Banco Bilbao Will Continue to Distribute Hedge Fund Products
By Charles Penty
Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, the Spanish lender that reported about 300 million euros ($401 million) in losses fromBernard Madoff’s alleged fraud, will continue to distribute hedge fund products to clients.
“BBVA hasn’t changed its strategy of distributing hedge funds, which is linked to the demand of its institutional clients both for structured products and funds,” an official for the bank, who asked not to be named, said in a statement.
BBVA was responding to a story today in Expansion newspaper, which said the bank planned to withdraw from the business of selling structured hedge fund products to avoid losses.
BBVA, based in Bilbao, Spain, also denied a claim in Expansion’s story, which cited “some market experts,” that the lender could face up to 300 million euros in further losses from structured products.
The bank said Dec. 15 it may register as much as 300 million euros in losses after setting up products linked to Madoff, who has allegedly confessed to a $50 billion fraud.