Νέος πρόεδρος της Marfin Popular o Μιχάλης Σαρρής

epa00903400 Customers visit a branch of Marfin Popular Bank (MPB) -- the biggest financial organization in Cyprus and the second largest in Greece -- in central Athens, Monday 15 January 2007. The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday issued a press release saying that a bid launched on Friday by MPB to acquire the Bank of Cyprus -- the island's largest financial institution -- and Piraeus Bank -- Greece's fourth largest lender -- constituted a potential violation of regulation 21 of the Cyprus Stock Exchange regulations. In what seems to be a take-over tassle in the Greek banking sector, the offer of MPB followed a tender launched a day earlier by Piraeus Bank to take over Marfin Popular Bank who in turn called the move a mere smokescreen intended to obstruct its bid. Under Greek legislation, a company launching a public offer cannot at the same time be a buy out target. EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU }