Erste Bank holds its AGM today at 10:00am CET in Vienna. Approval of a dividend payment on 2004 results is on the agenda. The management announced it would propose a EUR 0.5 / share dividend payment, up 33% y/y, which corresponds to a payout ratio of 23%. The record date for dividend payment is Friday, May 13. The stock starts trading ex-dividend in Prague on Monday, May 16 and in Vienna on Tuesday May 17 (as May 16 is a state holiday in Austria). Dividend will be paid out on May 19.