ASX media release - New Debt Listing on ASX

17 March 1999

ASX today approved for listing its first supranational fixed interest issuer Nordic Investment Bank (NIB).

The listing will be for a A$2 billion domestic medium term note program which will allow NIB to issue a range of fixed interest securities to the institutional market.

By listing on ASX, NIB is satisfying those investors who require securities to be listed on an exchange, as well as facilitating a consistent and reliable source of valuation of these securities.

Traditionally these listings have taken place on overseas exchanges such as London and Luxembourg.

ASX recently streamlined its listing process for fixed interest securities and has structured its fees to be competitive with other international exchanges. Under the proposed new interest withholding tax legislation an added benefit of listing on ASX is that an issue will satisfy one of the public offer tests.

This listing illustrates ASX's commitment to facilitating new opportunities in the fixed interest market and is in line with the Governments Investing for Growth Statement concerning Australia as the 'Regional Financial Centre'.