Privatization Schedule Released, Luganskteplovoz To Be Sold In August.

Yesterday the State Property Fund (SPF) released a monthly schedule for the privatization of companies until December 2006.  Among others the government plans to sell its stake in Ukrnaftoproduct (UNP), a holding of five companies managing several networks of filling stations throughout Ukraine in June. The bidders for this company will be battling for control of Khersonaftoproduct, (the state controls through UNP 50% +1 of this company) and Lugansknaftoproduct (51% state-controlled through UNP). Alliance Group, which already controls 50% of Khersonnaftoproduct is likely to by the other half. Luganskteplovoz, Ukraine’s monopoly locomotive producer, is scheduled to go on the auction block in August along with the Makeevski Metal Plant, the majority of which was put under the control of SMART Group following bankruptcy. Ukraine’s largest producer of tractors, Kharkiv Tractor is to be sold on a stock exchange in October. In December, the government has scheduled the sale of CJSC Rosava through its holdings in OJSC Rosava, Ukrsib Group and Finance & Credit control about 76% of the former.