OREANDA-NEWS. On 17 March 2008 was announced, that "BTA Bank" JSC repaid US\\$  530.9 mln representing the first tranche of US\\$  1,111 mln. Global syndicated loan facility and US\\$  15 mln accrued interest thereon. The facility was attracted in 13.09.2006 and arranged by Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft and Standard Chartered Bank and named tranche beared 0.35% margin.

The second tranche of this facility US\\$  580.1 mln will be paid out in three equal parts till the end of September 2009 - in September 2008, March 2009 and September 2009.

"This repayment, the largest in 2008 representing almost half of the Bank’s obligations due this year, has been done from the Bank’s internal recourses and was not refinanced through internal or external markets.

The Bank intends to repay the rest of its obligations due this year (US\\$  670 mln) from its internal resources and has no refinancing plans at least till the end of the current year.

As of 01.03.2008 bank’s assets rose to US\\$  22,611 mln. by US\\$  594 mln. from the beginning of 2008, retail deposits increased by US\\$  109 mln.

The Bank, as an agent, is successfully participating in governmental programs to support sustainable growth of the economy" - Sadyr Shaguzhayev, Director, Loan & Capital Markets and Investor Relations

"BTA Bank" JSC operating in the CIS and far-abroad countries is expanding into the CIS. Its strategic bank partners cover Ukraine, four regions in Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. "BTA Bank" JSC also runs its representative offices in Russia, Ukraine, China and the United Arab Emirates. In Kazakhstan, BTA’s chain embraces 22 branches and 280 cash settlement centers.

"BTA Bank" JSC holds a number of industry awards. Reputed Itogi magazine named BTA "The Best CIS Bank 2007." Euromoney declared BTA "A Leading Bank in Corporate Governance in Emerging Europe 2007." BTA also appeared in the Banker’s TOP 300 and ranked the third in its Highest Movers rating. The Europe Business Assembly (EBA, Oxford, UK) awarded BTA the "Best Enterprise of Europe" in the Eurasian banking sector.