Teams of Kyiv National Economic University and Kyiv School of Economics are the Winners of CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine

Each team had two months to write the real sell-side report with buy, sell or hold recommendation on publicly traded company. This year the role of Subject Company was played by SES - the leading satellite operator in the world that owns and operates a fleet of 54 geostationary. SES headquartered in Luxembourg. SES is listed on Euronext Paris and on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (SESG).

Supporting students in their hard-working, Thomson Reuters, as an Information Sponsor, provided them with trial access to their terminals and Fitch Learning, as a Principal Sponsor, facilitated the online educational resources for participants of Ukrainian Challenge.

From last year onwards, Ukraine practices the staggered format of the Local Final. Due to grading results, only 12 universities were advanced based on the written report scores for presentation of their results to the experienced panel of judges.

The 4th Local Final of competition was opened by the Chair of CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine – Roman Anzin, who welcomed participants and guests with an introductory speech on key issues of semi-final round.

The Final consists of two rounds of presentations: Semi-Final Round (where 12 teams had 10 minutes presentations followed by Q&A Session) and then Final Round (where the best 4 teams due to the results of Semi-Final Round presented their results).

After semi-final round all participants and guests had a chance to learn more on career opportunities from the companies of Big4 – the biggest employers in Ukraine. Representatives from Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC came out with companies’ overview, opened positions, career ladder, management etc. Students and young professionals had an opportunity to communicate with speakers and ask all details how to start successful career in international company.

The Final Round started by the President of CFA Society Ukraine – Andrey Bespyatov, CFA, with announcement of the teams that were advanced due to presentation scores from Semi-Final Round. The super finalists had become:

• Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman

• National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”

• Kyiv School of Economics

• Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

Final Presentations were judges by the leading investment professionals with 5+ years’ experience in equity research. The main goal of the Final Round was the presentation of the results by the four best teams according to the Semi-Final Round to the new panel of financial industry experts that provides the highest level of objectivity and impartiality. This year, all finalists were coded, hence, judges did not know the name of universities presenting. The Final Round panel of high-expirienced judges included:

• Andriy Bespyatov, CFA, PhDA, Managing Director, Research at Dragon Capital; President at CFA Society Ukraine;

• Yuriy Shved, Associate Director, Transactions and Restructing, KPMG in Ukraine;

• Alexey Aristov, Director, Transaction Services, Financial Advisory Services, West Region, Deloitte & Touche;

• Oleksandr Romanishyn, M&A Standard Services, EY Ukraine;

• Yuriy Bezhenar, CFA, ACCA, VP Research and Analytics, Ogilchyn Capital.

Due to combined score for written report and presentation, the winners were defined. According to Official Rules, countries with more than 23 participating universities have two representative teams during the Regional Final.

Tatiana Nichosova, CFA, PhD, VP, University Liaison at CFA Society Ukraine, as a Founder of CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine congratulated the finalists and awarded them with participation certificates and small presents from CFA Society Ukraine.

EY Representative – Oleksandr Romanishyn congratulated all participants with the Final and awarded team from Chernihiv National Technological University in nomination: “Forward Team Involvement”.