STATEMENT

RNS Number : 7547J

HSBC Holdings PLC

09 April 2015

 



STATEMENT

On 8 April 2015, HSBC Holdings plc was informed that it has been placed under formal criminal investigation ('mise en examen') by the French magistrates in connection with the conduct of HSBC's Swiss Private Bank in 2006 and 2007 for alleged tax-related offenses. A EUR1bn bail was imposed.

HSBC Holdings plc believes the French magistrates' decision is without legal basis and the bail is unwarranted and excessive. It intends to appeal and will defend itself vigorously in any future proceedings.

Investor enquiries to:
UK	Hong Kong	USA
[phone]	[phone]	[phone]
Media enquiries to:
Heidi Ashley	[phone]	[e-mail]
Patrick Humphris	[phone]	[e-mail]

Note to editors:

HSBC Holdings plc

HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from over 6,100 offices in 73 countries and territories in Asia, Europe, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,634bn at 31 December 2014, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations.

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