FOREIGN DEMAND FOR PLIVA'S SHARES BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS

ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The response of foreign investors to purchase shares of the Croatian pharmaceutical company "Pliva" was beyond all expectations, Zagrebacka Banka said in a statement on Thursday. The most respectable and best international investors and banks had shown an interest in Pliva's shares which largely exceeded the supply, the statement said. The price of Pliva's shares was set in London on Thursday, with one share being sold at 5,100 kuna or DM 1,378. The value of Pliva's shares was expected to grow with trading on the secondary market, scheduled to begin on April 11. This was the first Croatian company whose shares were verified by the international capital market. Zagrebacka Banka said it had decided to extend a bid for purchase of Pliva's shares on the domestic market for another three days, until March 30. (hina) vm jn 281851 MET mar 96