HSBC 2011 Annual Report Download - page 256

HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
Report of the Directors: Corporate Governance (continued)
Appendix – Other required disclosures > Dividends and shareholders
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in the balance sheet of HSBC as a debt. The reserves available for distribution at 31 December 2011
were US$34,621m.
A quarterly dividend of US$15.50 per 6.20% non-cumulative US Dollar Preference Share, Series A (‘Series A Dollar
Preference Share’), (equivalent to a dividend of US$0.3875 per Series A American Depositary Share, each of which
represents one-fortieth of a Series A Dollar Preference Share), was paid on 15 March, 15 June, 15 September and
15 December 2011.
Dividends for 2012
The proposed timetable for interim dividends in respect of 2012 on the ordinary shares of US$0.50 is set out in the
Shareholder Information section on page 414.
Quarterly dividends of US$15.50 per Series A Dollar Preference Share (equivalent to a dividend of US$0.3875 per
Series A American Depositary Share, each of which represents one-fortieth of a Series A Dollar Preference Share)
and £0.01 per Series A Sterling Preference Share were declared on 13 February 2012 for payment on 15 March 2012.
Communication with shareholders
Communication with shareholders is given high priority. Extensive information about our activities is provided to
shareholders in the Annual Report and Accounts, Annual Review and the Interim Report which are available on
www.hsbc.com. There is regular dialogue with institutional investors and enquiries from individuals on matters
relating to their shareholdings and our business are welcomed and are dealt with in an informative and timely
manner. All shareholders are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting or the informal meeting of
shareholders held in Hong Kong to discuss our progress. Shareholders may send enquiries to the Board in writing to
the Group Company Secretary, HSBC Holdings plc, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ or by sending an email to
[email protected]m.
Shareholders may require the Directors to call a general meeting, other than an annual general meeting as provided
by the UK Companies Act 2006. Requests to call a general meeting may be made by members representing at least
5% of the paid-up capital of the Company as carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company
(excluding any paid-up capital held as treasury shares). A request must state the general nature of the business to be
dealt with at the meeting and may include the text of a resolution that may properly be moved and is intended to be
moved at the meeting. A resolution may properly be moved at a meeting unless it would, if passed, be ineffective
(whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's constitution or otherwise); it is defamatory
of any person; or it is frivolous or vexatious. A request may be in hard copy form or in electronic form and must be
authenticated by the person or persons making it. A request may be made in writing to the postal address referred to
in the paragraph above or by sending an email to [email protected]m. At any meeting convened on such
request no business shall be transacted except that stated by the requisition or proposed by the Board.
Notifiable interests in share capital
At 31 December 2011, we had received the following disclosures (which have not been subsequently changed) of
major holdings of voting rights pursuant to the requirements of rule 5 of the FSA Disclosure and Transparency Rules:
• Legal & General Group Plc gave notice on 9 March 2010 that it had a direct interest on 8 March 2010 in
696,851,431 HSBC Holdings ordinary shares, representing 3.99% of the total voting rights at that date; and
• BlackRock, Inc. gave notice on 9 December 2009 that on 7 December 2009 it had the following: an indirect
interest in HSBC Holdings ordinary shares of 1,142,439,457; qualifying financial instruments with 705,100 voting
rights that may be acquired if the instruments are exercised or converted; and financial instruments with similar
economic effect to qualifying financial instruments which refer to 234,880 voting rights, each representing 6.56%,
0.0041% and 0.0013% respectively of the total voting rights at that date.
As at 31 December 2011, according to the register maintained by HSBC Holdings pursuant to section 336 of the
Securities and Futures Ordinance of Hong Kong: