ZAGREBACKA BANKA SHARES FIRST TO BE LISTED AT LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE

LONDON/ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - The shares of the Zagrebacka Banka, officially listed at the London Stock Exchange on Monday, are the first shares of an European company to be denominated in the new, single European Union currency - the Euro. The so-called Global Depository Receipts (GDR) that is, Euro Depository Receipts (EDR), will be sold as usual at the Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange and Zagrebacka Banka announced. The London Stock Exchange has made a big step towards the Euro by listing the first Depository Receipt denominated in the new European currency. The Zagrebacka Banka, the leading Croatian commercial bank, had the honour to open the new Euro capital market, the London Stock Exchange said. In cooperation with the US bank Bankers Trust, the Zagrebacka Banka held a presentation "Euro - the New Currency of the Old Continent" in Zagreb on Tuesday. As of the first working day in 1999, it will be possible to have and open Euro-denominated accounts in all Croatian banks. In the transitional three-year period it will be possible to have accounts in the currencies of all EU countries. (hina) rml