Totta was about to give up the purchase of Banif – Express

Banco Santander Totta came close to give up the acquisition of Banif during a meeting at the Bank of Portugal due to issues raised by telephone from Brussels on the question of State aid, said on Wednesday President Vieira Monteiro.

“They put us a mobile phone in front, loudly, and spoke with DG with [Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission]. DG With first considered our proposal within the private sale and questioned us about our proposal, “said António Vieira Monteiro during his hearing in the inquiry committee to Banif.

” Then He entered into a discussion of what was considered State aid. We said from the beginning that we accepted that not to be considered State aid. No autorizaríamos in the future DG With had no control over our activity. “, Underlined

And said:” It was a matter ‘sine qua non’ [decisive]. If that was not accepted, Santander Totta got up and left the meeting. By the way, was about to happen. The conversation was going in this direction and we closed the papers and we prepared to leave. “

According to the manager,” the third part was how we would make the integration of Banif assets. “
Vieira Monteiro was responding to questions by Michael James, PCP’s deputy, on the content of the telephone conversation held with Brussels at a meeting held on December 18.

“to some point there was talk of help State, but as the conversation was in English, there may have been some mistake, “said the leader of the Santander Totta, in a relaxed tone, although stressing that the financial manager of the bank, Manuel Black, that was who gave the answers to DG Comp is fluent in English, because studied many years abroad.

For the communist deputy, “it is clear that DG With recoiled from the positions of Banco Santander Totta. But did not with the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD). “

This reference is based on the intention of the Portuguese Government to the European Commission to make an integration of Banif in the public bank, which was refused by Brussels since CGD not yet returned the state aid received in 2012.