Document:

Exhibit 10.26

 

KEURIG GREEN MOUNTAIN, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2002 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON OCTOBER 1, 2015

 

1.             IN GENERAL.  The plan set forth herein is an amendment and restatement, effective as to all Accounts remaining unpaid as of October 1, 2015, of the 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan previously established by Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (including any successor, the “Company”).

 

2.             DEFINED TERMS.  As used in the Plan, the following terms have the meanings associated with them below:

 

“Account”: a memorandum account, including any subaccounts, maintained by the Administrator to reflect the Employer’s unfunded deferred compensation obligation to a Participant hereunder.

 

“Administrator”: the Board or, if so determined by the Board, a committee of the Board. The Board or committee of the Board, as the case may be, may delegate any of its duties and responsibilities under the Plan to such persons (including employees) as it determines. In the case of any such delegation, the term “Administrator” shall include, to the extent of such delegation, the person or persons to whom such duties and responsibilities were delegated.

 

“Board”: the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Change in Control”: Subject to (d) below, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of (a), (b) or (c) below:

 

(a) any Person (excluding (i) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan and (ii) Robert Stiller, members of his family and trusts for their benefit) become(s) the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the Board on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (“Person”) has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); provided, that if a Person (subject to the exclusions set forth in (a)(i) and (a)(ii) above) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined above) of 35% or

 

 

more but less than 50% of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the Board on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such Person has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right), no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred by reason thereof under this paragraph (a) if within fifteen (15) days of being advised that such ownership level has been reached, a majority of the “Incumbent Directors” then in office adopt a resolution approving the acquisition of that level of securities ownership by such Person.  As used herein, “Incumbent Directors” means the individuals who, as of October 1, 2015, constituted the Board; provided, that any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to October 1, 2015 and whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors shall be treated as an Incumbent Director unless he or she assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors;

 

(b) there is consummated a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (such event, a “Business Combination”) unless, following such Business Combination, (i) the Persons who were the beneficial owners (as defined in paragraph (a)) of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the Board beneficially own (as so defined), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the equity securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or the equivalent) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the Board, (ii) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any entity or individual described in (a)(i) or (a)(ii) or that would be so described if the resulting entity were substituted for “the Company and its subsidiaries” in (a)(i)) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of the equity securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or the equivalent) of the entity resulting from such Business Combination, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the equivalent) resulting from such Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

(c) the stockholders of the Company approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision of the Plan (including any provision of the Plan as originally in effect or as subsequently amended or restated), no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred prior to June 19, 2014.

 

“Code”: the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

 

“Common Stock”: the common stock of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

 

“Earliest Post-Separation Payment Date”: whichever of the following is relevant in the circumstances: (i) in the case of a Participant who is not a Specified Employee at the date he or she Separates from Service of the Employer, the date of such Separation from Service, and (ii) in the case of a Participant who is a Specified Employee at the date he or she Separates from Service, the date that is six (6) months following the date of such separation.

 

“Earnings Measure”: a measure of notional investment performance, including without limitation a Stock Unit, that produces either a “rate of return on a predetermined actual investment” or a “reasonable rate of interest” as those terms are defined in the Treasury Regulations at Section 31.3121(v)(2)-1(d)(2).

 

“Eligible Person”: an individual who is (i) employed by an Employer, determined by the Administrator to qualify as a “highly compensated or management” employee for purposes of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) OF ERISA, and designated by the Administrator as eligible to participate in the Plan, provided that such designation has not been revoked by the Administrator, or (ii) a member of the Board. A change in an individual’s eligibility status shall not affect any deferral election under Section 3 for which the applicable deferral election deadline had passed prior to such change in status.

 

“Eligible Pay”: except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, (i) in the case of an Eligible Person who is an employee (including an officer) of an Employer, any or all of such Eligible Person’s salary, commissions, and bonuses, and (ii) in the case of an Eligible Person who is a member of the Board and not described in clause (i), any or all of such Eligible Person’s director fees. The amount of an individual’s Eligible Pay for purposes of applying any percentage deferral election shall be determined prior to deferrals under the Plan or under any other program of the Employer. For the avoidance of doubt, any change by the Administrator in amounts included or excluded from an individual’s Eligible Pay shall be effective only as to deferrals for which the applicable deferral election deadline had not passed prior to such change.

 

“Employer”: the Company and its Subsidiaries, or any of them.

 

“ERISA”: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

“Participant”: an Eligible Person who participates in the Plan.

 

“Plan”: the Amended and Restated Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan as set forth herein, as the same may from time to time be amended and in effect.

 

“Stock Unit”: an Earnings Measure consisting of one notional share of Common Stock.

 

 

“Section 409A”: Section 409A of the Code, including the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance.

 

“Separation from Service” (and correlative terms): an individual’s separation from service from the Employer, determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations. The Administrator may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred. Any such written election shall be deemed part of the Plan.

 

“Specified Employee”: an individual who is determined by the Administrator to be or to have been, as of the relevant time, a “specified employee” (as that term is defined at Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations) of the Employer. The Administrator may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining “specified employee” status. Any such written election shall be deemed part of the Plan.

 

“Subsidiary”: any corporation or other trade or business that together with the Company would be treated as a single “employer” for purposes of Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations (applied without regard to any permissible special elections thereunder).

 

“Treasury Regulations”: the Department of the Treasury regulations at 26 CFR (pertaining to the Code).

 

3.     DEFERRAL ELECTION.

 

3.1. In General. Subject to the other requirements of this Section 3, each Eligible Person may elect to defer hereunder a specified portion or percentage of his or her Eligible Pay, if any, for any calendar year. Each such deferral shall be made by the Participant’s delivery to the Administrator of a deferral election on or before the date specified by the Administrator, which date shall in all events (except as provided in Section 3.2 below) be, or fall prior to:

 

(a) in the case of any bonus that qualifies as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(e) of the Treasury Regulations, the date that is six (6) months before the end of the performance period, but only if the Eligible Person has been in continuous employment with the Employer since the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established and only if, on the date of the deferral election, the compensation has not become readily ascertainable (as determined in accordance with Section 1.409A-2(a)(8) of the Treasury Regulations).

 

(b) in every other case, the last day of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the services to which the compensation relates are to be performed.

 

 

Each election made under this Section 3.1 shall become irrevocable in accordance with such rules as the Administrator may establish but not later than the election deadline specified in (a) or (b) above, as applicable; provided, that if the Participant is paid under Section 5.5 on account of an unforeseeable emergency, or makes a hardship withdrawal from the Employer’s 401(k) plan pursuant to Section 1.401(k)-1(d)(3) of the Treasury Regulations, any deferral election then in effect under this Section 3.1 shall forthwith be canceled.

 

3.2. First Year of Participation.

 

(a) Notwithstanding Section 3.1 above, an individual who first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan during the course of a calendar year may elect to defer a specified portion or percentage of his or her Eligible Pay in respect of services to be performed for the remainder of the calendar year or portion thereof by delivering to the Administrator an irrevocable deferral election within thirty (30) days of first becoming eligible. In the case of performance pay for a specified performance period that had begun but had not ended prior to a mid-year election, unless Section 3.1(a) applies the election may apply to no more than the portion of such pay that equals the total amount of such pay multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days remaining in the performance period after the election and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the performance period.

 

(b) An individual who already participates or is eligible to participate in (including, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1.409A-2(a)(7) of the Treasury Regulations, an individual who has any entitlement, vested or unvested, to payments under) any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan that would be required to be aggregated with the Plan for purposes of Section 1.409A-1(c)(2) of the Treasury Regulation shall not be treated as eligible for the mid-year election rules of this Section 3.2 with respect to the Plan, even if he or she had never previously been eligible to participate in the Plan itself.

 

3.3. Limits. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator and subject to such minimum deferral amounts as the Administrator may prescribe, an Eligible Person may elect to defer hereunder (i) up to 50% or less of his or her base salary or commissions (in the case of an employee) or up to 100% or less of his or her fees (in the case of a non-employee director) for any calendar year, plus (ii) up to 100% of any cash incentive pay for the calendar year. Any change by the Administrator in the limits applicable to deferrals under the Plan shall take effect only as to deferrals for which the election deadline has not passed.

 

3.4. Form of Election. Each deferral election shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by or acceptable to the Administrator. Unless the Administrator expressly provides, prior to the applicable election deadline, that a deferral election already in effect will automatically and irrevocably carry over to future deferral periods unless modified or canceled

 

 

prior the applicable election deadline, an Eligible Person must make a new deferral election for each applicable period. To the extent consistent with Section 409A, the Administrator may condition the effectiveness of any election upon the delivery by the Participant of such other form or forms as the Administrator may prescribe.

 

4.     ACCOUNTS; CREDITS. For each Participant, the Administrator shall maintain an Account, which at all times shall be fully vested, reflecting deferrals and notional earnings as hereinafter provided.

 

4.1. Deferral Credits. Each amount deferred by a Participant under Section 3 above shall be credited to the Participant’s Account as of the date it would have been paid absent the deferral.

 

4.2. Notional Earnings. Not less frequently than annually, the Administrator shall adjust (up or down) each Participant’s Account to reflect notional earnings. Notional earnings shall be based on such Earnings Measure or Measures as the Administrator shall specify. The Administrator may, but need not, permit Participants to (i) select the Earnings Measures that will apply to their Accounts from among those specified by the Administrator, and (ii) change such Measures prospectively at any time. The Administrator shall have the absolute discretion at any time to alter or amend the Earnings Measures used in valuing and adjusting Accounts; provided, that the Administrator may not, without the written consent of the affected Participant, alter any Earnings Measure retroactively to the extent that the effect of such alteration would be to reduce the balance of the Participant’s Account below what it was immediately prior to such alteration. Nothing herein shall be construed as obligating the Administrator or any Employer to set aside assets or establish a trust or other fund for purposes of the Plan.

 

4.3. Stock Units.

 

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above but subject to Section 4.3(c) below, an Eligible Person may irrevocably elect at the time of deferral to have a portion or all of the amount so deferred credited as Stock Units.  The Administrator shall use the last sale price for the Common Stock reported on the Nasdaq National Market (or, if the Common Stock is then principally traded on another exchange, the closing price on such exchange), with respect to Eligible Pay in the form of cash, as reported for the last trading day of the month in which the Eligible Pay would otherwise have been paid and, with respect to Eligible Pay in the form of a stock unit grant, the date of such stock unit grant.  Any portion of a Participant’s Account denominated in Stock Units pursuant to this Section 4.3(a): (i) shall be increased, in the event any cash dividend is declared with respect to the Common Stock while such portion of the Account remains unpaid, by additional Stock Units equal in number to the number of shares of Common Stock in which such dividend (had it been payable with respect to Stock Units on the same basis as with respect to shares of Common Stock)

 

 

could have been reinvested on the dividend payment date, using the last sale price for the Common Stock reported on the Nasdaq National Market (or, if the Common Stock is then principally traded on another exchange, the closing price on such exchange) for the payment date (any such Stock Units, the “Dividend Stock Units”), and (ii) shall be payable on the payment date as set forth in Section 5.1 below, as elected by the Participant, as follows: (x) 100% in shares of Common Stock, with one share of Common Stock payable for each Stock Unit, or (y) in an amount of cash equal to 40% of the total value of the Stock Units settled on the payment date, with the remaining 60% balance of Stock Units settled in shares of Common Stock; provided, that in the event of a Change in Control any portion of a Participant’s Account then denominated in Stock Units shall (A) as of the date of the Change in Control, be notionally re-invested (assuming a per-share value equal to the per-share value of the Common Stock immediately prior to the Change in Control) in one or more other Earnings Measures specified by, or elected in accordance with rules prescribed by, the Administrator, and (B) when payable thereafter in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 shall be payable in cash.

 

(b) In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, the Administrator shall appropriately adjust the number of Stock Units, if any, allocated to a Participant’s Account to reflect such event, any such adjustment to be conclusive and binding on all parties.

 

(c) Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3(b) above, a maximum of four hundred and fifty thousand (450,000) shares of Common Stock are available for delivery under the Plan. If the Administrator determines that a deferral into Stock Units pursuant to Section 4.3(a) above could reasonably be expected to result in an issuance of shares of Common Stock in excess of such limit (as the same may from time to time be increased by Plan amendment, subject to shareholder approval to the extent required), the Administrator may reallocate any such deferrals to other Earnings Measures and/or require that a portion or all of affected Participants’ Accounts be distributed in cash.

 

4.4 Certain Taxes. To the extent any amount deferred or credited hereunder to the Account of a Participant is treated as “wages” for FICA/Medicare tax purposes in the year of deferral rather than when distributed, as determined by the Administrator, then the Administrator may (i) require that the Participant timely pay such taxes in cash by separate check to the Employer, or (ii) cause a portion of the Participant’s Account to be distributed equal to the currently owed FICA/Medicare taxes and any income-tax withholding relating to such distribution.

 

5.     PAYMENT OF DEFERRED AMOUNTS. The Participant’s Employer shall make distributions of Account balances as provided in this Section. Except as provided at Section 4.3(a) above, all distributions shall be payable in cash.  With respect to Stock Units credited to the Participant’s

 

 

Account pursuant to Section 4.3(a) above, distributions of such Stock Units shall be payable, as elected by the Participant, as follows: (x) 100% in shares of Common Stock, with one share of Common Stock payable for each Stock Unit or (y) in an amount of cash equal to 40% of the total value of the Stock Units settled on the payment date, with the remaining 60% balance of Stock Units settled in shares of Common Stock.

 

5.1. Time of Distribution. At the time of a Participant’s deferral election under Section 3 above and subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 5, the Participant may elect to receive all or any portion of the amount then being deferred, adjusted for notional earnings as described at Section 4 above, in a single lump sum at or within thirty (30) days following, or in installments commencing at or within thirty (30) days following, a fixed date specified in such election (a “fixed-term deferral”); provided, that if the Participant Separates from Service prior to the date so specified, any amounts subject to the “fixed-term deferral” then remaining to the Participant’s Account shall be distributed in a single lump sum on the Earliest Post-Separation Payment Date following the Participant’s Separation from Service; and further provided, that if the Participant makes no fixed-term designation at the time of his or her deferral election under Section 3 above, the amount so deferred, adjusted for notional earnings as described at Section 4 above, shall be paid in a single lump sum on the Earliest Post-Separation Payment Date following the Participant’s Separation from Service; and further provided, that in the absence of a written election to the contrary that complies with Section 409A, any Dividend Stock Units in the Participant’s Account shall be distributed at the same time and in the same form as the Stock Units to which they relate.

 

5.2. Subsequent Deferrals. At any time prior to the date which precedes by twelve (12) months the date on which a distribution would otherwise commence under Section 5.1 above, the Participant who has elected a fixed-term deferral may irrevocably elect to postpone by a period of not fewer than five (5) years the fixed date (the “new scheduled payment date”) on which payment is to be made or to commence. No such additional deferral election shall take effect until twelve (12) months have elapsed. Any election under this Section 5.2 to postpone a fixed payment date shall not affect the provisions of Section 5.1 relating to earlier payment following a Separation from Service or the provisions of Section 5.4 relating to earlier payment upon death.

 

5.3. Installments. All installment payments shall be paid in annual installments over a period of from 1 to 15 years, as irrevocably elected by the Participant at the time of his or her deferral election. The amount of each installment shall be determined by dividing the Account (or the portion of the Account to which the installment election relates) by the number of installments remaining to be paid. For purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations, a Participant’s entitlement to a series of installments shall be treated as an entitlement to a single payment, and any subsequent deferrals of installment payments shall be governed by Section 5.2 of this Plan.

 

 

5.4. Payments Upon Death; Designation of Beneficiary(ies). If a Participant should die before the complete distribution of his or her Account, the balance of the Account shall be paid as soon as practicable following death (but in all events by the later of the close of the calendar year in which death occurs or, if later, by the fifteenth day of the third month after death occurs) in a single lump sum to the Participant’s beneficiary or beneficiaries designated as hereinafter provided. Each Participant shall designate in writing, on a form acceptable to the Administrator and subject to such conditions as the Administrator shall prescribe (including, in the Administrator’s discretion, spousal consent in the case of married Participants), a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any amounts remaining to be paid hereunder at the Participant’s death; but if no such beneficiary designation is in effect at the time of the Participant’s death, or if the Participant’s beneficiary(ies) do(es) not survive the Participant, the Administrator shall cause any such remaining benefits to be paid to the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate.

 

5.5. Unforeseeable Emergency. If a Participant suffers an unforeseeable emergency (as defined in Section 1.409A-3(i)(3) of the Treasury Regulations) prior to the payment in full of his or her Account, the Participant may apply in writing for an extraordinary distribution under this Section 5.5. If the Administrator in its discretion determines that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred, the Participant’s Employer will pay the Participant an amount equal to the lesser of the following amounts: (i) the then balance of the Participant’s Account; or (ii) the amount determined by the Administrator to be necessary to meet the emergency (including applicable taxes).

 

5.6. Taxes. All distributions under the Plan shall be subject to reduction for applicable tax withholdings.

 

6.     ASSIGNMENT. Each Employer’s obligations under the Plan shall be binding upon its successors and assigns. The rights of Participants and beneficiaries under the Plan are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors of such Participants and beneficiaries. Any attempt by any person other than Participants or their beneficiaries to bring a claim under the Plan shall be null and void.

 

7.     PLAN TO BE UNFUNDED, ETC. The Plan is intended to be a “pension plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is unfunded for ERISA and tax purposes and that qualifies for the exemptions described in ERISA Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1). The Administrator shall be the “plan administrator” of the Plan and shall have discretion to construe its terms and determine each Eligible Person’s or Participant’s eligibility for deferrals or distributions hereunder. The Administrator shall establish, and may from time to time modify, procedures under Section 503 of ERISA for the administration of claims and appeals from any denial of a claim under the Plan.

 

 

Nothing in this Section or in Section 4.2 shall be construed as prohibiting the Employer from establishing and maintaining a “rabbi trust” or similar trust or account in connection with the Plan, so long as the maintenance and funding of such a trust or account does not jeopardize the unfunded status of the Plan under ERISA or effective tax deferral under the Code.

 

8.     NO CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT. By participating in the Plan, each Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) nothing in the Plan or in its operation, including deferrals hereunder, limits the right of the Company or any other Employer to terminate the employment of the Participant at any time, with or without cause, and that (ii) neither the Participant, nor his or her beneficiaries, will claim lost compensation or tax benefits associated with discontinuance of participation in the Plan as damages or as a measure of damages in connection with any termination of employment.

 

9.     AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Administrator may terminate the Plan at any time and may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time, with or without retroactive effect, including without limitation amendments that change the form or timing of distributions; provided, that no such action shall, without the consent of the affected Participant, reduce the balance of any Participant’s Account below what it was immediately prior to the taking of such action. Upon termination of the Plan in general or as to any Participant or group of Participants (including exclusion of any Participant as described in the preceding sentence), payments hereunder shall be accelerated only to the extent permitted by Section 409A.

 

10.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Administrator shall have full power to interpret and administer the Plan and determine the eligibility of any person for benefits hereunder and the amount of any such benefit, in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator shall have full discretionary power and authority, not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan, to select those individuals who may participate in the Plan; to determine their remuneration eligible for deferral under the Plan; to determine their eligibility to commence receipt of benefits (including, without limitation, any determination as to the proper treatment of leaves of absence and other periods when an individual is not actively rendering service to the Employer); to adopt, alter, and repeal such rules, guidelines and procedures for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to prescribe the form of any election under the Plan; and otherwise to supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

11.  MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.1 Waiver of Jury Trial. By electing to participate in the Plan, each Participant (i) waives any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim shall be tried before a court and not before a jury, and

 

 

(ii) certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers.

 

11.2 Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any Subsidiary, or the Administrator, shall be liable to any Participant or to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax, asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A; provided, that nothing in this Section 11.2 shall limit the ability of the Administrator or the Company to provide by separate express written agreement with a Participant for a gross-up payment or other payment in connection with any such tax or additional tax.Exhibit 4.3

 

 

FORM OF
GLOBAL NOTE

 

THIS SUBORDINATED
NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AS THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE SUBORDINATED
INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SUBORDINATED NOTE), OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS
NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO THE BASE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION
3.05 OF THE BASE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
3.09 OF THE BASE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR
WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SUBORDINATED NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM,
THIS SUBORDINATED NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE
OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER 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 GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUED
IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY
(AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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 SUBORDINATED NOTE ARE, TO THE EXTENT AND IN THE MANNER SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.01 OF THE BASE SUBORDINATED
INDENTURE, SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF OTHER CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THIS SUBORDINATED NOTE IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS
OF THAT SECTION 12.01, AND THE HOLDER OF THIS SUBORDINATED NOTE, BY ACCEPTING THE SAME, AGREES TO AND SHALL BE BOUND BY SUCH PROVISIONS.
THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12.01 OF THE BASE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE AND THE TERMS OF THIS PARAGRAPH ARE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL
BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN.

 

    	 

    	 

    

 

CUSIP
No. 80281T AE8

ISIN
No. US80281TAE82

Common
Code: 000132345872

 

 

 

 

SERIES 26
Subordinated NOTE

SANTANDER ISSUANCES, S.A. UNIPERSONAL

 

due
November 2025

 

Guaranteed
by

 

BANCO SANTANDER,
S.A.

 

	No.        	$          

 

 

SANTANDER ISSUANCES, S.A. UNIPERSONAL,
a sociedad anónima unipersonal, incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Spain (herein called the “Company,”
which term includes any successor person under the Subordinated Indenture (as defined on the reverse hereof)), for value received,
hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $                           (                            million dollars) on November 19, 2025
or on such earlier date as the principal hereof may become due in accordance with the terms hereof and to pay interest thereon
semi-annually in arrears on May 19 and November 19 of each year, commencing on May 19, 2016, and ending on November 19, 2025 (each,
a “Payment Date”). Interest so payable on any Payment Date shall be paid to the Holder in whose name this Subordinated
Note is registered on the 15th calendar day immediately preceding the relevant Payment Date, whether or not such day is a Business
Day, as defined in the Subordinated Indenture (each a “Regular Record Date”).

 

Interest
shall accrue on this Subordinated Note from day to day from the date of issuance hereof or from the most recent Payment Date at
the rate of 5.179% per annum, until the principal amount hereof is paid or made available for payment.

 

Payments
of interest on this Subordinated Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year divided into twelve months of 30 days each
and, in the case of an incomplete month, the actual number of days elapsed in such month.

 

Payment of
the principal amount of and any interest on, this Subordinated Note will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds
in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of

 

    2 

     

    

 

public
and private debts. Such payment shall be made to the Holder including through a Paying Agent of the Company for collection by
the Holder. If the date for payment of the principal amount hereof or interest thereon is not a Business Day, then (subject as
provided in the Subordinated Indenture) such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and
effect as if made on such date for payment, provided that no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after
such payment date.

 

The Subordinated
Notes are issuable in minimum denominations of $200,000 and integral multiples thereof.

 

For information
purposes only, without any substantive effect whatsoever and solely in order to comply with Article 413(d) of the Spanish Companies
Law (Ley de Sociedades de Capital), approved by Royal Decree 1/2010, of July 2, to the extent applicable, it is hereby
noted that the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes, i.e., US $1,500,000,000, was equivalent to €1,398,471,005.035,
based on the exchange rate as determined and published by the European Central Bank as of November 12, 2015 of US $1.0726 per
€1.00. Amounts due on the Subordinated Notes shall not under any circumstances whatsoever be payable in any currency other
than U.S. Dollars.

 

Prior to
due presentment of this Subordinated Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent
of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Subordinated Note is registered as the owner
of such Subordinated Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal and interest, if any, on and any Additional Amounts
with respect to such Subordinated Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Subordinated Note be overdue,
and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected
by notice to the contrary.

 

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

 

Unless the
certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this
Subordinated Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Subordinated Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

Notwithstanding
any other term of this Subordinated Note or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any
Holder of the Subordinated Notes, by its acquisition of this Subordinated Note, each Holder (which, for the purposes of this clause,
includes each holder of a beneficial interest in this Subordinated Note) acknowledges, accepts, consents to and agrees to be bound
by:

 

    3 

     

    

 

(a)
the effect of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution authority, which exercise may include and result
in any of the following, or some combination thereof:

 

(i) the reduction
of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on this Subordinated Note;

 

(ii) the
conversion of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on this Subordinated Note into ordinary shares, other securities or other
obligations of the Company, the Guarantor or another person (and the issue to or conferral on the Holder of this Subordinated
Notes of such shares, securities or obligations), including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of
this Subordinated Notes;

 

(iii) the
cancellation of this Subordinated Note;

 

(iv) the
amendment or alteration of the maturity of this Subordinated Note or amendment of the amount of interest payable on this Subordinated
Note, or the date on which the interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and

 

(b) the variation
of the terms of this Subordinated Note, if necessary, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant
resolution authority.

 

For these
purposes, the “Amounts Due” are the principal amount of, premium, if any, together with any accrued but unpaid interest,
and Additional Amounts, if any, due on this Subordinated Note. 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 resolution authority.

 

For these
purposes, the “Spanish Bail-in Power” is any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification, or suspension power existing
from time to time under, and exercised in compliance with, any laws, regulations, rules or requirements in effect in the Kingdom
of Spain, relating to (i) the transposition of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of
credit institutions and investment firms, as amended or superseded from time to time, (“BRRD”), including but not
limited to Law 11/2015, of June 18, for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, as amended from
time to time (“Law 11/2015”), and up to 31 December 2015 (inclusive), Law 9/2012, of 14 November, on restructuring
and resolution of credit institutions, (ii) the Regulation (EU) No. 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
15 July 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 or superseded from time to time (the “SRM Regulation”) and (iii) the instruments, rules and standards created
thereunder, pursuant to which any obligation of a regulated entity (as defined below) (or other affiliate of such regulated entity)
can be reduced, cancelled, modified, or converted into shares, other

 

    4 

     

    

 

securities,
or other obligations of such regulated entity or any other person (or suspended for a temporary period).

 

A reference
to a “regulated entity” is to any entity to which Law 11/2015 applies as provided under article 1.2 of Law 11/2015,
as amended from time to time, which includes, certain credit institutions, investment firms, and certain of their parent or holding
companies.

 

A reference
to the “relevant resolution authority” is to the Spanish Fund for the Orderly Restructuring of Banks (the “FROB”),
the European Single Resolution Mechanism, as the case may be, according to Law 11/2015, and any other entity with the authority
to exercise the Spanish Bail-in Power from time to time.

 

The
public deed of issuance (escritura de emisión)
related to the Subordinated Notes represented hereby was executed on November 13, 2015 before Mr. Miguel Ruiz-Gallardón
García de la Rasilla with the number 5915 of his records.

 

    5 

     

    

 

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

 

Dated: November 19, 2015 

 

	 	SANTANDER ISSUANCES, S.A. UNIPERSONAL
	 	 
	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name:	 
	 	 	Title:	Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Global
Note No.[●] Signature Page]

 

    6 

     

    
 

GUARANTEE
OF BANCO SANTANDER, S.A.

 

This Guarantee
is made on November 19, 2015 by BANCO SANTANDER, S.A. (herein called the “Guarantor,” which term includes any successor
person under the Indenture (as defined on the reverse hereof)) in favor of the Holder of the Subordinated Debt Security upon which
this Guarantee is endorsed (“this Subordinated Note”). This Guarantee is issued subject to the provisions of the Base
Subordinated Indenture dated November 19, 2015 among Santander Issuances, S.A. Unipersonal, the Guarantor and The Bank of New
York Mellon, as Trustee, as supplemented from time to time (the “Base Subordinated Indenture”) as supplemented by
the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (the “First
Supplemental Indenture”, and, together with the Base Subordinated Indenture, the “Subordinated Indenture”),
and each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions.

 

The Guarantor
hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees (the “Guarantee”) to each Holder of this Subordinated Note
and to the Trustee on behalf of each such Holder, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any interest on, and any Additional
Amounts with respect to such Subordinated Note and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund payments (if any) provided
for pursuant to the terms of such Subordinated Note and any and all amounts of whatever nature which may become payable under
any of the foregoing or under the Subordinated Indenture (including but not limited to, the fees, expenses and indemnities of
the Trustee), including as may be modified pursuant to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power under Article 14 of the Base
Subordinated Indenture, and as and when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption,
repayment or otherwise, in accordance with the terms this Subordinated Note and of the Subordinated Indenture, the Guarantor will
pay to such Holder, or to the Trustee for the account of such Holder, on demand the amount payable by the Company to such Holder.
In case of the failure of the Company punctually to pay any such principal, interest, Additional Amounts or sinking fund payment
and any and all amounts under the Subordinated Indenture, (including but not limited to, the fees, expenses and indemnities of
the Trustee) the Guarantor hereby agrees to pay, or cause any such payment to be made, punctually when and as the same shall become
due and payable, whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption, repayment or otherwise, and as if such payment were made
by the Company in accordance with the terms of such Subordinated Note and of the Subordinated Indenture.

 

Unless otherwise
defined herein, all terms used in this Guarantee which are defined in the Subordinated Indenture shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Subordinated Indenture.

 

    7 

     

    

 

IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed.

 

Dated: November 19, 2015

 

	 	Executed by BANCO SANTANDER, S.A.
	 	 
	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name:	 
	 	 	Title:	 

 

    8 

     

    

 

CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one
of the Subordinated Notes of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Subordinated Indenture.

 

Dated: November 19, 2015

 

	 	THE
BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

        as
Trustee

	 	 
	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Authorized
Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Global
Note No. [●] Signature Page]

 

    9 

     

    

 

[REVERSE
OF SECURITY]

 

This Subordinated
Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Subordinated Notes”) issued
and to be issued in one or more series under a Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2015 (herein called
the “Base Subordinated Indenture”), among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantor, as guarantor, and The Bank of New
York Mellon acting through its London Branch, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor
trustee under the Base Subordinated Indenture), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 19,
2015, among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture”, and, together with the
Base Subordinated Indenture, the “Subordinated Indenture”) to which Subordinated Indenture and all indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder
of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Subordinated Notes and of the terms upon which the Subordinated
Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

 

This Subordinated
Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $1,500,000,000; provided,
that the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Subordinated Notes, issue additional Subordinated
Notes of one or more of the series of Subordinated Notes issued under the Base Subordinated Indenture, guaranteed by the Guarantor,
having the same ranking and same interest rate, maturity, redemption terms and other terms, except for the price to the public,
original interest accrual date, issue date and first Interest Payment Date, as the Subordinated Notes; provided, however,
that such additional Subordinated Notes will not have the same CUSIP, ISIN or other identifying number as the outstanding Subordinated
Notes unless the additional Subordinated Notes are fungible with the Subordinated Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Any such additional Subordinated Notes, together with the Subordinated Notes, will constitute a single series of Subordinated
Notes under the Subordinated Indenture and shall be included in the definition of “Subordinated Debt Securities” in
the Base Subordinated Indenture where the context requires.

 

The
Subordinated Notes constitute direct, unconditional, subordinated and unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and,
upon the insolvency of the Company (and unless they qualify as more subordinated claims pursuant to the Spanish Insolvency Law
or equivalent legal provisions which replace them in the future, and subject to any applicable legal and statutory exceptions)
rank, under Article 92.2 of the Spanish Insolvency Law (or equivalent legal provisions which replace, substitute or amend it in
the future) pari passu without preference or priority among themselves and: 

 

(i)     senior
to (1) those contractually subordinated obligations of principal related to instruments qualifying as Tier 1 Capital of the Guarantor,
(2) those subordinated obligations which qualify as more subordinated claims pursuant to Articles

 

    10 

     

    

 

92.3
to 92.7 of the Spanish Insolvency Law or equivalent legal provisions which replace them in the future and (3) any other subordinated
obligations which by law or their terms, and to the extent permitted by Spanish law, rank junior to the Subordinated Notes;

 

(ii)     pari
passu with all of the Company’s other contractually subordinated obligations of principal related to instruments qualifying
as Tier 2 Capital of the Guarantor; and

 

(iii)    junior
to any non-subordinated obligations of the Company, any Senior Subordinated Obligations and any claim on the Company that becomes
subordinated as a consequence of article 92.1o of the Spanish Insolvency Law.

 

“Senior
Subordinated Obligations” means any subordinated obligations of the Company which by law and/or their terms, and to the
extent permitted by Spanish law (including contractually subordinated obligations of principal related to instruments not qualifying
as Tier 2 Capital or Tier 1 Capital of the Guarantor), rank senior to the Subordinated Notes.

 

The rights
of the Holders of the Subordinated Notes of this series are, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Section 12.01 of the
Base Subordinated Indenture, subordinated to the claims of all Senior Creditors of the Company, and this series of Subordinated
Notes is issued subject to the provisions of that Section 12.01, and the Holders of this series of Subordinated Notes, by accepting
the same, agree to and shall be bound by such provisions. The provisions of Section 12.01 of the Base Subordinated Indenture and
the terms of this paragraph are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of Spain.

 

The Company
agrees with respect to the Subordinated Notes and each Holder of Subordinated Notes, by his or her acquisition of such Subordinated
Note is deemed to have agreed to the subordination as described in Section 12.01 of the Base Subordinated Indenture. Each such
Holder is 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 this Subordinated Note. In addition,
each Holder by his or her acquisition of this Subordinated Note 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 this Subordinated Note as provided in the
Subordinated Indenture and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

If any of
the following events occurs and is continuing with respect to the Subordinated Notes it shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

(i)      Non-payment:
default is made in the payment of any interest or principal due in respect of the Subordinated Notes or any of them and such default
continues for a period of seven days (or such other period as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Base Subordinated
Indenture).

 

    11 

     

    

 

(ii)     Winding
up: any order is made by any competent court or resolution passed for the winding up or dissolution of the Company or the
Guarantor (except in any such case for the purpose of reconstruction or a merger or amalgamation which has been previously approved
by the Holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Notes or a merger with another institution
in this case even without being approved by Holders of the Subordinated Notes of this series, provided that any entity that survives
or is created as a result of such merger is given a rating by an internationally recognized rating agency at least equal to the
then current rating of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, at the time of such merger).

 

If an Event
of Default occurs as set forth in paragraph (i) above with respect to the Subordinated Notes of this series, then the Trustee
or the Holders of at least 25% in outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Notes of this series may institute proceedings
for the winding up or dissolution of the Company or the Guarantor but may take no further action in respect of such default.

 

If an Event
of Default occurs as set forth in paragraph (ii) above, then the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in outstanding principal
amount of the Subordinated Notes of this series may declare such Subordinated Notes of this series immediately due and payable
whereupon the Subordinated Notes of this series shall, when permitted by applicable Spanish insolvency law, become immediately
due and payable at their Early Termination Amount together with all interest (if any) accrued thereon.

 

Without prejudice
to paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated
Notes of this series may at their discretion and without further notice, institute such proceedings against the Company or the
Guarantor as they may think fit to enforce any obligation, condition or provision binding on the Company or the Guarantor under
the Subordinated Notes of this series, provided that, except as provided in (ii) winding-up above, neither the Company nor the
Guarantor shall as a consequence of such proceedings be obliged to pay any sum or sums representing or measured by reference to
principal or interest in respect of the Subordinated Notes of this series sooner than the same would otherwise have been payable
by it or any damages.

 

If an Event
of Default with respect to the Subordinated Notes of this series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed
to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of the Subordinated Notes of this series by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement
of any covenant or agreement in the Subordinated Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted therein, or to enforce
any other proper remedy, including the institution of proceedings in Spain (but not elsewhere) for the winding-up of the Company
or the Guarantor, provided that, except as provided in (ii), neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall as a consequence of such
proceedings be obliged to pay any sum or sums representing or measured by reference to principal or interest in respect of the
Subordinated Notes of this series sooner than the same would otherwise have been payable by it or any damages.

 

    12 

     

    

 

The Holders
of Subordinated Notes by their acceptance thereof will be deemed to have waived any right of set-off or counterclaim or combination
of accounts with respect to the Subordinated Notes or the Subordinated Indenture (or between the obligations under or in respect
of any Subordinated Notes and any liability owed by a Holder to the Company) that they might otherwise have against the Company
or the Guarantor, whether before or during a winding up of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding
the foregoing, failure to make any payment in respect of this series of Subordinated Notes, including under the Guarantee thereon,
shall not be an Event of Default in respect of the Subordinated Notes or Guarantee, as applicable, if such payment is withheld
or refused and the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, deliver an Opinion of Counsel concluding that such sums were not paid
in order to comply with any fiscal or other law or regulation or with the order of any court of competent jurisdiction, provided,
however, that the Trustee may by notice to the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, require the Company or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, to take such action (including but not limited to proceedings for a declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction)
as the Trustee may be advised in an Opinion of Counsel, upon which opinion the Trustee may conclusively rely, is appropriate and
reasonable in the circumstances to resolve such doubt, in which case the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall forthwith
take and expeditiously proceed with such action and shall be bound by any final resolution of the doubt resulting therefrom. If
any such action results in a determination that the relevant payment can be made without violating any applicable law, regulation
or order then the provisions of the preceding sentence shall cease to have effect and the payment shall become due and payable
on the expiration of 14 days or seven days after the Trustee gives written notice to the Company or the Guarantor, as applicable,
informing it of such resolution.

 

No remedy
against the Company other than as referred to in Article 5 of the Base Subordinated Indenture shall be available to the Holders,
whether for the recovery of amounts owing in respect of the Subordinated Notes or under the Base Subordinated Indenture or in
respect of any breach by the Company of any of its other obligations under or in respect of the Subordinated Notes or under the
Base Subordinated Indenture, except that the Holders shall have such rights and powers as they are required to have under the
Trust Indenture Act.

 

All amounts
payable (whether in respect of principal, redemption amount, interest or otherwise) in respect of the Subordinated Notes and the
related Guarantee 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 the Kingdom 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. In that event, the Company or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt
by the Holders of the Subordinated Notes of such amounts as would have been received by them had no such withholding or deduction
been required. 

 

    13 

     

    

 

Neither the
Company nor the Guarantor shall be required to pay any Additional Amounts in respect of any Subordinated Notes:

 

(i)      to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder if the Holder or the beneficial owner of Subordinated Notes is liable for such taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges in respect of such Subordinated Notes by reason of his having some connection with
Spain other than the mere holding of a Subordinated Note; or

 

(ii)     to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder in respect of whose series of Subordinated Notes the Company or the Guarantor does
not receive such information as may be required in order to comply with the applicable Spanish tax reporting obligations, including
but not limited to the receipt in a timely manner of a duly executed and completed certificate in accordance with Law 10/2014
and Royal Decree 1065/2007, as amended, and any implementing legislation or regulation; or

 

(iii)    to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder of Subordinated Notes if the Holder or beneficial owner failed to make any necessary
claim or 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,
treaty, regulation or administrative practice of Spain as a condition to relief or exemption from such taxes;

 

(iv)    presented
for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the Relevant Date, except to the extent that the relevant
Holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting the same for payment on the expiry of such period of
30 days; or

 

(v)     where
the withholding or deduction is imposed pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any Directive amending, supplementing
or replacing such Directive or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or

 

(vi)    presented
for payment (where presentation is required) by or on behalf of a Holder who would have been able to avoid such withholding or
deduction by presenting the relevant Subordinated Note to another paying agent in a Member State of the European Union; or

 

(vii)   to,
or to a third party on behalf of, individuals resident for tax purposes in the Kingdom of Spain; or

 

(viii)  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 Subordinated Notes do not comply with exemption requirements specified in the Reply to a Consultation of the
Directorate General for Taxation (Dirección General de Tributos) dated 27 July 2004 and require a withholding to
be made; or

 

(ix)     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

 

    14 

     

    

 

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 implementing an intergovernmental agreement or any regulations or official interpretations relating thereto;
or

 

(x)      in
the case of any combination of items listed in (i) through (ix) above.

 

Additional
Amounts will also not be paid with respect to any payment to a Holder who is a fiduciary, a partnership, a limited liability company
or person other than the sole beneficial owner of that payment, to the extent that payment would be required by the laws of Spain
(or any political subdivision thereof) to be included in the income, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect
to the fiduciary, a member of that partnership, an interest holder in that limited liability company or a beneficial owner who
would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had it been the Holder.

 

For the purposes
of (iv) above, the “Relevant Date” means, in respect of any payment, the date on which such payment first becomes
due and payable, but if the full amount of the moneys payable has not been received by the Trustee on or prior to such due date,
it means the first date on which, the full amount of such moneys having been so received and being available for payment to Holders
of Subordinated Notes, notice to that effect shall have been duly given to the Holders of such Subordinated Notes in accordance
with Section 1.06 of the Base Subordinated Indenture.

 

Unless the
context requires otherwise, any references in the Subordinated Indenture to payment of principal of or interest on a Subordinated
Note shall be deemed to include any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto.

 

The Subordinated
Notes may not be redeemed except in the following two circumstances as set forth below. The Subordinated Notes may not be redeemed
in whole or in part at the option of the Holder thereof.

 

If (i) as
a result of any change in the laws or regulations of Spain or of any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency
therein or thereof having power to tax or in the interpretation or administration of any such laws or regulations which becomes
effective on or after the date of issue of the first issued Subordinated Notes of this series the Company or the Guarantor shall
determine that (a) the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, would be required to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section
10.04 of the Base Subordinated Indenture or (b) the Company would not be entitled to claim a deduction in computing tax liabilities
in Spain in respect of any interest to be paid on the next interest payment date on this series of Subordinated Notes or the value
of such deduction to the Company would be materially reduced or (c) the applicable tax treatment of the Subordinated Notes of
this series changes and (ii) such circumstances are evidenced by the delivery by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may
be, to the trustee of a certificate signed by two directors of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that
such circumstances prevail and describing the facts leading thereto, an opinion of independent legal advisers of recognized standing
to

 

    15 

     

    

 

the
effect that such circumstances prevail and a copy of the Regulator’s consent to the redemption, the Company may, at its
option and having given no less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Holders of the Subordinated Notes of this series
in accordance with Section 11.04 of the Base Subordinated Indenture (which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem in whole, but
not in part, the outstanding Subordinated Notes of this series (in accordance with the requirements of Applicable Banking Regulations
in force at the relevant time) at their early tax redemption amount (the “Early Redemption Amount (Tax)”) (which shall
be their principal amount, together with accrued interest (if any) thereon; provided, however, that (i) in the case of (a) above,
no such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Subordinated Notes of this
series then due and (ii) redemption for taxation reasons may only take place in accordance with Applicable Banking Regulations
in force at the relevant time and is subject to the prior consent of the Regulator with respect to the Subordinated Notes of this
series.

 

If (i) there
is a change in Spanish law, Applicable Banking Regulations or any change in the application or official interpretation thereof
that the Company or the Guarantor determines results or is likely to result in the entire outstanding aggregate principal amount
of Subordinated Notes of this series ceasing to be included in, or counting towards, the Guarantor’s and/or the Group’s
Tier 2 Capital and (ii) such circumstances are evidenced by the delivery by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
to the trustee of a certificate signed by two directors of the Guarantor stating that the said circumstances prevail and describing
the facts leading thereto and a copy of the Regulator’s consent to the redemption, the Company may, at its option and having
given no less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice to the Holders of the Subordinated Notes of this series in accordance
with Section 11.04 of the Base Subordinated Indenture (which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem in whole but not in part the
outstanding Subordinated Notes of this series in accordance with the requirements of Applicable Banking Regulations in force at
the relevant time, at their early capital disqualification event redemption amount (the “Early Redemption Amount (Capital
Disqualification Event)”), which shall be their principal amount, together with accrued interest (if any) thereon; provided,
however, that the Regulator consents to redemption of the Subordinated Notes of this series.

 

Redemption
for regulatory reasons is subject to the prior consent of the Regulator and may only take place in accordance with Applicable
Banking Regulations in force at the relevant time.

 

Upon
payment of (i) the amount of principal
so declared due and payable; (ii) accrued and unpaid interest; and (iii) Additional Amounts (if any), all of the Company’s
obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Notes of this
series shall terminate.

 

Notwithstanding
any other term of this Subordinated Note or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any
Holder of this Subordinated Note, by its acquisition of this Subordinated Note, each Holder (which,

 

    16 

     

    

 

for
the purposes of this clause, includes each holder of a beneficial interest in this Subordinated Note) acknowledges, accepts, consents
to and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a) the effect
of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution authority, which exercise may include and result in any
of the following, or some combination thereof:

 

(i) the reduction
of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on this Subordinated Note;

 

(ii) the
conversion of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due on this Subordinated Note into ordinary shares, other securities or other
obligations of the Company, the Guarantor or another person (and the issue to or conferral on the holder of this Subordinated
Note of such shares, securities or obligations), including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of
this Subordinated Note;

 

(iii) the
cancellation of this Subordinated Note;

 

(iv) the
amendment or alteration of the maturity of this Subordinated Note or amendment of the amount of interest payable on this Subordinated
Note, or the date on which the interest becomes payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and

 

(b) the variation
of the terms of this Subordinated Note, if necessary, to give effect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant
resolution authority.

 

For these
purposes, the “Amounts Due” are the principal amount of, premium, if any, together with any accrued but unpaid interest,
and Additional Amounts, if any, due on this Subordinated Note. 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 resolution authority.

 

For these
purposes, the “Spanish Bail-in Power” is any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification, or suspension power existing
from time to time under, and exercised in compliance with, any laws, regulations, rules or requirements in effect in the Kingdom
of Spain, relating to (i) the transposition of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of
credit institutions and investment firms, as amended or superseded from time to time, (“BRRD”), including but not
limited to Law 11/2015, of June 18, for the recovery and resolution of credit entities and investment firms, as amended from time
to time (“Law 11/2015”), and up to 31 December 2015 (inclusive), Law 9/2012, of 14 November, on restructuring and
resolution of credit institutions, (ii) the Regulation (EU) No. 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July
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 or superseded from time to time (the “SRM Regulation”) and (iii) the instruments, rules and standards created
thereunder, pursuant to which any obligation of a regulated entity (as defined below) (or other affiliate of such

 

    17 

     

    

 

regulated
entity) can be reduced, cancelled, modified, or converted into shares, other securities, or other obligations of such regulated
entity or any other person (or suspended for a temporary period).

 

A reference
to a “regulated entity” is to any entity to which Law 11/2015 applies as provided under article 1.2 of Law 11/2015,
as amended from time to time, which includes, certain credit institutions, investment firms, and certain of their parent or holding
companies.

 

A reference
to the “relevant resolution authority” is to the Spanish Fund for the Orderly Restructuring of Banks (the “FROB”),
the European Single Resolution Mechanism, as the case may be, according to Law 11/2015, and any other entity with the authority
to exercise the Spanish Bail-in Power from time to time.

 

No repayment
or payment of Amounts Due on this Subordinated Note, will become due and payable or be paid after the exercise of any Spanish
Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution authority if and to the extent such amounts have been reduced, converted, cancelled,
amended or altered as a result of such exercise.

 

Neither a
reduction or cancellation, in part or in full of the Amounts Due on, the conversion thereof into another security or obligation
of the Company, the Guarantor or another person, as a result of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution
authority with respect to the Company or the Guarantor, nor the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution
authority with respect to this Subordinated Note will be an Event of Default.

 

Upon the
exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution authority with respect to this Subordinated Note, the Company
or the Guarantor will provide a written notice to the Holders of this Subordinated Note through DTC as soon as practicable regarding
such exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power. The Company or the Guarantor will also deliver a copy of such notice to the trustee
for information purposes.

 

By its acquisition
of this Subordinated Note, each Holder of this Subordinated Note, (which, for the purposes of this clause, includes each Holder
of a beneficial interest in this Subordinated Note), to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (“Trust
Indenture Act”), will waive any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee for, agree not to initiate
a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agree that the Trustee will 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 resolution
authority with respect to this Subordinated Note.

 

Additionally,
by its acquisition of this Subordinated Note, each Holder of this Subordinated Note acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise
of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution authority:

 

(i) the Trustee
will not be required to take any further directions from the Holders of this Subordinated Note with respect to any portion of
this Subordinated Note that is written-down, converted to equity and/or cancelled under the Subordinated Indenture,

 

    18 

     

    

 

which
authorizes Holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Notes to direct certain actions
relating to the Subordinated Notes; and

 

(ii) the
Subordinated Indenture will not impose any duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in
Power by the relevant resolution authority;

 

provided,
however, that notwithstanding the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by the relevant resolution authority, so long as the Subordinated
Notes remain outstanding, there will at all times be a trustee for the Subordinated Notes in accordance with the Subordinated
Indenture, and the resignation and/or removal of the trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee will continue to be governed
by the Subordinated Indenture, including to the extent no additional supplemental indenture or amendment is agreed upon in the
event the Subordinated Notes remain outstanding following the completion of the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power.

 

By its acquisition
of this Subordinated Note, each Holder of the Subordinated Notes acknowledges and agrees that neither a cancellation or deemed
cancellation of the principal or interest (in each case, in whole or in part), nor the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power by
the relevant resolution authority with respect to the Subordinated Notes will give rise to a default for purposes of Section 315(b)
(Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

By purchasing
this Subordinated Note, each Holder (including each beneficial owner) of this Subordinated Note shall be deemed to have authorized,
directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds this Subordinated Note
to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of the Spanish Bail-in Power with respect to this
Subordinated Note as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such Holder.

 

Notwithstanding
any other term of this Subordinated Note or any other agreements, arrangements, or understandings between the Company and any
Holder of this Subordinated Note, by its acquisition of this Subordinated Note, each Holder (which, for the purposes of this clause,
includes each holder of a beneficial interest in this Subordinated Note) acknowledges, accepts, consents and agrees to be bound
by the effect of the exercise of any resolution tools (including but not limited to the sale of business tool, the bridge institution
tool and the asset separation tool) by the relevant resolution authority in compliance with, any laws, regulations, rules or requirements
in effect in the Kingdom of Spain, relating to (i) the transposition of BRRD, including but not limited to Law 11/2015, (ii) the
SRM Regulation and (iii) the instruments, rules and standards created thereunder.

 

By its acquisition
of this Subordinated Note, each Holder of this Subordinated Note, (which, for the purposes of this clause, includes each holder
of a beneficial interest in this Subordinated Note), to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, will waive any and all
claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee for, agree not to initiate a

 

    19 

     

    

 

suit
against the trustee in respect of, and agree that the Trustee will not be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains
from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of any resolution power by the relevant resolution authority.

 

Additionally,
by its acquisition of this Subordinated Note, each Holder of this Subordinated Note acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise
of any resolution power by the relevant resolution authority, the Subordinated Indenture will not impose any duties upon the Trustee
whatsoever with respect to the exercise of any resolution tool by the relevant resolution authority (including no duty whatsoever
to take any directions from the Holders of the securities of such series); provided, however, that notwithstanding the exercise
of any resolution tool by the relevant resolution authority, so long as the Subordinated Notes remain outstanding, there will
at all times be a trustee for the Subordinated Notes in accordance with the Subordinated Indenture, and the resignation and/or
removal of the trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee will continue to be governed by the Subordinated Indenture,
including to the extent no additional supplemental indenture or amendment is agreed upon in the event the Subordinated Notes remain
outstanding following the completion of the exercise of the resolution tool.

 

By its acquisition
of the Subordinated Notes, each Holder (including each beneficial owner) of the Subordinated Notes shall be deemed to have authorized,
directed and requested DTC and any direct participant in DTC or other intermediary through which it holds the Subordinated Notes
to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any resolution tool with respect to the Subordinated
Notes as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction on the part of such Holder.

 

The Subordinated
Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations
of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Subordinated Notes to be affected thereby by the Company and the Trustee with
the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Subordinated Notes at the time outstanding.
The Subordinated Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Subordinated Notes, on behalf of the Holders of all Subordinated Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Subordinated Indenture and certain past defaults under the Subordinated Indenture and their consequences. Any
such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Subordinated Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Subordinated Note and of any Subordinated Note issued in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation
of such consent or waiver is made upon this Subordinated Note.

 

No
reference herein to the Subordinated
Indenture and no provision of this Subordinated Note or of the Subordinated
Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay, if and when due and
payable, the principal of and interest on, this Subordinated Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.

 

    20 

     

    

 

As set forth
in, and subject to, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture, no Holder of any Subordinated Note of this series shall have
any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Subordinated Indenture, or for the appointment
of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder fulfills the requirements of Section 5.07 under
the Base Subordinated Indenture.

 

No
reference herein to the Subordinated
Indenture and no provision of this Subordinated Note or of the Subordinated
Indenture shall alter or impair the right of the Holder of this Subordinated Note, which
is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on, this Subordinated Note when due and payable
in accordance with the provisions of this Subordinated Note and the Subordinated
Indenture.

 

The Base
Subordinated Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Subordinated Notes and the Guarantee shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that (i) the authorization and execution by the Company of the First
Supplemental Indenture and the Subordinated Notes and the Guarantor of the First Supplemental Indenture and the Guarantee shall
be governed by (in addition to the laws of the State of New York relevant to execution) the respective jurisdictions of the Company,
the Guarantor and the Trustee, as the case may be and (ii) the subordination provisions in respect of the Subordinated Notes and
the Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom of Spain.

 

The Subordinated
Notes and this Global Note shall have been issued in the State of New York.

 

Unless
otherwise defined herein, all terms used in this Subordinated Note which are defined in the Subordinated
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Subordinated
Indenture.

 

 

 

    21

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