EX-4.1





 Exhibit 4.1 

EXECUTION VERSION 
  

 
  

HSBC HOLDINGS PLC, 
 as Issuer 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, LONDON BRANCH, 

as Trustee 
 HSBC BANK USA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 
 as Paying Agent, Registrar and Calculation Agent 

 
  

TWENTIETH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE 

Dated as of March 24, 2021 
  

 
 To the Senior
Indenture, dated as of August 26, 2009, 
 among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Paying Agent, Registrar and Exchange Rate Agent 

£1,000,000,000 1.750% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 

 
  

 












 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

					
	 	  	Page	 
		
	 ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
	  	 	3	 
		
	 SECTION 1.01. Definition of Terms
	  	 	3	 
	 SECTION 1.02. Supplemental Definitions
	  	 	4	 
		
	 ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES
	  	 	8	 
		
	 SECTION 2.01. Terms Relating to Principal and Interest on the Notes.
	  	 	8	 
	 SECTION 2.02. General Terms Applicable to the Notes
	  	 	8	 
	 SECTION 2.03. Make-Whole Redemption.
	  	 	9	 
	 SECTION 2.04. Redemption Upon Loss Absorption Disqualification Event
	  	 	10	 
		
	 ARTICLE 3 INTEREST CALCULATION IN RESPECT OF THE NOTES
	  	 	11	 
		
	 SECTION 3.01. Interest Rate Periods on the Notes.
	  	 	11	 
	 SECTION 3.02. Interest Rate on the Notes.
	  	 	11	 
	 SECTION 3.03. Calculation of Compounded Daily SONIA and Fallback.
	  	 	12	 
		
	 ARTICLE 4 AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES ONLY
	  	 	14	 
		
	 SECTION 4.01. Definitions
	  	 	14	 
	 SECTION 4.02. Notice of Redemption
	  	 	14	 
	 SECTION 4.03. Optional Redemption of Debt Securities.
	  	 	15	 
	 SECTION 4.04. Events of Default and Defaults.
	  	 	15	 
	 SECTION 4.05. Additional Amounts.
	  	 	17	 
	 SECTION 4.05. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
	  	 	18	 
		
	 ARTICLE 5 MISCELLANEOUS
	  	 	19	 
		
	 SECTION 5.01. Effect of this Supplemental Indenture; Ratification and Integral Part
	  	 	19	 
	 SECTION 5.02. Priority
	  	 	19	 
	 SECTION 5.03. Successors and Assigns
	  	 	20	 
	 SECTION 5.04. Subsequent Holders’ Agreement
	  	 	20	 
	 SECTION 5.05. Compliance
	  	 	20	 
	 SECTION 5.06. Relation to Calculation Agent Agreement
	  	 	20	 
	 SECTION 5.07. Governing Law
	  	 	20	 
	 SECTION 5.08. Counterparts
	  	 	20	 
	 SECTION 5.09. Entire Agreement
	  	 	20	 
		
	 EXHIBIT A – Form of 1.750% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Global Security
	  			













 TWENTIETH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 24, 2021 (this
“Supplemental Indenture”), by and among HSBC Holdings plc, a public limited company duly organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), having its principal office at 8 Canada Square,
London E14 5HQ, England, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee”), having its principal corporate trust office at 101 Barclay Street, Floor
7-East, New York, New York 10286, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Paying Agent, Registrar and Calculation Agent (together, the “Agent”), having its principal office at 452 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10018. 
 W I T N E S S E T H: 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Trustee and the Agent have executed and delivered an indenture dated as of August 26, 2009 (as amended or
supplemented from time to time, the “Base Indenture” and, together with this Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance of the Company’s Debt Securities; 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(5) of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into a
supplemental indenture to establish the forms or terms of the Debt Securities of any series without the consent of the Holders as permitted under Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Base Indenture; 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue a series of Debt Securities under the Base Indenture (as supplemented and amended by this
Supplemental Indenture), the £1,000,000,000 1.750% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 (such series of Debt Securities, the “Notes”), such series to be issued pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture; 

WHEREAS, all conditions and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and binding instrument in accordance
with the terms of the Base Indenture have been performed and fulfilled and the execution and delivery hereof have been in all respects duly authorized; 

NOW, THEREFORE, each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders.

 ARTICLE 1 

DEFINITIONS 
 
SECTION 1.01.    Definition of Terms. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture: 

(a)    capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Base Indenture; 
 (b)    all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act,
either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; 
 (c)    the
singular includes the plural and vice versa; 
 (d)    the use of “or” is not intended to be
exclusive unless expressly indicated otherwise; 
 (e)    the section headings herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction of this Supplemental Indenture; 

  
 3 













 (f)    wherever the words “include,”
“includes” or “including” are used in this Supplemental Indenture, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; 

(g)    the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of
similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and 

(h)    references herein to a specific Section, Article or Exhibit refer to Sections or
Articles of, or an Exhibit to, this Supplemental Indenture, unless otherwise specified. 

SECTION 1.02.    Supplemental Definitions. The following definitions shall apply
to the Notes only: 
 (a)     “Agent” has the meaning set forth in the introduction to
this Supplemental Indenture; 
 (b)    “Applicable Currency” means Pounds Sterling; 

(c)     “Banking Act” means the UK Banking Act 2009, as amended. 

(d)     “Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets
settle payments and are open for general business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London, England, and in the City of New York, New York. 

(e)     “Calculation Agent” means HSBC Bank USA, National Association, or its successor
appointed by the Company pursuant to the Calculation Agent Agreement; 
 (f)    “Calculation
Agent Agreement” means the calculation agent agreement dated as of the Issue Date between the Company and the Calculation Agent; 

(g)    “Clearing Systems” means Clearstream Luxembourg and Euroclear; 

(h)     “Clearstream Luxembourg” means Clearstream Banking S.A. in Luxembourg; 

(i)    “Common Depositary” means HSBC Bank plc, or any successor in such capacity, as
common depositary for the Clearing Systems; 
 (j)    “Company” has the meaning set
forth in the introduction to this Supplemental Indenture; 
 (k)    “Compounded Daily
SONIA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a); 
 (l)    
“d” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a); 
 (m)    
“d0” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a); 

(n)    “Determination Agent” means an investment bank or financial institution of
international standing selected by the Company (which may be the Calculation Agent or an Affiliate of the Company); 

  
 4 













 (o)    “Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank
SA/NV; 
 (p)    “EUWA” means the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended. 

(q)    “Fixed Rate Period” means the period from (and including) the Issue Date to (but
excluding) July 24, 2026; 
 (r)    “Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date”
means, during the Fixed Rate Period, July 24 of each year, beginning on July 24, 2021; 

(s)    “Floating Rate Interest Period” means, during the Floating Rate Period, the period
beginning on (and including) a Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date; provided that the first Floating Rate Interest Period shall begin
on (and include) July 24, 2026 and shall end on (but exclude) the first Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date; 

(t)    “Floating Rate Period” means the period from (and including) July 24, 2026 to
(but excluding) the Maturity Date; 
 (u)    “Floating Rate Period Interest Payment
Date” means October 24, 2026, January 24, 2027, April 24, 2027 and July 24, 2027; 

(v)     “Gross Redemption Yield” means, with respect to a security, the gross redemption
yield on such security, expressed as a percentage and calculated by the Determination Agent on the basis set out by the United Kingdom Debt Management Office in the paper “Formulae for Calculating Gilt Prices from Yields”, page 5,
Section One: Price/Yield Formulae “Conventional Gilts; Double-dated and Undated Gilts with Assumed (or Actual) Redemption on a Quasi-Coupon Date” (published on 8 June 1998 and updated on 15 January 2002 and 16 March
2005, and as further amended, updated, supplemented or replaced from time to time) on a semi-annual compounding basis (converted to an annualised yield and rounded up (if necessary) to four decimal places) or, if such formula does not reflect
generally accepted market practice at the time of redemption, a gross redemption yield calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time as determined by the Company following consultation with an investment bank or
financial institution determined to be appropriate by the Company (which, for the avoidance of doubt, could be the Determination Agent, if applicable); 

(w)    “HSBC Group” or “HSBC” means the Company together with its
subsidiary undertakings; 
 (x)     “i” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a); 
 (y)    “Initial Interest Rate” means
1.750% per annum; 
 (z)    “Interest Determination Date” means the fifth SONIA Business
Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date; 
 (aa)    “Interest Payment Date”
means any of the Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Dates or the Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Dates, as applicable; 

(bb)     “Issue Date” means March 24, 2021; 

  
 5 













 (cc)     “Loss Absorption Disqualification
Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04; 

(dd)    “Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option” has the meaning set
forth in Section 2.04; 
 (ee)     “Loss Absorption
Regulations” means, at any time, the laws, regulations, requirements, guidelines, rules, standards and policies from time to time relating to minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities and/or loss absorbing capacity
instruments in effect in the UK and applicable to the Company from time to time, including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, the Banking Act and UK CRR (whether or not such requirements, guidelines or policies are applied
generally or specifically to the Company or to the Company and any of its holding or subsidiary companies or any subsidiary of any such holding company) in each case as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time; 

(ff)    “Make-Whole Redemption” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.03; 
 (gg)    “Make-Whole Redemption Period” means
the period beginning on (and including) September 24, 2021 (six months following the Issue Date) to (but excluding) the Par Redemption Date; provided that if any additional notes of the same series as the Notes are issued after the Issue
Date, the Make-Whole Redemption Period for such additional notes shall begin on (and include) the date that is six months following the issue date for such additional notes; 

(hh)    “Margin” means 1.307% per annum; 

(ii)    “Maturity Date” means July 24, 2027; 

(jj)    
“ni” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a); 

(kk)    “Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture;

 (ll)    “Observation Period” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a); 
 (mm)    “Par Redemption Date” means
July 24, 2026; 
 (nn)    “PRA” means the UK Prudential Regulation Authority or any
successor entity; 
 (oo)    “Quotation Time” means 11:00 a.m. (London time);

 (pp)    “Reference Bond” means the selected government security or securities agreed
between the Company and an investment bank or financial institution determined by the Company to be appropriate (which, for the avoidance of doubt, could be the Determination Agent, if applicable) as having an actual or interpolated maturity
comparable with the remaining term to the Par Redemption Date, that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities denominated in the Applicable
Currency and of a comparable maturity to the remaining term to the Par Redemption Date; 

(qq)    “Reference Date” means the date which is two Business Days prior to the giving of
a notice of redemption by the Company; 

  
 6 













 (rr)    “Relevant Regulator” means the
PRA or any successor entity or other entity primarily responsible for the prudential supervision of the Company; 

(ss)    “Relevant Screen Page” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a); 
 (tt)    “Relevant Supervisory Consent” means
as (and to the extent) required, a consent or waiver to the relevant redemption or purchase from the Relevant Regulator or the Relevant UK Resolution Authority (as applicable). For the avoidance of doubt, Relevant Supervisory Consent will not be
required if either (i) none of the Notes qualify as part of the Company’s regulatory capital, or own funds and eligible liabilities or loss absorbing capacity instruments, as the case may be, each pursuant to the Loss Absorption
Regulations, (ii) the relevant Notes are repurchased for market-making purposes in accordance with any permission given by the Relevant Regulator pursuant to the Loss Absorption Regulations within the limits prescribed in such permission or
(iii) the relevant Notes are being redeemed or repurchased pursuant to any general prior permission granted by the Relevant Regulator or the Relevant UK Resolution Authority (as applicable) pursuant to the Loss Absorption Regulations within the
limits prescribed in such permission; 
 (uu)    “Relevant UK Resolution Authority”
” means any authority with the ability to exercise a UK Bail-in Power; 

(vv)    “SONIA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a);


(ww)    
“SONIAi” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a); 

(xx)    “SONIA Business Day” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a); 
 (yy)     “Trustee” has the meaning set forth
in the introduction to this Supplemental Indenture; 
 (zz)    “UK
Bail-in Legislation” means Part I of the Banking Act and any other law or regulation applicable in the UK relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial
institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings); 

(aaa)     “UK Bail-in Power” means the powers
under the UK Bail-in Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or affiliate of a bank or investment firm, to cancel, write-down, transfer, reduce,
modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide
that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability; and 

(bbb)    “UK CRR” means Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 on prudential requirements for
credit institutions and investment firms of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013, as amended or supplemented from time to time, as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA. 

  
 7 













 ARTICLE 2 

THE NOTES 
 
SECTION 2.01.    Terms Relating to Principal and Interest on the Notes. 
 The following
terms relating to principal and interest on the Notes are hereby established: 
 (a)    the title of the
Notes shall be “1.750% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027”; 
 (b)    the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall not initially exceed £1,000,000,000 (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture); 

(c)    the principal on the Notes shall be payable on the Maturity Date; and 

(d)    during the Fixed Rate Period, interest on the Notes shall be payable at the Initial Interest Rate
and annually in arrear on each Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date. During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Notes shall be payable at a rate per annum determined in accordance with Article Three and quarterly in arrear on each
Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date. Accrual and computation of interest on the Notes shall be determined in accordance with Article Three. 

SECTION 2.02.    General Terms Applicable to the Notes 

The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established: 

(a)    the Notes shall be issued on the Issue Date; 

(b)    principal of, and any interest on, the Notes shall be paid to the Holder through the Agent in its
capacity as Paying Agent, having offices in New York City, New York; 
 (c)    the Notes shall not be
redeemable except as provided in Sections 2.03, 2.04, or Article Eleven of the Base Indenture, as amended by Sections 4.02 and 4.03. The Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of the Holders at any time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture or the Notes, including Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company may only redeem or repurchase the Notes prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to Sections
2.03, 2.04 or Article Eleven of the Base Indenture, as amended by Sections 4.02 and 4.03, if the Company has obtained any Relevant Supervisory Consent; 

(d)    the Notes are not issued as Discount Debt Securities or as Indexed Securities and payment
obligations under the Notes are not subject to a solvency condition that the Company is able to make such payment and remain able to pay its debts as they fall due and that its assets continue to exceed its liabilities (other than subordinated
liabilities); 
 (e)    the Company shall have no obligation to redeem or purchase the Notes pursuant to
any sinking fund or analogous provision; 
 (f)    the Notes shall be issued only in denominations of
£100,000 and integral multiples of £1,000 in excess thereof; 
 (g)    the Notes shall be
denominated in the Applicable Currency; 

  
 8 













 (h)    the payment of principal of, and interest on, the
Notes shall be payable only in the coin or currency in which the Notes are denominated which, pursuant to clause (g) above, shall be in the Applicable Currency; 

(i)    the Notes shall not be converted into or exchanged at the option of the Company or otherwise for
stock or other securities of the Company pursuant to Article Twelve of the Base Indenture; 
 (j)    the
Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more global securities in registered form, without coupons attached, and the initial Holder with respect to each such global security shall be HSBC Issuer Services Common Depository Nominee (UK) Limited, a
nominee of the Common Depositary. Any proposed transfer of an interest in Notes held in the form of a global security deposited with the Common Depositary shall be effected in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures
of Clearstream Luxembourg and/or Euroclear; 
 (k)    except in limited circumstances, the Notes will not
be issued in definitive form; 
 (l)    the Notes shall be evidenced by one or more global securities in
registered form substantially in the form of Exhibit A; 
 (m)    to the fullest extent permitted by law,
the Holders and the Trustee, in respect of any claims of such Holders to payment of any principal, premium or interest in respect of the Notes, by their acceptance of the Notes, shall be deemed to have waived any right of set-off or counterclaim that such Holders or, as the case may be, the Trustee in such respect, might otherwise have; 

(n)    members of the HSBC Group other than the Company may purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Notes
then Outstanding at the same or differing prices in the open market, negotiated transactions or otherwise without giving prior notice to or obtaining any consent from Holders, in accordance with the Loss Absorption Regulations and, if required,
subject to obtaining any Relevant Supervisory Consent; and 
 (o)    the Regular Record Dates for the
Notes will be the 15th calendar day preceding each Interest Payment Date, whether or not a Business Day. 

SECTION 2.03.    Make-Whole Redemption.  

(a)    Subject to the provisions of Article Eleven of the Base Indenture (as amended by Sections
4.02 and 4.03), the Company may, in its sole discretion, redeem the Notes during the Make-Whole Redemption Period, in whole at any time during such period or in part from time to time during such period, at a Redemption Price equal to the
greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; and (ii) as determined by the Determination Agent, the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed multiplied by the price (expressed as a percentage), as reported in
writing to the Company and the Trustee by the Determination Agent at which the Gross Redemption Yield on such Notes on the Reference Date (assuming for this purpose that the Notes are to be redeemed at 100% of their principal amount on the Par
Redemption Date) is equal to the Gross Redemption Yield (determined by reference to the middle market price) at the Quotation Time on the Reference Date of the Reference Bond, plus 25 basis points; in each case, plus any accrued and unpaid interest
on the Notes to be redeemed to (but excluding) the applicable Redemption Date (each, a “Make-Whole Redemption”). 

  
 9 













 (b)    If the Company determines, in its sole
discretion, that the inclusion of the Make-Whole Redemption provisions in the terms of the Indenture and the Notes could reasonably be expected to prejudice the qualification of the Notes as eligible liabilities or loss absorbing capacity
instruments for the purposes of the Loss Absorption Regulations, then the provisions relating to the Make-Whole Redemption shall be deemed not to apply for all purposes relating to the Notes and the Company shall not have any right to redeem the
Notes pursuant to a Make-Whole Redemption. In such circumstances, the Company shall promptly provide notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Calculation Agent and the Holders that the Make-Whole Redemption does not apply; provided that
failure to provide such notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such determination. No action taken in accordance with this paragraph shall be deemed to be an amendment requiring the consent of Holders under
Section 9.02 of the Base Indenture. 

SECTION 2.04.    Redemption Upon Loss Absorption Disqualification
Event  
 (a)    Subject to the provisions of Article Eleven of the Base Indenture (as
amended by Sections 4.02 and 4.03), following the occurrence of a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event, the Company may, within 90 days of the occurrence of the relevant Loss Absorption Disqualification Event, in its sole discretion,
redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part (such option to redeem being referred to herein as a “Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option”), at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus any accrued
and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the applicable Redemption Date. 
 (b)    A “Loss Absorption
Disqualification Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if the Notes become fully or partially ineligible to meet the Company’s or the HSBC Group’s minimum requirements for (A) eligible liabilities and/or (B) loss absorbing
capacity instruments, in each case as determined in accordance with and pursuant to the relevant Loss Absorption Regulations applicable to the Company or the HSBC Group, as a result of any (i) Loss Absorption Regulation becoming effective after
the Issue Date; or (ii) amendment to, or change in, any Loss Absorption Regulation, or any change in the application or official interpretation of any Loss Absorption Regulation, in any such case becoming effective on or after the Issue Date;
provided, however, that a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event shall not occur where the exclusion of the Notes from the relevant minimum requirement(s) is due to the remaining maturity of the Notes being less than any period prescribed by
any applicable eligibility criteria for such minimum requirement(s) under the relevant Loss Absorption Regulations effective with respect to the Company and/or the HSBC Group on the Issue Date. 

(c)    If the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the inclusion of the Loss Absorption
Disqualification Event Redemption Option provisions in the terms of the Indenture and the Notes could reasonably be expected to cause a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event to occur, then the provisions relating to the Loss Absorption
Disqualification Event Redemption Option shall be deemed not to apply for all purposes relating to the Notes and the Company shall not have any right to redeem the Notes pursuant to a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option. In such
circumstances, the Company shall promptly provide notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Calculation Agent and the Holders that the Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option does not apply; provided that failure to provide such
notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such determination. No action taken in accordance with this paragraph shall be deemed to be an amendment requiring the consent of Holders under Section 9.02 of the
Base Indenture. 

  
 10 













 ARTICLE 3 

INTEREST CALCULATION IN RESPECT OF THE NOTES 

SECTION 3.01.    Interest Rate Periods on the
Notes. 
 (a)    From (and including) the Issue Date to (but excluding) July 24, 2026
(the “Fixed Rate Period”), interest on the Notes will be payable at a rate of 1.750% per annum (the “Initial Interest Rate”). During the Fixed Rate Period, interest on the Notes will be payable annually in arrear on each Fixed
Rate Period Interest Payment Date. 
 (b)    From (and including) July 24, 2026 to (but excluding)
the Maturity Date (the “Floating Rate Period”), the interest rate on the Notes will be equal to Compounded Daily SONIA plus 1.307% per annum (the “Margin”). During the Floating Rate Period, interest on the Notes will be payable
quarterly in arrear on each Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date. The interest rate on the Notes will be calculated quarterly on each applicable Interest Determination Date. 

SECTION 3.02.    Interest Rate on the Notes. 

(a)    Fixed Rate Period 

(i)    Where it is necessary to compute an amount of interest in respect of any Note for a period which is
less than a complete interest period, the relevant day count fraction shall be determined on the basis of the number of days in the relevant period, from and including the date from which interest begins to accrue to, but excluding, the date on
which it falls due, divided by the actual number of days in the interest period in which the relevant period falls (including the first such day but excluding the last). 

(ii)    If any scheduled Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, such Fixed Rate
Period Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the scheduled Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date. 

(b)    Floating Rate Period 

(i)    Notwithstanding Section 3.10 of the Base Indenture, interest on the Notes
during the Floating Rate Period will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in the calculation period divided by 365 (or, if any portion of that calculation period falls in a leap year, the sum of (a) the actual number of days
in that portion of the calculation period falling in a leap year, divided by 366 and (b) the actual number of days in that portion of the calculation period falling in a non-leap year, divided by 365).

 (ii)    Notwithstanding Section 1.13 of the Base Indenture, if any
scheduled Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, such Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that if that Business Day falls in the next
succeeding calendar month, such Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If any such Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date is postponed or brought forward as described above, the payment of
interest due on such postponed or brought 

  
 11 













 
forward Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date will include interest accrued to but excluding such postponed or brought forward Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date. 

(iii)    If the date of redemption or repayment of the Notes is not a Business Day, the Company may pay
interest and principal on the next succeeding Business Day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the date of redemption or repayment of the Notes. 

(iv)    If a date of redemption or repayment of the Notes falls within the Floating Rate Period but does
not occur on a Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date, (A) the related Interest Determination Date shall be deemed to be the date that is five SONIA Business Days prior to such date of redemption or repayment, (B) the related
Observation Period shall be deemed to end on (but exclude) the date falling five SONIA Business Days prior to such date of redemption or repayment, (C) the Floating Rate Interest Period will be deemed to be shortened accordingly and
(D) corresponding adjustments will be deemed to be made to the Compounded Daily SONIA formula. 

(c)    General Provisions Relating to the Calculation of Interest on the Notes 

(i)    All determinations and any calculations made by the Calculation Agent for the purposes of
calculating the applicable interest on the Notes will be conclusive and binding on the Holders, the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent, absent manifest error. 

(ii)    All percentages resulting from any calculation in connection with any interest rate on the Notes
shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (for example, 9.876545% (or 0.09876545) would be
rounded to 9.87655% (or 0.0987655)), and all Applicable Currency amounts would be rounded to the nearest pence, with one-half pence being rounded upward. 

(iii)    The interest rate on the Notes during the applicable Floating Rate Interest Period will in no
event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by law or lower than 0% per annum. 

SECTION 3.03.    Calculation of Compounded Daily SONIA and
Fallback. 
 (a)     “Compounded Daily SONIA” means, in relation to a Floating Rate
Interest Period, the rate of return of a daily compound interest investment (with SONIA as reference rate for the calculation of interest) during the related Observation Period and will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the related Interest
Determination Date as follows: 
  
 



 
 Where: 

“d” means, in relation to any Observation Period, the number of calendar days in such Observation Period; 


  
 12 














“d0” means, in relation to any Observation
Period, the number of SONIA Business Days in such Observation Period; 
 “i” means, in relation to any
Observation Period, a series of whole numbers from one to d0, each representing the relevant SONIA Business Day in chronological order from (and including) the first SONIA Business Day in such
Observation Period; 
 “ni” means, in
relation to any SONIA Business Day “i” in the relevant Observation Period, the number of calendar days from (and including) such SONIA Business Day “i” up to (but excluding) the next following SONIA Business Day; 

“Observation Period” means, in respect of each Floating Rate Interest Period, the period from (and including)
the date which is the Interest Determination Date for the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to (but excluding) the date which is the Interest Determination Date for such Floating Rate Interest Period (or the date falling five SONIA
Business Days prior to such earlier date, if any, on which the Notes become due and payable); provided that the first Observation Period shall commence on (and include) the date that is five SONIA Business Days prior to the Par Redemption
Date; 
 “Relevant Screen Page” means Reuters Screen SONIA Page or such other page, section or other part as
may replace it as may be nominated by the person providing or sponsoring the information appearing there for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to Compounded Daily SONIA; 

“SONIA” means, in relation to any SONIA Business Day, the rate determined by the Calculation Agent in
accordance with the following provisions: 
 (i) the daily Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”) rate for
trades made on such SONIA Business Day as provided by the administrator of SONIA to authorized distributors and as then published on the Relevant Screen Page (or, if the Relevant Screen Page is unavailable, as otherwise published by such authorized
distributors) on the SONIA Business Day immediately following such SONIA Business Day; or 
 (ii) if, in respect of any SONIA
Business Day “i”, the rate specified in (i) above is not available on the Relevant Screen Page or has not otherwise been published by the relevant authorized distributors in respect of such SONIA Business Day “i”, the sum
of: (A) the Bank of England’s Bank Rate (the “Bank Rate”) prevailing at close of business on such SONIA Business Day “i”; plus (B) the mean of the spread of SONIA to the Bank Rate over five days preceding such
SONIA Business Day “i” on which SONIA has been published, excluding the highest spread (or, if there is more than one highest spread, one only of those highest spreads) and lowest spread (or, if there is more than one lowest spread, one
only of those lowest spreads); 
 “SONIAi”
means, in relation to any SONIA Business Day “i” in the relevant Observation Period, SONIA in respect of such SONIA Business Day; and 

“SONIA Business Day” means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealing
in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London. 
 If the rate of interest cannot be determined in accordance
with the forgoing provisions, the rate of interest shall be (A) the rate determined by the Calculation Agent as at the last 

  
 13 













 
preceding Interest Determination Date in relation to a Floating Rate Interest Period or (B) if there is no such preceding Interest Determination Date in relation to a Floating Rate Interest
Period, the Initial Interest Rate. 
 ARTICLE 4 

AMENDMENTS TO THE BASE INDENTURE 

APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES ONLY 

SECTION 4.01.    Definitions 

(a)    Any reference to “Depositary” in the Base Indenture and any amendment thereto shall be
deemed to refer to the Clearing Systems. 
 (b)    Any reference to “DTC” in the Base Indenture
and any amendment thereto shall be deemed to refer to the Clearing Systems. 

SECTION 4.02.    Notice of Redemption 

(a)    With respect to the Notes only, Article Eleven of the Base Indenture is amended by amending and
restating Section 11.04 in its entirety, which shall read as follows: 
 Section 11.04.
Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.06 not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Debt Securities to be redeemed. 

All notices of redemption shall state: 

(a) the Redemption Date; 

(b) the Redemption Price, or the manner in which the Redemption Price is to be determined; 

(c) if less than all Outstanding Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification and the principal amount
(or, in the case of Principal Indexed Securities, face amount)) of the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed; 
 (d)
that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable in respect of each such Debt Security to be redeemed, and that any interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date; 

(e) the Place or Places of Payment where such Debt Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all Coupons, if
any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and 

(f) the CUSIP number or numbers, the Common Code, or the ISIN, if any, with respect to such Debt Securities. 

  
 14 













 A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 11.04 need
not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed. 
 Notice of redemption of Debt Securities to be redeemed
shall be prepared by the Company and at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. 

(b)    With respect to the Notes only, Article Eleven of the Base Indenture is amended by amending
and restating Section 11.08 in its entirety, which shall read as follows: 
 Section 11.08.
    Optional Redemption in the Event of Change in Tax Treatment. In addition to any redemption provisions that may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities are
redeemable, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company, on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, together with accrued but unpaid interest, if any,
in respect of such Debt Securities to the date fixed for redemption (or, in the case of Discount Debt Securities, the accreted face amount thereof, together with accrued interest, if any, or, in the case of Principal Indexed Securities, the amount
specified pursuant to Section 3.01), and any Debt Securities convertible into Dollar Preference Shares or Conversion Securities of the Company may, at the option of the Company, be converted as a whole, if, at any time, the Company shall
determine that (a) in making payment under such Debt Securities in respect of principal (or premium, if any), interest or missed payment it has or will or would become obligated to pay Additional Amounts, provided such obligation to pay
Additional Amounts results from a change in or amendment to the laws of the Taxing Jurisdiction, or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws (including a decision of any court or tribunal), or any change in, or in the
official application or interpretation of, or execution of, or amendment to, any treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which the United Kingdom is a party, which change, amendment or execution becomes effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Debt Securities of such series or (b) the payment of interest in respect of such Debt Securities has become or will or would be treated as a “distribution” within the meaning of Section 1000 of the Corporation Tax
Act 2010 of the United Kingdom (or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being), as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws of the Taxing Jurisdiction, or any change in the
official application or interpretation of such laws including a decision of any court, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that in the
case of (a) above, no notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obliged to pay Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of such Debt Securities then due. 

SECTION 4.03.    Optional Redemption of Debt
Securities.  
 (a)    With respect to the Notes only, Article Eleven of the Base
Indenture is amended by adding Section 11.09, which shall read as follows: 

“Section 11.09.     Par Redemption of the Notes. The Company may redeem each
series of Debt Securities in whole (but not in part) in its sole discretion on the Par Redemption Date. The Redemption Price will be equal to 100% of their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the Par Redemption
Date.” 
 SECTION 4.04.    Events of Default and
Defaults.  

  
 15 













 With respect to the Notes only, Article Five of the Base Indenture is amended by
amending and restating Section 5.01 in its entirety, which shall read as follows: 

Section 5.01.     Events of Default and Defaults. 

(a)    An “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes means any one of the following events:

 (i)    an order is made by an English court which is not successfully appealed within 30 days after
the date such order was made for winding up of the Company other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or 

(ii)    an effective resolution is validly adopted by the Company’s shareholders for winding up of
the Company other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency. 

(b)    A “Default” with respect to the Notes means any one of the following events: 

(i)    failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, and such default continues
for a period of 30 days; or 
 (ii)    failure to pay any interest on the Notes when due and payable,
which failure continues for 30 days. 
 (c)    If a Default occurs, the Trustee may institute proceedings
in England (but not elsewhere) for the Company’s winding-up; provided that the Trustee may not, upon the occurrence of a Default, accelerate the maturity of any Notes then Outstanding, unless an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. 
 (d)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, failure to make
any payment in respect of the Notes shall not be a Default in respect of the Notes if such payment is withheld or refused: 

(i)    in order to comply with any fiscal or other law or regulation or with the order of any court of
competent jurisdiction, in each case applicable to such payment; or 
 (ii)    in case of doubt as to
the validity or applicability of any such law, regulation or order, in accordance with advice given as to such validity or applicability at any time during the said grace period of 30 days by independent legal advisers acceptable to the Trustee;

 provided, however, that the Trustee may, by notice to the Company, require the Company to take such action (including but not
limited to proceedings for a declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction) as the Trustee may be advised in an opinion of counsel, upon which opinion the Trustee may conclusively rely, is appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to
resolve such doubt, in which case the Company shall forthwith take and expeditiously proceed with such action and shall be bound by any final resolution of the doubt resulting therefrom. If any such resolution determines that the relevant payment
can be made without violating any applicable law, regulation or order then the preceding sentence shall cease to have effect and the payment shall become due and payable on the expiration of the relevant grace period of 30 days after the Trustee
gives written notice to the Company informing the Company of such resolution. 

  
 16 













 (e)    Agreements with Respect to the Events of
Default and Defaults. 
 By its acquisition of the Notes, each Holder (which, for these purposes, includes each
beneficial owner), to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee will not
be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance with the exercise of the limited remedies available under the Indenture and the Notes for a non-payment
of principal and/or interest on the Notes. 

SECTION 4.05.    Additional Amounts. With respect to the Notes
only, Article Ten of the Base Indenture is amended by amending and restating Section 10.04(a) in its entirety, which shall read as follows: 

Section 10.04.     Payment of Additional Amounts. 

(a)    Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, all payments made under or with
respect to Debt Securities shall be paid by the Company, without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any and all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings whatsoever imposed, levied,
collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), unless required by law. If such deduction or
withholding shall at any time be required by the law of the Taxing Jurisdiction, the Company shall pay such additional amounts in respect of payments of interest only (and not principal) on such Debt Securities (“Additional Amounts”) as
may be necessary so that the net amounts (including Additional Amounts) paid to the Holders, after such deduction or withholding, will be equal to the respective amounts of interest which the Holders would have been entitled to receive in respect of
such Debt Securities in the absence of such deduction or withholding, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any such tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding which: 

(i) would not be payable or due but for the fact that the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Debt Security is domiciled in,
or is a national or resident of, or engaging in business or maintaining a permanent establishment or being physically present in, the Taxing Jurisdiction or otherwise has some connection or former connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than
the holding or ownership of a Debt Security, or the collection of interest payments on, or the enforcement of, any Debt Security; 

(ii) would not be payable or due but for the fact that the certificate representing the relevant Debt Securities (x) is
presented for payment in the Taxing Jurisdiction or (y) is presented for payment more than 30 days after the date payment became due or was provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the Holder would have been entitled to such
Additional Amount on presenting the same for payment at the close of such 30 day period; 
 (iii) would not have been
imposed if presentation for payment of the certificate representing the relevant Debt Securities had been made to a paying agent other than the paying agent to which the presentation was made; 

  
 17 













 (iv) is imposed in respect of a Holder that is not the sole beneficial
owner of the interest, or a portion thereof, or that is a fiduciary or partnership, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership would not have been entitled to
the payment of an Additional Amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment; 

(v) is imposed because of the failure to comply by the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Debt Securities or the beneficial
owner of any payment on such Debt Securities with a request from the Company addressed to the Holder or the beneficial owner, including a written request from the Company related to a claim for relief under any applicable double tax treaty
(x) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with a taxing jurisdiction of the Holder or the beneficial owner or (y) to make any declaration or other similar claim to satisfy any information or
reporting requirement, if the information or declaration is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation, ruling or administrative practice of the Taxing Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from withholding or deduction of all or
part of the tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge; 
 (vi) is imposed in respect of any estate, inheritance,
gift, sale, transfer, personal property, wealth or similar tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge; or 
 (vii)
is imposed in respect of any combination of the above items. 
 Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any
context, the payment of any interest on, or in respect of, any Debt Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Debt Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of
Additional Amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of Additional
Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made. 

SECTION 4.05.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.  

(a)    With respect to the Notes only, Article Three of the Base Indenture is amended by amending
and restating Section 3.03(f) in its entirety, which shall read as follows: 

(f)    No Debt Security or Coupon attached thereto shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture
or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Debt Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by signature of one of its authorized signatories, and
such certificate of authentication upon any Debt Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Debt Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Except as
permitted by Section 3.05 or Section 3.06, neither the Trustee nor the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant Coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled. 

  
 18 













 (b)    With respect to the Notes only, Article
Three of the Base Indenture is amended by adding Section 3.03(g), which shall read as follows: 

(g)    The words “execution,” “executed,” “signed,” “signature,”
and words of like import in this Indenture, the Debt Securities or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Indenture or the offering and sale of the Debt Securities shall include images of manually executed signatures
transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign or any other electronic
process or digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee and agreed to by the Trustee in its sole discretion ). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record
created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based
on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Each party agrees that this Indenture, the Debt Securities and any other documents to be delivered in connection herewith may be electronically or digitally signed using DocuSign (or any other electronic
process or digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee and agreed to by the Trustee in its sole discretion), and that any such electronic or digital signatures appearing on this Indenture, the Debt Securities or such other
documents are the same as manual signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic or digital signatures and electronic methods to submit any
communications to Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties. 

ARTICLE 5 

MISCELLANEOUS 
 
SECTION 5.01.    Effect of this Supplemental Indenture; Ratification and Integral Part. This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective upon its execution and delivery. 

Except as hereby amended, the Base Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, provisions and conditions thereof
(including any prior amendments thereto) shall be, and remain, in full force and effect, including, without limitation, Section 4.06 of the first supplemental indenture dated March 8, 2016 (amending the Base Indenture
to add Section 15) and Section 4.01 of the second supplemental indenture dated May 25, 2016 (amending Section 6.07 of the Base Indenture). This Supplemental Indenture
shall be deemed an integral part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. 

SECTION 5.02.    Priority. This Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the
manner and to the extent herein and therein provided. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall, with respect to the Notes and as otherwise provided herein and subject to the terms hereof, supersede the provisions of the Base Indenture to
the extent the Base Indenture is inconsistent herewith. 

  
 19 













 SECTION 5.03.    Successors and
Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. 

SECTION 5.04.    Subsequent Holders’ Agreement. Any Holder (which, for these purposes,
includes each beneficial owner of the Notes) that acquires the Notes in the secondary market and any successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal representatives of any Holder or beneficial owner of the
Notes shall be deemed to acknowledge, accept, agree to be bound by and consent to the same provisions specified herein to the same extent as the Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that acquire the Notes upon their initial issuance, including,
without limitation, with respect to the acknowledgement and agreement to be bound by and consent to the terms of the Notes related to the UK Bail-in Power and the limited remedies available under the Indenture
and the Notes for a non-payment of principal and/or interest on the Notes. 
 
SECTION 5.05.    Compliance. The Agent shall be entitled to take any action or to refuse to take any action which the Agent regards as necessary for the Agent to comply with any applicable law, regulation or
fiscal requirement, court order, or the rules, operating procedures or market practice of any relevant stock exchange or other market or clearing system. 

SECTION 5.06.    Relation to Calculation Agent Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the Indenture
and the Calculation Agent Agreement relating to the rights or obligations of the Calculation Agent in the Indenture in connection with the calculation of the interest rate on the Notes, the relevant terms of the Calculation Agent Agreement shall
govern such rights and obligations. 
 SECTION 5.07.    Governing Law. This
Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. 

SECTION 5.08.    Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed manually, by facsimile or
by electronic signature in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. 

SECTION 5.09.    Entire Agreement. This Supplemental Indenture constitutes the
entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the Notes and the amendments to the Base Indenture set forth herein. 

  
 20 













 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be
duly executed as of the date first stated above. 
  

			
	 HSBC HOLDINGS PLC,
as Issuer

		
	By:	 	 /s/ Richard Boyns

	Name:	 	Richard Boyns
	Title:	 	Head of Capital Management
	
	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
	LONDON BRANCH,
    as Trustee
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Michael Lee

	Name:	 	Michael Lee
	Title:	 	Authorized Signatory
	
	HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    as Paying Agent, Registrar and Calculation Agent
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Deirdra N. Ross

	Name:	 	Deirdra N. Ross
	Title:	 	Associate Director


 [Signature Page to the Supplemental Indenture] 












 EXHIBIT A 

FORM OF 1.750% FIXED RATE/FLOATING RATE GLOBAL SECURITY 
  

	
	CUSIP No.: 404280 CR8
	ISIN: XS2322315727     
	No.: [•]                            

 THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH
DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. 
 BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY
THIS GLOBAL SECURITY, EACH HOLDER (WHICH, FOR THESE PURPOSES, INCLUDES EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE DEBT SECURITIES) ACKNOWLEDGES, ACCEPTS, CONSENTS AND AGREES, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER TERM OF THE DEBT SECURITIES, THE INDENTURE OR ANY OTHER
AGREEMENTS, ARRANGEMENTS OR UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND ANY HOLDER, TO BE BOUND BY (I) THE EFFECT OF THE EXERCISE OF ANY UK BAIL-IN POWER BY THE RELEVANT UK RESOLUTION AUTHORITY IN RELATION TO
ANY DEBT SECURITIES THAT (WITHOUT LIMITATION) MAY INCLUDE AND RESULT IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, OR SOME COMBINATION THEREOF: (A) THE REDUCTION OF ALL, OR A PORTION, OF THE AMOUNTS DUE (AS DEFINED ON THE REVERSE OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY); (B) THE
CONVERSION OF ALL, OR A PORTION, OF THE AMOUNTS DUE INTO THE ISSUER’S OR ANOTHER PERSON’S ORDINARY SHARES, OTHER SECURITIES OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS (AND THE ISSUE TO, OR CONFERRAL ON, THE HOLDER OF SUCH ORDINARY SHARES, OTHER SECURITIES OR
OTHER OBLIGATIONS), INCLUDING BY MEANS OF AN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION OR VARIATION OF THE TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OR THE INDENTURE; (C) THE CANCELLATION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES; AND/OR (D) THE AMENDMENT OR ALTERATION OF THE MATURITY OF
THE DEBT SECURITIES OR AMENDMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON THE DEBT SECURITIES, OR THE INTEREST PAYMENT DATES, INCLUDING BY SUSPENDING PAYMENT FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD; AND (II) THE VARIATION OF THE TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OR THE
INDENTURE, IF NECESSARY, TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE EXERCISE OF ANY UK BAIL-IN POWER BY THE RELEVANT UK RESOLUTION AUTHORITY. 

THERE IS NO RIGHT OF ACCELERATION IN THE CASE OF NON-PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND/OR INTEREST ON THE DEBT SECURITIES OR OF
THE ISSUER’S FAILURE TO PERFORM ANY OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER OR IN RESPECT OF THE DEBT SECURITIES. PAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE DEBT SECURITIES MAY BE ACCELERATED ONLY UPON CERTAIN EVENTS OF A WINDING UP AS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE.


  
 A-1 













 GLOBAL SECURITY 

HSBC Holdings plc 
 £[•]

 1.750% FIXED RATE/FLOATING RATE SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2027 

This is a Global Security in respect of a duly authorized issue by HSBC Holdings plc (the “Issuer,” which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to) of debt securities, designated as specified in the title hereof, in the aggregate face amount of £[•] (the “Debt Securities”). 

The Issuer, for value received, hereby promises to pay HSBC Issuer Services Common Depository Nominee (UK) Limited, or registered assigns on
July 24, 2027 (the “Maturity Date”) or on such earlier date as this Global Security may be redeemed, the principal amount hereof and to pay interest on the said principal amount from March 24, 2021 (the “Issue
Date”) or the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or duly provided for until maturity: 

(i)    from (and including) the Issue Date or the most recent Interest Payment Date during the Fixed Rate Period on which
interest has been paid or duly provided for to (but excluding) July 24, 2026, annually in arrear on July 24 of each year, beginning on July 24, 2021 (each, a “Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date”), at a rate of
1.750% per annum (the “Initial Interest Rate”); and 
 (ii)    from (and including) July 24, 2026
or the most recent Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Period on which interest has been paid or duly provided for to (but excluding) the Maturity Date, quarterly in arrear on October 24, 2026, January 24, 2027, April 24,
2027 and July 24, 2027 (each, a “Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date”), at a floating rate equal to Compounded Daily SONIA plus 1.307% per annum (the “Margin”). The interest rate during the Floating Rate
Period on this Global Security shall be calculated quarterly on each applicable Interest Determination Date. 
 “Fixed Rate
Period” means the period from (and including) the Issue Date, to (but excluding) July 24, 2026. 
 “Floating Rate
Period” means the period from (and including) July 24, 2026 to (but excluding) the Maturity Date. 
 “Interest Payment
Date” means any Fixed Rate Period Interest Payment Date or Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date. 
 “Compounded Daily
SONIA” means, in relation to a Floating Rate Interest Period, the rate of return of a daily compound interest investment (with SONIA as reference rate for the calculation of interest) during the related Observation Period and will be
calculated by the Calculation Agent on the related Interest Determination Date as follows: 
  
 



 
 Where: 

“Calculation Agent” means HSBC Bank USA, National Association, or its successor appointed by the Issuer pursuant to the
Calculation Agent Agreement; 












 “Calculation Agent Agreement” means the calculation agent agreement dated
as of the Issue Date between the Issuer and the Calculation Agent; 
 “d” means, in relation to any Observation Period, the
number of calendar days in such Observation Period; 
 “d0”
means, in relation to any Observation Period, the number of SONIA Business Days in such Observation Period; 
 “i” means,
in relation to any Observation Period, a series of whole numbers from one to d0, each representing the relevant SONIA Business Day in chronological order from (and including) the first SONIA
Business Day in such Observation Period; 
 “ni” means, in
relation to any SONIA Business Day “i” in the relevant Observation Period, the number of calendar days from (and including) such SONIA Business Day “i” up to (but excluding) the next following SONIA Business Day; 

“Observation Period” means, in respect of each Floating Rate Interest Period, the period from (and including) the date which
is the Interest Determination Date for the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to (but excluding) the date which is the Interest Determination Date for such Floating Rate Interest Period (or the date falling five SONIA Business Days prior to
such earlier date, if any, on which the Debt Securities become due and payable); provided that the first Observation Period shall commence on (and include) the date that is five SONIA Business Days prior to July 24, 2026 (the
“Par Redemption Date”); 
 “Relevant Screen Page” means Reuters Screen SONIA Page or such other page,
section or other part as may replace it as may be nominated by the person providing or sponsoring the information appearing there for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to Compounded Daily SONIA. 

“SONIA” means, in relation to any SONIA Business Day, the rate determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the
following provisions: 
 (i) the daily Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”) rate for such SONIA Business Day as provided by
the administrator of SONIA to authorized distributors and as then published on the Relevant Screen Page (or, if the Relevant Screen Page is unavailable, as otherwise published by such authorized distributors) on the SONIA Business Day immediately
following such SONIA Business Day; or 
 (ii) if, in respect of any SONIA Business Day “i”, the rate specified in (i) above
is not available on the Relevant Screen Page or has not otherwise been published by the relevant authorized distributors in respect of such SONIA Business Day “i”, the sum of: (A) the Bank of England’s Bank Rate (the “Bank
Rate”) prevailing at close of business on such SONIA Business Day “i”; plus (B) the mean of the spread of SONIA to the Bank Rate over five days preceding such SONIA Business Day “i” on which SONIA has been published,
excluding the highest spread (or, if there is more than one highest spread, one only of those highest spreads) and lowest spread (or, if there is more than one lowest spread, one only of those lowest spreads); 

“SONIAi” means, in relation to any SONIA Business Day
“i” in the relevant Observation Period, SONIA in respect of such SONIA Business Day; and 
 “SONIA Business Day”
means any day on which commercial banks are open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London. 












 If the rate of interest cannot be determined in accordance with the forgoing provisions, the
rate of interest shall be (A) the rate determined by the Calculation Agent as at the last preceding Interest Determination Date in relation to a Floating Rate Interest Period or (B) if there is no such preceding Interest Determination Date
in relation to a Floating Rate Interest Period, the Initial Interest Rate. 
 All percentages resulting from any calculation in connection
with any interest rate in respect of this Global Security shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
upward (for example, 9.876545% (or 0.09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or 0.0987655)), and all Applicable Currency amounts would be rounded to the nearest pence, with one-half pence being rounded upward.

 All determinations and any calculations made by the Calculation Agent for the purposes of calculating the applicable interest on the Debt
Securities will be conclusive and binding on the Holders, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Paying Agent, absent manifest error. 

“Applicable Currency” means Pounds Sterling. 

“Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open for general
business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London, England, and in the City of New York, New York. 

“Floating Rate Interest Period” means, during the Floating Rate Period, the period beginning on (and including) a Floating
Rate Period Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date; provided that the first Floating Rate Interest Period will begin on (and include) July 24, 2026 and will end
on (but exclude) the first Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date. 
 “HSBC” means the Issuer together with its
subsidiary undertakings. 
 “Interest Determination Date” means the fifth SONIA Business Day preceding the applicable
Interest Payment Date. 
 Interest in respect of this Global Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Global Security (or one or more Predecessor Global Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. 

Payment of interest, if any, in respect of this Global Security may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as
such address shall appear in the Register, or by wire transfer or transfer by any other means to an account designated in writing by such Person to the Paying Agent at least 15 days prior to such payment date. 

Any interest in respect of this Global Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
(herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holders thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of their having been such Holders; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Issuer,
at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (i) or (ii) below: 
  

	 	(i)	 The Issuer may elect to make payment of such Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names this Global
Security (or its respective Predecessor Global Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the manner provided for in the Indenture.
















	 	(ii)	 The Issuer may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on this Global Security in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Global Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Issuer to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant
to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. 


 All payments made under or with
respect to this Global Security shall be paid by the Issuer, without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any and all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings whatsoever imposed, levied,
collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein having the power to tax (each, a “Taxing Jurisdiction”), unless required by law. If such
deduction or withholding shall at any time be required by the law of the Taxing Jurisdiction, the Issuer shall pay such additional amounts in respect of payments of interest only (and not principal) on this Global Security (“Additional
Amounts”) as may be necessary so that the net amounts (including Additional Amounts) paid to the Holders, after such deduction or withholding, shall be equal to the respective amounts of interest which the Holders would have been entitled
to receive in respect of this Global Security in the absence of such deduction or withholding; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any such tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding which: (i) would not be
payable or due but for the fact that the Holder or the beneficial owner of this Global Security is domiciled in, or is a national or resident of, or engaging in business or maintaining a permanent establishment or being physically present in, the
Taxing Jurisdiction or otherwise has some connection or former connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than the holding or ownership of this Global Security, or the collection of interest payments on, or the enforcement of, this Global
Security; (ii) would not be payable or due but for the fact that this Global Security (x) is presented for payment in the Taxing Jurisdiction or (y) is presented for payment more than 30 days after the date payment became due or was
provided for, whichever is later, except to the extent that the Holder would have been entitled to such Additional Amount on presenting the same for payment at the close of such 30 day period; (iii) would not have been imposed if presentation
for payment of this Global Security had been made to a paying agent other than the paying agent to which the presentation was made; (iv) is imposed in respect of a Holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the interest, or a portion
thereof, or that is a fiduciary or partnership, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership would not have been entitled to the payment of an Additional Amount
had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment; (v) is imposed because of the failure to comply by the Holder or the beneficial owner of this Global Security or the
beneficial owner of any payment on this Global Security with a request from the Issuer addressed to the Holder or the beneficial owner, including a written request from the Issuer related to a claim for relief under any applicable double tax treaty
(x) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with a taxing jurisdiction of the Holder or the beneficial owner, or (y) to make any declaration or other similar claim to satisfy any information or
reporting requirement, if the information or declaration is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation, ruling or administrative practice of the Taxing Jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from withholding or deduction of all or
part of the tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge; (vi) is imposed in respect of any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property, wealth or similar tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge; or
(vii) is imposed in respect of any combination of the above items. 
 Whenever in this Global Security there is mentioned, in any
context, the payment of any interest on, or in respect of, any Debt Security or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Debt Security, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts to the
extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional
Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made. 












 Upon any exchange of a portion of this Global Security for a definitive Debt Security, the
portion of the principal amount hereof so exchanged shall be endorsed by the Registrar on Schedule A hereto. The principal amount hereof shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed. 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Global Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for
the purposes hereof have the same effect as if set forth at this place. 
 Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed
by the Trustee or an authenticating agent, this Global Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purposes. 












 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed. 

 

			
	By:	 	     

	
	HSBC Holdings plc,
as Issuer


 Dated: [•], 2021 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION 

This is one of the Debt Securities of a series issued under the within-mentioned Indenture. 

 

							
		 		 	By:	 	  

				
	Dated: [•], 2021	 	    	 		 	
			
		 		 	The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch,
as Trustee













 REVERSE OF GLOBAL SECURITY 

£[•] 
 1.750% FIXED
RATE/FLOATING RATE SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2027 
 This Global Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities issued and
to be issued in one or more series under and governed by an Indenture dated as of August 26, 2009 (as amended or supplemented from time to time), by and among the Issuer, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as trustee (the
“Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HBUS”), as registrar and paying agent (the “Base Indenture”), as amended and
supplemented by a Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 24, 2021 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Trustee and HBUS, as
paying agent, registrar and calculation agent (the “Agent”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities
thereunder of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Holders and of the terms upon which the Debt Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. 

Under the terms of the Indenture, the Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the Issuer’s sole discretion, on not
less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at any time at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, if, at any time, the Issuer determines that: 

(i) in making payment under the Debt Securities in respect of principal (or premium, if any) interest, or missed payment the
Issuer has or shall or would become obligated to pay Additional Amounts as provided in the Indenture and in this Global Security provided such obligation to pay Additional Amounts results from a change in or amendment to the laws of the Taxing
Jurisdiction, or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws (including a decision of any court or tribunal), or any change in, or in the official application or interpretation of, or execution of, or amendment to, any
treaty or treaties affecting taxation to which the United Kingdom is a party, which change, amendment or execution becomes effective on or after the Issue Date; or 

(ii) the payment of interest in respect of the Debt Securities has become or will or would be treated as a
“distribution” within the meaning of Section 1000 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 of the United Kingdom (or any statutory modification or reenactment thereof for the time being) as a result of a change in or amendment to the laws of
the Taxing Jurisdiction, or any change in the official application or interpretation of such laws, including a decision of any court, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the Issue Date; provided, however that, in the case
of (i) above, no notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts were a payment in respect of the Debt Securities then due. 

Under the terms of the Indenture, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, redeem the Debt Securities during the Make-Whole Redemption Period,
on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, in whole at any time during such period or in part from time to time during such period, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities
to be redeemed; and (ii) as determined by the Determination Agent, the principal amount of the Debt Securities to be redeemed multiplied by the price (expressed as a percentage), as reported in writing to the Issuer and the Trustee by the
Determination Agent at which the Gross Redemption Yield on such Debt Securities on the Reference Date (assuming for this purpose that the Debt Securities are to be redeemed at 100% of their principal amount on the Par Redemption Date) is equal to
the Gross Redemption Yield (determined by reference to the middle market price) at the Quotation Time on the Reference Date of the Reference Bond, plus 25 basis points; in each case, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Debt Securities to be
redeemed to (but excluding) the applicable Redemption Date (each, a “Make-Whole Redemption”). 












 The “Make-Whole Redemption Period” means the period beginning on (and
including) September 24, 2021 (six months following the Issue Date) to (but excluding) July 24, 2026 (the “Par Redemption Date”); provided that if any additional notes of the same series as the Debt Securities are
issued after the Issue Date, the Make-Whole Redemption Period for such additional notes shall begin on (and include) the date that is six months following the issue date for such additional notes. 

“Determination Agent” means an investment bank or financial institution of international standing selected by the Issuer
(which may be the Calculation Agent or the Issuer’s Affiliate). 
 “Gross Redemption Yield” means, with respect to a
security, the gross redemption yield on such security, expressed as a percentage and calculated by the Determination Agent on the basis set out by the United Kingdom Debt Management Office in the paper “Formulae for Calculating Gilt Prices
from Yields”, page 5, Section One: Price/Yield Formulae “Conventional Gilts; Double-dated and Undated Gilts with Assumed (or Actual) Redemption on a Quasi-Coupon Date” (published on 8 June 1998 and updated on
15 January 2002 and 16 March 2005, and as further amended, updated, supplemented or replaced from time to time) on a semi-annual compounding basis (converted to an annualised yield and rounded up (if necessary) to four decimal places) or,
if such formula does not reflect generally accepted market practice at the time of redemption, a gross redemption yield calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time as determined by the Issuer following consultation
with an investment bank or financial institution determined to be appropriate by the Issuer (which, for the avoidance of doubt, could be the Determination Agent, if applicable). 

“Quotation Time” means 11:00 a.m. (London time). 

“Reference Bond” means the selected government security or securities agreed between the Issuer and an investment bank or
financial institution determined by the Issuer to be appropriate (which, for the avoidance of doubt, could be the Determination Agent, if applicable) as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable with the remaining term to the Par
Redemption Date, that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities denominated in the Applicable Currency and of a comparable maturity to the
remaining term to the Par Redemption Date. 
 “Reference Date” means the date which is two Business Days prior to the
giving of a notice of redemption by the Issuer. 
 If the Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that the inclusion of the Make-Whole
Redemption provisions in the terms of the Indenture and the Debt Securities could reasonably be expected to prejudice the qualification of the Debt Securities as eligible liabilities or loss absorbing capacity instruments for the purposes of the
Loss Absorption Regulations, then the provisions relating to the Make-Whole Redemption shall be deemed not to apply for all purposes relating to the Debt Securities and the Issuer shall not have any right to redeem the Debt Securities pursuant to a
Make-Whole Redemption. In such circumstances, the Issuer shall promptly provide notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Calculation Agent and the Holders that the Make-Whole Redemption does not apply; provided that failure to provide
such notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such determination. No action taken in accordance with this paragraph shall be deemed to be an amendment requiring the consent of Holders under
Section 9.02 of the Base Indenture. 
 Under the terms of the Indenture, following the Make-Whole Redemption
Period, the Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the Issuer’s sole discretion, on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, on the Par Redemption Date. The Redemption Price will be equal to 100% of their
principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the Par Redemption Date. 












 Under the terms of the Indenture, the Issuer may, in its sole discretion, redeem the Debt
Securities following the occurrence of a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event, on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, within 90 days of the occurrence of the relevant Loss Absorption Disqualification Event, redeem the Debt
Securities in whole, but not in part (such option to redeem being referred to herein as a “Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option”), at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus any accrued
and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the applicable Redemption Date. 
 A “Loss Absorption Disqualification Event” shall
be deemed to have occurred if the Debt Securities become fully or partially ineligible to meet the Issuer’s or the HSBC Group’s minimum requirements for (A) eligible liabilities and/or (B) loss absorbing capacity instruments, in
each case as determined in accordance with and pursuant to the relevant Loss Absorption Regulations applicable to the Issuer or the HSBC Group, as a result of any: 

(a) Loss Absorption Regulation becoming effective after the Issue Date; or 

(b) amendment to, or change in, any Loss Absorption Regulation, or any change in the 

application or official interpretation of any Loss Absorption Regulation, in any such case 

becoming effective on or after the Issue Date, 

provided, however, that a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event shall not occur where the exclusion of the Debt Securities from the relevant minimum
requirement(s) is due to the remaining maturity of the Debt Securities being less than any period prescribed by any applicable eligibility criteria for such minimum requirement(s) under the relevant Loss Absorption Regulations effective with respect
to the Issuer and/or the HSBC Group on the Issue Date. 
 If the Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that the inclusion of the Loss
Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option provisions in the terms of the Indenture and the Debt Securities could reasonably be expected to cause a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event to occur, then the provisions relating to the Loss
Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option shall be deemed not to apply for all purposes relating to the Debt Securities and the Issuer shall not have any right to redeem the Debt Securities pursuant to a Loss Absorption Disqualification
Event Redemption Option. In such circumstances, the Issuer shall promptly provide notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Calculation Agent and the Holders that the Loss Absorption Disqualification Event Redemption Option does not apply;
provided that failure to provide such notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such determination. No action taken in accordance with this paragraph shall be deemed to be an amendment requiring the consent of
holders under Section 9.02 of the Base Indenture. 
 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture,
the Issuer may only redeem or repurchase the Debt Securities prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to the Indenture if the Issuer has obtained any Relevant Supervisory Consent. 

An “Event of Default” with respect to the Debt Securities means any one of the following events: (i) an order is made by
an English court which is not successfully appealed within 30 days after the date such order was made for winding up of the Issuer other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or
(ii) an effective resolution is validly adopted by the Issuer’s shareholders for winding up of the Issuer other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency. 












 A “Default” with respect to the Debt Securities means any one of the
following events: (i) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Debt Securities at maturity, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or (ii) failure to pay any interest on the Debt Securities when due and payable,
which failure continues for 30 days. 
 If a Default occurs, the Trustee may institute proceedings in England (but not elsewhere) for the
Issuer’s winding up; provided that the Trustee may not, upon the occurrence of a Default, accelerate the maturity of any Debt Securities then Outstanding, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. 

Notwithstanding the immediately preceding two paragraphs, failure to make any payment in respect of the Debt Securities shall not be a Default
in respect of the Debt Securities if such payment is withheld or refused: (i) in order to comply with any fiscal or other law or regulation or with the order of any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case applicable to such payment; or
(ii) in case of doubt as to the validity or applicability of any such law, regulation or order, in accordance with advice given as to such validity or applicability at any time during the said grace period of 30 days by independent legal
advisers acceptable to the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may, by notice to the Issuer, require the Issuer to take such action (including but not limited to proceedings for a declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction) as
the Trustee may be advised in an opinion of counsel, upon which opinion the Trustee may conclusively rely, is appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to resolve such doubt, in which case the Issuer shall forthwith take and expeditiously
proceed with such action and shall be bound by any final resolution of the doubt resulting therefrom. If any such resolution determines that the relevant payment can be made without violating any applicable law, regulation or order then the
preceding sentence shall cease to have effect and the payment shall become due and payable on the expiration of the relevant grace period of 30 days after the Trustee gives written notice to the Issuer informing the Issuer of such resolution. 

By its acquisition of the Debt Securities represented by this Global Security, each Holder (which, for these purposes, includes each
beneficial owner of the Debt Securities) acknowledges, accepts, consents and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Debt Securities related to the limited remedies available under the Indenture and the Debt Securities for a non-payment of principal and/or interest on the Debt Securities. 
 If an Event of Default with respect to
the Debt Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture and this Global Security. The
Indenture provides that in certain circumstances such declaration and its consequences may be rescinded and annulled by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series. If a Default with
respect to Debt Securities of this series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue certain remedies as set forth in the Indenture. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of
this series may on behalf of all the Holders waive any past Event of Default or any Default under the Indenture or the Debt Securities and its consequences except a default (i) in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any
installment of interest on any of the Debt Securities or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of this Debt Security, and any such consent or waiver
shall bind every future Holder of this Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security
or such other Debt Securities. 
 The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Issuer and the Trustee (i) without the consent of
the Holders of any Debt Securities issued under the Indenture to execute one or more supplemental indentures for certain enumerated purposes, such as to cure any ambiguity or to secure the Debt Securities, and (ii) with the consent of the
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series of Debt Securities affected thereby, to execute supplemental 












 
indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of Holders under
the Indenture; provided that, with respect to certain enumerated provisions, no such supplemental indenture may be entered into without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby. The Indenture also permits
the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series to be affected, on behalf of the Holders of all Debt Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain
restrictive provisions of the Indenture. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Global Security shall bind every future Holder of this Global Security and of any Global Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in
exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Global Security or such other Global Securities. 

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, the Depositary may surrender this Global Security or any portion hereof in exchange, in whole or in
part, for definitive Debt Securities, of this series in registered form and the Registrar, acting on behalf of the Issuer, shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for this Global Security or the portions thereof to be exchanged, an equal
aggregate face amount of definitive Debt Securities (duly countersigned) in the numbers and in the names advised by the Depositary. 
 By
its acquisition of the Debt Securities represented by this Global Security, each Holder (which, for these purposes, includes each beneficial owner of the Debt Securities) acknowledges, accepts, consents and agrees, notwithstanding any other term of
the Debt Securities, the Indenture or any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Issuer and any Holder, to be bound by (i) the effect of the exercise of any UK Bail-in Power by the
Relevant UK Resolution Authority in relation to any Debt Securities that may include (without limitation) and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof: (a) the reduction of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due; (b) the
conversion of all, or a portion, of the Amounts Due into the Issuer’s or another Person’s ordinary shares, other securities or other obligations (and the issue to, or conferral on, the Holder of such ordinary shares, other securities or
other obligations), including by means of an amendment, modification or variation of the terms of the Debt Securities or the Indenture; (c) the cancellation of the Debt Securities; and/or (d) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of
the Debt Securities or amendment of the amount of interest payable on the Debt Securities, or the Interest Payment Dates, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; and (ii) the variation of the terms of the Debt Securities or the
Indenture, if necessary, to give effect to the exercise of any UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority. No repayment or payment of Amounts Due shall become due and payable or be paid after the
exercise of any UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority if and to the extent such amounts have been reduced, converted, cancelled, amended or altered as a result of such exercise. Moreover,
each Holder (which, for these purposes, includes each beneficial owner of the Debt Securities) consents to the exercise of any UK Bail-in Power as it may be imposed without any prior notice by the Relevant UK
Resolution Authority of its decision to exercise such power with respect to the Debt Securities. 
 “Amounts Due” means the
principal amount of, and any accrued and unpaid interest, including any Additional Amounts, on, the Debt Securities. References to such amounts will include amounts that have become due and payable, but which have not been paid, prior to the
exercise of any UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority. 
 “Loss
Absorption Regulations” means, at any time, the laws, regulations, requirements, guidelines, rules, standards and policies from time to time relating to minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities and/or loss absorbing
capacity instruments in effect in the UK and applicable to the Issuer from time to time, including, without limitation to the generality of the foregoing, the Banking Act and UK CRR (whether or not such requirements, guidelines or policies are
applied generally or specifically to the Issuer or to the Issuer and any of its holding or subsidiary companies or any subsidiary of any such holding company) in each case as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time. 












 “PRA” means the UK Prudential Regulation Authority or any successor entity.

 “Relevant Regulator” means the PRA or any successor entity or other entity primarily responsible for the prudential
supervision of the Issuer. 
 “Relevant Supervisory Consent” means as (and to the extent) required, a consent or waiver to
the relevant redemption or purchase from the Relevant Regulator or the Relevant UK Resolution Authority (as applicable). For the avoidance of doubt, Relevant Supervisory Consent will not be required if either (i) none of the Debt Securities
qualify as part of the Issuer’s regulatory capital, or own funds and eligible liabilities or loss absorbing capacity instruments, as the case may be, each pursuant to the Loss Absorption Regulations, (ii) the relevant Debt Securities are
repurchased for market-making purposes in accordance with any permission given by the Relevant Regulator pursuant to the Loss Absorption Regulations within the limits prescribed in such permission or (iii) the relevant Debt Securities are being
redeemed or repurchased pursuant to any general prior permission granted by the Relevant Regulator or the Relevant UK Resolution Authority (as applicable) pursuant to the Loss Absorption Regulations within the limits prescribed in such permission.

 “Relevant UK Resolution Authority” means any authority with the ability to exercise a UK
Bail-in Power. 
 “UK Bail-in Legislation”
means Part I of the Banking Act and any other law or regulation applicable in the UK relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation,
administration or other insolvency proceedings). 
 “UK Bail-in Power” means the
powers under the UK Bail-in Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or affiliate of a bank or investment firm, to cancel, write-down, transfer,
reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to
provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability. 

“UK CRR” means Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms of
the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013, as amended or supplemented from time to time, as it forms part of domestic law in the UK by virtue of the EUWA. 

By its acquisition of the Debt Securities, each Holder (which, for these purposes, includes each beneficial owner of the Debt Securities): (i)
acknowledges and agrees that the exercise of the UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority with respect to the Debt Securities shall not give rise to a Default or Event of Default for purposes
of Section 315(b) (Notice of Default) and Section 315(c) (Duties of the Trustee in Case of Default) of the Trust Indenture Act; (ii) to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, waives any and all claims, in law
and/or in equity, against the Trustee for, agrees not to initiate a suit against the Trustee in respect of, and agrees that the Trustee shall not be liable for, any action that the Trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case in accordance
with the exercise of (x) the UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority with respect to the Debt Securities or (y) the limited remedies available under the Indenture and the Debt
Securities for a non-payment of principal and/or interest on the Debt Securities; and (iii) acknowledges and agrees that, upon the exercise of any UK
Bail-












 
in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority, the Trustee shall not be required to take any further directions from Holders under Section 5.11 (Control by Holders
of Debt Securities) of the Base Indenture; and that the Indenture shall not impose any duties upon the Trustee whatsoever with respect to the exercise of any UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution
Authority. 
 Notwithstanding clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, if, following the completion of the exercise of the
UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority, the Debt Securities remain outstanding (for example, if the exercise of the UK Bail-in Power results in only a
partial write-down of the principal of the Debt Securities), then the Trustee’s duties under the Indenture shall remain applicable with respect to the Debt Securities following such completion to the extent that the Issuer and the Trustee shall
agree pursuant to a supplemental indenture or an amendment to the Indenture; provided, however that notwithstanding the exercise of the UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority, there
shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder pursuant to, and in accordance with Section 6.09 of the Base Indenture, and the resignation and/or removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee shall continue
to be governed by Section 6.10 and Section 6.11 of the Base Indenture, including to the extent no supplemental indenture or amendment to the Indenture is agreed upon pursuant to the Indenture in
the event the Debt Securities remain outstanding following the completion of the exercise of the UK Bail-in Power. 

It is the intention of the Issuer and the Trustee that the Issuer’s obligations to indemnify the Trustee and the Agent in accordance with
Section 6.07 of the Base Indenture (for the avoidance of doubt, as amended by Section 4.01 of the second supplemental indenture dated May 25, 2016) shall survive any exercise of the UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority. 
 The exercise of the UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority with respect to the Debt Securities shall not constitute an Event of Default or a Default. 

In addition to the right to enter into supplemental indentures pursuant to Section 9.01 and
Section 9.02 of the Base Indenture, the Issuer and the Trustee may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture to modify and amend the terms of the Indenture or the Debt Securities, without the further
consent of any Holders, to the extent necessary to give effect to the exercise by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority of the UK Bail-in Power. 

Upon the exercise of the UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority with respect to the
Debt Securities, the Issuer shall provide a written notice to the Holders through the Clearing Systems as soon as practicable regarding such exercise of the UK Bail-in Power for purposes of notifying Holders
and beneficial owners of the Debt Securities of such occurrence. The Issuer shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Trustee for information purposes. 

Upon the exercise of any UK Bail-in Power by the Relevant UK Resolution Authority that results in the
reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of this Global Security and/or the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of this Global Security into shares or other securities or other obligations of the
Issuer or another person, the portion of the principal amount hereof so reduced, cancelled and/or converted shall be endorsed by the Registrar on Schedule B hereto. The principal amount hereof shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so
reduced, cancelled and/or converted. 
 By its acquisition of a Debt Security, each Holder (which, for these purposes, includes each
beneficial owner of the Debt Securities) of the Debt Securities shall be deemed to have authorized, directed and requested the Clearing Systems and any direct participant in the Clearing Systems or other intermediary through which it holds the Debt
Securities to take any and all necessary action, if required, to implement the exercise of any UK Bail-in Power with respect to the Debt Securities as it may be imposed, without any further action or direction
on the part of such Holder or beneficial owner, the Trustee or the Agent (and any other agent acting in connection with the relevant series of Debt Securities). 












 To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Holders and the Trustee, in
respect of any claims of such Holders to payment of any principal, premium or interest in respect of the Debt Securities, by their acceptance of the Debt Securities, shall be deemed to have waived any right of
set-off or counterclaim that such Holders or, as the case may be, the Trustee in such respect, might otherwise have. 

ANY HOLDER (WHICH, FOR THESE PURPOSES, INCLUDES EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE DEBT SECURITIES) THAT ACQUIRES THE DEBT SECURITIES IN THE
SECONDARY MARKET AND ANY SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES IN BANKRUPTCY AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE DEBT SECURITIES SHALL BE DEEMED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AGREE TO BE BOUND BY AND
CONSENT TO THE SAME PROVISIONS SPECIFIED HEREIN TO THE SAME EXTENT AS THE HOLDERS OR BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES THAT ACQUIRE THE DEBT SECURITIES UPON THEIR INITIAL ISSUANCE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WITH RESPECT TO THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY AND CONSENT TO THE TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES RELATED TO THE UK BAIL-IN POWER AND THE LIMITED REMEDIES AVAILABLE UNDER THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBT SECURITIES FOR A
NON-PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND/OR INTEREST ON THE DEBT SECURITIES. 
 The Indenture and the Debt
Securities may be amended and modified as provided in the Indenture. 
 All terms used in this Global Security and not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture. 
 The Indenture and the Debt Securities shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. 












 SCHEDULE A 

EXCHANGES FOR DEFINITIVE DEBT SECURITIES 

The following exchanges of parts of this Global Security for Definitive Debt Securities have been made: 

 

									
	Date made	 	    	  	Principal amount exchanged for Definitive
Debt Securities	  	    	  	Remaining principal amount following
such exchange
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 
	    	 		  	 	  		  	 













 SCHEDULE B 

REDUCTION, CANCELLATION OR CONVERSION OF DEBT SECURITIES UPON THE EXERCISE OF ANY UK BAIL-IN POWER BY
THE RELEVANT UK RESOLUTION AUTHORITY 
  

									
	Date made	 	    	  	Principal amount reduced, cancelled and/
or converted	  	    	  	Remaining principal amount following
reduction, cancellation and/or conversion