FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November, 2005
HSBC Holdings plc
42nd Floor, 8 Canada
Square, London E14 5HQ, England
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).
Form 20-F X Form 40-F ......
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934).
Yes....... No X
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ..............)
DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT
HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
THIRD INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2005 ON ORDINARY SHARES
In accordance with their intention to pay quarterly dividends on the ordinary
shares in a pattern of three equal dividends with a variable fourth interim
dividend, and as envisaged in the announcement of the 2005 Interim Results on 1
August 2005, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc have declared a third interim
dividend of US$0.14 per ordinary share in respect of the year to 31 December
2005. The dividend will be payable on 19 January 2006 to holders of ordinary
shares on the Register on 25 November 2005. The ordinary shares will be quoted
ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda on 23 November 2005 and in Paris on
28 November 2005. The American Depositary Shares will be quoted ex-dividend in
New York on 22 November 2005.
Payment on Ordinary Shares
The third interim dividend will be payable on 19 January 2006 in cash in US
dollars, or in sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these
currencies, at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at
or about 11.00 am on 9 January 2006, and with a scrip dividend alternative.
Particulars of these arrangements will be mailed to holders of ordinary shares
on or about 6 December 2005, and elections will be required to be made by 4
January 2006.
Any person who has acquired ordinary shares registered on the Principal Register
in the United Kingdom but who has not lodged the share transfer with the
Principal Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Friday 25 November 2005 in
order to receive the dividend.
The Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders will be closed for one
day, on Friday 25 November 2005. Any person who has acquired ordinary shares
registered on that Branch Register but who has not lodged the share transfer
with the Hong Kong Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Thursday 24
November 2005 in order to receive the dividend. Transfers may not be made to or
from the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register while that Branch Register is
closed.
Any person who has acquired ordinary shares registered on the Bermuda Overseas
Branch Register of shareholders but who has not lodged the share transfer with
the Bermuda Branch Registrar should do so before 4.00 pm on Friday 25 November
2005 in order to receive the dividend.
Payment on Ordinary Shares held through Euroclear France
The dividend will be payable on ordinary shares held through Euroclear France,
the settlement and central depositary system for Euronext Paris, on 19 January
2006 to the holders of record on 25 November 2005. The dividend will be payable
in cash, in euros at the forward exchange rate quoted by HSBC France in Paris at
or about 12 noon on 9 January 2006, or as a scrip dividend. Particulars of these
arrangements will be announced through Euronext Paris on 23 November and 30
November 2005.
Payment on American Depositary Shares
The dividend will be payable on American Depositary Shares, each of which
represents five ordinary shares, on 19 January 2006 to holders of record on 25
November 2005. The dividend of US$0.70 per American Depositary Share will be
payable in cash 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
5 December 2005, and elections will be required to be made by 22 December 2005.
Alternatively, the cash dividend may be invested in additional American
Depositary Shares for participants in the dividend reinvestment plan operated by
the depositary.
Any person who has acquired American Depositary Shares but who has not lodged
the transfer documentation with the depositary should do so before 12 noon on
Friday 25 November 2005 in order to receive the dividend.
DIVIDEND ON 6.20% NON-CUMULATIVE US DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES, SERIES A ("SERIES
A DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES")
In September and October 2005 1,450,000 Series A Dollar Preference Shares were
issued for a consideration of US$1,000 each and Series A American Depositary
Shares, each of which represents one-fortieth of a Series A Dollar Preference
Share, were listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
A non-cumulative fixed-rate dividend of 6.20 per cent per annum is payable
quarterly on the Series A Dollar Preference Shares on 15 December, 15 March, 15
June and 15 September at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of HSBC
Holdings plc. The first dividend accrues from 22 September 2005, the date Series
A Dollar Preference Shares were first issued. Accordingly, the Board of HSBC
Holdings plc has declared a dividend for the period 22 September 2005 to 15
December 2005. The dividend of US$0.357361 per Series A American Depositary
Share will be payable on 15 December 2005 to holders of record on 1 December
2005.
Any person who has acquired Series A American Depositary Shares but who has not
lodged the transfer documentation with the depositary should do so before 12
noon on Thursday 1 December 2005 in order to receive the dividend.
FINAL RESULTS FOR 2005
As indicated in the announcement of the 2005 Interim Results, the results for
the year to 31 December 2005 will be announced on Monday 6 March 2006. In
accordance with new requirements of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong the results
announcement will be released at or after 4.15pm in Hong Kong (8.15am in London,
9.15am in Paris and 3.15am in New York), when the stock index futures and
options markets in Hong Kong have closed. It is intended that any fourth interim
dividend for 2005 that is announced on that date would be payable on 11 May 2006
to holders of ordinary shares on the Register on 24 March 2006. HSBC Holdings'
ordinary shares would be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda on
22 March 2006 and in Paris on 27 March 2006. The American Depositary Shares
would be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 22 March 2006.
The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc are Sir John Bond, Baroness Dunn*, Sir Brian
Moffat+, S K Green, A W Jebson, Lord Butler+, R K F Ch'ien+, J D Coombe+, R A
Fairhead+, D J Flint, W K L Fung+, M F Geoghegan, S Hintze+, J W J
Hughes-Hallett+, Sir John Kemp-Welch+, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart+, S W Newton+, H
Sohmen* and Sir Brian Williamson+.
* Non-executive Director
+ Independent non-executive Director
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HSBC Holdings plc
By:
Name: P A Stafford
Title: Assistant Group Secretary
Date: 7 November, 2005