THE FINAL details of the Spanish government's Pta340bn ($2.24bn) divestment of the financial services group, Argentaria, were unveiled this week with observers saying the deal is moving toward a successful conclusion. Led by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, Banco Santander and Argentaria, the issue will consist of some 35,764,129 ordinary shares, representing 29.2% of Argentaria's equity capital. Although the sale is still in a relatively early stage the local retail market has already subscribed for enough shares to fill the deal twice over. This now customary enthusiastic response from individual retail investors first emerged three years ago for deals such as Repsol, Endesa and Telefónica -- and can now be relied upon to propel even the most sluggish sale to a successful conclusion.
January 30, 1998