- Shares of Banco Santander (SAN, BSBR, BSAC, OTCPK:BCDRF) -1.2% premarket following news that 79-year-old chairman Emilio Botin died of a heart attack on Tuesday night. (press release)
- Under his tenure, Santander grew through aggressive acquistions, and through the introduction of novel banking services. Today, SAN is the largest bank in the eurozone by value.
- But analysts still question the lender's capital position, with much of its strength in its many subsidiaries.
- His death raises the question of succession. Botin's share in the bank isn't large enough to guarantee his daughter Ana's control. (BBC)