Here are new details about the scandalous battle between the Kreativ agricultural group and state-owned banks, which the company's new owners are seeking to defraud out of nearly $500 million. A decision may be made in the coming days regarding Andriy Pyshnyy's departure from Oschadbank.
This decision is being lobbied by a certain Artur Grants, who, along with People's Front MP Andriy Ivanchuk, is said to be the new owners of Kreativ. Moreover, Grants is said to be the primary owner of the company, which he purchased together with his business partner Leonid Yurushev.
Pyshnyy's dismissal from Oschadbank is allegedly necessary so that the bank can "drain" loans to Kreativ without unnecessary noise or reputational damage—the head of the State Bank is a classmate of MP Ivanchuk.
Furthermore, NBU Governor Valeria Gontareva, who actively participates in the work of Kreativ's creditors' council but has been unable to reach an agreement with state-owned banks and create a unified pool of creditors, has also raised concerns about Pyshny.
Grants, for his part, wants to first bend state-owned banks by writing off at least 50% of Kreativ's debts at the state's expense, and only then offer similar terms to foreign creditors. And he's already succeeded in this endeavor.
For example, yesterday, following a decision by the Ministry of Finance, the agricultural group's only "live" collateral—the Ellada oil and fat complex, which Ukrgasbank allegedly sold to Kernel for $96 million—was sold off. This sum is equal to Kreativ's debt to the state bank.
However, the payment terms are such that Kernel will actually pay 60% of the plant's value at best: 50% will be paid immediately, and the remaining 50% will be paid in hryvnia over 5 years, based on the current exchange rate.
They say that all negotiations regarding this deal on behalf of Kreativ and Ukrgasbank were conducted by Mr. Grants.
Artur Granz himself is a very interesting character—a Belarusian businessman with Austrian citizenship, of Greek descent—like his senior partner, Leonid Yurushev, who is also an Austrian citizen.
In his youth, Yurushev was an associate of Akhat Bragin, former president of the Shakhtar football club, and was part of the so-called "Yenakiyevo group," where he was involved in foreign exchange transactions. Now 70, his key projects are being handled by the younger Artur.
Grantz doesn't get involved in gas or coal—his focus is on financial and development projects, which he implements through the companies Yaroslavov Val and BF-Group. Specifically, Grantz claims to be the sole owner of the Intercontinental Hotel.
Granz's name has often figured in scandals involving Boryspil Airport: the seizure of space for duty-free shops, the scandalous departure of Swissport's handling company, and the construction of logistics terminals.
Now another scandal is brewing – a scam involving Kreativ's creditors. Fortunately, Grants understands financial schemes well. Smiley face
Until recently, the Yurushev-Grants tandem owned Zlatobank, which went bankrupt after receiving almost UAH 800 million in refinancing from the NBU at a rate of 8 to the dollar. Incidentally, sources within the NBU claim that envoys from the "Greeks" are now regularly visiting the National Bank, negotiating the registration or acquisition of a new financial institution.
Probably not least due to money stolen from state banks. Smiley "smile"
An agrarian country, you say? Who the hell is going to lend to farmers in this country now? Well, maybe Yurushev's new bank.
In topic: Leonid Yurushev. Arseniy Yatsenyuk's secret "sponsor"
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