Ukraine state companies may increase dividend payments in 2018

Макроэкономика 12.12.2017 Ukraine’s Economy Ministry has drafted a Cabinet resolution to oblige companies with a state stake to distribute 75% of their 2017 net profit in dividends next year, Interfax-Ukraine reported on Dec. 11. This year, such companies were obliged to pay 50% of their 2016 net income in dividends. In 10M17, Ukraine’s State Property Fund received UAH 917 mln in dividends from the companies in which it had stakes, of which 44% was received from power turbine producer Turboatom (TATM UK), 17% from power GenCo Centerenergo (CEEN UK) and 38% from the 25% stakes (privatized this year) in Dniproenergo and Dniproobenergo. Alexander Paraschiy: This is a natural outcome of the revised income of the 2018 state budget, which assumes an increase in revenue from enterprises in which the state has its stake. The news is encouraging for the minority shareholders of state-controlled Centrenergo and Turboatom, which will likely remain the biggest dividend payers next year.