Czech and Slovak state privatization agencies, both shareholders of Československá Obchodní Banka (ČSOB), gave the bank the nod at the June 15 AGM to raise up to 3 billion Sk through a bond issue, ČSOB announced. The bank specified in a statement that the bonds should have a maturity of four years and be denominated in Slovak crowns. "The resources would be used for securing the liquidity of the [bank's Slovak] branch," according to the press statement.