Business

HSBC

*HSBC Holdings plc (commonly known as HSBC):

- British multinational banking and financial services company

- Headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

- As of 2011, it was the world's second-largest banking and financial services group (and the largest based in Europe).

*Universal bank organized within four business groups:

- Commercial Banking

- Global Banking and Markets (investment banking)

- Retail Banking

- Wealth Management (retail banking and consumer finance)

- Global Private Banking.

*It has:

- Around 7,200 offices in 85 countries and territories across: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America

- Around 89 million customers.

*As of 31 March 2012, it had total assets of $2.637 trillion of which:

- Roughly half were in Europe,

- A quarter in the Americas

- A quarter in Asia.

*HSBC:

- Has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange

- Is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

- As of 6 July 2012, it had a market capitalization of £102.7 billion( the second-largest of any company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

*Origins to 2000:

- March 1865: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was founded in the former British colony of Hong Kong by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland.

- April 1865: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was founded in Shanghai.

- 1980: HSBC acquired a 51% shareholding in Marine Midland Bank

- 1987: full ownership of Marine Midland Bank.

- 1991: HSBC Holdings plc was established in the United Kingdom as the parent company to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in preparation for its purchase of the UK-based Midland Bank.

- 1992: HSBC Holdings' acquisition of Midland Bank was completed, it gave HSBC a substantial market presence in the United Kingdom.

- 1993: As part of the takeover conditions for the acquisition, HSBC Holdings plc was required to relocate its world headquarters from Hong Kong to London.

- 1997: Major acquisitions in...