Business news from Ukraine

Ukreximbank and Nibulon agree on long-term debt restructuring

State-owned Ukreximbank (Kyiv) and one of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, JV Nibulon LLC (Mykolaiv), signed agreements on long-term debt restructuring of the company’s financial obligations in late January, the press service of the financial institution reported on Tuesday.

“Thanks to this, the parties ensured, on the one hand, a working asset and the return of funds to the state bank, and, on the other hand, an acceptable level of financial burden for one of the market leaders, which makes it possible for it to function successfully,” the state bank’s website reports.

Andriy Vadatursky, CEO of the agricultural holding, noted that Ukreximbank is the company’s largest creditor, and cooperation with the bank started 27 years ago.

In particular, he recalled that earlier, thanks to the support of Ukreximbank, Nibulon managed to build a sea transshipment terminal in Mykolaiv, and in 2013-2014 the company’s largest loan portfolio to the bank was recorded at $165 million, which, according to him, “characterizes the level of cooperation and mutual understanding that we have achieved in previous years and confirmed now during the restructuring.”

“I am convinced that now we should not wait for help from abroad, we should look for support and understanding on our territory. We have found this support in our Ukrainian banks, which are the embodiment of government policy,” Vadatursky stated.

JV Nibulon LLC was established in 1991. Prior to the Russian military invasion, the grain trader had 27 transshipment terminals and crop reception complexes, a one-time storage capacity of 2.25 million tons of agricultural products, a fleet of 83 vessels (including 23 tugs), and owned the Mykolaiv Shipyard.

“Before the war, Nibulon cultivated 82 thousand hectares of land in 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries. In 2021, the grain trader exported the highest ever 5.64 million tons of agricultural products, reaching record volumes of supplies to foreign markets in August – 0.7 million tons, in the fourth quarter – 1.88 million tons, and in the second half of the year – 3.71 million tons.

Nibulon’s losses due to Russia’s full-scale military invasion in 2022 exceeded $416 million.

Currently, the grain trader is operating at 32% of capacity, has created a special unit to clear agricultural land of mines, and was forced to move its headquarters from Mykolaiv to Kyiv.

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of November 1, 2023, Ukreximbank ranked 3rd (UAH 255.01 billion) among 63 banks operating in the country in terms of total assets.

, ,

Nibulon has agreed on loan restructuring with OTP Bank

One of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, JV Nibulon LLC (Mykolaiv), has agreed to restructure its loan agreement with OTP Bank, the grain trader’s press service reported on Facebook.

“We are grateful to the bank for the speed of decision-making and constructive approach in resolving the issue of restructuring the company’s financial obligations in such difficult times for the Ukrainian economy,” said Iryna Levkivska, CFO of the grain trader.

At the same time, Nibulon noted that the addition of another bank with foreign capital to the proposed restructuring terms once again emphasizes the confidence of foreign financial institutions in the company and Ukrainian business in general.

As reported earlier, Nibulon agreed with Kredobank to restructure the terms of the loan agreement, which was extended for six years with a preferential interest rate and deferred repayment of the principal. A similar agreement on loan prolongation for 6 years was reached with Creditwest Bank Ukraine (JSC West Finance and Credit Bank). An agreement on long-term restructuring of financial liabilities was signed with JSB Ukrgasbank.

JV Nibulon LLC was established in 1991. Prior to the Russian military invasion, the grain trader had 27 transshipment terminals and crop reception complexes, a one-time storage capacity of 2.25 million tons of agricultural products, a fleet of 83 vessels (including 23 tugs), and owned the Mykolaiv Shipyard.

“Before the war, Nibulon cultivated 82 thousand hectares of land in 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries.

In 2021, the grain trader exported the highest ever 5.64 million tons of agricultural products, reaching record volumes of supplies to foreign markets in August – 0.7 million tons, in the fourth quarter – 1.88 million tons, and in the second half of the year – 3.71 million tons.

Nibulon’s losses from Russia’s full-scale military invasion have reached $400 million. The grain trader is currently operating at 30% of capacity and has set up a special unit to clear agricultural land of mines.

, , ,

UKRAINIAN DTEK AGREES TERMS OF RESTRUCTURING EUROBONDS, BANK DEBT WITH CREDITORS’ COMMITTEE

DTEK Energy has agreed on the terms of restructuring eurobonds and the major bank debt with the committees of creditors-holders of eurobonds and banks, the group’s press service has said.
The company notes that the completion of restructuring will ensure the stable operation of the company in the long term, flexible debt service mechanics, taking into account financial forecasts and an unstable external conjuncture.
DTEK’s Strategy and Finance Director Oleh Tymkiv, whose comment is given in the report, indicated that DTEK was building the negotiation process “as a reliable partner fulfilling its obligations.”
“This allowed to maintain constructive relations and balance the company’s loan servicing capabilities and continue its development,” he stressed.
According to him, during the negotiation process, DTEK was able to make sure that the creditors fully understand the consequences of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, both on the country’s economy and on the energy industry.
“This was reflected in their balanced constructive position, aimed primarily at finding a compromise solution. As a result, we managed to reach the best conditions for both sides of the new agreement,” Tymkiv summed up.

, , ,

UKRAINE COULD PROFIT IN POST-CRISIS RESTRUCTURING OF SUPPLY CHAIN

Ukraine may benefit from the restructuring of supply chains that will follow the crisis, said regional economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and former head of the Central Bank of Macedonia Dimitar Bogov.
“Ukraine, with its geographical proximity to Western Europe and the size that can have economies of scale, has every opportunity to capitalize on such a post-crisis development. This crisis will also provide additional impetus to the information and communication technology, e-commerce and delivery services industries while challenging the business models of retail, real estate services and the sharing economy,” Bogov in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
In his opinion, this is one of the economic opportunities that will arise in response to the Covid-19 crisis in the long run.
“The crisis can lead to a more thorough study of supply chains with an emphasis on sustainability and diversification. In many sectors, one economy, often China, is now the dominant global supplier,” he said.
In some of these sectors, the economies of the EBRD regions already have comparative advantages and large export volumes, which could lead to further expansion of their exports, he added.

,

RESTRUCTURING PLAN OF UKRZALIZNYTSIA TO BE READY BY END OF 2019

A plan on restructuring of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, which foresees division of the company into three operators (infrastructure, freight and passenger) and a production block, will be prepared by the end of 2019, Ukrzaliznytsia head Yevhen Kravtsov wrote on Facebook.
“We will fulfill the order of [President of Ukraine] Volodymyr Zelensky in time,” he said.
According to Kravtsov, a gradual plan would become a part of the implementation of the Ukrzaliznytsia’s strategy agreed with the Cabinet of Ministers and approved by the supervisory council in June 2019. After the plan is fulfilled and approved by the supervisory board, Ukrzaliznytsia will begin making certain steps under the control of the government, he added.
“[Infrastructure Minister] Vladyslav Krykliy, [Prime Minister] Oleksiy Honcharuk back European model. The main is that infrastructure remains under state regulation, when passenger and freight carriages are carried under the market conditions,” he said.
As reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to prepare a plan on restructuring of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia by the end of 2019.
The president appointed Honcharuk and Krykliy responsible for the preparation of the plan.

, ,