Contents :

The Board of Directors has proposed a final dividend of 20 sen per share less 26% income tax to be paid on 21 October 2008, bringing the dividend payout ratio for the year to 60.4% of Group net profit.

Additionally, to secure its leadership in this increasingly challenging and competitive environment, the Group has announced that it is embarking on a holistic performance improvement programme to realign operations, processes and people resources.

This programme is aimed at further strengthening the Group’s market position across all core business segments and to lay a strong foundation for the Group to achieve its aspiration to be a leading regional financial services company by 2015.

The Group will review quarterly its progress in this initiative and report on key milestones and achievements.

The full text of the Press Release issued today is attached.

This announcement is dated 27 August 2008.