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HSBC HOLDINGS PLC PUBLICATION OF RIGHTS ISSUE PROSPECTUS AND CURRENT TRADING UPDATE
London, UK - 17 March, 2009 - HSBC Holdings Plc today announced that the prospectus, dated 17 March 2009 (the Prospectus), relating to a 5 for 12 rights issue (the Rights Issue) of 5,060,239,065 New Ordinary Shares at a price of 254 pence per New Ordinary Share for Qualifying Shareholders on the principal register in the United Kingdom, HK$28.00 per New Ordinary Share for Qualifying Shareholders on the Hong Kong branch register and US$3.61 per New Ordinary Share for Qualifying Shareholders on the Bermuda branch register by HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) will shortly be available for inspection at the Document Viewing Facility at the Financial Services Authority, 25 North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HS. The Prospectus has also been registered today with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong.
To view the full document, please paste the following URL into the address bar of your browser: http://www.hsbc.com/prospectus
It is expected that Provisional Allotment Letters in relation to the New Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Rights Issue will be posted to Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders, Qualifying Non-CCASS Shareholders and Qualifying Bermuda Shareholders on 19 March.
Unless otherwise defined in this announcement, capitalised terms shall have the meaning given to them in the Prospectus.
Current Trading Update
On 2 March 2009, HSBC published its 2008 Annual Report and Accounts. Business performance in January was strong and ahead of HSBC's expectations; and in February was in line with HSBC's expectations.
Shareholders in India
Following a number of requests from Shareholders and further advice from its legal advisers in India, HSBC has decided to take the necessary steps to allow Shareholders in India to participate in the Rights Issue. Accordingly, the Prospectus will be filed in India and India is no longer an Excluded Territory for the purposes of the Rights Issue and the Prospectus will also be made available to Shareholders in India.
By Order of the Board
R G Barber
Group Company Secretary
For further information please contact:
HSBC Holdings plc:
London: Hong Kong:
Richard Lindsay David Hall +44 (0)20 7992 1555 +852 2822 1133
Head of Media Relations Head of Group Communications (Asia)
Goldman Sachs International:
Matthew Westerman Todd Leland +44 (0)20 7552 3549
J.P. Morgan Cazenove:
Naguib Kheraj Ian Hannam +44 (0)20 7588 2828
HSBC Bank plc:
Russell Julius +44 (0)20 7991 8888