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Investing.com -- Spain’s government has approved BBVA’s €14 billion ($16.23 billion) hostile takeover bid for Sabadell, but with a set of conditions aimed at preserving operational independence and protecting public interest, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo announced Tuesday.
Shares in BBVA (BME:BBVA) rose around 3% in Madrid on the news, while Banco de Sabadell gained over 1%.
Under the new terms, BBVA and Sabadell must remain distinct legal entities for the next three years.
“The government has authorised the BBVA and Sabadell deal on the condition that, for the next three years, they remain separate legal entities and maintain separate assets, as well as autonomy in the management of their activities,” Cuerpo said at a news conference.
These measures go beyond the competition-related remedies already outlined by Spain’s antitrust regulator. Cuerpo said the additional requirements are intended to guarantee that Sabadell retains independent control over key areas such as lending to small and medium-sized businesses, employment decisions, branch operations, banking services, and the activities of its social foundations.
Although the government did not have the authority to block the deal outright, the new conditions were considered a significant hurdle. BBVA Chairman Carlos Torres had previously said the bank could abandon the offer if the demands became too burdensome or if Sabadell sold key assets like its U.K. subsidiary, TSB.
“If conditions are imposed on us that we do not consider appropriate, we have the option to withdraw, just as we have the option if there is a sale of a relevant asset that modifies the purpose of the offer,” Torres said on Monday.
His comments followed Sabadell’s disclosure that it had received interest in TSB from potential buyers, a move analysts have viewed as potentially complicating the merger.
Separately, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that the government also plans to impose tighter rules on lending practices and small business financing, alongside restrictions to prevent large-scale layoffs.
The Spanish government has so far opposed the deal amid concerns that the merger could result in widespread layoffs.