OREANDA-NEWS. On 13 May 2008 was announced, that AntantaPioglobal acquired a blocking stake in UFC Capital, one of Ukraine’s biggest investment companies.

Ukrainian Fund Center (UFC Capital) was set up in 2003 and today ranks among Ukraine’s Top 20 investment companies. UFC Capital has gone from strength to strength: just two years ago it placed 55th in the PFTS ratings system. In 2007, the company’s turnover was over \\$100 mn. UFC Capital holds all the licenses required to operate on the Ukrainian stock market. The company specializes in transactions with SME securities. UFC Capital’s research department is acknowledged to be one of the best in Ukraine and has earned a reputation for the accuracy of its forecasts, which, needless to say, lends greater authority to its recommendations. The company’s website is the fourth most-trafficked Ukrainian financial site.

“Ukrainian Fund Center is a kindred spirit,” says AntantaPioglobal CEO Eugene Kogan. “When we established Antanta Capital Investment Company, we decided our core business focus would be the mid-cap securities market. The idea paid off, and Antanta Capital became the heart of a major Investment Group operating on the Russian market. It’s no secret that the Ukrainian stock market today is the Russian stock market yesterday, i.e. around four-five years ago. Moreover, it is growing fast: last year, for instance, the PFTS Index advanced 135%. Also, the Ukrainian equity market is an appealing investment vehicle, not least because most of the country’s issuers remain undervalued and hold robust upside potential. In UFC Capital we are gaining a professional, highly skilled and reliable partner on the Ukrainian equity market, specializing, moreover, in second-tier stocks. For us, this market holds immense appeal. Early this year Pioglobal Ukraine, an asset management company that is part of our investment group, opened an office in Kyiv. In other words, acquiring a blocking stake in UFC Capital is part of our strategy to bolster our presence in Ukraine.”