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CaixaBank, the new retail bank by La Caixa, will start trading in the Stock Exchange on July 1st

May 13, 2011 01:48 AM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

The transformation of the savings bank La Caixa’s industrial holding, Criteria into the private bank CaixaBank is reaching the final stage. Criteria’s stockholder board approved duplicating the current stocks by issuing 300,000 convertible bonds. The new bank expects increasing its market share in Spain by 50% through business activity increase and new acquisitions in the period 2011-2014. The announcement is made the day after billionaire Carlos Slim bought 900,000 CaixaBank stocks.

20 years since the creation of Catalonia’s first private university, the Universitat Ramon Llull

May 12, 2011 03:57 PM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

The Universitat Ramon Llull (URL) was created 20 years ago and brought together several prestigious educational institutions, such as ESADE, IQS and Blanquerna. Over the last 20 years, the university has gained recognition and is now on the European Association of Universities’ board. Banco Santander’s President Emilio Botín, the Spanish Minister for Education and the Catalan political class gathered for the 20th anniversary celebration.

Catalan airline Vueling to open new operating base in Paris Orly

May 12, 2011 01:54 AM | CNA / Jordi Font

The airline Vueling, which has its main base at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, has a network of permanent operating bases, to which Paris Orly will be added if French authorities give the green light. Vueling’s Chairman, Josep Piqué, announced that a minimum of six planes will be based at France’s second airport. Across the 21 routes it has in France, the airline estimates that it will carry 26% more passengers in 2011 when compared to last year.

FC Barcelona win the Spanish League title against Llevant

May 12, 2011 01:33 AM | Jordi Clos

The most desired point (1-1). Barça are the Spanish League champions after drawing away to Llevant. Keita scored the goal that eventually secured the third consecutive title, in Guardiola’s third year as coach. There are still two matches to play, but it is mathematically impossible being overtaken Real Madrid. And now, Barça faces its next challenge: the Champions League final against Manchester United.

Voting on the Competitiveness Fund at the Spanish Parliament pushes the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) into a quagmire

May 11, 2011 11:27 AM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

The Spanish Government risked losing an important vote at the Parliament if members of the Catalan Socialists had voted the same they did in the Senate. However, they voted together with the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE). By obliging the PSC to choose between its vote coherence and its loyalty to the PSOE, the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Coalition CiU dislocated the PSC in the middle of the municipal election campaign. The rejected motion had asked the Spanish Government to reconsider its stance and pay the Competitiveness Fund’s 1.45 billion euros in 2011.