Waiver to launch tender offer for Metrovacesa

Following our communication of last 4th July 2011, Banco Santander, S.A. ("Banco Santander") hereby announces that the Board of Directors of the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores) resolved today to exempt Banco Santander from the obligation to launch a public tender offer over 100% of the voting share capital of Metrovacesa, S.A. within the framework of the share capital increase approved by the Annual General Meeting of the latter company held on 28th June 2011.

Boadilla del Monte (Madrid), 6th July 2011