The farms belonging to KSG Agro agricultural holding have started spring field work. This was reported by the press service of the agricultural holding.
The farms that are part of KSG Agro agricultural holding have started spring field work. In particular, in early April, the feeding of winter wheat was completed on an area of 9.5 thousand hectares. At the same time, high-quality KAS fertilizers were used.
According to Dmitry Yemelchenko, Production Director at KSG Agro, the completion of feeding in early April is due to difficult weather conditions in the last two months. “In February and March, the weather did not favor us, only 13 days were suitable for spring field work. Nevertheless, our farms effectively used this period and carried out high-quality fertilizing of crops,” he said.
In preparation for the spring sowing campaign, on April 3, harrowing also started in the fields of KSG Agro. For this purpose, the holding’s farms were provided with new agricultural equipment. In particular, with the aim of replenishing the fleet of agricultural machinery, two machines for harrowing LARI-18 manufactured by LOZOVA MACHINERY (“Lozovskie machines”) were purchased and are in operation. In addition, trailed equipment was purchased: three machines-mortar units, which are necessary to improve the quality of the introduction of plant protection products.
All farms of the agricultural holding are provided with all the necessary agricultural equipment.
Due to the late meteorological spring, the agricultural holding plans to start the sowing campaign at the end of the second decade of April.
KSG Agro started the 2021 spring field work
KSG Agro launched its own packaged pork production line
KSG Agro Agroholding has launched its own line for the production of packaged pork in the city of Dnipro. This news arrived from the company press service.
KSG Agro Agroholding has launched its own line for the production of packaged pork in the city of Dnipro. The vacuum-treatment line allows packaging of products, both in stocks and in portions.
The capacity of the line equipped with imported equipment (with Ukrainian adjustments) allows filling in various forms of packages: from 2 to 8 kg, and can process 1 ton of products per hour.
Thanks to its own line of vacuumed meat KSG Agro plans to supply pork produced by the pig-breeding complex of the agricultural holding in the village of Niva Trudova (Apostolovsky district, Dnipropetrovsk region) to retail chains.
Currently, a pilot project has been launched with a chain of grocery supermarkets VARUS, where lump stock vacuumized pork meat weighing from 5 to 8 kg is supplied.
“The launch of the packaged meat line is another step towards improving the quality of our products for the end consumer”, comments Sergiy Kasianov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro. “Packing meat in vacuumized packages of various shapes increases the safety of our pork, and is safer for consumers under the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic”.
KSG Agro paid over UAH 21 million to land owners for the lease of land shares in 2020.
KSG Agro paid UAH 21.3 million for the lease of land shares in 2020 to the land owners. This was reported by the press service of the agricultural holding.
KSG Agro agroholding has fully fulfilled its obligations for the lease of land shares in 2020, paying their owners some UAH 21.3 million. Today, payments continue to those who are reconcluding such agreements or have inherited their land ownership.
Payments to more than 2,200 land owners started last July and are now fully completed.
“Productive relations with land holders are one of the priorities for our group of companies,” comments Sergiy Kasianov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro. We provide support to communities in the places of presence, we help socially unprotected land holders or those who have health problems, including through our Future Charitable Foundation. Thus, the holding demonstrates its desire to continue to be a good and effective partner with land holders”.
KSG Agro Agricultural holding increased its land bank by almost 7%
KSG Agro Agricultural holding has increased its land bank by 1414 thousand hectares This news was reported by the company’s press service.
KSG Agro Agricultural holding has increased its land bank by 1414 thousand hectares. February 17, 2021, the agricultural holding’s land bank is about 24 thousand hectares.
The company’s farmland has been increased as a consequence of the lease of land Kherson region.
The agroholding plans to use the enlarged land bank to grow crops, the further details are not yet disclosed.
DOSSIER
KSG Agro –is one of the leading agricultural holdings in Ukraine, a European innovative group of companies operating under the principle of vertical integration. The holding’s shares are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. KSG Agro is a member of the European Business Association (EBA). The main activity of the company is land cultivation and production of agricultural crops, as well as the production of pork. Since September 2014, KSG Agro has been implementing a development strategy, according to which the company streamlines the most promising projects, primarily in pig breeding, as well as crop production.
In 2020, KSG Agro increased its agricultural exports volume by 46%
As at the end of 2020, KSG Agro agricultural holding increased its export volume by 46%, to some 7.8 thousand tons of agricultural products. This news was reported by the press service of the company. As at the end of 2020, KSG Agro shipped 7,772 tons of grain and food products to foreign buyers in Africa and Asia, while in 2019 the total export volume did not exceed 5.3 thousand tons. Last year, the agricultural holding delivered 3 thousand tons of wheat flour and 172 tons of sugar to Libya, 600 tons of barley to Oman and 4 thousand tons of corn to Malaysia. The goods were delivered under CFR, CIF Incoterms, in containers. At the same time, the volume of flour exports increased in 2020 compared to 2019 by 3.6 times – from 800 to 3 thousand tons. Deliveries were made to Libya. The following companies became the main buyers of the holding’s products: Alfaras Food Industries and Bab Afriqiya (both – Misurata, Libya), Alwessam (Tripoli, Libya); Tripoli, Libya; Omani National Livestock Development, Dhofar Cattle Feed (both Salalah, Oman) and Hassad food (Doha, Qatar). “Following the results of last year, we expanded our presence in the export African and Asian markets. Under the conditions of the quarantine crisis, the issue of diversification and expansion of the range of supplied products is especially acute. That is why we have increased the number of export positions and entered into contracts with promising buying companies in the African-Asian markets, – comments Sergiy Kasianov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro, – It is especially important that our exports are growing thanks to products with high added value. In particular, we are talking about wheat flour, the supply of which in comparison with 2019 increased by almost 4 times”. DOSSIER KSG Agro is one of the leading agricultural holdings in Ukraine, a European innovative group of companies operating under the principle of vertical integration. The holding’s shares are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. KSG Agro is a member of the European Business Association (EBA). The main activity of the company is land cultivation and production of agricultural crops, as well as the production of pork. Since September 2014, KSG Agro has been implementing a development strategy, according to which the company develops the most promising projects, primarily in pig breeding, as well as crop production.
KSG Agro and Swiss SUISAG agreed to start cooperation
On January 21, 2021, during a visit to KSG Agro, the top management of the Swiss service pig breeding company SUISAG, reached an agreement to begin cooperation in the field of genetics, breeding and animal health. This was reported by the press service of the agricultural holding, citing information from the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
The agreement on the beginning of cooperation between KSG Agro and SUISAG, a Swiss service company in the field of pig breeding (https://www.suisag.ch/), was reached on January 21, 2021 during Swiss top managers’ visit to the agricultural holding. The SUISAG managing director, Mr. Mateo Aepril and the chief veterinarian Stefanie Klausmann during their visit to KSG Agro held negotiations on January 20-21 at the company’s operational office in Dnipro, and also visited the pig farm of the agricultural holding (Niva Trudova village, Apostolovsky district, Dnipropetrovsk region). The Swiss partners got acquainted with the possibilities for introducing SUISAG’s own genetics and its pig breeding technologies at the pig breeding complex. The guests highly appreciated the technical equipment of the pig complex and the biological safety measures applied at KSG Agro.
In the process of constructive communication between the Swiss colleagues and the head of the pig-breeding department of the agricultural holding Igor Ushakov, the chief veterinarian of the pig-breeding complex Eleonora Esina and the Chairman of the Board of Directors Sergiy Kasianov, it was decided between the parties to start cooperation. The key areas of the partnership were the acquisition and usage of SUISAG genetics sows, the Swiss colleagues provided advice on pig breeding technologies, the exchange of experience on biosafety and animal health. The parties also determined the approximate dates for signing of the relevant documents – the memorandum and transactions – this should happen already in the first half of 2021.
Dosssier
SUISAG (https://www.suisag.ch/) is the main service and expertise center for the Swiss pig industry. The company combines genetics, breeding and breeding of pedigree animals, the production of semen for artificial insemination and animal health. Thanks to the high-quality products and services of SUISAG, pig breeding and fattening companies in Switzerland and abroad, as well as other representatives of the pig industry, receive professional support and comprehensive advice. Customers at home and abroad can benefit from extensive experience accumulated over many decades. A big advantage for foreign clients is Switzerland’s status as a PRRS (Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome) free country. In addition to the main shareholder, Suisseporcs and various minority shareholders working in the industry, SUISAG shares are also owned by about 250 pig farmers …
KSG Agro (http://www.ksgagro.com) is one of the leading agricultural holdings in Ukraine, a European innovative group of companies that works on the principle of vertical integration. The main activity of the company is the cultivation of land and the production of crops, as well as the production of pork. Since September 2014, KSG Agro has been implementing a new development strategy, according to which the company develops the most promising projects, primarily in pig breeding and crop production.
KSG Agro has increased its credit line with Tascombank by 50%.
KSG Agro has increased its credit line with Tascombank by 50%, from USD12 million to USD18.5 million, the press service of the agricultural holding reports. The funds will be intended to replenish the working capital of the holding’s enterprises, in particular, for sowing and harvesting campaigns, modernizing the pig farm in the village of Niva Trudova.
At the beginning of 2021, a number of enterprises belonging to KSG Agro holding signed agreements with Tascombank to change the credit limits. Lines of credit opened for the companies Rantye, KSG Dnipro and Strong-Invest in total increased from USD 12 million to USD 18.5 million (or UAH 522 million). According to the terms of the agreements, the credit lines are multicurrency (UAH / USD). Loan agreements are valid until the end of 2024.
According to Sergiy Kasianov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro, the purpose of the loans is to replenish the working capital of the holding’s enterprises engaged in the cultivation of agricultural crops and animal husbandry. “We can use these lines for sowing and harvesting operations. We also plan to use some of them for further reconstruction and modernization of our pig farm in the village Niva Trudova, Apostolovsky district, Dnipropetrovsk region. At the same time, the farmer emphasized that, according to the terms of the agreements, the company would use credit funds if necessary, and the presence of the line does not mean that the funds will be necessarily utilized in full.
According to Oleksandr Golizdra, Deputy Chairman of the Commission for Analysis of Securities Markets of the Ukrainian Society of Financial Analysts (USFA), the increase in the credit line for the Company testifies to the high level of the bank’s confidence in the borrower and in its operating activities. It also suggests that the Bank sees prospects in the client’s business and predicts positive financial flows both in the short and medium term. “In addition, no Bank will issue a loan without good liquidity collateral – real estate, industrial complexes, equipment, – emphasizes the expert. – And in this case, we can talk about the sufficiency of fixed assets of KSG Agro to provide such collateral.”
KSG Agro has launched a project for the renewal of the pig herd
KSG Agro Agroholding has launched a project to renew the sow population to increase the birth rate of piglets. This news was reported by the press service of the agricultural holding.
KSG Agro agricultural holding’s pig farm in Niva Trudova (Apostolovsky district, Dnipropetrovsk region), has started the process of renewal and rejuvenation of the pig population.
According to Sergiy Kasianov, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro, about 1000 sows of Danish Dunbred genetics will be purchased under the project in 2021.
“By rejuvenating the herd, we will improve its quality characteristics and replace the herd’s main sows. This will help us increase the birth rate of piglets with excellent genetics, ”said Sergiy Kasianov.
KSG Agro entered the Corporate Governance Index in Ukraine
KSG Agro Agricultural holding was included in the Corporate Governance Index in Ukraine compiled by Ward Howell Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the agricultural holding.
KSG Agro Agroholding was included in the Corporate Governance Index in Ukraine compiled by Ward Howell Ukraine. WHU-50 is a list to include the leading Ukrainian companies in terms of their corporate governance development. This is the first edition of the Ward Howell Ukraine Corporate Governance Index, a study designed to provide business leaders with an overview of current practices for Ukrainian boards of directors, including board size and composition, as well as the roles of shareholder, chairman, board committees, and CEO.
When choosing companies, Ward Howell evaluates their merits under three main criteria: availability of information, progress made in improving corporate governance, and economic impact.
“The fact that our agricultural holding has become one of the leading Ukrainian companies in terms of the quality of corporate governance speaks for the international standards of our management system,” comments Sergiy Kasianov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro. “In addition, this is recognition of the transparency and competitiveness of KSG Agro. An audit committee has been created and is working effectively. If in Ukraine only now they are talking about the reform of corporate governance and independent directors in supervisory boards, then in our Board of Directors, since 2014, 2 out of 5 independent directors have been working (http://www.ksgagro.com/Ua/about_company/ management/). They are top managers of W-Conseil S.à RL, a certified public accountant in Luxembourg, and have experience with renowned companies such as Deloitte & Touche, ABN AMRO Trust and ING Trust. The experience and knowledge of independent directors helped us choose the optimal development strategy, which allows the holding to strengthen its positions in our priority segment of activity, which is pig breeding.”
DOSSIER
Ward Howell is one of the largest global executive search and leadership development companies. We were founded in 1951 in New York by former McKinsey chief executive officer Henry Wardwell Howell, a pioneering management consultant who helped create the executive recruiting profession. Today, Ward Howell operates a network of 30 offices worldwide, is supported by over 130 partners, and operates across all major industries and services.
Ward Howell Ukraine
Ward Howell opened its Kiev office in 2004 to meet the rapidly growing demand for Executive Search services in Ukraine. Today the company serves a wide range of organizations in almost all sectors of the economy of Ukraine and the region, and is also engaged in the development of leadership qualities and services of the board of directors. We help clients improve their business performance by designing and implementing corporate governance systems, evaluating board performance, and acquiring, evaluating and developing board members. The Ward Howell Ukraine Leadership Institute is an active initiative to develop a knowledge-based approach to research in Ukraine. The institute was founded in 2019 to conduct extensive research in corporate governance and leadership development. The Ward Howell Ukraine Leadership Institute conducts regular research on fundamental topics and developments, as well as special research on new topical topics.
KSG Agro increased its EBITDA by 3.8 times for 9 months of 2020
According to the results of the three quarters of 2020, KSG Agro increased its EBITDA by 3.8 times compared to the same period last year. This was announced in the company’s report published on the website of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
According to the results of the three quarters of 2020, KSG Agro increased EBITDA by 3.8 times compared to the same period last year – from $3.9 million to $14.7 million. And the growth of operating profit for the same period amounted to 436 % – from $2.5 million to $13.6 million.
“The increase in EBITDA and the growth in operating profit testifies to the efficiency of operating activities,” comments Sergiy Kasianov, Chairman of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro. According to him, the growth of these indicators is a natural result of the restructuring of credit debt and its significant reduction with foreign lenders.”
It should also be noted that the net profit indicator decreased by 52% – from $10 million to $4.8 million. The decrease in this indicator is due to significant payments as part of the restructuring of loan obligations. So, “about 4 million euros this year was paid to foreign creditors under the signed agreements on debt restructuring,” explains the head of the Board of Directors at KSG Agro, “As a result, today the ratio of net debt (Net Debt) to EBITDA is 2.1, which is significantly lower than this indicator for the first half of 2020, which was 3”.
Another factor that influenced the decline in profits was exchange rate differences affecting financial indicators.