BTA Bank positive on Kazakhstan Government initiative arrange Fund of national welfare SamrukKazyna become shareholder of main banks

/KASE, October 30, 08/ - BTA Bank (Almaty), securities of which are traded in the official list of Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), provided KASE with the press release: Quotation start Largest Kazakhstan Bank BTA is intending to discuss at the next meeting of shareholders a proposal of the Government on State Fund of National Welfare SamrukKazyna becoming a shareholder of the Bank. Additional increase of bank capital - by means of issue of common stock in the amount, not exceeding 25 % of equity capital of the bank, preferred shares and subordinated bonds - may total up to USD2.3 bn. "BTA considers that additional investment to the bank capital will be positive for stabilization of national banking system and facilitate enlargement of crediting of economy and population, - noted Head of the Board of Directors of the Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov. - Currently BTA Bank is the largest creditor of Kazakhstan economy with 30 % stake of all credits granted by national banks to legal entities". Despite a deteriorated situation on global stock markets, BTA Bank is still a leader on the national banking market and demonstrates a stable growth in all key indicators. Thus, assets of the bank in 9 months of 2008 grew 16.4 %, own capital - more than 6 %, client deposits - 42.2 %, credits - 11 %, current accounts - 45.4 %. It is known that Fund SamrukKazyna becoming a shareholder of main banks is a temporary measure. As the global stock markets stabilize, the state will sell its stakes in the banks. Terms and order on purchase and sale of the stocks will be shaped during bilateral talks. BTA Group is a leading banking chain in CIS. A chain of banks-partners of BTA Bank comprises Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. BTA representation offices work in Russia, Ukraine, China and UAE. BTA Bank has one of the most developed branch chains in Kazakhstan (22 branches and 277 units), and an enlarged ATC chain (778) and self-service terminals (160). BTA Bank provides services to 1.3 m. individuals and 100,000 corporate clients. In 2006 and 2007 leading financial experts named BTA the Bank of Year as well in accordance with results of enquiry by a distinguished magazine Itogi, and Best Central Asia Bank according to Euromoney. In 2007 European Business Assembly (EBA, Oxford, Great Britain) named BTA the Best Enterprise of Europe operating on Eurasian region banking sector. Contact Media: Adyl Dossymov, BTA Bank press secretary 8 (727) 266 47 97, e-mail: dosymov@bta.kz Quotation end [2008-10-30]