At its session today, the Council of the Croatian National Bank reviewed the latest monetary and economic developments and adopted annual reports on the performance and financial operations of the central bank last year. Even during the difficult conditions of the financial crisis and a fall in interest rates in the global markets, and notwithstanding the changes in the structure of international reserves in favour of safer but lower return forms of investment, the central bank managed to generate in 2009 a surplus of income over expenditures exceeding HRK 552 million. Out of this amount, HRK 318 million will be distributed to the government budget and the rest will be transferred to the general reserves of the CNB.
In line with applicable legal procedures, the CNB Council granted approval to the Republic of Austria for indirect acquisition of 100% stake in the equity of Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank d.d., Zagreb, which resulted from the Republic of Austria's takeover of the parent bank Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International AG, Klagenfurt.
In addition, the Council agreed with the decision of the supervisory board of Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank d.d., Zagreb to appoint Brane Golubić member of the management board and the decision of the supervisory board of Prva stambena štedionica d.d., Zagreb to appoint Katarina Šobat member of the management board.
Numismatists will have the opportunity to increase their collections by several new sets of commemorative coins prepared by the CNB in cooperation with the Croatian Monetary Institute, which will handle the sale. Commemorative silver coins "2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa" (150-kuna denomination, sale price HRK 220 + VAT, 7500 items), and commemorative gold coins "200th Anniversary of the Birth of Louis Braille" (10-kuna denomination, sale price HRK 220 + VAT, 5000 items) will be released for sale on 26 April. The CNB will also issue 25 kuna commemorative circulation coins "Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Zagreb 2010"; a total of 20,000 coins will be released into circulation on 12 May, on the eve of this important international financial gathering.