BANK CASPIAN JSC (Kazakhstan) announces about purchasing of the stake in its capital by the company Baring Vostok Capital Partners

/KASE, December 20, 06/ - BANK CASPIAN JSC (Almaty), shares and bonds of which are traded in Kazakhstan stock exchange's (KASE) category "A" official listing had spread today the press-release, in which the following is said: Quotation begin Bank Caspian is one of the large retail banks of Kazakhstan, had announced about purchasing of significant stake in the capital of Bank by the company Baring Vostok Capital Partners, one of the leading companies managing the funds of direct investments in CIS. The deal was approved by regulating bodies of Kazakhstan, including Agecny of Republic of Kazakhstan of regulating and supervision over financial market and organizations and Committee competition security. Bank will belong to present shareholder of the Bank Vyacheslav Kim and Baring Vostok. For today the assets of Bank Caspian are exceeding US1.6 bn., and the cost of net assets - US160 m. Caspain has the one of the largest networks in Kazakhstan, which includes 142 subsidiaries and calculation-cash offices al over the country. Bank has more then 330,000 retail and corporate clients, to which it is provided the whole range of banking services, including credits to enterprisers and individuals, auto-credits, credits to small business and mortgage credits. Retail credits are composing more then half of Bank's credit portfolio. Bank Caspian is one of the leaders in the field of consumer's express-crediting in Kazakhstan. Caspian was the first bank, which had offered this product to population of Kazakhstan in year 2003 and since the moment of starting the express-crediting, had given more then 1.1 m. express-credits to the population through the wide network, which today includes more then 500 points of selling servicing more then 2000 shops all over Kazakhstan. "Partnership with long-term investor of such level - is the excellent news for our Bank, our Clients and banking sector of Kazakhstan as a whole", - told Vyacheslav Kim, Chairman of Board of directors of Bank Caspian JSC. "The interest of Baring Vostok, investor with high international reputation, to Caspian and Kazakhstan is the recognition of our achievements and sign of confidence in potential of the further growth of Caspian". The partner of Baring Vostok and member of Board of directors of Bank Caspian JSC Mikhail Lomtadze stressed that "our investment to Bank Caspian is aimed on creation of the best retail Bank in Kazakhstan and Middle Asia. Bank has the perfect perspectives to growth and we will strengthen the financial opportunities of Caspian by increasing the capital of Bank by more then 50%. It is very important for u, that we have such partner as Vyacheslav Kim. We are sure that combination of experience of Baring Vostok of creation one of the most successful companies in CIS and the overall work experience of mister Kim on the local markets will become the key factor of the further growth and widening of the Bank's business". Nurmukhamed Bektemisov, Chairman of Board of Bank Caspian JSC added "participation of Baring Vostok in the capital of Bank is the signed event, allowing us to start the next stage of bank's development. Caspian already has trong positions - about 6% of market of consumer's crediting in Kazakhstan and leading positions on the market of express-credits. This partnership will allow us to continue the provision with high quality services of our clients, and using the financial opportunities and experience of Baring Vostok, to wide our presence on the market". Note: Bank Caspian JSC - is one of the leaders of consumer crediting market in Kazakhstan with assets exceeding $1.6 bn. Retail network of the bank consists from 142 departments and 500 points of selling the express-credits, servicing more then 2000 trade enterprisers. Credits to individuals composite more then half of Bank's credit portfolio. Bank has more then 3.900 employees and 330.000 retail and corporate Clients www.bc.kz Baring Vostok manages the assets of three funds of direct investments in CIS. Since year 1994 funds under its management had invested more then $600 m. to 46 companies. In the portfolio of Baring Vostok are the number of companies in the sphere of financial services, oil and gas field, telecommunications and sources of mass media, in consumer's sector, including such famous companies as Europlan, Center of financial technologies, Barren Energy, Vympelkom, Golden Telecom, Syktyvkar Timber Industry Complex, Sladko, Borjomi, Yandex, and Ozon. Among investors of funds under management of Baring Vostok are such famous financial institutes as European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, International Financial Corporation, Netherlands' Agency of development (FMO) and many others. Baring Vostok enters to composition of Baring Private Equity Partners International, group of managing the funds of direct investment with $2.5 bn. assets in Asia, India and CIS www.bvcp.ru Extra information: Press-service of Bank Caspian JSC Vakirova E.V. Tel.: 50-18-20, 50-18-00 (internal 1132) e-mail: vakirova@bankcaspian.kz Quotation end [2006-12-20]