Change in auditor

The following is the text of an announcement released to The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 18 March 2015 pursuant to rule 13.51(4) of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited:

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this document, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document.

18 March 2015

(Hong Kong Stock Code: 5)

HSBC HOLDINGS PLCChange in auditor

The Board of HSBC Holdings plc (the 'Company') announces the resignation of KPMG Audit Plc ('KPMG') as the Company's auditor from 31 March 2015. The Board will appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ('PwC') as the Company's auditor to fill the vacancy following the resignation of KPMG. The appointment of PwC will be put to shareholders at the Company's 2015 annual general meeting to be held on 24 April.

KPMG has confirmed that the circumstances connected with its ceasing to hold office are the holding of a competitive tender for the audit, in which KPMG was unsuccessful in retaining the audit. KPMG has confirmed that there are no other matters that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders.

For and on behalf of HSBC Holdings plc Ben JS Mathews

Group Company Secretary

The Board of Directors of HSBC Holdings plc as at the date of this announcement are: Douglas Flint, Stuart Gulliver, Phillip Ameen†, Kathleen Casey†, Safra Catz†, Laura Cha†, Lord Evans of Weardale†, Joachim Faber†, Rona Fairhead†, Sam Laidlaw†, John Lipsky†, Rachel Lomax†, Iain Mackay, Heidi Miller†, Marc Moses, Sir Simon Robertson† and Jonathan Symonds†.

† Independent non-executive Director