Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Who received VAT refunds during the year
A year ago, since April 2014 of the year, the State Treasury Service for the first time in Ukraine’s history began publishing monthly information about VAT refunds.
Journalists calculated which companies received the most VAT refunds from the state budget over the year.
“Metinvest”
Three of the metal plants of the largest mining-metallurgical holding “Metinvest” were refunded 12 billion UAH in 6,5 months. In particular, Illich Iron and Steel Works was refunded 2,85 billion UAH, while Zaporizhstal and Azovstal received 2,48 and 1,13 billion UAH respectively. Overall, the holding’s enterprises received VAT refunds from May 2014 of the year amounting to 7,6 billion UAH.
The majority owner of “Metinvest” is Rinat Akhmetov. A deputy from the Opposition Bloc, Vadim Novinsky, owns 23,7% of the holding. Another 5% is owned by former MMK named after Ilyich director Volodymyr Boyko.
LLC “DTEK Trading”, part of the energy holding DTEK of R. Akhmetov, received 175,4 million UAH in VAT refunds.
“ArcelorMittal”
In terms of enterprises, the absolute VAT refund leader was the Kriviy Rih Iron and Steel Plant, part of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. From May 2014 to April 2015 of the year, the state refunded him nearly 4 billion UAH.
“ArcelorMittal” is the largest enterprise in Ukraine’s mining-metallurgical complex. Its share of the metal products market is about 20%. The company exports its products to Russia, Central Asia, Gulf states, Africa, and Europe.
ISD
One of the largest VAT refund recipients was the corporation “Industrial Union of Donbas” (ISD), owned by former Donetsk region governor Serhiy Taruta and a group of secret Russian investors. It received over 2,5 billion UAH.
ISD is an integrated holding company that owns or controls packages of shares in more than 40 industrial enterprises in Ukraine. The majority of them are located in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Among them: Alchevsk Steel Mill – 485 million UAH VAT refund, Dniprovsk Cement Plant – 255 million UAH, and Alchevsk Coke Plant – 52 million UAH. Together with them, ISD received almost 3,5 billion UAH.
“Kernel”
LLC “Kernel Trading”, part of agribusiness holding “Kernel” of Andriy Verevsky, the state refunded VAT for 2,4 billion UAH. “Kernel” is the largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil in Ukraine. In July–December 2014/2015 marketing year, “Kernel” earned $66,44 million in profit. Forbes valued Verevsky’s wealth at $672 million.
UkrLandFarming
The company “Impero Fu” which is part of UkrLandFarming, agrarian magnate Oleg Bakhmatyuk’s group, received VAT refunds of 1,2 billion UAH. Another Bakhmatyuk company – PJSC “RAYZ” – received 1,035 billion UAH VAT refunds. In total – 2,235 billion UAH.
UkrLandFarming engages in growing grains, egg production, sugar, and livestock. Forbes estimated Bakhmatyuk’s wealth at $600 million. According to the publication, due to hostilities, the businessman decided to close four poultry farms in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Also his VAB Bank was declared insolvent.
“Poltavsky GZK”
The Poltava mining-and-processing plant, part of the international Ferrexpo group, led by Member of Parliament Konstantin Zhevago, received VAT refunds of 1,7 billion UAH.
Another Zhevago enterprise – “Yeristovskyi GZK” received 88,2 million UAH. Zhevago’s plants supply raw materials for steel plants – nodules. Ferrexpo shares trade on the London Stock Exchange. In 2014 year they fell by 70%. At the beginning of 2015 year, the Higher Economic Court of Ukraine confirmed Zhevago’s ownership of the Poltava GZK. Against this asset, oligarch Duma deputy Alexander Babakov fought.
MHP
JSC “Myronivsky Hliboproduct” (MHP) — the state refunded 1,215 billion UAH in VAT. The plant is part of the MHP holding of billionaire Yuriy Kosyuk, who in 2014 year worked as deputy head of the Administration of the President Petro Poroshenko.
Main products produced by MHP are poultry under the brand “Nasha Ryaba,” exported to the EU, Middle East, and Africa.
“Euras”
For the Russian metallurgical group “Euras”: JSC “Euras Dry Beam” and JSC “Euras – DMZ named after Petrovsky” received 1,155 billion UAH VAT refunds. The largest shareholder of “Euras” is Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
“Creative-Drink”
Closing the top ten leaders in VAT refunds is trading house “Creative-Drink.” The refund amount for 12 months was 1,039 billion UAH. The company is part of the “Creative” group – one of the largest producers of oil and fat products in Ukraine.
The majority owner of “Creative” is Stanislav Berezkin, a member of Parliament from Kirovograd region, who belongs to Vitalii Khomutynnik’s parliamentary group “Revival.” Another 17% of the company’s charter capital is owned by The Bank of New York Mellon.
Small taxpayers
757 million UAH from the budget was received by the company “Cargill,” part of the American Cargill holdings. It is one of the largest global companies investing in food production. It trades grain, oil, sugar, meat, etc. In Ukraine Cargill is a partner of Mykola Lagun in “Delta Bank,” which is being liquidated, and is involved in biomass energy production.
721 million UAH received by the Zaporizhzhia plant “Motor Sich,” owned by MP Vyacheslav Boguslaev. The plant develops and produces aircraft engines.
618 million UAH VAT refunds received by the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, controlled by Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska. Another 548 million UAH received by the Odesa Port Plant, owned by the state.
Enterprises of the Vinnytsia industrial group Vioil – LLC “D and I Evolution” and PP “Vector-M” – received 550 million UAH in VAT refunds. Vioil is a leader in Ukraine in rapeseed oil production and export. Main markets of the holding: CIS countries, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, North and East Africa, and Europe.
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