The second-largest Ukrainian mobile operator, VF Ukraine (Vodafone Ukraine, VFU), which redeemed its own Eurobonds worth almost $7 million at the end of May in connection with the payment of dividends, received bids for a total nominal amount of $127.14 million at the next tender for their repurchase with a total nominal value of $10.84 million.
According to the company’s stock exchange announcement, some of the bonds were returned to their owners due to the impossibility of splitting the nominal value, while the rest were accepted with a scaling factor of 0.1150681.
As a result, on the settlement date of November 20, bonds with a total nominal value of $10 million 773.23 thousand were purchased under the tender offer. All of them were canceled, and after such cancellation, the total nominal value of bonds remaining in circulation is $281 million 759.03 thousand, the company said.
As reported, in the first two tenders, Vodafone Ukraine repurchased bonds for an amount equivalent to EUR 1 million. The debut repurchase was announced at a price of 99% of the nominal value, the second at 90% of the nominal value. The company did not announce the results of the second buyback on the stock exchange, while the scaling factor for the first buyback was 0.0040355668.
Following the results of the third tender, where the redemption price was reduced to 85% of the nominal value and the offer was limited to $4.67 million, Vodafone Ukraine received bids for $53.395 million and satisfied them in the amount of $5.208 million. The scaling factor was 0.1315451889487317.
The fourth tender was announced on August 13 and was subsequently extended seven times. As a result, the redemption price was increased from 85% to 98%, and the redemption amount to $10.84 million.
Bonds maturing in February 2027 with a coupon rate of 9.625% per annum were issued for $300 million. After the cancellation of the redeemed bonds, the total nominal value of the bonds remaining in circulation is $292.532 million.
The redemption of Eurobonds is related to the fact that on April 24, 2025, VFU announced the payment of dividends to its shareholder in the amount of UAH 660.245 million ($15.9 million at the exchange rate specified in the announcement) for 2024. According to the restrictions of the National Bank, they will be paid in separate monthly dividend payments. Each such monthly dividend is expected to amount to UAH 1 million, which is equivalent to EUR 1 million. The company emphasized that, under the terms of the bond issue, it must offer all bondholders the opportunity to apply for their sale for an amount equal to the dividends paid outside Ukraine. Since then, seven monthly dividend payments have been made, each equivalent to approximately EUR 1 million.
As reported, VFU increased its net profit by 10.7% to UAH 3 billion 446.80 million and its revenue by 13.3% to UAH 19.03 billion in the first nine months of this year.
The report noted that the company will receive loans from related parties this year to service and redeem Eurobonds. In February, the parent company Telco Investments B.V. provided $49.59 million for partial repayment of Eurobond debt. In June, an agreement was signed with Telco Investments for a dollar credit line in the amount equivalent to UAH 660 million, at 10% per annum, maturing in 2028.
Finally, in July 2025, a loan agreement was signed with the Dutch company Cemin B.V. for $10 million at 10% per annum, with a repayment date no later than the end of 2027, but not earlier than the maturity of the Eurobonds. The funds are credited in tranches to the company’s bank account in a foreign bank and are to be used to redeem bonds, which Vodafone Ukraine is doing in connection with the resumption of dividend payments this year.
Mexico’s economy contracted by 0.3% in the third quarter relative to the previous three months, according to final data from the country’s statistics office. The estimate matched preliminary data. Analysts on average also did not expect a revision, Trading Economics reported.
The downturn in the economy is being recorded for the first time since the fourth quarter of last year. Mexico’s GDP grew 0.6% in the second quarter.
Mexico’s economy contracted at an annualized rate of 0.1% in the third quarter. A contraction of 0.2% was previously reported.
The Experts Club analytical center has previously made a video analysis and forecast on the macroeconomy of Ukraine and major countries of the world.
https://youtu.be/kQsH3lUvMKo?si=1StxlkcIzQlpF0_q
ECONOMY, economy macroeconomy, EXPERTS CLUB, MACROECONOMY, MAXIM URAKIN
Ukrzaliznytsia received a batch of equipment for track workers and power engineers as part of a three-year infrastructure modernization program, which will increase the speed, safety, and efficiency of railway infrastructure restoration and maintenance work, according to Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba.
“For almost five years, no equipment for small-scale mechanization was purchased, but this summer we launched a centralized three-year program to upgrade the infrastructure. This has had an effect, both in terms of the quality of the equipment and the purchase price, and the production units are already seeing the first results,” Kuleba said.
According to him, track workers have already received more than a thousand units of small mechanization equipment—rail cutters, rail drilling machines, electric tampers, nut runners, brush cutters, and other equipment, mainly of Ukrainian production, in particular from Kharkiv and Dnipro. Twenty new hopper dispensers manufactured at UZ’s own facilities have also been delivered, with another 30 planned by the end of the year.
“UZ energy workers have received a new telescopic car lift, which will help to quickly restore high-voltage overhead lines after enemy shelling. Tractors have also been purchased to clear the right-of-way, which will improve the efficiency and safety of operations. All of this is Ukrainian-made. By the end of 2025, UZ will supply its divisions with more than 1,800 units of small mechanization equipment. In 2026-2028, it plans to purchase more than 9,500 additional units. This will form a renewed base for track maintenance across the entire network,” the minister said on Sunday.
Construction has begun in Dubai on one of the world’s most unusual residential skyscrapers, the Muraba Veil tower, which will be approximately 380 m high and only about 22.5 m wide, meaning that it will essentially be a single apartment along the facade. The project is being implemented by the developer Muraba in collaboration with the Spanish firm RCR Arquitectes, winner of the 2017 Pritzker Prize. The tower will be a 73-story residential building with 131 luxury apartments ranging from two to five bedrooms, each occupying the entire width of the floor and offering panoramic views of Dubai and the canal.
The main visual motif of Muraba Veil is a metal “veil.” The facade will be wrapped in a translucent shell of perforated stainless steel that filters sunlight and reflects the changing color of the sky throughout the day. According to the architects’ concept, this is a modern interpretation of the traditional Arabic mashrabiya lattice, which provides both privacy and natural shading.
The layouts are inspired by the typology of the classic Arab house: from the outer layer with bedrooms and terraces, the space gradually transitions to a cooler “inner core” where common areas and landscaped courtyard oases are located. This allows for a natural reduction in temperature and less strain on air conditioning systems.
Muraba Veil is being built next to Sheikh Zayed Road and faces the Dubai Water Canal, in one of the city’s few truly pedestrian-friendly areas, with promenades, running and cycling paths, cafes, and quick access to Kite Beach.
The project will be the fifth joint venture between Muraba and RCR Arquitectes and is scheduled for completion by December 2028. The starting price for apartments in Muraba Veil is announced at 18 million dirhams (about $4.9 million), which automatically places the project in the super-premium housing segment and secures its status as one of the most expensive addresses in the emirate.
Muraba Veil fits into Dubai’s long-term strategy to strengthen its status as a world leader in high-rise and landmark construction. The city already boasts the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and the recently announced second tallest skyscraper, the Burj Azizi; Dubai also has the highest concentration of towers over 300 meters in the world.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the European Union’s sanctions policy against Russia has not achieved its goals, pointing out that the EU is already preparing its 19th package of restrictive measures.
According to Bessent, European partners have informed him of the development of another, 19th package of sanctions against Russia. “In my opinion, if you are doing something for the nineteenth time, it means you have failed,” the US Treasury Secretary said in an interview with NBC, noting that he considers the current EU measures to be insufficiently effective.
He also accused European countries of continuing to indirectly finance the Russian economy through energy purchases, despite the restrictions that are formally in place.
Bessent has repeatedly called on European countries to take tougher measures against Russian energy revenues, including the introduction of secondary tariffs and duties against buyers of Russian oil in third countries, arguing that it is precisely tough pressure on oil and gas revenues that can reduce Moscow’s resources for waging war.
A formal reception was held in Kyiv to mark the Independence Day of the Republic of Poland, during which the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine, Piotr Lukashevich, gave a speech on the importance of independence, national unity, and solidarity with Ukraine.
In his address, Ambassador Łukaszewicz emphasized that this holiday is not only the most important national day for Poles, but also a profound reminder of the path that Poland has traveled and continues to build. He stressed that Poles honor the generations who dreamed, fought, and ultimately restored the sovereign Polish state.
The ambassador recalled the words of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said this year in Gdańsk: “Niepodległość to wspólna sprawa” (Independence is a common cause). “It is not only a personal achievement, but a shared responsibility, res publica. We celebrate the miracle of unity, when, after many years of division, Poles from different regions and with different views united and rebuilt their state,” the diplomat said.
He stressed that Poland’s greatest triumphs were never the result of unanimity, but rather the result of solidarity. According to the ambassador, patriotism does not mean pitting one Pole against another, but rather unity and the joint construction of something greater.
Drawing parallels with Polish history, Lukaszewicz said that Poles’ thoughts naturally turn to the Ukrainian people, who are now fighting for the same thing that Poles fought for not so long ago: the right to live in freedom, dignity, and sovereignty.
The ambassador emphasized that today Poland is a strong and free state, a modern democratic country, an active member of the EU and NATO, and a stable partner in a changing world. He mentioned Poland’s economic achievements, as well as the launch of the first Polish military satellite, emphasizing that the country’s strength comes not only from economic or political successes, but above all from the unity of society and the willingness of each generation to take responsibility.
Lukasevich noted that independence does not exist in isolation and that freedom in the modern world is interdependent, so the security of one nation strengthens the security of all.
He commented separately on the recent attack on the Polish railway, which Warsaw considers an act of sabotage. According to him, Poland is well aware of terrorists and opponents, and these threats will not break its resolve.
At the same time, the ambassador thanked Poland’s allies and partners, in particular Ukraine, NATO and EU countries, as well as states whose military contingents are stationed on Polish territory. “You are with us, and we are with you,” he said.
Poland was the first country in the world to recognize Ukraine’s independence on December 2, 1991. Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland were established on January 4, 1992, after which the Polish Embassy in Kyiv and the Ukrainian Embassy in Warsaw began operating in 1992.
