1. UKRAINE WANTS TO SELL 62% STAKE IN MAJOR AIRLINE

Reuters, Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2009 

KIEV - Ukraine aims to sell the 62 percent stake it owns in the country's second largest airline, Ukrainian International Airlines (MAU), according to a government decision published on Thursday.

Under Ukrainian corporate rules, existing shareholders -- Austrian Airlines and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - have first refusal on the stake.  Austrian Airlines holds a 22.5 percent stake, while the EBRD has a 10 percent stake.

The airline had revenues of $370 million in 2008 compared with $277 million in 2007. No profit figures are available.

MAU has said before it expects to remain in profit this year despite an anticipated 20 percent fall in passenger numbers this year due to an economic crisis in the country. The airline makes about 300 flights in a week to mainly European destinations.

Ukraine's privatisation agency said in February it wanted to sell its 22.4 percent stake in the largest airline -- Aerosvit -- by the end of the year and a 94.6 percent stake in the fourth largest airline, Dneproavia.

LINK: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/05/07/afx6392832.html
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2.  UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PRIVATIZE STATE STAKE IN UIA IN 2009
Company has 17 Boeing Airplanes of Various Types

Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, May 7, 2009

KYIV - The government has included a state-owned 61.58% stake in CJSC Ukraine International Airlines into the list of the facilities subject to privatization in 2009.

The amendments to the list of the facilities, which was passed on December 3, 2008, were enforced by cabinet resolution No. 474 dated April 28, 2009. Under the document, the face value of the state facility is estimated at UAH 63.449 million.

CJSC Ukraine International Airlines was founded in 1992. The company has 17 Boeing airplanes of various types: five Boeing-737-300s, six Boeing-737-400s and six Boeing-737-500s.  The company's main airport is Boryspil International Airport.

The State Property Fund of Ukraine owns a 61.6% stake in the company; Austrian Airlines has a 22.5% stake, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development a 9.9% stake, and Ireland's AerCap a 6% stake.  UIA increased passenger transportation by 16.5% in 2008, to 1.68 million passengers.

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