The High Court has today dismissed two senior bank executive's claims that their former employers in Dublin owed them ten of thousands of euros in unpaid bonuses.

GERMAN stocks including Krones AG and Bilfinger Berger AG advanced. Depfa Bank Plc declined.

Depfa Bank Plc, the number two European public finance lender, plans to spend €57.8 million to buy out minority investors in its German unit.

DEPFA Bank Plc, Europe’s second-biggest provider of public finance, said demand for the 14.4 million shares being sold by its largest shareholder is outstripping the amount of stock on offer.

THE main shareholder in Dublin-based German public sector finance specialist Depfa Bank Plc said yesterday it was selling its 40.8% stake after the bank posted a jump in third-quarter profit and raised its 2003 guidance.