The net loss of state-owned Ukreximbank (Kyiv) in 2020 amounted to UAH 5.6 billion against a net profit of UAH 63.62 million in 2019, chairman of the bank’s board Yevhen Metsger has said in a column published by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
According to him, in the fourth quarter of 2020, the bank’s net loss amounted to UAH 3.4 billion, which is 1.5 times more than in the corresponding period of 2019 (UAH 2.21 billion).
Metsger explained that Ukreximbank entered 2020 with a number of problems, in particular, a structural deformation of the balance sheet, a weak foreign exchange position, a significant amount of overdue debt, a pool of expensive borrowings in foreign markets, which led to the formation of a loss.
According to him, these problems were caused by political factors, and in the context of the pandemic, they were intensified by macroeconomic challenges.
In addition, the banker said that the bank’s operating model was set to automatically generate losses, in particular, the volume of loan bookings regularly exceeded operating income by an average of 50%.
“And this accumulated portfolio of toxic assets caused constant pressure on the financial result. Firstly, a sufficient level of reserves was not formed for it, and secondly, it does not generate interest income for the bank. Over 2020, expenses to cover expected losses from the credit risk of non-performing assets amounted to UAH 4.3 billion,” Metsger explained.
Lavina Mall LLC (Kyiv), the owner of Kyiv-based Lavina Mall located at 6, Berkovetska Street, saw a net loss of UAH 248 million in January-September 2020 against a profit of UAH 116.2 million for the same period in 2019.
According to the company’s information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, its revenue fell by 17.8% to UAH 520 million.
At the same time, gross profit for the reporting period increased by 7.8% and amounted to UAH 307.7 million, while the financial result from operating activities amounted to UAH 20.2 million loss against profit last year.
The uncovered loss of Lavina Mall LLC increased almost threefold – to UAH 375.6 million.
Long-term liabilities of the company increased by 47.2% to UAH 2.37 billion, current liabilities increased by 19.8% to UAH 2.35 billion.
The assets of the enterprise increased by 21.5% – to UAH 5.1 billion.
Lavina Mall LLC was founded in 2013. The main activity is the leasing and operation of own and rented property.
The Aurum Group has said that it is necessary to annul the land tax in April 2020 to support business for the period of quarantine. The group paid attention of the government that ambiguous interpretations of the provisions of the so-called “anti-crisis law” adopted on March 30, according to which, in particular, the employer can be exempted from paying a fee for the use of property, will increase the loss of business from the consequences of quarantine.
“In March, in connection with the quarantine, the business was exempted from paying land tax, but in April, when the situation became even worse, the corresponding changes were not made,” the press service of the group told Interfax-Ukraine.
“Given the specifics of the activities and location of Aurum Group enterprises, the proportion of land tax of the tax burden of some companies ranges from 15% to 70%. In addition, in some regions, the land tax rate has doubled since January 1, 2020,” the press service said.
According to the company, the law on additional social and economic guarantees in connection with the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) provides an opportunity not to pay rent in commercial relations. However, in April, business must pay for renting land and real estate tax to the state.
