EU Approves Banco Santander Buying Banco Popular

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The European Commission approved Tuesday Banco Santander’s acquisition of Banco Popular Español, S.A. The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns in the European Economic Area.

On June 6, 2017, the European Central Bank decided that Banco Popular was “failing or likely to fail”.

Banco Santander and Banco Popular are universal banks, providing commercial, retail investment and wholesale banking services as well as insurance services in Spain and Portugal. The Commission investigated the transaction’s impact on the markets for retail and corporate banking, leasing, factoring and the provision of ATM services in the Portuguese and Spanish national and regional markets.

Its investigation concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns. The parties’ combined market shares are generally limited (below 25%) and strong competitors will remain in all affected markets.

The decision is the final step by the Commission clearing the acquisition. It follows the Commission’s approval on June 7, 2017 of the resolution scheme of Banco Popular under EU bank recovery and resolution rules, which was based on a proposed resolution scheme by the Single Resolution Board (SRB).

Companies and products

Banco Santander is the parent company of an international group of banking and financial companies, operating mainly in Spain, other European countries including Portugal and the United Kingdom, Latin America and the United States.

Banco Popular is a Spanish financial entity listed on the Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia stock exchanges.), operating mainly in Spain and Portugal. The resolution of Banco Popular was approved under EU bank recovery and resolution rules. It involved the sale of Banco Popular to Banco Santander.

On June 7, 2017 the Commission approved, in line with the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation, the resolution scheme of Banco Popular, based on the proposal by the Single Resolution Board. Following the adoption of the resolution scheme, the entire business of Banco Popular and its subsidiaries were transferred to Banco Santander as of June 7, 2017.

The customers of Banco Popular continued to be served with no disruption to the economy. All depositors continued to have uninterrupted access to the full amount of their deposits.

On the same day the Commission also adopted a decision based on Article 7(3) of the EU Merger Regulation granting the derogation from the standstill obligation, subject to certain conditions. Under this decision, Banco Santander could take certain measures to the extent necessary for Banco Popular’s financial stability, pending the Commission’s approval of its acquisition of Banco Popular under EU merger rules. The compliance with these conditions has been monitored by a Monitoring Trustee.

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