In a significant development for Ukraine’s agricultural export infrastructure, Argentem Creek Partners and Innovatus Capital Partners, two U.S.-based investment firms, have gained control of the Olimpex grain terminal in the port of Odessa. This move follows a court ruling in Lviv and comes as Ukraine continues to navigate logistical disruptions to its Black Sea grain exports.
Court-Approved Takeover Amid $95 Million Debt
According to a Financial Times report dated July 14, 2025, the takeover was approved by a Lviv court after it was revealed that the terminal had a debt burden of $95 million and was previously controlled by Ukrainian entities with opaque ownership structures.
The terminal’s operations, halted due to financial distress and war-related disruptions, are expected to resume in September 2025, according to the FT.
Olimpex Terminal: A Key Grain Export Hub
The Olimpex Coupe International terminal, established in the early 2000s, has been a critical node in Ukraine’s grain export system with an annual handling capacity of up to 5 million tons. The acquisition is expected to help stabilize and possibly increase Ukraine’s grain export volumes, which reached 43.7 million tons in the 2024/25 season through June, despite persistent logistical hurdles stemming from the ongoing conflict.
Who Are the New Owners?
-
Argentem Creek Partners:
-
Founded in 2015, headquartered in New York
-
Specializes in emerging markets and special situations
-
Investment focus: agriculture, energy, and infrastructure
-
-
Innovatus Capital Partners:
-
Founded in 2017, also based in New York
-
Operates across alternative investments including real assets, structured credit, and private equity
-
Both firms are experienced in complex, high-risk investment environments and are now expected to bring financial stability and international oversight to one of Ukraine’s strategic grain export facilities.
Strategic Importance Amid Export Disruptions
Ukraine’s Black Sea export corridors have faced repeated interruptions due to the ongoing war and related security concerns. The rehabilitation and reactivation of the Olimpex terminal could provide critical capacity as the country aims to sustain and expand grain exports, especially with harvest seasons approaching.
The acquisition of the Olimpex terminal by Argentem Creek and Innovatus Capital marks a strategic shift in control of key Ukrainian infrastructure and highlights growing foreign interest in stabilizing and profiting from Ukraine’s resilient agriculture sector. As operations resume in September 2025, the terminal is expected to play a pivotal role in safeguarding Ukraine’s agricultural export continuity amid a volatile geopolitical climate.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Port News
