- Slovakia: The Slovak government authorised the sale of 94.47% of the VUB - VSEOBECNA UVEROVA BANKA, the second largest bank in Slovakia, to INTESABCI, following a call for tenders. The Italian bank beat SOCIETE GENERALE and offered the best price, of EUR 550 million. - Czech Republic: SOCIETE GENERALE, on the other hand, managed to acquire the 60% stake belonging to the Czech government in KOMERCNI BANKA, second largest bank in the country (300 branches and 10,200 employees). To do this, the French bank had to increase its initial offer by more than EUR 265 million to reach a cash offer of EUR 1.18 billion. Being in competition with the Italian UNICREDITO ITALIANO and the German HVB, CREDIT AGRICOLE withdrew from the race at the end of May. See EI of 30 May.