At the same time, the main shareholder of Galychyna, Ihor Yeremeyev, believes that during the bidding the value of the stake could reach 200 million dollars. Although the starting price itself is inflated, according to the deputy, by half. Ihor Myronovych explains this state of affairs by Privatbank's desire to resell Galychyna shares to itself through Ukrnafta (in which the Privat group owns more than 42%). Ihor Kolomoisky and his associates have had similar experience. At one time, Privat-owned gas stations were purchased by Ukrnafta in this manner. True, after the change of power, the expected investigations within the company on this matter did not happen.
Now, Yeremeyev claims, Ukrnafta will use a "front" company at the auction, together with which they will inflate the value of the stake being sold.
"Information has appeared that several companies want to compete for the stake, but it would be logical, before declaring themselves for the auction, for its participants to hold consultations on this matter with other shareholders of the company. However, I emphasize: there were no consultations," the deputy complained to journalists, and said that the state would lose 1 billion hryvnias from this operation.
It should be recalled that these are not the first "claims" by Mr. Yeremeyev regarding the upcoming competition. Earlier, the deputy's criticism concerned the very form of selling the shares. The holding of an auction on the PFTS platform seemed "non-transparent" to the people's representative. True, Yeremeyev's doubts were immediately refuted in the press by PFTS president Iryna Zarya. Allegedly, the very public form of the auction excludes the possibility of "non-transparency." Which was demonstrated by the sale of Kryvorizhstal.
It is precisely the successful privatization of the aforementioned metallurgical plant, according to experts, that is already factored into the high starting price of Galychyna. Among other factors playing toward an increase in the stake's price, experts also note the advantageous location of the refinery — near the Druzhba oil pipeline and the country's western border, the growth of world oil prices and the profitability of the oil business. As well as the deficit of refining capacity in Eastern Europe. Therefore, it is not excluded that the stake of the oil refining complex could grow by a third. All the more so since the state still has 25% of the shares, which potential investors hope to buy out over time. Therefore, there is unofficial talk of the participation in the competition of several very powerful foreign oil companies. Mainly from Russia.
Many experts are inclined to regard Ihor Yeremeyev's activity on the information front on the eve of the auction as attempts to "knock down" the price of the stake being sold. After all, it is precisely through the company "Kontynium" that the main oil supplies and, accordingly, the enterprise's cash flows pass. Therefore, the Privat stake could make Mr. Yeremeyev himself the full-fledged master of the enterprise. And relieve all the tension around the shares he holds, whose purchase and sale transactions officials and judges are periodically forced to "comment on."
On the other hand, complete control of Galychyna could strengthen the young politician's influence over the speaker of parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn, himself. After all, at one time Volodymyr Lytvyn helped his associate in every way in the "oil question." One can recall at least the saga with the creation of VINK. This project constantly runs into problems at the stage of the Verkhovna Rada or the Constitutional Court. And the attack on the enterprise by the Russian company Surgutneftegaz, with a batch of oil belonging to the wife of former Justice Minister Svitlana Zvarych, was "repelled" by Yeremeyev not without the help of Volodymyr Lytvyn's "connections."
But it is precisely this election campaign of the speaker, as ill-wishers say, that does not allow the owner of Kontynium to go all out on the refinery issue. Elections are too costly an affair. And the competitors at the auction are seen as financially powerful business groups. That is why Mr. Yeremeyev is forced to "play for a decrease," say experts.
According to information from proUA, Yeremeyev will nevertheless take part in the auction of Galychyna shares. Indirectly. Through one of the foreign stock companies. However, the lead manager of the bidding also signed a preliminary agreement with LLC Krosno (Lutsk) within the framework of organizing the auction for the sale of 32.86% of shares. Considering the legal address of Krosno, one can assume its participation in Mr. Yeremeyev's business interests.. So one should expect another game for a decrease.