UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of September, 2023

Commission file number: 1-10110

 

 

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

BANK BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

Calle Azul, 4

28050 Madrid

Spain

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F  ☒            Form 40-F  ☐

 

 

 


BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

Explanatory Note

This Report on Form 6-K contains, as exhibits, certain documents listed below relating to the issuance and sale by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (the “Issuer”) of $1,000,000,000 aggregate liquidation preference of its Series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities (the “Preferred Securities”). This Report on Form 6-K and the Exhibits hereto are hereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-266391) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and into the related prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 12, 2023.

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

  

Description of Exhibit

1.1    Pricing Agreement dated September 11, 2023
4.11    Third Supplemental Indenture for the Preferred Securities between the Issuer, as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, acting (except with respect to its role as Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar) through its London Branch, as Trustee, Paying and Conversion Agent, Calculation Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Contingent Preferred Security Registrar dated as of September 19, 2023
4.12    Form of Security Certificate representing the Preferred Securities (included in Exhibit 4.11)
5.1    Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, special United States counsel to the Issuer, as to the legality of the Preferred Securities being registered
5.2    Opinion of J&A Garrigues, S.L.P., Spanish counsel to the Issuer, as to the legality of the Preferred Securities being registered
8.1    Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding certain U.S. federal income tax matters
23.1    Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1)
23.2    Consent of J&A Garrigues, S.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.2)


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

By:  

/s/ Ignacio Echevarría Soriano

Name:   Ignacio Echevarría Soriano
Title:   Authorized Representative

Date: September 19, 2023

Exhibit 1.1

Pricing Agreement

September 11, 2023

BBVA Securities Inc.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

United States of America

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

United States of America

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

United States of America

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

452 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10018

United States of America

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10036

United States of America

SG Americas Securities, LLC

245 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10167

United States of America

As Representatives of the several

Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., a sociedad anónima incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (“Spain”) (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “Underwriting Agreement”), to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) (other than BBVA Securities Inc.) the series 12 non-step-up non-cumulative contingent convertible perpetual preferred tier 1 securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the “Preferred Securities”), which may in certain circumstances be converted in accordance with their terms into newly issued fully paid ordinary shares of the Company (the “Conversion Securities” and, together with the Preferred Securities, the “Securities”).

 

1


Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the Applicable Time (as set forth in Schedule II hereto), except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), and also a representation and warranty as of the Applicable Time in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Underwriters purchasing Preferred Securities in the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed, with respect to BBVA Securities Inc., to instead provide for procuring eligible purchasers on a reasonable best efforts basis. Each reference to the Company issuing and selling Preferred Securities to the Underwriters shall be deemed to refer to the Underwriters other than BBVA Securities Inc. Each reference to the Representatives or to the Underwriters in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on behalf of each of the Underwriters pursuant to Section 13 of the Underwriting Agreement and their addresses are set forth in Schedule II hereto.

A supplement to the Prospectus relating to the Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you (the “Prospectus Supplement”), is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees that it will issue and sell to each of the Underwriters (other than BBVA Securities Inc.), and each of the Underwriters (other than BBVA Securities Inc.) agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, (i) the liquidation preference of Preferred Securities set forth opposite the name of each such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (ii) a pro rata portion of the liquidation preference of any Preferred Securities set forth opposite the name of BBVA Securities Inc. in Schedule I hereto which have not been purchased by purchasers procured by BBVA Securities Inc. BBVA Securities Inc. hereby covenants and agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to procure eligible purchasers for the liquidation preference of Preferred Securities set forth opposite its name in Schedule I hereto.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us one counterpart hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the several Underwriters on the one hand and the Company on the other.

It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in an Agreement among Underwriters.

[Signature pages follow]

 

2


Very truly yours,

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA

ARGENTARIA, S.A.

By:

 

/s/ Ignacio Echevarría

 

Name: Ignacio Echevarría

  Title: Head of Wholesale Funding & Capital Operations


Accepted as of the date hereof:

BBVA SECURITIES INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ Cedric Galinier-Warrain

 

Name: Cedric Galinier-Warrain

 

Title:    MD

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ Kenneth Chang

 

Name: Kenneth Chang

 

Title:    Managing Director

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ Laurie Campbell

 

Name: Laurie Campbell

 

Title:    Managing Director

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ Alexei Remizov

 

Name: Alexei Remizov

 

Title:    Managing Director

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

 

By:

 

/s/ Howard Brocklehurst

 

Name: Howard Brocklehurst

 

Title:    Managing Director

SG AMERICAS SECURITIES, LLC

 

By:

 

/s/ Eric Meunier

 

Name: Eric Meunier

  Title:    Global Head of DCM Financial Institutions


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Liquidation
Preference of
Preferred
Securities
to be Purchased
 

BBVA Securities Inc.*

   $ 166,800,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     166,800,000  

BofA Securities, Inc.

     166,600,000  

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

     166,600,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     166,600,000  

SG Americas Securities, LLC

     166,600,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,000,000,000  
  

 

 

 

 

*

BBVA Securities Inc. has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to procure purchasers for the liquidation preference of Preferred Securities set forth opposite its name above.

 

Schedule I-1


SCHEDULE II

Issuer:

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Title of Preferred Securities:

Series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities

Specific Terms of Preferred Securities:

See Appendix A for a copy of the Final Term Sheet relating to the Preferred Securities

Price to Public:

100.000% plus accrued distributions, if any, from September 19, 2023

Purchase Price by Underwriters:

99.250%

Aggregate Liquidation Preference:

$1,000,000,000

Denominations (Liquidation Preference):

$200,000

Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

Federal (same-day) funds

Applicable Time:

4:25 pm New York time September 11, 2023

Time of Delivery:

11:00 am New York time September 19, 2023

Closing Location for Delivery of Preferred Securities:

New York, New York

Additional Closing Conditions:

None

 

Schedule II-1


Additional Opinions:

Spanish counsel for the Underwriters shall furnish to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions as are specified in Section 8(b) of the Underwriting Agreement

Names and Addresses of Underwriters, Including the Representatives:

BBVA Securities Inc.

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

United States of America

Facsimile: (212) 258-2216

Attention: Legal Department

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

United States of America

Facsimile: (646) 834-8133

Attention: Syndicate Registration

BofA Securities, Inc.

114 W 47th St., NY8-114-07-01

New York, New York 10036

United States of America

Facsimile: (646) 855-5958

Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

452 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10018

United States of America

Facsimile: (646) 366-3229

Attention: Transaction Management Group

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, NY 10036

Tel: +1 (212) 761-6691

Fax: +1 (212) 507-8999

Attn: Investment Banking Division

SG Americas Securities, LLC

245 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10167

United States of America

Facsimile: (212) 278-6803

Attention: High Grade Syndicate Desk

 

Schedule II-2


Listing:

New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on which the Prospectus specifies that the Preferred Securities may be listed

Payment of Expenses by the Company and by the Underwriters:

None

Selling Restrictions:

The Preferred Securities are complex financial instruments with high risk. They are not a suitable or appropriate investment for all investors. In particular, the Preferred Securities are not intended to be sold and should not be sold to retail investors in any jurisdiction, including the United States.

In the United States, the Preferred Securities are intended to be sold only to institutional investors.

European Economic Area

The Preferred Securities shall not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For the purposes of this provision:

 

  (i)

the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (a)

a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or

 

  (b)

a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; and

 

  (ii)

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Preferred Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Preferred Securities.

Spain

The Preferred Securities must not be offered, distributed or sold in Spain in the primary market. However, the Preferred Securities may be sold to Spanish resident investors in circumstances that satisfy the requirements set forth in the ruling 1500/04 of the Directorate General for Taxation (Dirección General de Tributos) of July 27, 2004.

Notwithstanding this, the Preferred Securities shall not be offered, sold or otherwise made available at any time to any retail investor (as defined above) in Spain and any sales of the Preferred Securities in Spain according to the previous paragraph shall be made only to professional clients (clientes profesionales) as defined in Article 194 of the Spanish Securities Markets and Investment Services Act (Ley 6/2023, de 17 de marzo, de los Mercados de Valores y de los Servicios de Inversión) (the “LMV”) or eligible counterparties (contrapartes elegibles) as defined in Article 196 of the LMV and as further limited by the second paragraph of Article 192 of the LMV.

 

Schedule II-3


No publicity of any kind as to the Preferred Securities shall be made in Spain.

United Kingdom

The Preferred Securities shall not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any UK retail investor in the United Kingdom.

For the purposes of this provision:

 

  (i)

the expression “UK retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (a)

a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2020 (“UK MiFIR”); or

 

  (b)

a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of UK MiFIR; and

 

  (ii)

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Preferred Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Preferred Securities.

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the Preferred Securities may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company.

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the Preferred Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Singapore

The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act 2001 (2020 Revised Edition) of Singapore (as amended, the “SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the Preferred Securities in Singapore will be made pursuant to the exemptions under Sections 274 and 275 of the SFA. Accordingly, the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Preferred Securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Preferred Securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or

 

Schedule II-4


purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Institutional Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Accredited Investor”) or other relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.

It is a condition of the offer that where the Preferred Securities are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:

 

  (a)

a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor), the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an Accredited Investor; or

 

  (b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an Accredited Investor), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor, then

the securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the Preferred Securities except:

 

  (i)

to an Institutional Investor, an Accredited Investor, a Relevant Person or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(c)(ii) of the SFA (in the case of that trust);

 

  (ii)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (iii)

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

  (iv)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

  (v)

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification. Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Section 309B of the SFA and the CMP Regulations 2018, BBVA has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the Preferred Securities are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and “Excluded Investment Products” (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

 

Schedule II-5


Hong Kong

The Preferred Securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“SFO”) and any rules made thereunder, or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“C(WUMP)O”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Preferred Securities has been or will be issued or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Preferred Securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Switzerland

The offering of the Preferred Securities in Switzerland is exempt from requirement to prepare and publish a prospectus under the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) because the Preferred Securities have a minimum denomination of CHF 100,000 (or equivalent in another currency) or more and the Preferred Securities will not be admitted to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. The pricing term sheet, the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and no such prospectus has been or will be prepared for or in connection with the offering of the Preferred Securities.

Canada

The Preferred Securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the Preferred Securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Other Jurisdictions outside the United States

No action may be taken in any jurisdiction that would permit a public offering of the Preferred Securities or the possession, circulation or distribution of the prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither the prospectus supplement nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Preferred Securities may be distributed or published in or from any country or jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.

 

Schedule II-6


Other Terms:

“Underwriter Information” shall mean the statements set forth in (i) the first sentence of the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Preferred Securities, (ii) the names of the Underwriters, (iii) the sentences under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” related to concessions and reallowances, (iv) the paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids and (v) the paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” related to settlement, in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

Jurisdictions Specified Pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Underwriting Agreement: None.

Jurisdictions Specified Pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement: United States.

Spanish counsel for the Underwriters shall furnish to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions as are specified in Section 8(b) of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

Schedule II-7


Appendix A

Final Term Sheet

 

LOGO

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

$1,000,000,000 SERIES 12 NON-STEP-UP NON-CUMULATIVE CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED TIER 1 SECURITIES

This Free Writing Prospectus relates only to the preferred securities described below and should only be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated September 11, 2023 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”) and the accompanying prospectus dated July 29, 2022 relating to these preferred securities (together with the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”). Terms and expressions used but not defined herein shall have the same meanings as given in the Prospectus.

 

Issuer    Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (“BBVA”)
Issue    $1,000,000,000 series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities (the “Preferred Securities”)
Issuer Rating*   
Issue Rating*   
Pricing Date    September 11, 2023
Issue Date / Settlement Date / Closing Date    September 19, 2023 (T+6)
Currency    U.S. Dollar
Issue Size    $1,000,000,000
Maturity    Perpetual, with no fixed maturity or fixed redemption date
Optional Call Dates    On any day falling in the period commencing on (and including) March 19, 20291 (the “First Call Date”) and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date, and on any Distribution Payment Date thereafter

 

1 

The 5.5 anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Annex A-1


Liquidation Preference    $200,000 per Preferred Security
Issuer Ordinary Shares Price    EUR 7.070 (closing price on September 11, 2023) in the Relevant Stock Exchange
Legal Format    SEC-registered
Business Day Convention / Day Count Fraction    Following unadjusted / 30/360 (ISDA)
Distribution Rates    The Preferred Securities accrue Distributions: (i) in respect of the period from (and including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) the First Reset Date at the rate of 9.375% per annum; and (ii) in respect of each Reset Period, at the rate per annum equal to the aggregate of 5.099% (the “Initial Margin”) and the 5-year UST for such Reset Period, and such aggregate converted to a quarterly rate in accordance with market convention (rounded to four decimal places, with 0.00005 rounded down), all as determined by the Calculation Agent on the relevant Reset Determination Date; provided that any Distribution Rate shall not be less than zero.
US Treasury Benchmark    5-year UST (4.375% due August 31, 2028) and 7-year UST (4.125% due August 31, 2030)
US Treasury Yield/Price    4.386% (interpolated rate between the 5-year UST rate at 4.408% / 99.27 and the 7-year UST rate at 4.366% / 98.18)
Re-offer Yield    9.375% quarterly / 9.485% semi-annual
Semi-annual Equivalent Re-offer Spread to US Treasury    509.9 bps
Price to Public    100%
Underwriting Discount    0.75%
All-in Price to Issuer    99.250%
Proceeds, Before Expenses, to the Issuer    $992,500,000
CUSIP    05946K AM3
ISIN    US05946KAM36

 

Schedule II-2


Distribution Payment Dates    Subject to the provisions set out below, Distributions will be payable quarterly in arrears on each of March 19, June 19, September 19 and December 19 in each year (each a “Distribution Payment Date”), commencing on December 19, 2023.
Reset Dates    September 19, 20292 (the “First Reset Date”) and every fifth anniversary thereafter (each, a “Reset Date”)
5-year UST   

In relation to a Reset Date and the Reset Period commencing on that Reset Date, an interest rate expressed as a percentage determined by the Calculation Agent to be the per annum rate equal to the yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of five years as published in the most recent H.15.

 

“H.15” means the daily statistical release designated as such and published by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System under the caption “Treasury constant maturities”, or any successor or replacement publication as reasonably determined by BBVA and notified to the Calculation Agent, that establishes yield on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities, and “most recent H.15” means the H.15 that includes a yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of five years, published closest in time (but prior to) the relevant Reset Determination Date.

Distributions Discretionary    BBVA may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel the payment of any Distribution on the Preferred Securities in whole or in part at any time and for any or no reason. Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be non-cumulative.

Restrictions on Payments

  

Payments of Distributions on the Preferred Securities shall be made only out of BBVA’s Distributable Items.

To the extent that:

 

i.   BBVA has insufficient Distributable Items to make Distributions on the Preferred Securities scheduled for payment in the then-current financial year and any interest payments or distributions that have been paid or made or are scheduled or required to be paid or made out of BBVA’s Distributable Items in the then-current financial year, in each case excluding any portion of such payments already accounted for in determining BBVA’s Distributable Items, and/or

 

ii.  the Regulator, in accordance with Article 68 of Law 10/2014 and/or Article 16 of the SSM Regulation and/or with Applicable Banking Regulations then in force, requires BBVA to cancel the relevant Distribution in whole or in part,

 

2 

The date falling six years from the Closing Date.

 

Annex A-3


  

then BBVA will, without prejudice to the right set forth under “Distributions Discretionary” above to cancel at its discretion the payment of any such Distributions on the Preferred Securities at any time, make partial or, as the case may be, no payment of the relevant Distribution on the Preferred Securities.

 

No payments will be made on the Preferred Securities (whether by way of a repayment of the Liquidation Preference, the payment of any Distribution or otherwise) if and to the extent that such payment would cause a breach of any regulatory restriction or prohibition on payments on Additional Tier 1 Instruments pursuant to the Applicable Banking Regulations (including, without limitation, any such restriction or prohibition relating to any Maximum Distributable Amount or MREL-MDA applicable to BBVA and/or the BBVA Group).

Agreement to Distribution Cancellation    By acquiring Preferred Securities, holders and holders of a beneficial interest in the Preferred Securities acknowledge and agree to the provisions with respect to the cancellation of Distributions described under “Certain Terms of the Preferred Securities—Distributions—Agreement to Distribution Cancellation” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.
Subordination   

Unless previously converted into Common Shares pursuant to the conversion provisions of the Indenture and except as provided in the second paragraph under “Certain Terms of the Preferred Securities—Liquidation Distribution” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the payment obligations of BBVA under the Preferred Securities will be direct, unconditional, unsecured and subordinated obligations of BBVA.

 

Upon the insolvency (concurso de acreedores) of BBVA, in accordance with and only to the extent permitted by the Spanish Insolvency Law and any other applicable laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in Spain (including, without limitation, Additional Provision 14.3 of Law 11/2015), but subject to any other ranking that may apply as a result of any mandatory provision of law (or otherwise), for so long as the Preferred Securities constitute an Additional Tier 1 Instrument of BBVA, such Preferred Securities will rank (i) junior to: (a) any claim in respect of any unsubordinated obligations of BBVA (including where the relevant claim subsequently becomes subordinated pursuant to Article 281.1.1º of the Spanish Insolvency Law); and (b) any claim in respect of any subordinated obligations

 

Schedule II-4


   of BBVA, present and future, other than under any outstanding Additional Tier 1 Instrument of BBVA (other than, to the extent permitted by law, any Parity Securities, whether so ranking by law or their terms); (ii) pari passu with each other and with all other claims in respect of contractually subordinated obligations of BBVA under any outstanding Additional Tier 1 Instruments, present and future (and, to the extent permitted by law, pari passu with any other Parity Securities, whether so ranking by law or their terms); and (iii) senior to the Common Shares and any other subordinated obligations of BBVA which by law rank junior to the Preferred Securities (including, to the extent permitted by law, any contractually subordinated obligations of BBVA expressed by their terms to rank junior to the Preferred Securities), such that any relevant claim in respect of the Preferred Securities will be satisfied, as appropriate, only to the extent that all claims ranking senior to it have first been satisfied in full, and then pro rata with any claims ranking pari passu with it, in each case as provided in the Prospectus.

Waiver of Right of Set-Off

   The Preferred Securities are subject to the waiver of set-off provisions set forth in the Prospectus.

Conversion

   The Preferred Securities are only convertible, in whole but not in part, into Common Shares upon a Trigger Event or a Capital Reduction, in each case as set forth below. The Preferred Securities are not convertible into Common Shares at the option of holders of Preferred Securities at any time and are not redeemable in cash as a result of a Trigger Event or a Capital Reduction.

Trigger Event

   A “Trigger Event” shall occur if, at any time, as determined by BBVA, BBVA’s CET1 ratio or the CET1 ratio of the BBVA Group is less than 5.125%.

Capital Reduction

   A “Capital Reduction” shall occur upon the adoption, in accordance with Article 418.3 of the consolidated text of the Corporate Enterprises Act (Ley de Sociedades de Capital), approved by the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010, of July 2, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time, by a general shareholders’ meeting of BBVA of a resolution of capital reduction by reimbursement of cash contributions (restitución de aportaciones) to shareholders by way of a reduction in the nominal value of the shares of such shareholders in BBVA’s capital.

 

Annex A-5


Conversion Price

   The “Conversion Price” shall be, in respect of a Conversion Notice Date, if the Common Shares are: (i) then admitted to trading on a Relevant Stock Exchange, the higher of: (a) the Reference Market Price of a Common Share (translated into U.S. dollars at the Prevailing Rate, if applicable); (b) the Floor Price; and (c) the nominal value of a Common Share (translated into U.S. dollars at the Prevailing Rate, if applicable); or (ii) not then admitted to trading on a Relevant Stock Exchange, the higher of (b) and (c) above.

Floor Price

   $4.0215. The Floor Price is subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus.

Optional Redemption

   All, and not only some, of the Preferred Securities may be redeemed at BBVA’s option on any day falling in the period commencing on (and including) March 19, 20293 (the First Call Date) and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date4, and on any Distribution Payment Date thereafter, at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.

Redemption Due to a Tax Event

  

If, on or after the Closing Date, there is a Tax Event, the Preferred Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at BBVA’s option at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.

 

A “Tax Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to the Preferred Securities if, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations applicable in Spain, or any change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations which change or amendment, or change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration, becomes effective on or after the Closing Date (i) BBVA would not be entitled to claim a deduction in computing its taxation liabilities in Spain, in respect of any Distribution to be made on the next Distribution Payment Date or the value of such deduction to BBVA would be reduced, or (ii) BBVA would be required to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to the Indenture, or (iii) the applicable tax treatment of the Preferred Securities would be materially affected.

 

 

 

3 

The 5.5 anniversary of the Closing Date.

4 

The date falling six years from the Closing Date.

 

Schedule II-6


Redemption Due to a Capital Event   

If, on or after the Closing Date, there is a Capital Event, the Preferred Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at BBVA’s option at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.

 

A “Capital Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to the Preferred Securities if there is a change (or any pending change which the Regulator considers to be sufficiently certain) in Spanish law or Applicable Banking Regulations that results (or would result) in any of the outstanding aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities ceasing to be included in, or counting towards, the BBVA Group’s or BBVA’s Tier 1 Capital.

Clean-up Call    If, on or after the Closing Date, Preferred Securities representing, in the aggregate, 75% or more of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities (including any Preferred Securities issued after the Closing Date and any Preferred Securities which have been cancelled by the trustee in accordance with the Indenture) have been purchased by or on behalf of BBVA or any member of the BBVA Group, the Preferred Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at BBVA’s option at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.
Substitution / Modification    Notwithstanding any other term of the Preferred Securities or the Indenture, by its acquisition of the Preferred Securities, each holder and beneficial owner acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees that if a Capital Event or a Tax Event, as applicable, occurs and is continuing, BBVA may, except if a Trigger Event occurs or shall have occurred, and except if a Capital Reduction occurs or shall have occurred (other than in respect of Preferred Securities with respect to which a duly completed Election Notice has been received during the Election Period), substitute all (but not less than all) of the Preferred Securities or modify the terms of all (but not less than all) of the Preferred Securities, without any requirement for the consent or approval of the trustee or the holders or beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities, so that such Preferred Securities are substituted for, or their terms are modified to, become again, or remain Qualifying Preferred Securities, subject to satisfaction of the requirements and limitations set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

 

Annex A-7


   Any variation in the terms of the Preferred Securities resulting from any such modification or, if the Preferred Securities are substituted, any difference between the terms of the Preferred Securities and those of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which the Preferred Securities are substituted, shall not be materially prejudicial to the interests of the holders of the Preferred Securities.
Payment of Additional Amounts    All payments of Distributions payable in respect of Preferred Securities by BBVA will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Spain or any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax, unless the withholding or deduction of such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges is required by law. This provision is set forth in full and with important exceptions as described in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.
Enforcement Events and Remedies   

There are no events of default under the Preferred Securities. In addition, under the terms of the Indenture none of the cancellation or deemed cancellation of any Distribution, a Trigger Event, a Capital Reduction or the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power or of any other resolution tool by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, or BBVA’s failure to provide notice in respect of any of the aforementioned events, will be an Enforcement Event.

 

The Preliminary Prospectus Supplement sets forth the definition of an “Enforcement Event”.

 

The sole remedies of the holders of the Preferred Securities and the trustee under the Preferred Securities or the Indenture upon the occurrence of an Enforcement Event shall be: (i) with respect to a breach of a Performance Obligation, to seek enforcement of the relevant Performance Obligation; and (ii) with respect to a Liquidation Event, to enforce the entitlement set forth under “Certain Terms of the Preferred Securities—Liquidation Distribution” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

 

No other remedies

 

Other than the limited remedies mentioned above, no remedy against BBVA shall be available to the trustee (acting on behalf of the holders) or to the holders of the Preferred Securities. Refer to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement for more details.

 

Schedule II-8


Spanish Bail-in Power Acknowledgement    By its acquisition of any Preferred Securities, each holder (which, for the purposes of the below, includes each holder of a beneficial interest in the Preferred Securities) acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by: (i) the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority and (ii) the variation of the terms of the Preferred Securities, or the rights of the holders thereunder or under the Indenture, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority. See “Certain Terms of the Preferred Securities—Agreement and Acknowledgment with Respect to the Exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.
Settlement    The Depository Trust Company and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, S.A. and Euroclear Bank SA/NV
Listing    BBVA intends to apply to list the Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange and, if approved, trading is expected to commence within 30 days after the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities.
Joint Bookrunners   

Barclays Capital Inc.

BBVA Securities Inc.**

BofA Securities, Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

SG Americas Securities, LLC

Governing Law    The laws of the State of New York, except that the authorization and execution by BBVA of the Indenture, the authorization, issuance and execution by BBVA of the Preferred Securities and provisions thereof relating to the subordination of the Preferred Securities, the waiver of the right of set-off and the agreements and acknowledgments by holders of Preferred Securities and the trustee, respectively, with respect to the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the common laws of Spain.

Submission to Jurisdiction

   Except as provided in the immediately succeeding paragraph, BBVA will submit (for the purposes of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Preferred Securities or the Indenture) to the jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or State court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, in which any such suit or proceeding is so instituted, and will waive, to the extent it may effectively do so, any objection BBVA may have now or hereafter to the laying of the venue of any such suit or proceeding.

 

Annex A-9


   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Prospectus or in the Indenture, the Spanish courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Preferred Securities or the Indenture arising out of, relating to or in connection with the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (a “Bail-in Dispute”) and accordingly each of BBVA, the trustee and each holder and beneficial owner of any Preferred Securities and each agent will submit, to the extent it may effectively do so, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Spanish courts in relation to any Bail-in Dispute. Each of BBVA, the trustee, each holder and beneficial owner of any Preferred Securities and each agent will further irrevocably waive, to the extent it may effectively do so, any objection to the Spanish courts on the grounds that they are an inconvenient or inappropriate forum in respect of any Bail-in Dispute.
Prohibitions and Restrictions on Offers and Sales   

The Preferred Securities are complex financial instruments and are not a suitable or appropriate investment for all investors. In particular, the Preferred Securities are not intended to be sold and should not be sold to retail investors in any jurisdiction. The offer and sale of the Preferred Securities are subject to limitation as set out in the Prospectus.

The Preferred Securities shall not be sold to retail clients in the EEA and the United Kingdom.

The Preferred Securities must not be offered, distributed or sold in Spain in the primary market. However, the Preferred Securities may be sold to Spanish resident investors in circumstances that satisfy the requirements set forth in the ruling 1500/04 of the Directorate General for Taxation (Dirección General de Tributos) of July 27, 2004.

No publicity of any kind as to the Preferred Securities shall be made in Spain.

Target Market:    MiFID II and UK MiFIR - professionals / ECPs-only / No EEA or UK PRIIPs KID / UK FCA PI restriction – Manufacturer target market (MiFID II and UK MiFIR product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No EEA or UK PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail investors in the EEA or in the United Kingdom. No sales to retail clients (as defined in the COBS 3.4) in the United Kingdom. Preferred Securities are incompatible with the knowledge, experience, needs, characteristics and objectives of clients which are retail clients.

 

Schedule II-10


Conflicts of Interest    BBVA Securities Inc., which is participating in this offering as a Joint Bookrunner, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BBVA. The offering is being conducted pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121.
Trustee and Agents    The Bank of New York Mellon, acting (except with respect to its role as Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar) through its London Branch, will act as trustee, Paying and Conversion Agent, Calculation Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar with respect to the Preferred Securities under, and as such terms are defined in, the Indenture.
Use of Proceeds    BBVA intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.

 

*

Any ratings obtained will reflect only the views of the respective rating agency and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the Preferred Securities. The ratings assigned by the rating agencies are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by such rating agencies in their sole discretion. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

**

BBVA Securities Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BBVA. The offering is being conducted pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

Pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are generally required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Preferred Securities prior to the delivery of the Preferred Securities hereunder will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement. Such purchasers should consult their own advisors.

BBVA has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for this offering. Before you invest, you should read the Prospectus for this offering in that registration statement, and other documents BBVA has filed with the SEC for more complete information about BBVA and this offering. You may get these documents for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR®) at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of the Prospectus from Barclays Capital Inc., by calling +1-888-603-5847, from BBVA Securities Inc., by calling +1-212-728-1705, from BBVA, by calling +1-212-728-1705, from BofA Securities, Inc. by calling toll-free at +1-800-294-1322, from HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. by calling +1-866-811-8049, from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC by calling +1-866-718-1649, and from SG Americas Securities, LLC, by calling +1-855-881-2108.

 

Annex A-11


Appendix B

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus:

Final Term Sheet dated September 11, 2023

 

Annex B-1


Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Preferred Securities

Underwriting Agreement

September 11, 2023

To the Representatives named from time to time in the

applicable Pricing Agreement hereinafter described.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

From time to time Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (the “Company”), a sociedad anónima incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (“Spain”), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a “Pricing Agreement”) and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, the Company proposes to issue and sell to the several firms named in Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the “Underwriters” with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) the series 12 non-step-up non-cumulative contingent convertible perpetual preferred tier 1 securities specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (the “Preferred Securities”), which may in certain circumstances be converted in accordance with their terms into newly issued fully paid ordinary shares of the Company (the “Conversion Securities” and, together with the Preferred Securities, the “Securities”). The Indenture (as defined below) will provide for the provision by The Bank of New York Mellon, acting through its London Branch, as the initial paying agent in respect of the Preferred Securities (in such capacity, the “Paying Agent”), of a duly executed and completed payment statement in connection with each Payment Amount (as such term is defined in the Base Indenture (as defined herein)) under the Preferred Securities, and set forth certain procedures agreed by the Company and the Paying Agent in order to facilitate such process, along with a form of the payment statement to be used by the Paying Agent.

The terms and rights of the Preferred Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or pursuant to the indenture dated September 25, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), as amended and supplemented, with respect to the Preferred Securities, by a supplemental indenture to be dated on or about September 19, 2023 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”) (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented, with respect to the Preferred Securities, by the Third Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (in its capacity as trustee, the “Trustee”). In addition, the Pricing Agreement may contain, if appropriate, the terms and the conditions upon which the Preferred Securities are to be offered or sold outside the United States and any provisions relating thereto.    

In this Agreement and in the Pricing Agreement, the following terms shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified as follows:

“Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

“Applicable Time” means the applicable time specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement;

 

1


“Base Prospectus” means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement relating to, among other things, the Securities, in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement;

“BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 15, 2014 establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms or such other directive as may come into effect in place thereof, as implemented into Spanish law by Law 11/2015 (as defined herein) and RD 1012/2015 (as defined herein), as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time (including as amended by Directive 2019/879/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 20, 2019), and including any other relevant implementing or developing regulatory provisions;

“BRRD Liability” means any liability, commitment, duty, responsibility, amount payable or contingency or other obligation arising from, or related to, the Agreement or the Pricing Agreement which may be subject to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power (as defined below) by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (as defined below);

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

“CRR” means Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 26, on the prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time (including as amended by Regulation (EU) No. 2019/876 of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 20, 2019);

“Effective Time” with respect to the Registration Statement means such date and time as of which any part of the Registration Statement filed prior to the execution and delivery of the applicable Pricing Agreement was declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) or Rule 462(c) under the Act;

“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

“Final Term Sheet” means the final term sheet containing a description of the Preferred Securities, prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, and set forth as an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement;

“Law 11/2015” means Law 11/2015 of June 18, on the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (Ley 11/2015 de 18 de junio, de recuperación y resolución de entidades de crédito y empresas de servicios de inversión), as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time (including as amended by Spanish Royal Decree-Law 7/2021 of April 27, on the transposition of European Union directives in matters of credit institutions, among others);

“Pricing Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof, provided that, for purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Act shall be considered to be included in the Pricing Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act;

 

2


“Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus as proposed to be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement;

“Prospectus Supplement” means the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act;

“RD 1012/2015” means Royal Decree 1012/2015 of November 6, by virtue of which Law 11/2015 is developed and Royal Decree 2606/1996 of December 20, on credit entities’ deposit guarantee fund is amended, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time;

“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-266391), including the Prospectus, relating to the Securities filed with the Commission, as amended to the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement;

“Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority” means the Spanish Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (Fondo de Reestructuración Ordenada Bancaria), the European Single Resolution Board, the Bank of Spain, the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) or any other entity with the authority to exercise the Spanish Bail-in Power (as defined herein) from time to time;

“Significant Subsidiaries” shall mean BBVA’s “Significant Subsidiaries”, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X;

“Spanish Bail-in Power” means any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification, cancellation or suspension power existing from time to time under: (i) any law, regulation, rule or requirement applicable from time to time in Spain, relating to the transposition or development of the BRRD, including, but not limited to (a) Law 11/2015, (b) RD 1012/2015, and (c) the SRM Regulation; or (ii) any other law, regulation, rule or requirement applicable from time to time in Spain pursuant to which (a) obligations or liabilities of banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, modified, transferred or converted into shares, other securities, or other obligations of such persons or any other person (or suspended for a temporary period or permanently) or (b) any right in a contract governing such obligations may be deemed to have been exercised;

“SRM Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No. 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 15 establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single Resolution Mechanism and a Single Resolution Fund and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1093/2010, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time (including as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/877 of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 20); and

“Underwriter Information” shall have the meaning set forth in the applicable Pricing Agreement.

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act on or before the date and time of the applicable Pricing Agreement, and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, excluding any documents or portions of such documents which are deemed under the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act not to be incorporated by reference, and, in the case of the Registration Statement, including any prospectus supplement filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B under the Act to be part of the Registration Statement. Any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act deemed to be incorporated therein by reference after the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement.

 

3


1. Particular sales of Preferred Securities may be made from time to time by the Company to the Underwriters of such Preferred Securities, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Preferred Securities in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the “Representatives”). The term “Representatives” also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as its or their representatives. This Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the Preferred Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the Preferred Securities except as set forth in a Pricing Agreement, it being understood that the obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the Preferred Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Preferred Securities shall be evidenced by the applicable Pricing Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate liquidation preference of and distributions payable on, if any, such Preferred Securities, the initial public offering price of such Preferred Securities, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Preferred Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Preferred Securities, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the liquidation preference of such Preferred Securities to be purchased, or for which eligible purchasers are to be procured, by each Underwriter and the underwriting discount and/or commission, if any, payable to the Underwriters with respect thereto and shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Preferred Securities and payment therefor. The applicable Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of such Preferred Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint, unless otherwise specified therein with respect to BBVA Securities Inc.

2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form F-3, and the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, has been filed with the Commission in accordance with applicable regulations of the Commission under the Act, and has been declared or has become effective under the Act;

(b) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented) has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened, and no order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Securities (an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) has been issued by the Commission;

 

4


(c) At the Effective Time, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus conformed, and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto relating to the Securities will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and neither the Registration Statement at the Effective Time nor the Prospectus as of the date thereof and, as amended or supplemented, at the Time of Delivery (as defined below) of the Preferred Securities, included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Registration Statement, not misleading, or in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to (i) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter of Preferred Securities by the Representatives expressly for use in such documents, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information and (ii) any statements or omissions made in that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee;

(d) The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the Final Term Sheet together with any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement and any other “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the pricing disclosure package (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any road show presentation, including any Bloomberg road show presentation made by or on behalf of the Company, in each case listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter of Preferred Securities by the Representatives expressly for use in such documents or the Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information;

(e) Each document incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, when it became effective or was filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied in all material respects with the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of any material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus or

 

5


the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that (i) no such documents were filed with the Commission following the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement and prior to the execution of the applicable Pricing Agreement, except as set forth on a schedule to the applicable Pricing Agreement; and (ii) this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter of Preferred Securities by the Representatives expressly for use in such documents;

(f) The Indenture will provide for the provision by the Paying Agent of a duly executed and completed payment statement in connection with each Payment Amount (as such term is defined in the Base Indenture) under the Preferred Securities, and set forth certain procedures agreed by the Company and the Paying Agent in order to facilitate such process, along with a form of the payment statement to be used by the Paying Agent;

(g) The Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease, license and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus;

(h) Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”);

(i) The issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, any issue and delivery of Conversion Securities upon conversion of the Preferred Securities and the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, as applicable, all of the provisions of the Preferred Securities and the Pricing Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof, will not (i) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of the charter or by-laws (or similar constitutive documents) of the Company, or (ii) result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to (a) the charter or by-laws (or similar

 

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constitutive documents) of the Company, (b) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, (c) any rules of any stock exchange on which the ordinary shares of the Company are listed, or (d) any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company is subject, except (in the case of (ii) above only) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has full power and authority (corporate and other) to authorize, issue and sell the Preferred Securities and perform its obligations thereunder, in each case as contemplated by the Pricing Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), and the Company has taken all necessary corporate actions to authorize, issue and sell the Preferred Securities and to perform its obligations thereunder;

(j) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus, since the end of the period covered by the latest financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has resulted, or is likely to result, in a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) there has been no change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has resulted, or is likely to result, in a Material Adverse Effect;

(k) The issued and outstanding share capital of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (i.e., will not subject any holder thereof to further calls or to personal liability to the Company or any of its creditors by reason only of being such holder); none of the outstanding shares of the Company was issued in violation of pre-emptive or other similar rights;

(l) The Company has implemented and uses procedures that it reasonably believes are required by applicable regulations, including procedures required by the Bank of Spain and the European Central Bank, to monitor, review, calculate, assess and maintain the sufficiency of its consolidated subsidiaries’ reserves in light of all the circumstances; the Company calculates, reviews, assesses and estimates its regulated consolidated subsidiaries’ regulatory capital requirements, and the Company reasonably believes that its methodology in relation to its risk-based capital position and requirements is, in light of all the circumstances, fair and in accordance with applicable regulations in all material respects;

(m) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(n) The applicable Pricing Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(o) All material consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, clearances and qualifications of or with any court or governmental agency or body or any stock exchange authorities having jurisdiction over the Company required for the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder and for the execution and delivery by the Company of the applicable Pricing Agreement to be duly and validly authorized, have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect;

 

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(p) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized, and, when executed, authenticated, issued, delivered and paid for pursuant to a Pricing Agreement and the Indenture, the Preferred Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the Company in accordance with Spanish law, will be fully paid and non-assessable and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, to general equity principles and to any exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power; and no holder thereof will be subject to personal liability by reason only of being such a holder; the Preferred Securities will not be subject to the pre-emptive rights of any shareholder of the Company and will be consistent with the description thereof contained in the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and such descriptions will conform to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same;

(q) The payment obligations of the Company under the Preferred Securities will be subordinated to the extent set forth in the Pricing Prospectus;

(r) Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), nor any person acting on its or their behalf (other than any Underwriter, as to which no representation is made) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization in violation of applicable laws or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Preferred Securities;

(s) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Preferred Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(t) Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus, no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or similar fees or charges are payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters to Spain or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein in connection with (i) the issuance, sale and delivery by the Company of the Preferred Securities to or for the respective accounts of the Underwriters or (ii) the sale and delivery by the Underwriters of the Preferred Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in the manner contemplated by the Pricing Prospectus and the Registration Statement;

(u) The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Registration Statement under the captions “Summary” and “Description of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of BBVA” (as amended and supplemented by the statements set forth under the caption “Certain Terms of the Preferred Securities” in the Prospectus Supplement), taken together, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Preferred Securities, and in the Prospectus Supplement under the captions “Spanish Tax Considerations” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws referred to therein, in each case when read together with any Final Term Sheet and any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, are accurate and complete in all material respects;

 

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(v) (i) The Company has available for issue and authority to allot, free from pre-emption rights, sufficient authorized but unissued ordinary shares to enable the conversion of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Indenture; (ii) the Conversion Securities to be issued upon any conversion of the Preferred Securities will be duly and validly authorized, and, when issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Securities, will have been duly issued and delivered by the Company in accordance with Spanish laws, will be fully paid and non-assessable and, in accordance with current Spanish laws and the current bylaws of the Company, no holder thereof will be subject to personal liability by reason only of being such a holder and will not be subject to calls for further funds; and (iii) any Conversion Securities to be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Securities will not be issued in violation of the pre-emptive rights of any holder of ordinary shares and, in accordance with Spanish laws and the current bylaws of the Company, will rank pari passu and carry the same rights and privileges in all respects as the other ordinary shares of the Company then outstanding;

(w) Except as described in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package, none of the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that could reasonably lead to an action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in connection with a violation by any such person of any anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction including the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Anti-Corruption Laws”) which would result in a fine or other sanction which would be material for the Company or the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries, and the Company, each of the Significant Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, their respective affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Corruption Laws (except for any non-compliance which is not material in the context of the issue of the Preferred Securities), and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance therewith in all material respects;

(x) The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries maintain a system of controls and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the operations of the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries are conducted, where applicable, in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the European Union, Spain, the United States and each State thereof and the United Mexican States, and applicable money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no material action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened;

 

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(y) None of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is currently the subject of sanctions in a material amount administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or any similar sanctions administered by the European Union, Spain or the United Mexican States; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the transaction proceeds so as to contravene any OFAC or any similar European, Spanish or Mexican regulations that may be applicable to them;

(z) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is aware of any material weakness in its or their internal controls over financial reporting;

(aa) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act);

(bb) Except as set forth in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package, no litigation, prosecution, investigation, arbitration or administrative proceeding involving the Company, any of the Company’s subsidiaries or any of its properties is pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except to the extent that any such litigation, prosecution, investigation, arbitration or proceeding, if resolved unfavorably to the Company, any of the Company’s subsidiaries or any of its respective properties, would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect;

(cc) Except as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package, there have been no material changes to the Company’s consolidated capitalization and indebtedness since June 30, 2023;

(dd) (1) Ernst & Young, S.L. are independent public accountants in respect of the Company as required by the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission; and (2) until March 4, 2022 and during the periods covered by the financial statements on which KPMG Auditores, S.L. reported, KPMG Auditores, S.L. was an independent registered public accounting firm in respect of the Company as required by the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission;

(ee) So long as certain conditions set forth in Law 10/2014 of June 26, on organization, supervision and solvency of credit institutions are met, and the procedures established in Royal Decree 1065/2007 of July 27 are complied with, and provided there are no changes to current laws or regulations, any payments in respect of the Preferred Securities made by the Company shall be made with no withholding tax in Spain;

 

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(ff) No event has occurred, nor has any action been taken, which would or could reasonably result in the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or insolvency of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Insolvency Law. The Company is not subject to an early intervention or resolution process pursuant to the terms of Law 11/2015; and

(gg) The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the First Additional Provision of Law 10/2014, of June 26 and its development regulations (“Law 10/2014”), and upon issue will comply with and be subject to Law 10/2014, CRR and other applicable banking regulations as of the Time of Delivery for the Preferred Securities to qualify as Tier 1 capital of the Company, as calculated by the Company in accordance with Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (Tier 1 capital, Common Equity Tier 1 capital and Additional Tier 1 capital) of Title I (Elements of own funds) of Part Two (Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities) of the CRR and/or other applicable banking regulations at such time, including any applicable transitional, phasing in or similar provisions.

3. Upon the execution of the applicable Pricing Agreement and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Preferred Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Preferred Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

4. Preferred Securities to be purchased, or for which eligible purchasers are to be procured, by each Underwriter pursuant to the applicable Pricing Agreement, in the form specified in such Pricing Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same day) funds to the account specified by the Company in the currency specified in such Pricing Agreement, all in the manner and at the place and time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the “Time of Delivery” for such Preferred Securities.

5. The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Final Term Sheet in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Final Term Sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such Rule, and to prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Preferred Securities in a form approved by the Representatives, which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld, and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act no later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of the applicable Pricing Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by such Rule, and to take such steps as they deem necessary to ascertain promptly whether the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, to promptly file such Prospectus; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement and prior to the Time of Delivery for the Preferred Securities which shall be reasonably disapproved by the Representatives for such Preferred Securities promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such

 

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amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports required to be filed by Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Preferred Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, (i) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission in respect of the Registration Statement or any prospectus relating to the Preferred Securities, (ii) of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Act concerning the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Preferred Securities, (iv) of the suspension of the qualification of the Preferred Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, (v) of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or for additional information with respect thereto and of receipt (whether written or oral) by it (or by any of its officers or attorneys) of any comments or other communication from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package (and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any such request or communication is in writing, the Company shall promptly furnish the Underwriters with a copy thereof) or any document incorporated by reference therein, and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order, (vi) of the occurrence of any event that could reasonably be expected to cause the Company to withdraw, rescind or terminate the offering of the Preferred Securities or would permit the Company to exercise any right not to issue the Preferred Securities other than as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package, (vii) of the occurrence of any event, or the discovery of any fact, the occurrence or existence of which would require the making of any change in any of the Pricing Disclosure Package then being used or would cause any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or (viii) of any proposal or requirement to make, amend or supplement any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or of any other material information relating to the offering of the Preferred Securities or this Agreement that any Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request;

(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request, after consultation with the Company, to qualify such Preferred Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request and as are specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement and to maintain such qualification in effect for not less than one year from the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement; provided, however, that additional such jurisdictions may be reasonably requested by the Representatives, with the prior consent of the Company, subsequent to the date thereof; and provided further that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

 

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(c) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required under the Act at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Preferred Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of any material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or the Registration Statement or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish, without charge, to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

(d) During the period beginning from the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement and continuing to and including the later of (i) the completion of the sale of the Preferred Securities by the Underwriters (as determined by the Representatives), but not more than 30 calendar days following the Time of Delivery, and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, in the jurisdiction specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement, any U.S. dollar-denominated contingent convertible securities issued by the Company which are substantially similar to the Preferred Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives;

(e) To timely file or submit such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, covering a period of twelve months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the termination of such twelve-month period; provided however, that the Company will be deemed to have satisfied this obligation by filing with, or submitting to, the Commission a consolidated earnings statement complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder for the year ended December 31, 2023 as soon as is reasonably practicable after the termination of such twelve-month period;

(f) To grant the public deed in respect of the Preferred Securities and to register it with the Vizcaya Mercantile Registry before the Time of Delivery;

(g) To grant the public deed of disbursement (Acta de Cierre) before a notary public, supplementing the public deed of issuance referred to in Section 5(f) above, after the Time of Delivery and to register it with the Vizcaya Mercantile Registry promptly upon the granting thereof;

 

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(h) To use its best efforts to effect, promptly following the Time of Delivery, the authorization of the Preferred Securities for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, or any other stock exchange on which the Prospectus specifies that the Preferred Securities may be listed, and to permit the Preferred Securities to be eligible, at the Time of Delivery, for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depository Trust Corporation (“DTC”), or any other clearance and settlement entity through which the Prospectus specifies that clearance and settlement of the Preferred Securities may be made;

(i) Without the prior written consent of the Representatives, none of the Company, its affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than any Underwriter, as to which no representation is made) has given or will give to any prospective purchaser of the Preferred Securities any written information concerning the offering of the Preferred Securities other than materials contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any other offering materials distributed with the prior written consent of the Representatives;

(j) The Company will comply with Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture (as amended and supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture) with respect to the Preferred Securities; and

(k) Upon conversion of the Preferred Securities, the Company will deliver full legal title to the Conversion Securities free of third-party rights and will use all reasonable endeavors to obtain the approval of the admission to listing of the Conversion Securities on the Spanish Stock Exchange (which term shall include the Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao Stock Exchanges), or any other stock exchange on which the Prospectus specifies that the Conversion Securities may be listed;

 

6.

(a) The Company represents and agrees that (i) without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, other than the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Preferred Securities that (A) would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or (B) would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, required to be filed with the Commission or retained by the Company pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act, (ii) it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending and (iii) it will treat any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriters as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(b) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Company and the other Underwriters, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Preferred Securities that (i) would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or (ii) would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, required to be filed with the Commission or retained by the Company pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act; provided, however, that the Company consents to the use by each Underwriter of a “free writing prospectus” not required to be filed with the Commission or retained by the Company pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act that contains only (A) information describing the preliminary terms of the Preferred Securities or their offering which will not be inconsistent with the Final Term Sheet or the other Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, (B) information that describes the final terms of the Preferred Securities or their offering and that is included in the Final Term Sheet or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement and (C) information that is in any electronic road show related to the Preferred Securities and approved in writing as such by the Company.

 

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(c) Any such “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Underwriters (including the Final Term Sheet) will be listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement.

7. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid all those costs, expenses and disbursements relating or incident to the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of Securities as are set forth in the applicable Pricing Agreement. All payments made in respect of this Agreement or the applicable Pricing Agreement may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any taxes, duties, assessments or charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Spain or any political sub-division or authority thereof or therein, provided the recipient is (i) resident for tax purposes in Spain; or (ii) resident for tax purposes in a country which has entered into a treaty for the avoidance of double taxation with Spain which provides for a full exemption from Spanish taxes on business profits (a “Tax Treaty”), where the taxation of the services rendered under the Agreements are limited to the country of tax residence of the recipient and timely submits to the Company a valid tax residence certificate duly issued by the tax authorities of its respective country of tax residency evidencing its tax resident in that country for the purposes of the Tax Treaty (or the fulfilment of any other formality). Tax residence certificates shall be valid for one year from the date of their issuance.

8. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Preferred Securities under the applicable Pricing Agreement shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition, to be met by the Time of Delivery, that all representations and warranties of the Company in or incorporated by reference in the applicable Pricing Agreement are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Final Term Sheet, together with any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement and any other “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Pricing Disclosure Package shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433(d) under the Act and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to such Preferred Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with;

(b) U.S. counsel and, if so specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement, Spanish counsel for the Underwriters shall each have furnished to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities, with respect to the Pricing Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), the Preferred Securities, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the

 

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Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented at the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities) and other related matters not exceeding the scope of those covered in the opinions given pursuant to Sections 8(c) and 8(d), respectively, below as the Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass on such matters;

(c) U.S. counsel for the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives its written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities, reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters and substantially similar in form and substance to Schedule 8(c) attached hereto;

(d) Spanish counsel for the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities, reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters and substantially similar in form and substance to Schedule 8(d) attached hereto;

(e) At the Applicable Time and at the Time of Delivery for the Preferred Securities, each firm of independent accountants that has certified financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Underwriters and the directors of the Company a letter or letters, dated each such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and substantially similar in form and substance to Schedule 8(e) attached hereto;

(f) Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, since the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in Section 8(e) or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the financial condition, earnings, business, operations, prospects or properties of the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, that, in any case referred to in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above, the Representatives reasonably conclude, after consultation with the Company, impairs the investment quality of the Preferred Securities so as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Preferred Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus, and from the Applicable Time to the Time of Delivery (as specified in the Pricing Agreement), no rating of the Company’s long-term senior debt securities shall have been lowered by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, and other than public announcements made prior to the Applicable Time, none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review with possible negative implications any rating of the Company’s long-term senior debt securities;

 

16


(g) After the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in any securities of the Company by the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), the Commission, any Spanish Stock Exchange (which term shall include the Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao Stock Exchanges), the New York Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on any Spanish Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on all banking activities declared by any U.S. federal, New York, United Kingdom or Spanish authorities or a material disruption in clearance or settlement systems in the United States, the United Kingdom or Spain; (iv) a change or development involving a prospective change in taxation in Spain affecting the Preferred Securities or the imposition of exchange controls by the United States or Spain; (v) a material outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or Spain or the declaration by the United States or Spain of a national emergency or war; or (vi) the occurrence of any material adverse change in the existing financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or Spain, where the effect of any such event specified in (i) through (vi) above is in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, after consultation with the Company, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Preferred Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Securities;

(h) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of copies of the Prospectus on the Business Day next succeeding the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement;

(i) At the Time of Delivery, the Preferred Securities shall have been approved for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC, or any other clearance and settlement entity through which the Prospectus specifies that clearance and settlement of the Preferred Securities may be made;

(j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Preferred Securities a certificate or certificates of an officer of the Company substantially similar in form and substance to Schedule 8(j) attached hereto, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance of the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery and as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (f) of this Section; and

(k) If any condition specified in this Section 8 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Time of Delivery, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that Sections 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 and 23 hereof and any related provisions of the applicable Pricing Agreement shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

9.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or expenses, joint or several, as incurred to which such Underwriter, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any

 

17


 

material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or any road show materials listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, in each case, relating to the Preferred Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such director, officer, employee or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by such Underwriter, subject to subsection (c) below) as such expenses are incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage or liability to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement or any road show materials listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, in each case, relating to the Preferred Securities, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Preferred Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information.

(b) Each Underwriter severally but not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which each such person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, in each case, relating to the Preferred Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in an appendix to the applicable Pricing Agreement, in each case, relating to the Preferred Securities, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Preferred Securities through the Representatives

 

18


expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the Underwriter Information; and will reimburse the Company and each such director, officer, employee or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Company, subject to subsection (c) below) as such expenses are incurred by the Company in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall, so far as permitted by any insurance policy of the indemnified party and subject to the indemnifying party agreeing to indemnify the indemnified party against all judgments and other liabilities resulting from such action, be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided that, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel, to assert such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in connection with the assertion of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the representatives representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party; and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such clause (i) or (iii). An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be

 

19


sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 9, the indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the indemnifying party of such request and (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Preferred Securities on the other from the offering of the Preferred Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Preferred Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred

 

20


by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Preferred Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Preferred Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Preferred Securities and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director or employee of each Underwriter and to each person, if any, who controls, is controlled by or is under common control with any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act; and the several obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director or employee of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act.

 

10.

(a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Preferred Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the applicable Pricing Agreement, the Representatives may in their discretion, after giving notice to and consulting with the Company, arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Preferred Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Preferred Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Preferred Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Preferred Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Preferred Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Preferred Securities for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 10 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the applicable Pricing Agreement.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Preferred Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives or the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate liquidation preference of such Preferred Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the liquidation

 

21


preference of Preferred Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the applicable Pricing Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the liquidation preference of Preferred Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Preferred Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Preferred Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives or the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate liquidation preference of Preferred Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Preferred Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the applicable Pricing Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand, as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, BBVA Securities Inc. will not participate in the terms set out in Section 10 since BBVA Securities Inc. will not purchase any Preferred Securities, but instead will procure eligible purchasers for the Preferred Securities set forth opposite its name in Schedule I.

11. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, the Company or any officer or director or controlling person of the Underwriters or the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Preferred Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

12. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Preferred Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement except that Sections 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 and 23 hereof and any related provisions of the applicable Pricing Agreement shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

13. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of the Preferred Securities shall act on behalf of each such Underwriter, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the applicable Pricing Agreement.

 

22


All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail or electronic transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the applicable Pricing Agreement; and, if to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail or electronic transmission to BBVA, Calle Azul 4, 28050 Madrid, Spain, Attention: Daniel Cubero dangel.cubero@bbva.com; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail or electronic transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in the applicable Pricing Agreement. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

14. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any Preferred Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

15. The Company waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the offering of the Preferred Securities or the process leading thereto and acknowledges and agrees that each Underwriter is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of the Preferred Securities (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering contemplated by this Agreement) and not as an agent or fiduciary to the Company or any other person. Additionally, each Underwriter is not advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of such matters, and no Underwriter shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company or any other person with respect to such matters. Any review by an Underwriter of the Company, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other due diligence review by such Underwriter in connection with such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of such Underwriter and shall not be on behalf of the Company or any other person. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. The Company irrevocably agrees that any suit, action or proceeding against the Company brought by Underwriters or by any person who controls the Underwriters, arising out of or based upon this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, and, to the extent permitted by law, irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company irrevocably appoints Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., New York Branch, as its Authorized Agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon whom process may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based on this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby which may be instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, by an Underwriter or by any person who controls an Underwriter, and the Company expressly consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding, and waives any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as said agent

 

23


for service of process, and the Company agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Company shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any suit, action or proceeding based on this Agreement may be instituted by the Underwriters in any competent court in Spain.

17. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

18. In respect of any judgment or order given or made for any amount due hereunder that is expressed and paid in a currency (the “judgment currency”) other than United States dollars, the Company will indemnify each Underwriter against any loss incurred by such Underwriter as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of exchange at which the United States dollar amount is converted into the judgment currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (ii) the rate of exchange at which an Underwriter is able to purchase United States dollars with the amount of judgment currency actually received by such Underwriter. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or conversion into United States dollars.

19. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

20. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof.

21. Except as may be otherwise provided in a Pricing Agreement, this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement and any matters or controversies arising out of or related to any such agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

22. Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any or all of the Underwriters, each of the Company and each Underwriter acknowledges and accepts that a BRRD Liability arising under this Agreement may be subject to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority and acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority in relation to any BRRD Liability of the Company to such Underwriter, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice and (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof:

(i) the reduction of all, or a portion, of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon;

 

24


(ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon into shares, other securities or other obligations of the Company or another person, and the issue to or conferral on such Underwriter of any such shares, securities or obligations, including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of any BRRD Liability;

(iii) the cancellation of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon; and/or

(iv) the amendment or alteration of any interest or distribution payable, if applicable, on such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon, and the maturity or the dates on which any payments on such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and

(b) the variation of the terms of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon, this Agreement and/or the relevant Pricing Agreement, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

 

23.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 23, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

  (i)

a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

25


  (ii)

a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

  (iii)

a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

24. Each of the Underwriters agrees that a determination will be made in relation to the Preferred Securities about whether, for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance rules under EU Delegated Directive 2017/593 (the “MiFID Product Governance Rules”) and/or the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the “UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules”), as applicable, any Underwriter subscribing for any Preferred Securities is a manufacturer in respect of such Preferred Securities, but that, otherwise, neither the Underwriters nor any of their respective affiliates will be a manufacturer for the purpose of the MiFID Product Governance Rules and/or UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules, respectively.

25. This Agreement and any Pricing Agreement may be executed manually, by facsimile or by electronic signature in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts of this Agreement or a Pricing Agreement, as the case may be, shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) transmission or other electronically-imaged signature (including, without limitation, DocuSign or AdobeSign) or transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of such agreement as to the parties hereto or thereto, as the case may be, and may be used in lieu of the original agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto or thereto transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (e.g., “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) (including, without limitation, DocuSign or AdobeSign) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Unless otherwise provided herein, the words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

26


Schedule 8(c)

Form of Opinion of U.S. Counsel

in connection with Section 8(c) of the Underwriting Agreement


Schedule 8(d)

Form of Opinion of Spanish Counsel

in connection with Section 8(d) of the Underwriting Agreement


Schedule 8(e)

Forms of Auditors’ Comfort Letter

in connection with Section 8(e) of the Underwriting Agreement


Schedule 8(j)

Form of Certificate

in connection with Section 8(j) of the Underwriting Agreement

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(j)

OF THE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

September 19, 2023

The undersigned, [            ], does hereby certify, pursuant to Section 8(j) of the underwriting agreement dated September 11, 2023 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement dated September 11, 2023 (the “Pricing Agreement”), between Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., a sociedad anónima incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Company”), on the one hand, and the Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), on the other hand, on behalf of the Company and to the best of [his] [her] knowledge, after reasonable investigation, that:

 

(i)

attached hereto as Exhibit A [is/are] a true, complete and correct specimen[s] of the global certificate[s] representing the Preferred Securities;

 

(ii)

the representations and warranties of the Company in the Underwriting Agreement are accurate at and as of the Time of Delivery;

 

(iii)

the Company has performed all of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement to be performed at or prior to the Time of Delivery;

 

(iv)

the Final Term Sheet has been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433(d) under the Act and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to such Securities has been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Underwriting Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission have been complied with; and

 

(v)

except as contemplated in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, since the Applicable Time there has not occurred (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in Section 8(e) of the Underwriting Agreement or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the financial condition, earnings, business, operations, prospects or properties of the Company, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, and at or after the Applicable Time, no rating of the Company’s long-term senior debt securities has been lowered by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, and other than public announcements made prior to the Applicable Time, none of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch has publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review with possible negative implications any rating of the Company’s long-term senior debt securities.


Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing Agreement.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this certificate on behalf of the Company as of the date first written above.

 

By:  

 

             

 

Name:

 

Title:

I, [ ], [ ] of the Company, do hereby certify that the signature set forth opposite his name is the true and genuine signature of [ ].

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name as of the date first written above.

 

By:  

 

                 

 

Name:

 

Title:

Exhibit 4.11

 

 

 

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

as Issuer,

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

as Trustee, Paying and Conversion Agent, Calculation Agent

and Principal Paying Agent

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

as Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar

 

 

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

dated as of September 19, 2023

to

CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES INDENTURE

dated as of September 25, 2017

in respect of

$1,000,000,000 Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

         PAGE  
ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01.

  Definition of Terms      2  

Section 1.02.

  Separability Clause      3  

Section 1.03.

  Benefits of Supplemental Indenture      4  
ARTICLE 2

 

THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

 

Section 2.01.

  Form, Title, Terms and Payments      4  

Section 2.02.

  Distributions      5  

Section 2.03.

  Amended Provisions of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture      6  
ARTICLE 3

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.01.

  Confirmation of Indenture      38  

Section 3.02.

  Governing Law      38  

Section 3.03.

  Counterparts      38  

Section 3.04.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred Securities      39  

Section 3.05.

  Instructions by Electronic Means      39  

 

i


This THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (“Third Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of September 19, 2023, between BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A., a sociedad anónima organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at Calle Azul 4, 28050 Madrid, Spain, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, having its principal corporate trust office located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, United States, and acting (except with respect to its role as Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar) through its London Branch through its Corporate Trust Office located at 160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4LA, United Kingdom, as trustee (the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor Trustee), paying and conversion agent (the “Paying and Conversion Agent”, which term includes any successor Paying and Conversion Agent), calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”, which term includes any successor Calculation Agent), principal paying agent (the “Principal Paying Agent”, which term includes any successor Principal Paying Agent) and security registrar (the “Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar”, which term includes any successor Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have executed and delivered a Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2017 (the “Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture”), to provide for the issuance of the Company’s Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities;

WHEREAS, the Company hereto desires to issue a new series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to be known as the $1,000,000,000 Series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities (the “Preferred Securities”);

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to establish that the Preferred Securities shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Third Supplemental Indenture pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture;

WHEREAS, Section 10.01(f) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture permits the Company and the Trustee to enter into a supplemental indenture to establish the form or terms of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series as permitted under Sections 2.01 or 3.01 and 10.01(e) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture without the consent of Holders;

WHEREAS, Section 10.01(e) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture permits the Company and the Trustee to add to, change or eliminate any provisions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, subject to certain conditions, without the consent of Holders;

WHEREAS, this Third Supplemental Indenture shall amend and supplement the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture but only with respect to the Preferred Securities; to the extent the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture are inconsistent with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture, the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall control and prevail, but only with respect to the Preferred Securities. The Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, as amended and supplemented by, and together with, this Third Supplemental Indenture are hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”; and

WHEREAS, the Company has requested and does hereby request that the Trustee execute and deliver this Third Supplemental Indenture, and whereas all actions required by the Company to be taken in order to make this Third Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and enforceable instrument in accordance with its terms, have been taken and performed, and the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized in all respects,

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree as follows:


ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definition of Terms. For all purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b) a term defined anywhere in this Third Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;

(c) capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture;

(d) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;

(e) the words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import, when used in this Third Supplemental Indenture, refer to this Third Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Third Supplemental Indenture;

(f) unless otherwise specified herein, references herein to a specific Section, Article or Exhibit refer to Sections or Articles of, or an Exhibit to, this Third Supplemental Indenture;

(g) wherever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Third Supplemental Indenture, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(h) for purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture, references herein to any act or statute or any provision of any act or statute shall be deemed also to refer to any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof or any statutory instrument, order or regulation made thereunder or under such modification or re-enactment; and

(i) the following terms shall have the following meanings whenever used herein and shall apply to the Preferred Securities:

5-year UST” means, in relation to a Reset Date and the Reset Period commencing on that Reset Date, an interest rate expressed as a percentage determined by the Calculation Agent to be the per annum rate equal to the yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of five years as published in the most recent H.15;

Accrual Date” means the date from which Distributions began to accrue. Distributions begin to accrue on the first day of a Distribution Period, which is either a Distribution Payment Date or, in the case of the first Distribution Period, the date of issuance;

Business Day” means any day, other than Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the City of New York, London or Madrid;

Closing Date” means September 19, 2023, being the date of the initial issue of the Preferred Securities;

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Third Supplemental Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person, and any other obligor upon the Preferred Securities;

 

2


Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and its successors;

Distribution” means the non-cumulative cash distribution, if any, in respect of the Preferred Securities in a Distribution Period, determined in accordance with the Indenture;

Distribution Payment Date” means, with respect to the Preferred Securities, each of March 19, June 19, September 19 and December 19 in each year, commencing on December 19, 2023;

Electronic Means” shall mean the following communications methods: email, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee or an Agent, or another method or system specified by the Trustee or the relevant Agent as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.

First Call Date” means March 19, 2029;

First Reset Date means September 19, 2029;

Floor Price” means $4.0215, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.05 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture;

H.15” means the daily statistical release designated as such and published by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System under the caption “Treasury constant maturities”, or any successor or replacement publication as reasonably determined by the Company and notified to the Calculation Agent, that establishes yield on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities, and “most recent H.15” means the H.15 that includes a yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of five years, published closest in time (but prior to) the relevant Reset Determination Date;

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Preferred Security is registered in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Register;

Initial Margin” means 5.099% per annum;

Liquidation Preference means $200,000 per Preferred Security;

Payment Business Day” means any day, other than Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the City of New York or Madrid;

Regular Record Date” for the Distribution payable on any Distribution Payment Date on the Preferred Securities means the 15th calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) preceding a Distribution Payment Date;

Reset Date means the First Reset Date and every fifth anniversary thereafter;

Reset Determination Date means, in relation to each Reset Date, the second Business Day immediately preceding such Reset Date; and

Reset Period” means the period from (and including) a Reset Date to (but excluding) the next succeeding Reset Date.

Section 1.02. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Preferred Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

3


Section 1.03. Benefits of Supplemental Indenture. Nothing in this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Preferred Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under the Indenture.

ARTICLE 2

THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

Section 2.01. Form, Title, Terms and Payments. The form of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security that is designated as a Preferred Security shall be evidenced by one or more Global Securities in registered form (each, a “Global Preferred Security”) deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary on the Closing Date. Definitive Preferred Securities shall not be issued except as provided in and subject to the provisions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture. The Global Preferred Securities shall be registered in the name of the Depositary’s nominee (initially Cede & Co.) and executed and delivered in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The terms and provisions of the Global Preferred Securities are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof as if set forth herein in full, except that insofar as the terms and provisions of the Global Preferred Securities may conflict with the provisions set forth herein, the provisions set forth herein (as they may be amended from time to time) shall control and prevail with respect to the terms and provisions of the Global Preferred Securities.

(a) There is hereby established a new series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities designated as the $1,000,000,000 Series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities with the terms provided herein (including Section 1.01(i) hereof) and in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended hereby) (referred to herein as the “Preferred Securities”).

(b) The Preferred Securities shall carry a Liquidation Preference of $200,000 per Preferred Security.

(c) The Preferred Securities shall be initially limited in aggregate Liquidation Preference to $1,000,000,000. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders, issue additional Preferred Securities having the same ranking and same Distribution Rate, redemption terms and other terms as the Preferred Securities described in this Third Supplemental Indenture, except for the price to the public at initial Accrual Date, Closing Date and first Distribution Payment Date. Any such additional Preferred Securities subsequently issued shall rank equally and ratably with the Preferred Securities in all respects, so that such further Preferred Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Preferred Securities.

(d) The Preferred Securities shall be perpetual Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and shall have no stated maturity in respect of Liquidation Preference.

(e) The Preferred Securities shall not have a sinking fund. No premium, upon redemption or otherwise, shall be payable by the Company on the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities shall not be redeemable except as provided in Article 12 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended hereby).

(f) Any proposed transfer of an interest in the Preferred Securities held in the form of a Global Preferred Security shall be effected through the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary.

(g) The Distribution Rate on the Preferred Securities is set forth in Section 2.02(a) hereof.

(h) Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities, including payments of Liquidation Preference and Distributions, shall be subject to the conditions set forth under Section 2.02 hereof and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (including Sections 3.07, 3.08, 3.09, 3.10, 6.02, Articles 4 and 12 and Section 14.01 thereof, in each case, where applicable, as amended hereby). The Place of Payment of the Preferred Securities shall be the Corporate Trust Office.

 

4


(i) The Depositary for the Preferred Securities shall be DTC (or, if applicable, its successors).

(j) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, the Company hereby appoints The Bank of New York Mellon as the initial Paying and Conversion Agent, Calculation Agent, Principal Paying Agent and Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar, under the Indenture for the purpose of performing such roles with respect to the Preferred Securities, and The Bank of New York Mellon hereby accepts such appointments. The Company may change the Paying and Conversion Agent, the Calculation Agent, the Principal Paying Agent and/or the Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar without prior notice to the Holders. The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee pursuant to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by the Calculation Agent as though it was a party thereto, provided, however, that the Calculation Agent shall be deemed to have acknowledged, accepted and agreed to be bound, and will be bound, by Section 14.02 thereof (as amended hereby), on the same terms as the Trustee, with respect to any BRRD Liability of the Company to the Calculation Agent.

(k) Additional Amounts will be payable in respect of the Preferred Securities as provided in Section 11.04 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended hereby).

Section 2.02. Distributions.

(a) The Preferred Securities accrue Distributions at the following rate (the “Distribution Rate”):

(i) in respect of the period from (and including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) the First Reset Date at the rate of 9.375% per annum; and

(ii) in respect of each Reset Period, at the rate per annum equal to the aggregate of the Initial Margin and the 5-year UST for such Reset Period, and such aggregate converted to a quarterly rate in accordance with market convention (rounded to four decimal places, with 0.00005 rounded down), all as determined by the Calculation Agent on the relevant Reset Determination Date, provided that any Distribution Rate shall not be less than zero. As of the date of this Third Supplemental Indenture, the market convention for quarterly rate conversion is as follows:

 

LOGO

Subject as provided in the Indenture (including Sections 3.08 and 3.09 (as amended hereby) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture), such Distributions will be payable quarterly in arrears on each Distribution Payment Date.

(b) If a Distribution is required to be paid in respect of a Preferred Security on any date other than a Distribution Payment Date, it shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent by applying the Distribution Rate to the Liquidation Preference in respect of each Preferred Security, multiplying the product by (i) the actual number of days in the period from (and including) the applicable Accrual Date to (but excluding) the date on which Distributions fall due divided by (ii) the actual number of days from (and including) the applicable Accrual Date to (but excluding) the next following Distribution Payment Date multiplied by four, and rounding the resulting figure to the nearest cent (half a cent being rounded upwards).

 

5


(c) The Company will be discharged from its obligations to pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities by payment to the Principal Paying Agent for the account of the Holders on the relevant Distribution Payment Date or as otherwise provided in Section 2.02(b) or (d). Subject to any applicable fiscal or other laws and regulations, each such payment in respect of the Preferred Securities will be made in U.S. dollars (or such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts) by transfer to an account capable of receiving payments in such currency, as directed by the Principal Paying Agent.

(d) If any date on which any payment is due to be made on the Preferred Securities would otherwise fall on a date which is not a Payment Business Day, the payment will be postponed to the next Payment Business Day and the Holders shall not be entitled to any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay.

(e) If the Company does not pay a Distribution or part thereof in accordance with this Section 2.02, such non-payment shall evidence the cancellation of such Distribution (or relevant part thereof), and accordingly, such Distribution shall not in any such case be due and payable. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company provides notice to cancel a portion, but not all, of a Distribution in respect of the Preferred Securities, and the Company subsequently does not make a payment of the remaining portion of such Distribution on the relevant Distribution Payment Date, such non-payment shall evidence the Company’s exercise of its discretion, pursuant to Section 3.08 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended hereby), to cancel also such portion of such Distribution, and accordingly such portion of the Distribution shall also not be due and payable.

(f) The Calculation Agent will at or as soon as practicable after the relevant time on each Reset Determination Date at which the Distribution Rate is to be determined, determine the Distribution Rate for the relevant Reset Period. The Calculation Agent will cause the Distribution Rate for each Reset Period to be notified to the Company and the stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed and notice thereof to be published in accordance with Section 1.06 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture as soon as possible after its determination but in no event later than the fourth Business Day after each Reset Determination Date.

Section 2.03. Amended Provisions of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture. (a) The definitions of “Additional Tier 1 Instrument”, “Amounts Due”, “Applicable Banking Regulations”, “BRRD”, “CET1 Capital”, “CNMV”, “Conversion Settlement Date”, “Conversion Shares Depository”, “Corporate Trust Office”, “CRR”, “Delivery Notice”, “Distributable Items”, “Law 10/2014”, “Law 11/2015”, “Liquidation Distribution”, “Maximum Distributable Amount”, “Outstanding”, “Parity Securities”, “Redemption Price”, “Regulator”, “Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority”, “Shareholders”, “Spanish Bail-in Power”, “Spanish Companies Act”, “Spanish Insolvency Law”, “SRM Regulation”, “SSM Regulation”, “Tax Event”, “Tier 1 Capital”, “Trigger Event”, “U.S.$” and “U.S. dollars” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced, respectively, by the following definitions:

““Additional Tier 1 Instrument” means any instrument of the Company qualifying as Additional Tier 1 Capital, in whole or in part.”

““Amounts Due” with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series means the Liquidation Preference, together with any accrued but unpaid Distributions (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09), and Additional Amounts, if any, due on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series. References to such amounts will include amounts that have become due and payable, but which have not been paid prior to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (including monies held in trust by the Company, any Paying Agent or the Trustee for the payment of such amounts).”

 

6


““Applicable Banking Regulations” means, at any time, the laws, regulations, requirements, guidelines and policies relating to capital adequacy, resolution and/or solvency then applicable to the Company and/or the Group including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, CRD V, the BRRD, the SRM Regulation and those laws, regulations, requirements, guidelines and policies relating to capital adequacy, resolution and/or solvency then in effect in the Kingdom of Spain (whether or not such regulations, requirements, guidelines or policies have the force of law and whether or not they are applied generally or specifically to the Company and/or the Group).”

““BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 15, 2014 establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms or such other directive as may come into effect in place thereof, as implemented into Spanish law by Law 11/2015 and RD 1012/2015, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time, and including any other relevant implementing or developing regulatory provisions.”

““CET1 Capital” means, at any time, the common equity tier 1 capital of the Company or the Group, respectively, as calculated by the Company in accordance with Chapter 2 (Common Equity Tier 1 Capital) of Title I (Elements of Own Funds) of Part Two (Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities) of the CRR and/or Applicable Banking Regulations at such time, including any applicable transitional, phasing in or similar provisions.”

““CNMV” means the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores).”

““Conversion Settlement Date” means the date on which the relevant Common Shares are to be delivered to the Conversion Shares Depository upon Conversion, which shall be as soon as practicable and in any event not later than one month following (or such other period as Applicable Banking Regulations may require) the relevant Conversion Notice Date.”

““Conversion Shares Depository” means, when used with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, a reputable financial institution, trust company or similar entity (which may be the Company or another member of the Group or a third party) to be appointed by the Company on or prior to any date when a function ascribed to the Conversion Shares Depository is required to be performed, to perform such functions and to hold Common Shares in Iberclear or any of its participating entities (entidades participantes) in a designated trust or custody account for the benefit of the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series and otherwise on terms consistent with the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture.”

““Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business is principally administered, which, with respect to The Bank of New York Mellon, acting through its London Branch, is currently located at 160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4LA, United Kingdom, and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be administered (except with respect to the role of Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Registrar) at such corporate trust office, or such other location as notified by the Trustee to the Company from time to time, or, if a different Trustee is appointed for a particular series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, the address set forth in the supplemental indenture naming the Trustee for that particular series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities.”

““CRR” means Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 26, on the prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

 

7


““Delivery Notice” means a notice to be provided by the relevant Holder, in such form as may be acceptable to the relevant Clearing System from time to time, which contains the relevant account and related details for the delivery of any Common Shares (or ADSs) and such other information as is set forth in Section 4.08(c), and which is required to be delivered in connection with a Conversion of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and the delivery of the Common Shares (or ADSs).”

““Distributable Items” means the profits and reserves (if any) available for the payment of a Distribution at any given time together with any other distributions and payments to be made from such profits and reserves, in each case in accordance with Applicable Banking Regulations then in force, and including as such term is further defined in CRD V, as interpreted and applied in accordance with Applicable Banking Regulations.”

““Law 10/2014” means Law 10/2014 of June 26, on the organization, supervision and solvency of credit institutions (Ley 10/2014, de 26 de junio, de ordenación, supervisión y solvencia de entidades de crédito), as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““Law 11/2015” means Law 11/2015 of June 18, on the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms (Ley 11/2015 de 18 de junio, de recuperación y resolución de entidades de crédito y empresas de servicios de inversión), as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““Liquidation Distribution” means the Liquidation Preference per Contingent Convertible Preferred Security plus, if applicable, where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09, an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then current Distribution Period to (but excluding) the date of payment of the Liquidation Distribution.”

““Maximum Distributable Amount” means, at any time, any maximum distributable amount required to be calculated at such time in accordance with (a) Article 48 of Law 10/2014 and any provision developing Article 48 of Law 10/2014, and any other provision of Spanish law transposing or implementing Article 141 of the CRD Directive and/or (b) Applicable Banking Regulations.”

““Outstanding” means, when used with respect to Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01), as of the date of determination, all Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or all Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, as the case may be, theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, except:

(i) Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or in respect of which all Amounts Due have been cancelled or converted into other securities pursuant to the exercise of any Spanish Bail-in Power;

(ii) Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in respect of which the Trustee acknowledges satisfaction and discharge of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture pursuant to Article 5;

(iii) Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities for which the Redemption Price has been deposited pursuant to Section 12.04 (except as set forth in Section 12.04(d)(ii)) or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, other than any such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

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(iv) Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities purchased by the Company or any member of the Group or any other legal entity acting on behalf of the Company pursuant to Section 12.11; and

(v) Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities that have been, or are alleged to have been, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, and have been replaced pursuant to Section 3.06 hereof;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the Liquidation Preference of a Contingent Convertible Preferred Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined based on the Prevailing Rate on the date of original issuance of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security, of the Liquidation Preference of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security; and (ii) Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities beneficially owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so beneficially owned shall be so disregarded; provided, further, however, that Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities so beneficially owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.”

““Parity Securities” means any instrument issued or guaranteed by the Company (including the guarantee thereof), which instrument or guarantee, respectively, ranks pari passu with the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities upon the insolvency of the Company.”

““Redemption Price” means, per Contingent Convertible Preferred Security, the Liquidation Preference plus, if applicable, where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09, an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then current Distribution Period to (but excluding) the Redemption Date of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of the relevant series.”

““Regulator” means the European Central Bank, the Bank of Spain or the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, as applicable, or such other or successor authority having primary bank supervisory authority, in each case, with respect to prudential matters or the exercise of resolution powers in relation to the Company and/or the Group from time to time.”

““Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority” means the Spanish Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (Fondo de Reestructuración Ordenada Bancaria), the European Single Resolution Board, the Bank of Spain, the CNMV or any other entity with the authority to exercise the Spanish Bail-in Power from time to time.”

““Shareholders” means the holders of Common Shares, meaning the persons in whose names the relevant Common Shares are from time to time registered in the central registry of the Spanish clearance and settlement system managed by Iberclear or, as the case may be, the accounting book of the relevant participating entity (entidad participante) in Iberclear (or, in the case of a joint holding, the first such named holder).”

 

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““Spanish Bail-in Power” means any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification, cancellation or suspension power existing from time to time under: (a) any law, regulation, rule or requirement applicable from time to time in the Kingdom of Spain, relating to the transposition or development of the BRRD, including, but not limited to (i) Law 11/2015, (ii) RD 1012/2015 and (iii) the SRM Regulation; or (b) any other law, regulation, rule or requirement applicable from time to time in the Kingdom of Spain pursuant to which (i) obligations or liabilities of banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates can be reduced, cancelled, modified, transferred or converted into shares, other securities, or other obligations of such Persons or any other Person (or suspended for a temporary period or permanently) or (ii) any right in a contract governing such obligations may be deemed to have been exercised.”

““Spanish Companies Act” means the consolidated text of the Corporate Enterprises Act (Ley de Sociedades de Capital), approved by the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010, of July 2, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““Spanish Insolvency Law” means the restated text of the Insolvency Law, as approved by Spanish Royal Legislative Decree 1/2020 of May 5 (Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2020, de 5 de mayo, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley Concursal), as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““SRM Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No. 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 15, establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single Resolution Mechanism and a Single Resolution Fund and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1093/2010, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““SSM Regulation” means Council Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2013 of October 15, conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““Tax Event” in respect of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, means that as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations applicable in the Kingdom of Spain (except as provided in Section 9.02 and Section 9.03), or any change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations which change or amendment, or change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration, becomes effective on or after the date of issue of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series (a) the Company would not be entitled to claim a deduction in computing its taxation liabilities in Spain (or, following any of the transactions referred to in Section 9.01 or an assumption of obligations pursuant to Section 9.03, the successor Person’s jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence) in respect of any Distribution to be made on the next Distribution Payment Date or the value of such deduction to the Company would be reduced, or (b) the Company would be required to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 11.04, or (c) the applicable tax treatment of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series would be materially affected.”

““Tier 1 Capital” means at any time, with respect to the Company or the Group, as the case may be, the Tier 1 capital of the Company or the Group, respectively, as calculated by the Company in accordance with Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (Tier 1 capital, Common Equity Tier 1 capital and Additional Tier 1 capital) of Title I (Elements of own funds) of Part Two (Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities) of the CRR and/or Applicable Banking Regulations at such time, including any applicable transitional, phasing in or similar provisions.”

 

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““Trigger Event” in respect of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, means if, at any time, as determined by the Company, the CET1 ratio of the Company or the Group is less than 5.125%.”

““U.S.$” and “U.S. dollars” means the lawful currency of the United States which as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.”

(b) Section 1.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be amended with respect to the Preferred Securities only by adding the following new definitions of “CRD V”, “CRD Directive”, “CRD Implementing Measures”, “First Call Date”, “First Reset Date”, “MREL-MDA”, “Qualifying Preferred Securities” and “relevant information (información relevante) announcement” (which shall be deemed to arise in Section 1.01 in their proper alphabetical order), as set forth below:

““CRD V” means any or any combination of the CRD Directive, the CRR, and any CRD Implementing Measures.”

““CRD Directive” means Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 26, on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““CRD Implementing Measures” means any regulatory rules implementing or developing the CRD Directive or the CRR which may from time to time be introduced, including, but not limited to, delegated or implementing acts (regulatory technical standards) adopted by the European Commission, national laws and regulations, and regulations and guidelines issued by the Regulator, the European Banking Authority or any other relevant authority, which are applicable to the Company (on a standalone basis) or the Group (on a consolidated basis), including, without limitation, Law 10/2014 and any other regulation, circular or guidelines implementing or developing Law 10/2014, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time.”

““First Call Date” means the first call date determined pursuant to Section 3.01, if applicable.”

““First Reset Date means the first reset date determined pursuant to Section 3.01, if applicable.”

““MREL-MDA” means, at any time, the lower of any maximum distributable amount required to be calculated, if applicable, at such time in accordance with Article 16.a) of BBRD, as implemented in Spain by Article 16 bis of Law 11/2015.”

““Qualifying Preferred Securities” means, with respect to a series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities which is subject to any substitution or modification pursuant to Section 3.20, at any time, any securities issued by the Company that:

(a) contain terms which comply with the then-current requirements to be included in, or count towards, the Group’s and the Company’s Tier 1 Capital;

(b) have the same or higher ranking as is applicable to such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities on the issue date of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities under Section 13.01;

(c) have the same denomination and aggregate outstanding Liquidation Preference, the same terms for the determination of any applicable Distributions, the same redemption rights and the same dates for payment of Distributions as such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities immediately prior to any substitution or modification pursuant to Section 3.20;

 

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(d) preserve any existing rights under such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to any accrued Distribution which has not been paid in respect of the period from and including the Distribution Payment Date last preceding the date of any substitution or modification pursuant to Section 3.20 (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and 3.09); and

(e) are listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange as selected by the Company, provided that such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities were listed or admitted to trading on a stock exchange immediately prior to the relevant substitution or modification pursuant to Section 3.20.”

““relevant information (información relevante) announcement” refers to an “inside information” (información privilegiada) or “other relevant information” (otra información relevante) announcement, as the case may be, with the CNMV, or such other announcement that may substitute “inside information” (información privilegiada) or “other relevant information” (otra información relevante) announcements, as the case may be, with the CNMV from time to time.”

(c) The definitions of “CRD IV”, “CRD IV Directive”, “CRD IV Implementing Measures” and “Payment Business Day” set forth in Section 1.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities.

(d) Section 1.13 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 1.13. Governing Law. This Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (except as set forth herein and therein) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state, except that the authorization and execution by the Company of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, the authorization, issuance and execution by the Company of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and Sections 13.01(a), 13.02, 14.01 and 14.02 hereof shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the common laws of the Kingdom of Spain.”

(e) Section 1.15 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 1.15. Appointment of Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company has designated and appointed Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., New York Branch, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10105, as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”), upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding in any U.S. Federal or State court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York arising out of or relating to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, but for that purpose only, and agrees that service of process upon said Authorized Agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit or proceeding in any U.S. Federal or State court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities remain Outstanding until the appointment of a successor by the Company and such successor’s acceptance of such appointment. Upon such acceptance, the Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of such successor. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the

 

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execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of said Authorized Agent in full force and effect so long as any of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall be Outstanding. The Trustee shall not be obligated and shall have no responsibility with respect to any failure by the Company to take any such action. Except as provided in the immediately succeeding paragraph, the Company hereby submits (for the purposes of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or the Indenture) to the jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or State court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, in which any such suit or proceeding is so instituted, and waives, to the extent it may effectively do so, any objection it may have now or hereafter to the laying of the venue of any such suit or proceeding.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, the Spanish courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture arising out of, relating to or in connection with the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (a “Bail-in Dispute”) and accordingly each of the Company, the Trustee, each Holder and beneficial owner of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security and each agent (as defined herein) submits, to the extent it may effectively do so, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Spanish courts in relation to any Bail-in Dispute. Each of the Company, the Trustee, each Holder and beneficial owner of any Securities and each agent further irrevocably waives, to the extent it may effectively do so, any objection to the Spanish courts on the grounds that they are an inconvenient or inappropriate forum in respect of any Bail-in Dispute.”

(f) Section 1.16 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 1.16. Calculation Agent. Any determination of the Distribution Rate on, or other amounts in relation to, a series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to be calculated in accordance with the terms of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities by the Calculation Agent shall (in the absence of manifest error, bad faith or willful misconduct) be binding on the Company, the Paying Agents, the Trustee and all Holders and (in the absence of manifest error, bad faith or willful misconduct) no liability to the Holders shall attach to the Calculation Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by it of its powers, duties and discretions pursuant to this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture.”

(g) Section 3.01(g) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(g) other than with respect to any redemption of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities pursuant to Sections 12.08, 12.09, 12.10 or 12.12, whether or not such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are to be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option and, if so redeemable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of the series may be redeemed; and any modification to the terms set forth in Sections 12.08, 12.09, 12.10 or 12.12;”

(h) The last sentence of the eleventh paragraph of Section 3.05(a) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

 

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“If a definitive Contingent Convertible Preferred Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a Global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on any record date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Distribution Payment Date, Distributions will not be payable on such Distribution Payment Date in respect of such definitive Contingent Convertible Preferred Security, but will be payable (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09) on such Distribution Payment Date only to the Person to whom Distributions in respect of such portion of such Global Security are payable.”

(i) Section 3.07(g) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(g) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07, each Contingent Convertible Preferred Security delivered under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Contingent Convertible Preferred Security shall carry the rights to accrued and unpaid Distributions (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09), if any, and to accrue Distributions, which were carried by such other Contingent Convertible Preferred Security.”

(j) Section 3.08 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 3.08. Distributions Discretionary.

(a) The Company may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel the payment of any Distribution on any particular series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in whole or in part at any time and for any or no reason.

(b) Distributions on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities will be non-cumulative. Accordingly, if any Distribution (or any part thereof) is not paid in respect of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series as a result of any election of the Company to cancel such Distribution pursuant to this Section 3.08 or the limitations on payment set out in Section 3.09 then the right of the Holders to receive the relevant Distribution (or such part thereof) in respect of the relevant Distribution Period will be extinguished and the Company will have no obligation to pay such Distribution (or such part thereof) accrued for such Distribution Period or to pay any interest thereon, whether or not Distributions on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series are paid in respect of any future Distribution Period.

(c) No such election to cancel the payment of any Distribution (or any part thereof) pursuant to this Section 3.08 or non-payment of any Distribution (or any part thereof) as a result of the limitations on payment set out in Section 3.09 will constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause such Distribution (or part thereof) to be paid or the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or in any way limit or restrict the Company from making any distribution or equivalent payment in connection with any instrument ranking junior to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series (including, without limitation, any CET1 Capital of the Company or any member of the Group) or in respect of any Parity Security or other Security, except to the extent Applicable Banking Regulations otherwise provide.”

 

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(k) Section 3.09(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(c) No payments will be made on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series (whether by way of a repayment of the Liquidation Preference, the payment of any Distribution or otherwise) if and to the extent that such payment would cause a breach of any regulatory restriction or prohibition on payments on Additional Tier 1 Instruments pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations (including, without limitation, any such restriction or prohibition relating to any Maximum Distributable Amount or MREL-MDA applicable to the Company and/or the Group).”

(l) Section 3.10 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 3.10. Agreement to Distribution Cancellation.

(a) By acquiring Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, Holders (which, for the purposes of this Section 3.10, includes holders of a beneficial interest in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities) acknowledge and agree that:

(i) Distributions are payable solely at the Company’s discretion, and no amount of Distribution shall become or remain due and payable in respect of the relevant Distribution Period to the extent that it has been cancelled or deemed cancelled by the Company pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof and/or as a result of the limitations on payment set forth in Section 3.09; and

(ii) a cancellation or deemed cancellation of any Distribution (in whole or in part) in accordance with the terms of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause such Distribution to be paid or the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or in any way limit or restrict the Company from making any distribution or equivalent payment in connection with any instrument, including any instrument ranking junior to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series (including, without limitation, any CET1 Capital of the Company or any member of the Group), or in respect of any Parity Security or other Security, except to the extent Applicable Banking Regulations otherwise provide.

(b) Distributions will only be due and payable on a Distribution Payment Date to the extent they are not cancelled or deemed cancelled previously or thereafter in accordance with Section 3.08, Section 3.09 or Article 4. Any Distributions cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) in the circumstances described herein shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional Distributions or compensation as a result of such cancellation or deemed cancellation.”

(m) Section 3.11 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

 

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“Section 3.11. Notice of Distribution Cancellation. If practicable, the Company will provide notice of any cancellation or deemed cancellation of Distributions on any particular series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (in each case, in whole or in part) to the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series through the relevant Depositary (or, if the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are held in definitive form, to the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities directly at their addresses shown on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Security Register) and to the Trustee directly on or prior to the relevant Distribution Payment Date. Failure to provide such notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such cancellation or deemed cancellation of Distributions (and accordingly, such Distributions will not be due and payable), will not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default with respect to such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, or give the Holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series any rights as a result of such failure.”

(n) Section 3.16 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 3.16. Additional Parity Securities and Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities. (a) The Company may, from time to time, without the consent or sanction of the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series: (i) take any action required to issue additional Parity Securities or authorize, create and issue one or more series of Parity Securities ranking equally with the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any such series, as to the participation in the profits and/or assets of the Company, without limit as to the amount; or (ii) take any action required to authorize, create and issue one or more classes or series of shares of the Company, including Common Shares or securities mandatorily convertible into Common Shares of the Company ranking junior or senior to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any such series, as to the participation in the profits and/or assets of the Company.

(b) By acquiring a Contingent Convertible Preferred Security of any series, Holders and beneficial owners of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities agree to renounce any rights of seniority or preference that may be conferred upon it (if any) under applicable Spanish law (to the extent permitted under applicable Spanish law) over any holder of such Parity Securities issued by the Company from time to time.

(c) The Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series do not grant the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series pre-emption rights in respect of any possible future issues of Parity Securities, Common Shares or any other securities by the Company or any Subsidiary.

(d) The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, issue additional Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (“Additional Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities”) of one or more of the series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities issued under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture having the same ranking and same Distribution Rate, redemption terms and other terms as the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series except for the price to the public, original Distribution accrual date, issue date and first Distribution Payment Date. Any such Additional Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, together with the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of the relevant series, will constitute a single series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and shall be included in the definition of “Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities” in this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture where the context so requires.”

 

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(o) Section 3.17 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 3.17. Correction of Minor Defects in or Amendment of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities. If, after issuance of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security (including any Global Security),

(i) the Company shall become aware of any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in any term of a Contingent Convertible Preferred Security or Global Security, as the case may be, or,

(ii) the Company and the Trustee agree to amend such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security as contemplated by, and subject to, Section 3.20 or Section 10.01, as the case may be, and subject to Section 10.03,

the parties hereto shall provide for the execution, authentication, delivery and dating of one or more replacement Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or Global Securities, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 3.03 hereto, provided, however, that any changes or amendments made in such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or Global Securities pursuant to Section 3.17(i) are not materially adverse to Holders of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities.”

(p) Section 3.19(b) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(b) if any offer is to be made to all (or as nearly as may be practicable all) Shareholders (or all (or as nearly as may be practicable all) such Shareholders other than the offeror and/or any associates of the offeror) to acquire all or a majority of the issued Common Shares, or if a scheme is proposed with regard to such acquisition (other than a Newco Scheme), give notice of such offer or scheme to the Holders at the same time as any notice thereof is sent to the Shareholders (or as soon as practicable thereafter) that details concerning such offer or scheme may be obtained from the specified offices of the Paying and Conversion Agent or, if the Company is designated as the Paying and Conversion Agent, from the specified offices or the website of the Company and, where such an offer or scheme has been recommended by the Board of Directors, or where such an offer has become or been declared unconditional in all respects or such scheme has become effective, use all commercially reasonable endeavors to procure that a like offer or scheme is extended to the holders of any Common Shares issued during the period of the offer or scheme arising out of any Conversion and/or to Holders;”

(q) Article 3 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be amended, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, by adding the following new Section 3.20 thereto, as set forth below:

“Section 3.20. Substitution and Modification. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (including Article 10 hereof), by its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder and beneficial owner acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees that if a Capital Event or a Tax Event, as applicable, occurs and is continuing, the Company may, except if a Trigger Event occurs or shall have occurred, and except if a Capital Reduction occurs or shall have occurred (other than in respect of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities with respect to which a duly completed Election Notice has been received during the Election Period), substitute all (but not less than all) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series or modify the terms of all (but not less than all) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, without any requirement for the consent or approval of the Trustee or the Holders or

 

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beneficial owners of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, so that such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted for, or their terms are modified to, become again, or remain Qualifying Preferred Securities, subject to: (i) having given not less than 5 nor more than 30 days’ notice to the Holders of such series in accordance with Section 1.06 and to the Trustee (which notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date for substitution or, as applicable, modification), (ii) the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and (iii) any variation in the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities resulting from such modification or, if the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted, any difference between the terms of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and those of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted, not being materially prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities.

For the purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph, in the case of a modification of the terms and conditions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series, any variation in the ranking of the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities as set out in Section 13.01 resulting from any such modification or, in the case of a substitution of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, any difference between the ranking of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities as set out in Section 13.01 and that of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted, shall be deemed not to be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities where the ranking of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or, if the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted, of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted, following such substitution or modification, as the case may be, is at least the same ranking as was applicable to such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities under Section 13.01 on the issue date of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities.

(b) For the purposes of Section 3.20(a), the notice to be delivered by the Company shall specify the relevant details of the manner in which the relevant substitution or modification shall take effect and where the Holders of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities can inspect or obtain copies of the new terms and conditions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series or, if such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted, of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are substituted. Such substitution or modification will be effected without any cost or charge to such Holders.

If the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series are substituted in accordance with this Section 3.20, Distributions on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series shall cease to accrue from (and including) the date of substitution thereof.

(c) By its acquisition of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security of any series, each Holder and beneficial owner acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by any substitution of or modification to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series as set forth in this Section 3.20 and to grant to the Company and the Trustee full power and authority to take any action and/or to execute and deliver any document in the name and/or on behalf of such Holder or beneficial owner, as the case may be, which is necessary or convenient to complete the substitution or modification of the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 3.20.

Each Holder and beneficial owner of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, by virtue of its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series or any beneficial interest therein, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee and/or the Company for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee or the Company in respect of, and agrees that

 

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neither the Trustee nor the Company shall be liable for, any action that the Trustee or the Company takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in connection with the substitution or modification of the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities upon the occurrence of a Capital Event or a Tax Event.”

(r) Section 4.01(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(c) A Trigger Event will not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company.”

(s) The first paragraph of Section 4.02(b) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Notwithstanding Section 4.02(a), if a Capital Reduction occurs at any time on or after the issue date of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, each Holder of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series will have the right to elect that all (but not part) of its Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall not be converted in accordance with Section 4.02(a), in which case all Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such Holder shall remain outstanding and no payment of any accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall be made in respect of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to that Holder on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date pursuant to Section 4.02(a) (without prejudice to any payment of such Distributions or any other Distributions that may accrue in respect of those Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 3.01). To exercise such right, a Holder must complete, sign and deposit at the specified office of any Paying and Conversion Agent a duly completed and signed notice of election (an “Election Notice”), in the form indicated in the Capital Reduction Notice, on or before the tenth Business Day immediately following the Capital Reduction Notice Date (the period from (and including) the Capital Reduction Notice Date to (and including) such tenth Business Day, the “Election Period”). In the case of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities represented by a Global Security held by or on behalf of a Clearing System, an Election Notice may be delivered within the Election Period by the Holder giving notice to any Paying and Conversion Agent of such election in accordance with the applicable procedures of the relevant Clearing System (which may include notice being given on such Holder’s instruction by the relevant Clearing System to the Paying and Conversion Agent by electronic means) in a form acceptable to such Clearing System from time to time.

(t) The last paragraph of Section 4.02(b) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities not converted upon a Capital Reduction as a result of Holders delivering a duly completed and signed Election Notice during the Election Period in accordance with Section 4.02 shall remain Outstanding and, notwithstanding any of the above, may be the subject of Conversion on the occurrence of a Trigger Event pursuant to Section 4.01 or any further Capital Reduction.”

(u) Section 4.02(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

 

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“(c) A Capital Reduction will not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company.”

(v) Section 4.03(b) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(b) Upon any Trigger Event of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, Holders (and beneficial owners) of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall have no claim against the Company in respect of (i) any Liquidation Preference (and premium, if any) of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or (ii) any accrued and unpaid Distributions in respect of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series shall cease to represent any right other than the right to receive Common Shares from or on behalf of the Conversion Shares Depository (except as noted under Section 4.08(g) with respect to certain stamp and similar taxes).”

(w) Section 4.03(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(c) Upon any Capital Reduction of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, Holders (and beneficial owners) of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, other than Holders of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in respect of which such Holders have elected not to convert such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in accordance with Section 4.02(b), shall have no claim against the Company in respect of any Liquidation Preference (and premium, if any) of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, other than Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in respect of which Holders have elected not to convert such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in accordance with Section 4.02(b), shall cease to represent any right other than the right to receive Common Shares from or on behalf of the Conversion Shares Depository (except as noted under Section 4.08(g) with respect to certain stamp and similar taxes). Nothing in this Section 4.03(c) shall affect the Company’s obligation upon any Capital Reduction Conversion to pay to the Holders, as applicable, where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09, and except as provided in Section 4.02(b), an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period up to (but excluding) the Conversion Settlement Date.”

(x) Section 4.03(d) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(d) On the Conversion Settlement Date, the Company shall deliver to the Conversion Shares Depository such number of Common Shares (subject as provided in Section 4.03(a) with respect to fractions) as is required to satisfy in full the Company’s obligation to deliver Common Shares (i) in respect of a Trigger Conversion, of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series outstanding on the Trigger Event Notice Date, and (ii) in respect of a Capital Reduction Conversion, of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series Outstanding on the Capital Reduction Notice Date, other than Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in respect of which such Holders have elected not to convert such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in accordance with Section 4.02(b).”

 

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(y) Section 4.03(e) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(e) The obligation of the Company to issue and deliver Common Shares to a Holder of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date shall be satisfied by the delivery of such Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository. Receipt of the relevant Common Shares by the Conversion Shares Depository shall discharge the Company’s obligations in respect of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities converted, other than, in the case of a Capital Reduction, as provided under Section 4.02(a) with respect to the payment of accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period up to (but excluding) the Conversion Settlement Date (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in Section 3.08 and Section 3.09) except as provided in Section 4.02(b), and except as noted under Section 4.08(g) with respect to certain stamp and similar taxes.”

(z) The first paragraph of Section 4.03(f) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(f) Except as set forth in the immediately succeeding paragraph with respect to a Capital Reduction, if a Conversion Event occurs, Holders shall have recourse to the Company only for the issue and delivery of the relevant Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository (except as noted under Section 4.08(g) with respect to certain stamp and similar taxes). After such delivery by the Company of the relevant Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository, Holders of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities so converted shall have recourse to the Conversion Shares Depository only and exclusively for the purposes of the delivery to them of such Common Shares, in the circumstances described in Section 4.08.”

(aa) Prong (iii) of Section 4.06(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(iii) in the case of a Capital Reduction Notice, the Election Period, the procedures Holders must follow with respect to timely submission of Election Notices and the form of Election Notice;”

(bb) Section 4.07 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 4.07. Agreement and Waiver with Respect to Conversion. The Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series are not convertible into Common Shares at the option of Holders of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series at any time and are not redeemable in cash as a result of a Conversion Event. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, by its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder and beneficial owner shall be deemed to have (i) agreed to all the terms and conditions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, including, without limitation, those related to (x) Conversion following a Trigger Event or Capital Reduction, as the case may be, and (y) the appointment of the Conversion Shares Depository, the issuance of the Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository, and acknowledged that such events in (x) and (y) may occur without any further action on the part of the Holders or beneficial owners of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series or the Trustee, (ii) agreed that effective upon, and following, a Conversion Event, no amount shall be due and payable to the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (other than any accrued and unpaid

 

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Distributions to be paid upon a Capital Reduction Conversion in accordance with Section 4.02(a) (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in Section 3.08 and Section 3.09 and except as provided in Section 4.02(b)) and except as noted under Section 4.08(g) with respect to certain stamp and similar taxes), and the Company’s liability to pay any amounts (including the Liquidation Preference (and premium, if any) of, or any Distribution in respect of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (other than any accrued and unpaid Distributions to be paid upon a Capital Reduction Conversion in accordance with Section 4.02(a) (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in Section 3.08 and Section 3.09 and except as provided in Section 4.02(b)) and except as noted under Section 4.08(g) with respect to certain stamp and similar taxes)), shall be automatically released, and the Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities so converted shall not have the right to give a direction to the Trustee with respect to the Conversion Event and any related Conversion, (iii) agreed that following a Conversion Event, the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority may exercise its Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and/or any Common Shares that such Holder or beneficial owner may have received following a Conversion, which exercise may result in any of the consequences described in Section 14.01(a), the cancellation of the Conversion and/or the implementation of material changes to the Conversion terms, (iv) waived, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, any claim against the Trustee arising out of its acceptance of its trusteeship under, and the performance of its duties, powers and rights in respect of, the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and in connection with the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities so converted or to be converted, including, without limitation, claims related to or arising out of or in connection with a Conversion Event and/or any Conversion and (v) authorized, directed and requested DTC, the European Clearing Systems and any direct participant in DTC, the European Clearing Systems or other intermediary or depositary through which it holds such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to be converted to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the Conversion without any further action or direction on the part of such Holder or beneficial owner of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or the Trustee.”

(cc) Section 4.08(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(c) In order to obtain delivery of the relevant Common Shares, or, if indicated in the relevant Delivery Notice, ADSs, upon any Conversion from the Conversion Shares Depository, the relevant Holder must deliver its Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (other than, in the case of a Capital Reduction, Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities which Holders elect not to convert in accordance with Section 4.02(b)) and a duly completed Delivery Notice to the specified office of the Paying and Conversion Agent, with a copy of such Delivery Notice to the Trustee, on or before the Notice Cut-off Date. Except as otherwise indicated in the Conversion Notice, the Delivery Notice shall contain: (i) the name of the Holder (and, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to be converted; (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Preference held by such Holder (and, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of such converted Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities on the date of such notice; (iii) whether Common Shares or ADSs are to be delivered to the Holder (and, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities; (iv) the name in which the Common Shares or ADSs, as applicable, are to be registered, if applicable; (v) the details of the DTC, Iberclear or other clearing system account (subject to the limitations set out below) to which the Common Shares or ADSs are to be credited (or, if the Common Shares are not a participating security in Iberclear or another clearing system, the address to which the Common Shares should be delivered; and, as the case may be, details of the registered account in the Company’s ADS facility if direct registration ADSs are to be issued); (vi) any relevant certifications and/or representations as may be required by applicable law and regulations; and (vii) such other details as may be required by the Paying and Conversion Agent or any relevant Clearing System.”

 

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(dd) Section 4.08(e) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(e) Subject to satisfaction of the requirements and limitations set forth in this Section 4.08 and provided that the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and a duly completed Delivery Notice have been delivered not later than the Notice Cut-off Date, the Paying and Conversion Agent shall give instructions to the Conversion Shares Depository that the Conversion Shares Depository shall deliver the relevant Common Shares (as rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Shares in accordance with Section 4.03(a) and, where applicable, Section 4.05(d)) to, or shall deposit part or all of such Common Shares with the ADS Depositary on behalf of, the Holder (or, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities completing such Delivery Notice or its nominee in accordance with the instructions given in such Delivery Notice on the applicable Conversion Settlement Date.”

(ee) Section 4.09 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 4.09. Failure to Deliver a Delivery Notice. (a) If a duly completed Delivery Notice and the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are not received by the Paying and Conversion Agent as provided in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, then within ten Business Days following the Conversion Settlement Date, all Common Shares held by the Conversion Shares Depository in respect of which the applicable Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and a duly completed Delivery Notice have not been received on or before the Notice Cut-off Date as aforesaid will be sold by or on behalf of a person (which may be the Company or another member of the Group or a third party) appointed by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion (the “Selling Agent”) as soon as reasonably practicable.

(b) Subject to the deduction by or on behalf of the Selling Agent of any amount payable in respect of its liability to taxation and the payment of any capital, stamp, issue, registration and/or transfer taxes and duties (if any) and any fees or costs incurred by or on behalf of the Selling Agent in connection with the issue, allotment and sale of any Common Shares pursuant to Section 4.09(a), and the conversion of any proceeds of such sale into U.S. dollars, the net proceeds of such sale, converted into U.S. dollars at the Prevailing Rate on the Notice Cut-off Date, if necessary, shall as soon as reasonably practicable be distributed pro rata to the relevant Holders in such manner and at such time as the Company shall determine and notify to the relevant Holders. Such payment shall for all purposes discharge the obligations of the Company, the Conversion Shares Depository, the Paying and Conversion Agent and the Selling Agent to such Holders in respect of the relevant Conversion. The Selling Agent will be deemed to be acting on behalf of Holders whose Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and a duly completed Delivery Notice were not received on or before the Notice Cut-off Date for the purposes set out above and to that effect Holders and beneficial owners of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities by virtue of their acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities will be deemed to be accepting and giving express instructions to the Selling Agent to do so in accordance with these conditions. The Company, the Conversion Shares Depository, the Paying and Conversion Agent and the Selling Agent shall have no liability in respect of the exercise or non-exercise of any discretion or power pursuant to this Section 4.09 or in respect of any sale of any Common Shares, whether for the timing of any

 

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such sale or the price at or manner in which any such Common Shares are sold or the inability to sell any such Common Shares. Furthermore, the Company, the Conversion Shares Depository, the Paying and Conversion Agent and the Selling Agent shall have no liability to any Holder or beneficial owner of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities for any loss resulting from such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s failure to receive any Common Shares or ADSs, or from any delay in the receipt thereof, in each case as a result of such Holder or beneficial owner (or custodian, nominee, broker or other representative thereof) failing to duly submit a Delivery Notice and the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities on a timely basis or at all.

(c) If the applicable Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and Delivery Notice are not received by the Paying and Conversion Agent on or before the Notice Cut-off Date and the Company does not appoint the Selling Agent by the tenth Business Day after the Conversion Settlement Date, or if any Common Shares are not sold by the Selling Agent in accordance with this Section 4.09, the Conversion Shares Depository shall continue to hold any Common Shares not sold by the Selling Agent until a duly completed Delivery Notice and the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are so delivered. However, any Holder of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities delivering a Delivery Notice after the Notice Cut-off Date will have to provide evidence of its entitlement to the relevant Common Shares, or if the Holder so elects, ADSs, satisfactory to the Conversion Shares Depository in its sole and absolute discretion in order to receive delivery of such Common Shares or ADSs (if so elected to be deposited with the ADS Depositary on its behalf).”

(ff) Section 4.10 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 4.10. Delivery of ADSs. In respect of any Common Shares that Holders elect to receive in the form of ADSs as specified in the Delivery Notice, the Conversion Shares Depository shall deposit with the custodian for the ADS Depositary the relevant number of Common Shares to be issued upon Conversion of the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, and the ADS Depositary shall issue the corresponding number of ADSs to the DTC Participant account or registered ADS facility account specified by such Holders (per the ADS-to-Common Share ratio in effect on the Conversion Settlement Date). However, the issuance of the ADSs by the ADS Depositary may be delayed until the depositary bank or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the Common Shares have been duly transferred to the custodian and that all applicable depositary fees and payments have been paid to the ADS Depositary. Holders that elect to receive Common Shares in the form of ADSs must pay any fees that may be payable to the ADS Depositary as a result of the issue and delivery of such ADSs in accordance with the Delivery Notice.”

(gg) The first paragraph of Section 5.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 5.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture. This Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the direction and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series when (a) all Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities which have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and

 

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Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; (b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series; and (c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series have been complied with.”

(hh) Section 6.02(b) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(b) If, upon the occurrence of a Liquidation Event, a Conversion Event has occurred or occurs but the relevant conversion of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series into Common Shares pursuant to Article 4 is still to take place at such time, Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series will be entitled to receive (i) out of the relevant assets of the Company a monetary amount equal to that which Holders of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series would have received on any distribution of the assets of the Company if such conversion had taken place immediately prior to such Liquidation Event or (ii) such amounts as may be otherwise provided in accordance with applicable law at such time.”

(ii) Section 9.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 9.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. The Company may, without the consent of Holders of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series Outstanding under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person or Persons (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or sell, convey or transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), provided that:

(a) any Person formed by any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any transferee or lessee of the Company’s assets shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all obligations of the Company under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture;

(b) immediately after giving effect to such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, no Enforcement Event and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Enforcement Event, shall have occurred and be continuing;

(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with; and

(d) except where the successor entity is a holding company of the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, immediately prior to such assumption, the successor entity shall have ratings for long-term senior debt assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or their respective successors) which are the same as, or higher than, the credit rating for long-term senior debt of the Company (or, if applicable, the previous successor entity) assigned by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or their respective successors).”

 

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(jj) The second paragraph of Section 9.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following paragraph:

“The successor corporation will also be entitled to redeem the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in the circumstances described in, and in accordance with, Section 12.09, and to substitute or modify the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in the circumstances described in, and in accordance with, Section 3.20, except that if such successor corporation is not incorporated or tax resident in the Kingdom of Spain (i) references to Spain or the Kingdom of Spain in the definition of “Tax Event” shall be deemed to refer to the successor corporation’s jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence, and (ii) the change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence or of any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax, or the change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations giving rise to a Tax Event shall become effective subsequent to the date of any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Section 9.01.”

(kk) The last paragraph of Section 9.03 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following paragraph:

“The successor entity will also be entitled to redeem the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in the circumstances described in, and in accordance with, Section 12.09, and to substitute or modify the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities in the circumstances described in, and in accordance with, Section 3.20, except that if such successor entity is not incorporated or tax resident in the Kingdom of Spain (i) references to Spain or the Kingdom of Spain in the definition of “Tax Event” shall be deemed to refer to the successor entity’s jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence, and (ii) the change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence or of any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax, or the change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations giving rise to a Tax Event shall become effective subsequent to the date of such assumption.”

(ll) Section 10.01(o) and Section 10.01(p) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provisions:

“(o) with respect to any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security (including a Global Security) issued on or after the date hereof, to amend any such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security to conform to the description of the terms of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security in the prospectus, prospectus supplement, product supplement, pricing supplement or any other similar offering document related to the offering of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security;

(p) to delete, amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture as a result of, and to the extent necessary to effect, the substitution or modification of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 3.20; or

(q) to change or modify any provision of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or of any supplemental indenture as necessary to ensure that the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series shall be convertible into ordinary shares of Newco in the event of a Newco Scheme.”

 

26


(mm) Section 10.02(d) and the remainder of the first paragraph of Section 10.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(d) change in any manner adverse to the interests of the Holders of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities the subordination provisions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or the terms and conditions of the obligations of the Company in respect of the due and punctual payment of any amounts due and payable on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities,

except in each of (a), (b), (c) and (d) with respect to any modification or amendment of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, any supplemental indenture or any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security pursuant to a supplemental indenture which is entered into as a result of, and to the extent required by, the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, Applicable Banking Regulations or the substitution or modification of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 3.20, as the case may be (in which cases neither the consent nor the affirmative vote of any Holder of an Outstanding Contingent Convertible Preferred Security affected shall be required).”

(nn) Section 11.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 11.01. Payment of Liquidation Preference and Distributions. Except and to the extent as may be limited by the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, the Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities that it will duly and punctually pay, to the extent required by this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, the Liquidation Preference (and premium, if any) of and Distributions (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out in, Section 3.08 and Section 3.09) on, if any (subject to the subordination provisions of Section 13.01 and Section 3.01) the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of that series when due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture. Except as otherwise specified, as contemplated by Section 3.01 hereof, the Trustee shall act as Principal Paying Agent with respect to any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities.”

(oo) Section 11.04(b) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(b) The Company shall not be required to pay any Additional Amounts in relation to any payment in respect of any Contingent Convertible Preferred Security:

(i) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder if the Holder or the beneficial owner of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series is liable for such Taxes in respect of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security by reason of his having some connection with Spain other than the mere holding of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Security; or

 

27


(ii) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder if the Holder or the beneficial owner has not provided such information as may be necessary to comply with any certification, identification or other requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the taxing jurisdiction of such Holder or beneficial owner, if such claim or compliance is required by statute, regulation or administrative practice of the Kingdom of Spain as a condition to relief or exemption from such taxes; or

(iii) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Spanish-resident legal entity subject to Spanish corporation tax if the Spanish tax authorities determine that the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series do not comply with exemption requirements specified in the Reply to a Consultation of the Directorate General for Taxation (Dirección General de Tributos) dated July 27, 2004, and require a withholding to be made; or

(iv) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder in respect of a withholding tax imposed on payments made to individuals with tax residence in Spain following the criteria held by the Spanish tax authorities under which the withholding regime set out in Royal Decree 439/2007 of March 30 prevails over that set out in Royal Decree 1065/2007 of July 27, as amended by Royal Decree 1145/2011 of July 29 (“RD 1065/2007”); or

(v) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder if the Company does not receive the relevant information as may be required by Spanish tax law, regulation or binding ruling, including a duly executed and completed Payment Statement from the Paying Agent; or

(vi) where the withholding or deduction is required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (“FATCA”), any regulations or agreements thereunder, any official interpretations thereof, any intergovernmental agreements with respect thereto (including the intergovernmental agreement between the United States and Spain on the implementation of FATCA), or any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted or issued in any jurisdiction implementing, or relating to, FATCA or any intergovernmental agreement relating thereto.”

(pp) Section 11.04(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(c) In addition, Additional Amounts will not be payable with respect to any Taxes that are imposed in respect of any combination of the items listed in (b)(i) through (b)(vi) set forth above.”

(qq) The second paragraph of Section 11.04(d) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted in its entirety with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities.

(rr) Section 11.04 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be amended, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, by adding the following new Section 11.04(e) thereto, as set forth below:

“(e) The payment of any Additional Amounts in respect of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series pursuant to this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or any supplemental indenture is also subject to the same conditions and limitations as the payment of any Distribution, including the conditions and limitations set forth in Section 3.08.”

(ss) Section 12.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

 

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“Section 12.02. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or approved by a person authorized to make such election pursuant to a Board Resolution. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, the Company shall, at least 5 calendar days prior, but not more than 30 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the Liquidation Preference of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series to be redeemed (which shall not be less than all).”

(tt) The first paragraph of Section 12.04(a) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(a) The decision to redeem the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series must be irrevocably notified by the Company to Holders of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series upon not less than 5 nor more than 30 calendar days’ notice prior to the relevant Redemption Date (unless another period is specified in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to be redeemed) (i) through the filing of a relevant information (información relevante) announcement with the CNMV and its publication in accordance with the rules and regulations of any applicable stock exchange or other relevant authority and (ii) in the manner and to the extent required by Section 1.06 (in which case, such notice may be given at the Company’s request by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, provided the Company has requested the Trustee to so give notice in writing accompanied by a copy of the form of notice, and the Trustee shall give such notice by the fifth Business Day following its receipt of such request).”

(uu) Section 12.04(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(c) If the Company gives notice of redemption of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, then on or prior to the relevant Redemption Date, the Company will (except as provided in Section 12.04(f), Section 12.04(h) and Section 12.06):

(i) irrevocably deposit with the Principal Paying Agent funds (in the currency in which the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to be redeemed are payable) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price; and

(ii) give the Principal Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof.”

(vv) Section 12.04(e) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(e) Subject to Section 12.04(f) and Section 12.04(h), if in connection with any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities the Company improperly withholds or refuses to pay the Redemption Price of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series, Distributions will continue to accrue, subject as provided in Section 3.08 and Section 3.09, at the rate specified from (and including) the Redemption Date to (but excluding) the date on which the Redemption Price is deposited with the Principal Paying Agent.”

 

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(ww) Section 12.04(f) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(f) The Company may not give a notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 12.04 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series if a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to such series. If any notice of redemption of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities has been given pursuant to this Section 12.04 and a Trigger Event with respect to such series occurs prior to the Redemption Date, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, there shall be no redemption of the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities on such Redemption Date and, instead, the Trigger Conversion of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall take place as provided under Article 4.”

(xx) Section 12.04(g) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(g) If a Capital Reduction Notice has been given with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series, the Company may not give a notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 12.04 with respect to such series until the end of the Election Period. If a redemption notice is given by the Company after the end of the Election Period, unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the relevant series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, the Company may redeem all (but not part) of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series which remains outstanding following the Capital Reduction Conversion. If any notice of redemption of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities has been given pursuant to this Section 12.04 and a Capital Reduction with respect to such series occurs prior to the Redemption Date, such Capital Reduction shall be disregarded for all purposes and shall be of no force and effect with respect to such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and there shall be no conversion of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 4.02 and, instead, the redemption of the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall take place as provided under this Article 12. Accordingly, the provisions of Section 4.02 shall not apply to such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities with respect to any such Capital Reduction and Holders and beneficial owners of such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived their rights under Article 418 of the Spanish Companies Act.”

(yy) Section 12.08 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 12.08. Optional Redemption. Subject to Sections 12.09, 12.10 and 12.12 and unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities shall not be redeemable prior to the First Call Date. All, and not only some, of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series may be redeemed at the option of the Company on any day falling in the period commencing on (and including) the First Call Date and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date, and on any Distribution Payment Date thereafter, at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.”

(zz) Section 12.09 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

 

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“Section 12.09. Optional Redemption Due To A Tax Event. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, if, on or after the date of issuance of any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, there is a Tax Event, the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.

Prior to any notice of redemption of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities pursuant to Section 12.04, the Company shall provide the Trustee with (i) an Officer’s Certificate of the Company stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth in reasonable detail a statement of circumstances showing that a Tax Event has occurred; and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that a Tax Event has occurred.”

(aaa) Section 12.10 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 12.10. Optional Redemption Due To A Capital Event. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, if, on or after the issue date of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, there is a Capital Event, the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.”

(bbb) Section 12.11(a) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“(a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, the Company or any member of the Group or any other legal entity acting on behalf of the Company may purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Outstanding Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series at any price in the open market or otherwise, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations in force at the relevant time. Any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities so acquired shall be surrendered to the Trustee for their cancellation.”

(ccc) Section 12.12 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 12.12. Clean-up Call. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, if, on or after the issue date of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series representing, in the aggregate, 75% or more of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series (including any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities which have been cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 12.11) have been purchased by or on behalf of the Company or any member of the Group, the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.”

 

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(ddd) Section 12.13 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 12.13. Cancelled Distributions Not Payable Upon Redemption. Any Distributions that have been cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to Sections 3.08 or 3.09 hereof shall not be payable if the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities are redeemed pursuant to Sections 12.08, 12.09, 12.10 or 12.12.”

(eee) Section 13.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section13.01. Subordination. (a) Unless previously converted into Common Shares pursuant to Article 4 and except as provided in Section 6.02(b), the payment obligations of the Company under the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series shall be direct, unconditional, unsecured and subordinated obligations of the Company and, upon the insolvency (concurso de acreedores) of the Company, in accordance with and only to the extent permitted by the Spanish Insolvency Law and any other applicable laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in Spain (including, without limitation, Additional Provision 14.3 of Law 11/2015), but subject to any other ranking that may apply as a result of any mandatory provision of law (or otherwise), for so long as the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series constitute an Additional Tier 1 Instrument of the Company, such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities will rank:

 

  (i)

junior to:

 

  (A)

any claim in respect of any unsubordinated obligations of the Company (including where the relevant claim subsequently becomes subordinated pursuant to Article 281.1.1º of the Spanish Insolvency Law); and

 

  (B)

any claim in respect of any subordinated obligations of the Company, present and future, other than under any outstanding Additional Tier 1 Instrument of the Company (other than, to the extent permitted by law, any Parity Securities, whether so ranking by law or their terms);

 

  (ii)

pari passu with each other and with all other claims in respect of contractually subordinated obligations of the Company under any outstanding Additional Tier 1 Instruments, present and future (and, to the extent permitted by law, pari passu with any other Parity Securities, whether so ranking by law or their terms); and

 

  (iii)

senior to the Common Shares and any other subordinated obligations of the Company which by law rank junior to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (including, to the extent permitted by law, any contractually subordinated obligations of the Company expressed by their terms to rank junior to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities),

such that any relevant claim in respect of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities will be satisfied, as appropriate, only to the extent that all claims ranking senior to it have first been satisfied in full, and then pro rata with any claims ranking pari passu with it, in each case as provided herein.

 

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The obligations of the Company under the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series are subject to, and may be limited by, the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

(b) The Company agrees with respect to any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities and each Holder and beneficial owner of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, by his or her acquisition of a Contingent Convertible Preferred Security, will be deemed to have agreed to the subordination as described in this Section 13.01. To the extent permitted by Spanish law, each such Holder and beneficial owner will be deemed to have irrevocably waived his or her rights of priority which would otherwise be accorded to him or her under the laws of Spain, to the extent necessary to effectuate the subordination provisions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Security. In addition, each Holder and beneficial owner of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series by his or her acquisition of the securities, to the extent permitted by Spanish law, authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination of the relevant Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities as provided in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and as summarized herein and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.”

(fff) Section 14.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 14.01. Agreement and Acknowledgment with Respect to the Exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any Holder of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, by its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder (which, for the purposes of this Article 14, includes each holder of a beneficial interest in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series) acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by: (i) the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, and may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof: (A) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series; (B) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series into shares, other securities or other obligations of the Company or another Person (and the issue to or conferral on the Holder of any such shares, securities or obligations), including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities; (C) the cancellation of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series; (D) the inclusion of a maturity date for the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series or the amendment or alteration thereof, or the amendment of the Liquidation Preference or Distributions payable on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, or the date on which Distributions become payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and (ii) the variation of the terms of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series or the rights of the Holders thereunder or under the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

 

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(b) By its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder acknowledges and agrees that neither a reduction or cancellation, in part or in full, of the Amounts Due on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series or the conversion thereof into another security or obligation of the Company or another Person, in each case as a result of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Company, nor the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series shall: (i) give rise to a default or event of default for purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Defaults) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act; or (ii) be a default or an Enforcement Event with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities or under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture. By its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder further acknowledges and agrees that no repayment or payment of Amounts Due on the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series shall become due and payable or be paid after the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority if, and to the extent that, such amounts have been reduced, converted, cancelled, amended or altered as a result of such exercise.

(c) By its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series. Additionally, by its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series: (i) the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from the Holders with respect to any portion of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series that is written down, converted to equity and/or cancelled under Section 6.14 of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture; and (ii) this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall not impose any duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority; provided, however, that notwithstanding the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series, so long as any Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series remain Outstanding, there shall at all times be a trustee for the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series in accordance with the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, and the resignation and/or removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee shall continue to be governed by this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, including to the extent no additional supplemental indenture or amendment is agreed upon in the event the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of such series remain Outstanding following the completion of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

(d) By its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder shall be deemed to have authorized, directed and requested the relevant Depositary, Clearing Systems and any direct participant in any relevant Clearing System or other intermediary or depositary through which it holds such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities to take any and all necessary actions, if required, to implement the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such Holder.

 

34


(e) Upon the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, the Company or the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (as the case may be) shall provide a written notice to the relevant Depositary as soon as practicable regarding such exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power for purposes of notifying the Holders of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities. The Company shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Trustee for information purposes. No failure or delay by the Company to deliver a notice shall affect the validity or enforceability of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

(f) If the Company has elected to redeem the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series but, prior to the payment of the Redemption Price to Holders, the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority exercises its Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to such series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, there shall be no redemption and consequently no payment of the Redemption Price (and any other amounts payable in accordance with Article 12) will be due and payable.

(g) By its acquisition of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, each Holder acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by (i) the exercise and effect of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice, with respect to any Common Shares that may be delivered to it upon the Conversion (if any) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series, and (ii) the variation of the terms of such Common Shares to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

(h) Each Holder that acquires Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of any series in the secondary market or otherwise shall be deemed to acknowledge and agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified in this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture to the same extent as the Holders that acquire the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to this Article 14.”

(ggg) Section 14.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision:

“Section 14.02. BRRD Liabilities. Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and the Trustee, the Trustee acknowledges and accepts that a BRRD Liability arising under this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture may be subject to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, and acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority in relation to any BRRD Liability of the Company to the Trustee, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice and (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof:

 

  (i)

the reduction of all, or a portion, of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon;

 

  (ii)

the conversion of all, or a portion, of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon into shares, other securities or other obligations of the Company or another Person, and the issue to or conferral on the Trustee of any such shares, securities or obligations, including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of any BRRD Liability;

 

35


  (iii)

the cancellation of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon; and/or

 

  (iv)

the amendment or alteration of any interest, if applicable, on such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon, and the maturity or the dates on which any payments on such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and

(b) the variation of the terms of such BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon and/or this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

The terms of this Article 14 shall survive the payment in full of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, the satisfaction and discharge of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture with respect to any series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities (where such satisfaction or discharge is allowed by the terms of the relevant series of Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities), the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination for any reason of this Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture.”

(hhh) Appendix 1 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be deleted with respect to the Preferred Securities only and shall not apply to the Preferred Securities and shall, with respect to the Preferred Securities only, be replaced by the following provision, except that Annex I to such Appendix 1 shall remain valid and unchanged with respect to the Preferred Securities:

“APPENDIX 1: PROCEDURES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SPANISH TAX LEGISLATION

Information Procedures and Certification Obligations of the Paying Agent in respect of payments under the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities

These procedures set forth the steps to be followed by the Company and the Paying Agent in respect of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a series, pursuant to Section 7.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture to which this Appendix 1 is appended. Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture to which this Appendix 1 is appended.

Payment Amount” means (i) with respect to a Distribution Payment Date, the aggregate Distribution payable on such date, and (ii) with respect to a Redemption Date, the aggregate amount of the difference, if any, between the aggregate Redemption Price of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities being redeemed on such date and the aggregate Liquidation Preference of such Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities provided that such difference corresponds to a Distribution or a premium paid by the Company.

Payment Date” means a Distribution Payment Date or a Redemption Date, as applicable.

Payment Statement” means the statement to be delivered to the Company by the Paying Agent, substantially in the form set forth in Annex I to this Appendix 1, pursuant to Section 7.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture.

(1) In the case of a Redemption Date, no later than 5:00 p.m. New York time on the Business Day prior to such Redemption Date, the Company shall notify the Paying Agent of the Payment Amount.

(2) On or before each Payment Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of funds sufficient to pay the applicable Payment Amount gross of Spanish withholding tax, in accordance with the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, together with any other amounts to be deposited thereunder.

 

36


(3) No later than 11:00 p.m. New York time on the business day immediately preceding the relevant Payment Date (“PD-1”), the Paying Agent shall deliver an executed Payment Statement to the Company, which the Paying Agent shall reasonably believe to be duly completed, substantially in the form set forth in Annex I hereto, setting forth certain details relating to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities, including the relevant Payment Date, the Payment Amount to be paid by the Company on such Payment Date, and the portion of the Payment Amount corresponding to each clearing agency located outside Spain (including DTC).

(4) The Payment Statement shall be dated as of PD-1, shall set forth information as of the close of business of PD-1 and shall be executed after the close of business of PD-1.

(5) The Company shall review the Payment Statement submitted by the Paying Agent as soon as practicable. If the Company believes that the information contained in the Payment Statement is incomplete or inaccurate or that the Payment Statement is otherwise not in compliance with the applicable regulation, it will notify the Paying Agent no later than 5:30 a.m., New York time, on the relevant Payment Date and state the reasons for such belief. Following such notification, the Paying Agent shall deliver to the Company a further executed Payment Statement, revised, if necessary, as reasonably determined by the Paying Agent and which the Paying Agent shall reasonably believe to be duly completed, as soon as practicable but in any event no later than 9:30 a.m. New York time on the relevant Payment Date (the “First Statement Deadline”).

(6) Provided the procedures set out above are complied with, the Paying Agent, on behalf of the Company, will pay the applicable Payment Amount without withholding or deduction for or on account of Spanish taxes.

Procedures applicable if the Paying Agent does not deliver a duly executed and completed Payment Statement to the Company by the First Statement Deadline

(7) If the Paying Agent fails or for any reason is unable to deliver a duly executed and completed Payment Statement to the Company by the First Statement Deadline, the Paying Agent undertakes to make all reasonable efforts to provide an executed Payment Statement to the Company which the Paying Agent shall reasonably believe to be duly completed, as soon as practicable but no later than 9:00 a.m. New York time on the 10th calendar day of the month immediately following the relevant Payment Date (or if such day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day immediately preceding such day). If the Paying Agent provides the duly completed Payment Statement to the Company in the abovementioned timeframe, then the Company shall review the Payment Statement submitted by the Paying Agent as soon as practicable. If the Company believes that the information contained in the Payment Statement is incomplete or inaccurate or that the Payment Statement is otherwise not in compliance with the applicable regulation, it will notify the Paying Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the 10th calendar day of the month immediately following the relevant Payment Date (or if such day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day immediately preceding such day) and state the reasons for such belief. Following such notification, the Paying Agent shall deliver to the Company a further executed Payment Statement, revised, if necessary, as reasonably determined by the Paying Agent and which the Paying Agent shall reasonably believe to be duly completed, as soon as practicable but in any event no later than 5:00 p.m. New York time on the 10th calendar day of the month immediately following the relevant Payment Date (or if such day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day immediately preceding such day).

Original copies

(8) The Paying Agent must deliver an original copy of any duly executed and completed Payment Statement issued hereunder to the Company no later than the 15th calendar day of the month immediately following the relevant Payment Date.

 

37


Notices, etc.

Except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of a particular series, any notice, statement or other paper, document or communication made or given by the Company to the Paying Agent pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Appendix 1 shall be sent by email or fax or communicated by telephone, as follows (or as the Paying Agent shall have notified the Company in writing): c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4LA, United Kingdom (Attention: Global Corporate Trust), telephone: +44 (0) 1202 689 923, fax: +44 (0) 20 7163 2536; email address: corpsov4@bnymellon.com. Any notice, statement or other paper, document or communication made or given by the Paying Agent to the Company pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Appendix 1, other than a Payment Statement, shall be sent by email or fax or communicated by telephone, as follows (or as the Company shall have notified the Paying Agent in writing): Attention: Finance Department, telephone: +34 (91) 5377253 and +34 (91) 5378195, email address: finance.deparment@bbva.com. Non-original copies of a Payment Statement shall be sent by email or fax to the Company. The original copy of a duly executed and completed Payment Statement shall be sent by posted mail or courier to the Company, at the following address: Calle Azul 4, 28050 Madrid, Spain (Attention: Ignacio Echevarría and Marta García).”

ARTICLE 3

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.01. Confirmation of Indenture. The Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Third Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture shall, in respect of any Preferred Securities, be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. This Third Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture with respect to the Preferred Securities. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and the terms and conditions of this Third Supplemental Indenture, the terms and conditions of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall control and prevail with respect to the Preferred Securities.

Section 3.02. Governing Law. This Third Supplemental Indenture and the Preferred Securities (except as set forth herein and therein) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state, except that the authorization and execution by the Company of this Third Supplemental Indenture, the authorization, issuance and execution by the Company of the Preferred Securities and Sections 13.01(a) (as amended hereby), 13.02, 14.01 (as amended hereby) and 14.02 (as amended hereby) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the common laws of the Kingdom of Spain.

Section 3.03. Counterparts. This Third Supplemental Indenture may be executed manually, by facsimile or by electronic signature in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) transmission or other electronically-imaged signature (including, without limitation, DocuSign or Adobe Sign) or transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Third Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (e.g., “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) (including, without limitation, DocuSign or Adobe Sign) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Unless otherwise provided herein or in the Preferred Securities, the words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Third Supplemental Indenture, any Preferred Securities or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other

 

38


modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 3.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Preferred Securities, except the Trustee’s and any Authenticating Agent’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Third Supplemental Indenture or of the Preferred Securities, except that the Trustee represents and warrants that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Third Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Preferred Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that this Third Supplemental Indenture is in a form satisfactory to the Trustee. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Preferred Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 3.05. Instructions by Electronic Means. The Trustee and each Agent shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to the Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee and each Agent an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee or any Agent Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee or the relevant Agent in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s or the relevant Agent’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee and the Agents cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee or the relevant Agent shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee or such Agent have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee or the relevant Agent and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Company. Neither the Trustee nor the relevant Agent shall be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or such Agent’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee and the Agents, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee or any Agent acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and the Agents and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee or the relevant Agent immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

39


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.
By:  

/s/ José María Caballero Cobacho

  Name: José María Caballero Cobacho
  Title: Authorized Representative
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS TRUSTEE, PAYING AND CONVERSION AGENT, CALCULATION AGENT AND PRINCIPAL PAYING AGENT
By:  

/s/ Gregory Dale

  Name: Gregory Dale
  Title: Authorized Signatory
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITY REGISTRAR
By:  

/s/ Gregory Dale

  Name: Gregory Dale
  Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF GLOBAL PREFERRED SECURITY

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THE RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ARE, TO THE EXTENT AND IN THE MANNER SET FORTH IN SECTION 13.01(a) OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO (AS AMENDED BY THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO), SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF OTHER CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THIS SECURITY IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THAT SECTION 13.01(a) (AS AMENDED BY THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE), AND THE HOLDER (AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS) OF THIS SECURITY, BY ACCEPTING THE SAME, AGREES TO AND SHALL BE BOUND BY SUCH PROVISIONS. THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 13.01(a) OF THE INDENTURE (AS AMENDED BY THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE) AND THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH ARE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE COMMON LAWS OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN.

THIS SECURITY MUST NOT BE OFFERED, DISTRIBUTED OR SOLD IN SPAIN IN THE PRIMARY MARKET. HOWEVER, THE PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD TO SPANISH RESIDENT INVESTORS IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE RULING 1500/04 OF THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR TAXATION (DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE TRIBUTOS) OF JULY 27, 2004.

NOTWITHSTANDING THIS, THIS SECURITY SHALL NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN SPAIN AND ANY SALES OF THIS SECURITY IN SPAIN ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE MADE ONLY TO PROFESSIONAL CLIENTS (CLIENTES PROFESIONALES) AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 194 OF THE SPANISH SECURITIES MARKETS AND INVESTMENT SERVICES ACT (LEY 6/2023, DE 17 DE MARZO, DE LOS MERCADOS DE VALORES Y DE LOS SERVICIOS DE INVERSIÓN) (THE “LMV”) OR ELIGIBLE COUNTERPARTIES (CONTRAPARTES ELEGIBLES) AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 196 OF THE LMV AND AS FURTHER LIMITED BY THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 192 OF THE LMV. FOR THESE PURPOSES, A “RETAIL INVESTOR” MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ONE (OR MORE) OF: (I) A RETAIL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (11) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU, AS AMENDED (“MIFID II”); OR (II) A CUSTOMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/97, AS AMENDED, WHERE THAT CUSTOMER WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (10) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II.

 

A-1


This security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (as defined below) (herein called the “Preferred Securities” and each, a “Preferred Security”) issued and to be issued in one or more series under and governed by the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2017 (the “Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture”), as supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2023 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”). The Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, as amended and supplemented by, and together with, the Third Supplemental Indenture are hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Third Supplemental Indenture.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Preferred Securities, the Indenture or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any Holder of the Preferred Securities, and as set forth more fully on the reverse of this Preferred Security and in the Indenture, by its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder (which, for the purposes of this paragraph, includes each holder of a beneficial interest in any Preferred Security) acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by: (i) the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice with respect to the Preferred Securities, and may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof: (A) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities; (B) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities into shares, other securities or other obligations of the Company or another Person (and the issue to or conferral on the Holder of any such shares, securities or obligations), including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of the Preferred Securities; (C) the cancellation of the Preferred Securities; (D) the inclusion of a maturity date for the Preferred Securities or the amendment or alteration thereof, or the amendment of the Liquidation Preference or Distributions payable on the Preferred Securities, or the date on which Distributions become payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and (ii) the variation of the terms of the Preferred Securities or the rights of the Holders thereunder or under the Indenture, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.

$1,000,000,000 Series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities

 

No. [•]    $[•]

CUSIP NO. 05946K AM3

ISIN NO. US05946KAM36

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A., a sociedad anónima organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain and having its registered office in the Kingdom of Spain (together with its successors and permitted assigns under the Indenture, the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assignees, the Liquidation Preference of $[•], if and to the extent due, and to pay Distributions thereon, if any, in accordance with the terms hereof and the Indenture. The Preferred Securities shall have no fixed maturity or fixed redemption date.

The Preferred Securities accrue Distributions: (a) in respect of the period from (and including) the Closing Date to (but excluding) September 19, 2029 (the “First Reset Date”) at the rate of 9.375% per annum; and (b) in respect of each Reset Period, at the rate per annum equal to the aggregate of 5.099% per annum (the “Initial Margin”) and the 5-year UST for such Reset Period, and such aggregate converted to a quarterly rate in accordance with market convention (rounded to four decimal places, with 0.00005 rounded down), all as determined by the Calculation Agent on the relevant Reset Determination Date, provided that any Distribution Rate shall not be less than zero. Subject as provided in the Indenture (including Sections 3.08 (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) and 3.09 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture), such Distributions will be payable quarterly in arrears on each of March 19, June 19, September 19 and December 19 of each year (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”). The first date on which Distributions may be paid will be December 19, 2023.

 

A-2


Subject to the limitations specified on the reverse of this Preferred Security and in the Indenture, if a Distribution is required to be paid in respect of a Preferred Security on any date other than a Distribution Payment Date, it shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent by applying the Distribution Rate to the Liquidation Preference in respect of each Preferred Security, multiplying the product by (a) the actual number of days in the period from (and including) the date from which Distributions began to accrue (the “Accrual Date”) to (but excluding) the date on which Distributions fall due divided by (b) the actual number of days from (and including) the applicable Accrual Date to (but excluding) the next following Distribution Payment Date multiplied by four, and rounding the resulting figure to the nearest cent (half a cent being rounded upwards).

The “5-year UST” means, in relation to a Reset Date and the Reset Period commencing on that Reset Date, an interest rate expressed as a percentage determined by the Calculation Agent to be the per annum rate equal to the yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of five years as published in the most recent H.15. “H.15” means the daily statistical release designated as such and published by the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System under the caption “Treasury constant maturities”, or any successor or replacement publication as reasonably determined by the Company and notified to the Calculation Agent, that establishes yield on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities, and “most recent H.15” means the H.15 that includes a yield to maturity for U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of five years, published closest in time (but prior to) the relevant Reset Determination Date. “Reset Determination Date means, in relation to each Reset Date, the second Business Day immediately preceding such Reset Date. “Reset Date means the First Reset Date and every fifth anniversary thereafter. “Reset Period” means the period from (and including) a Reset Date to (but excluding) the next succeeding Reset Date.

If any date on which any payment is due to be made on the Preferred Securities would otherwise fall on a date which is not a Payment Business Day, the payment will be postponed to the next Payment Business Day and the Holders shall not be entitled to any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay. “Payment Business Day” means any day, other than Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the City of New York or Madrid.

Distributions, if any, on any Preferred Securities which are payable, and are paid or duly provided for, on any Distribution Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Preferred Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such Distributions.

In addition to any other restrictions on payments of Liquidation Preference, Distributions or Additional Amounts described in this Preferred Security and/or contained in the Indenture, by its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder and beneficial owner acknowledges and agrees that no repayment or payment of Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities shall become due and payable or be paid after the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority if, and to the extent that, such amounts have been reduced, converted, cancelled, amended or altered as a result of such exercise.

The Company may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel the payment of any Distribution on the Preferred Securities in whole or in part at any time and for any or no reason. Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be non-cumulative. Accordingly, if any Distribution (or any part thereof) is not paid in respect of the Preferred Securities as a result of any election of the Company to cancel such Distribution pursuant to the Indenture or the limitations on payment set out in the immediately subsequent paragraph and in the Indenture, then the right of the Holders to receive the relevant Distribution (or such part thereof) in respect of the relevant Distribution Period will be extinguished and the Company will have no obligation to pay such Distribution (or such part thereof) accrued for such Distribution Period or to pay any interest thereon, whether or not Distributions on the Preferred Securities are paid in respect of any future Distribution Period. No such election to cancel the payment of any Distribution (or any part thereof) pursuant to the Indenture or non-payment of any Distribution (or any part thereof) as a result of the limitations on payment set out in the immediately subsequent paragraph and in the Indenture will constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the

 

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Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause such Distribution (or part thereof) to be paid or the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or in any way limit or restrict the Company from making any distribution or equivalent payment in connection with any instrument ranking junior to the Preferred Securities (including, without limitation, any CET1 Capital of the Company or any member of the Group) or in respect of any Parity Security or other security, except to the extent Applicable Banking Regulations otherwise provide. If the Company does not pay a Distribution or part thereof on the relevant Distribution Payment Date, such non-payment shall evidence the cancellation of such Distribution (or relevant part thereof), and accordingly, such Distribution shall not in any such case be due and payable.

Without limitation on the foregoing paragraph, payments of Distributions on the Preferred Securities shall be made only out of Distributable Items of the Company. To the extent that (i) the Company has insufficient Distributable Items to make Distributions on the Preferred Securities scheduled for payment in the then-current financial year and any interest payments or distributions that have been paid or made or are scheduled or required to be paid or made out of Distributable Items of the Company in the then-current financial year, in each case excluding any portion of such payments already accounted for in determining the Distributable Items of the Company, and/or (ii) the Regulator, in accordance with Article 68 of Law 10/2014 and/or Article 16 of the SSM Regulation and/or with Applicable Banking Regulations then in force, requires the Company to cancel the relevant Distribution in whole or in part, then the Company will, without prejudice to the right described in the paragraph immediately above to cancel at its discretion the payment of any such Distributions on the Preferred Securities at any time, make partial or, as the case may be, no payment of the relevant Distribution on the Preferred Securities. No payments will be made on the Preferred Securities (whether by way of a repayment of the Liquidation Preference, the payment of any Distribution or otherwise) if and to the extent that such payment would cause a breach of any regulatory restriction or prohibition on payments on Additional Tier 1 Instruments pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations (including, without limitation, any such restriction or prohibition relating to any Maximum Distributable Amount or MREL-MDA applicable to the Company and/or the Group).

By acquiring Preferred Securities, Holders (which, for the purposes of this paragraph, includes holders of a beneficial interest in the Preferred Securities) acknowledge and agree that (i) Distributions are payable solely at the Company’s discretion, and no amount of Distribution shall become or remain due and payable in respect of the relevant Distribution Period to the extent that it has been cancelled or deemed cancelled by the Company as described above and/or as a result of the limitations on payment described in the paragraph immediately above; and (ii) a cancellation or deemed cancellation of any Distribution (in whole or in part) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Preferred Securities shall not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause such Distribution to be paid or the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or in any way limit or restrict the Company from making any distribution or equivalent payment in connection with any instrument, including any instrument ranking junior to the Preferred Securities (including, without limitation, any CET1 Capital of the Company or any member of the Group), or in respect of any Parity Security or other security, except to the extent Applicable Banking Regulations otherwise provide. Distributions will only be due and payable on a Distribution Payment Date to the extent they are not cancelled or deemed cancelled previously or thereafter in accordance with Section 3.08, Section 3.09 or Article 4 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (in each case, where applicable, as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture). Any Distributions cancelled or deemed cancelled (in each case, in whole or in part) in the circumstances described herein and in the Indenture shall not be due and shall not accumulate or be payable at any time thereafter, and Holders of the Preferred Securities shall have no rights thereto or to receive any additional Distributions or compensation as a result of such cancellation or deemed cancellation. For the avoidance of doubt, non-payment of a Distribution (or any part thereof) in respect of the Preferred Securities shall evidence the Company’s exercise of its discretion, pursuant to Section 3.08 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture), to cancel such Distribution (or such part thereof), and accordingly such Distribution (or such part thereof) shall also not be due and payable.

 

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This Preferred Security and the Indenture (except as set forth herein and therein) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state, except that the authorization and execution by the Company of the Indenture, the authorization, issuance and execution by the Company of the Preferred Securities and Sections 13.01(a) (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture), 13.02, 14.01 (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) and 14.02 (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the common laws of the Kingdom of Spain.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Preferred Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual signature of an authorized signatory, this Preferred Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

[The rest of this page is intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Date: September 19, 2023

 

BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A.
By:  

 

  Name: [•]
  Title: Authorized Representative

 

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Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

This is one of the Preferred Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the Indenture.

Date: September 19, 2023

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name: [•]
  Title: Authorized Signatory

 

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(Reverse of Preferred Security)

This Preferred Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (as defined below) (herein called the “Preferred Securities” and each, a “Preferred Security”) issued and to be issued in one or more series under and governed by the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, dated as of September 25, 2017 (the “Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture”), as amended and supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2023 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”). The Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture, as amended and supplemented by, and together with, the Third Supplemental Indenture are hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Third Supplemental Indenture, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, for a complete statement of the terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities and a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the Holders of the Preferred Securities and of the terms and provisions upon which the Preferred Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. Insofar as the provisions of the Indenture may conflict with the provisions set forth in this Preferred Security, the provisions set forth in the Indenture (as it may be amended from time to time) shall control for purposes of this Preferred Security. To the extent the Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in respect of the Preferred Securities, any such amendment or supplement shall be deemed to amend and supplement the corresponding provisions of the Preferred Securities to the extent set forth therein.

This Preferred Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited to a Liquidation Preference of $1,000,000,000, which amount may be increased at the option of the Company if in the future it determines that it may wish to issue additional Preferred Securities of this series. References herein to “this series” mean the series designated on the face hereof.

Additional Amounts. Unless otherwise specified in the Indenture, all payments of Distributions payable in respect of Preferred Securities by the Company will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges (collectively “Taxes”) of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of the Kingdom of Spain (or, following any of the transactions or an assumption of obligations referred to in “Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Assumption”, the successor Person’s jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence) or any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax, unless the withholding or deduction of such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges is required by law. In that event, the Company shall (to the extent such payment can be made out of Distributable Items of the Company on the same basis as for payment of any Distribution in accordance with Article 3 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture)) pay, in respect of any withholding or deduction imposed on payments of Distributions only (and not Liquidation Preference or other amount), such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities receiving such amounts as they would have received in respect of such Distributions had no such withholding or deduction been required to the extent provided in Section 11.04 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) and subject to the exceptions set forth therein. The payment of any Additional Amounts in respect of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Indenture is also subject to the same conditions and limitations as the payment of any Distribution, including the conditions and limitations described under “Distributions Discretionary”.

Payments Subject to Fiscal Laws. All payments in respect of the Preferred Securities will be subject in all cases to any fiscal or other laws and regulations applicable thereto (including FATCA, any regulations or agreements thereunder, any official interpretation thereof, any intergovernmental agreements with respect thereto, or any law implementing an intergovernmental agreement or any regulations or official interpretations relating thereto), but without prejudice to the Company’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts to the extent required under “Additional Amounts” above.

 

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Optional Redemption. Subject to the terms described under “Optional Redemption due to a Tax Event”, “Optional Redemption due to a Capital Event” and “Clean-up Call” below, the Preferred Securities shall not be redeemable prior to March 19, 2029 (the “First Call Date”). All, and not only some, of the Preferred Securities may be redeemed at the option of the Company on any day falling in the period commencing on (and including) the First Call Date and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date, and on any Distribution Payment Date thereafter, at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force. The “Redemption Price” is, per Preferred Security, the Liquidation Preference plus, if applicable, where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein, an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period to (but excluding) the Redemption Date of the Preferred Securities.

Optional Redemption due to a Tax Event. If, on or after the Closing Date, there is a Tax Event, the Preferred Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force. A “Tax Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to the Preferred Securities if, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations applicable in the Kingdom of Spain (or, following any of the transactions or an assumption of obligations referred to in “Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Assumption”, the successor Person’s jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence), or any change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations which change or amendment, or change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration, becomes effective on or after the Closing Date (a) the Company would not be entitled to claim a deduction in computing its taxation liabilities in the Kingdom of Spain (except as provided under “Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Assumption”) in respect of any Distribution to be made on the next Distribution Payment Date or the value of such deduction to the Company would be reduced, or (b) the Company would be required to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to “Additional Amounts” above, or (c) the applicable tax treatment of the Preferred Securities would be materially affected. Prior to any notice of redemption of the Preferred Securities, the Company shall provide the Trustee with (i) an Officer’s Certificate of the Company stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth in reasonable detail a statement of circumstances showing that a Tax Event has occurred; and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that a Tax Event has occurred.

Optional Redemption due to a Capital Event. If, on or after the Closing Date, there is a Capital Event, the Preferred Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force. A “Capital Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to the Preferred Securities if there is a change (or any pending change which the Regulator considers to be sufficiently certain) in Spanish law or Applicable Banking Regulations that results (or would result) in any of the outstanding aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities ceasing to be included in, or counting towards, the Group’s or the Company’s Tier 1 Capital.

Clean-up Call. If, on or after the Closing Date, Preferred Securities representing, in the aggregate, 75% or more of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities issued on the Closing Date have been purchased by or on behalf of the Company or any member of the Group, the Preferred Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time at the Redemption Price, subject to the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and otherwise in accordance with Articles 77 and 78 of CRR and/or any other Applicable Banking Regulations then in force.

Cancelled Distributions Not Payable Upon Redemption. Any Distributions that have been cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Security shall not be payable if the Preferred Securities are redeemed pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Security.

 

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Redemption Procedures; Notice of Redemption. The decision to redeem the Preferred Securities must be irrevocably notified by the Company to Holders of the Preferred Securities upon not less than 5 nor more than 30 calendar days’ notice prior to the relevant Redemption Date (i) through the filing of a relevant information (información relevante) announcement with the CNMV and its publication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed or other relevant authority and (ii) in the manner and to the extent required by Section 1.06 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (in which case, such notice may be given at the Company’s request by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, provided the Company has requested the Trustee to so give notice in writing accompanied by a copy of the form of notice, and the Trustee shall give such notice by the fifth Business Day following its receipt of such request). Failure to give notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Preferred Securities designated for redemption, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Preferred Securities.

Any notice of redemption will state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the Redemption Price; (iii) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Indenture, become due and payable upon each Preferred Security being redeemed and that Distributions will cease to accrue on or after that date; (iv) the place or places where the Preferred Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and (v) the CUSIP, Common Code and/or ISIN number or numbers, if any, with respect to the Preferred Securities being redeemed.

The Company may not give a notice of redemption with respect to the Preferred Securities if a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to the Preferred Securities. A “Trigger Event” shall occur if, at any time, as determined by us, our CET1 ratio or the CET1 ratio of the Company or the Group is less than 5.125%. If any notice of redemption of the Preferred Securities has been given and a Trigger Event with respect to the Preferred Securities occurs prior to the Redemption Date, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, there shall be no redemption of the relevant Preferred Securities on such Redemption Date and, instead, the Trigger Conversion of the Preferred Securities shall take place as provided herein.

If a Capital Reduction Notice has been given with respect to the Preferred Securities, the Company may not give a notice of redemption with respect to the Preferred Securities until the end of the Election Period. If a redemption notice is given by the Company after the end of the Election Period, the Company may redeem all (but not part) of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities which remains outstanding following the Capital Reduction Conversion. If any notice of redemption of the Preferred Securities has been given and a Capital Reduction with respect to the Preferred Securities occurs prior to the Redemption Date, such Capital Reduction shall be disregarded for all purposes and shall be of no force and effect with respect to the Preferred Securities and there shall be no conversion of such Preferred Securities pursuant to the provisions described under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” below and, instead, the redemption of the Preferred Securities shall take place as provided herein. Accordingly, the provisions described under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” shall not apply to the Preferred Securities with respect to any such Capital Reduction and Holders and beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived their rights under Article 418 of the Spanish Companies Act. A “Capital Reduction” shall occur upon the adoption, in accordance with Article 418.3 of the consolidated text of the Corporate Enterprises Act (Ley de Sociedades de Capital), approved by the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010, of July 2, as amended, replaced or supplemented from time to time, by a general shareholders’ meeting of the Company of a resolution of capital reduction by reimbursement of cash contributions (restitución de aportaciones) to shareholders by way of a reduction in the nominal value of the shares of such shareholders in the capital of the Company. A resolution of capital reduction for the redemption of any Common Shares previously repurchased by the Company will not be considered a Capital Reduction for the purposes of the Indenture.

If the Company has elected to redeem the Preferred Securities but, prior to the payment of the Redemption Price to Holders, the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority exercises its Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to the Preferred Securities, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, there shall be no redemption and consequently no payment of the Redemption Price (and any other amounts payable in accordance with Article 12 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture)) will be due and payable.

 

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Conversion upon Trigger Event. If a Trigger Event occurs at any time on or after the Closing Date, then the Company will not pay any Distribution on the Preferred Securities, including any accrued and unpaid Distributions, which shall be deemed to be cancelled by the Company in accordance with their terms; and irrevocably and mandatorily (and without any requirement for the consent or approval of the Holders or beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities) convert all the Preferred Securities into Common Shares (the “Trigger Conversion”) to be delivered on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date. If a Trigger Event occurs, the Preferred Securities will be converted in whole and not in part. For the purposes of determining whether a Trigger Event has occurred, the Company will (i) calculate the CET1 ratio based on information (whether or not published) available to management of the Company, including information internally reported within the Company pursuant to its procedures for ensuring effective ongoing monitoring of the capital ratios of the Company and the Group and (ii) calculate and publish the CET1 ratio on at least a quarterly basis. The Company’s calculation shall be binding on the Trustee and the Holders and beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities.

A Trigger Event will not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company.

Conversion upon Capital Reduction. Subject as provided above in the fourth paragraph under “Redemption Procedures; Notice of Redemption”, if a Capital Reduction occurs at any time on or after the Closing Date, then the Company will, subject as provided in the immediately subsequent paragraph, irrevocably and mandatorily (and without any requirement for the consent or approval of the Holders or beneficial owners of Preferred Securities) convert all the Preferred Securities into Common Shares (a “Capital Reduction Conversion”) to be delivered on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date and on such Conversion Settlement Date pay to the Holders, as applicable, where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein, an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period up to (but excluding) such Conversion Settlement Date.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if a Capital Reduction occurs at any time on or after the Closing Date, each Holder of the Preferred Securities will have the right to elect that all (but not part) of its Preferred Securities shall not be converted in accordance with such paragraph, in which case all Preferred Securities of such Holder shall remain outstanding and no payment of any accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Preferred Securities shall be made in respect of such Preferred Securities to that Holder on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date pursuant to such paragraph. To exercise such right, a Holder must complete, sign and deposit at the specified office of any Paying and Conversion Agent a duly completed and signed notice of election (an “Election Notice”), in the form indicated in the Capital Reduction Notice, on or before the tenth Business Day immediately following the Capital Reduction Notice Date (the period from (and including) the Capital Reduction Notice Date to (and including) such tenth Business Day, the “Election Period”). An Election Notice shall be irrevocable. Any relevant Preferred Securities in respect of which a duly completed and signed Election Notice is not received during the Election Period shall be converted into Common Shares.

A Capital Reduction will not constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the Indenture or the occurrence of any event related to the insolvency of the Company or entitle Holders to take any action to cause the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company.

 

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Upon Conversion. Subject as provided in this paragraph with respect to fractions, the number of Common Shares to be issued on Conversion in respect of each Preferred Security to be converted shall be determined by dividing the Liquidation Preference of such Preferred Security by the relevant Conversion Price in effect on the relevant Conversion Notice Date rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Shares. Fractions of Common Shares will not be issued on Conversion or pursuant to Section 4.05(d) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and no cash payment or other adjustment will be made in lieu thereof. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if one or more Delivery Notices and the related Preferred Securities are received by or on behalf of a Paying and Conversion Agent such that the Common Shares to be delivered by or on behalf of the Conversion Shares Depository are to be registered in the same name or delivered to the same Clearing System participant account, the number of such Common Shares to be delivered in respect thereof shall be calculated on the basis of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of such Preferred Securities being so converted and rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Shares.

Upon any Trigger Event, Holders (and beneficial owners) of any Preferred Securities shall have no claim against the Company in respect of (i) any Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities or (ii) any accrued and unpaid Distributions in respect of Preferred Securities, and the Preferred Securities shall cease to represent any right other than the right to receive Common Shares from or on behalf of the Conversion Shares Depository (except as noted in the seventh paragraph under “Settlement Procedures” with respect to certain Spanish stamp and similar taxes payable by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares).

Upon any Capital Reduction, Holders (and beneficial owners) of any Preferred Securities, other than Holders of Preferred Securities in respect of which such Holders have elected not to convert such Preferred Securities as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”, shall have no claim against the Company in respect of any Liquidation Preference of such Preferred Securities, and the Preferred Securities, other than Preferred Securities in respect of which Holders have elected not to convert such Preferred Securities as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”, shall cease to represent any right other than the right to receive Common Shares from or on behalf of the Conversion Shares Depository (except as noted in the seventh paragraph under “Settlement Procedures” with respect to certain Spanish stamp and similar taxes payable by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares).

On the Conversion Settlement Date, the Company shall deliver to the Conversion Shares Depository such number of Common Shares (subject as provided in the first paragraph under “Upon Conversion” with respect to fractions) as is required to satisfy in full the Company’s obligation to deliver Common Shares (i) in respect of a Trigger Conversion, of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of Preferred Securities outstanding on the Trigger Event Notice Date, and (ii) in respect of a Capital Reduction Conversion, of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of Preferred Securities Outstanding on the Capital Reduction Notice Date, other than Preferred Securities in respect of which such Holders have elected not to convert such Preferred Securities as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”.

The obligation of the Company to issue and deliver Common Shares to a Holder of Preferred Securities on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date shall be satisfied by the delivery of such Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository. Receipt of the relevant Common Shares by the Conversion Shares Depository shall discharge the Company’s obligations in respect of the Preferred Securities converted, other than, in the case of a Capital Reduction, as provided in the first paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” with respect to the payment of accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period up to (but excluding) the Conversion Settlement Date (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein) except as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”, and except as noted in the seventh paragraph under “Settlement Procedures” with respect to certain Spanish stamp and similar taxes payable by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares.

 

A-12


Except as set forth in the immediately subsequent paragraph with respect to a Capital Reduction, if a Conversion Event occurs, Holders shall have recourse to the Company only for the issue and delivery of the relevant Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository (except as noted in the seventh paragraph under “Settlement Procedures” with respect to certain Spanish stamp and similar taxes payable by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares). After such delivery by the Company of the relevant Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository, Holders of the Preferred Securities so converted shall have recourse to the Conversion Shares Depository only and exclusively for the purposes of the delivery to them of such Common Shares, in the circumstances described under “Settlement Procedures” below.

In the case of a Capital Reduction, Holders shall also have recourse to the Company as provided in the first paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” with respect to the payment of accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period up to (but excluding) the Conversion Settlement Date (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein) except as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”.

Conversion Price. The Conversion Price will be calculated pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and is subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.05 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture.

Conversion Procedures; Common Shares. If a Trigger Event occurs at any time on or after the Closing Date, then the Company will notify the Regulator and the Holders of the Preferred Securities immediately upon the Company’s determination that a Trigger Event has occurred (i) through the filing of a relevant information (información relevante) announcement with the CNMV and its publication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed or other relevant authority and (ii) in accordance with Section 1.06 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (together, the “Trigger Event Notice”). Any failure by the Company to give a Trigger Event Notice or otherwise notify the Holders of a Trigger Event will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any Trigger Conversion, will not constitute an Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred Securities, or give the Holders or beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities any rights as a result of such failure.

If a Capital Reduction occurs at any time on or after the Closing Date of the Preferred Securities, then the Company will notify the Regulator and the Holders of the Preferred Securities immediately (i) through the filing of a relevant information (información relevante) announcement with the CNMV and its publication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed or other relevant authority and (ii) in accordance with Section 1.06 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (together, the “Capital Reduction Notice”). Any failure by the Company to give a Capital Reduction Notice or otherwise notify the Holders of a Capital Reduction will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any Capital Reduction, will not constitute an Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred Securities, or give the Holders or beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities any rights as a result of such failure.

A Conversion Notice shall be a written notice specifying the information provided in Section 4.06(c) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture).

If a Trigger Event occurs, the Preferred Securities will be converted in whole and not in part, and if a Capital Reduction occurs, the Preferred Securities will be converted in whole and not in part except for Preferred Securities in respect of which such Holders have elected not to convert such Preferred Securities as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”.

Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Preferred Security or the Indenture to the contrary, except in the case of a Capital Reduction with respect to any Preferred Securities in respect of which the Holders have elected not to convert such Preferred Securities as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” (as the case may be), upon a Conversion, (i) subject to the right of Holders of the Preferred Securities relating to a breach of the Performance Obligation in the event of a failure by the Company to issue and deliver any Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository on

 

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the Conversion Settlement Date and, in the case of a Capital Reduction, the right of Holders to receive payment of accrued and unpaid Distributions for the then-current Distribution Period up to (but excluding) the Conversion Settlement Date provided in the first paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein and except as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”), the Indenture shall impose no duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with regard to a Conversion (other than as provided in Section 3.05(a) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) if a Global Security is surrendered for conversion in part upon a Capital Reduction), and the Holders of the Preferred Securities converted or to be converted shall have no rights whatsoever under the Indenture or such Preferred Securities to instruct the Trustee to take any action whatsoever and (ii) as of the Conversion Notice Date, except for any indemnity and/or security provided by any Holders of such Preferred Securities in such direction or related to such direction, any direction previously given to the Trustee by any Holders of such Preferred Securities shall cease automatically and shall be null and void and of no further effect.

Settlement Procedures. Delivery of the Common Shares to the Holders of converted Preferred Securities upon a Conversion Event shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth below. The Company may make changes to these procedures to the extent such changes are reasonably necessary, in the opinion of the Company, including to reflect changes in clearing system practices.

Holders of the Preferred Securities cleared and settled through DTC may elect to have their Common Shares delivered in the form of Common Shares or ADSs in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. The obligation to deliver ADSs if a Holder elects to have its Common Shares delivered in such form will apply only if on the relevant Conversion Settlement Date the Company continues to maintain an ADS depositary facility.

In order to obtain delivery of the relevant Common Shares, or, if indicated in the relevant Delivery Notice, ADSs, upon any Conversion from the Conversion Shares Depository, the relevant Holder must deliver its Preferred Securities (other than, in the case of a Capital Reduction, Preferred Securities which Holders elect not to convert as provided in the second paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction”) and a duly completed Delivery Notice to the specified office of the Paying and Conversion Agent, with a copy of such Delivery Notice to the Trustee, on or before the Notice Cut-off Date. Except as otherwise indicated in the Conversion Notice, the Delivery Notice shall contain: (i) the name of the Holder (and, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of the Preferred Securities to be converted; (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Preference held by such Holder or beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof) of such converted Preferred Securities on the date of such notice; (iii) the name in which the Common Shares or ADSs, as applicable, are to be registered, if applicable; (iv) whether Common Shares or ADSs are to be delivered to the Holder (and, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of such Preferred Securities; (v) the details of the DTC, Iberclear or other clearing system account (subject to the limitations set out below) to which the Common Shares or ADSs are to be credited (or, if the Common Shares are not a participating security in Iberclear or another clearing system, the address to which the Common Shares should be delivered; and, as the case may be, details of the registered account in the Company’s ADS facility if direct registration ADSs are to be issued); (vi) any relevant certifications and/or representations as may be required by applicable law and regulations; and (vii) such other details as may be required by the Paying and Conversion Agent or any relevant Clearing System.

If the Preferred Securities are held through DTC, the Delivery Notice must be given and the Preferred Securities delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC (which may include the notice being given to the Paying and Conversion Agent by electronic means) and in a form acceptable to DTC and the Paying and Conversion Agent. With respect to any Preferred Securities held in definitive form, the Delivery Notice must be delivered to the specified office of the Paying and Conversion Agent together with the relevant Preferred Securities, except as otherwise indicated in the relevant Conversion Notice.

 

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Subject to satisfaction of the requirements and limitations set forth herein and provided that the relevant Preferred Securities and a duly completed Delivery Notice have been delivered not later than the Notice Cut-off Date, the Paying and Conversion Agent shall give instructions to the Conversion Shares Depository that the Conversion Shares Depository shall deliver the relevant Common Shares (as rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Shares in accordance with the first paragraph under “Upon Conversion” and, where applicable, Section 4.05(d) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture) to, or shall deposit part or all of such Common Shares with the ADS Depositary on behalf of, the Holder (or, where applicable, beneficial owner (or the custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof)) of the relevant Preferred Securities completing such Delivery Notice or its nominee in accordance with the instructions given in such Delivery Notice on the applicable Conversion Settlement Date.

Any Delivery Notice shall be irrevocable. Failure properly to complete and deliver a Delivery Notice and deliver the relevant Preferred Securities may result in such Delivery Notice being treated as null and void and the Company shall be entitled to procure the sale of any applicable Common Shares to which the relevant Holder may be entitled in accordance with Section 4.09 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture). Any determination as to whether any Delivery Notice has been properly completed and delivered as provided herein shall be made by the Company in its sole discretion, acting in good faith, and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the relevant Holders and beneficial owners (and any custodian, broker, nominee or other representative thereof).

A Holder of the Preferred Securities or Selling Agent (as defined in Section 4.09 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture)) must pay (in the case of the Selling Agent by means of deduction from the net proceeds of sale set forth in such Section 4.09 (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture)) any taxes and capital, stamp, issue, registration and transfer taxes or duties arising on Conversion (other than any capital, stamp, issue, registration and transfer taxes or duties payable in the Kingdom of Spain by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares in accordance with a Delivery Notice delivered pursuant to the Indenture which shall be paid by the Company) and such Holder or the Selling Agent (as the case may be) must pay (in the case of the Selling Agent, by way of deduction from the net proceeds of sale as aforesaid) all, if any, taxes or duties arising by reference to any disposal or deemed disposal of a Preferred Security or interest therein.

Any costs incurred by the Conversion Shares Depository or any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the Conversion Shares Depository in connection with the holding by the Conversion Shares Depository of any Common Shares and any amount received in respect thereof shall be deducted by the Conversion Shares Depository from such amount (or, if such deduction is not possible, paid to the Conversion Shares Depository, by the relevant Holder) prior to the delivery of such Common Shares and/or payment of such amount to the relevant Holder.

If the Company shall fail to pay any capital, stamp, issue, registration and transfer taxes or duties for which it is responsible as provided above, the Holder or Selling Agent, as the case may be, shall be entitled (but shall not be obliged) to tender and pay the same and the Company as a separate and independent obligation, undertakes to reimburse and indemnify each Holder or Selling Agent, as the case may be, in respect of any payment thereof and any penalties payable in respect thereof.

The Common Shares issued on Conversion will be fully paid and will in all respects rank pari passu with the fully paid Common Shares in issue on the relevant Conversion Notice Date, except in any such case for any right excluded by mandatory provisions of applicable law and except that such Common Shares will not rank for (or, as the case may be, the relevant Holder shall not be entitled to receive) any rights, distributions or payments the record date or other due date for the establishment of entitlement for which falls prior to the Conversion Settlement Date.

 

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In respect of any Common Shares that Holders elect to receive in the form of ADSs as specified in the Delivery Notice, the Conversion Shares Depository shall deposit with the custodian for the ADS Depositary the relevant number of Common Shares to be issued upon Conversion of the relevant Preferred Securities, and the ADS Depositary shall issue the corresponding number of ADSs to the DTC Participant account or registered ADS facility account specified by such Holders (per the ADS-to-Common Share ratio in effect on the Conversion Settlement Date). However, the issuance of the ADSs by the ADS Depositary may be delayed until the depositary bank or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the Common Shares have been duly transferred to the custodian and that all applicable depositary fees and payments have been paid to the ADS Depositary. Holders that elect to receive Common Shares in the form of ADSs must pay any fees that may be payable to the ADS Depositary as a result of the issue and delivery of such ADSs in accordance with the Delivery Notice.

Failure to Deliver a Delivery Notice. If a duly completed Delivery Notice and the relevant Preferred Securities are not received by the Paying and Conversion Agent as provided in the Indenture on or before the Notice Cut-off Date, then within ten Business Days following the Conversion Settlement Date, all Common Shares held by the Conversion Shares Depository in respect of which the applicable Preferred Securities and a duly completed Delivery Notice have not been received on or before the Notice Cut-off Date as aforesaid will be sold by or on behalf of a person (which may be the Company or another member of the Group or a third party) appointed by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion (the “Selling Agent”) as soon as reasonably practicable.

Subject to the deduction by or on behalf of the Selling Agent of any amount payable in respect of its liability to taxation and the payment of any capital, stamp, issue, registration and/or transfer taxes and duties (if any) and any fees or costs incurred by or on behalf of the Selling Agent in connection with the issue, allotment and sale of any Common Shares pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, and the conversion of any proceeds of such sale into U.S. dollars, the net proceeds of such sale, converted into U.S. dollars at the Prevailing Rate on the Notice Cut-off Date, if necessary, shall as soon as reasonably practicable be distributed pro rata to the relevant Holders in such manner and at such time as the Company shall determine and notify to the relevant Holders. Such payment shall for all purposes discharge the obligations of the Company, the Conversion Shares Depository, the Paying and Conversion Agent and the Selling Agent to such Holders in respect of the relevant Conversion.

The Selling Agent will be deemed to be acting on behalf of Holders whose Preferred Securities and a duly completed Delivery Notice were not received on or before the Notice Cut-off Date for the purposes set out above and to that effect Holders and beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities by virtue of their acquisition of the Preferred Securities will be deemed to be accepting and giving express instructions to the Selling Agent to do so in accordance with these conditions.

The Company, the Conversion Shares Depository, the Paying and Conversion Agent and the Selling Agent shall have no liability in respect of the exercise or non-exercise of any discretion or power pursuant to this provision or in respect of any sale of any Common Shares, whether for the timing of any such sale or the price at or manner in which any such Common Shares are sold or the inability to sell any such Common Shares. Furthermore, the Company, the Conversion Shares Depository, the Paying and Conversion Agent and the Selling Agent shall have no liability to any Holder or beneficial owner of the Preferred Securities for any loss resulting from such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s failure to receive any Common Shares or ADSs, or from any delay in the receipt thereof, in each case as a result of such Holder or beneficial owner (or custodian, nominee, broker or other representative thereof) failing to duly submit a Delivery Notice and the relevant Preferred Securities on a timely basis or at all.

If the applicable Preferred Securities and Delivery Notice are not received by the Paying and Conversion Agent on or before the Notice Cut-off Date and the Company does not appoint the Selling Agent by the tenth Business Day after the Conversion Settlement Date, or if any Common Shares are not sold by the Selling Agent in accordance with this section “Failure to Deliver a Delivery Notice”, the Conversion Shares Depository shall continue to hold any Common Shares not sold by the Selling Agent until a duly completed Delivery Notice and the relevant Preferred Securities are so delivered. However, any Holder of such Preferred Securities delivering a Delivery Notice after the Notice Cut-off Date will have to provide evidence of its entitlement to the relevant Common Shares, or if the Holder so elects, ADSs, satisfactory to the Conversion Shares Depository in its sole and absolute discretion in order to receive delivery of such Common Shares or ADSs (if so elected to be deposited with the ADS Depositary on its behalf).

 

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Agreement and Waiver with Respect to Conversion. The Preferred Securities are not convertible into Common Shares at the option of Holders of Preferred Securities at any time and are not redeemable in cash as a result of a Conversion Event. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Preferred Security or the Indenture, by its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder and beneficial owner shall be deemed to have (i) agreed to all the terms and conditions of the Preferred Securities, including, without limitation, those related to (y) Conversion following a Trigger Event or Capital Reduction, as the case may be, and (z) the appointment of the Conversion Shares Depository, the issuance of the Common Shares to the Conversion Shares Depository, and acknowledged that such events in (y) and (z) may occur without any further action on the part of the Holders or beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities or the Trustee, (ii) agreed that effective upon, and following, a Conversion Event, no amount shall be due and payable to the Holders of the Preferred Securities (other than any accrued and unpaid Distributions to be paid upon a Capital Reduction Conversion in accordance with the provision described in the first paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein) and except as noted in the seventh paragraph under “Settlement Procedures” with respect to certain Spanish stamp and similar taxes payable by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares), and the Company’s liability to pay any amounts (including the Liquidation Preference of, or any Distribution in respect of the Preferred Securities (other than any accrued and unpaid Distributions to be paid upon a Capital Reduction Conversion in accordance with the provision described in the first paragraph under “Conversion Upon Capital Reduction” (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein) and except as noted in the seventh paragraph under “Settlement Procedures” with respect to certain Spanish stamp and similar taxes payable by the Company in respect of the issue and delivery of the Common Shares)), shall be automatically released, and the Holders of the Preferred Securities so converted shall not have the right to give a direction to the Trustee with respect to the Conversion Event and any related Conversion, (iii) agreed that following a Conversion Event, the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority may exercise its Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to the Preferred Securities and/or any Common Shares that such Holder or beneficial owner may have received following a Conversion, which exercise may result in any of the consequences described in the first paragraph under “Agreement and Acknowledgment with Respect to the Exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power”, the cancellation of the Conversion and/or the implementation of material changes to the Conversion terms, (iv) waived, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, any claim against the Trustee arising out of its acceptance of its trusteeship under, and the performance of its duties, powers and rights in respect of, the Indenture and in connection with the Preferred Securities so converted or to be converted, including, without limitation, claims related to or arising out of or in connection with a Conversion Event and/or any Conversion and (v) authorized, directed and requested DTC, the European Clearing Systems and any direct participant in DTC, the European Clearing Systems or other intermediary or depositary through which it holds such Preferred Securities to be converted to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the Conversion without any further action or direction on the part of such Holder or beneficial owner of such Preferred Securities or the Trustee.

Substitution and Modification. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Preferred Security or the Indenture (including Article 10 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture)), by its acquisition of the Preferred Securities, each Holder and beneficial owner acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees that if a Capital Event or a Tax Event, as applicable, occurs and is continuing, the Company may, except if a Trigger Event occurs or shall have occurred, and except if a Capital Reduction occurs or shall have occurred (other than in respect of Preferred Securities with respect to which a duly completed Election Notice has been received during the Election Period), substitute all (but not less than all) of the Preferred Securities or modify the terms of all (but not less than all) of the Preferred Securities, without any requirement for the consent or approval of the Trustee or the Holders or beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities, so that such Preferred Securities are substituted for, or their terms are modified to, become again, or remain Qualifying Preferred Securities, subject to: (i) having given not less than 5 nor more than 30 days’ notice to the Holders in accordance with Section 1.06 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and to the Trustee (which notice

 

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shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date for substitution or, as applicable, modification), (ii) the prior consent of the Regulator, if required pursuant to Applicable Banking Regulations, and (iii) any variation in the terms of the Preferred Securities resulting from such modification or, if the Preferred Securities are substituted, any difference between the terms of the Preferred Securities and those of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which the Preferred Securities are substituted, not being materially prejudicial to the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.

For the purposes of this section “Substitution and Modification”, the notice to be delivered by the Company shall specify the relevant details of the manner in which the relevant substitution or modification shall take effect and where the Holders of Preferred Securities can inspect or obtain copies of the new terms and conditions of the Preferred Securities or, if the Preferred Securities are substituted, of the Qualifying Preferred Securities for which the Preferred Securities are substituted. Such substitution or modification will be effected without any cost or charge to such Holders.

By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder and beneficial owner acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by any substitution of or modification to the Preferred Securities and to grant to the Company and the Trustee full power and authority to take any action and/or to execute and deliver any document in the name and/or on behalf of such Holder or beneficial owner, as the case may be, which is necessary or convenient to complete the substitution or modification of the terms of the Preferred Securities, as applicable, pursuant to this section “Substitution and Modification”.

Qualifying Preferred Securities” are, with respect to Preferred Securities subject to any substitution and modification pursuant to this section “Substitution and Modification”, at any time, any securities issued by the Company that: (a) contain terms which comply with the then-current requirements to be included in, or count towards, the Group’s and the Company’s Tier 1 Capital; (b) have the same or higher ranking as is applicable to the Preferred Securities on the Closing Date; (c) have the same denomination and aggregate outstanding Liquidation Preference, the same terms for the determination of any applicable Distributions, the same redemption rights and the same dates for payment of Distributions as the Preferred Securities immediately prior to any substitution or modification pursuant to this provision; (d) preserve any existing rights under the Preferred Securities to any accrued Distribution which has not been paid in respect of the period from and including the Distribution Payment Date last preceding the date of any substitution or modification (where not cancelled or deemed cancelled pursuant to, or otherwise subject to the limitations on payment set out herein); and (e) are listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange as selected by the Company, provided that the Preferred Securities were listed or admitted to trading on a stock exchange immediately prior to the relevant substitution or modification.

Enforcement Events. Each of the following events is an “Enforcement Event” with respect to the Preferred Securities: (i) the breach of any term, obligation or condition binding on the Company under the Preferred Securities (other than any of the Company’s payment obligations under or arising from the Preferred Securities, including payment of any Liquidation Preference, Distributions or Additional Amounts (including upon a Capital Reduction), payment of the Redemption Price or payment of any damages awarded for breach of any obligations)) (a “Performance Obligation”); or (ii) the occurrence of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or winding-up of the Company (a “Liquidation Event”).

Neither the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power nor the exercise of any other resolution tool by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority or any action in compliance therewith shall constitute an Enforcement Event or other default under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the Indenture.

Liquidation Distribution. Subject as provided in the immediately subsequent paragraph, in the event of any Liquidation Event, Holders of the Preferred Securities (unless previously converted into Common Shares) shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Liquidation Distribution. Such entitlement will arise before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Shares or any other instrument of the Company ranking junior to the Preferred Securities.

 

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If, upon the occurrence of a Liquidation Event, a Conversion Event has occurred or occurs but the relevant conversion of the Preferred Securities into Common Shares is still to take place at such time, Holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive (i) out of the relevant assets of the Company a monetary amount equal to that which Holders of such Preferred Securities would have received on any distribution of the assets of the Company if such conversion had taken place immediately prior to such Liquidation Event or (ii) such amounts as may be otherwise provided in accordance with applicable law at such time.

After payment of the relevant entitlement in respect of a Preferred Security as described in this provision, such Preferred Security will confer no further right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company.

Limitation of Remedies Upon an Enforcement Event. The sole remedies of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the Trustee under the Preferred Securities or the Indenture upon the occurrence of an Enforcement Event shall be: (a) with respect to a breach of a Performance Obligation, to seek enforcement of the relevant Performance Obligation; and (b) with respect to a Liquidation Event, to enforce the entitlement set forth in Section 6.02 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture).

No Other Remedies and Other Terms. Other than the limited remedies specified in Article 6 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture), and subject to the provisions below, no remedy against the Company shall be available to the Trustee (acting on behalf of the Holders) or to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of such Preferred Securities or under the Indenture, or in respect of any breach by the Company of any of the Company’s obligations under or in respect of the terms of such Preferred Securities or under the Indenture in relation thereto; provided, however, that the Company’s obligations to the Trustee under, and the Trustee’s lien provided for in Section 7.08 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and the Trustee’s rights to have money collected applied first to pay amounts due to it under such Section pursuant to Section 6.08 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture shall not be limited or impaired by Article 6 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) and expressly survive any Enforcement Event and are not subject to the subordination provisions of Section 13.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture).

Notwithstanding the limitations on remedies specified in this Preferred Security and in Article 6 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture), (i) the Trustee shall have such powers as are required to be authorized to it under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the rights of the Holders under the provisions of the Indenture, and (ii) nothing shall impair the rights of a Holder of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Indenture Act, absent such Holder’s consent, to sue for any payment due but unpaid with respect to the Preferred Securities as provided for in Section 6.10 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture; provided that, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, any payments in respect of, or arising from, the Preferred Securities, including any payments or amounts resulting or arising from the enforcement of any rights under the Trust Indenture Act in respect of the Preferred Securities, shall be subject to the subordination provisions set forth in Section 13.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture).

In furtherance of Section 7.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture:

(i) For purposes of Sections 315(a) and 315(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term “default” is hereby defined to mean an Enforcement Event which has occurred and is continuing.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indenture to the contrary, the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee under the Indenture shall be subject to the protections, exculpations and limitations on liability afforded to an indenture trustee under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Agreement with Respect to Limitation of Remedies for Breach of a Performance Obligation. By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder and beneficial owner of any such Preferred Security acknowledges and agrees that such Holder and beneficial owner will not seek, and will not direct the Trustee to seek, a claim for damages against the Company in respect of a breach by the Company of a Performance Obligation and that the sole and exclusive remedy that such Holder, beneficial owner and the Trustee may seek under the Preferred Securities and the Indenture for a breach by the Company of a Performance Obligation is specific performance.

Waiver of Past Enforcement Events. Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding Preferred Securities may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities waive any past Enforcement Event that results from a breach by the Company of a Performance Obligation. Holders of a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding Preferred Securities shall not be entitled to waive (i) any past Enforcement Event that results from a Liquidation Event and (ii) any Enforcement Event in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which under Article 10 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Preferred Security affected.

Upon the occurrence of any waiver permitted by the paragraph immediately above, such Enforcement Event shall cease to exist, and any Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred for every purpose of the Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Enforcement Event or impair any right consequent thereon.

Subordination. Unless previously converted into Common Shares and except as provided in the second paragraph under “Liquidation Distribution” above, the payment obligations of the Company under the Preferred Securities shall be direct, unconditional, unsecured and subordinated obligations of the Company and, upon the insolvency (concurso de acreedores) of the Company, in accordance with and only to the extent permitted by the Spanish Insolvency Law and any other applicable laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in Spain (including, without limitation, Additional Provision 14.3 of Law 11/2015), but subject to any other ranking that may apply as a result of any mandatory provision of law (or otherwise), for so long as the Preferred Securities constitute an Additional Tier 1 Instrument issued by the Company, such Preferred Securities will rank:

(i) junior to:

(A) any claim in respect of any unsubordinated obligations of the Company (including where the relevant claim subsequently becomes subordinated pursuant to Article 281.1.1º of the Spanish Insolvency Law); and

(B) any claim in respect of any subordinated obligations of the Company, present and future, other than under any outstanding Additional Tier 1 Instrument of the Company (other than, to the extent permitted by law, any Parity Securities, whether so ranking by law or their terms);

(ii) pari passu with each other and with all other claims in respect of contractually subordinated obligations of the Company under any outstanding Additional Tier 1 Instruments, present and future (and, to the extent permitted by law, pari passu with any other Parity Securities, whether so ranking by law or their terms); and

(iii) senior to the Common Shares and any other subordinated obligations of the Company which by law rank junior to the Preferred Securities (including, to the extent permitted by law, any contractually subordinated obligations of the Company expressed by their terms to rank junior to the Preferred Securities), such that any relevant claim in respect of the Preferred Securities will be satisfied, as appropriate, only to the extent that all claims ranking senior to it have first been satisfied in full, and then pro rata with any claims ranking pari passu with it, in each case as provided herein.

 

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The obligations of the Company under the Preferred Securities are subject to, and may be limited by, the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

The Company agrees with respect to the Preferred Securities and each Holder and beneficial owner of a Preferred Security, by his or her acquisition of a Preferred Security, will be deemed to have agreed to the subordination as described herein. To the extent permitted by Spanish law, each such Holder and beneficial owner will be deemed to have irrevocably waived his or her rights of priority which would otherwise be accorded to him or her under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain, to the extent necessary to effectuate the subordination provisions of the Preferred Security. In addition, each Holder and beneficial owner of Preferred Securities by his or her acquisition of the securities, to the extent permitted by Spanish law, authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination of the relevant Preferred Securities as provided in the Indenture and as summarized herein and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Waiver of Right of Set-Off. Subject to applicable law, neither any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred Securities nor the Trustee acting on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities may exercise, claim or plead any right of set-off, compensation or retention in respect of any amount owed to it by the Company in respect of, or arising under, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities or the Indenture and each Holder and beneficial owner of Preferred Securities, by virtue of its holding of any Preferred Securities or any interest therein, and the Trustee acting on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, shall be deemed to have waived all such rights of set-off, compensation or retention. If, notwithstanding the above, any amounts due and payable to any Holder or beneficial owner of a Preferred Security or any interest therein by the Company in respect of, or arising under, the Preferred Securities are discharged by set-off, such Holder or beneficial owner shall, subject to applicable law, immediately pay an amount equal to the amount of such discharge to the Company (or, if a Liquidation Event shall have occurred, the liquidator or administrator of the Company, as the case may be) and, until such time as payment is made, shall hold an amount equal to such amount in trust (where possible) or otherwise for the Company (or the liquidator or administrator of the Company, as the case may be) and, accordingly, any such discharge shall be deemed not to have taken place.

Limitation on Suits. No Holder (which, for the purposes of this paragraph, includes each holder of a beneficial interest in any Preferred Security) of any Preferred Security shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such Preferred Security, the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder fulfils the requirements of Section 6.09 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture.

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Assumption. The Company may, without the consent of Holders of the Preferred Securities, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person or Persons (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or sell, convey or transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), subject to the conditions set forth in Section 9.01 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture). As indicated therein, the condition set forth in Section 9.01(d) (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) shall not be applicable if the acquiring or resulting successor corporation (the “successor corporation”) is a holding company of the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

 

A-21


In the event of assumption of the Company’s obligations in connection with a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conveyance, transfer or lease of substantially all of its assets, the Company shall be released from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture or this Preferred Security, as the case may be, and the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company.

Any holding company of the Company or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “successor entity”) may, without the consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, assume the obligations of the Company (or of any Person which shall have previously assumed the obligations of the Company) under the Preferred Securities, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 9.03 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture).

Upon any such assumption, the successor entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture with respect to the Preferred Securities with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company in the Indenture, and the Company or any legal and valid successor entity which shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed herein, shall be released from all liability as obligor upon the Preferred Securities.

In the event of any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conveyance, transfer, lease or assumption permitted as provided above under this section “Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Assumption”, Additional Amounts under the Preferred Securities will thereafter be payable in respect of taxes imposed by the successor corporation’s or successor entity’s, as the case may be, jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence (subject to exceptions equivalent to those that apply to the obligation to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 11.04 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) in respect of taxes imposed in the Kingdom of Spain) rather than taxes imposed by the Kingdom of Spain. Additional Amounts with respect to payments of Distributions due prior to the date of such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conveyance, transfer, lease or assumption will be payable only in respect of taxes imposed by the Kingdom of Spain.

The successor corporation or successor entity, as the case may be, will also be entitled to redeem the Preferred Securities in the circumstances described in, and in accordance with, the section “Optional Redemption due to a Tax Event” and to substitute or modify the terms of the Preferred Securities in the circumstances described in, and in accordance with, the section “—Substitution and Modification of the Preferred Securities”, except that if such successor corporation or successor entity, as the case may be, is not incorporated or tax resident in the Kingdom of Spain (i) references to the Kingdom of Spain in the definition of “Tax Event” shall be deemed to refer to the successor corporation’s or successor entity’s, as the case may be, jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence, and (ii) the change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction of incorporation or tax residence or of any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency therein or thereof having power to tax, or the change in the application or binding official interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations giving rise to a Tax Event shall become effective subsequent to the date of any such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conveyance, transfer, lease or assumption permitted under this section “Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. Assumption.

Agreement and Acknowledgment with Respect to the Exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Preferred Securities, the Indenture or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any Holder, by its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder (which, for the purposes of the below, includes each holder of a beneficial interest in any Preferred Security) acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by: (i) the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice with respect to the Preferred Securities, and may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof: (A) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities; (B) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities into shares, other securities or other obligations of the Company or another Person (and the issue to or conferral on the Holder of any such shares, securities or obligations), including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of the Preferred Securities; (C) the cancellation of the Preferred Securities; (D) the inclusion of a maturity date for the Preferred Securities or the amendment or alteration thereof, or the amendment of the Liquidation Preference or Distributions

 

A-22


payable on the Preferred Securities, or the date on which Distributions become payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and (ii) the variation of the terms of the Preferred Securities or the rights of the Holders thereunder or under the Indenture, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder acknowledges and agrees that neither a reduction or cancellation, in part or in full, of the Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities or the conversion thereof into another security or obligation of the Company or another Person, in each case as a result of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Company, nor the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Preferred Securities, shall: (i) give rise to a default or event of default for purposes of Section 315(b) (Notice of Defaults) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) be a default or an Enforcement Event with respect to the Preferred Securities or under the Indenture. By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder further acknowledges and agrees that no repayment or payment of Amounts Due on the Preferred Securities shall become due and payable or be paid after the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority if, and to the extent that, such amounts have been reduced, converted, cancelled, amended or altered as a result of such exercise.

By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder, to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Preferred Securities. Additionally, by its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Preferred Securities: (i) the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from the Holders with respect to any portion of the Preferred Securities that is written down, converted to equity and/or cancelled under Section 6.14 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture; and (ii) the Indenture shall not impose any duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority; provided, however, that notwithstanding the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Preferred Securities, so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, there shall at all times be a trustee for the Preferred Securities in accordance with the Indenture, and the resignation and/or removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee shall continue to be governed by the Indenture, including to the extent no additional supplemental indenture or amendment is agreed upon in the event the Preferred Securities remain Outstanding following the completion of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have authorized, directed and requested the relevant Depositary, Clearing Systems and any direct participant in any relevant Clearing System or other intermediary or depositary through which it holds such Preferred Securities to take any and all necessary actions, if required, to implement the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to the Preferred Securities as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such Holder.

Upon the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority with respect to the Preferred Securities, the Company or the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (as the case may be) shall provide a written notice to the relevant Depositary as soon as practicable regarding such exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power for purposes of notifying the Holders of such Preferred Securities. The Company shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Trustee for information purposes. No failure or delay by the Company to deliver a notice shall affect the validity or enforceability of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

 

A-23


If the Company has elected to redeem the Preferred Securities but, prior to the payment of the Redemption Price to Holders, the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority exercises its Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to such Preferred Securities, the relevant redemption notice shall be automatically rescinded and shall be of no force and effect, there shall be no redemption and consequently no payment of the Redemption Price (and any other amounts payable in accordance with Article 12 of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture)) will be due and payable.

By its acquisition of any Preferred Security, each Holder acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound by (i) the exercise and effect of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority, which may be imposed with or without any prior notice, with respect to any Common Shares that may be delivered to it upon the Conversion (if any) of the Preferred Securities, and (ii) the variation of the terms of such Common Shares to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority.

Each Holder that acquires Preferred Securities in the secondary market or otherwise shall be deemed to acknowledge and agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified herein and in the Indenture to the same extent as the Holders that acquire the Preferred Securities upon their initial issuance, including, without limitation, with respect to Conversion and the above acknowledgment and agreement to be bound by and consent to the terms of the Preferred Securities related to the exercise and effects of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

* * *

This Preferred Security, and any other Preferred Securities of this series and of like tenor, are issuable only in registered form without coupon. The Preferred Securities shall carry a Liquidation Preference of $200,000 per Preferred Security.

This Preferred Security and the Indenture (except as set forth herein and therein) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state, except that the authorization and execution by the Company of the Indenture, the authorization, issuance and execution by the Company of the Preferred Securities and Sections 13.01(a) (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture), 13.02, 14.01 (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) and 14.02 (as amended by the Third Supplemental Indenture) of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture and the first two paragraphs under “Subordination”, the provisions under “Waiver of Right of Set-Off” and the provisions under “Agreement and Acknowledgment with Respect to the Exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power” of this Preferred Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the common laws of the Kingdom of Spain.

 

A-24

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO           

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Paseo de la Castellana, 41

28046 Madrid

davispolk.com

September 19, 2023

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Calle Azul, 4

28050 Madrid

Spain

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., a sociedad anónima organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Company”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-266391) (the “Registration Statement”), and the related Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), certain securities, including $1,000,000,000 aggregate liquidation preference of the Company’s series 12 non-step-up non-cumulative contingent convertible perpetual preferred tier 1 securities (the “Securities”).

The Securities are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities Indenture dated as of September 25, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, acting (except with respect to its role as contingent convertible preferred security registrar) through its London Branch, as trustee, paying and conversion agent, principal paying agent, and contingent convertible preferred security registrar, as amended and supplemented by the third supplemental indenture dated as of September 19, 2023 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) pursuant to which the Securities will be issued. Under the Supplemental Indenture, The Bank of New York Mellon, acting through its London Branch, has also agreed to act as calculation agent. The Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, is hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture.” The Securities are to be sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement dated September 11, 2023 (together with the Underwriting Agreement, the “Pricing Agreement”) among the Company and the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”).

We, as your special U.S. counsel, have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all documents filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system (except for required EDGAR formatting changes) conform to the versions of such documents reviewed by us prior to such formatting (iv) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (v) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (vi) all statements in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company that we reviewed were and are accurate and (vii) all representations made by the Company as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we advise you that, in our opinion, assuming that the Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Pricing Agreement, the Securities (other than the terms thereof expressed


LOGO            Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

 

to be governed by Spanish law, as to which we express no opinion) will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, and subject to possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors’ rights, provided that we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision that permits holders to collect any portion of stated principal amount upon acceleration of the Securities to the extent determined to constitute unearned interest.

In connection with the opinion expressed above, we have assumed that the Company is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain. In addition, we have assumed that the Indenture and the Securities (collectively, the “Documents”) are valid, binding and enforceable agreements of each party thereto. We have also assumed that the execution, delivery and performance by each party to each Document to which it is a party (a) are within its corporate powers, (b) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, the bylaws or other constitutive documents of such party, (c) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and (d) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law, regulation or public policy or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or other instrument binding upon such party.

We express no opinion as to (i) any provisions in the Indenture that purport to waive objections to venue, claims that a particular jurisdiction is an inconvenient forum or the like, (ii) whether a United States federal court would have subject-matter or personal jurisdiction over a controversy arising under the Indenture or the Securities or (iii) the effectiveness of any service of process made other than in accordance with applicable law.

We express no opinion as to (i) whether a New York State or United States federal court would render or enforce a judgment in a currency other than U.S. Dollars or enforce the exclusivity of the jurisdiction of the Spanish courts or waivers of holders and owners of Securities provided for in the Indenture and the Securities for the purposes described therein or (ii) the exchange rate that such a court would use in rendering a judgment in U.S. Dollars in respect of an obligation in any other currency. Further, we express no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provisions of applicable law on the opinions expressed above.

We note that the choice-of-law provisions of the Indenture and the Securities, as applicable, are expressed to select Spanish law as the governing law for certain matters related to the Indenture and the Securities, including the authorization and execution of the Indenture, the authorization, issuance and execution of the Securities and certain provisions of the Indenture and the Securities related to the subordination of the Securities, the waiver of rights of set-off and the Spanish Bail-in Power (as such term is defined therein). We also note that the submission-to-jurisdiction provisions of the Indenture and the Securities, as applicable, are expressed to provide that the Spanish courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or the Indenture arising out of, relating to or in connection with the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the Relevant Spanish Resolution Authority (as such terms are defined therein).

We also express no opinion with respect to Section 3.20 of the Base Indenture (as amended and supplemented by Section 2.03(q) of the Supplemental Indenture), the Section entitled “Substitution and Modification” of the Securities or any provision of the Indenture or the Securities relating to the Spanish Bail-in Power (as such term is defined therein).

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America, except that we express no opinion as to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company or the Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory

 

 

September 19, 2023    2


LOGO            Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

 

regime applicable to any party to any of the Documents or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate. Insofar as the foregoing opinion involves matters governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Spain, we have relied, without independent inquiry or investigation, on the opinion of J&A Garrigues, S.L.P., Spanish legal counsel for the Company, dated as of September 19, 2023, to be filed as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K to be filed by the Company on the date hereof, and our opinion is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth therein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K to be filed by the Company on the date hereof and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement and further consent to the reference to our name under the captions “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Validity of the Securities” in the prospectus supplement which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

 

 

September 19, 2023    3

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

September 19, 2023

To:

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Calle Azul 4, 28050 Madrid, España

Re: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. issue of Series 12 Non-Step-Up Non-Cumulative Contingent Convertible Perpetual Preferred Tier 1 Securities (Participaciones Preferentes) (the “Issue”) of $200,000 liquidation preference each (the “Preferred Securities”)

We have acted as Spanish legal counsel for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (hereinafter, “BBVA” or the “Issuer”) in connection with the Issue and the pricing and underwriting agreements dated September 11, 2023 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into among the Issuer and BBVA Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and SG Americas Securities, LLC (the “Underwriters”).

The Preferred Securities will be issued under the indenture (the “Base Indenture”) dated September 25, 2017 between BBVA, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, acting (except with respect to its role as contingent convertible preferred security registrar) through its London Branch, as trustee (the “Trustee”), paying and conversion agent, principal paying agent (the “Principal Paying Agent”) and contingent convertible preferred security registrar, as amended and supplemented by the third supplemental indenture dated as of September 19, 2023 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture as amended and supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), and also issued pursuant to the granting of the public deed of issuance (escritura de emisión) by the Issuer on September 13, 2023 in front of the Public Notary of Madrid, Mr. Rodrigo Tena Arregui, with number 1,472 of his official records (the “Public Deed”) and its registration with the Commercial Registry of Vizcaya (Bizkaia) on September 18, 2023 with record number 4,565 of the corporate sheet of the Issuer open at the said commercial registry. Hereinafter, the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture will be referred to as the “Agreements”.

 

1.

Background

For the purposes of issuing this legal opinion, we have reviewed and examined originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such records of the Issuer and such other documents and certificates and made such inquiries with officers of the Issuer as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In particular, we have reviewed and examined copies of the following documents:

 

  1.

a copy of the Agreements;


  2.

a copy of the Public Deed;

 

  3.

a copy of the executed Preferred Securities;

 

  4.

a photocopy of the deed of incorporation of the Issuer granted on October 1, 1988, before the Notary Public of Bilbao Mr. José María Arriola Arana with the number 4,350 of his official records;

 

  5.

a copy of the by-laws of the Issuer (the “By-Laws”);

 

  6.

a copy of the certification issued by the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Issuer including the resolutions passed by the Shareholders Meeting on March 17, 2017 and the Board of Directors of the Issuer on September 27, 2017;

 

  7.

a copy of the certification issued by the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Issuer including the resolutions passed by the Shareholders Meeting on April 20, 2021 and the Board of Directors of the Issuer on June 27, 2023;

 

  8.

a copy of the directors’ report (informe de administradores) prepared by the Board of Directors in relation to the issue of the Preferred Securities dated June 27, 2023;

 

  9.

a copy of the report prepared by PKF ATTEST Servicios Empresariales, S.L. dated July 3, 2023 in relation to the directors’ report referred to immediately above;

 

  10.

a copy of the registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-266391) as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 29, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”) and the related prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) dated July 29, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the “Base Prospectus”);

 

  11.

a copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement filed with the Commission on September 11, 2023 relating to the Preferred Securities (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”);

 

  12.

a copy of the free-writing prospectus set forth in Appendix B to the pricing agreement (the “Pricing Term Sheet” and together with the Registration Statement, including the Base Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the “Disclosure Package”);

 

  13.

a copy of the final prospectus supplement filed with the Commission on September 12, 2023 (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) (the “Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”);

 

- 2 -


  14.

a copy of the public deed executed before the Notary Public of Madrid Mr. Rodrigo Tena Arregui on November 21, 2022 under number 2,462 of his official records under which the Issuer granted powers of attorney in favor of Mr. José María Caballero Cobacho, such deed being duly registered with the Commercial Registry of Vizcaya (Bizkaia) under Volume 6,084, Sheet 200, Page BI-17(A), entry No. 4,446;

 

  15.

an online excerpt (nota simple telemática) of the data of the Issuer issued by the Commercial Registry of Vizcaya (Bizkaia) on or about the date hereof; and

 

  16.

search result for the Issuer on the website of the registers of the Bank of Spain, on the CNMV website and on the online Public Register of Insolvency Decisions (www.publicidadconcursal.es) on the date hereof.

 

2.

Assumptions underlying the opinion

On issuing this opinion, we assume that:

 

  a)

the documents we have consulted and reviewed to issue this opinion and the signatures, stamps and seals attached thereto are accurate, genuine and complete and have not been modified or rendered null and void by any documents other than those provided by, or publicly available in, the consulted and reviewed sources;

 

  b)

the photocopies of the documents provided to us in order to issue this opinion are true and complete copies of their originals;

 

  c)

the signatures and seals appearing in the executed documents submitted to us are authentic;

 

  d)

the Underwriters, the Principal Paying Agent and the Trustee and any other party different from the Issuer, have the corporate power and authority to enter into and perform as provided for under the Agreements and have taken all respective and necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Agreements, thereby becoming legal and valid obligations binding on the parties thereto (except for the Issuer) (and are not subject to avoidance by any person) under all applicable laws and in all applicable jurisdictions (other than the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (“Spain”)) and insofar as any of such Agreements and other documents is to be performed in any jurisdiction other than Spain, its performance will not be illegal or ineffective by virtue of the laws of that jurisdiction;

 

  e)

the individuals that execute the Agreements on behalf of the parties thereto (except for the Issuer), as the case may be, have the power, and have been authorized by all necessary corporate action, to execute and deliver the Agreements;

 

- 3 -


  f)

all deeds, instruments, agreements and other documents in relation to the matters contemplated by the Agreements are within the capacity and powers of, have been validly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto (except for the Issuer);

 

  g)

the absence of fraud and the presence of good faith on the part of the Issuer;

 

  h)

the representations and warranties (other than any representations and warranties as to which we are expressing opinion herein) given by each of the parties to the Agreements are in each case true, accurate and complete in all respects;

 

  i)

without having made any investigation, that the Agreements, governed by the laws of the State of New York, and any other applicable laws other than the laws of Spain, constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations to the respective parties thereto under such laws;

 

  j)

there are no contractual or similar restrictions binding on any person which would affect the conclusions of this opinion resulting from any agreement or arrangement not being a document specifically examined by us for the purposes of this opinion and there are no arrangements between any of the parties to the documents which modify or supersede any of the terms thereof (it being understood that we are not aware of the existence of any such agreement or arrangement); and

 

  k)

insofar as any obligation under the documents examined is to be performed in, or is otherwise subject to, any jurisdiction other than Spain, their performance will not be illegal or ineffective by virtue of any law of, or contrary to public policy in, that jurisdiction.

 

3.

Scope of the opinion

This opinion refers solely and exclusively to legal matters and is issued solely with respect to Spanish law in force on the date hereof.

 

4.

Opinion

 

  A.

The Issuer is a limited liability company (sociedad anónima) duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Spain and has full power and capacity to conduct its businesses as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to enter into the Agreements and the Public Deed, to issue the Preferred Securities, to undertake and perform its obligations established thereunder and to issue the Common Shares (as such term is defined in the Prospectus Supplement) upon conversion of said Preferred Securities, as the case may be.

 

- 4 -


  B.

The Issuer has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreements and the Public Deed, to issue and perform its obligations under the Preferred Securities and has taken all necessary actions to approve and authorize the execution and delivery of the Agreements and the Public Deed and the issuance of the Preferred Securities, the performance of its obligations thereunder and to issue the Common Shares upon conversion of said Preferred Securities, as the case may be.

 

  C.

The Issuer, as a limited liability company (sociedad anónima), has all the requisite corporate power and authority to issue the Preferred Securities, as provided for in the Agreements, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

  D.

The Issuer is not in liquidation, dissolution, insolvency or similar proceedings, and no liquidator, administrator or receiver or analogous person under the laws of Spain has been appointed over all or any of the Issuer’s assets. To the best of our knowledge, and based on the information available at the online Public Register of Insolvency Decisions (www.publicidadconcursal.es), no notice of commencement of insolvency proceedings has been filed in respect of the Issuer.

 

  E.

Save for the registration of the Public Deed with the Commercial Registry of Vizcaya (Bizkaia), which has taken place, no other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, regulations, qualifications or clearances of or with any court or governmental agency or regulatory body in Spain having jurisdiction over the Issuer and its subsidiaries or any of their properties or of any stock exchange authorities in Spain is required for (i) the valid authorization, execution and delivery by the Issuer of the Agreements and the Public Deed and the performance of its obligations thereunder and the issuance, delivery and sale of the Preferred Securities (subject to the selling restrictions in Spain contained in the Underwriting Agreement and the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) and the performance of its obligations thereunder, (ii) to effect distributions and any payments in United States of America dollars under the Preferred Securities or (iii) for the consummation by the Issuer of the other transactions contemplated by the Agreements.

 

  F.

All Common Shares to be received by holders of Preferred Securities, in accordance with the Indenture, when issued and delivered upon conversion in accordance with the terms of said Indenture, and therefore, once a public deed of issuance of such Common Shares is executed and registered within the Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil), will be duly authorized, fully paid, non-assessable and validly issued and credited as fully paid under the existing laws of Spain, and will not be subject to further call or contribution; and no other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, regulations, qualifications or clearances of or with any court or governmental agency or regulatory body in Spain having jurisdiction over the Issuer and its subsidiaries or any of their properties or of any stock exchange authorities in Spain is required for the valid authorization, execution and delivery by the Issuer of Common Shares upon conversion.

 

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  G.

The Agreements, the Public Deed and the Preferred Securities have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered by the Issuer, as applicable, and constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, are in appropriate form to be admissible in evidence in the Courts of Spain and contain no material provision that is contrary to law or public policy in Spain.

 

  H.

Each of the individuals signing the Agreements, the Public Deed and the Preferred Securities in the name and on behalf of the Issuer was, at the time of execution of the Agreements, the Public Deed and the Preferred Securities, duly empowered to act in the name and on behalf of the Issuer.

 

  I.

The execution and delivery of the Agreements, the Public Deed and the Preferred Securities and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated and compliance with the terms thereof do not conflict with or result in a breach of:

 

  (a)

any provision of the By-Laws;

 

  (b)

any present law or regulation in force in Spain;

 

  (c)

any judicial or administrative order binding on the Issuer or its assets of which we are aware taking into account that no review or investigation on this subject has been performed; or

 

  (d)

the principles of public policy (orden público) as these are construed in Spain as of the date of this opinion.

 

  J.

The issued and outstanding share capital of the Issuer has been duly and validly authorized, has been issued and fully paid-in and is not subject to any call for the payment of further capital and is non-assessable.

 

  K.

The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid-in and non-assessable; no holder thereof is or will be subject to personal liability by reason only of being such a holder; and the Preferred Securities are not subject to pre-emptive rights of any shareholder.

 

  L.

The statements made in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments thereto under the captions “Certain Terms of the Preferred Securities”, “Description of BBVA Ordinary Shares”, “Description of BBVA American Depositary Shares”, “Description of Rights to Subscribe for Ordinary Shares”, “Description of the Notes of BBVA”, “Description of the Contingent Convertible Preferred Securities of BBVA”, and “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities” are true and accurate and there are no facts the omission of which from such statements would make the same misleading in any material respect.

 

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  M.

No filing or registration of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any other offering document or circular is necessary under Spanish law in connection with the issuance, sale or delivery of the Preferred Securities to the Underwriters or other parties, in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus and/or the Agreements, or the resale and delivery of such Preferred Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus and/or the Agreements.

 

  N.

Insofar as matters of Spanish law are concerned, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been duly authorized by and on behalf of the Issuer.

 

  O.

Under the laws of Spain, neither the Issuer nor any of its assets (including properties) have any immunity from service of process, suit or proceedings or from the enforcement of any judgment, including attachments (whether on the grounds of sovereign immunity or otherwise).

 

  P.

The provisions contained in Section 13.01(a) of the Base Indenture (as such section is amended by Section 2.03 (eee) of the Third Supplemental Indenture), which are expressed to be governed by Spanish law, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

Additionally, the claims of the holders of Preferred Securities arising from any Preferred Security, the Common Shares, the Agreements or the Public Deed will be subject, in accordance with their terms as reflected in the Indenture, to the exercise of any power in compliance with any laws, regulations, rules or requirements in effect in Spain, relating to the transposition of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, as amended from time to time, including, but not limited to (i) Law 11/2015 of June 18, as amended from time to time, (ii) Royal Decree 1012/2015 of November 6, as amended from time to time, (iii) Regulation (EU) No. 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 15, 2014 establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of the Single Resolution Mechanism and the Single Resolution Fund and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1093/2010, as amended from time to time, and (iv) any other instruments, rules or standards made in connection with either (i), (ii) or (iii).

 

  Q.

It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Agreements and the Public Deed that any document be filed, recorded or enrolled with any government department or other authority in Spain, except for the filing and registration of the Public Deed in the Commercial Registry of Vizcaya (Bizkaia), which has been obtained.

 

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  R.

The Spanish courts will give effect to the choice of the State of New York as the governing law of the aspects expressly stated into the Agreements and the Preferred Securities subject to the terms and conditions of Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 17, 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I) (with respect to the Agreements), Article 10.3 of the Spanish Civil Code (Código Civil) and Article 405 of the Spanish Companies Law (Ley de Sociedades de Capital) (with respect to the Preferred Securities).

 

  S.

The Issuer can sue and be sued in its own name, and under the laws of Spain the irrevocable submission of the Issuer to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York (each a “New York Court”), and the waiver by the Issuer of any objection to the venue of a proceeding in a New York Court are legal, valid and binding; and service of process effected in the manner set forth in the Agreements, assuming their validity under New York law, will be effective, insofar as Spanish law is concerned, to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Issuer before a New York Court.

 

  T.

A judgment duly obtained in a New York Court in connection with the Agreements and the Preferred Securities will be recognized and enforceable, under the laws of Spain, against the Issuer by the courts of Spain without a retrial or re-examination of the matters thereby adjudicated. The judicial courts of Spain will recognize and enforce, without re-examination of the merits of the case, as a valid judgment, any final judgment obtained against the Issuer in respect of the Agreements and the Preferred Securities, subject to full compliance with the requirements set forth in the international treaties that may be applicable from time to time and, as the case may be, to Law 29/2015 of July 30 on international cooperation in civil matters (Ley 29/2015, de 30 de julio, de cooperación jurídica internacional en material civil) (“Law 29/2015”). For the recognition and enforcement in Spain of a judgment or decision with executive force rendered by said courts, such judgement or decision will be subject to the exequatur procedure, for which purpose the requirements under Law 29/2015 must be met, including that such judgment shall not fall within the circumstances set forth in Article 46 of Law 29/2015.

 

  U.

Any judgment obtained from a Spanish court against the Issuer by the holder of any Preferred Security or by any party to the Agreements would be expressed in the currency set out in the enforcement title (título ejecutivo) upon which the enforcement judgment is based. Any judicial costs and expenses as well as any default interest shall always be payable in the corresponding Spanish currency.

 

  V.

It is not necessary under the laws of Spain (i) to enable any person to exercise or enforce its rights under the Agreements and/or the Preferred Securities or (ii) by reason of any person being or becoming a party to the Agreements and/or the Preferred Securities or by reason of the performance of any person of its obligations or enforcement of its rights thereunder or in

 

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respect thereof that such person should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in Spain (save in connection with the offer, sale and distribution of the Preferred Securities in Spain, which is subject to certain restrictions, as provided for in the selling restrictions contained in the Underwriting Agreement and the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).

 

5.

Qualifications

This opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

 

  (i)

We do not give any opinion to any laws other than the laws of the Spanish legal system in force as of the present date. J&A Garrigues, S.L.P. acts as a Spanish law firm and does not deliver opinions in respect of any law other than Spanish law. Accordingly, this opinion is confined to Spanish law only as currently in force and as construed in Spain.

 

  (ii)

Our opinion is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, temporary receivership, insolvency, reorganization, administration, moratorium or similar laws (including but not limited to eventual fraudulent transactions and the preference of creditors) and other process or Spanish law generally affecting the rights of creditors (including the application of a claw-back period), as well as to any principles of public policy (orden público).

It should be noted that according to Articles 12.3 (related to the non- application of foreign laws contrary to public policy) and 12.4 of the Spanish Civil Code (whereby fraud of law will be considered when a conflict of law rule is used for the purpose of avoiding the application of a mandatory Spanish law) and related legislation, the laws other than those of Spain would not be applied by Spanish courts if submission to such laws is deemed to have been made in order to avoid the application of mandatory Spanish laws, or to be contrary to public policy.

 

  (iii)

The term “enforceable” means that the obligations assumed by the relevant party under the Agreements, the Public Deed and the Preferred Securities are of a type that the Spanish courts would enforce and it does not mean that those obligations will be necessarily enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their terms.

 

  a.

Enforceability may be qualified by having regard to the general principle of good faith. In connection to this, the Spanish courts may not accept the enforcement of a contractual obligation if they hold that a certain right has not been exercised in good faith or has been exercised as an abuse of the law (abuso de derecho). Likewise, in conformity with Article 6.4 of the Spanish Civil Code, acts performed pursuant to the wording of a provision and pursuing a result prohibited by or contrary to the law will be deemed to have been performed in circumvention of law (fraude de ley) and will not prevent the application of the provision sought to be avoided. Accordingly, Spanish courts may refuse to uphold the termination of an agreement based on an unreasonable, inequitable or bad faith interpretation of one of its events of default.

 

- 9 -


  b.

Spanish law precludes an agreement from being terminated based on the breach of obligations, undertakings or covenants which are merely ancillary or supplementary to the main undertakings of the relevant agreements and allows Spanish courts not to enforce any such termination.

 

  c.

Spanish law rules out any contractual obligations whose validity is left at the discretion of one of the contracting parties. Therefore, Spanish courts may refuse to uphold and enforce terms and conditions of an agreement giving discretionary authority to one of the contracting parties.

 

  d.

A Spanish court may issue an award of damages where specific performance is deemed impracticable.

 

  e.

Spanish law limits the enforcement of fixed-penalty provisions contained in agreements, allowing the courts to reduce the amount of the penalty payable when the main obligation has been partially or irregularly performed by the obligor.

 

  f.

The exercise of the rights arising from the relevant document and the enforcement thereof is limited by the applicable statute of limitations.

 

  g.

A counterparty can oppose to the enforcement of any right in rem before the relevant courts and obtain a suspension, a different enforcement procedure to the ones agreed upon in the relevant agreement or even a dismissal of the enforcement action.

 

  h.

In order for certain legal rights to be enforced in Spain, certain formalities must be met (e.g., notarization of the document providing for such legal rights and the apostille of the 1961 Hague Convention).

 

  i.

A certified translation into Spanish by a sworn translator of any document not executed in Spanish will be required to make such document admissible in evidence in Spain.

 

  j.

Private documents provide full evidence in trial in the terms set forth therein provided that their authenticity is not contested by the party which may be harmed by them. Where the authenticity of a private document is contested, the party submitting such document may seek an expert’s authentication of handwriting or any other means of proof.

 

  k.

In accordance with the general principles of Spanish civil procedural law (Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil), the rules of evidence in any judicial proceeding cannot be modified by agreement of the parties.

 

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Accordingly, provisions in an agreement in which determinations by a party are to be deemed to be conclusive may not be upheld by a Spanish court. A determination, designation, calculation or certificate of one party as to any matter provided in an agreement might, in certain circumstances, be held by a Spanish court not to be final, conclusive and binding, if it could be shown to have an unreasonable or arbitrary basis or in the event of manifest error despite any provision in the relevant agreement to the contrary.

 

  (iv)

Where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside Spain, they may not be enforceable in Spain to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction.

 

  (v)

Regarding opinion 4.T. and according to Article 3.2 of Law 29/2015, the Spanish Government may establish that the Spanish authorities will not cooperate with another state’s authorities when there has been repeated refusal to cooperate by such other state’s authorities or there exists a legal prohibition precluding such cooperation.

 

  (vi)

Spanish law does not allow leaving the validity and performance of contractual obligations at the discretion of one of the contracting parties. Therefore, a Spanish court may not uphold or enforce terms and conditions in the Agreements, the Preferred Securities and the Public Deed giving discretionary authority to one of the parties.

 

  (vii)

It should be understood that we have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of facts or statements of foreign law, or the reasonableness of any statements of opinion, expectation, intention or belief contained in or represented by or in connection to the Issuer in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package or that no material facts have been omitted therefrom or the existence of any omission to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

  (viii)

No opinion is expressed as to the financial ability of the Issuer to fulfil its obligations under the Preferred Securities and/or the Agreements.

 

  (ix)

A Spanish court might not enforce any provision of the Agreements, the Public Deed and/or the Preferred Securities which requires any party thereto to pay any amounts on the grounds that such provision is a penalty within the meaning of Articles 1152 et seq. of the Spanish Civil Code, as the court could consider said amounts evidently excessive as a pre-estimate of damages, in case of partial or non-regular compliance of the debtor. In this event, the Court may reduce the amount of damages, pursuant to Article 1154 of the Spanish Civil Code.

 

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  (x)

Spanish courts have exclusive jurisdiction, inter alia, with respect to matters relating to the incorporation, validity, nullity and dissolution of companies or legal entities domiciled in the Spanish territory, and to any decisions and resolutions of their corporate bodies, as well as with respect to the validity or nullity of any recordings with a Spanish register, and the recognition and enforcement in Spain of any judgment or arbitration award obtained in a foreign country.

 

  (xi)

Claims may be or become subject to defenses of set-off or counter-claim.

 

  (xii)

A waiver of all defenses to any proceedings may not be enforceable.

 

  (xiii)

The ability of terminating an agreement is subject to judiciary review and the Spanish courts may provide for a different remedy for the non-defaulting party.

 

  (xiv)

Under the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2020 of May 5, which approves the recast text of the insolvency law (Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2020, de 5 de mayo, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la ley concursal), as amended from time to time, including, but not limited to, by Law 16/2022 of September 5, the declaration of insolvency of a debtor does not by itself affect the effectiveness of contracts with reciprocal outstanding obligations. Any outstanding obligations arising from said contracts, which the insolvency judge does not terminate, shall be paid from the insolvency estate (masa activa).

 

  (xv)

Contract provisions that grant a party the right to terminate a contract in the event of insolvency are void.

 

  (xvi)

Enforcement of clauses providing for specific performance of an obligation may be replaced by courts with a monetary compensation.

 

  (xvii)

The fact that the powers of the Trustee to act on behalf of the holders result from the Indenture may cause certain delays in the process of enforcement of the Preferred Securities before the Spanish courts. Spain has not ratified the 1985 Hague Convention regarding trusts and their recognition as legal institutions and, therefore, there is a risk that (i) the Trustee may have to be assigned all of the rights of the holders in order to claim in Spain the entirety of the amounts due on their behalf or (ii) the Spanish court may consider the powers of attorney of the Trustee under the trust instrument are not sufficiently evidenced to the court and may require additional evidence of the empowerment, such as a sworn translation of the Indenture or other documents related to the granting of powers under New York law, which may result in a delay of the enforcement process.

 

  (xviii)

This legal opinion does not address the taxation for the Preferred Securities deriving from the issue, acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Preferred Securities. In addition, it does not analyze the issues regarding the general tax obligations of the Issuer and the hypothetical liabilities that could arise if those obligations are not fulfilled.

 

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  (xix)

Some of the legal concepts are described in English terms and not in their original terms. Such concepts may not be exactly similar to the concepts described in English terms. This opinion may, therefore, only be relied upon the express condition that any issues of interpretation of Spanish legal concepts arising thereunder will be governed by Spanish law.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, for the purposes of opinions (F), (J) and (K), we have considered that the terms (i) “validly issued” means that (x) the Issuer is validly existing under the laws of Spain, and the Common Shares will be, and the Preferred Securities are, duly authorized; (y) the actions required by Spanish corporation law to approve the issuance of the Common Shares and Preferred Securities will be or have been (respectively) taken; and (z) the Common Shares will be, and the Preferred Securities have been, issued in compliance with the requirements of Spanish law, the Issuer’s By-Laws, and the resolutions approving the issuance of those securities; (ii) “duly authorized” means that the Issuer, under applicable law and its By-Laws, has the power to issue the Common Shares and the Preferred Securities and will take or has taken (respectively) all corporate actions necessary to create that power; and (iii) “fully paid-in” and “fully paid” mean that the consideration received or to be received (respectively) by the Issuer satisfies, in both type and amount, the requirements of Spanish corporation law, the Issuer’s By-Laws, the resolutions approving the issuance, and any other applicable agreement required under Spanish law.

This opinion is being furnished by us, as Spanish counsel to the Issuer, to you as a supporting document in connection with the above referenced Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to us under the caption “Validity of the Securities” contained in the Prospectus Supplement and in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. By so consenting, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ J&A Garrigues S.L.P.

 

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Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO           

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

davispolk.com

September 19, 2023

 

Re:

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Calle Azul, 4

28050 Madrid

Spain

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., a sociedad anónima organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (the “Company”), has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Prospectus Supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Prospectus Supplement relates to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-266391) (the “Registration Statement”) and has been filed in connection with the Company’s offering of the series 12 non-step-up non-cumulative contingent convertible perpetual preferred tier 1 securities (the “Preferred Securities”).

We have examined such matters of fact and law as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering our opinion.

We hereby confirm that our opinion as to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in Preferred Securities to U.S. Holders is set forth in full under the caption “U.S. Tax Considerations” in the Registration Statement, insofar as it relates to contingent convertible preferred securities.

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States. We hereby consent to the use of our name under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” included in the Prospectus Supplement and to the filing, as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, of this letter. In giving such consent we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP


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