The event is regularly organized by Jutarnji list (newspaper), Poslovni klub (telecast of Croatian television), Kapital klub and Zagreb Stock Exchange, and this year the attendance included Ivo Sanader, the Prime Minister, Damir Polančec, the Deputy Prime Minister for national economy, Ivan Šuker, the Finance Minister and Nadan Vidošević, the chairman of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, beside eminent representatives of Croatian industry and commerce.

The Golden Share contest, an event that has been taking place for eight consecutive years, awards the joint stock companies with the best results in the Croatian capital market in the preceding year. The contest categories were the Golden Share 2004 and the best shares in banking business, industry and tourism as the major awards and the most liquid share, the largest market capitalization, the share with the highest price increase and the highest dividend as special awards. A panel of judges that included 90 members, brokers’ representatives, investment funds, independent finance specialists and journalists covering the capital market ranked the shares in single categories.

In competition with the Atlantic Sea Line and Adris Group, Ericsson Nikola Tesla won the major award for the best industrial share in 2004, whereas the Adris Group received the award the Golden Share as the best share 2004 in Croatia in general.

«I am very proud and also glad that Ericsson Nikola Tesla was recognized among the Croatian business subjects as a socially responsible company with continuously good business performance,» said Gordana Kovačević at the award presentation ceremony. «This was also recognized by the Croatian capital market, among the investors who are very sensitive about the issue of secure investment possibilities. Fact is that the value of the ETK share in 2004 rose by 236 percent which indicates the stability of our operations and the good rating the company Ericsson Nikola Tesla has among its shareholders.

I wish to emphasize that Ericsson Nikola Tesla was cooperative to its investors and adopted among the first in Croatia the Corporate Governance principles, being a company whose objective is to create long-term economic value for its shareholders.

I wish to point out that we have continuously achieved outstanding business results over 55 years of our existence and these results are founded primarily on the knowledge and competence of our experts.

In that respect our company was recognized within the Ericsson Group and it continuously obtains even broader regional and global responsibilities in the Ericsson world. Today Ericsson Nikola Tesla is among the major knowledge exporters in the country and thus it contributes to general development of Croatia,» said Gordana Kovačević.

The Prime Minister Ivo Sanader congratulated all award winners and emphasized that the government is aware of the necessity for the country to create a good climate for strong entrepreneurship and that the accession of Croatia to the European Union is decisive for higher investment, the turnover and value of shares in the country.

Communication Ericsson Nikola Tesla