A PYMNTS Company

Mexico Considers The Antitrust Fallout Of Banamex Sale

By  |  January 13, 2022

The Mexican government on Wednesday, January 12, signaled it would be alert to possible antitrust implications of Citigroup’s sale of its consumer banking operations in Mexico and stated it expected plenty of bidders to emerge for the assets, reported Reuters.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    In a statement, the finance ministry stated the departure from Mexico of the country’s no. 3 consumer bank “raises delicate matters for the finance and regulatory authorities, which will receive rigorous and strict attention from the finance ministry, including a fundamental issue regarding concentration.”

    Related: Mexican Billionaire Salinas Could Buy Citi’s Citibanamex

    Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O said the government had “no bias” about who could acquire the Citibanamex assets and that domestic and foreign bidders were welcome to compete.

    “In due course, as the process matures, the Mexican government will be observing and looking at the different offers,” Ramirez told Reuters in an interview.

    His ministry said Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser came personally to Mexico “to explain the decision, and stressed the bank will maintain its wholesale corporate banking activities in our country, which will involve new investments.”

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.