at the BRUGGE restaurant.
“Squash is actively gaining popularity in Ukraine even in this difficult time. And this is primarily the merit of our youth. Last year, 6 of our juniors entered the top 10 world squash rankings. This is an indicator that we are moving in the right direction. Such tournaments as the Zenit Ukraine Open only contribute to the popularization and development of this sport in Ukraine,” said Maxim Urakin, co-organizer of the tournament.
This approach is also supported by the President of the Ukrainian Squash Federation Dmytro Shcherbakov.
“The development of youth and junior squash is our future. But besides this, we have to take care of our present. The organization of such events demonstrates that despite all the hardships, Ukrainian sport, and squash in particular, continues to develop,” said Dmytro Shcherbakov.
Organizational support for the tournament is provided by:
The main fitness partner is the national network of fitness clubs “Sport Life”;
The main organizer is the NGO Squash Federation of Ukraine;
The main media partner is Interfax Ukraine;
The official sponsor of the tournament is Experts Club.
Participants and winners will receive a number of gifts from Sport Life, REIMA, and special partners: ADONIS, UKRSADVINPROM, KRAINA, VILLA TINTA, TERMOPUB, FAVOR Hotel, Tecnifibre and BRUGGE Restaurant.
The tournament will be held with a charitable mission to help the Armed Forces.
All supporters and fans of squash are invited to this great sporting event. We hope to see you at the championship and support our athletes together!
DMITRY_SHCHERBAKOV, SPORT, SQUASH, TOURNAMENT, ZENIT_UKRAINE_OPEN
LLC “Cardboard and Paper Company” (Lviv), a major Ukrainian manufacturer of cardboard sleeves and sanitary products, in January-July 2023 increased its output by 21.2% to UAH 746.83 million compared to the same period of 2022.
According to the statistical data provided to Interfax-Ukraine by UkrPapir Association, in physical terms the company increased the output of cardboard products by 2.6% to 15.7 thousand tons, and of base paper for sanitary-hygienic products by 4.1% to 4.3 thousand tons. The output of toilet paper in rolls increased by 42% to 3.3 million pieces.
At the same time in July the company increased the output of paper and cardboard by 4.3% compared to the same month last year – up to 3.3 thousand tons, which is also 30% more than in June this year.
“Cardboard and Paper Company” produces products and semi-finished products from waste paperboard (cardboard sheets, corners, sleeves), pulp and recycled waste paper (toilet paper, towels, napkins TM Papero). The company supplies its products to EU countries, among others.
Among its customers are Biosphere, Arterium, Nestle, Hlebprom, and Yarich.
As reported, in 2022, the factory, without suspending work during the year, increased the volume of marketable products by 51.5% compared to 2021 – up to 1 billion 186 million UAH. Net profit tripled to UAH 263.7 mln.
The profit of the state-owned Ukrgasbank in January-July 223 amounted to UAH 2.9 billion, while the bank ended the same period in 2022 with a net loss of UAH 3.5 billion, according to the financial institution’s website.
According to the release, the bank’s assets as of August 1, 2023, reached UAH 158.6 billion, having increased by UAH 26.4 billion since the beginning of the year (excluding the impact of exchange rate differences).
The bank notes that the total portfolio of customer accounts has increased by UAH 23.5 billion since the beginning of the year to UAH 136.1 billion, including UAH balances increased by UAH 17.9 billion.
The financial institution clarifies that the hryvnia deposit portfolio of customers has almost doubled since the beginning of the year, or by UAH 3 billion to UAH 9.1 billion.
This, in particular, made it possible to increase the portfolio of three-month deposit certificates to more than UAH 11.4 billion.
In addition, Ukrgasbank increased its portfolio of domestic government bonds by almost two-thirds over 7 months – by UAH 14.2 billion to UAH 36.3 billion.
At the same time, the volume of lending was lower: since the beginning of the year, almost UAH 5 billion has been provided, of which UAH 2.8 billion was used to finance the needs of agricultural and food industry enterprises, and another UAH 1.6 billion was attracted in the electricity and trade sectors.
“To support trade, exports and imports, Ukrgasbank, which is a leader in Ukrainian trade finance, has implemented 400 transactions for Ukrainian enterprises worth over UAH 6 billion,” the financial institution added.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of July 1, 2023, Ukrgasbank ranked 5th in terms of total assets (UAH 167.97 billion) among 65 banks operating in the country, its net profit for the first half of the year amounted to UAH 2.6 billion.
In the second quarter, the state-owned bank’s network grew by two branches and now includes 219 structural units across the country.
