BTA Bank (Kazakhstan) stopped the principal debt payment on its OBLIGATIONS until approval with CREDITORS of debt management program

/KASE, April 24, 09/ - BTA Bank (Almaty), securities of which are present in Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) official list, provided to KASE the press release on the following: quotation start BTA Bank received from several creditors the request to early repay the external debt. BTA continuously announced its equal attitude towards all creditors, and that the bank will repay debts only in compliance with their set forth terms. As the bank received requests on early repayment of debt obligations, BTA Bank decided to stop payment of principal debts, including those, the terms of payment of which started from Monday, April 20. this measure will be effective until the bank agrees on and implements jointly with creditors and investors the reasonable, transparent and efficient current debt management program. This step has been made to ensure unbiased attitude of BTA Bank towards all creditors. BTA Bank will continue fulfillment of its financial obligations through payment of interest in compliance with the payment terms, and other strategically important for the bank performance payments. "BTA Bank strives for maximum effective dialogue with investors, - emphasized Chairman of BTA Bank Board Anvar Saidenov. - But recent events forced us to undertake these measures. The requirement to immediately repay the debt on behalf of one of the creditors entitles the remaining ones to insist on the similar terms. The bank is not able to simultaneously repay the entire external debt therefore we suspend payment of our principal debt to our financial creditors". The additional information to investors will be disseminated the next week and the specific time will informed in the established order. NWF Samruk-Kazyna, as BTA Bank principal shareholder, supports BTA Group activities while the bank jointly with financial and legal consultants reviews the Group status to facilitate the modification plan development. For media contacts: Adil Dossymiv, BTA Bank Press Secretary 8 (727) 266-47-97 8 707 3457619 e-mail: dosymov@bta.kz quotation end [2009-04-24]