KYIV. May 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited on May 12, 2017 acquired 7.81% more shares in Astarta agroindustrial holding. Fairfax acquired in total 1,951,583 shares in the company from Aluxes Holding Limited belonged to one of the founders of Astarta Viktor Korotkov.
The holding said in a report on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) that the purchase price was PLN 60 per share or $30.15 million for the deal.
Taking into account the previous transactions, today Fairfax holds 7.002 million shares in Astarta, representing 28.01% of the total voting rights of the company.
As reported, on August 24, 2016, Fairfax signed the agreement with the companies of the founders of Astarta Viktor Ivanchyk – Albacon Ventures Ltd. – and Korotkov – Aluxes Holding Ltd. Albacon held 37.8% (9.45 million shares) and Aluxes– 25.99% (6.497 million shares) in Astarta.
Fairfax shall acquire 450,000 of shares from Albacon and 2.048 million shares from Aluxes.
Fairfax shall also have the right to acquire from Aluxes an additional 4.449 million shares in Astarta.
Fairfax shall have the right to acquire from Aluxes an additional 2.498 million shares in the company, representing approximately 9.99% of the voting rights in the company which can only be exercised 61 days after the sale of shares (First Tranche Call Option).
Fairfax shall have also the right to acquire from Aluxes a further 1.952 million shares in the company, representing approximately 7.8% of the voting rights in the company, which can only be exercised after the 61st day after acquisition of shares.
Aluxes also has the right to put the above shares to Fairfax should Fairfax not exercise its rights above.
In addition, Albacon has granted a tag along right to Fairfax in case Albacon sells a certain percentage of its shares in the company to a third party.
Furthermore Fairfax has been granted the right to nominate the chairman of the board. In addition, Astarta has agreed that the company shall agree some issues concerning shares with Fairfax.
Astarta is a vertically integrated agro-industrial holding, uniting six regional divisions in Poltava, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions. They include nine sugar factories, agricultural farms with a land bank of about 250,000 hectares and dairy farms. The holding also has a plant for processing soybeans in Poltava region (Globyno processing plant).
KYIV. May 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has promised to sign the bill amending the law on banks and banking operations regarding guaranteeing deposits of individuals by the state (No. 5553).
“We have tried to thoroughly calculate possible risks linked to the signing and enacting the bill on guaranteeing deposits at PrivatBank. The bill will be signed. I would not veto it. Nothing is threatening the depositors,” he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday.
KYIV. May 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts grain harvest in Ukraine in the 2017/2018 marketing year (MY, July-June) in the amount of 61.79 million tonnes, while exports could reach 38.31 million tonnes.
According to a report on the website of the U.S. agency, the forecast for the harvest of fodder grain is 36.79 million tonnes, of which maize is 28 million tonnes, barley is 7.4 million tonnes. The forecast for the wheat yield is 25 million tonnes.
USDA forecasts wheat exports by Ukraine in the 2017/2018 MY at the level of 14.5 million tonnes. Exports of feed grain, according to the forecast, will amount to 23.81 million tonnes, including 20 million tonnes of maize.
According to USDA forecasts, in the 2016/2017 MY Ukraine will be able to export 41.96 million tonnes of grain, including 19 million tonnes of corn, 17.3 million tonnes of wheat and 5.5 million tonnes of barley with a total grain crop of 66.1 million tonnes.
As reported, Ukraine since the beginning of the 2016/2017 MY and as of May 10, 2017 had exported 37.956 million tonnes of grain.
KYIV. May 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – UPEC Industrial Group, specializing in machine building business, plans to begin the first deliveries of products to Albania in the second half of this year.
According to a press release issued by UPEC, bilateral contracts are currently being prepared with representatives of the country’s business, partner relations with whom were established during the participation of the Ukrainian company in the business forum held in Albania in late April.
The report notes the Albanian market is a new trading platform for UPEC, therefore the business forum became a good opportunity to study the market specifics, the logistics system and establish direct business contacts with foreign entrepreneurs.
“Based on the results of B2B negotiations, our company established partnership relations with three dealer companies,” UPEC director for exports Eduard Chudopalov said.
According to him, Alaska Industriale distributor showed interest in HARP bearing products (produced by Kharkiv Bearing Plant), as well as electric motors, generators, HELZ electric pumps (Kharkov Electrotechnical Plant).
KYIV. May 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Chernovetskyi Investment Group (CIG), founded by the businessman, ex-mayor of Kyiv (2006-2012) Leonid Chernovetsky, has invested a six-digit amount in U.S. dollars in the Ukrainian e-commerce service of personal recommendations Softcube.
“Softcube helps buyers decide on a choice and retailers increase sales. Thus, Softcube uses data about products and analyzes customer history to create personal recommendations for online buyers,” the report says.
The investment company told Interfax-Ukraine Softcube is estimated in a seven-digit amount in U.S. dollars.
According to a press release, the funds raised will be used to strengthen sales and marketing functions, as well as enter the European market.
“At the same time, the project remains Ukrainian. This is a principled position for us as investors,” CIG Managing Partner Volodymyr Kryvko said.
Softcube was founded in 2012 by Oleh Lesov. In 2013 Roman Zakharov joined it. Today Softcube is a Ukrainian product company with an office in the Dnipro. Softcube clients include Yves Rocher, Allo, Foxtrot, leBoutique, Studio Moderna (TopShop, Dormeo brands).
Softcube works with shops in 11 countries of the world, processes more than 500 GB of data per day.
Chernovetskyi Investment Group is one of the largest investment companies in the CIS market. It was founded in 2013 by Leonid Chernovetsky. Its investment potential exceeded $750 million.
KYIV. May 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – State-owned enterprise Boryspil International Airport has designed the air ticket cheapening program thanks to discounts to airport charges.
Commercial Director of the airport Maksym Voloshyn said at a press conference on Thursday that the discount system aims at cheapening flights, expanding the route network, increasing the share of transit passengers, boosting transportation and airport’s income and attracting low cost airlines. It is planned to set a discount for new international flights to the take-off and landing fee in the first year in the amount of 80%, second year – 60%, third year – 40% and fourth year – 20%. In addition, the 80% discount is proposed for a transit passenger.
Voloshyn said that the discount to the passenger fee will apply proportionally to growth of passenger flow from 100,000 people.
Boryspil Airport Director General Pavlo Riabikin said that the airport has prepared a new public offer for airlines. He said that one of its requirements will be obligatory display of the discount provided by the airport in the ultimate price of the ticket.
“The Infrastructure Ministry has drawn up a project foreseeing the reduction of charges. We have made our homework,” he said.
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.
