MPB declares 18c dividend

Marfin Popular Bank surprised the market by declaring a 18c (EUR 0.31) dividend for 2006, for a 300% YoY increase, which on the EUR 8.14 share price, gives a dividend yield of 3.8%, the highest in the Cyprus banking sector, the Financial reported on February 21, 2007.

MPB Chairman Soud Ba’alawy, on his first visit to the island, promised a generous dividend policy, which may be raised from the current 62% payout ratio. CEO Andreas Vgenopoulos, meanwhile, said based on exceptionally well January 2007 figures, whereby advances increased 4.9% and deposits were up 2.9% from the end 2006 figures, MPB is confident that the EUR 360 mln guidance profit target for 2007 may even be surpassed.

Leptos seeks new projects:

The Leptos Group is embarking on a three-pronged offensive at home and abroad to realise some life-long ambitions of becoming the leading property developer in the region. The group’s overseas subsidiaries that have only dealt with minor projects in Athens and some holiday properties in Greece, will embark on new ventures in North Africa from Egypt to Morocco, as well as East Europe. Also, the CYP 550 mln Neapolis is finally expected to get underway some time in 2008 as the university permit has been secured and investors are being lined up to advise or co-develop the hospital.

Gas

exploration:

companies

Several international oil (IOCs) with experience in deepwater