HSBC 2008 Annual Report Download - page 450

HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
Shareholder Information
Enforceability of judgements / Exchange controls / Dividends / Nature of trading market
448
Page
Information about the enforceability of
judgements made in the US .......................
.
448
Exchange controls and other limitations
affecting equity security holders ...............
.
448
Fourth interim dividend for 2008 ..................
.
448
Interim dividends for 2009 ............................
.
449
Dividends on the ordinary shares of HSBC
Holdings ....................................................
.
449
Nature of trading market ...............................
.
449
Shareholder profile .......................................
.
451
Memorandum and Articles of Association ...
.
451
Annual General Meeting ...............................
.
452
Interim Management Statements and
Interim results ............................................
.
452
Actuaries .......................................................
.
452
Shareholder enquiries and communications ..
.
453
Investor relations ...........................................
.
454
Where more information about HSBC is
available ....................................................
.
454
Taxation of shares and dividends ..................
.
455
History and development of HSBC ..............
.
457
Organisational structure ................................
.
459
Information about the enforceability
of judgements made in the US
HSBC Holdings is a public limited company
incorporated in England and Wales. Most of HSBC
Holdings’ Directors and executive officers live
outside the US. As a result, it may not be possible to
serve process on such persons or HSBC Holdings in
the US or to enforce judgements obtained in US
courts against them or HSBC Holdings based on
civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the
US. There is doubt as to whether English courts
would enforce:
• certain civil liabilities under US securities laws
in original actions; or
• judgements of US courts based upon these civil
liability provisions.
In addition, awards of punitive damages in
actions brought in the US or elsewhere may be
unenforceable in the UK. The enforceability of any
judgement in the UK will depend on the particular
facts of the case as well as the laws and treaties in
effect at the time.
Exchange controls and other
limitations affecting equity security
holders
There are currently no UK laws, decrees or
regulations which would prevent the import or
export of capital or remittance of distributable profits
by way of dividends and other payments to holders
of HSBC Holdings’ equity securities who are not
residents of the UK. There are also no restrictions
under the laws of the UK or the terms of the
Memorandum and Articles of Association of HSBC
Holdings concerning the right of non-resident or
foreign owners to hold HSBC Holdings’ equity
securities or, when entitled to vote, to do so.
Fourth interim dividend for 2008
The Directors have declared a fourth interim dividend for 2008 of US$0.10 per ordinary share. Information on the
scrip dividend scheme and currencies in which shareholders may elect to have the cash dividend paid will be sent to
shareholders on or about 31 March 2009. The timetable for the dividend is:
2009
Shares quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong, Paris and Bermuda .............................................................................. 18 March
ADSs quoted ex-dividend in New York ................................................................................................................................ 18 March
Record date for dividend and closure of Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders for one day ................... 20 March
Mailing of Annual Report and Accounts 2008 and/or Annual Review 2008, Notice of Annual General Meeting and
dividend documentation .................................................................................................................................................... 31 March
Final date for receipt by registrars of forms of election, Investor Centre electronic instructions and revocations of
standing instructions for scrip dividends .......................................................................................................................... 23 April
Exchange rate determined for payment of dividends in sterling and Hong Kong dollars .................................................... 27 April
Payment date: dividend warrants, new share certificates or transaction advices and notional tax vouchers mailed and
shares credited to stock accounts in CREST ..................................................................................................................... 6 May