Loan Agreement Dated March 25, 2008

Exhibit 10.1

Dated March 25, 2008

Santander BanCorp (“Santander”)
Santander Financial Services, Inc. (“Santander FS”)
(each a “Borrower” and together the “Borrowers”)

Banco Santander Puerto Rico (“Bank”)

Loan Agreement
Contents



Details			1

General terms			3
1 Interpretation			3
1.1 Definitions			3
1.2 References to certain general terms			7
1.3 Number			8
1.4 Headings			8
2 The Facility and Facility Limits			8
2.1 Bank to fund			8
2.2 Maximum accommodation — Limits			8
2.3 Liability of the Borrowers			8
2.4 Purpose			9
3 Using the Facility			9
3.1 Drawing down			9
3.2 Requesting a drawdown			9
3.3 Effect of a Drawdown Notice			9
3.4 Conditions to drawdown			9
3.5 Conditions to all drawdowns			9
3.6 Benefit of conditions			10
4 Interest			10
4.1 Interest charges			10
4.2 When Interest Periods begin and end			10
5 Repaying and prepaying			10
5.1 Repayment			10
5.2 Prepayment			11
5.3 Prepayments not available for redrawing			11
6 Payments			11
6.1 Manner of payment			11
6.2 No Withholding			12
7 Cancellation			12
8 Increased costs			12
8.1 Compensation			12
8.2 Possible minimization			13
9 Illegality or impossibility			13
9.1 Bank’s right to suspend or cancel			13
9.2 Extent and duration			13
9.3 Notice requiring prepayment			13
10 Representations and warranties			14
10.1 Representations and warranties			14
10.2 Repetition of representations and warranties			15
10.3 Reliance			15
11 Undertakings			15
11.1 General undertakings			15


12 Default			16
12.1 Events of Default			16
12.2 Consequences of default			17
12.3 Investigation of default			18
13 Costs and indemnities			18
13.1 What the Borrowers agree to pay			18
13.2 Indemnity			18
14 Interest on overdue amounts			19
14.1 Obligation to pay			19
14.2 Compounding			19
14.3 Interest following judgment			19
15 Application of payments			19
16 Dealing with interests			19
16.1 No dealing by Borrowers			19
16.2 Dealings by Bank			20
17 Notices and other communications			20
17.1 Form — all communications			20
17.2 Form — communications sent by email			20
17.3 Delivery			20
17.4 When effective			20
17.5 When taken to be received			20
17.6 Receipt outside business hours			21
17.7 Waiver of notice period			21
18 General			21
18.1 Application to Transaction Documents			21
18.2 Prompt performance			21
18.3 Consents			21
18.4 Certificates			22
18.5 Set-off			22
18.6 Discretion in exercising rights			22
18.7 Partial exercising of rights			22
18.8 No liability for loss			22
18.9 Conflict of interest			22
18.10 Remedies cumulative			22
18.11 Indemnities			22
18.12 Rights and obligations are unaffected			23
18.13 Inconsistent law			23
18.14 Supervening legislation			23
18.15 Time of the essence			23
18.16 Variation and waiver			23
18.17 Further steps			23
18.18 Counterparts			23
18.19 Governing law			23

Schedule 1 - Conditions precedent (clause 3.4)			1

Schedule 2 - Drawdown Notice (clause 3)			2

Signature page

Details

Parties


Parties	Santander, Santander FS and Bank


Santander BanCorp	Name	Santander BanCorp

	IRS TAX ID	00-0000000

	Incorporated	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

	Address	000 Xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

	Fax	x0-000-000-0000

	Telephone	x0- 000-000-0000

	Email	xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx

	Attention	Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx

Santander FS	Name	Santander Financial Services, Inc.

	IRS TAX ID	00-0000000

	Incorporated	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

	Address	000 Xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

	Fax	x0-000-000-0000

	Telephone	x0-000-000-0000

	Email	xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx

	Attention	Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx


Parties	Santander, Santander FS and Bank

Bank	Name	Banco Santander Puerto Rico

	IRS TAX ID	66-312389

	Incorporated in	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

	Address	000 Xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxx 0xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

	Fax	000-000-0000

	Telephone	000-000-0000

	Email	xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx

	Attention	Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx


Summary of facility

Facility	Facility Limit	$640,000,000

	Santander BanCorp Facility	$186,000,000
	Limit

	Santander FS Facility Limit	$454,000,000

	Availability Period	The period from the date of this agreement to September 24, 2008

	Maturity Date	September 24, 2008

	Margin	0.465% per annum

	Purpose	To refinance borrowings from National Australia Bank Limited and for general corporate purposes.

Loan Agreement

General terms

1		Interpretation

1.1		Definitions

		These meanings apply unless the contrary intention appears:

		Amount Owing means the total of all amounts which are then due for payment, or which will or may become due for payment, in connection with any Transaction Document (including transactions in connection with them) to the Bank.

		Authorized Officer means any appointed by the party to act as an Authorized Officer for the purposes of the Transaction Documents

		Availability Period means the period from the date of this agreement to September 24, 2008.

		Bank means the person so described above in the Details.

		Borrower means Santander or Santander FS, as the context requires.

		Borrowers means Santander and Santander FS.

		Business Day means a day on which banks are open for general banking business in Madrid, Spain, New York, New York and San Xxxx, Puerto Rico (not being a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in any such place).

		BSCH means Banco Santander, SA.

		Control of a corporation includes the direct or indirect power to directly or indirectly:

	(a)		direct the management or policies of the corporation; or

	(b)		control the membership of the board of directors,

	(c)		whether or not the power has statutory, legal or equitable force or is based on statutory, legal or equitable rights and whether or not it arises by means of trusts, agreements, arrangements, understandings, practices, the ownership of any interest in shares or stock of the corporation or otherwise.

		Costs includes costs, charges and expenses, including those incurred in connection with advisors.

		Default Rate means the Interest Rate plus 2% per annum. For the purpose of this definition, the Interest Rate is calculated as if the overdue amount is a Drawing with Interest Periods of

		30 days (or another period chosen from time to time by the Bank) with the first Interest Period starting on and including the due date.

		Details means the section of this agreement headed “Details.”

		Directive means:

	(a)		a law; or

	(b)		a treaty, an official directive, request, guideline or policy (whether or not having the force of law) with which responsible financiers generally comply in carrying on their business.

		Drawdown Date means the date on which a drawdown is or is to be made.

		Drawdown Notice means a completed notice containing the information and representations and warranties set out in Schedule 2.

		Drawing means the outstanding principal amount of a drawdown made under the Facility.

		Event of Default means an event so described in clause 12 (“Default”).

		Facility means the Santander BanCorp Facility or the Santander FS Facility or both, as the context requires.

		Facility Limit means the sum of the Santander BanCorp Facility Limit and the Santander FS Facility Limit, as each may be reduced or cancelled under this agreement.

		Financial Report means a financial report consisting of:

	(a)		financial statements; and

	(b)		any notes to those financial statements; and

	(c)		any directors’ declaration about the financial statements and notes,

		together with any reports (including any directors’ reports) attached to any of those documents or intended to be read with any of them.

		A person is Insolvent if:

	(a)		it is (or states that it is) an insolvent under administration or insolvent (within the meaning of any relevant law); or

	(b)		it is in liquidation, in provisional liquidation, under administration or wound up or has had a controller appointed to its property; or

	(c)		it is subject to any arrangement, assignment, moratorium or composition, protected from creditors under any statute or dissolved (in each case, other than to carry out a reconstruction or amalgamation while solvent on terms approved by the Bank); or

	(d)		an application or order has been made (and, in the case of an application, it is not stayed, withdrawn or dismissed within 30 days), resolution passed, proposal put forward, or any other action taken, in each case in connection with that person, which is preparatory to or could result in any of (a), (b) or (c) above; or

	(e)		it is otherwise unable to pay its debts when they fall due; or

	(f)		something having a substantially similar effect to (a) to (e) happens in connection with that person under the law of any jurisdiction.

		Interest Payment Date means the last day of an Interest Period.

		Interest Period means, subject to clause 4.2, a period of 30 days.

		Interest Rate means LIBOR plus the Margin.

		LIBOR means, for any date (“Relevant Date”) and period (“Relevant Period”) and amount (“Relevant Amount”), the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100,000 of 1%) appearing on the Dow Xxxxx Market Service (formerly Telerate page 3750) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days preceding the Relevant Date. If such rates does not appear on the Dow Xxxxx Market Service, the rate for the Relevant Date will be the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100,000 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days preceding the Relevant Date for the Relevant Period commencing on the Relevant Date and in the Relevant Amount; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100,000 of 1%).

		Limit means:

	(a)		the Facility Limit;

	(b)		the Santander BanCorp Facility Limit; and

	(c)		Santander FS Facility Limit,

		or any of them, as the context requires.

		Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on:

	(a)		the applicable Borrower’s ability to comply with its obligations under any Transaction Document; or

	(b)		the Bank’s rights under a Transaction Document; or

	(c)		the business or financial condition of the applicable Borrower.

		Margin means a margin of 0.465% per annum.

		Maturity Date means September 24, 2008.

		Moody’s means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor or successors.

		Potential Event of Default means an event which, with the giving of notice, lapse of time or fulfillment of any condition, would be likely to become an Event of Default.

		Reference Banks means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Bank.

		S&P means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor or successors.

		Santander BanCorp Facility means the facility made available to Santander under this agreement.

		Santander BanCorp Facility Limit means $186,000,000.

		Santander FS Facility means the facility made available to Santander FS under this agreement.

		Santander FS Facility Limit means $454,000,000.

		Santander Group means the corporate group comprising BSCH and its consolidated Subsidiaries.

		Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment means the Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment dated on or about the date of this Loan Agreement, between BSCH and the Bank.

		Subsidiary of an entity means another entity which:

	(a)		is a subsidiary of the first entity within the meaning of any applicable legislation, if the context requires it; or

	(b)		is part of the consolidated entity constituted by the first entity and the entities it is required to include in the consolidated financial statements it prepares, or would be if the first entity was required to prepare consolidated financial statements.

		Taxes means taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and duties (including any withholding tax, stamp duties and transaction duties) imposed by any authority together with any related interest, penalties, fines and expenses in connection with them, except if imposed on, or calculated having regard to, the net income of the Bank or any tax imposed on the Bank as a result of conducting business operations in Puerto Rico.

		Transaction Documents means:

	(a)		this agreement;

	(b)		any Drawdown Notice;

	(c)		the Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment;

	(d)		any document which a Borrower or BSCH acknowledges in writing to be a Transaction Document; and

	(e)		any other document connected with any of them.

1.2		References to certain general terms

		Unless the contrary intention appears, in this agreement:

	(a)		a reference to a group of persons is a reference to any two or more of them jointly and to each of them individually;

	(b)		an agreement, representation or warranty in favor of two or more persons is for the benefit of them jointly and each of them individually;

	(c)		an agreement, representation or warranty by two or more persons binds them jointly and each of them individually but an agreement, representation or warranty by the Bank binds the Bank individually only;

	(d)		a reference to any thing (including an amount) is a reference to the whole and each part of it;

	(e)		a reference to a document (including this agreement) includes any variation or replacement of it;

	(f)		a reference to United States dollars, dollars, $ or US$ is a reference to the lawful currency of the United States of America;

	(g)		a reference to a time of day is a reference to Puerto Rico time;

	(h)		the word “person” includes an individual, a firm, a body corporate, an unincorporated association and an authority;

	(i)		a reference to a particular person includes the person’s executors, administrators, successors, substitutes (including persons taking by novation) and assigns;

	(j)		the words “including,” “for example” or “such as” when introducing an example, do not limit the meaning of the words to which the example relates to that example or examples of a similar kind;

	(k)		an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is “continuing” if it has not been waived by, or remedied to the satisfaction of, the Bank.

1.3		Number

		The singular includes the plural and vice versa.

1.4		Headings

		Headings and the Summary in the Details are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this agreement.

2		The Facility and Facility Limits

2.1		Bank to fund

		The Bank agrees to provide the financial accommodation requested by the Borrowers under this agreement.

2.2		Maximum accommodation — Limits

	(a)		Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the maximum total amount of financial accommodation available to the Borrowers under this agreement is the Facility Limit.

	(b)		Within the Facility Limit:

	(i)		the maximum total amount of financial accommodation available to Santander is the Santander BanCorp Facility Limit; and

	(ii)		the maximum total amount of financial accommodation available to Santander FS is the Santander FS Facility Limit.

(c)

To avoid doubt:

	(i)		no part of the Santander BanCorp Facility Limit is available to be borrowed by Santander FS; and

	(ii)		no part of the Santander FS Facility Limit is available to be borrowed by Santander.

2.3		Liability of the Borrowers

		The Borrowers’ obligations to pay principal and interest in connection with the Facilities is several and not joint (“mancomunado”). Therefore:

	(a)		a Drawing by Santander under the Santander BanCorp Facility, all amounts of interest (including default interest) in connection with that Drawing, and amounts payable under clause 6.2 in connection with any payment by Santander, are repayable or payable (as the case may be) by Santander and not by Santander FS; and

	(b)		a Drawing by Santander FS under the Santander FS Facility, all amounts of interest (including default interest) in connection with that Drawing, and amounts payable

under clause 6.2 in connection with any payment by Santander FS, are repayable or payable (as the case may be) by Santander FS and not by Santander.

		Subject only to clause 2.3 above, the Borrowers are jointly and severally liable to pay all other amounts payable under the Transaction Documents (including amounts payable under indemnities to the extent they do not comprise amounts in the nature of those described in paragraphs (a) or (b)).

2.4		Purpose

		Drawings under the Facilities may only be used to refinance borrowings from National Australia Bank Limited and for general corporate purposes, and for no other purpose.

3		Using the Facility

3.1		Drawing down

		The Borrowers need not use the Facility. However, if a Borrower wants to use a Facility, a Borrower may do so by a single drawdown. The undrawn part of a Facility is automatically cancelled after the Drawing is made.

3.2		Requesting a drawdown

		If a Borrower wants a drawdown, it agrees to give a Drawdown Notice to the Bank by 11:00 am (Puerto Rico time) on the Business Day next preceding the day it wants the drawdown. Each Borrower must provide its own Drawdown Notice.

3.3		Effect of a Drawdown Notice

		A Drawdown Notice is effective when the Bank actually receives it in legible form. An effective Drawdown Notice is irrevocable.

3.4		Conditions to drawdown

		Neither Borrower may request a drawdown until the Bank has received every item listed in Schedule 1 (“Conditions precedent”) in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank. Any item required to be certified must be certified by a secretary or a director of the applicable Borrower as being true and complete as at a date no earlier than the date of this agreement.

		The Bank agrees to notify the applicable Borrower as soon as practicable after the Bank receives the final item.

3.5		Conditions to all drawdowns

		The Bank need not provide any financial accommodation unless:

	(a)		it is to be provided during the Availability Period; and

	(b)		it is satisfied that the financial accommodation is to be used solely for the purpose described in clause 2.4; and

	(c)		the Bank has received a Drawdown Notice in respect of it; and

	(d)		the Bank is satisfied that the representations and warranties in clause 10 (“Representations and warranties”) and in the Drawdown Notice, and the statements in the Drawdown Notice, are correct and not misleading at the date of the Drawdown Notice and at the date the accommodation is provided; and

	(e)		the Bank is satisfied that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing, or would result from the accommodation being provided;and

	(f)		the Bank has received all other documents and other information it reasonably requests.

3.6	Benefit of conditions

	Each condition to drawdown is for the sole benefit of the Bank and may be waived by it.

4	Interest

4.1	Interest charges

	Each Borrower agrees to pay interest on the Drawing for each of its Interest Periods at the applicable Interest Rate. Interest:

	(a)		accrues daily from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of the Interest Period; and

	(b)		is payable on each Interest Payment Date; and

	(c)		is calculated on actual days elapsed and a year of 360 days.

4.2

When Interest Periods begin and end

	(a)		The first Interest Period for a Drawing begins on the Drawdown Date.

	(b)		Each subsequent Interest Period begins on the day when the preceding Interest Period for the Drawing ends.

	(c)		An Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day ends on the previous Business Day.

	(d)		However, an Interest Period which would otherwise end after the Maturity Date ends on the Maturity Date.

5		Repaying and prepaying

5.1		Repayment

		Each Borrower agrees to repay the Drawing in full on the Maturity Date.

5.2		Prepayment

		A Borrower may prepay the Drawing in full (but not in part) by notifying the proposed prepayment to the Bank by 11:00 am (Puerto Rico time) on the second Business Day before the prepayment (once given, a notice of prepayment is irrevocable and the Borrower is obliged to prepay in accordance with the notice).

		If the prepayment is made on the last day of the Interest Period for the Drawing, no break costs or other fees or charges are payable. However, if a Borrower prepays on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for the Drawing, it may be liable for break costs - see clause 13.2 (“Indemnity”).

5.3		Prepayments not available for redrawing

		Amounts prepaid or repaid, as the case may be, may not be redrawn.

6		Payments

6.1		Manner of payment

		Unless a provision of a Transaction Document expressly states otherwise, each Borrower agrees to make payments (including payments by way of reimbursement) under each Transaction Document:

	(a)		on the due date (or, if that is not a Business Day, on the previous Business Day); and

	(b)		not later than 11:00 am, Puerto Rico time; and

	(c)		in United States dollars in immediately available funds; and

	(d)		to the Bank by payment into the following account, or as the Bank otherwise directs:

Bank: Deutsche Bank

ABA: 000000000

For account of: Banco Santander PR

Account No.: 00000000

If the Bank directs a Borrower to pay a particular party or in a particular manner, a Borrower is taken to have satisfied its obligation to the Bank by paying in accordance with the direction.

		A Borrower satisfies a payment obligation only when the Bank or the person to whom it has directed payment receives the amount.

6.2		No Withholding

		All payments to be made by a Borrower must be made without set-off or counter-claim, and be free and clear of any withholding or deduction for Taxes unless prohibited by law. If any deduction is required by law, the relevant Borrower will make the deduction, pay any Taxes, and pay to the Bank further amount(s) sufficient to ensure that the Bank receives the same net amount as it would have received if no deduction had been made.

7		Cancellation

		Before a Drawing is made, a Borrower may cancel an undrawn Facility in whole or in part by notifying the Bank on or before the second Business Day before the cancellation is to take effect. A partial cancellation must be at least $1,000,000 and a whole multiple of $1,000,000. Once given, the notice is irrevocable. The relevant Limits will be reduced by the amount of any cancellation.

8		Increased costs

8.1		Compensation

		Each Borrower agrees to compensate the Bank on demand if the Bank determines that:

	(a)		a Directive or change in Directive, in either case applying for the first time after the date of this agreement; or

	(b)		a change in a Directive’s interpretation or administration by an authority after the date of this agreement; or

	(c)		compliance by the Bank or any of its Related Entities with any such Directive, changed Directive or changed interpretation or administration

directly or indirectly:

	(i)		increases the cost of the Facility to the Bank or any of its Related Entities; or

	(ii)		reduces any amount received or receivable by the Bank, or the effective return to, the Bank or any of its Related Entities, in connection with the Facility; or

	(iii)		reduces the return on capital allocated to the Facility.

In this clause 8.1, a reference to a Directive does not include a Directive imposing or changing the basis of a tax on the overall net income of the Bank.

		The Bank shall notify the Borrowers of any event occurring after the date of this agreement entitling the Bank to compensation under this clause 8.1 as promptly as practicable, but in any event within two days after the Bank obtains actual knowledge thereof, provided that if the Bank fails to give such notice to the Borrowers within two days after it obtains actual knowledge of such event, the Bank shall only be entitled to payment under clause 8.1 for costs or other amounts incurred or payable from and after the date that is two days prior to the date of actual notice to the Borrowers.

		Compensation need not be in the form of a lump sum and may be demanded as a series of payments.

8.2		Possible minimization

		Each Borrower agrees to compensate the Bank whether or not the increase or reduction could have been avoided. However, if a Borrower asks, the Bank agrees to consider ways of minimizing any increase or reduction.

9		Illegality or impossibility

9.1		Bank’s right to suspend or cancel

		This clause 9 applies if the Bank determines that:

	(a)		a change in a Directive; or

	(b)		a change in the interpretation or administration of a Directive by an authority; or

	(c)		a Directive,

		applying for the first time after the date of this agreement, makes it (or will make it) illegal or impossible in practice for the Bank to fund, provide, or continue to fund or provide, financial accommodation under the Transaction Documents. In these circumstances, the Bank, by giving a notice to the Borrowers, may suspend or cancel some or all of the Bank’s obligations under this agreement as indicated in the notice.

9.2		Extent and duration

		The suspension or cancellation:

	(a)		must apply only to the extent necessary to avoid the illegality or impossibility; and

	(b)		in the case of suspension, may continue only for so long as the illegality or impossibility continues.

9.3		Notice requiring prepayment

		If the illegality or impossibility relates to the Drawing, the Bank, by giving a notice to the Borrowers, may require prepayment of all or part of the Drawing and interest accrued on that

		part. Each Borrower agrees to repay the amount specified within two Business Days after receiving the notice (or, if earlier, on the date the illegality or impossibility arises).

10		Representations and warranties

10.1		Representations and warranties

		Each Borrower represents and warrants in respect of itself that:

	(a)		(incorporation and existence) it has been incorporated in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is validly existing under those laws and has power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted; and

	(b)		(power) it has power to enter into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and comply with its obligations under them; and

	(c)		(no contravention or exceeding power) the Transaction Documents and the transactions under them which involve it do not contravene its organizational documents (if any) or any law or obligation by which it is bound or to which any of its assets are subject, where such contravention has or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or cause a limitation on its powers or the powers of its directors to be exceeded; and

	(d)		(authorizations) it has in full force and effect the authorizations necessary for it to enter into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to comply with its obligations and exercise its rights under them and to allow them to be enforced; and

	(e)		(validity of obligations) its obligations under the Transaction Documents are valid and binding and are enforceable against it in accordance with their terms; and

	(f)		(benefit) it benefits by entering into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; and

	(g)		(accounts) its most recent Financial Report given to the Bank complies with the requirements of any applicable laws and:

	(i)		complies with any applicable accounting standards; and

	(ii)		gives a true and fair view of its financial position and performance or, if it is required to prepare consolidated financial statements, the financial position and performance of the consolidated entity constituted by it and the entities it is required to include in the consolidated financial statements; and

	(h)		(solvency) there are no reasonable grounds to suspect that it is unable to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable; and

	(i)		(not a trustee) unless stated in the Details, it does not enter into any Transaction Document as trustee; and

	(j)		(litigation) there is no pending or threatened proceeding affecting it or any of its assets before a court, authority, commission or arbitrator in which a decision against it (either alone or together with other decisions) is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

	(k)		(Event of Default) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing; and

	(l)		(default under law — Material Adverse Effect) it is not in breach of a law or obligation affecting it or its assets in a way which has had, or is likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and

	(m)		(full disclosure) all information provided by it to the Bank (whether following a request from the Bank or otherwise) and which is used by the Bank in its assessment of the nature and amount of the risk undertaken by the Bank in entering into the Transaction Documents, and doing anything in connection with them, is complete and accurate as of the time such information is provided to the Bank; and

	(n)		(no immunity) it has no immunity from the jurisdiction of a court or from legal process; and

	(o)		(residency) the Borrower is a company resident in Puerto Rico for taxation purposes and is not resident for taxation purposes in any other jurisdiction.

10.2		Repetition of representations and warranties

		The representations and warranties in this clause 10 are taken to be also repeated (by reference to the then current circumstances) on each Drawdown Date and (in the case of those in clause 10.1(d), (g), (h), (n) and (o)) on each Interest Payment Date.

10.3		Reliance

		Each Borrower acknowledges that the Bank has entered into the Transaction Documents in reliance on the representations and warranties in this clause 10.

11		Undertakings

11.1		General undertakings

		Each Borrower undertakes:

	(a)		(accounting records) to keep proper accounting records; and

	(b)		(conduct of business) to conduct its business (including collecting debts owed to it) in the ordinary course consistent with its practices as at the date of this agreement; and

	(c)		(no cessation of business) not, without the Bank’s consent, (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) significantly change the general character of any business it conducts; and

	(d)		(information) to give the Bank any document or other information that the Bank reasonably requests from time to time; and

	(e)		(status certificates) on request from the Bank, to give the Bank a certificate signed by two of its Authorized Officers which states whether an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is continuing; and

	(f)		(maintain authorizations) to obtain, renew on time and comply with the terms of each authorization necessary for it to enter into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to comply with its obligations and exercise its rights under them and to allow them to be enforced.

12		Default

12.1		Events of Default

		Each of the following is an Event of Default:

	(a)		(non-payment — Transaction Document) a Borrower does not pay on time any amount payable by it under any Transaction Document in the manner required under it; or

	(b)		(cross default) any present or future monetary obligations of a Borrower for amounts totaling more than $3,000,000 (or equivalent) are not satisfied on time (or at the end of their period of grace) or become prematurely payable as a result of a default of a Borrower.

			(In this clause 12.1(b), a “monetary obligation” means a monetary obligation in connection with:

	(i)		money borrowed or raised; or

	(ii)		any hiring arrangement, redeemable preference share, letter of credit or financial markets transaction (including a swap, option or futures contract), performance bond or guarantee facility; or

	(iii)		a guarantee or indemnity in connection with anything referred to in clauses 12.1(b)(i) or 12.1(b)(ii)); or

(c)

(enforcement against assets) distress is levied or a judgment, order or Encumbrance is enforced, or becomes enforceable, against any property of a Borrower having a value of more than $3,000,000 (or equivalent); or

	(d)		(incorrect representation or warranty) a representation or warranty made, or taken by clause 10.2 to be repeated, by or for a Borrower in this agreement or by BSCH in the Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment is found to have been incorrect or misleading when made or so taken to be repeated; or

	(e)		(Insolvency) a Borrower or Banco Santander becomes Insolvent; or

	(f)		(ceasing business) a Borrower or BSCH stops payment on any of its material obligations, ceases to carry on its business or a material part of it, or threatens to do either of those things except to reconstruct or amalgamate while solvent on terms approved by the Bank; or

	(g)		(voidable Transaction Document) a Transaction Document or a transaction in connection with it is or becomes (or is claimed to be) wholly or partly void, voidable or unenforceable or does not have (or is claimed not to have) the priority the Bank intended it to have, in each case, as a result of events not due to the acts or omissions of the Bank (“claimed” in this paragraph means claimed by a Borrower or any of its Related Entities or anyone on behalf of any of them); or

	(h)		(appointment of manager) a person is appointed under legislation to manage any part of the affairs of a Borrower or BSCH; or

	(i)		(Material Adverse Effect) an event occurs which has, or is likely to have (or a series of events occur which, together, have, or are likely to have), a Material Adverse Effect;

	(j)		(collateral) the value of any cash collateral deposited with the Bank and provided as security for the Facility under the Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment ceases to be at least equal in amount to any amount that may be required under Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W promulgated thereunder; or

	(k)		(non-compliance with other obligations) a Borrower or BSCH does not comply with any other obligation under any Transaction Document and, if the non-compliance can be remedied, does not remedy the non-compliance within ten days.

12.2		Consequences of default

		If an Event of Default is continuing, then the Bank may declare at any time by notice to the Borrowers that:

(a)

subject to clause 2.3, an amount equal to the Amount Owing is either:

	(i)		payable on demand; or

	(ii)		immediately due for payment;

(b)

the Bank’s obligations specified in the notice are terminated.

The Bank may make either or both of these declarations. The making of either of them gives immediate effect to its provisions.

12.3		Investigation of default

		If the Bank reasonably believes that an Event of Default is, or may be, continuing, the Bank may appoint a person to investigate this. Each Borrower agrees to co-operate with the person and comply with every reasonable request they make. If there is or was an Event of Default, the Borrowers agree to pay all Costs in connection with the investigation.

13		Costs and indemnities

13.1		What the Borrowers agree to pay

		The Borrowers agree to pay or reimburse the Bank for:

	(a)		all its reasonable Costs in drafting and negotiating a Transaction Document; and

	(b)		enforcing a Transaction Document,

		including, but not limited to, legal Costs.

		The Borrowers must pay all stamp duty in connection with a Transaction Document.

13.2		Indemnity

		The Borrowers shall indemnify the Bank against any liability or loss arising from, and any Costs incurred in connection with:

	(a)		financial accommodation requested under a Transaction Document not being provided in accordance with the request for any reason except default of the Bank; or

	(b)		financial accommodation under a Transaction Document being repaid, discharged or made payable other than at its maturity or on an Interest Payment Date applicable to it or as otherwise allowed under the terms of a Transaction Document; or

	(c)		the Bank acting in connection with a Transaction Document in good faith on fax, telephone, email or written instructions purporting to originate from the offices of a Borrower or to be given by an Authorized Officer of a Borrower; or

	(d)		an Event of Default; or

	(e)		the Bank exercising or attempting to exercise a right or remedy in connection with a Transaction Document after an Event of Default; or

	(f)		any indemnity the Bank gives a controller or administrator of the Borrowers.

The Borrowers agree to pay amounts due under this indemnity on demand from the Bank.

14		Interest on overdue amounts

14.1		Obligation to pay

		If a Borrower does not pay any amount under this agreement on the due date for payment, the relevant Borrower agrees to pay interest on any such amount at the Default Rate. The interest accrues daily from (and including) the due date to (but excluding) the date of actual payment and is calculated on actual days elapsed and a year of 360 days.

		The relevant Borrower agrees to pay interest under this clause on demand from the Bank.

14.2		Compounding

		To the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payable under clause 14.1 which is not paid when due for payment may be added to the overdue amount by the Bank at intervals which the Bank determines from time to time or, if no determination is made, every 30 days. Interest is payable on the increased overdue amount at the Default Rate in the manner set out in clause 14.1.

14.3		Interest following judgment

		If a liability becomes merged in a judgment, the relevant Borrower agrees to pay interest on the amount of that liability as an independent obligation. This interest:

	(a)		accrues daily from (and including) the date the liability becomes due for payment both before and after the judgment up to (but excluding) the date the liability is paid; and

	(b)		is calculated at the judgment rate or the Default Rate (whichever is higher).

The relevant Borrower agrees to pay interest under this clause on demand from the Bank.

15		Application of payments

		Subject to clause 2.3, the Bank may apply amounts paid by the Borrowers towards satisfaction of the Borrowers’ obligations under the Transaction Documents in the manner it sees fit, unless the Transaction Documents expressly provide otherwise. This appropriation overrides any purported appropriation by a Borrower or any other person.

16		Dealing with interests

16.1		No dealing by Borrowers

		The Borrowers may not assign or otherwise deal with their rights under any Transaction Document or allow any interest in them to arise or be varied, in each case, without the Bank’s consent.

16.2		Dealings by Bank

		The Bank may assign or otherwise deal with its rights under the Transaction Documents (including by assignment or participation) without the consent of any person.

17		Notices and other communications

17.1		Form — all communications

		Unless expressly stated otherwise in the Transaction Documents, all notices, certificates, consents, approvals, waivers and other communications in connection with a Transaction Document must be in writing, signed by the sender (if an individual) or an Authorized Officer of the sender and marked for the attention of the person identified in the Details or, if the recipient has notified otherwise, then marked for attention in the way last notified.

17.2		Form — communications sent by email

		Communications sent by email need not be marked for attention in the way stated in clause 17.1 (“Form — all communications”). However, the email must state the first and last name of the sender.

		Communications sent by email are taken to be signed by the named sender.

17.3		Delivery

		Communications must be:

	(a)		Hand delivered at the address set out or referred to in the Details; or

	(b)		sent by prepaid ordinary post (airmail, if appropriate) to the address set out or referred to in the Details; or

	(c)		sent by fax to the fax number set out or referred to in the Details; or

	(d)		sent by email to the address set out or referred to in the Details.

However, if the intended recipient has notified a changed address or fax number, then communications must be to that address or number.

17.4		When effective

		Communications take effect from the time they are received or taken to be received under clause 17.5 (“When taken to be received”) (whichever happens first) unless a later time is specified.

17.5		When taken to be received

		Communications are taken to be received:

	(a)		if sent by post, three days after posting (or seven days after posting if sent from one country to another); or

	(b)		if sent by fax, at the time shown in the transmission report as the time that the whole fax was sent; or

	(c)		if sent by email:

	(i)		when the sender receives an automated message confirming delivery; or

	(ii)		four hours after the time sent (as recorded on the device from which the sender sent the email) unless the sender receives an automated message that the email has not been delivered,

whichever happens first.

17.6		Receipt outside business hours

		Despite clauses 17.4 (“When effective”) and 17.5 (“When taken to be received”), if communications are received or taken to be received under clause 17.5 after 5:00 pm in the place of receipt or on a non-Business Day, they are taken to be received at 9:00 am on the next Business Day and take effect from that time unless a later time is specified.

17.7		Waiver of notice period

		The Bank may waive a period of notice required to be given by a Borrower under this agreement.

18		General

18.1		Application to Transaction Documents

		If anything in this clause 18 (“General”) is inconsistent with a provision in another Transaction Document, then the provision in the other Transaction Document prevails for the purposes of that Transaction Document.

18.2		Prompt performance

		Subject to clause 18.15 (“Time of the essence”):

	(a)		if a Transaction Document specifies when a Borrower agrees to perform an obligation, the Borrower agrees to perform it by the time specified; and

	(b)		the Borrowers agree to perform all other obligations promptly.

18.3		Consents

		The Borrowers agree to comply with all conditions in any consent the Bank gives in connection with a Transaction Document.

18.4		Certificates

		The Bank may give the Borrowers a certificate about an amount payable or other matter in connection with a Transaction Document. The certificate is sufficient evidence of the amount or matter, unless it is proved to be incorrect.

18.5		Set-off

		If an Event of Default is continuing, the Bank may, in its absolute discretion, set off any amount owing by the Bank to a Borrower (whether or not due for payment) against any amount due for payment by a Borrower to the Bank under a Transaction Document.

		The Bank may do anything necessary to effect any set-off under this clause (including varying the date for payment of any amount owing by the Bank to a Borrower and making currency exchanges). This clause applies despite any other agreement between a Borrower and the Bank.

18.6		Discretion in exercising rights

		The Bank may exercise a right or remedy or give or refuse its consent under a Transaction Document in any way it considers appropriate (including by imposing conditions).

18.7		Partial exercising of rights

		If the Bank does not exercise a right or remedy under a Transaction Document fully or at a given time, the Bank may still exercise it later.

18.8		No liability for loss

		The Bank is not liable for loss caused by the exercise or attempted exercise of, failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, a right or remedy under a Transaction Document.

18.9		Conflict of interest

		The Bank’s rights and remedies under any Transaction Document may be exercised even if this involves a conflict of duty or the Bank has a personal interest in their exercise.

18.10		Remedies cumulative

		The rights and remedies of the Bank under any Transaction Document are in addition to other rights and remedies given by law independently of the Transaction Document.

18.11		Indemnities

		Any indemnity in a Transaction Document is a continuing obligation, independent of the Borrowers’ other obligations under that Transaction Document and continues after the Transaction Document ends. It is not necessary for the Bank to incur expense or make payment before enforcing a right of indemnity under a Transaction Document.

18.12		Rights and obligations are unaffected

		Rights given to the Bank under a Transaction Document and the Borrowers’ liabilities under it are not affected by anything which might otherwise affect them at law.

18.13		Inconsistent law

		To the extent permitted by law, each Transaction Document prevails to the extent it is inconsistent with any law.

18.14		Supervening legislation

		Any present or future legislation which operates to vary the obligations of the Borrowers in connection with a Transaction Document with the result that the Bank’s rights, powers or remedies are adversely affected (including by way of delay or postponement) is excluded except to the extent that its exclusion is prohibited or rendered ineffective by law.

18.15		Time of the essence

		Time is of the essence in any Transaction Document in respect of an obligation of a Borrower to pay money.

18.16		Variation and waiver

		A provision of a Transaction Document, or right created under it, may not be waived or varied except in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound.

18.17		Further steps

		The Borrowers agree to do anything the Bank may request (such as obtaining consents, signing and producing documents and getting documents completed and signed):

	(a)		to bind the Borrowers and any other person intended to be bound under the Transaction Documents;

	(b)		to show whether the Borrowers are complying with this agreement.

18.18		Counterparts

		This agreement may consist of a number of copies, each signed by one or more parties to the agreement. If so, the signed copies are treated as making up the one document.

18.19		Governing law

		Each Transaction Document is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

EXECUTED as an agreement

Loan Agreement

Schedule 1 — Conditions precedent (clause 3.4)

Conditions to first drawdown

•		Each item must be in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank.

•		The Bank may also require other documents and information (see clause 3.5(f))

•		Certification is to be by a director or secretary of the applicable Borrower, that the item is true and complete as at a date no earlier than the date of this agreement.


	Item		Form	Required for

1	Extract of minutes of a meeting of the Borrowers’ board of directors which evidences the resolutions:		Certified copy	Each Borrower

	(a)	authorizing the signing and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which the entity is a party and the observance of obligations under those documents; and

	(b)	appointing Authorized Officers of the entity.

2	Specimen signature of		Certified copy	Each Borrower

	(a)	each Authorized Officer of the entity; and

	(b)	each other person who is authorized to sign a Transaction Document for the Borrowers.

3	This agreement fully signed.		Original	Each Borrower

4	A certificate of deposit opened by BSCH with the Bank in the aggregate amount of the Facility to be provided as security for the Facility under the Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment.		N/A	BSCH and Each Borrower

5	The Security Agreement, Pledge and Assignment fully signed.		Original	BSCH

Sch. 1 - 1

Schedule 2 — Drawdown Notice (clause 3)


To:		Banco Santander Puerto Rico
		000 Xxxxx xx Xxxx Xxxxxx
		Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx 00000

Attention:		[•]

[Date]

Drawdown Notice — Loan Agreement between Santander BanCorp, Santander Financial Services, Inc. and Banco Santander Puerto Rico, dated March 25, 2008 (“Loan Agreement”)

Under clause 3.2 (“Requesting a drawdown”) of the Loan Agreement, the Borrower gives notice as follows.¹

The Borrower wants to borrow under the Facility.

•		The requested Drawdown Date is [ ]².

•		The amount of the proposed drawdown is US$[ ].

•		The proposed drawdown is to be paid to:


		Account number:		[ ]
		Account name:		[ ]
		Correspondent Bank:		[ ]
		Swift:		[ ]
		Beneficiary Bank:		[ ]
		Swift:		[ ]
		Beneficiary:		[ ]

The Borrower represents and warrants that the representations and warranties in the Loan Agreement are correct and not misleading on the date of this notice and that each will be correct and not misleading on the Drawdown Date.

Clause 1 of the Loan Agreement applies to this notice as if it was fully set out in this notice.

[Name of person] being
an Authorized Officer of
[Name of Borrower]

Instructions for completion


1		All items must be completed.

2		Must be a Business Day within the Availability Period

Sch. 2 - 1

Signature page

DATED: March 25, 2008




SIGNED for and on behalf of	)
SANTANDER BANCORP	)
	)
	)
	)
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx	)	/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx

Signature	)	Signature
	)
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx	)	Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
	)
Title: First Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer	)	Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

SIGNED for and on behalf of	)
SANTANDER FINANCIAL	)
SERVICES, INC.	)
	)
	)
	)
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx	)	/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Signature	)	Signature
	)
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx	)	Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
	)
Title: Authorized Officer	)	Title: Authorized Officer
	)

SIGNED for and on behalf of	)
BANCO SANTANDER PUERTO	)
RICO	)
	)
	)
	)
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx	)	/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Signature	)	Signature
	)
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx	)	Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
	)
Title: First Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer		Title: First Senior Vice President

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Table of Contents

Loan Agreement Dated March 25, 2008

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