Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Metinvest’s United GOKs paid UAH 5.7 bln in taxes in 2024

Metinvest Group’s Central, Ingulets and Northern Mining and Processing Plants (MPPs), which were transformed into United Mining and Processing Plant (UMPP), paid UAH 5.7 billion in taxes in 2024.

According to the company’s press release on Wednesday, in 2023, YuGOK, Central GOK and InGOK transferred UAH 2.2 billion to the state and municipal budgets.

“Thus, mining and processing enterprises remain a reliable pillar of Ukraine even during the war,” the press service states.

It is specified that in 2024, the main source of budget revenues was the tax on the use of subsoil, which amounted to UAH 2.7 billion. A significant share of deductions is accounted for by a single social contribution (UAH 673 million) and personal income tax (UAH 595 million). The environmental tax and land fees also contribute to the state and local budgets.

“It is the mining and metals companies that are the largest taxpayers and support the Ukrainian economy despite the war and challenges. These funds are needed for the social sector – healthcare, education, and most importantly, they support Ukraine’s defense capability. Metinvest’s Kryvyi Rih GOKs also remain one of the main employers in the region, providing jobs for thousands of specialists, including veterans returning from the war,” said Igor Tonev, CEO of Metinvest’s United GOKs.

As a reminder, Metinvest Group, including its associates and joint ventures, increased its payment of taxes and fees to budgets of all levels by 36% in 2024 to UAH 19.8 billion compared to 2023.

As reported earlier, Metinvest has implemented a new model for the operation of its Kryvyi Rih mining and processing enterprises, bringing together mining and processing plants in Kryvyi Rih under a single management.

In 2023, the Group’s Kryvyi Rih enterprises paid a total of UAH 4.6 billion in taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels.

“Metinvest comprises mining and metallurgical enterprises located in Ukraine, Europe and the United States. Its major shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage it.

Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.

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“Ukrnafta” plans to introduce 200 MW of renewable energy

Ukrnafta PJSC, which with the help of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has planned projects to generate power from its own gas with a total capacity of up to 370 MW, is additionally working to attract investment to build renewable energy capacity such as solar and wind, said supervisory board chairman Duncan Nightingale.

“We want to introduce about 200 MW of renewable energy over the next two years,” he said in a blitzing interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Nightingale recalled that, according to agreements with the EBRD, in addition to loan funds, the bank is providing the company with grant support worth several tens of millions of euros.

“All these funds will be used for the construction of gas generation. At the first stage we plan to build about 375 MW of new gas to power capacities,” the chairman of the Supervisory Board specified.

According to him, initially Ukrnafta’s plan until 2028 provides for the introduction of about 1 GW of new electricity and heat generation, as well as storages (for energy storage – IF-U), which will require significant investments.

“We plan to attract funds from current donors, national and international banks, and investors. The main task is to direct the company’s funds to the main activities to increase hydrocarbon production, and energy projects should be self-sufficient, including the attraction of financing,” Nightingale emphasized.

He thanked investors who are now supporting Ukrnafta on the way to building gas generation.

“Ukrnafta realizes the importance of traditional energy sources, especially under the conditions of martial law. At the same time, we use gas as a transition fuel for power generation. This allows us to work on environmentally sustainable solutions for the future,” summarized the Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

“Ukrnafta is Ukraine’s largest oil producer and is the operator of the national network of gas stations. In March 2024, the company entered into Glusco asset management and operates a total of 544 filling stations – 461 owned and 83 under management.

Ukrnafta’s largest shareholder is Naftogaz of Ukraine with a 50%+1 share stake. In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the AFU decided to transfer to the state a share of corporate rights of the company, which belonged to private owners and is now managed by the Ministry of Defense.

Read the full blitzinterview with PJSC Ukrnafta Supervisory Board Chairman Duncan Nightingale on the sidelines of the Ukrainian House in Davos soon on the agency’s website www.interfax.com.ua.

 

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Credit Agricole increased its profit by 46.5% to UAH 4.1 bln in 2024

Net profit of Credit Agricole Bank (Kyiv) amounted to UAH 4.09 billion last year, which is 46.5% or UAH 1.44 billion more than in 2023, the press service of the financial institution reports.

“Crédit Agricole Bank’s net profit for the year amounted to UAH 4.1 billion after taxes at the increased rate of 50% (…) The bank’s financial results demonstrate sustainable development dynamics, disciplined risk management, and customer confidence,” the press release says.

It is noted that Credit Agricole’s net banking income for 2024 reached UAH 9.25 billion, which is 4.9% more than last year.

According to the press release, this is due to the growth of net interest income by 3.9% compared to 2023 to UAH 8.17 billion and increase of the deposit base by 10.9% to UAH 100.1 billion.

It is specified that corporate deposits increased by 9.3% to UAH 79.14 billion, and retail deposits by 17.2% to UAH 20.95 billion.

At the same time, the bank’s fee and commission income decreased by 5.6% to UAH 706 million.

The volume of loans and advances to customers remained almost unchanged in 2024, remaining at UAH 28.16 billion. Loans to businesses in Credit Agricole decreased by 2.8% to UAH 23.60 billion, while loans to individuals increased by 20.6% to UAH 4.55 billion.

“Credit Agricole has strengthened its position as a leader in car lending with a 28% market share in Ukraine. In 2024, the bank disbursed new car loans in the amount of UAH 3.3 billion, which is 50% more than in the previous year, outpacing the market growth rate of 40%,” the press service of the bank noted.

Last year, the bank’s assets increased by 12.9% to UAH 116.93 billion, while liabilities grew by 9.7% to UAH 103.75 billion. Agricole’s operating expenses increased by 11.7% to UAH 2.68 billion.

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ZZF increased production of ferroalloys by 35% in 2024

Zaporizhzhia Ferroalloy Plant (ZZF) increased its output by 35.2% in 2024 compared to 2023, up to 26.80 thousand tons from 19.82 thousand tons.

According to the Ukrainian Association of Ferroalloy Producers (UkrFA), in 2024, ZZF increased its production of silicomanganese sixfold to 23.08 thousand tons from 3.87 thousand tons, but reduced ferrosilicon to 0.12 thousand tons from 10.49 thousand tons, and ferromanganese to 3.6 thousand tons from 5.43 thousand tons.

At the same time, the company did not produce metal manganese, while in 2023 it produced 0.03 thousand tons.
ZZF is one of the three main Ukrainian producers of this product.

As reported, Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGOK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and Marganetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGOK, both in Dnipropetrovska oblast), both part of Privat Group, stopped mining and processing crude manganese ore in late October and early November 2023, while NGOK and Zaporizhzhya Ferroalloy Plant (ZZF) suspended smelting. Later, the ferroalloy companies resumed operations at a minimum level of production. In particular, ZZF has been operating two furnaces at 7% capacity since May 1, 2024, and NFP has also been operating since the end of June last year.

Before the nationalization, the business of ZZF, NFP, Stakhanovsky ZF (which is on tubing), Pokrovske (formerly Ordzhonikidze) and Marganetsky Ore Mining and Processing Plants was organized by PrivatBank.

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PrivatBank increases profit by 6% to UAH 40.1 bln in 2024

The net profit of state-owned PrivatBank, Ukraine’s largest bank, amounted to UAH 40.141 billion in 2024, up 6% from 2023, the bank said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

“Net interest income increased by 12% to UAH 66.89 billion, net commission income by 14% to UAH 27.77 billion,” said Larysa Chernysheva, Deputy Chairman of the Board and CFO, Interfax-Ukraine.
She clarified that the results are preliminary and should be confirmed by an audit, which is expected in March.

According to her, after the audit, the bank will allocate 80% of its net profit for dividends for 2024, which will tentatively amount to UAH 32.113 billion, compared to UAH 30.211 billion last year.
Chernysheva specified that pre-tax profit in 2024 increased by 11.3% to UAH 81.004 billion, while operating expenses increased by 8% to UAH 21.32 billion.

“In 2024, the bank will pay over UAH 40.9 billion in income tax, which has a direct positive effect on the country’s macroeconomic stability,” Deputy Minister of Finance Yuriy Draganchuk emphasized during the briefing.
Since the beginning of last year, Privat’s net loan portfolio has increased by UAH 20.7 billion to UAH 112.8 billion. Funds on customer accounts increased by more than 10% during this time, bringing deposits and balances to UAH 621.6 billion.

PrivatBank ended last year with assets of UAH 761.7 billion, which, according to the National Bank of Ukraine, is 13.4% less than the bank’s total assets as of January 1, 2024, which amounted to UAH 879.8 billion.
The financial institution reported that operating expenses increased by 8% compared to 2023, which is lower than annual inflation.

The bank estimates its active client base at 18.32 million individuals and 910 thousand business clients in 2024. The number of users of the Privat24 mobile application amounted to 13.76 million people.
According to Privat, the bank’s branch network consisted of 1163 outlets at the end of 2024, while at the beginning of last year, according to NBU statistics, it had 1132 outlets.

The financial institution’s infrastructure includes 6.86 thousand ATMs and 10.42 thousand terminals. At the same time, the number of Privat’s POS terminals amounted to more than 316 thousand at the end of 2024.

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