Business news from Ukraine

METINVEST SEES 6.2% RISE IN REVENUE IN MAY ON APRIL, POSITIVE EBITDA – PRELIMINARY UNAUDITED REPORT

KYIV. July 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Metinvest B.V. (the Netherlands), the parent company of Metinvest international vertically integrated mining and metal group, saw $203 million in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), while in the previous month the figure was $139 million.

According to a preliminary unaudited report published last week under international financial reporting standards, revenue in May 2016 was $533 million.

Revised EBITDA for May 2016 of the metal division was $127 million, while in April 2016 it was $77 million. EBITDA of mining division reached $78 million in May, while in April it was $68 million.

Expenses of the managing company were minus $6 million in May (minus $9 million in April) and internal sales within the group totaled $5 million ($3 million). Total EBITDA in May was $203 million ($157 million).

Total revenue consisted of revenue of the metal division of $425 million and the mining division of $199 million, internal sales of minus $91 million. Revenue in May reached $533 million.

Total debt in May grew by $86 million compared to April, to $2.937 billion. Cash decreased by $4 million, to $163 million.

EIB READY TO LAUNCH ADDITIONAL PROJECTS WITH UKRAINE IN 2016 – DEPUTY PM

KYIV. July 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is ready to start additional projects worth some EUR 720 million with Ukraine, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze has said.

“There is an arrangement with the president of the European Investment Bank to start additional projects with Ukraine. They are ready to realize their plans by the end of 2016. We need to stay focused to draw up feasibility studies for the required projects and allow the money to enter this year,” the office of Klympush-Tsintsadze wrote on Facebook page.

She said that one of the projects relates to the Education Ministry: energy efficiency of educational institutions (EUR120 million), the second project – construction of Kaniv pumped storage hydroelectric station (EUR400 million) and the third one is upgrade of urban transport (EUR200 million).

“A project to electrify railways is being approved,” she said after a visit of the governmental delegation to Brussels.

KYIV REGIONAL AUTHORITIES TO PRESENT PROJECT TO BUILD BIG ORBITAL ROAD AROUND KYIV TO INVESTORS BY LATE JULY

KYIV. July 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kyiv Regional Administration intends to present a project to build a big orbital road around Kyiv to investors by late July 2016, Kyiv region governor Maksym Melnychuk has said.

“One of the largest strategic projects [for Kyiv region] for this year is the bid ring road around Kyiv… I think that by late July Kyiv Regional Administration would have a chance to personally present the project to investors,” he said at a meeting with the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) in Kyiv on Thursday.

He said that the length of this road will be around 193 kilometers. Investment could reach some $2 billion.

“We are discussing it with some countries, for example, with France and China. They are ready to join the project,” he said.

He said that the condition that the road is left in ownership of Kyiv Regional Administration after its completion is important. This would open opportunities for investors to build hotels, filling stations and other facilities near it.

“The road would not be a toll road. Then we will be able to speak about this project as social project, but with large investment and business opportunities,” he said.

GENERAL ELECTRIC SEEKS TO IMPROVE UKRZALIZNYTSIA’S EFFICIENCY

KYIV. July 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The U.S. General Electric Corporation seeks to improve efficiency of public joint-stock company Ukrzaliznytsia using own technologies.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that GE Transportation Marketing Director Adem Saglik informed reporters on this after singing a memorandum of cooperation with Ukrzaliznytsia.

“We need to understand in cooperation with Ukrzaliznytsia what type of investment and what type of cooperation would be important for them. If we speak about diesel locomotives, of course, the state of rolling stock is sad. In the past 25-30 years Ukrzaliznytsia has not bought any new locomotives. This affects its efficiency. We are confident in a possibility of using our solutions to improve Ukrzaliznytsia’s efficiency,” he said.

Saglik said that General Electric could also find financial solutions for Ukrzaliznytsia.

“We always ask Ukrzaliznytsia what rolling stock modernization plans they have. We hear about modernization of maybe 200-300 units. They would need to buy some new locomotives and new equipment, but we cannot name exact figures. Ukrzaliznytsia is to carry out own assessment. If we speak about long-term outlook, this could concern modernization or replacement of 400-500 units,” he said.

He said that this project is a long-term project. It could envisage modernization of 50-60 units a year.

Asked about the selection of the site for joint operations and the local content level, Saglik said that the company’s representatives held a familiarization tour in Ukraine, but it is early to announce any decision. The deeper assessment should be conducted.

“I want to say that Ukraine has sites with a large potential. The local content level depends on the project and its details. Usually when we speak about local content, final assembly and startup works are done at the site,” he said.

BORYSPIL AIRPORT COULD SEE TRIPLE RISE IN PROFIT IN H1 2016

KYIV. July 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) could triple its net profit in January-June 2016 compared to the same period of 2015.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that acting Director Yevhen Dykhne gave the information at a press conference at the airport on Thursday.

“According to the preliminary calculations we expect that we will see a triple rise in profit in H1 2016 compared to H1 2015,” he said.

Dykhne said that the final results will be announced after July 25.

According to a financial report of the airport for Q1 2015, net profit under Ukrainian accounting standards was UAH 214.47 million. Thus, net profit of the airport in H1 2016 would be almost UAH 650 million.

Earlier Dykhne said that the airport seeks to have UAH 1 billion of net profit in 2016, according to the optimistic scenario.

Boryspil International Airport is the main airport of Ukraine. The airport has two runways: one with a length of 4,000 meters and a width of 60 meters, and the second with a length of 3,500 meters and a width of 63 meters. Four passenger terminals, postal and cargo complexes are located on the territory of the airport.

FISH CATCH IN UKRAINIAN WATER BASINS 19.4% UP IN H1 2016

KYIV. July 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The State Fishing Agency reports a rise in fish catch in Ukrainian water basins (inland water basins and seas) in January through June 2016 by 19.4% year-over-year, to 22,900 tonnes.

The agency said in a press release that total fish catch in the Azov and Black seas grew by almost 20.5%, to 16,000 tonnes, including a rise of 22.1% in the Azov Sea and 4.9% in the Black Sea. Fish catch in inland water basins grew by 16.8%, to 6,900 tonnes.

Goby (6,757 tonnes, a rise of 7%), Black Sea sprat (8,256 tonnes a rise of 1.5 times), Azov turbot (88 tonnes, a rise of 5.8 times), conch shell (226 tonnes, a rise of three times) and shrimps (209 tonnes, a rise of 1.9 times) prevailed among sea-water fish caught.

Freshwater fish catch grew: pike perch – by 1.5 times, Black Sea herring – by 2.3 times, roach – by 1.2 times and carp – by 1.7 times. Bream, jackfish and herbivorous fish catch decreased.

In H1 2016, fish catch grew in Dnipropetrovsk region by 60.9%, Mykolaiv region by 57.6%, Ivano-Frankivsk region – by 55%, Kherson region – by 52%, Kyiv region – by 40% and Zaporizhia region – by 27%.

The agency explained discrepancies of fish catch figures provided by the agency and the State Statistics Service.

Data of the State Statistics Service include fish catch and other marine resources catch by Ukrainian vessels outside Ukraine, which is not linked to the state of fish stock in Ukraine.

The agency paid attention that in 2016 it would not include data on fish catch by Ukrainian vessels leased to foreign companies.