KIEV, Nov. 21 ??“ The Ukrainian representative office of Lithuania's Narbutas & Ko, the office furniture producer, in January through October 2006 increased its sales in Ukraine by 39%, to EUR4.6 million, the company announced on Monday.

KIEV, Nov. 21 ??“ Russia's Metalloinvest Holding and Zaporizhia-based Smart group have hired an international engineering company, Canada-based Hatch Group, to assess the facilities of Kryvy Rih oxidized ore-mining and dressing mill.

BUDAPEST, Nov. 21 - OTP Bank, the largest bank in Hungary, has concluded the purchase of a 100% stake in Raiffeisenbank Ukraine from the Austrian Raiffeisen group, a deal originally inked in June this year, OTP announced Tuesday.

KIEV, Nov. 21 The government has proposed the introduction of a zero rate of VAT on sales of imported natural gas, according to Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko.

KIEV, Nov. 20 ??“ The Antimonopoly Committee will establish by the end of 2006 whether the UkrGaz-Energo is a monopoly on the market of gas supplies to industrial companies, AMC Chairman Oleksiy Kostusev said.

KIEV, Nov. 21 ??“ Parliament has adopted a law that foresees an increase in rent rates on oil, gas and gas condensate produced in Ukraine.

A total of 245 MPs voted for the law on Friday, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

KIEV, Nov. 21 ??“ Roman Bezsmertniy, the deputy prime minister for regional policy, submitted a resignation on Monday to run election campaign for Our Ukraine, President Viktor Yushchenko??™s party, ahead of March 2006 vote.

KIEV, Nov. 21 - Ukraine??™s largest petrochemical company, Lukor, owned by Russian oil major Lukoil, averted a possible shutdown after a court had backed the company in an ownership dispute with the government, the company said Monday.

KIEV, Nov. 21 ??“ By the end of 2005, East Capital of Sweden will launch the East Capital Explorer Financial Institutions Fund, a private equity fund with a focus on the banking sector in Russia and the CIS, the company announced on Thursday.

KIEV, Nov. 21 - Ukraine??™s largest still mill Kryvorizhstal, which is being acquired by Mittal Steel, the world??™s largest steelmaker, boosted output 1.6% on the month to 598,100 tons in October, a company official said Monday.