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4.4 Corp profit
The total value of mergers and acquisitions in Ukraine in 2020 dropped by 62%, falling below $1bn. The number of M&A deals was 69, down 15% in comparison to 2019, according to a report issued yesterday by KPMG. Although deals are off to a slow start this year, the report predicts: “Momentum will really start to build up in the second half of the year, with a brighter outlook beyond this.” The four main sectors are: IT, agriculture, real estate, and infrastructure.
4.5 Labour and income
4.5.1 Labour market, unemployment dynamics
Since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine, almost UAH14bn ($488mn) has been paid to persons eligible for unemployment or partial unemployment benefits in Ukraine, according to the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture.
Starting from March 12, 2020, a total of UAH11.5bn of unemployment benefits has been paid to those registered at employment centres. There are no unemployment benefits arrears, the ministry reported.
The ministry added that to financially support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), the government has allocated UAH2.8bn from the COVID-19 Response Fund for the partial unemployment benefits programme, of which UAH2.5bn has already been financed.
25 UKRAINE Country Report May 2021 www.intellinews.com