Filed by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Subject Company: Banco de Sabadell, S.A.
Commission File
No.: 333-281111
31st Financial Industry Conference organized by ABC and Deloitte
[Intranet filing. Madrid, November 13, 2024]
Onur Genç, CEO of BBVA: We expect the combination with Banco Sabadell to be approved with its full value creation potential
We believe that the combination will create significant value for the shareholders of both Sabadell and BBVA, as well as for society in general, remarked
BBVAs CEO, Onur Genç, while taking part in the 31st Financial Industry Conference organized by ABC and Deloitte. In relation to the ongoing process, the banks CEO cited the decision reached on Tuesday, November 12, by the
CNMC (Spains national competition authority) to commence phase two of the analysis. We expect the combination to be approved with its full value creation potential. If this is not the case, i.e. if value creation is compromised,
BBVA has the option to withdraw: We will not hesitate to walk away if it will not create value, cautioned the banks CEO. BBVA will continue to work closely with the authorities to finalize, as soon as reasonably possible, any
commitments that may be needed to alleviate any concerns they may have and to get the operation approved.
According to Onur Genç, the banking
sector needs players with greater scale and efficiency, thus enabling it to increase its investment capacity, especially in technology. And in our view, that larger investment capacity comes from gaining scale. Big players are more efficient
because they spend the same on technology as smaller banks, yet they make a higher profit because they have more customers. If they are more efficient, they are increasingly profitable, and if they are more profitable, they have greater investment
capacity, he explained. In that regard, we firmly believe in the value creation potential of this transaction because it will create a strong, large-scale player. The economic logic is undeniable.
Along the same lines, he believes that Europe needs financial champions to help boost the growth of the European economy. To succeed, Europe needs
investments, and these investments require banks with sufficient scale. Onur Genç recalled that of the worlds 25 top banks measured in terms of market capitalization, none of them come from the European Union. To create
European champions, we first need domestic champions, he concluded.
Positive outlook across its main markets: Mexico, Spain and Türkiye
BBVA is looking ahead with optimism, supported by its strategy of profitable growth and sound risk management. We see very positive signs for the business, which
could allow us to maintain similar levels of profitability (ROTE) in 2025 as this year. We are right at the forefront of European banking in terms of profitability, and we aim to stay there, proclaimed Onur Genç.
The CEO underscored the value of BBVAs geographic diversification model, which allows it to cope with changes in the economic cycle in a given market. He also
referred to the leadership of BBVAs franchises in terms of profitability across the main markets in which it operates: Mexico, Spain, Türkiye and South America. Focusing on BBVAs franchise in Mexico, he noted that Ive
seen many banks in my life, but what BBVA has in Mexico is genuinely unique. Onur Genç also pointed to the sustained growth in customers over time: In each of the last three years, BBVA has managed to attract 11 million new
customers. In his opinion, this combination of profitability and growth affords BBVA a privileged position when compared with its competitors.