FORM 6

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, 2008

 

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- ..............).

26 November 2008
 

HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
THIRD INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2008
SCRIP DIVIDEND ALTERNATIVE

On 3 November 2008, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc declared a third interim dividend for 2008 of US$0.18 per ordinary share payable on 14 January 2009 to shareholders on the Register on 21 November 2008. The dividend is payable in cash in United States dollars, sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these currencies, with a scrip dividend alternative. The "Market Value" for the issue of new shares under the scrip dividend alternative is:

US$9.7631 for each new share

The "Market Value" is the United States dollar equivalent of £6.4785 being the average of the middle market quotations for the ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as derived from the Daily Official List for the five business days beginning on 19 November 2008 (the day on which the shares were first quoted ex-dividend).

Dividends payable in cash in sterling or Hong Kong dollars on 14 January 2009 will be converted from United States dollars at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at or about 11.00 am on 5 January 2009. These exchange rates will be announced to the London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Bermuda stock exchanges.

Particulars of the dividend arrangements will be mailed to shareholders on or about 3 December 2008, and elections must be received by the Registrars by 30 December 2008.

Media enquiries to Brendan McNamara on +44 (0)20 7991 0655.
Notes to editors:

1.
 
The HSBC Group 
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in 
London
. The Group serves customers worldwide from more than 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the 
Americas
, the Middle East and 
Africa
. With assets of US$2,547 billion at 30 June 2008, 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: November 26, 2008