KIEV, Jan. 15 – Kernel Group, one of the largest agroindustrial groups in Ukraine, announced it has signed an agreement on the acquisition of a controlling stake in Allseeds Group, the largest Ukrainian operator on the vegetable oil market, for $42 million.

KIEV, Jan. 14 – The Antimonopoly Committee has again allowed German-based Bankhaus Main AG (formerly RG Securities AG) to set up RGI Bank in Kiev in the form of a public joint-stock company, the AMCU reported on Thursday.

KIEV, Jan. 14 - Ukraine raised iron ore exports 27.1% in 2009 to 28.576 million tons as consumption by the country's own steel producers plummeted, reported Ukrrudprom, the association of Ukrainian mining enterprises.

DNIPROPETROVSK, Jan. 14 – Ukrainian metals companies in January-November 2009 posted almost UAH 5 billion in total pretax losses, while in 2008 they enjoyed UAH 17 billion in pretax profit.

The director of Metalurhprom association, Vasyl Kharakhulakh, gave the figures at a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian mining and metals sector in Dnipropetrovsk on Wednesday.

KIEV, Jan. 15 - Gas extraction in Ukraine in 2009 grew by 0.8% (or by 165.6 million cubic meters), to 21.182 billion cubic meters, while natural gas extraction rose by 1.3% (by 250.4 million cubic metes), to 20.238 billion cubic meters, the Fuel and Energy Ministry reported.

KIEV, Jan. 17 – Ukraine’s energy market regulator has launched a comprehensive investigation of UkrGaz-Energo, the country’s largest gas supplier, apparently after discovering discrepancies in gas supply statistics reported by the company.

MOSCOW, Jan. 15 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services believes the new Ukrainian government's decision to incorporate payouts of "lost savings" liabilities into the 2008 budget, at a cost of just under 3% of GDP, will further stoke demand pressures in an economy that is already overheated, the ratings agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

KIEV, Jan. 16 - A ban on advertising of alcohol and tobacco in the mass media could be in place in Ukraine by the end of 2008, according to Mykola Polischuk, presidential advisor and former healthcare minister.

KIEV, Jan. 16 - The State Property Fund plans by Sept.1 to hold a tender to sell a 60.86% stake in Makiyivka Steel Mill in Donetsk region, on the basis of which Makiyivka Metallurgical Plant that is part of Metinvest Group now works.

KIEV, Jan. 16 ??“ UkrAvto Corporation, Ukraine's largest manufacturer of cars, has confirmed that it plans to acquire Daewoo Automobile Romania (DWAR), the press service of the corporation reported on Tuesday.