The Ukrainian market for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), which until recently experienced a shortage of buyers, has been growing for the third year in a row, Serhiy Budkin, the Managing Partner of FinPoint Investment Advisers, has said.
Commenting on the situation on the market within the framework of the Kyiv International Economic Forum, the expert predicted several large transactions in the next 12 months, including in the financial sector, IT and development.
The founder of UFuture Holding, Vasyl Khmelnytsky, at the forum estimated the average multiplier when evaluating Ukrainian companies at about 6. In particular, speaking of the annual sales of his company at $70 million, he estimated its value at about $420 million, although in Europe it could cost $700 million.
Khmelnytsky told Interfax-Ukraine that the multiplier for Ukrainian companies may vary depending on the industry, for example, in medicine – 8, while in manufacturing – 5.
At the same time, the entrepreneur noted that some foreign buyers still expect a lower price and a high return on investment from Ukrainian investments – in 4 years, while the multiplier 6 is about 15% per annum.
Budkin generally agreed with this assessment of the multiplier for Ukrainian companies.
“The multiples have a tendency to increase. The revival [of the M&A market] leads to an increase in the multiplier in itself,” he said.
Over the nine months of 2021, DTEK Energy has allocated almost UAH 1.7 billion for the repair campaign of thermal power plant (TPP) units, station equipment, buildings and structures, the company’s press service said.
According to its data, power engineers have implemented 23 out of 28 planned (including additional) repairs of power units of thermal power plants this year. In particular, 82% of the planned volume of the repair campaign has been completed. The work was carried out at the blocks of Kryvy Rih, Prydniprovska, Zaporizhia, Kurakhove, Luhansk, Burshtyn, Dobrotvirska and Ladyzhin TPPs.
Five unit repairs are underway at Zaporizhia, Kurakhove, Luhansk, Dobrotvirska and Ladyzhin TPPs. By the end of the year, it is planned to implement one more scheduled repair of power units at Burshtyn TPP.
“The task of each participant in the energy market is to do everything in his power to prepare for winter. DTEK Energy’s maneuver capacities have repeatedly supported the Ukrainian energy system, operating at maximum and smoothing out peak periods of electricity consumption. This is especially important during the heating season. Despite the difficult situation on the market, we are investing in the repair of equipment at thermal power plants in order to minimize any interruptions in operation and ensure the stable operation of TPPs, and with them the entire energy system,” CEO of the company Ildar Saleev said.
Ukrainian banks in January-August 2021 issued 6,570 mortgage loans worth over UAH 5.2 billion, which is 2.2 times higher than the figure for eight months of 2020 in terms of the number of such loans and 2.9 times – by volume, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported following a monthly survey of Banks.
According to it, in August, 944 mortgage loans were issued for UAH 830.1 million, compared with 531 loans for UAH 358.1 million a month earlier.
The press service noted that the mortgage lending market remains concentrated: the five most active banks have concluded 89% of new transactions.
It is indicated that loans for the purchase of housing in the secondary real estate market remain the main driver of the market: in August, their share exceeded 90% of all mortgage loans provided both in terms of the number of contracts and in terms of monetary volume, the press release notes.
The results of the survey indicate that the average size of a loan for the purchase of housing in August increased to UAH 879,300 from UAH 793,800.
According to the NBU, in August the average effective rate of a mortgage loan in the secondary market rose to 13.60% compared to 13.35% in July, and in the primary market fell to 15.9% from 16.82%.
The volume of commercial products of Kyivsky cardboard paper mill (Obukhiv, Kyiv region), the leader in the pulp and paper industry in sales, increased by 30.1% in January-September 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, to UAH 5.421 billion.
According to the statistics of the Ukrpapir association provided to Interfax-Ukraine, the plant has slightly accelerated the production growth rate in monetary terms compared to the same period last year (in the first half of the year it was 22%, over eight months – 29.3%).
In quantity terms, in particular, the plant increased output of corrugated packaging by 4.7% over this period, to 183 million square meters, keeping the second position in production of these products after Rubizhne cardboard and packaging mill (together with Trypilsky packing plant).
Output of base paper for sanitary and hygienic products increased slightly (by 0.3%), to 64,300 tonnes, and production of toilet paper in rolls decreased by 6.8%, to 312.2 million pieces.
The highest growth rate in January-September was again shown by production of cardboard, however, the growth rate slowed down a bit – to 13.5%, 174,100 tonnes were produced. In particular, boxboard was produced 34% more – 67,500 tonnes, and container (including paper for corrugation) – 3.4% more, 106,500 tonnes.
According to the association, in general, enterprises in the industry have increased output of corrugated packaging by 7.3%, to 554.34 million square meters, paper and cardboard by 12%, to almost 670,000 tonnes. Production of toilet paper in rolls decreased by 3%, to 518.34 million pieces.
On Wednesday, October 13, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Prime Minister of Slovakia Eduard Heger met within a working visit to Malmö(Kingdom of Sweden), where they discussed relevant issues of bilateral relations.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers press service, during the meeting, Shmyhal said that Ukraine highly appreciates the support provided by Slovakia in matters of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We count on the support of Slovakia in countering the Nord Stream 2 operator in an attempt to bypass the standard certification requirements of the European Union,” the head of the Ukrainian government said.
The sides also discussed issues of gas transportation, development of electricity and hydropower, renewable energy sources and others.
“Denys Shmyhal also said that Ukraine is looking forward to holding the fifth meeting of the Ukrainian-Slovak joint commission on economic, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation and other intergovernmental commissions by the end of the year, as this will give new incentives to strengthen partnership between the countries,” the Cabinet of Ministers said.
The sides also agreed to hold the next meeting in Uzhgorod soon.
In 2022, the construction of the Ice Arena, a sports complex within the framework of the Big Construction program and the restoration of three castles under the Big Restoration program will start in Cherkasy region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“There is our program – these are large sports unique multi-complexes. One of them will be built in Cherkasy region, several more swimming pools. The Ice Arena will be built separately. These are all programs that will begin next year. There are three castles within the Big Restoration, which are included in the program,” Zelensky told media representatives while on a working visit to Kaniv, Cherkasy region.
He also said that within the framework of the Big Restoration program, documents are also being prepared for the restoration of Kaniv center.
In addition, according to him, in 2022, a school with a playground for children and a swimming pool will appear in the city.
Speaking about roads, the President said that about 250 km of roads are planned to be repaired within the current year.
“I think that in a couple of years we will finish all the main roads in Cherkasy region,” he said.
“I believe that they have everything in Cherkasy region. There are people, there are hands, there are unique places and history. We need to bring all this into a normal high-quality form,” Zelensky said.
