Dated 28 September 2004 SANTANDER FINANCE PREFERRED, S.A. UNIPERSONAL SERIES 2 EURO 300,000,000 CMS-LINKED NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL GUARANTEED SECURITIES guaranteed by BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
Exhibit
(d)(2)
X
X X X X X X X
C
H A N C E
Execution
Version
Dated 28
September 2004
SANTANDER
FINANCE PREFERRED, S.A. UNIPERSONAL
SERIES
2 EURO 300,000,000 CMS-LINKED NON-CUMULATIVE
PERPETUAL
GUARANTEED SECURITIES
guaranteed
by
BANCO
SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
THIS
GUARANTEE (the “Guarantee”), dated 28th
September 2004, is executed and delivered by Banco Santander Central Hispano,
S.A., a limited liability company (sociedad anónima)
incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Bank” or the “Guarantor”) for the benefit of
the Holders (as defined below).
WHEREAS,
the Bank wishes to procure the issue by Santander Finance Preferred S.A.
Unipersonal, a limited liability company (sociedad anónima)
incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Issuer”) of Series 2 Euro
300,000,000 CMS-linked Non-cumulative Perpetual Guaranteed Non-voting Preferred
Securities (the “Preferred
Securities”) and the Bank wishes to issue this Guarantee for the benefit
of the Holders.
NOW,
THEREFORE the Bank executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders.
1.
|
Definitions
|
As used
in this Guarantee, the following terms shall, unless the context otherwise
requires, have the following meanings:
“Bank Shares” means any
ordinary shares of the Bank;
“Distributable Profits” means
in respect of any Fiscal Year of the Bank the reported net profit (calculated in
compliance with the regulations of the Bank of Spain) of the Bank, determined
after tax and extraordinary items for such year, as derived from the
nonconsolidated audited profit and loss account of the Bank, irrespective of
whether shareholders’ meeting approval is still pending, prepared in accordance
with generally applicable accounting standards in Spain, Bank of Spain
requirements and guidelines each in effect at the time of such preparation. In
the event that on any Distribution Payment Date, the profit and loss account of
the Bank referred to above has not been audited, the Distributable Profits shall
be determined by reference to the nonconsolidated profit and loss account of the
Bank sent to the Bank of Spain for the period ending 31st December of the
previous Fiscal Year.
“Distributions” means the
non-cumulative cash distributions payable per Preferred Security in accordance
with the terms thereof;
“Distribution Payment Date”
means 30th March and 30th September in each year, commencing on 30th March
2005;
2
“Distribution Period” means the
period from and including one Distribution Payment Date (or, in the case of the
first Distribution Period, the closing date) to but excluding the next
Distribution Payment Date;
“Fiscal Year” means the
accounting year of the Guarantor as set out in its by-laws;
“Guarantee Payments” means
(without duplication) (i) any accrued but unpaid Distribution payable on the
Preferred Securities for the most recent Distribution Period; (ii) the
Redemption Price payable on the redemption of Preferred Securities; and (iii)
the Liquidation Distributions due on the Liquidation Date;
“Group” means the Bank and its
consolidated subsidiaries;
“Holder” means any holder from
time to time of any Preferred Security; provided, however, that in determining
whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Holder shall not include
the Bank or any Subsidiary (including the Issuer);
“Liquidation Date” means the
date of final distribution of the assets of the Issuer in the case of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Issuer (whether voluntary or
involuntary);
“Liquidation Distribution”
means, with respect to each Preferred Security, the Liquidation Preference plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then current
Distribution Period to the date of payment on such Liquidation
Distribution;
“Liquidation Preference” means
euro 1,000 per Preferred Security;
“Parity Securities” means (as
the case may be) any preferred securities (participaciones preferentes)
or other securities or instruments equivalent to preferred securities issued by
the Bank, the Issuer, or by any other subsidiary of the Bank which are
guaranteed by the Bank, including (but not limited to) the preference shares
issued by BSCH Finance Limited, Santander Finance Preferred S.A., Unipersonal
and/or Santander Finance Capital, S.A., Unipersonal which are entitled to the
benefit of a guarantee ranking pari passu with the Bank’s
obligations under the Guarantee, or issued by the Bank and ranking pari passu with the Bank’s
obligations under the Guarantee;
3
“Redemption Price” means the
Liquidation Preference plus accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then
current Distribution Period to the date fixed for redemption per Preferred
Security;
“Spain” means the Kingdom of
Spain;
“Subsidiary” means any entity
which the Bank may, directly or indirectly, control in accordance with Article 4
of the Securities Market Act (Ley del Xxxxxxx de
Valores);
“Special General Meetings”
means the meetings of holders of preferred securities of the
Issuer.
2.
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Guarantee
|
2.1
|
Guarantee
|
Subject
to the limitations contained in the following paragraphs of this Clause 2, the
Bank irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders, the
Guarantee Payments (to the extent not paid by the Issuer), as and when due upon
receipt of a notice by any Holder demanding payment, regardless of any defence,
right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert. This
Guarantee is unconditional, irrevocable, continuous and absolute
(Garantía Solidaria
under Spanish law).
2.2
|
Limitations to the Guarantee
Payments in relation to the
Distributions
|
Notwithstanding
Clause 2.1, the Bank will not be obliged to make any Guarantee Payment in
respect of Distributions (including accrued and unpaid Distributions relating to
the Redemption Price or Liquidation Distribution) on any Preferred Securities to
the extent that:
2.2.1
|
the
aggregate of such Distribution, together with any other distributions
previously paid during the then-current Fiscal Year and any distributions
proposed to be paid during the then-current Distribution Period in each
case on or in respect of Parity Securities (including the Preferred
Securities) would exceed the Distributable Profits of the immediately
preceding Fiscal Year; or
|
2.2.2
|
even
if Distributable Profits are sufficient, to the extent that under
applicable Spanish banking regulations affecting financial institutions
which fail to meet their capital ratios, the Bank would be prevented at
such time from making payments on its ordinary shares or Parity Securities
issued by it.
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4
2.3
|
Limitations to the Guarantee
Payments in relation to the Liquidation
Distributions
|
Notwithstanding
Clause 2.1, if, at the time that any liquidating distributions are to be paid by
the Bank in respect of the Preferred Securities or any other Parity Securities,
proceedings are or have been commenced for the voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Bank or for a reduction in the
Bank’s shareholders’ equity pursuant to Article 169 of the Spanish Corporation
Law (Ley de Sociedades
Anónimas) the liquidating distribution with respect to the Preferred
Securities, of all Parity Securities (including the Preferred Securities) shall
not exceed the liquidating distribution that would have been paid from the
assets of the Bank (after payment in full, in accordance with Spanish law, to
all creditors of the Bank, including holders of its subordinated debt, but
excluding holders of any guarantee or other contractual right expressed to rank
pari passu with or
junior to this Guarantee) had all Parity Securities (including the Preferred
Securities) been issued by the Bank and ranked (A) junior to all liabilities of
the Bank, (B) pari
passu with Parity Securities issued by the Bank, if any, and (C) senior
to the Bank Shares.
2.4
|
Pro rata
Payments
|
If the
amounts described in Clause 2.1 cannot be paid by reason of any limitation
referred to in Clause 2.2 or 2.3, such amounts will be payable pro rata in the
proportion that the amount available for payment bears to the full amount that
would have been payable but for such limitations.
2.5
|
Ranking of the
Guarantee
|
The Bank
agrees that subject to applicable laws, the Bank’s obligations hereunder
constitute unsecured obligations of the Bank and rank and will at all times rank
(a) junior to all liabilities of the Bank (including subordinated liabilities);
(b) pari passu with any
Parity Securities issued by the Bank and any obligation assumed by the Bank
under any guarantee in favour of holders of any Parity Securities issued by any
Subsidiary; and (c) senior to the Bank Shares.
2.6
|
Acceptance of the
Guarantee
|
The mere
subscription of Preferred Securities will be deemed for all purposes to
constitute the plain and full acceptance of this Guarantee.
3.
|
Characteristics
of the Guarantor’s obligations under the
Guarantee
|
5
3.1
|
Waiver
|
The
Guarantor waives any right or benefit (of order, excussio or division) to
which it may be entitled under Spanish law with regard to objecting to make any
payment by virtue of the Guarantee.
The
obligations of the Guarantor are independent of those of the Issuer. The
Guarantor shall remain liable as the principal and sole debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee, and shall not be
able to demand that the Holders of the Preferred Securities exhaust any of their
rights or take any legal action against the Issuer prior to taking action
against the Guarantor (Garantía Solidaria under
Spanish law).
3.2
|
Obligations and Commitments of
the Guarantor
|
The
obligations and commitments of the Guarantor shall not be affected by any of the
following circumstances:
3.2.1
|
the
waiver by the Issuer, either by the application of a legal provision or
for any other reason, to fulfill any commitment, term or condition,
whether implicit or explicit, in relation to the Preferred Securities;
or
|
3.2.2
|
the
extension of the Distribution Payment Date, the Liquidation Date or the
date for payment of the Redemption Price with regard to the Preferred
Securities or the extension granted for the fulfillment of any other
obligation related to the Preferred Securities;
or
|
3.2.3
|
any
breach, omission or delay by the Holders in exercising the rights granted
by the Preferred Securities; or
|
3.2.4
|
the
liquidation, dissolution, or sale of any asset given as a guarantee,
temporary receivership, bankruptcy, receivership proceedings or
renegotiation of debt affecting the Issuer;
or
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3.2.5
|
any
defect in or invalidity of the Preferred Securities;
or
|
3.2.6
|
transactions
involving any obligation guaranteed by this Guarantee or undertaken by
virtue of this Guarantee.
|
The
Holders of Preferred Securities shall not be obliged whatsoever to notify the
Guarantor of the occurrence of any of the aforementioned circumstances, nor to
obtain their consent in relation to the same.
6
3.3
|
Subrogation
|
The Bank
shall be subrogated to any and all rights of the Holders against the Issuer in
respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Bank under this Guarantee. The
Bank shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law)
exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity,
reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of a payment under
this Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and
unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Bank in
violation of the preceding sentence, the Bank agrees to pay over such amount to
the Holders.
3.4
|
Deposit of the
Guarantee
|
This
Guarantee shall be deposited with and held by JPMorgan Chase Bank as Principal
Paying Agent until all the obligations of the Bank have been discharged in full.
The Bank hereby acknowledges the right of every Holder to the production of, and
the right of every Holder to obtain a copy of, this Guarantee. A Holder may
enforce this Guarantee directly against the Bank, and the Bank waives any right
or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other
person or entity before proceeding against the Bank. Subject to Clause 3.1, all
waivers contained in this Guarantee shall be without prejudice to the Holder’s
right to proceed against the Issuer. The Bank agrees that this Guarantee shall
not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full and by
complete performance of all obligations of the Bank under this
Guarantee.
4.
|
Other
obligations of the Guarantor under the
Guarantee
|
4.1
|
No further
issues
|
The Bank
will not issue any preferred securities or other instruments equivalent to
preferred securities, ranking senior to its obligations under this Guarantee or
give any guarantee in respect of any preferred securities or other instruments
equivalent to preferred securities, issued by any Subsidiary, if such guarantee
would rank senior to this Guarantee (including, without limitation, any
guarantee that would provide a priority of payment with respect to Distributable
Profits) unless in each case, this Guarantee is amended so that it ranks pari passu with, and contains
substantially equivalent rights of priority as to payment of Distributable
Profits as, any such other preferred securities or securities or other
instruments equivalent to preferred securities or other such
guarantee.
4.2
|
Non-Payments
|
7
The Bank
undertakes that if any amount required to be paid pursuant to this Guarantee in
respect of any Distribution payable in respect of the most recent Distribution
Period has not been paid, whether by reason of the limitations of Clause 2.2 and
2.3 or otherwise, no distributions (except distributions in the form of the Bank
Shares or other shares of the Bank ranking junior to the obligations of the Bank
under this Guarantee) will be declared or paid or set aside for payment, or
other distribution made, upon the Bank Shares or any other class of share
capital or any securities of the Bank ranking junior to this Guarantee, nor will
any Bank Shares or any other class of share capital or securities of the Bank
ranking pari passu with
or junior to the obligations of the Bank under this Guarantee, be redeemed,
repurchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid
to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Bank
Shares, class of share capital or securities) by the Bank (except by conversion
into or in exchange for shares or securities of the Bank ranking junior to this
Guarantee), until such time as the Issuer or the Bank pursuant to this Guarantee
shall have made payment in full of Distributions on two consecutive Distribution
Payment Dates in respect of all Preferred Securities then
outstanding.
4.3
|
Ownership
|
The
Guarantor undertakes to hold (directly or indirectly) 100% of the ordinary
shares of the Issuer so long as any Preferred Securities of the Issuer shall
remain outstanding, and not to permit or take any action to cause the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer except as provided in
paragraph 3.2 of the terms and conditions of the Preferred
Securities.
4.4
|
Voting
Rights
|
The Bank
undertakes in connection with the right of the Holders to participate in the
adoption by the Issuer of certain decisions in the Special General Meetings as
contemplated in the terms and conditions of the Preferred
Securities:
4.4.1
|
to
vote, in the corresponding general meeting of shareholders of the Issuer,
in favour of the appointment or removal of the directors so named by the
Special General Meetings and to take all necessary measures in such
regard;
|
4.4.2
|
to
vote, in the corresponding general meeting of shareholders of the Issuer,
in conformity with the result of the vote of the Special General Meetings
with respect to the dissolution and winding-up of the Issuer;
and
|
8
4.4.3
|
to
vote, in the corresponding general meeting of shareholders of the Issuer,
in conformity with the result of the vote of the Special General Meetings
with respect to the issuance of further Preferred Securities or of other
preferred securities where the Issuer has not duly made the most recent
distribution required in respect of the preferred securities issued and
outstanding at the time.
|
4.5
|
Compliance with the Preferred
Securities
|
The
Guarantor agrees to comply with any obligations expressed to be undertaken by it
under the terms of the Preferred Securities.
5.
|
Termination
of the Guarantee
|
This
Guarantee shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon payment of
the Redemption Price or purchase and cancellation of all Preferred Securities or
payment in full of the Liquidation Distributions, provided, however, that this
Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities or
this Guarantee must be restored by a Holder for any reason
whatsoever.
6.
|
General
|
6.1
|
Successors and
Assigns
|
Subject
to operation of law, all guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Bank and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders, each of whom shall be
entitled severally to enforce this Guarantee against the Bank. The Bank shall
not transfer its obligations hereunder without the prior approval of the Holders
of not less than two-thirds in Liquidation Preference of the Preferred
Securities or by resolution of a Special General Meeting approved by the Holders
of Preferred Securities representing at least two-thirds of the Liquidation
Preference, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not preclude the Bank
from merging or consolidating with, or transferring or otherwise assigning all
or substantially all of its assets to, a banking organization or any
other entity permitted by applicable laws without obtaining any approval of such
Holders. The convening and holding of the Special General Meeting shall be done
in accordance with Clause 6.2 of the Terms and Conditions.
The Bank
shall notify (i) any request for approval from the Holders and (ii) any
merger, consolidation, transfer or assignment, each as referred to in this
Clause 6.1, in accordance with Clause 6.4 (Notices).
9
6.2
|
Transfers
|
This
Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately
transferable from the Preferred Securities.
6.3
|
Amendments
|
Except
for those changes (a) required by Clause 4.1 hereof, (b) which do not adversely
affect the rights of Holders or, (c) necessary or desirable to give effect to
any one or more transactions referred to in the provision to Clause 6.1 (in any
of which cases no agreements will be required), this Guarantee shall be changed
only by agreement in writing signed by the Bank with the prior approval of the
Holders of not less than two-thirds in Liquidation Preference of the Preferred
Securities or by resolution of a Special General Meeting approved by the Holders
of the Preferred Securities representing at least two-thirds of the Liquidation
Preference. The calling and holding of such Special General Meeting shall be
done in accordance with Clause 6.2 of the Terms and Conditions.
6.4
|
Notices
|
6.4.1
|
Any
notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given
hereunder to the Bank shall be given in writing by delivering the same
against receipt therefore or by facsimile transmission (confirmed by mail)
addressed to the Bank, as follows (and if so given by facsimile
transmission), shall be deemed given upon mailing of confirmation,
to:
|
Banco
Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
Ciudad
Grupo Santander
Edificio
Encinar, Planta 0
28660
Boadilla del Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Spain
Facsimile:
x00 00 000 0000
Attention:
Emisiones Corporativas
The
address of the Bank may be changed at any time and from time to time and shall
be the most recent such address furnished in writing by the Bank to JPMorgan
Chase Bank as Principal Paying Agent.
6.4.2
|
Any
notice, request or other communication required to be given by the Bank
under this Guarantee will be given by it (i) so long as any Preferred
security is listed on the Luxembourg Stock
|
10
Exchange
and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so requires, by publication in a leading
newspaper having a general circulation in Luxembourg (which is expected to
be the Luxemburger
Wort) or, if such a publication is not practicable, in a leading
daily newspaper in English and having general circulation in Europe (ii)
so long as any Preferred Security is listed on the stock market of
Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Amsterdam so requires, by publication in
the Daily Official List (Officiële Prijscourant)
of Euronext Amsterdam in a Dutch daily newspaper with a national or wide
circulation, or, if such publication is not practicable, in a leading
daily newspaper in English and having general circulation in Europe and
(iii) by mail to Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg (in each case not
less that 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date of the act or event
to which such notice, request or communication
relates).
|
In
accordance with their published rules and regulations, each of Euroclear and
Clearstream, Luxembourg will notify holders of securities accounts with it to
which any Preferred Securities are credited of any such notices received by
it.
6.5
|
Annual
Reports
|
The Bank
will furnish any prospective Holder, upon request of such Holder, with a copy of
its annual report, and any interim reports made generally available by the Bank
to holders of the Bank Shares.
7.
|
Law and
Jurisdiction
|
7.1
|
Law
|
This
Guarantee shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, Spanish
law.
7.2
|
Jurisdiction
|
The Bank
hereby irrevocably agrees for the benefit of the Holders that the courts of
Madrid are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or
in connection with this Guarantee and that accordingly any suit, action or
proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Guarantee (together
referred to as “Proceedings”) may be brought
in such courts. The Bank irrevocably waives any objection which it may have now
or hereinafter to the laying of the venue of any Proceedings in the courts of
Madrid. Nothing contained in this clause shall limit any right to take
Proceedings against the Bank in any other court of competent jurisdiction,
11
nor shall
the taking of Proceedings in one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of
Proceedings in any other competent jurisdictions, whether concurrently or
not.
THIS GUARANTEE is executed as
of the date first above written on behalf of the Bank.
BANCO
SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
12