HSBC acq of H'hold amdt to F4

HSBC Holdings PLC
26 February 2003

                           HSBC Holdings plc ("HSBC")

       Proposed Acquisition of Household International, Inc ("Household")

                          Amendment No. 4 to Form F-4

In connection with the proposed acquisition of Household by HSBC, Amendment No.
4 to Registration Statement on Form F-4 was filed by HSBC with the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in Washington DC at 17:26hrs Eastern Standard
Time on 25 February 2003. The SEC has declared the Registration Statement to be
effective.

Copies of this Registration Statement will be available on the SEC website at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml under HSBC's company filings, and on www.hsbc.com. In
addition a copy of the Registration Statement has been submitted to the UK
Listing Authority and will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing
Authority Document Viewing Facility, which is situated at:

Financial Services Authority

25 The North Colonnade

Canary Wharf

London E14 5HS

Tel: [phone]

(Documents will usually be available for inspection within six normal business
hours of this notice being given.)


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