Daily monitor

Lvivska Brovarnia, a Ukrainian beer producer affiliated with Carlsberg Group Ukraine (Slavutych), increased its beer output by 43.9% YoY to 4.6 mln dal in January-April, 2009. In 2008, the company increased its beer output by 9% to 16.1 mln dal.

According to a press release, Ukraine’s largest passenger vechilcle producer, UkrAvto [AVTO UZ, N/R], which includes the ZAZ car assembly plant, recorded EBITDA USD 33 mln and pre tax profit at level of USD 10.4 mln in 1Q09.

Ukrainian News reported that Zaporizhstal [ZPST UZ, U/R] is proceeding with its large-scale CapEx program. It was revealed that the construction of sinter and oxygen converter shops has a budget of USD 1.3 bln (earlier estimates were USD 1.7-2.0 bln). The company had already paid EUR 40 mln (supposedly, to Siemens-VAI) for the preparation of the project’s technical documentation.

The State Property Commission has once again postponed the privatisation auctions for Prykarpattyaoblenergo [PREN UZ, BUY] and Sumyoblenergo from May 29 to June 5 due to the lack of applications. The SPF continues postponing the privatisation auction by one week each time there are no applications for the current offer.

The National Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) decreased the power transmission and supply tariffs for electricity distributing companies that work under Ukraine’s regulated tariff.

According to the information from IKS-Consulting, the number of broadband users (BB) increased by 11% to 1.7 mln. in 1Q09. Broadband household penetration rose by 3.5% to 8.5%. Revenue from the BB internet segment increased by 3%YoY to USD 71 mln.

According to the press service of Sumy Frunze Machine Building [SMASH UZ, N/R] – one of Europe’s largest producers of equipment for the oil, gas, and chemical industries – the company will complete the delivery compressors to Gazrprom by the end of June 2009.

According to an announcement from the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, direct foreign debt has fallen 0.2% or USD 18.7 mln and has reached USD 10.85 bln.

According to a press release, Kharkiv-based OJSC Turboatom [TATM UZ, HOLD] – the largest turbine manufacturer in Ukraine – has completed delivery of power equipment to “Naglu’ Hydro Power Plant (HPP) in Afghanistan. The value of this order is USD 3.4 mln.

According to a number of sources Ukrgazbank, Rodovid Bank and Kiev Bank will be the first targets of Ukraine’s bank recapitalization program.