Bank TuranAlem OJSC (Kazakhstan) announced about international projects in 2002 - press release of the bank

/Press-service of Bank TuranAlem OJSC, Apr 2, 02/ - Bank TuranAlem OJSC, one of the leaders of Kazakhstan's banking system, announced about its plans of international activity in 2002 and defined four major directions; partnership with Austrian Raiffesen Bank; new issue of eurobonds at international markets of capital; issue of American/global depository receipts; further cooperation with international financial institutions. 1. Cooperation with RZB that is strategic partner and shareholder of BTA will be realized within the following programs: - Training of employees of BTA in Austria and Kazakhstan with the help of specialists of Raiffesen Bank; - Exchange with employees of trade, project and structural financing departments; - Co-financing of trade transactions in Kazakhstan; - Joint servicing of large corporate clients; - Holding of joint conferences and seminars for determining of priorities of two-side partnership. First such a conference will take place on April 15 -17 of current year in Almaty with participation of trade financing, project financing, leasing RZB and BTA departments and also participation of representatives of EBRD and juridical company White & Case. The main theme of coming conference will be co- financing of export-import transactions in Kazakhstan. 2. At the end of April of current year BTA plans to issue eurobonds at international capital markets for total amount of 100 - 200m USD with circulation term of 3 - 5 years. The lead-manager of the bonds issue will be Deutsche Bank. Legal consultants on this issue are White & Case and Bracewell & Patterson. Road show that will take place in Europe and the USA has been planned for the second half of April. 3. In May of this year BTA also plans to issue American/global depository receipts BTA (ADR/GDR) for 29.9 % of existing common shares of the bank. For the same month it is planned to hold road show. The lead- manager of the issue of ADR/GDR is a company Visor Investment Solutions. International underwriter will be determined in the middle of April. BTA plans to hold a listing of ADR/GDR at Frankfurt and Luxemburg exchanges. 4. As for now there has been signed an agreement on holding of due diligence of BTA by International Financial Corporation for following presenting of a credit line to the Bank directed for financing of media an small businesses in the amount of $15m. Due diligence of the Bank will be held from April 15-22 of current year. Besides, Bank TuranAlem intends to continue collaboration with the rest leading financial institutions that have recently become the shareholders of BTA. At the end of the year it is planned to receive a credit line from European Bank for Reconstruction and development for the amount of $10 million USD for five years directed for small and media businesses development. Also at the middle of the year it is expected to receive funds from German investment company Deg in the form of simple or subordinated loan for 7 years for the amount of 10 million euros. Within the program of Investment Help and Technical Support sponsored by Holland Government the company of development of FMO granted BTA funds for improvement of professional education of their employees. Dynamic development of international relations and new projects of Bank TuranAlem OJSC for the year 2002 are conditioned with growing trust to BTA and banking system of the republic in general and assist further diversification of the capital and strengthening of the ban's positions at the market of corporate and retail business. [2002-04-02]