Aequo advised DAI, the implementing partner of the USAID "Investment for Business Resilience" project, on the conceptualisation of reforms in the leasing sector of Ukraine

A consortium of Aequo, renowned Washington-based International Law Institute and Civitta, economic consultancy operating in 20+ countries across the Europe, was selected by DAI, a private development company working in 160 developing and transition countries, which  implemented the USAID Investment for Business Resilience project in Ukraine, to conduct an international, legal-economic comparative desk study of the Ukrainian and EU leasing regulatory models. Based on the results of the analysis, the consortium members developed recommendations for legal and regulatory changes that should be introduced in Ukraine, with emphasis on supporting the uptake of non-bank financial leasing.

Within the scope of the assignment, Aequo assisted the USAID IBR and the National Bank of Ukraine on the legal aspects of the comparative desk study, which comprised a detailed analysis of the regulatory frameworks of eight selected EU countries in comparison with the Ukrainian regulatory model. Together with other members of the consortium, Aequo developed various scenarios of the reform that could be implemented by the NBU and other state authorities. In addition, the consortium members also organized several workshops for representatives of the NBU and the Ukrainian Union of Lessors, the main leasing association in the country, to discuss the necessary changes in the leasing legislation of Ukraine to bring it in line with the EU directives.

"The proposed changes aim to simplify and modernize Ukrainian regulatory requirements in line with the best EU practices, while strengthening the capacity of financial leasing providers and the overall role of this asset-based financing tool in supporting economic recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine",

said Yulia Kyrpa, Executive Partner and Head of Banking and Finance at AEQUO.

The project team comprised associates Dmytro Shudrenko and Konstantyn Dovhan, and was led by the Executive Partner Yulia Kyrpa.