KIEV, April 19 – The International Atomic Energy Agency is ready to provide assistance to Ukraine in implementing its decision to give up highly enriched uranium, the IAEA headquarters told German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

KIEV, April 19 ??“ ContourGlobal, a private U.S. energy company, plans to invest $300 million in energy projects in Ukraine in the next few years, said ContourGlobal Vice-President for Eastern Europe and the CIS Alex Krakowski during a press lunch with reporters.

KIEV, April 19 - Volksbank International AG of Austria purchased a 98.25% stake in Lviv-based Electron Bank, Ukraine??™s No. 63 bank by assets, on the secondary market, according to Electron Bank press release.

KIEV, April 19 - The deficit in Ukraine's foreign trade in commodities in January and February 2007 has been estimated at $1.38 billion, whereas a year ago, in January and February 2006, Ukraine posted a foreign commodity trade deficit of $1.026 billion, the State Statistics Committee reported.

KIEV, April 19 ??“ Brokbusinessbank, Ukraine??™s No. 14 bank by assets, is to boost its statutory fund by 23.1% to UAH 800 million, via an additional issue of 15 million simple nominal shares with a face value UAH 10 each.

KIEV, April 19 - Fitch Ratings has assigned Bank Credit Dnepr (BCD), Ukraine??™s No. 43 bank by assets, ratings of Issuer Default 'B-' (B minus), Short-term 'B', Individual 'D/E' and National Long-term 'BBB-(minus)(ukr)'.

KIEV, April 19 - Vanco Energy Company, a U.S.-based independent oil and gas company, on Wednesday defeated world oil majors, such as ExxonMobil and Shell, to win tender for an offshore exploration and production license in Ukraine.

KIEV, April 19 ??“ UkrTelekom, the national phone company, and UkrNafta, the country??™s largest oil company, will probably pay largest 2005 dividends to the state, according to First Deputy Finance Minister Viktor Kalnyk.

MOSCOW, April 19 - French finance group BNP Paribas has secured all the necessary permits and closed a deal for the acquisition of a controlling stake in Ukrainian-based UkrSibbank, the group reported.

KIEV, April 18 ??“ Ukrainian RadioSystems, which runs GSM-900 network throughout the country under WellCOM brand, will raise UAH908 million ($170 million) through an issue of new stock, the company announced.