Main trade partners of Ukraine in % from total volume (export from Ukraine to other countries) in Jan-Feb 2020
SSC of Ukraine
The Epicenter K company (Kyiv), which is developing a network of shopping centers of the same name and agricultural direction in Ukraine, has received a loan in the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International AG in the amount of EUR 5.3 million for the development of e-commerce, in particular, the opening of a fulfillment center, the press service of the company said.
“The Austrian bank Raiffeisen Bank International AG will finance the purchase of equipment for the Epicenter K fulfillment center from the Dutch manufacturer Vanderlande Industries B.V.,” the statement reads.
The opening of an innovative fulfillment center will provide a high level of service to online buyers, according to the company.
According to it, the credit line in the amount of EUR 5.309 million is open for five years, the interest rate is set at the six-month rate of EURIBOR plus margin. Insurance coverage is provided by the Dutch government guarantee issued by Atradius Dutch State Business N.V.
The authorized capital of Epicenter K LLC is UAH 158.6 million.
Epicenter K LLC was established in 2003. According to the unified public register of legal entities and private entrepreneurs, the participants in Epicenter K LLC are Oleksandr Hereha (51.3%), Halyna Hereha (47.9%) and Tetiana Surzhyk (0.73%).
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has included all airports in the Kyiv and Chernivtsi regions in the list of airports located in the affected areas with a high risk of transmission of COVID-19 infection.
According to a message published on the EASA website on May 12, the list of risky airports was developed in coordination with EASA member states and is based on information from the World Health Organization, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and other reputable public health institutes.
The updated list takes effect on May 14. In total, airports from 32 countries of the world, including in the United States, Russia and Great Britain, were included in the risk list.
The Swedish company IKEA, the world’s largest retailer of furniture and household goods, on May 14 officially launched the possibility of ordering goods from an online store in Ukraine, distribution points will operate in the Kyiv shopping center Auchan Rive Gauche and Metro Cash & Carry.
“Remaining faithful to its desire to create a better everyday life for many people in Ukraine, IKEA is pleased to announce the start of work in the Ukrainian market and the launch of an online store. Currently, the Swedish retailer offers Ukrainian customers about 3,600 functional home goods of all categories and styles with attractive design and prices. An order can be made on the website www.ikea.ua,” the retailer said in an official statement.
It says buyers will be able to choose where and how to pick up their goods: in one of the points for receiving orders in Kyiv for free or using the home delivery service.
“Today two points are ready to start work – at Auchan Rive Gauche and Metro Cash & Carry. The delivery service is organized in cooperation with DB Schenker. We do everything to ensure smooth online purchases, however we will be grateful for your patience and understanding in case of possible delays during the first few days of work,” the press release says.
It emphasizes that the functioning of the company is organized in accordance with IKEA security measures, as well as in accordance with the requirements and instructions of the government of Ukraine. All employees will have access to the necessary protective equipment and will work in compliance with recommendations on social distance.
After the launch of the online store, IKEA plans to open its new city store in Kyiv as soon as possible. The company has recently signed a lease agreement with Blockbuster Mall”, the company confirmed.
Nova Poshta, the leader in express delivery in Ukraine, started placing B series bonds for UAH 700 million on May 11.
The corresponding bond issue was registered by the National Securities and Stock Market Commission on May 7, 2020.
The bonds were issued for a period until February 17, 2023 with a coupon rate of 16% and a periodicity of payments four times a year. The placement period is from May 11 to July 10, 2020.
As reported, in 2020 the company intends to invest $100 million in its development.
In February-April 2019, Nova Poshta carried out a closed placement of bonds in the amount of UAH 300 million at 22% per annum with maturity until August 22, 2020. Funds from the placement of bonds were used to modernize the infrastructure and the network of the issuer’s branches.
Nova Poshta, founded in 2001, is a leader in the express delivery market in Ukraine. The company’s network consists of more than 6,000 branches throughout the country.
Double liability company Interchem, a pharmaceutical company based in Odesa, has received the permit of the Health Ministry of Ukraine for conducting clinical testing of antiviral medicine Amixin for effectiveness in treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Director General of the company Anatoliy Reder told Interfax-Ukraine that a respective decree of the Health Ministry was signed on May 14.
He also said that the company requested the consideration of the application on clinical trials of Amixin due to the fact that the medicine had previously shown its effectiveness against a number of dangerous viral infections. During preclinical trials, it was proved that tilorone (the active substance of Amixin medicine) has antiviral activity against a number of strains of ordinary coronaviruses.
Several international research centers have already conducted and are carrying out testing of tilorone against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
“As we can see, not only do we consider Amixin as a potentially effective medicine against COVID-19, but also researchers abroad,” he said.
Reder said that, in particular, such trials were conducted at the Institut Pasteur Korea (South Korea), and in two research centers in the United States as well.
“Based on the data of preclinical trials showing the highly effective antiviral effect of tilorone against SARS-CoV-2, we applied to the Health Ministry for approval of the third phase of clinical testing to expand the range of use of Amixin medicine and obtain evidence on its efficiency and safety for treating patients with COVID-19 infection,” he said.
According to Reder, clinical trials of Amixin will be conducted by research centers in three cities of Ukraine. In general, a trial may take three to four months from the moment the Health Ministry gave a permit for conducting it to the pharmaceutical company.
“The duration of the clinical trial will primarily depend on the speed of patient enrollment. At this stage, it is planned to include more than 60 volunteers in the study who, according to the severity of the disease, will be on self-isolation and undergo outpatient treatment,” he said.
Reder said that the research doctors who confirmed their readiness to conduct this trial are highly motivated, first of all, by their scientific interest and the opportunity to make their contribution to the search for a solution, which is so urgent for the whole world of medical and social problem that the new coronavirus has become.
Interchem is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the country.
