HSBC 2015 Annual Report Download - page 286

Report of the Directors: Corporate Governance / Directors’ Remuneration Report
Appendix to Corporate Governance / Statement from Group Remuneration Committee Chairman
HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
284
A quarterly dividend of $15.50 per 6.20% non-cumulative US dollar preference share, Series A (‘Series A dollar preference
share’), (equivalent to a dividend of $0.3875 per Series A American Depositary Share, each of which represents one-fortieth of
a Series A dollar preference share), was paid on 16 March, 15 June, 15 September and 15 December 2015.
Dividends for 2016
Quarterly dividends of $15.50 per Series A dollar preference share (equivalent to a dividend of $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 5 February 2016 for payment on 15 March 2016.
Communication with shareholders
Communication with shareholders is given high priority. The Board has adopted a shareholder communication policy which is
available on www.hsbc.com. Extensive information about our activities is provided to shareholders in the Annual Report and
Accounts, the Strategic Report 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].
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 HSBC Holdings (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 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]. At any general 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 2015, HSBC Holdings had received the following notification of major holdings of voting rights pursuant to the
requirements of Rule 5 of the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules:
• 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.
At 31 December 2015, according to the register maintained by HSBC Holdings pursuant to section 336 of the Securities and
Futures Ordinance of Hong Kong:
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. gave notice on 24 December 2015 that on 22 December 2015 it had the following interests in HSBC
Holdings ordinary shares: a long position of 1,018,886,506 shares; a short position of 191,280,267 shares; and a lending
pool of 577,920,072 shares, each representing 5.17%, 0.97% and 2.93%, respectively, of the ordinary shares in issue at that
date. Since 31 December 2015 and following interim notifications on 13 and 19 January, JPMorgan Chase & Co. gave notice
on 21 January 2016 that on 19 January 2016 it had the following interests in HSBC Holdings ordinary shares: a long position
of 1,031,430,337 shares; a short position of 202,548,058 shares; and a lending pool of 570,470,431 shares, each
representing 5.23%, 1.02% and 2.89%, respectively, of the ordinary shares in issue at that date; and
• BlackRock, Inc. gave notice on 23 December 2015 that on 20 October 2015 it had the following interests in HSBC Holdings
ordinary shares: a long position of 1,266,331,205 shares and a short position of 4,177,847 shares, each representing 6.60%
and 0.02%, respectively, of the ordinary shares in issue at that date. Since 31 December 2015 and following interim
notifications on 22 January, BlackRock, Inc. gave notice on 26 January 2016 that on 21 January 2016 it had the following
interests in HSBC Holdings ordinary shares: a long position of 1,375,525,890 shares and a short position of 7,428,578 shares,
each representing 6.99% and 0.04%, respectively, of the ordinary shares in issue at that date.
Sufficiency of float
In compliance with the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited at least 25% of
the total issued share capital has been held by the public at all times during 2015 and up to the date of this report.
Dealings in HSBC Holdings listed securities
Except for dealings as intermediaries by subsidiaries of HSBC Holdings plc, neither HSBC Holdings plc nor any of its subsidiaries
purchased, sold or redeemed any of its securities listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited during the year ended
31 December 2015.