HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
FIRST INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2013 ON ORDINARY SHARES
The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc have declared a first interim dividend of US$0.10 per ordinary share in respect of the year ending 31 December 2013 in accordance with their intention, as set out in the 2012 Annual Report and Accounts, to pay quarterly dividends on the ordinary shares in a pattern of three equal dividends with a variable fourth interim dividend. The ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong, Paris and Bermuda on 22 May 2013. The American Depositary Shares will be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 22 May 2013. The dividend will be payable on 11 July 2013 to holders of record on 23 May 2013 on the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register and 24 May 2013 on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom or the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register.
The first interim dividend will be payable on 11 July 2013 in cash in US dollars, sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these currencies, at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at or about 11.00am on 2 July 2013, and with a scrip dividend alternative. Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to holders of ordinary shares on or about 6 June 2013 and elections will be required to be made by 27 June 2013.
Any person who has acquired ordinary shares registered on the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00pm on 23 May 2013 in order to receive the dividend.
Any person who has acquired ordinary shares registered on the Principal Register in the United Kingdom but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Principal Registrar should do so before 4.00pm on 24 May 2013 in order to receive the dividend.
Any person who has acquired ordinary shares registered on the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Bermuda Overseas Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00pm on 24 May 2013 in order to receive the dividend.
Removals of ordinary shares may not be made to or from the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register on 24 May 2013. Accordingly any person who wishes to remove shares to the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register must lodge the removal request with the Principal Registrar in the United Kingdom or the Bermuda Overseas Branch Registrar by 4.00pm on 22 May 2013. Any person who wishes to remove shares from the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register must lodge the removal request with the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Registrar by 4.00pm on 23 May 2013.
Payment on Ordinary Shares held through Euroclear France
The dividend will be payable on ordinary shares held through Euroclear France, the settlement and central depositary system for Euronext Paris, on 11 July 2013 to the holders of record on 24 May 2013. The dividend will be payable by Euroclear France in cash, in euros, at the forward exchange rate quoted by HSBC France at or about 12 noon on 2 July 2013, or as a scrip dividend. Particulars of these arrangements will be announced through Euronext Paris on 15 May and 30 May 2013.
Payment on American Depositary Shares
The dividend will be payable on American Depositary Shares, each of which represents five ordinary shares, on 11 July 2013 to holders of record on 24 May 2013. The dividend of US$0.50 per American Depositary Share will be payable by the depositary in cash in US dollars or as a scrip dividend of new American Depositary Shares. Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to holders on or about 6 June 2013 and elections will be required to be made by 21 June 2013.
Alternatively, the cash dividend may be invested in additional American Depositary Shares for participants in the dividend reinvestment plan operated by the depositary.
In order to be eligible to receive the dividend, American Depositary Shares must be registered on the books of the depositary by close of business on 24 May 2013.
DIVIDEND ON 6.20% NON-CUMULATIVE US DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES, SERIES A ('SERIES A DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES')
In 2005 1,450,000 Series A Dollar Preference Shares were issued for a consideration of US$1,000 each, and Series A American Depositary Shares, each of which represents one-fortieth of a Series A Dollar Preference Share, were listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
A non-cumulative fixed-rate dividend of 6.20% per annum is payable on the Series A Dollar Preference Shares on 15 March, 15 June, 15 September and 15 December for the quarter then ended at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of HSBC Holdings plc. Accordingly, the Board of HSBC Holdings plc has declared a dividend for the quarter ending 15 June 2013. Since 15 June is not a normal business day, the dividend of US$0.3875 per Series A American Depositary Share will be payable on 17 June 2013 to holders of record on Friday, 31 May 2013.
Any person who has acquired Series A American Depositary Shares but who has not lodged the transfer documentation with the depositary should do so before 12 noon on Friday, 31 May 2013 in order to receive the dividend.
By order of the Board
R G Barber
Group Company Secretary
The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc are D J Flint, S T Gulliver, S A Catz†, L M L Cha†, M K T Cheung†, J B Comey†, J D Coombe†, J Faber†, R A Fairhead†, R Fassbind†, J W J Hughes-Hallett†, W S H Laidlaw†, J P Lipsky†, J R Lomax†,I J Mackay, Sir Simon Robertson† and J L Thornton†.
† Independent non-executive Director
Media enquiries to Patrick Humphris on +44 (0)20 7992 1631 or at patrick.humphris@hsbc.com
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HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 6,600 offices in over 80 countries and territories in Europe, Hong Kong, Rest of Asia-Pacific, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,681bn at 31 March 2013, the HSBC Group is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations.
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