Business news from Ukraine

ITALIAN INTESA SANPAOLO CAPITALIZES PRAVEX-BANK FOR UAH 1.109 BLN

The international financial group Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (Turin, Italy) has capitalized Pravex-Bank (Kyiv) for UAH 1.109 billion, according to the bank’s website.
“The only shareholder of Pravex-Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., in accordance with the decision of November 27, 2017 acquired the additionally issued shares of Pravex-Bank for a total of UAH 1.109 billion. Changes in the charter of Pravex-Bank to increase charter capital and other legal procedures will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2018. Thus, the bank’s capital increased by 25% compared to the beginning of 2017 and as of February 1, 2018 amounted to UAH 5.580 billion,” the report said.
Chairman of the board of Pravex-Bank Taras Kyrychenko said capital increase was not caused by regulatory requirements.
“The increase in capital was not due to regulatory requirements to capital or liquidity, the bank’s capital adequacy and liquidity indicators are several times higher than the economic standards for the banks established by the NBU and European norms,” the banker said.

UKRAINIAN BANKS INTERESTED IN SECURITIES INVESTMENTS OF FOREIGN ISSUERS

The National Depository of Ukraine (NDU) has said that there is a real interest of market players to investment in securities of foreign issuers after the relaxation of admission of these securities to the Ukrainian stock market.
“Decision of the National Commission for Securities and the Stock Market amending the resolution on admission of securities of foreign issuers to Ukraine that took effect on February 6, 2018 has aroused a real interest of professional market players: there are a dozen of interested entities, most of them are banks,” the press service of the NDU told Interfax-Ukraine.
The NDU recalled that this decision significantly relaxes the procedure for admission of foreign securities to the Ukrainian market. In particular, henceforth an application requesting the National Commission for Securities and the Stock Market to admit these securities can be submitted not only by their issuer, but also by the Central Depository under applications of interested investors. In addition, the form of the application has been simplified. Restrictions on the number of securities that can be admitted to the market have been lifted.
According to the resolution, the circulation of these securities does not necessarily have to occur on the exchange.
“This gives more freedom to buyers and sellers who can negotiate purchase and sale. Securities may be donated or handed down,” the NDU said.

FOUR WORLD COMPANIES FROM CHINA, BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS WILL TAKE PART IN DREDGING IN UKRAINIAN PORT

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority is conducting open tenders for the project of dredging in Chornomorsk port and on February 9 tender bids were disclosed.
According to a press release of the agency, among the contestants are four world leaders in dredging: China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. (China), LTD Novadeal (a subsidiary of DEME Group, Belgium), Jan De Nul N.V. (the Netherlands), Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors B.V. (the Netherlands). Ukraine’s Ukrbudservice also plans to participate in the auction.
The procedure for open trading foresees purchase of labor through the ProZorro system on two lots. The first lot includes the reconstruction of the approach maritime canal of the port of the Illichivsk branch of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority with the achievement of depth in the seaport canal of up to 16 meters, and the second lot is the reconstruction of the operating area of the Sukhy firth of the Illichivsk branch with the increase of depth to 15 meters.
As part of the project, during dredging it is planned to remove a total of almost 2 million cubic meters of soil. The expected value for the first lot is UAH 91.769 million (excluding VAT), for the second one is UAH 353.032 million (excluding VAT).
“The main goal of the reconstruction of the approach maritime channel in Chornomorsk port is to expand its security capabilities and the reliable accepting of heavy vessels with a draft of 14.5 meters. This will satisfy the growing needs of ship owners and allow increasing the volume of cargo handling,” Head of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority Raivis Veckagans said.

UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER GROYSMAN INITIATES CHANGES IN SYSTEM OF STANDARDS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has initiated the improvement of the system of state standards for the construction of roads during an ad hoc meeting on road construction, according to the official website of the Ukrainian government.
“We need to change construction standards quickly. We need projects and architectural decisions for the effective use of funds,” the government’s press service quoted him as saying on Monday, February 12. Construction standards and permitting procedures remain cumbersome, the report says.

MARIUPOL SEAPORT (DONETSK REGION) INCREASES CARGO HANDLING BY 32% IN JANUARY 2018

Mariupol seaport (Donetsk region) in January 2018 increased cargo handling by 32% compared to January 2017, to 455,900 tonnes.
According to data from the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, in January the port increased transshipment of exported cargo by 15%, to 388,200 tonnes, imported freight by 10 times, to 53,000 tonnes, cabotage cargo by 6.7 times, to 14,700 tonnes, while it did not handle transit goods.
According to the types of cargo, the port did not handle liquid cargo, while dry bulk handling rose by 94%, to almost 100,000 tonnes, packaged goods by 29.2%, to 356,000 tonnes.
Mariupol seaport is one of the largest ports of Ukraine. Its capacity allows handling more than 17 million tonnes of cargo per year. The port is open all year round for ships with a length of up to 240 meters and a draft of up to 8 meters. Its territory is 73.2 hectares, the length of the berthing line is 4.2 km.