CEP Opposes BBVA Sabadell OPA and Its SME Credit Impact

The Confederation of Pontevedra Entrepreneurs, CEP, has appeared before the office opened by the National Commission for Markets and Competition, CNMC, to express its firm rejection and concern regarding the public takeover bid led by BBVA for Banco Sabadell. The intervention reflects a clear wish to present the business community’s perspective directly to the authorities tasked with evaluating concentration, market power, and the potential ripple effects on the local financial landscape. In its statement, CEP argued that the operation could unsettle the balance of credit provision in the province, with consequences that extend beyond the banking sector and touch the entrepreneurial fabric of Pontevedra. The confederation emphasizes that its position rests on the everyday reality of local companies that depend on accessible financing to pursue expansion plans, manage working capital, and respond to opportunities in a timely manner. Observers from CEP warn that the deal might tilt the lending environment toward fewer players, higher barriers to entry, or tighter lending conditions that could hamper growth for many local ventures.