The FINANCIAL -- JSC BTA Bank, Kazakhstan’s largest bank, has upped it participation in the authorized capital of CJSC BTA Bank (Belarus) from 48.94% to 99.29% by acquiring shares previously owned by other shareholders. As a result, BTA Bank has now assumed full control of BTA Bank (Belarus).

"We view Belarus as one of the most attractive markets in the CIS. Its advantageous location, dynamic macroeconomic improvement and vibrant consumer market point to a great future for banking in that country. The Belarussian bank’s consolidation into the BTA group is a major step in this direction", said BTA Bank (Kazakhstan)’s Chairman of the Management Board Roman Solodchenko.

As a result of the acquisition, CJSC BTA Bank (Belarus) has now become a BTA Bank subsidiary. The deal was part of the consolidation plan and one of the principal steps in the implementation of Strategy 2015, which foresees BTA claiming up to 5% of the Belarussian banking services market.

JSC BTA Bank is a leading banking network within the CIS.

At the end of the first half of 2008, BTA’s consolidated assets were equal to 3,356 billion tenge (US$27.8 billion); capital, 474 billion tenge (US$3.9 billion). BTA’s H12008 consolidated net profit amounted to 27.83 billion tenge (US$231 million).

The network of BTA’s partner banks extends to Russia, Ukraine , Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. BTA’s representative offices operate in Russia, Ukraine , China and UAE. The bank has one of the largest branch networks in Kazakhstan (22 branches and 277 service outlets) along with an extensive chain of ATMs (778) and self-service terminals (160). BTA serves more than 1.3 million retail and 100,000 corporate customers.

In 2008, BTA received more than a 100-notch uplift in the rankings of the world’s best banks by The Banker, from the 295th position a year before to the 173th this year. In 2006 and 2007, BTA was named the "Bank of the Year in the CIS", based on a poll of the Commonwealth’s leading financial experts by the influential Itogi magazine, and the "Best Bank in Central Asia" by Euromoney. The Oxford, UK-based European Business Assembly awarded to BTA its 2007 "Best Enterprise of Europe" in the banking sector of Eurasia.

As at October 1, 2008, CJSC BTA Bank’s assets stood at US$119.6 million, 37.6% more than at the turn of the year. Loans were up by 44.8% reaching US$85.9 million, the bank’s capital amounted to US$15.4 million, up by 45%. Deposits grew by 43% to US$48.2 million. BTA Bank (Belarus) ranks 15th among Belarus’ 29 banks.

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