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DTEK plans to buy five more regional energy distribution companies from VS Energy.
Ukrainian energy expert Andriy Gerus says Ukraine's largest private energy holding DTEK, controlled by businessman Rinat Akhmetov, bought shares in Ukrainian-based Kyivoblenergo and Odesaoblenergo (regional energy distribution companies) from VS Energy, owned by Russian businessmen, for US$250 million, which significantly exceeds the price of these companies during the privatization campaign.
"According to my source, the purchase price is $250 million: $180 million for a 94% stake in Kyivoblenergo and $70 million for a 68% stake in Odesaoblenergo. In 2013, VS Energy bought shares of Kyivoblenergo for $90 million. Now they sell them for $180 million. So, they earned over 100% (in U.S. dollars) on these deals over the six years. As we can see, this is a problem market for European businesses, while Russian businessmen are making good money here. Some $70 million for a 68% stake in Odesaoblenergo is also a lot, given that the State Property Fund in March will put a 25% stake in this company up for sale for $5 million (that is, 68% = $15 million)," the expert wrote on Facebook on January 14.
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"The estimate price of privately owned Kyivoblenergo and Odesaoblenergo is very high. That is, their shareholders, Russian businessmen [Mikhail] Voevodin (chief adviser of the Luzhnikov people), [Yevgeni] Giner (president of PFC CSKA) and [Alexander] Babakov (member of Russia's State Duma, who voted for the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea from Ukraine) will receive $250 million," he added.
Gerus also said that DTEK plans to buy five more regional energy distribution companies from VS Energy.
"I know that another transaction is in the pipeline after this one. DTEK plans to acquire five more regional energy distribution companies that remain in Russian ownership. Thus, Khersonoblenergo, Kirovohradoblenergo, Zhytomyroblenergo, Chernivtsioblenergo, and Rivneoblenergo, will come under Akhmetov's control," he wrote.
According to Gerus, this transaction will allow DTEK to increase its share to 57% in the transmission and sale of electricity generated in Ukraine.
"Today, DTEK owns 15% of all electricity distribution systems (120,000 kilometers). With the purchase of two more power companies, 25% of all retail electricity distribution systems (208,000 kilometers) will be in its ownership. After absorbing the remaining five power companies, 42% of all Ukrainian retail electricity distribution systems, or 344,000 kilometers, will belong to the energy holding. Even today, DTEK's systems control the transmission and sales of 37% of all electricity in the country. After the acquisition of two more companies, their share will grow to 48%. And after absorbing five more electricity distribution systems, DTEK will control 57% of the entire electricity transmission and sales," he added.
Gerus says this is an unprecedented situation when one company owns such a number of regional energy distribution companies that are part of critical infrastructure.
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"This is an unprecedented situation when one oligarch takes ownership of such a number of electricity distribution systems that are part of critical infrastructure (gas supply systems are in the state ownership and they only used by regional gas companies). So, a 'perfect' monopolized vertical of integration is being created. And if it's possible to avoid the monopolization in the production of electricity by imports, this cannot be done in case with the monopolization of electricity distribution systems in private hands," the expert said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, in early January 2019, DTEK announced the conclusion of contracts for the sale of a 68.2949% stake in Odesaoblenergo and a 93.9978% stake in Kyivoblenergo controlled by VS Energy, the owner of a number of regional energy companies.
UNIAN memo. DTEK is Ukraine's largest private vertically integrated energy company, which is part of the financial and industrial SCM (System Capital Management) Group.
According to media reports, the VS Energy group, which is owned by Russian businessmen, controls 10 regional energy distribution companies: Kyivoblenergo, Chernivtsioblenergo, Zakarpattiaoblenergo, Odesaoblenergo, Khersonoblenergo, Rivneoblenergo, Zhytomyroblenergo, Khmelnytskoblenergo, Kirovohradoblenergo, and Mykolaivoblenergo.