A coalition of Banco Sabadell minority shareholders takes a bold step by forming a nonprofit association to defend their interests amid a possible takeover bid by BBVA. Named the Association of Minority Shareholders of Banco Sabadell, this nonprofit entity aims to safeguard the rights of small investors in a climate of uncertainty and the risks tied to BBVA’s potential acquisition of the bank.
The association is led by Jordi Casas, a lawyer and president of the Foundation for Industry, joined by a cadre of influential business and academic figures with historical connections to the bank, such as Juan Corominas, president of the Social Council of the University of Barcelona, and Joaquim Badia, an economist. The leadership team is completed by well known entrepreneurs and academics like Juan Bril, Santiago Sauquet and Joan Llonch, all committed to defending the interests of Sabadell’s minority shareholders.
Opposition to BBVA’s OPA
The principal reason behind the association’s creation is BBVA’s hostile bid. Jordi Casas notes that the operation poses a direct threat to Sabadell’s shareholders, since it would entail a meaningful loss of value. He adds that Sabadell’s history and its role in the Catalan business, social and cultural fabric demand a firm stand against this move.
For the association president, independence is central to maintaining the ability to generate value for both shareholders and customers. Sabadell has a present and future project that investors will find far more attractive than becoming a small part of BBVA, Casas states, also emphasizing the potential negative impact on the Catalan economy and on families and businesses that rely on the bank.
Clear Objectives and Commitment to Shareholders
The Association of Minority Shareholders of Banco Sabadell has as its core mission the defense of its members across Spain. Its efforts focus on preventing the bank from losing its independence to a larger competitor and on promoting a policy of stable and growing dividends. According to the founders, Sabadell’s independence is essential for the bank to continue its growth trajectory and to offer a range of financial products that support development in a free market environment.
In addition, the association positions itself against any move that could generate oligopolies in the financial sector, defending the importance of competition in the market. It also advocates for job stability, opposing corporate decisions that could threaten employment in regions where Sabadell maintains a strong presence.
In the words of Jordi Casas, this is a crucial moment not only for Banco Sabadell but for all the bank’s shareholders. He urges shareholders from Catalonia and across Spain to join the association and defend their interests actively. When our voice is heard, we can slow down this operation for the benefit of all involved, Casas concludes.
Un legado que mira al futuro
The association’s headquarters are located in the historic building of the Gremi de Fabricants de Sabadell, a symbolic site as it housed the bank’s first office until 1954. This link to the bank’s origins reinforces the commitment to Sabadell’s independence and its forward-looking plan. The new entity aspires for the bank to continue its nearly 150-year trajectory as one of the main players in Spain’s financial system, creating wealth for shareholders and for the companies that rely on its financing.
Moreover, the association highlights the essential role Sabadell has played as an economic engine in the regions where it operates, not only through its financial activities but also through the initiatives of the Sabadell Foundation. It reaffirms its pledge to economic and social development and to safeguarding the legacy of an institution that has powered the growth of many firms and projects across Spain. The association has established engagement channels to involve interested parties in the initiative and learn how they can participate in safeguarding Sabadell’s future.