DBRS Confirms and Places Ratings Under Review Negative on Notes Issued by FTA SANTANDER EMPRESAS 8

DBRS Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) has today confirmed and placed Under Review with Negative Implications ratings on the Notes issued by F.T.A. SANTANDER EMPRESAS 8:

• EUR 2,089.3 million Series A Notes: AAA (sf)
• EUR 1,435.1 million Series B Notes: B (sf)
• EUR 1,231.4 million Series C Notes: C (sf)

The transaction is a cash flow securitisation collateralised primarily by a portfolio of bank loans originated by Banco de Santander, S.A. (“Banco Santander”) to Spanish enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”). The ratings on Series A Notes addresses the timely payment of interest and ultimate payment of principal on or before the Final Date on 16 April 2052. The ratings on Series B and Series C Notes address an ultimate payment of interest and principal on or before the Final Date on 16 April 2052.

The principal methodology is Master European Granular Securitisations (SME CLOs), which can be found on www.dbrs.com.

The rating action reflects the following analytical considerations:

• The impact of the May 3, 2012 downgrade by DBRS, Inc. of the long term foreign and local currency debt of the Kingdom of Spain to A (high) from AA (low) with trends remaining Negative (see press release “DBRS Downgrades Spain to A (high), Trend Remains Negative”), including the incorporation of a sovereign related stress component related to the A (high) rating on trend Negative.

• The impact of the May 22, 2012 rating action by DBRS, Inc. placing the long term foreign and local currency debt of the Kingdom of Spain Under Review with Negative Implications (see “DBRS Places Spain’s Ratings Under Review with Negative Implications”).

• Heightened concern with respect to the stress certain transaction parties may come under to perform transaction obligations (servicers and collection account banks domiciled in Spain).

• Increased uncertainty surrounding the impact of macroeconomic variables on collateral performance.

For a more detailed discussion of sovereign risk impact on Structured Finance ratings, please refer to DBRS commentary “The Effect of Sovereign Risk on Securitisations in the Euro Area”, located at http://dbrs.com/research/239786.

The sources of information used for the rating include parties involved in the rating, including but not limited to FTA SANTANDER EMPRESAS 8, Santander de Titulización, S.G.F.T., S.A. and Banco Santander. DBRS considers the information available to it for the purposes of providing this rating was of satisfactory quality.

For additional information on DBRS European SME CLOs, please see European Disclosure Requirements, located at http://www.dbrs.com/research/235269.

Ratings assigned by DBRS Ratings Limited are subject to EU regulations only.

Surveillance Analyst: Alfonso Candelas
Lead Analyst: Simon Ross
Rating Committee Chair: Jerry van Koolbergen
Initial Rating Date: 26 January 2011
Most Recent Rating Date: 30 April 2012

Notes:
All figures are in Euros unless otherwise noted.