SANTANDER FINANCE PREFERRED, S.A. UNIPERSONAL GBP 250,000,000 SERIES 7 FIXED/FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL GUARANTEED PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEED BY BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
Exhibit
(d)(7)
X
X X X X X X X
C
H A N C E
EXECUTION
VERSION
SANTANDER
FINANCE PREFERRED, S.A. UNIPERSONAL
GBP
250,000,000 SERIES 7 FIXED/FLOATING RATE
NON-CUMULATIVE
PERPETUAL GUARANTEED
PREFERRED
SECURITIES
GUARANTEED
BY
BANCO
SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
GUARANTEE
THIS GUARANTEE (the “Guarantee”), dated 10 July
2007, 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, SA.
Unipersonal, a limited liability company (sociedad anónima)
incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Issuer”) of Series 7
£250,000,000 Fixed/Floating Non-cumulative Perpetual Guaranteed 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.
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Definitions
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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
non-consolidated 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 and Bank of Spain
requirements and guidelines, each as in effect at the time of such preparation.
In the event that on any Distribution Payment Date, the audit of the
non-consolidated profit and loss account of the Bank has not been completed, the
reference to be used to calculate the Distributable Profits will be the balance
of the unaudited non-consolidated profit and loss account of the Bank as
reported in the financial statements delivered to the Bank of Spain in respect
of 31 December of the preceding Fiscal Year.
“Distributions” means the
non-cumulative cash distributions payable per Preferred Security in accordance
with the terms thereof;
“Distribution Payment Date”
means each Distribution Payment Date (Fixed) and each Distribution Payment Date
(Floating) (each as defined in the terms of the Preferred
Securities);
2
“Distribution Period” shall
have the meaning given to it in the Terms of the Preferred
Securities;
“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 (but excluding) the date of payment on such Liquidation
Distribution;
“Liquidation Preference” means
£50,000 per Preferred Security;
“Parity Securities” means (as
the case may be) any preferred securities (participaciones preferentes)
issued under Spanish Law 13/1985, or other securities or instruments equivalent
to preferred securities issued by the Issuer, or by any other subsidiary of the
Bank which are guaranteed by the Bank and 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.
“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;
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“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);
and
“Special General Meetings”
means the meetings of holders of preferred securities of the
Issuer.
2.
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Guarantee
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2.1
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Guarantee
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Subject
to the limitations contained in the following paragraphs of this Clause 2 (Guarantee), 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
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Limitations
to the Guarantee Payments in relation to the Distributions Notwithstanding
Clause 21 (Guarantee), 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:
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2.2.1
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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
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2.2.2
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even
if Distributable Profits are sufficient, to the extent that under
applicable Spanish banking regulations relating to capital adequacy
requirements affecting financial institutions which fail to meet their
required capital ratios on a parent company only basis or on a
consolidated basis, 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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2.3
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Limitations to the Guarantee
Payments in relation to the Liquidation
Distributions
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Notwithstanding
Clause 2.1 (Guarantee),
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, and all Parity 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
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Pro rata
Payments
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If the
amounts described in Clause 2.1 (Guarantee) cannot be paid by
reason of any limitation referred to in Clause 2.2 (Limitations to the Guarantee
Payments in relation to the Distributions) or 2.3 (Limitations to the Guarantee
Payments in relation to the Liquidation Distributions), 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
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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,
(other than any guarantee or contractual right expressed to rank equally with or
junior to this Guarantee); (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
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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.
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3.
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Characteristics of the
Guarantor’s Obligations under the
Guarantee
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3.1
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Waiver
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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
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Obligations and Commitments of
the Guarantor
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The
obligations and commitments of the Guarantor shall not be affected by any of the
following circumstances:
3.2.1
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the
waiver by the Issuer, either by the application of a legal provision or
for any other reason, to fulfil any commitment, term or condition, whether
implicit or explicit, in relation to the Preferred Securities;
or
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3.2.2
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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 fulfilment of any other
obligation related to the Preferred Securities;
or
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3.2.3
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any
breach, omission or delay by the Holders in exercising the rights granted
by the Preferred Securities; or
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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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3.25
|
any
defect in or invalidity of the Preferred Securities;
or
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3.2.6
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transactions
involving any obligation guaranteed by this Guarantee or undertaken by
virtue of this Guarantee.
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6
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.
3.3
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Subrogation
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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
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Deposit of the
Guarantee
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This
Guarantee shall be deposited with and held by the Bank of New York 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 (Waiver), 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.
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Other Obligations of the
Guarantor under the
Guarantee
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4.1
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No further
issues
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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
7
Profits
as, any such other preferred securities or securities or other instruments
equivalent to preferred securities or other such guarantee.
4.2
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Non-Payments
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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
(Limitations to the Guarantee
Payments in relation to the Distributions) or otherwise, no dividends
(except 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 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 of, or set aside payment
with respect to, full Distributions on two consecutive Distribution Periods
(Fixed) or on four consecutive Distribution Periods (Floating) (or, if
applicable, for one Distribution Period (Fixed) and two consecutive Distribution
Periods (Floating)) in respect of all Preferred Securities then
outstanding.
4.3
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Ownership
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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
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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:
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4.4.1
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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;
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4.4.2
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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
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4.4.3
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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.
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4.5
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Compliance with the Preferred
Securities
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The
Guarantor agrees to comply with any obligations expressed to be undertaken by it
under the terms of the Preferred Securities.
5.
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Termination of the
Guarantee
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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.
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General
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6.1
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Successors and
Assigns
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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
9
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
organisation 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 (Successors and
Assigns), in accordance with Clause 6.4 (Notices).
6.2
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Transfers
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This
Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately
transferable from the Preferred Securities.
6.3
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Amendments
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Except
for those changes (a) required by Clause 4.1 (No further issues) 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 (Successors and Assigns) (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
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Notices
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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:
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Banco
Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
Ciudad
Grupo Santander
Edificio
Encinar, Planta 0
28660
Xxxxxxxx xxx Xxxxx
00
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx
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 The Bank of
New York 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 admitted to the official list maintained by the UK Listing
Authority and is admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange Plc’s
Gilt-Edged and Fixed Interest Market, and the UK Listing Authority so
requires, by publication in a leading English language daily newspaper
published in London (which is expected to be the Financial Times) of, if
such a publication is not practicable, in a leading daily newspaper in
English and having general circulation in Europe, and (ii) 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.
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Law and
Jurisdiction
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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
11
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 7.2 (Jurisdiction) shall limit any
right to take Proceedings against the Bank in any other court of competent
jurisdiction, 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 | |
Director |
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