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 Apri1, 2007
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- ..............)
HSBC HOLDINGS PLC FIRST INTERIM DIVIDEND
FOR 2007 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 2006 Annual Results on 5
March 2007, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc have declared a first interim
dividend of US$0.17 per ordinary share in respect of the year ending 31 December
2007. The dividend will be payable on 5 July 2007 to holders of ordinary shares
on the Register on 18 May 2007. The ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend
in London, Hong Kong and Bermuda on 16 May 2007 and in Paris on 21 May 2007. The
American Depositary Shares will be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 16 May
2007.
Payment on Ordinary Shares
The first interim dividend will be payable on 5 July, 2007 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 25 June 2007, and, subject to shareholder approval of the
authority to offer a scrip dividend alternative at the Annual General Meeting to
be held on 25 May 2007, with a scrip dividend alternative. Particulars of these
arrangements will be mailed to holders of ordinary shares on or about 30 May
2007, and elections will be required to be made by 20 June 2007.
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, 18 May 2007 in order
to receive the dividend.
The Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register of shareholders will be closed for one
day, on Friday, 18 May 2007. Any person who has acquired 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, 17 May 2007 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, 18 May 2007
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 5 July 2007
to the holders of record on 18 May 2007. The dividend will be payable in cash,
in euros at the forward exchange rate quoted by HSBC France at or about 12 noon
on 25 June 2007, or, subject to shareholder approval of the authority to offer a
scrip dividend alternative at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 25 May
2007, as a scrip dividend. Particulars of these arrangements will be announced
through Euronext Paris on 16 and 23 May 2007.
Payment on American Depositary Shares
The dividend will be payable on American Depositary Shares, each of which
represents five ordinary shares, on 5 July 2007 to holders of record on 18 May
2007. The dividend of US$0.85 per American Depositary Share will be payable in
cash in US dollars or, subject to shareholder approval of the authority to offer
a scrip dividend alternative at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 25 May
2007, as a scrip dividend of new American Depositary Shares. Particulars of
these arrangements will be mailed to holders on or about 25 May 2007, and
elections will be required to be made by 15 June 2007. 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, 18 May 2007 in order to receive the dividend.
DIVIDEND ON 6.20% NON-CUMULATIVE US DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES, SERIES A ("SERIES
A DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES")
In 2005 1,450,000 Series A Dollar Preference Shares were issued 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. Accordingly, the Board of HSBC Holdings plc has declared a
dividend for the quarter ending 15 June 2007. The dividend of US$0.3875 per
Series A American Depositary Share will be payable on 15 June 2007 to holders of
record on 1 June 2007.
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 Friday, 1 June 2007 in order to receive the dividend.
INTERIM RESULTS
As indicated in the announcement of the 2006 Annual Results, the interim results
for the six months to 30 June 2007 will be announced on Monday 30 July 2007.
The Directors of HSBC Holdings plc are S K Green, Baroness Dunn*, Sir Brian
Moffat+, M F Geoghegan, Lord Butler+, R K F Ch'ien+, J D Coombe+, R A Fairhead+,
D J Flint, W K L Fung+, S Hintze+, J W J Hughes-Hallett+, Sir Mark
Moody-Stuart+, G Morgan+, S W Newton+, S M Robertson+, H Sohmen* and Sir Brian
Williamson+.
* Non-executive Director
+ Independent non-executive Director
Note to editors
HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc serves over 125 million customers worldwide through some
10,000 offices in 82 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific
region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,861
billion at 31 December 2006, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and
financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's
local bank'.
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: 30 April, 2007