Stake in Fin Independencia

HSBC Holdings PLC
31 March 2006


               HSBC TO ACQUIRE STAKE IN CONSUMER LENDER IN MEXICO

HSBC is to acquire a 19.99 per cent stake in Financiera Independencia, S.A. de
C.V. and its affiliate Serfincor, S.A. de C.V.

Financiera Independencia is one of Mexico's leading companies in the sub-prime
consumer loans market.

Under agreements signed today, Grupo Financiero HSBC, S.A. de C.V.'s affiliate,
HSBC Overseas Holdings (UK) Limited, will subscribe MXN700 million 
(US$65 million) for the stake. The transaction is subject to a number of 
conditions, including regulatory approval.

Financiera Independencia was founded in 1993 and is a highly successful niche
player in the sub-prime consumer loans market. Headquartered in Mexico City, it
opened its first branch in Toluca, 60km west of Mexico City, and at the end of
December 2005 had 120 offices in 69 cities throughout Mexico.

Sandy Flockhart, chief executive officer of Grupo Financiero HSBC, said: "This
investment aligns us with one of the country's leading companies in the consumer
loans market. It will enable us to pool our experience in developing new
products, and better serve our customers in this sector. Strategically it
positions both organisations to work together in developing this important
economic segment."

Notes to editors:
1. Grupo Financiero HSBC, S.A. de C.V.
Grupo Financiero HSBC is one of the five largest banking and financial services
institutions in Mexico, with 1,400 branches, more than 4,800 ATMs and 22,000
employees. HSBC in Mexico offers its six million customers a full range of
corporate and commercial banking, as well as personal and consumer financial
services. HSBC Bank Mexico is a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc.

2. HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc serves over 125 million customers worldwide through some 
9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific 
region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of 
US$1,502 billion at 31 December 2005, HSBC is one of the world's largest 
banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide 
as 'the world's local bank'.

3. Financiera Independencia, S.A. de C.V.
Financiera Independencia was founded in 1993, opening its first branch in
Toluca, 60km west of Mexico City. The company operates in 69 cities throughout
the country and, at 31 December 2005, had 120 offices and over 4,400 employees
serving more than 415,000 customers in the sub-prime consumer loans market.
Financiera Independencia was one of the fastest growing Mexican financial
companies in 2004 in terms of asset growth and return on equity.

                                   


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