2017
On January 31, 2017, Kernel completes the issue of debut five-year Eurobonds worth $ 500 million. US coupon rate of 8.75%, becoming another strategic achievement. The company diversified funding sources, optimized the credit rating profile, and extended the loan repayment term, minimizing refinancing risks in terms of regional volatility. The international rating agency Fitch assigned the company's securities the credit rating «B +», and the agency S&P – «B», which is higher than the sovereign rating of Ukraine, on two and one steps, respectively.
In the summer of 2017, Kernel implements the strategy of expanding Agribusiness by acquiring assets of the holding «Ukrainian Agrarian Investments» and «Agro Invest Ukraine». After closing deals, the Land Bank of the Company exceeded 600 thousand hectares and became one of the largest in Ukraine. Also, Kernel included elevators with a capacity of simultaneous storage of 370 thousand tons.
Launched AVERE – a knowledge and research platform to effectively hedge the expected increase of Kernel’s exports to 12 million tons a year.