Re: New Life Ins Co in India

HSBC Holdings PLC
05 March 2007


  CANARA BANK, HSBC AND ORIENTAL BANK OF COMMERCE TO ESTABLISH LIFE INSURANCE
                                COMPANY IN INDIA

Canara Bank, HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited and Oriental Bank of
Commerce (OBC) have today signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to
jointly establish a life insurance company in India.

The new company will have exclusive access to the customer bases of both of the
State-owned banks, Canara Bank and OBC, and of HSBC in India. This comprises
more than 40 million people and a nationwide network of 3,600 branches. This
formidable distribution capability will be used by the company to become a
significant player in the country's rapidly expanding life insurance industry.

Under the proposed agreement, Canara Bank will take a 51 per cent stake in the
new company, HSBC a 26 per cent interest and OBC the remaining 23 per cent. The
new life insurance company will be capitalised at INR3,250 million
(approximately US$73 million), of which HSBC will contribute INR1,770 million
(approximately US$40 million), Canara Bank INR1,020 million (approximately US$23
million) and OBC INR460 million (approximately US$10 million). Under the terms
of the agreement, HSBC will provide a range of management services, which may
include providing executives for senior roles.

Life insurance premiums in India grew at an annual rate of 21 per cent in the
six years following the opening of the market to private players in 1999,
exceeding US$20 billion in 2005. From April to November 2006, new life insurance
premiums grew by 155 per cent, according to the business figures released by
India's Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority. However, with a
penetration rate of only 2.5 per cent in 2005, India's nascent life insurance
market has considerable long-term growth potential.

Shri M B N Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, Canara Bank, said: "Canara Bank,
which has built up a distinguished track record of performance and service
excellence over 100 years, has emerged as a front ranking banking institution in
India. Recognised as a financial conglomerate with a strong presence across
varied financial markets, the Bank has been providing a wide array of need based
banking and financial services to its fast growing cross section clientele.
Among others, Canara Bank has already established its presence in Mutual Fund,
Factoring, Housing and Venture Capital Financing activities through its
subsidiary companies and insurance domain by distributing insurance products -
both life and non-life through its network of branches.

"The signing of the MoU today to promote a life insurance company with HSBC
Insurance and Oriental Bank of Commerce marks a significant step forward for
Canara Bank in terms of creating and delivering value added insurance products
not only to the existing customers but also to the customers and prospects of
our partner institutions. By collaborating with HSBC we shall be in a position
to bring the best of international insurance products to the fast growing Indian
markets.

"I have no doubt indeed that the domain expertise of HSBC with the strong
network and presence of the Indian Public Sector Banks augurs well for the
success of our alliance."

David Fried, Regional Head of Insurance Asia Pacific for HSBC, said: "This is a
unique opportunity to expand HSBC's footprint in one of our major emerging
markets and to bring to the partnership considerable insurance experience,
product range and our proven bancassurance capabilities. HSBC has an extensive
and successful bancassurance operation in over 40 countries around the world
serving more than 30 million customers, in both developed and emerging markets.
HSBC has been in the insurance business since 1808, employs over 6,000 staff in
the manufacturing and sourcing of insurance products globally and has 40,000
staff involved in selling insurance. HSBC Insurance also has a long history in
Asia and we are recognised in the industry for our prudent management and high
quality of service. In Hong Kong, HSBC Insurance has won industry awards such as
Asia Insurance Review's Life Insurance Company of the Year in 2006, for being a
pioneer in product and service excellence as well as for our effective and sound
financial management.

"The financial services industry in India has seen remarkable development over
the past few years and life insurance has been a key part of that success story.
Working closely with our two partners, and by bringing our rich experience to
India, we believe we can build a significant presence in India's life insurance
industry. The sector has experienced rapid development since it was opened up in
1999 and we expect to see that robust growth continue over the next decade. It
is an extremely promising time to be entering this market."

Shri Prithviraj, Chairman Oriental Bank of Commerce, said: "OBC has a strong
presence in rural and semi-urban areas of northern India with 1,350 branches and
extension counters in all important centres across India. Our 14,500 strong
work-force is dedicated and committed to exploring new business activities.
Around 950 employees have already been handling life and general insurance
businesses for the past three years. With this alliance, OBC will augment its
revenue streams by improving return on equity after breakeven and commission
earnings from premia mobilized. Since OBC understands the needs of the local
populace, our input into the design of customer-friendly life insurance products
will enable the partners to garner market share. OBC will help formulate
products for Inclusive Growth for the needy sectors of society, so as to extend
the Social Security net to the deserving."

Completion of the transaction is subject to various conditions including
obtaining regulatory and other approvals and agreeing final terms among the
partners.

Notes to editors

1. Canara Bank
Canara Bank, established way back in 1906, is today the largest nationalized
bank in India in terms of aggregate business comprising of deposits and loans.
It has an asset size valued at about US$30 billion as at 31 March 2006. 73.17%
of the Bank's ownership is with the Government of India. Known for its strong
fundamentals and sound business policies, Canara Bank has the distinction of
posting profits every year since inception. The Bank has a network of over 2,500
branches nation-wide and 47,000 employees serving more than 28 million
customers. It has a credit rating of BBpi and AAA/Stable from Standard & Poor's
and CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) respectively.

The Bank offers today a host of e-enabled delivery channels, including 996 ATMs,
1,315 Anywhere Banking Branches and more than 1100 branches offering Internet
and Mobile Banking facilities.

2. Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC)
OBC is the eleventh largest bank by assets, which totaled US$13bn at 31 March
2006. It has more than 1,100 branches throughout India and over 14,500 staff
serving its 10 million customers. The India Government owns 51.1 per cent of
OBC, which has a credit rating of BBpi and AA+/FAAA/P1+ from Standard & Poor's
and CRISIL.

3. HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific) Holdings Limited
HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific) Holdings Limited is the parent company of four
underwriting companies, collectively known as HSBC Insurance - HSBC Insurance
(Asia) Limited, HSBC Life (International) Limited, HSBC Insurance (Singapore)
Pte Limited and HSBC Amanah Takaful (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (49% held). HSBC
Insurance offers customers the security, confidence and convenience of doing
business with one financial services organisation. It has offices in the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Macau SAR, Singapore and Malaysia.
In mainland China, it has representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzhou. HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific)'s total assets stood at HK$80 billion
at the end of June 2006.

4. HSBC in India
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in India offers a full
range of banking and financial services to its over 2 million customers through
its 47 branches and 170 ATMs across 26 cities. HSBC is one of India's leading
financial services groups, with over 25,000 employees in its banking, investment
banking and capital markets, asset management, insurance broking, software
development and global resourcing operations in the country. The Bank is the
founding and a principal member of the HSBC Group which, with around 9,500
offices in 81 countries and territories and assets of US$1,738 billion at 30
June 2006, is one of the world's largest banking and financial services
organisations.






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