BBVA has agreed to acquire Simple,  a US-based company that has created a new standard in digital banking. The acquisition is part of BBVA’s strategy to lead the technology-driven change that is transforming the financial services industry. The transaction values Simple at $117 million

BBVA has placed on the international capital markets its second issuance of contingent convertible securities into ordinary shares under the new European capital regulations (Basel III CRD-IV). The issuance amounted to 1.5 billion euros with perpetual maturity, with a 7% coupon and cancellation option from year five. BBVA was the first European bank to launch an issuance of this type of instrument in April 2013.

• Earnings: the strength and recurrence of BBVA revenues were once again evident. Gross income exceeded €21 billion for the whole year
• Risks: risk indicators tended to stabilize. Excluding real estate activity in Spain, the Group’s NPA ratio stands at 4.6% and the coverage ratio is 59%. Entries to NPLs show an improvement in their behavior. Non-performing assets were down in Spain in the fourth quarter
• Capital adequacy: the core capital ratio under Basel II stands at 11.6% compared to 10.8% a year earlier.

BBVA is working on new and enhanced channels to offer customers an easier way to communicate with the bank, offering a seamless experience tailored to their needs. BBVA attaches great importance to the development and application of new technologies to help it innovate in the market. BBVA is a global bank present in more than 30 countries and offers solutions tailored to the needs of each one.

• Results: Earnings remain strong despite the complex environment, thanks to BBVA’s diversified model and the strength of emerging markets. Gross income for the first nine months comes to €16.30 billion. Net income reaches €3.08 billion, 85.8% more than the same period a year earlier
• Risks: As expected, BBVA has carried out this quarter an extraordinary and demanding exercise that has led to a reclassification to non performing of €3.86 billion of refinanced loans in Spain. Following the exercise, the Group’s NPA ratio, excluding real estate activity in Spain, stands at 4.6% and the NPA ratio of the Spanish banking activities stands 6.2%. 41% of NPLs are up to date with payments
• Capital adequacy: The core capital ratio for the Group increased to 11.4% at the end of September, based on current Basel regulation. The ratio does not include the impact from the sales of the pension business in Chile, the 5.1% stake in China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited and the franchise in Panama. Such effect under Basel III fully loaded would lead to an increase of about one percentage point
• Dividend: From 2014 onwards, BBVA intends to put in place a shareholder remuneration policy in accordance with the Group’s growth profile, with a cash dividend payout of 35% to 40% of profit. Taking into account the recommendation of the Bank of Spain, BBVA will not pay a dividend in January 2014, and intends to increase the shareholder remuneration payable in April 2014 to a total of 17 euro cents per share through the “dividend option” scheme

BBVA is among the world’s top 25 multinational workplaces, according to the prestigious international consultancy Great Place to Work®. The 2013 list was unveiled today at Great Place to Work’s annual gala in San Francisco.