RNS Number:5915T
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA
23 December 2003

"BBVA, S.A.", pursuant to the provisions of article 82 of the Securities Market
Act, proceeds by means of the present document to notify the following:

                               SIGNIFICANT EVENT

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A. has undertaken irrevocably to sell its
holdings of 24.37% in BANCO ATLANTICO, S.A. to BANCO DE SABADELL, S.A., which on
December 22nd submits to the CNMV (the Spanish Securities and Investments Board)
a public takeover bid for 100% of the BANCO ATLANTICO share capital.

The public takeover bid that the BANCO DE SABADELL has announced its intention
of drawing up will offer a payment of 71.79 euros for each BANCO ATLANTICO
share, and will be subject to acceptance by at least 67% of the latter's
capital.



                                                              December 21th 2003


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

HOLUORRRORRUUAA