The Spanish banking group BANCO SABADELL (15.4 billion in assets) with profits of EUR 98 million during the first half of 2000) is to acquire 98.8% of the capital of BANCO HERRERO (3.3 billion in assets with a profit of EUR 18.9 million during the first half of 1999) from the Catalan savings bank LA CAIXA. In exchange, the latter will acquire a 15% stake in the group SABADELL. The amount of this operation is evaluated at 112 billion pesetas.