MATERIAL FACT
Banco Santander, S.A. informs that it is envisaged to implement again the "Santander Dividendo Elección" program, on the dates on which the first interim dividend is traditionally paid (July / August). Thus, subject to the Executive Committee of Banco Santander's prior resolution, shareholders shall have the possibility to choose whether to receive cash or new shares on such dates. The envisaged timeline for the implementation of the "Santander Dividendo Elección" program is as follows [1]:
· 11 July 2013. Execution of the Capital increase. Communication of the number of rights needed to receive one share and of the final price of the right-purchase commitment. Such price will be determined considering the stock price of the Satander share of the dates 4,5,8,9 and 10 July.
· 12 July 2013 (23:59 hours CET). Record date for the granting of rights.
· 15 July 2013. Commencement of the rights trading period. Santander shares start trading ex-coupon.
· 24 July 2013. Last date to request remuneration in cash (sale of rights to Grupo Santander).
· 29 July 2013. End of the trading period of the rights. Acquisition of rights by Grupo Santander from those shareholders who have requested cash.
· 1 August 2013. Payment of cash to shareholders who have so requested.
· Any trading day between 6 August 2013 and 12 August 2013. Commencement of the ordinary trading of the new shares in the Spanish Stock Exchanges, subject to the granting of the relevant authorizations[2]. Shareholders who have opted for new shares have them delivered.
Subject to the aforementioned resolution, it is deemed that the gross price at which Grupo Santander shall irrevocably commit to purchase rights, which will be calculated pursuant to the formula approved by the Ordinary General Shareholders' Meeting, will be approximately 0.150 Euros per right.
Boadilla del Monte (Madrid), May 31, 2013
[1] The term for the acceptance of the right-purchase commitment and the envisaged payment date for those shareholders who request cash may not be coincidental with those set out above in respect of those shareholders holding Santander shares in the various foreign stock exchanges in which the Bank is listed.
[2] Admission to listing of the new shares in the foreign stock exchanges where the Bank is listed shall also be requested.