Statement
Madrid, 14 May 2024
- We recently became aware of an unauthorized
access to a Santander database hosted by a third-party provider. We
immediately implemented measures to contain the incident, including
blocking the compromised access to the database and establishing
additional fraud prevention controls to protect affected
customers.
Following an investigation, we have
now confirmed that certain information relating to customers of
Santander Chile, Spain and Uruguay, as well as all current and some
former Santander employees of the group had been accessed. Customer
data in all other Santander markets and businesses are not
affected.
No transactional data, nor any
credentials that would allow transactions to take place on accounts
are contained in the database, including online banking details and
passwords. The bank's operations and systems are not affected, so
customers can continue to transact securely.
We apologise for the concern this
will understandably cause and are proactively contacting affected
customers and employees directly. We have also notified regulators
and law enforcement and will continue to work closely with
them.
Important
information
Non-IFRS and alternative performance
measures
This document contains financial
information prepared according to International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) and taken from our consolidated financial
statements, as well as alternative performance measures (APMs) as
defined in the Guidelines on Alternative Performance Measures
issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on 5
October 2015, and other non-IFRS measures. The APMs and non-IFRS
measures were calculated with information from Grupo Santander;
however, they are neither defined or detailed in the applicable
financial reporting framework nor audited or reviewed by our
auditors. We use these APMs and non-IFRS measures when planning,
monitoring and evaluating our performance. We consider them to be
useful metrics for our management and investors to compare
operating performance between periods. APMs we use are presented
unless otherwise specified on a constant FX basis, which is
computed by adjusting comparative period reported data for the
effects of foreign currency translation differences, which distort
period-on-period comparisons. Nonetheless, the APMs and non-IFRS
measures are supplemental information; their purpose is not to
substitute IFRS measures. Furthermore, companies in our industry
and others may calculate or use APMs and non-IFRS measures
differently, thus making them less useful for comparison purposes.
APMs using ESG labels have not been calculated in accordance with
the Taxonomy Regulation or with the indicators for principal
adverse impact in SFDR. For further details on APMs and Non-IFRS
Measures, including their definition or a reconciliation between
any applicable management indicators and the financial data
presented in the consolidated financial statements prepared under
IFRS, please see the 2023 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on 21 February
2024 (https://www.santander.com/content/dam/santander-com/en/documentos/informacion-sobre-resultados-semestrales-y-anuales-suministrada-a-la-sec/2024/sec-2023-annual-20-f-2023-en.pdf),
as well as the section "Alternative performance measures" of
Banco Santander, S.A. (Santander) Q1 2024 Financial Report,
published on 30 April 2024 (https://www.santander.com/en/shareholders-and-investors/financial-and-economic-information#quarterly-results).
Underlying measures, which are included in this document, are
non-IFRS measures.
The businesses included in each of
our geographic segments and the accounting principles under which
their results are presented here may differ from the businesses
included and local applicable accounting principles of our public
subsidiaries in such geographies. Accordingly, the results of
operations and trends shown for our geographic segments may differ
materially from those of such subsidiaries.
Forward-looking statements
Santander hereby warns that this
document contains "forward-looking statements" as per the meaning
of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements can be understood through words and expressions like
"expect", "project", "anticipate", "should", "intend",
"probability", "risk", "VaR", "RoRAC", "RoRWA", "TNAV", "target",
"goal", "objective", "estimate", "future", "commitment", "commit",
"focus", "pledge" and similar expressions. They include (but are
not limited to) statements on future business development,
shareholder remuneration policy and NFI.
While these forward-looking
statements represent our judgement and future expectations
concerning our business developments and results may differ
materially from those anticipated, expected, projected or assumed
in forward-looking statements.
In particular, forward looking
statements are based on current expectations and future estimates
about Santander's and third-parties' operations and businesses and
address matters that are uncertain to varying degrees and may
change, including, but not limited to (a) expectations, targets,
objectives, strategies and goals relating to environmental, social,
safety and governance performance, including expectations regarding
future execution of Santander's and third-parties' (including
governments and other public actors) energy and climate strategies,
and the underlying assumptions and estimated impacts on Santander's
and third-parties' businesses related thereto; (b) Santander's and
third-parties' approach, plans and expectations in relation to
carbon use and targeted reductions of emissions, which may be
affected by conflicting interests such as energy security; (c)
changes in operations or investments under existing or future
environmental laws and regulations; (d) changes in rules and
regulations, regulatory requirements and internal policies,
including those related to climate-related initiatives; (e) our own
decisions and actions including those affecting or changing our
practices, operations, priorities, strategies, policies or
procedures; and (f) the uncertainty over the scope of actions that
may be required by us, governments and others to achieve goals
relating to climate, environmental and social matters, as well as
the evolving nature of underlying science and industry and
governmental standards and regulations.
In addition, the important factors
described in this document and other risk factors, uncertainties or
contingencies detailed in our most recent Form 20-F and subsequent
6-Ks filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, as well as other unknown
or unpredictable factors, could affect our future development and
results and could lead to outcomes materially different from what
our forward-looking statements anticipate, expect, project or
assume.
Forward-looking statements are
therefore aspirational, should be regarded as indicative,
preliminary and for illustrative purposes only, speak only as of
the date of this document, are informed by the knowledge,
information and views available on such date and are subject to
change without notice. Santander is not required to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, regardless of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable law. Santander does not accept any liability in
connection with forward-looking statements except where such
liability cannot be limited under overriding provisions of
applicable law.
Not
a securities offer
This document and the information it
contains does not constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities.
Past performance does not indicate future
outcomes
Statements about historical
performance or growth rates must not be construed as suggesting
that future performance, share price or results (including earnings
per share) will necessarily be the same or higher than in a
previous period. Nothing in this document should be taken as a
profit and loss forecast.