Overview

• The December ACCO report showed the post-merger Herfindahl-Hirschman Index would reach up to 3,408, far above the EU’s 2,000 threshold for competitive risk
• The combined BBVA–Sabadell entity would hold about 72% of Catalonia’s credit market and over 74% of its banking branches, creating a near-duopoly with CaixaBank
• The Catalan Parliament approved a motion of firm and unequivocal opposition and President Salvador Illa pledged to defend balanced competition
• Banc Sabadell president Josep Oliu urged the Spanish government on TV3 to weigh the takeover’s potential drawbacks before setting final conditions
• The Spanish government must decide by June 27 whether to impose extra conditions or escalate the case to the Council of Ministers, after which the CNMV would open a 30–70 day acceptance period