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EBRD To Grant $5 Mln To 'Cascade Bank' For Crediting Of Small And Mi

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  • EBRD To Grant $5 Mln To 'Cascade Bank' For Crediting Of Small And Mi

    EBRD TO GRANT $5 MLN TO 'CASCADE BANK' FOR CREDITING OF SMALL AND MIDDLE BUSINESS IN ARMENIA

    arminfo
    2008-03-17 14:05:00

    ArmInfo. The European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD)
    will grant $5 mln to "Cascade Bank" for crediting of a small and
    middle business of Armenia. As the press service of "Cascade Bank"
    told ArmInfo, participation in EBRD's programme will allow the bank
    to extend the credit activity, especially as regards promotion of
    a small and middle business, which is considered by the bank as a
    sphere of strategic growth. In addition to the credit, the bank will
    be rendered technical assistance. The agreement on it was signed today.

    Head of the EBRD Yerevan Office Michael Weinstein thinks that financing
    by the European Bank will allow to assist in the development of a
    small and middle business as the own resources of the country's banking
    system are insufficient as yet. "This sphere is important by the fact
    that workplaces are created just here, the social level increases
    and the average class is formed", he said. Chairman of the Board of
    "Cascade Bank" Jonathan Stark emphasized that the credit line will
    more toughen the relations of the "Cascade Capital" financial Holding
    with EBRD and will allow the bank to extend credits to the people at
    large on more available terms. For his part, Executive Director of
    the "Cascade Bank" Aharon Levonyan said that, taking into account
    the tendency of the deposit rates increase in Armenia, the EBRD's
    credit line comes out an important alternative source of financing,
    which will enable the bank to continue crediting of a small and middle
    business at lower interest rates.

    According to ArmInfo data, Armeconombank, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank,
    INECOBANK and "Anelik Bank" appear as participants in EBRD's programme
    on crediting of a small and middle business.

    By the data of RA Central Bank, as of July 1, 2007, the banks and
    credit companies extended credits to 103,4 bln drams ($303,4 mln)
    for development of a small and middle business (taking into account
    the international credit programmes), with assurance of 36% annual
    growth. 57,2 bln AMD out of this sum fall on the dram assets and 46,2
    bln AMD - on currency ones. 22,1 bln AMD are credits with repayment
    term to 1 year, and 81,3 bln AMD - with repayment term of 1 year and
    more. Moreover, 30% of credits, directed to this sphere, falls on the
    international credit programmes, which played a definite positive
    role in creation of the banks' resource base, that enables them to
    pass to refinancing of different spheres of economy at the expense
    of the own capital. As the analyst of the Rating Agency AmRating
    Karina Melikyan said, half of 20 programmes, implemented in Armenia
    through the banks, is aimed at assistance in development of a small and
    middle business, including farm enterprises. She thinks that special
    attention to this sector was initially paid because of high demand
    for preferential credits by small and middle economic entities -
    industrial enterprises, trade companies, agricultural enterprises
    and those of the service area.

    To note, 35% of the block of stock of the "Cascade Insurance",
    being part of the "Cascade Capital Holding" (CCH) belongs to the
    European Bank. CCH also includes the Cascade Bank, Credit Company
    "Cascade Credit", capital management Company "Cascade Equity Managers"
    and Investment Company "Cascade Investments". The "Cascade Capital
    Holding" belongs to the "Gafeschyan Family" Fund, registered in the
    USA. The "Cascade Bank" has won an exclusive right for service of the
    USA State Department's programme "Millennium Challenges". Moreover,
    it is one of the participants in the international credit programme
    of KfW on development of stable housing financing market of Armenia.

    According to the data of Ranking of RA commercial banks, prepared
    by the Agency of Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo), the volume
    of credit investments of the "Cascade Bank" as of January 1, 2008,
    made up 4.7 bln drams or over 18% of assets. About 60% out of this
    sum has been directed at crediting of natural persons and 34% fell
    on the credits directed to the country's economy.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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