SCHREDERS SALOMON SMITH BARNEY TO BE LEADER MANAGER IN HT PRIVATISATION

ZAGREB, July 17 (Hina) - A company called Schreders Salomon Smith Barney was unanimously selected for the leader manager in the privatisation of the Croatian Telecommunications (HT), read a statement issued by the Government's public relations office on Monday. After an invitation for tenders was published on 5 and 6 June 2000 by newspapers - "Vjesnik and "Financial Times" - seven eminent financial institutions competed: Schreders Salomon Smith Barney, Credit Suise First Boston, Deutsche Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, CAIB, The Lazard Brothers and J.P. Morgan. The tenders of Schreders Salomon Smith Barney and Credit Suise First Boston were shortlisted. At the end, a commission in charge for the HT privatisation unanimously opted for Schreders Salomon Smith Barney. All applications were judged according to the aforementioned financial institutions' experience in the privatisation of telecommunication companies, the professionalism and skilfulness of teams that will take place in the transaction and the fee for the conducted transaction as well as according to possibilities for distribution and presentation of HT shares and the aftermarket support. The commission in charge of the HT privatisation expressed satisfaction with the entire job about inviting tenders for the leader manager as it was carried out in transparent way and in accordance to the European practice. (hina) mm ms