SCH-SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO (net profits EUR 3.878 billion over first nine months of 2005) has acquired 19.8% of the American SOVEREIGN BANCORP (assets of over $62 billion, stock exchange capitalisation of $9.2 billion and net profits of EUR 717 million foreseen for 2005) for the sum of $2.4 billion with the possibility of acquiring all of it as of 2008.