KIEV, Oct. 17 – There is a high probability that Kiev-based Prominvestbank might be bought by a large Russian bank, according to experts from Ukrainian investment companies polled by Interfax-Ukraine.

FRANKFURT, Oct. 17 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has placed its 'B+' long-term and 'B' short-term counterparty credit ratings on Ukraine's Alfa-Bank, Kredobank and Ukrsotsbank on CreditWatch with negative implications.

MOSCOW, Oct. 19 - Moody's Investors Service has assigned a B2 long-term foreign currency debt rating to the upcoming issue of Loan Participation Notes (LPNs) to be issued by HSBC Bank plc (UK) on a limited recourse basis for the sole purpose of funding a senior unsecured loan to Kreditprombank, the international ratings agency said in a press release.

KIEV, Oct. 19 ??“ The board of directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved the issue of a EUR 32 million credit to Kiev-based OJSC Farmak, Ukraine's leading pharmaceutical company, and a $27 million credit to Sevastopol-based Yugreftransflot shipping company.

KIEV, Oct. 18 ??“ Privat Trade House Ltd. plans to launch a grain terminal in Odessa Yuzhniy maritime merchant port by August-September 2007.

KIEV, Oct. 18 ??“ Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko says the gas price for households may grow very slightly in 2007.

KIEV, Oct. 18 - Ukraine's PrivatBank and ChinaUnionPay (CUP) signed an acquiring agreement on Tuesday in Dnipropetrovsk.

KIEV, Oct. 19 ??“ Nemiroff Holding, Ukraine's large vodka producer, plans at the end of the year to open a trade promotion office in Poland, the company's press service reported on Wednesday.

KIEV, Oct. 18 ??“ The existing scheme of gas supplies to Ukraine via Swiss company RosUkrEnergo A.G suits Gazprom, and it is unlikely any other scheme of gas imports will appear soon, head of gas supplies department for Metinvest group of enterprises Andriy Chebanenko has said.

KIEV, Oct. 19 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the state oil and gas company, will soon sign an agreement to borrow 3 billion euros from Credit Suisse First Boston for gas projects, Naftogaz chairman Oleksiy Ivchenko said Wednesday.