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BBVA Says No Need for More Government Scrutiny of Sabadell Bid
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 21, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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BBVA's bid for Sabadell should avoid further government scrutiny, benefiting stakeholders, says BBVA's chairman.
BBVA Asserts No Need for Additional Government Review of Sabadell Bid
MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish bank BBVA's proposed acquisition of smaller rival Sabadell should not be subject to further scrutiny by the government as it would benefit shareholders, clients and businesses, according to BBVA's chairman.
Carlos Torres' comments late on Tuesday to radio station Cadena Cope came after the government, which is opposed to the bid, launched a non-binding public consultation on the matter, which analysts say is another sign of political reluctance.
Economy minister Carlos Cuerpo has until May 27 to take the deal to the cabinet for a new analysis of the possible effects after Spain's competition watchdog last month approved the proposed deal - which currently values Sabadell at around 15 billion euros ($17 billion) - subject to several remedies.
"We believe that the Economy Minister should not submit the operation to the (cabinet) because, far from negatively affecting any element of general interest, the operation is good not just for shareholders - with a very compelling proposal -, but also for clients and companies," Torres said.
If the minister refers the deal to the cabinet, the government then has a month to make a final decision whether or not to approve the deal with or without conditions.
Torres said that if Cuerpo did not submit the proposed deal to the cabinet, "then we would move quickly to (the bid's) acceptance period, with the markets supervisor needing to previously authorise the takeover prospectus."
Under Spanish law, the government cannot stop a bid from being made, but it has the final word on whether a merger goes ahead.
($1 = 0.8884 euros)
(Reporting by Jesús Aguado. Editing by Inti Landauro and Mark Potter)
Key Takeaways
- •BBVA's acquisition of Sabadell should not face further government scrutiny.
- •The acquisition is seen as beneficial for shareholders, clients, and businesses.
- •Spain's competition watchdog has approved the deal with conditions.
- •The Economy Minister has until May 27 to decide on further analysis.
- •The government has the final say on the merger's approval.
Frequently Asked Questions about BBVA says no need for more government scrutiny of Sabadell bid
1What did BBVA's Carlos Torres say about the Sabadell bid?
Carlos Torres stated that the proposed acquisition should not face further government scrutiny as it would benefit shareholders, clients, and businesses.
2What is the government's position on BBVA's bid for Sabadell?
The government is opposed to the bid and has initiated a non-binding public consultation regarding the acquisition.
3What deadline does the Economy Minister have regarding the bid?
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has until May 27 to decide whether to take the deal to the cabinet for further analysis.
4Can the Spanish government stop the BBVA-Sabadell merger?
Under Spanish law, the government cannot prevent a bid from being made, but it does have the final say on whether the merger can proceed.
5What happens if the Economy Minister refers the deal to the cabinet?
If referred, the government has a month to make a final decision on the deal, which could include approval with or without conditions.
