OREANDA-NEWS. April 15, 2009. Chairman of Kazakhstan’s national welfare fund Samruk-Kazyna Kairat Kelimbetov could join Sberbank’s Supervisory Board. However, this does not mean completion of negotiations over the acquisition of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank by the largest Russian bank. Sberbank said in a press release that Kelimbetov is on the list of 20 nominees recommended for election to Sberbank’s Supervisory Board.

In early February, Sberbank received an offer to take over BTA Bank nationalized by Kazakhstan’s authorities represented by Samruk-Kazyna. A Reuters source close to the negotiations said that Sberbank intends to acquire up to 100% of shares in BTA Bank. A source close to Sberbank’s Supervisory Board said Tuesday that Kelimbetov’s nomination to Sberbank’s board does not mean that the negotiations with Samruk Kazyna over Sberbank’s acquisition of BTA Bank were wrapped up. “He is a professional himself. This does not mean that we have clinched an agreement”, the source said without indicating who nominated Kelimbetov.