Page 46 - UKRRptNov21

respect to freedom of speech” and called the conflict with journalists “unacceptable.”
Later on October 5, the supervisory board issued a vague statement that it “is concerned about allegations against the Bank on the obstruction of journalistic activity,” adding that the board started the “verification of circumstances” and is taking measures to “objectively assess the situation and the actions of the Bank.”
Soon after that, the journalists reported they were able to restore the deleted recordings and shared video which confirmed their version of the events: the attack on the cameraman, taking away cameras and attempts to delete the recordings.
In the morning of October 6, the official website of president Zelenskiy called the behavior of the bank’s officials “unacceptable” citing presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak. The statement calls it “logical” to temporarily dismiss the CEO for the time of investigation of the incident, also stating that “stricter personnel decisions” in the bank will be possibly needed.
Investment firm, Dragon Capital, has entered the banking sector. They will develop Unex-Bank as a separate business, as an independent universal bank, which will service both retail clients, and those in the corporate sector, namely SMEs, said the founder of Dragon Capital, Tomas Fiala.
Kazakhstan’s fintech company, Kaspi.kz, purchases a bank in Ukraine.
The fintech company purchased a bank in order to receive a banking license. Kaspi.kz has signed a purchase agreement for 100% of BTA Bank Ukraine to obtain a banking license in the region. This will allow the company to launch fintech products, open mobile wallets, accounts, reported NV.
In the drive to cut state bank non-performing loans, Oschadbank is putting up for auction loans with a total face value of $191 million, reports Ukrinform. Collateral ranges from industrial plants to poultry farms in eight regions, according to SETAM Open Market.
Oschadbank, EBRD agree to move on with €100mn convertible loan. Oschadbank (OSCHAD) and EBRD signed on October 22 a mandate letter, backed by the Ministry of Finance, on the terms of future cooperation for the bank privatization and improvement of corporate governance, the parties reported on October 25. The letter also mentions EBRD’s providing a subordinated convertible loan for up to €100mn, Ukrainian side reported. The step is in line with the development strategy of the bank for 2021-2024 and with the government’s intention to reduce its share in the banking sector from 60% to 25%% by 2025, both sides highlighted. “This is an important step in our long term partnership with Oschadbank and Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance on the commercialisation and eventual privatisation path,” Matteo Patrone, EBRD Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, commented.
State-owned Ukreximbank is putting up for auction almost $1bn in non performing loans, the bank reported on October 21. On Nov. 3, an auction is to take place for the first of seven lots: Sky Towers, a half-completed apartment
46 UKRAINE Country Report November 2021 www.intellinews.com