The Agricultural Insurance company will be distributing dividend higher by 17% this year in comparison to that distributed last year, reaching 70 GRD per share. This amount corresponds to approximately 46% of the company's profits, as against 35% of the relevant legislature provision.Agricultural Bank of Greece Deputy Governor and Agricultural Insurance Chairman Christos Kazantzis made this announcement, today, during the annual ordinary shareholder's meeting realized in a central Athens hotel.In his address to the shareholders, Mr. Kazantzis referred to the high and robust financial figures of Agricultural Insurance, noting that the company has been following an integrated development program over the past three years, aiming at further strengthening their position.Agricultural Insurance Managing Director, Triantafillos Lyssimachou, referred to the developments in the insurance sector, the company's strategic choices and the financial indices as they were shaped in 1999, which was the company's first year of trading in the Athens Stock Exchange. ‘In the past year, due to the strategic choices made, as well as the intense contribution of the company's staff, we achieved the following:Premium production increase by 24.3% as against 14.5% in 1998., Decrease of the General Expenses index in relation to net premiums to 31.3% compared to 33.6% in 1998., Staff productivity increase (premiums per employee) by 26%., Increased investment income by 43.5%, Net profit increase by 38%, Increased profitability of equity by 22.1% as against 17.2% in 1998., The solvency margin, which establishes the financial and qualitative dynamics of an insurance company, was covered by equity 6.2 times more than the provision of the relevant legislature., Likewise, the new human resources development system was implemented successfully and contributed significantly to productivity improvement.Mr. Lyssimachou stressed that in the year 2000, the company will implement most all of their investment program which includes, among others, the following:Expansion of business in the Balkans, Cyprus and Germany., Acquisition of and participation in other insurance companies., Participation in other business activities within the insurance as well as the finance sectors.Finally, Mr. Lyssimachou referred to the most recent activities of the company, such as the purchase of the 173 Syngrou Ave. property with Agricultural Life insurance company, aiming at the construction of a building for the insurance group, the participation in 5 securities companies, the development of the new computer system, in cooperation with Intrasoft, etc.