Strong support for HSBC Rights Issue

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) announces that under the terms of the 5 for 12 Rights Issue announced on March 2, valid acceptances have been received in respect of 4,887,538,091 New Ordinary Shares representing 96.6 per cent of the total number of New Ordinary Shares offered to Qualifying Shareholders.

Listed on five stock exchanges, HSBC shares are held by over 210,000 shareholders in over 120 countries and territories. Rights Issue will strengthen capital ratios: core equity tier 1 ratio of 8.5 per cent and tier 1 ratio of 9.8 per cent, in each case on a pro forma basis as at 31 December 2008.

Group Chairman of HSBC, Stephen Green, said “this underlines our determination that HSBC should maintain its signature financial strength which has served us so well over HSBC’s long history. We remain confident that HSBC is well-placed in today’s environment and that our strength leads to opportunity. “

As disclosed in Part VIII of the prospectus issued by HSBC in connection with the Rights Issue dated 17 March 2009 (the Prospectus), Goldman Sachs International, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and HSBC Bank plc (the Joint Global Coordinators) will use reasonable endeavours to procure acquirers for the balance of New Ordinary Shares not validly taken up in the Rights Issue.