Accounts of Ukraine`s largest gas company Ukrgazvydobuvannia were seized on October 6 in connection with the company`s debt to Promfinance Group to the tune of UAH 27.916 million, the press service of Ukrgasvydobuvannia reported.
The company noted that the seizure of its accounts disrupts the process of carrying out debit transactions, such as payments of salaries to employees, tax transfers, etc.
”The company is unable to efficiently conduct its production activity on extracting natural gas, which is used for the needs of Ukrainian households, provide bank guarantees necessary for the company`s participation in tenders that are called for by the Defense Ministry to select participants for fuel and gas purchases. In other words, the company is deprived of the possibility to make payments due to the seizure of monetary assets initiated by the Department on enforcement of decisions of the State Executive Service of the Ukrainian Justice Ministry,” a statement read.
Funds have been seized in each of the six banks where Ukrgasvydobuvannia has opened accounts, covering a total amount of debt, which is UAH 167.5 million.
It is reported that the company has been provided with a seven-day period for voluntary execution of the decision from the date the ruling was handed down, that is by October 11, 2016, inclusive.
”However, the accounts were seized on October 6, 2016, before the company received the ruling and prior to the expiry of the deadline for voluntary execution of the court ruling,” the press service emphasized.
It reported that Ukrgasvydobuvannia undertook on October 6, 2016 all necessary measures to repay debts in the amount of UAH 27.916 million, of which the Executive Service was notified.
”However, the company`s accounts remain blocked. Moreover, on October 10, 2016 a state executor notified Ukrgasvydobuvannia representative of an intention to additionally recover almost UAH 15 million in favor of Promfinance Group. The company was denied the accounts arrest lift,” the press service said.
Ukrgasvydobuvannia argues that the activity of Promfinance Group company is fraudulent, mentioning the size of the minimum registered capital (UAH 100), the lack of employees, the actual absence of the company office at a place of its registration, etc. Also, law enforcement agencies report that the company has become the winner of dummy tenders, which were held by the company`s former management. The company was used to siphon off funds from Ukrgazvydobuvannia, therefore, it [the company] is a party to at least four criminal proceedings,” the statement noted.
UNIAN memo. Ukrgasvydobuvannia is the largest gas company of Ukraine, accounting for about 70% of total hydrocarbons production volumes in the country. In the summer of 2015, as part of the process to reshuffle the management of state companies the Ukrainian government appointed Oleh Prokhorenko as the head of Ukrgasvydobuvannia. Prokhorenko previously served as a partner in McKinsey Ukraine consulting company.
