Samruk-Kazyna may revise BTA financial support in case prescheduled debts maturity to be required from the bank

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty, March 25, 09/ - Kazakhstan largest bank, with the Government participation - BTA Bank - is paying its current obligations and will continue to pay debts as scheduled, said Chairman of the Board of directors of BTA Bank JSC Arman Dunayev. However, the main shareholder of the bank - state fund Samruk-Kazyna may reconsider its financial support of the credit institution in case the creditors claim on the prescheduled debt maturity. "We have complied and continue to comply with all current liabilities, no mater they are internal or external. However, to avoid doubt, if for any financial obligations of the group BTA, creditors required prescheduled debt maturity, that means the redemption is before the deadlines, the fund Samruk-Kazyna may reconsider its attitude to assist financial group BTA. No more, no less," - said A. Dunayev at a press conference on Wednesday in Almaty. He also stressed that BTA Bank will continue to meet all their obligations, but according to the schedule, namely, when they mature. "This is a fundamental position of the bank and the main position of the fund Samruk-Kazyna as its main shareholder," - added A. Dunayev. According to him, the Chairman of the Board of BTA Bank Anvar Saidenov and the head of state fund Samruk-Kazyna Kairat Kelimbetov stated that to investors last Tuesday in London. "Chairman of the Board of BTA Bank and the head of state fund Samruk- Kazyna absolutely clearly and openly said - that the BTA Bank will be able to consider any possible changes to the structure of their obligations to ensure the stability of BTA group in the long-term prospect, Samruk-Kazyna intends further main debt schedules and interests maturity by the group members", - said A. Dunayev. Moreover, he informed that the bank didn't pay any prescheduled maturity on foreign liabilities. "What comes to prescheduled maturity requirements or any notifications, Id like to tell that BTA Bank didn't pay on any foreign liabilities" - he said. A. Dunaev stressed that situation is stable now. "Today, the bank operates stably and has no liquidity problems" he said. According to him, bank's deposit base will become stable as well. "Beginning March 4, net-inflow exceeds net-outflow, especially on individuals' deposits. We observe the situation when population returns to banks" - he added. At that, A. Dunaev considers that the bank` new depositary project, which was are to launch in April, allows to increase cash flow. "Individuals` payments become stable. In February we saw the fall by 21 %, in March the bank reached monthly level of last periods, about KZT8.5 bn." - A. Dunaev noted. KZT151.31/USD1 According to him, BTA Bank plans "to grow its stake at individuals` payments market". Along with this, A. Dunaev reported that the bank "is still the major player at cash exchange transactions market"; it turnover for March made KZT21 bn. or 16 % of total market stake among commercial banks. For 2008 monthly turnover on exchange transactions of the bank made KZT41 bn. or 22 % of joint market stake. In total, beginning February till today, the bank paid KZT58 bn.856 m. (about $390m.) to the treasury of the Ministry of Finance, of which KZT3 bn. 213 m. comprises bank's tax payments and KZT55 bn. 642 m. - clients` payments. Meanwhile, during the specified period, the bank made payments KZT50 bn. 359 m. ($334 m.), linked with contract liabilities of the national company and major corporate clients. A. Dunaev informed that for today, BTA Bank provides service for 6.323 th. people by cards. Over the specified period, the bank paid on these cards KZT26 bn. 413m. ($175 m.), only in March - KZT17.2 bn. "As on March 19, banks` shareholders equity made KZT496 bn., considering that we fixed our planned loss due to requirements of regulator on provision formation, it made KZT259 bn." - A. Dunaev informed. Speaking on state programs, in which BTA Bank participates, the head of the Board informed that in compliance with mortgage refinancing program, the bank received 3 th. 644 claims for KZT14.8 bn. At that, 24 % of them are social, A. Dunaev noted. At that, the bank approved 66 claims for mortgage refinancing at KZT300 m., 466 claims at KZT1.9 bn. are in revision stage. According to the program on small and medium business support, the bank has already used KZT5.3 bn. of provided KZT22 bn. The offering rate makes 8 % APR, effective rate - not more than 12.5 %. Entire usage is planned till the end of May. According to A. Dunaev, total volume of investments to the bank's capital made KZT212 bn., another KZT39 bn. is expected. As known, on February 25 BTA Bank gained KZT40 bn. on mortgage refinancing program, which it plans to use till the mid June, 2009. At early February, 2009 state fund Samruk-Kazyna gained control over BTA Bank. As reported, the amount of foreign liabilities of BTA Bank at the beginning of the year was about $12 bn. One of the system banks in Kazakhstan - BTA Bank in the first half of 2008 took the 7th place among CIS banks and the 1st place among banks of Kazakhstan in terms of assets in ranking Interfax-1000, complied by Interfax- CEA. [2009-03-26]