3rd May 2005 10:08
HSBC Holdings PLC03 May 2005 DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT HSBC HOLDINGS PLC - FIRST INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2005 As envisaged in the announcement of the 2004 Annual Results on 28 February 2005,the Board of HSBC Holdings plc has declared a first interim dividend of US$0.14per ordinary share in respect of the year ending 31 December 2005. The dividendwill be payable on 6 July 2005 to shareholders on the Register on 20 May 2005.The ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermudaon 18 May 2005 and in Paris on 23 May 2005. The American Depositary Shares willbe quoted ex-dividend in New York on 18 May 2005. The Board has adopted a policy of paying quarterly dividends. Under this policyit is intended to have a pattern of three equal interim dividends with avariable fourth interim dividend. Payment on Ordinary Shares The first interim dividend will be payable in cash, in US dollars, sterling orHong Kong dollars, or a combination of these currencies, at the forward exchangerates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at or about 11.00 am on 27 June 2005,with a scrip dividend alternative. Particulars of these arrangements will bemailed to shareholders on or about 1 June 2005, and elections will be requiredto be made by 22 June 2005. Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Principal Register in theUnited Kingdom but who has not lodged the share transfer with the PrincipalRegistrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Friday 20 May 2005 in order to receivethe dividend. The Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders will be closed for oneday, on Friday 20 May 2005. Any person who has acquired shares registered onthat Branch Register but who has not lodged the share transfer with the HongKong Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Thursday 19 May 2005 inorder to receive the dividend. Transfers may not be made to or from the HongKong Overseas Branch Register while that Branch Register is closed. Any person who has acquired shares registered on the Bermuda Overseas BranchRegister of shareholders but who has not lodged the share transfer with theBermuda Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Friday 20 May 2005 inorder to receive the dividend. Payment on shares held through Euroclear France The dividend will be payable on shares held through Euroclear France, thesettlement and central depositary system for Euronext Paris, on 6 July 2005 tothe holders of record on 20 May 2005. The dividend will be payable in cash, ineuros at the exchange rate on 27 June 2005, or as a scrip dividend. Particularsof these arrangements will be announced through Euronext Paris on 18 and 25 May. Payment on American Depositary Shares The dividend will be payable on American Depositary Shares, each of whichrepresents five ordinary shares, on 6 July 2005 to holders of record on 20 May2005. The dividend of US$0.70 per American Depositary Share will be payable incash in US dollars or as a scrip dividend of new American Depositary Shares.Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to holders on or about 27 May2005, and elections will be required to be made by 10 June 2005. Alternatively,the cash dividend may be invested in additional American Depositary Shares forparticipants in the dividend reinvestment plan operated by the depositary. Any person who has acquired American Depositary Shares but who has not lodgedthe transfer documentation with the depositary should do so before 12 noon onFriday 20 May 2005 in order to receive the dividend. INTERIM RESULTS AND SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH INTERIM DIVIDENDS FOR 2005 As indicated in the announcement of the 2004 Annual Results, the interim resultsfor the six months to 30 June 2005 will be announced on Monday 1 August 2005. The proposed timetables for the second, third and fourth interim dividends inrespect of 2005 are: 2005Second interim dividend for 2005Announcement 1 AugustShares quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda; American Depositary Shares (ADSs) 17 Augustquoted ex-dividend in New YorkRecord date and closure of Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders for one day 19 AugustShares quoted ex-dividend in Paris 22 AugustPayment date 5 OctoberThird interim dividend for 2005Announcement 7 NovemberADSs quoted ex-dividend in New York 22 NovemberShares quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda 23 NovemberRecord date and closure of Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders for one day 25 NovemberShares quoted ex-dividend in Paris 28 November 2006Payment date 19 JanuaryFourth interim dividend for 2005Announcement 6 MarchShares quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda; ADSs quoted ex-dividend in New York 22 March Record date and closure of Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders for one day 24 MarchShares quoted ex-dividend in Paris 27 MarchPayment date 11 May The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc are Sir John Bond, Baroness Dunn*, Sir BrianMoffat+, S K Green, A W Jebson, Lord Butler+, R K F Ch'ien+, J D Coombe+, D GEldon, R A Fairhead+, D J Flint, W K L Fung+, M F Geoghegan, S Hintze+, J W JHughes-Hallett+, Sir John Kemp-Welch+, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart+, S W Newton+, HSohmen* and Sir Brian Williamson+. * Non-executive Director + Independent non-executive Director This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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