OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2010. The Press Service of Astana-Finance JSC refutes the information published in KazTAG Agency news as of March 25, 2010 at 10:35 AM saying that Mr. Islamov, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Astana-Finance JSC, expressed his own free will to hand in resignation.

The Press Service clarifies Mr. Kintal Islamov notified about his withdrawal from the Board of Directors of two subsidiaries, Bank Astana-Finance JSC and Brokerage Company Astana-Finance JSC. The corresponding notification was addressed to the Board of Directors of the mentioned companies today morning.

In the short run Mr. Islamov is planning to leave the seat in the Board of Directors of two more subsidiaries, Leasing Company Astana-Finance JSC and Mortgage Organization Astana-Finance JSC. However, the Board of Directors of the mentioned companies has not been notified yet.

We remind pursuant to Item 4, Article 55 of the Law of RK “About Joint-Stock Companies” that early termination of office as a member of the Board of Directors on one’s own initiative is valid upon written notification addressed to the Board of Directors. Thus, the authorities of a member of the Board of Directors terminate from the date the Board of Directors receives the specified notification.

Currently, Mr. Islamov holds a post of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Astana-Finance JSC. Indeed, the resignation highlighted by KazTAG Agency has not been filed.

We also specify pursuant to the reference on security holders owning at least 5 percent and on voting securities as of March 4, 2010 that Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund JSC owns 18,81 per cent of Astana-Finance JSC shares with 14,74 per cent held by the Committee of State Property and Privatization under the Ministry of Finance of RK and managed by Samruk-Kazyna NWF JSC based on the trust management agreement.