This unit manages the portfolio of industrial and financial investments in companies operating in the telecommunications, media, electricity, oil, gas and financial sectors. Like Asset/Liability Management, it lies within the Group’s Finance Division.

BBVA applies strict requirements to this portfolio regarding risk-control procedures, economic capital consumption and return on investment, diversifying investments across different sectors. It also applies dynamic hedging and monetization management strategies to its holdings. In the first half of 2012 it invested €103m and divested €106m.

As of June 30, 2012, the market value of the holdings in Industrial & Financial Companies portfolio was €2,849m.