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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20459
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FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
November 15, 2002
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Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Plaza de Canalejas, 1
28014 Madrid, Spain
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
files or will file annual reports under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
furnishing the information contained in this Form is
also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A
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Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item
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1. Press Release dated November 14, 2002 titled, "Santander Central
Hispano Focuses Business in Peru".
[Santander Central Hispano Logo]
SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO REFOCUSES
BUSINESS IN PERU
Madrid, November 14th 2002 - The Santander Central Hispano Group has reached
agreement to sell its retail banking business in Peru to Banco de Credito del
Peru, subject to authorisation from the Peruvian regulatory bodies. The
operation will consist of a public share tender offer by Banco de Credito.
Santander will maintain its banking presence in Peru through more selective
activities that will focus essentially on developing Corporate and SME Banking,
Institutional Banking and Preferential Customer Banking. This will be done
through specialised banking units that give clear added value to these
businesses.
Likewise, the Santander Group will continue to boost its significant pension
plan business in the country through AFP Union Vida, as well as its investment
banking units Santander Investment and Santander S.A.B, Sociedad de Corretaje de
Valores.
AFP Union Vida is Peru's second-largest pension fund manager, with more than
700,000 affiliates, a market share of 28% and assets under management in excess
of US$1,090 million.
At the same time, Santander will maintain its activities in Peru linked to its
Universia portal and Universities Programme, through which it collaborates with
59 Peruvian universities and the National Association of University Chancellors,
covering 390,000 of the country's university students or 97% of the total.
Santander Central Hispano is among the world's leading banks in terms of stock
market capitalisation. It is present in 42 countries with over 9,400 branches,
335 billion euros in assets and 426 billion in managed funds. In Latin America
it is the leader in earnings, with US$1,050 million in net attributable income
in the first nine months of 2002. It has 23 million customers in the region and
4,500 branches, the largest financial distribution network in Latin America.
Investor Relations Department
Plaza de Canalejas, 1-5th Floor; 28014 Madrid; Phone: 3491.5581031/2040/1370,
Fax: 3491.5226670/5581453
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
Date: November 15, 2002 By: /s/ Jose Antonio Alvarez
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Name: Jose Antonio Alvarez
Title: Executive Vice President