"Every move that can strengthen our project is welcome," the spokesman for Caixa Penedes, one of the four banks that make up Banco Mare Nostrum, Alberto Puig, said when asked about the reports. "Among the cajas, everyone is talking to everyone," he added. Another four savings bank groups have sold assets to raise their capital. The Bank of Spain will allow cajas on a case-by-case basis until December to close stake sales to private investors and will give them until March 2012 to hold intial public offerings.