AGREEMENT ON PURCHASE OF 'VECERNJI LIST' DAILY SHARES SIGNED

( Editorial: --> 0962 ) ZAGREB, Feb 11 (Hina) - The London-based Ermitage Trustees international financial corporation on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Croatian pension fund on the purchase of 53.61 per cent of the shares of Croatian daily Vecernji List for DM 19.5 million. According to the daily's Wednesday issue, the agreement was signed in Zagreb by the deputy director of the pension fund, Mladen Strukan, and a member of the Ermitage Trustees administration, Simon Rogers. The Croatian pension fund will retain 32 per cent of the daily's shares. In agreement with the majority and minority owners, the number of supervisory board members will not change in the first stage. Ermitage Trustees will have four seats, while the pension fund will hold its three seats. An assembly of shareholders should later on express themselves on a proposed five-member supervisory board. Commenting on future editorial and business guidelines of Vecernji List, Rogers said possible changes among the daily's top people will be decided by the supervisory board. Big changes are unnecessary at a time when Vecernji List is confirming its leading role on the market, Rogers said. (hina) ha jn 111217 MET feb 98