In Brief
OPAP revamps vintage PROPO, possible challenge to Stoichima Greece’s oldest betting game, soccer pools PROPO is celebrating its 47th birthday with a relaunch aimed at attracting more punters. Renamed PROPO 14+7, the game will offer the options of playing either all 14 matches offered or the first seven, or both for more money. Winners will be those predicting the outcome of 14, 13 or 12 matches or the first seven or six. Minimum entry costs 0.30 euros. State gaming company OPAP wants to breathe new life into the game, overshadowed by Pame Stoichima betting, OPAP’s joint venture with Intralot. Telecoms commission orders OTE to continue service to leasees The Hellenic Telecommunications and Posts Commission (EETT) issued yesterday two temporary orders forbidding main telecoms operator OTE from interrupting connection with alternative telecom providers Hellas On Line (HOL) and Lan-net. OTE had claimed its two competitors were running high debts from leased lines and has threatened legal measures. Hyatt sold International investment firm BC Partners yesterday completed the purchase of 51.57 percent of Hellenic Casinos Company (stakeholder in Hyatt Regency) through the acquisition of six blocks of shares totaling 43,321,960 for 11 euros per share on the Athens Stock Exchange. The total investment came to 476.541 million euros. BoG stoppage Bank of Greece (BoG) staff today will repeat yesterday’s three-hour work stoppage, protesting Governor Nicholas Garganas’s decision to suspend two senior security officials for failing to prevent an invasion of labor unionists into the bank’s board meeting on February 27. The members of the Federation of Bank Employee Associations (OTOE) were protesting the Hellenic Bank Association’s refusal to negotiate a national pay pact for the sector. The central bank’s union is demanding the reinstatement of the officials and plans a 24-hour strike on March 7. MBA International The Athens University of Economics’ MBA International program will be presented in three cities this year – in Frankfurt tomorrow, Amsterdam on March 7 and Sofia on March 15 – as part of the biannual World MBA tour which visits 50 cities in 40 countries. According to the international organization GMAC, the MBA International program is top in the preferences of Greek students and third by European students among European business schools, after INSEAD and LBS. The deadline for applications for the 2006-2007 academic year is May 31.
