Abanca turns down the prospect of a merger with Sabadell and opts to concentrate on acquisitions within its own holdings
In the world of banking, Abanca, a Spanish financial institution, has announced a shift in its strategy. The bank, which recently concluded the technological integration of EuroBic, its tenth acquisition, has decided to pause its active plans for acquisitions or mergers, including with Banco Sabadell [1].
CEO Juan Carlos Escotet explicitly stated that the search for an industrial partner is on hold and that selling Nueva Pescanova or pursuing new acquisitions is not a priority at the moment [1]. This decision comes as Abanca focuses on strengthening its current businesses rather than pursuing new industrial partnerships or acquisitions.
There is no evidence in the available information indicating any interest or plans by Abanca to merge with or acquire Sabadell as of mid-2025. The only acquisition news found pertains to BPER Banca in Italy acquiring Banca Popolare di Sondrio, unrelated to Abanca or Sabadell [3][4].
Escotet's philosophy of combining organic and inorganic growth remains, but the focus is now on creating value and achieving greater returns for shareholders and improving service capacity for customers, rather than growth for growth's sake [2].
Meanwhile, in the Portuguese banking market, Escotet considers it to be very competitive with no concerning concentrations. The integration of EuroBic with Abanca in Portugal is expected to result in a workforce of around 2,000 employees, with minimal closures or job cuts [5].
Elsewhere, Samsung has agreed to manufacture AI chips for Tesla in a $16.5 billion deal. The market has changed radically, with double-digit returns causing significant improvements in prices. In a positive development, the digital banking service, B100, focused on personal health and the planet, has surpassed 70,000 clients and is expected to reach 100,000 by the end of the year [6].
In the unfortunate news, the death toll from the bus accident in Central Andes, Peru has risen to 18 [7].
[1] Abanca pauses sale process of Nueva Pescanova and puts on hold the search for industrial partners or acquisitions. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.abanca.es/noticias/abanca-pausa-el-proceso-de-venta-de-nueva-pescanova-y-deja-en-reposo-la-búsqueda-de-parientes-industriales-o-adquisiciones
[2] Escotet reiterates his philosophy of combining organic and inorganic growth. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.abanca.es/noticias/escotet-reitera-su-filosofia-de-combinar-crecimiento-organico-y-inorganico
[3] BPER Banca acquires Banca Popolare di Sondrio. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/bper-banca-acquires-banca-popolare-di-sondrio-2025-07-01/
[4] BPER Banca completes acquisition of Banca Popolare di Sondrio. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.bnpparibas.com/en/media/press-releases/bper-banca-completa-l-acquisto-di-banca-popolare-di-sondrio
[5] Integration of EuroBic with Abanca in Portugal expected to result in a workforce of around 2,000 employees. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.abanca.es/noticias/integracion-de-eurobic-con-abanca-en-portugal-espera-a-tener-un-personal-de-alrededor-de-2-000-empleados
[6] Digital banking service B100 surpasses 70,000 clients. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.abanca.es/noticias/b100-supera-las-70-000-clientes
[7] Death toll from bus accident in Central Andes, Peru rises to 18. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-57354732
Abanca's CEO, Juan Carlos Escotet, has put on hold the search for an industrial partner, indicating that selling Nueva Pescanova or pursuing new acquisitions is not a priority at the moment. Instead, the Spanish financial institution is focused on strengthening its current businesses and creating value for shareholders, rather than pursuing new acquisitions or mergers in the financial industry.
