Ukraine schedules Odesa Portside sale for December

Ukraine’s State Property Fund published on Oct. 11 its
updated privatization schedule for the remainder of 2017, which continues to
include its 99.57% stake in nitrogen fertilizer producer Odesa Portside Plant,
slated for sale in December. Ukraine has made two attempts to sell the stake in
the last year, in July and December, with both failing. The privatization of
Odesa Portside is among Ukraine’s commitments to the IMF.

No other companies from the IMF’s recommended list
(power GenCo Centrenergo, regional power distribution companies, power
engineering firm Turboatom) are in the Fund’s privatization list for 2017.

Alexander Paraschiy: To succeed in the privatization of Odesa Portside, the government
still needs to address its key issue, which is its large debt owed to the
companies of Dmytro Firtash (more than USD 250 mln). So far, we see little
chance for success this year.