Daily monitor

Sumy Frunze Machine Building [SMASH UZ, N/R], one of largest European producers of equipment for the oil, gas, and chemical industries, has reported that it finished 2008 with at a loss of USD 30.6 mln (UAH 162.342 mln).

Ukrainian power stations decreased electricity production by 15.2% in Jan-Feb 2009 compared to Jan-Feb 2008, according to the Ministry of Fuel and Energy.

Landkom [LKI LN, N/R], a Ukrainian agriculture producer focusing on energy crops, has conditionally placed 10% of the company’s stock, or 40 mln new ordinary shares with a par value of 0.1 pence each, on the AIM.

Privatbank – the largest bank in Ukraine in terms of assets – recently announced that the bank is going to increase its statutory fund by 37.5% or by UAH 2.126 bln.

Sun InBev Ukraine [SUNI UZ, BUY], a leading brewery on the Ukrainian beer market with a market share of 38% in 2008, announced that it has undergone a 5.4 times net income reduction for 2008 to USD 7.1 mln.

New data issued by the press service of the Bogdan Corporation indicates that the Bogdan Automobile Plant [LUAZ UZ, BUY] boosted production in February, compared to January 2009, by 132%, representing an increased from 1,604 to 2,818 cars. In February, the plant manufactured 321 KIA cars, 222 Hyundai cars, and 2,275 VAZ cars.

The Kharkiv-based OJSC Turboatom [TATM UZ, HOLD] – the largest turbine manufacturer in Ukraine – has signed a new contract valued at USD 19.5 mln (UAH 150 mln using the exchange rate of UAH 7.7 per USD).

As of March 10, 2009, Ukrainian banks have prolonged a total UAH 2 bln (USD 259.7 mln) or 50% of existing loans to agrarians, as stated by the Minister of Agriculture Yuriy Melnik.

According to Yuriy Melnik, the Minister of Agriculture, Ukraine will harvest 18-20 mln mt of winter wheat in 2009.

According to a statement issued by Ukrgazbank [UGZB, U/R], the agenda of the bank’s EGM, which is going to be held on March 13, contains the issue about the necessity of requesting state support.