GOVERNMENT BOND ISSUE IN JAPAN - MOST SUCCESSFUL SO FAR

ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - The second issue of Croatian government bonds in Japan, worth US$380 million, is by its terms the most successful issue of Croatian government bonds on the international financial market so far, the Finance Ministry reported. The so-called samurai bonds have maturity time of seven years and an interest rate of three percent. The funds realised with this issue will be used for the payment of this year's credit commitments. #L# A Croatian delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic and Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac, visited Japan between June 19- 23 regarding the government bond issue. The delegation held presentations for numerous Japanese investors, pointing to Croatia's macroeconomic and political stability, and the country's speedy integration into Euro-Atlantic associations. The issued bonds are worth 40 billion yen (3,118 billion kuna or US$380 million). The transaction was conducted by the Japanese investment bank Daiwa SBCM and the bank syndicate included Kokusai Securities, Nikko SSB, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Nomura, Deutsche Bank, Kankaku Securities and UBS Warburg Dillon Read. During their visit to Japan, the Croatian delegation also held meetings with representatives of the Japanese finance and industry and trade ministries, Japan's central bank, and the Bank for International Cooperation, at which a platform for improving cooperation between Croatia and Japan was formulated. The delegation also participated in a seminar organised for more than 50 representatives of Japan's leading corporations. Presented at the seminar were benefits for foreign investors in doing business with Croatia, the Finance Ministry reported. (hina) jn rml