According to article 279 of the Athens Exchange Regulation, the company announces that the Board of Directors in its session on October 24th 2006 resolved the distribution to shareholders of interim dividend as advance against total dividend for the fiscal year 2006. The exact amount of interim dividend per share will be determined by further resolution of the Board of Directors according to the Company''s net profit for the period 01/01/2006 - 30/09/2006 based on the relative financial statement. The ex-interim dividend date is 11/12/2006 and eligible to receive payment are the shareholders as of the closing session of the Athens Exchange on 8/12/2006. Payment of the interim dividend commences on 19/12/2006, through a credit institution (paying bank) to be announced following further corporate decision, according to article 329 of the ATHEX Regulation.