Free shares distribution registration begins

Serbian citizens have started registering in order to receive free shares of six public companies. More than four million eligible citizens will be able to register through July 31. They will receive an equal amount of shares from Serbian Oil Industry (NIS), power company EPS, Telekom Srbija, Jat Airways, Nikola Tesla Airport and Galenika. Free shares distribution registration begins There will be no trading with the shares for another six months afterwards however, until the companies are all privatized. Deputy Economic Minister Nebojsa Ciric said that the citizens will receive confirmation by the end of the year that they own the rights to the free shares, with the first trading expected to take place in 2009. Ciric said that registration must be individual and the documents needed are a personal identification card and a bank account. Any attempted misuse of the privilege will be severely punished, he said. “There is a legal regulation stating that the registration of any false information will bring about a fine of RSD 5,000-10,000 for citizens, and RSD 10,000-50,000 for workers,” he said, adding that the checks made on the registrations will be simple. “When you come to the window you fill out the forms for basic information and sign a form that says that you have not received any free shares as of yet. This will then be sent to the Privatization Agency,” Ciric said. Post office officials are telling citizens not to rush in the first days to register and create large crowds and lines. The registration process is expected to take about five minutes. Citizens living abroad can also register through Serbia's diplomatic-consular offices. All Serbian citizens over the age of 18 on January 3, 2008 can receive the free shares. Citizens who had permanent residence on the territory of Serbia on June 30, 2007 and are displaced persons from Kosovo, will also be able to register. Those who are temporarily displaced will have to receive refugee IDs, in order to register a current address and residence. Employees and ex-employees of the six companies, which have earned the right to shares, will be able to register at the National Employment Service, the first of which will be workers from NIS and Jat Airways. It is expected that ex-workers will receive about EUR 200 for every year of employment. Further infromation can be obtained at the following toll free number: 0800-100-300. Post offices will conduct the registering (Beta)

Free shares distribution registration begins

There will be no trading with the shares for another six months afterwards however, until the companies are all privatized.

Deputy Economic Minister Nebojša Ćirić said that the citizens will receive confirmation by the end of the year that they own the rights to the free shares, with the first trading expected to take place in 2009.

Ćirić said that registration must be individual and the documents needed are a personal identification card and a bank account. Any attempted misuse of the privilege will be severely punished, he said.

“There is a legal regulation stating that the registration of any false information will bring about a fine of RSD 5,000-10,000 for citizens, and RSD 10,000-50,000 for workers,” he said, adding that the checks made on the registrations will be simple.

“When you come to the window you fill out the forms for basic information and sign a form that says that you have not received any free shares as of yet. This will then be sent to the Privatization Agency,” Ćirić said.

Post office officials are telling citizens not to rush in the first days to register and create large crowds and lines.

The registration process is expected to take about five minutes.

Citizens living abroad can also register through Serbia's diplomatic-consular offices.

All Serbian citizens over the age of 18 on January 3, 2008 can receive the free shares.

Citizens who had permanent residence on the territory of Serbia on June 30, 2007 and are displaced persons from Kosovo, will also be able to register.

Those who are temporarily displaced will have to receive refugee IDs, in order to register a current address and residence.

Employees and ex-employees of the six companies, which have earned the right to shares, will be able to register at the National Employment Service, the first of which will be workers from NIS and Jat Airways.

It is expected that ex-workers will receive about EUR 200 for every year of employment.

Further infromation can be obtained at the following toll free number: 0800-100-300.