HSBC
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| HSBC Holdings plc | |
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| Type | Public (LSE: HSBA, SEHK: 005, NYSE: HBC, Euronext: HSBC, BSX: 1077223879) |
| Founded |  Hong Kong (1865) |
| Founder | Thomas Sutherland |
| Headquarters |  London, England, UK |
| Key people | Stephen Green, Chairman Michael Geoghegan, Group Chief Executive |
| Industry | Finance and Insurance |
| Products | Financial Services |
| Revenue | ▲ $87.6 billion USD (2007) |
| Operating income | ▲ $22.7 billion USD (2007) |
| Net income | ▲ $20.5 billion USD (2007) |
| Employees | 330,000 |
| Subsidiaries | HSBC Bank plc, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, HSBC Bank USA, HSBC Mexico, HSBC Bank Brasil, HSBC Finance |
| Website | www.hsbc.com |
HSBC Holdings plc (traditional Chinese: 滙豐控股有限公司; simplified Chinese: 汇丰控股有限公司; pinyin: huìfēng kònggǔ yǒuxiàn gōngsī) (LSE: HSBA, SEHK: 0005, NYSE: HBC, Euronext: HSBC, BSX: 1077223879) is a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales, headquartered in London.[1] It is the world's largest company and the world's largest banking group, as calculated based on different metrics by the annual Forbes list of the world's largest firms published on April 2, 2008.[2][3] In February 2008, HSBC was named the world's most valuable banking brand by The Banker magazine.[4][5]
HSBC Holdings was established in 1991 to become the parent company to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in preparation for its purchase of the Midland Bank in Britain and in change of domicile for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong. The former was established virtually simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China and Europe by Scotsman Thomas Sutherland, who wanted a bank operating on "sound Scottish banking principles". Its heritage in East Asia means it is a British institution with an extensive international pedigree.
HSBC is well-known in banking circles for its diversified and risk-averse approach in its business operations (to the extent that, for instance, Europe contributes around one-third of its 2007 earnings and commercial banking 30%). [6]
According to Forbes magazine, the world's largest bank (based on a composite score) is currently the fourth largest bank in the world in terms of assets ($2,348.98 billion), the second largest in terms of sales ($146.50 billion), the largest in terms of market value ($180.81 billion), and the most profitable bank in the world with $19.13 billion in net income last year (compared to Citigroup's $3.62 billion in the same period) as of April 2, 2008.[7]
It is also by far the largest bank in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong, prints most of Hong Kong's local currency in its own name, is a lender of last resort in many parts of the world,[8] and since the end of 2005 has been the largest banking group in the world by Tier 1 capital.[9] By acquisitions and organic expansion HSBC is currently pursuing a strategy of rapid growth in booming China.[10]
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[edit] Local operations
The HSBC Group has a significant presence in each of the world's major financial markets, with the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe each representing around one third of the business. With 10,000 offices in 83 countries, 210,000 shareholders, 330,000 staff and 128 million customers worldwide, HSBC arguably has the most international presence among the world's multinational banking giants.
The HSBC Group operates as a number of local banks around the world. Outlined below are countries which, in 2007, generated the top 20 profit before tax figures, with the addition of the United States as specific issues exclude that country from the top 20 for 2007.[11] For details of other group companies see Category:HSBC.
[edit] Americas
HSBC Bank Argentina SA has around 150 branches throughout Argentina providing a full range of banking and financial products and services to over 1.2 million customers. Midland Bank purchased a stake in Banco Roberts SA in 1987; in 1997 HSBC took full control of the bank and rebranded it HSBC. Also, after the crisis of 2001, they bought the Argentine operations of the Italian Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL) initially referred to as "BNL en argentina es HSBC" (BNL in Argentina is HSBC) but after two years the BNL network was rebranded as HSBC.
The Bank of Bermuda Limited was acquired by HSBC in February 2004. Founded in 1889, it is a leading provider of fund administration, trust, custody, asset management and banking services, since the acquisition the group has focused its global efforts in some areas of these services on the island.
HSBC Bank Brasil SA is HSBC’s largest presence in South America.
It was established in March 1997 with the acquisition of the assets, liabilities and subsidiaries of Banco Bamerindus do Brasil SA, which was established in 1952. HSBC is now among the ten largest banks in Brazil, with more than 1,700 branches and sub-branches in 550 Brazilian cities.
Palacio Avenida: The headquarters of HSBC Bank Brasil, located in Curitiba.
HSBC Bank Canada is the seventh largest bank in Canada, with offices in every province except for Prince Edward Island, and is the largest foreign-owned bank in the country. HSBC has a strong presence in overseas Chinese communities especially in Vancouver and Toronto, and is the only Canadian bank with headquarters in British Columbia.
HSBC Mexico, SA is one of Mexico’s four largest banking and financial service companies, with 1,400 branches, 4,800 ATMs and 6 million customers. HSBC purchased Banco Internacional, SA known as Bital, in November 2002, rebranding it overnight in January 2004.
HSBC El Salvador, SA is the third largest banking and financial service in the country.
HSBC Bank USA NA and HSBC Finance Corporation represent the group’s business in the US, which has been built up via the acquisition of Marine Midland (1980), Republic National Bank (1999), Household International (2003) and Metris Companies (2005) among others. HSBC Bank USA, headquartered in Buffalo, NY, is a full service bank, with a strong branch network in New York State but also operating nationwide. HSBC Finance Corporation focuses on selected lines of consumer lending with a branch network across the US.
[edit] Asia Pacific
HSBC Bank Australia Limited gained its banking licence in 1986. Today, a full range of Personal and Commercial services are offered from a network of branches as well as via direct channels.
HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited and HSBC Rural Bank Company Limited HSBC established its Shanghai branch office on 3 April 1865 and has had a continuous presence in the city since then, except during the Japanese Occupation. Until the economic reforms of the late 1970s, its activities were mainly in inward remittances and export bills, however its activities now span a wider range. HSBC has purchased stakes in various local firms, including 19% of Bank of Communications, 8% of Bank of Shanghai, 16.8% of Ping An Insurance and via its subsidiary Hang Seng Bank 12.8% of Industrial Bank.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Hang Seng Bank Limited HSBC first opened for business in Hong Kong on 3 March 1865. Hong Kong dollar banknotes are issued by three commercial banks in the Hong Kong SAR, of which HSBC is the most prolific by value. The Hang Seng Index for stock prices in Hong Kong is named after the Hang Seng Bank. The two banks are today first and second by market share in Hong Kong.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited The Mercantile Bank of India, London and China was established in October 1853 in Bombay (now Mumbai). The Mercantile Bank was acquired in 1959 by HSBC. HSBC is now one of the fastest growing foreign banks in India, both in domestic banking and support operations for worldwide operations (see Group Service Centres).
HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad traces its history back to the opening of the first HSBC office in Penang in 1884. The bank later became an issuer of currency notes for the Malaysian government. A gradual expansion programme resulted in the bank’s incorporation, the first foreign institution to do so in Malaysia in 1994. The bank today provides a full range of personal and commercial financial services. HSBC operates a call center in Cyberjaya,Malaysia, a cybercity in Malaysia.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited operates as a full service bank with its headquarters in Collyer Quay, it is an approved Primary Dealer in the Singapore Government Securities Market and an Approved Bond Intermediary, with over a hundred staff operating one of the largest integrated dealing rooms in Singapore.
[edit] Europe
HSBC SA operates around 800 branches in France since the takeover of Credit Commercial de France, primarily operating under the HSBC brand. HSBC France is now the HSBC Group’s lead bank in the Eurozone, focusing on certain capital market products for a global audience, and high net worth and international business in France.
HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt AG was founded in 1785 and is one of the longest-established members of the HSBC Group. It has operations in private, commercial and investment banking and asset management.
HSBC Bank Malta plc is one of the largest banks in Malta. It is a listed company but its majority shareholder is the HSBC Group. Formerly the Mid-Med Bank, HSBC Bank Malta is the second-longest established bank in Malta.
HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA and HSBC Guyerzeller Bank AG are the Swiss operating subsidiaries of the group's Private Banking business, with 12 locations in the country. Much of the private banking business takes a lead from work done in Switzerland, with a total of 74 locations around the world operating solely for private banking business.
HSBC Bank AS is now the fifth largest private bank in Turkey, having expanded through internal financing and via acquisition since entering the market in 1990. The bank has a network of around 190 branches, offering products and services to corporate, commercial and personal customers, both under the HSBC brand as well as the Advantage brand.
- HSBC Bank plc is one of the "Big Five" high street banks in the UK, maintaining a large network of branches in England and Wales, with a smaller presence in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It acquired this presence in 1992 with the acquisition of Midland Bank plc. It also operates the previously Midland-owned telephone and internet bank First Direct, the consumer lending brand Beneficial Finance, and the financial services division of Marks & Spencer.
[edit] Middle East and Africa
HSBC Bank Egypt SAE was founded in 1982, and rebranded as HSBC in April 2001 after HSBC lifted its ownership stake from 40% to 94.5%.
SABB (The Saudi British Bank) In Saudi Arabia HSBC is represented by The Saudi British Bank which is a 40% owned subsidiary, and also a joint venture partner in HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited, the kingdom’s first full service independent investment bank.
HSBC Bank Middle East Limited The United Arab Emirates represents a key part of HSBC Bank Middle East's business, with 16 branches and the firm's head office located here.
[edit] Global product lines and programmes
[edit] Group Service Centres
As a cost saving measure HSBC is offshoring processing work to lower cost economies in order to reduce the cost of providing services in developed countries. These locations take on work such as data processing and customer service, but also internal software engineering at Pune, Hyderabad (India), Guangzhou (China) and Curitiba (Brazil).
Chief Operating Officer Alan Jebson said in March 2005 that he would be very surprised if fewer than 25,000 people were working in the centres over the next three years: “I don’t have a precise target but I would be surprised if we had less than 15 (global service centres) in three years’ time.” He went on to say that each centre cost the bank from $20m to $30m to set up, but that for every job moved the bank saves about $20,000 (£10,400).[12]
Trade unions, particularly in the US and UK, blame these centres for job losses in developed countries, and also for the effective imposition of wage caps on their members.[12]
Currently centres exist in six countries, in Brazil in Curitiba, in India in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune, in China in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Colombo (Kotte) (Sri Lanka) and Manila (Philippines). The Malta trial for a UK high value call centre has resulted in a growing operation in Malta. An option under consideration is reported to be a processing centre in Vietnam to access the French skills of the population and therefore cut costs in the bank’s French operation.
On June 27, 2006, HSBC reported that a "small number" of customers had suffered from fraud totalling £233,000 after an employee at the Bangalore call centre supplied confidential customer information to fraudsters.[13]
[edit] HSBC Premier
HSBC Premier is the group's premium financial services product. The exact benefits and qualification criteria vary depending on country, but typically require deposits and investments of at least $100,000, £50,000, or €100,000, or a mortgage of at least $500,000 or £250,000. Customers have a dedicated relationship manager, global 24 hour access to call centres and preferential rates.
[edit] HSBC Bank International
HSBC Bank International Limited is the offshore banking arm of the HSBC Group, focusing on providing offshore solutions and cross border services to expatriates and migrants. It provides a full range of multi-currency personal banking services to a range of customer segments, including a full internet banking and telephone banking service. Sometimes referred to as "HSBC Offshore", the business also offers independent financial planning, and has representative offices all over the world, often working alongside local HSBC operations in those regions.
HSBC Bank International originated from the business started by Midland Bank and is based in the Channel Islands with further operations on the Isle of Man. Its operations in the Channel Islands are centred around its registered headquarters on the seafront in St Helier, Jersey. Named 'HSBC House', the building comprises departments such as Premier, Global Funds & Investments, e-Business and a 24 hour 'Direct Banking Centre'.
[edit] HSBCnet
HSBCnet is a global service that caters to local business needs by offering specialised functionality for different regions world-wide.
The system provides access to transaction banking functionality - ranging from payments and cash management to trade services features - as well as to research and analytical content from HSBC. It also includes foreign exchange and money markets trading functionality.
The system is used widely by HSBC's high-end corporate and institutional clients served variously by the bank's global banking and markets, commercial banking and global transaction banking divisions.
[edit] HSBC Direct
HSBC Direct is an online direct banking operation which attracts customers through high-interest savings accounts and no service charges or minimum account balance requirements. It was first launched in the USA in November 2005 and is now available in Canada, Taiwan and South Korea.
[edit] Brand and advertising
The group announced in November 1999 that the HSBC brand and the hexagon symbol would be adopted as the unified brand in all the markets where HSBC operates, with the aim of enhancing recognition of the group and its values by customers, shareholders and staff throughout the world.
[edit] Hexagon symbol
This was originally adopted by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation as its logo in 1983. It was developed from the bank’s house flag, a white rectangle divided diagonally to produce a red hourglass shape. It was based on a Scottish flag, the country the founder of the company was born in. Like many other Hong Kong company flags that originated in the 19th century, the design was based on the cross of Saint Andrew.The logo was designed by Graphics artist Henry Steiner.
[edit] Sponsorship
Having sponsored the Jaguar Racing Formula One team since the days of Stewart Grand Prix, HSBC ended its relationship with the sport when Red Bull purchased Jaguar Racing from Ford. HSBC has now switched its focus to golf, taking title sponsorship of events such as the HSBC World Match Play Championship, HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship (now defunct), HSBC Champions and HSBC Women's Champions.
In football HSBC sponsors French club AS Monaco and Mexican club CF Pachuca, and in rugby league, HSBC sponsors Telford Raiders in the Rugby League Conference. In Australia, HSBC sponsors the New South Wales Waratahs rugby team in the Super 14 rugby union competition, as well as the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League.
In the United States, HSBC owns the naming rights to the home arena of the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres until 2026.
HSBC’s other sponsorships are mainly in the area of education, health and the environment. In November 2006, HSBC announced a $5 million partnership with SOS Children as part of Future First.[14]
HSBC sponsors the Great Canadian Geography Challenge, which has had around 2 million participants in the past 12 years. Since 2001, HSBC has sponsored the Celebration of Light, an annual musical fireworks competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In 2007 HSBC announced it would be a sponsor of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. HSBC has also sponsored a professional gaming team that was disbanded late 2007.
HSBC will sponsor the British and Irish Lions on the 2009 tour of South Africa
[edit] Corporate governance
[edit] Executive pay
As of 2005 CEO Michael Geoghegan was earning over £700,000 (over US$1.4 million) per year, and Chairman Sir John Bond, who retired in 2006, was earning $1.8 million. HSBC made record profits in the 2004-2005 year earning over 12 billion GB Pounds or more than $20 billion.[citation needed]
[edit] Household acquisition
In 2003 HSBC completed its controversial acquisition of Household International, after Household settled on charges of predatory lending. In a 2003 cover story, The Banker noted "when banking historians look back, they may conclude that [it] was the deal of the first decade of the 21st century".[15] HSBC is expanding the Household International consumer finance model to Brazil, India and elsewhere.
On May 17 2008 HSBC has acquired IL&FS Investment Ltd a leading listing retail broking firm in India.[16]
[edit] Customer groups
HSBC splits its business into four distinct groups:
[edit] Personal financial services
HSBC provides more than 100 million customers world-wide with a full range of personal financial services, including current and savings accounts, mortgage loans, car financing, insurance, credit cards, loans, pensions and investments.
[edit] Commercial banking
HSBC provides financial services to small, medium-sized and middle-market enterprises. The group has almost 2.5 million of such customers, including sole proprietors, partnerships, clubs and associations, incorporated businesses and publicly quoted companies.
[edit] Global banking and markets
This customer group provides tailored financial services to corporate and institutional clients. Business lines comprise Global Banking, Global Markets, Global Asset Management, Global Research and Principal Investments.
This division was previously known as Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets.
[edit] Private banking
HSBC Private Bank is the marketing name for the private banking business conducted by the principal private banking subsidiaries of the HSBC Group worldwide. HSBC Private Bank, together with HSBC Guyerzeller and the private banking activities of HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt, known collectively as Group Private Banking, provides services to high net worth individuals and their families through 93 locations in some 42 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. As of December 2007, profits before tax were US$1,511 million and combined client assets under management were US$494 billion.
[edit] History
For the history of the HSBC Group prior to the founding of HSBC Holdings plc in 1991, see The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
- 1991 - shares are listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.
- 1992 - acquisition of Midland Bank in the United Kingdom.
- 1993 - the headquarters of HSBC Holdings moves from 1 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong to 10 Lower Thames Street, London.
- 1997 - acquisition of Roberts SA de Inversiones of Argentina and Banco Bamerindus of Brazil.
- 1999 - acquisition of Republic New York; shares are traded on a third stock exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
- 2000 - acquisition of Crédit Commercial de France; shares are traded on a fourth stock exchange, Euronext in Paris.
- 2001 - acquisition of Demirbank of Turkey.
- 2002 - acquisition of Grupo Financiero Bital, SA de CV of Mexico.
- 2003 - the headquarters of HSBC Holdings moves from 10 Lower Thames Street, London to 8 Canada Square, London.
- 2003 - acquisition of Household International of the United States.
- 2003 - acquisition of Polski Kredyt Bank SA of Poland.
- 2003 - November 20, terrorist attack: a bomb blast in Istanbul damaged the bank’s head office in Turkey, causing several deaths and hundreds of injuries.
- 2004 - acquisition of The Bank of Bermuda of Bermuda; shares are traded on a fifth stock exchange, the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
- 2004 - acquisition of Marks & Spencer Retail Financial Services Holdings Ltd.
- 2004 - acquisition of 19.9% of the Bank of Communications of Shanghai.
- 2005 - acquisition of Metris Companies, Inc of the United States.
- 2005 - during October 2005 HSBC acquired 70.1% Dar Es Salaam Investment Bank, having begun negotiations earlier in the year. The Coalition Provisional Authority originally granted HSBC along with Standard Chartered and National Bank of Kuwait licences to operate in Iraq.
- 2006 - announcement of pre-tax profits of £11.91 billion, a record for a British Bank.
- 2006 - acquisition of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro of Argentina adds 90 branches to the South American business.
- 2006 - acquisition of Grupo Banistmo, the largest financial services company in Central America, based in Panama.
- 2007 - acquisition of Banex in Costa Rica.
- 2007 - acquisition of The Chinese Bank in Taiwan.
[edit] Controversy
In April 2008, HSBC confirmed it had lost unencrypted data disks containing the life insurance policy details for 370,000 of its customers.[17]
[edit] See also
- Banks of the United Kingdom
- List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong
- HSBC Buildings
- Primary dealers
[edit] References
- ^ "Group Structure" HSBC website.[1]
- ^ "Special Report - The Global 2000," Forbes, April 2, 2008. [2]
- ^ "HSBC tops Forbes 2000 list of world's largest companies," HSBC website, 4 April 2008.[3]
- ^ "Hot Brands," The Banker, March 4, 2008. [4]
- ^ http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/investor-relations/ir-fast-facts
- ^ http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/investor-relations/ir-fast-facts
- ^ "The Global 2000," Forbes, April 2, 2008. [5]
- ^ Parmy Olson, "Better Safe Than Sorry," Forbes, 04.21.08 [6]
- ^ The world's biggest banks | Economist.com
- ^ Vidya Ram, "HSBC Gets Back In Touch With Its Roots," Forbes, 03.10.08 [7]
- ^ http://www.hsbc.com/1/PA_1_1_S5/content/assets/investor_relations/080313_latin_america_investor_roadshow.pdfPDF Presentation by Paul Thurston (CEO HSBC Mexico) and Victor Jimenez (CFO HSBC Mexico), on 13 March 2008 at the Latin America Investor Roadshow
- ^ a b BBC NEWS | Business | HSBC bank 'to offshore more jobs'
- ^ BBC NEWS | Business | Man held in HSBC India scam probe
- ^ HSBC and SOS Children's Villages partnership
- ^ "Sir John Bond lays bare HSBC’s strategy for gaining ground"
- ^ HSBC Buys 73.21 percent Stake in IL&FS
- ^ "HSBC loses disk with policy details of 370,000 customers", The Guardian, April 8, 2008
[edit] External links
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