Daily monitor

Electricity distribution company Prykarpattiaoblenergo [PREN] announced a dividend payout of USD 0.3mln during its AGM Thursday, May 29. The company is directing 30% of its USD 1 mln net income for FY2007 to dividend payout, implying USD 0.003 per share.

The official USD:UAH exchange rate has been reset at 4.852 for May 30, a 0.002 point increase. At the same time, the EUR:UAH FX rate dropped to 7.545 from 7.593 and the RUR:UAH FX decreased to 0.202 from 0.206 Thursday. The last time the NBU changed the USD:UAH rate was May 21, 2008 and, before that, April 21, 2005.

The Ukrainian government has prolonged its anti-dumping probe terms for the import of medium-diameter pipes.

The May 29 AGM of Yasinovka Coke [YASK UZ, N/R] shareholders decided not to declare dividends on common shares for 2007.

Electricity distribution company Lvivoblenergo [LVON] failed to hold an AGM scheduled for May 27 due to lack of quorum. LVON has not held an AGM since 2001 due to the long-standing corporate conflict between joint shareholders Privat group and Surkis group ca. [22%] and Energy Standard group, which holds ca. 38% of the company.

Avtokraz Holding Company [KRAZ, N/R], a large producer of big rig trucks, held its annual shareholders’ meeting May 27. Since the company announced it 2007 annual financial results, we have been anticipating new information on a future IPO.

Dzerzhynka [DMKD UZ, BUY] is about to launch a 1 mln mt ladle furnace No 1. According to Metal Courier, installation is almost fully complete, and the machine should enter production by the end of 1H08, serving two blooming concasters with the total capacity of 1.4 mln mt.

Baltic Beverage Holding Ukraine’s 1Q08 sales increased 48% YoY to USD 64 mln and +42% in terms of volume, the company announced Wednesday, May 27 at a press conference. Its net loss expanded two-fold to USD 8 mln and EBITDA was slashed 12% to USD 2 mln.

Myronivskiy Khliboproduct [MHPC LI, N/R], a leading poultry producer in Ukraine, is planning to increase its share capital 5% to USD 170.5 mln through an additional share issue of 160 mln ordinary shares with a par value of USD 0.05. The ex-rights date is set for Aug. 19, 2008. The final decision is slated to be made at MHP’s AGM in July.

Azovstal [AZST UZ, BUY] is about to launch a 2.5 mln mt concaster No 6 and a vacuum vessel. According to Metal Courier, the company is almost done tuning up these two machines.