exv4w7






Exhibit 4.7




Private & Confidential

Draft: 25.11.10




					
	 	 	 	 	 
	Dated 10 February 2011








	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 

	 	HSBC ASIA HOLDINGS B.V.
	 	 	(1	)
	 
	 

	 	and	 	 	 	 
	 
	 

	 	STUART GULLIVER
	 	 	(2	)






 




SERVICE AGREEMENT




 




 









 





Contents




	 	 	 	 	 
	Clause	 	Page
	 
	1 Appointment
	 	 	3	 
	 
	2 Remuneration
	 	 	3	 
	 
	3 Benefits
	 	 	5	 
	 
	4 Duration of the Employment
	 	 	7	 
	 
	5 Scope and Duties of the Employment
	 	 	8	 
	 
	6 Hours and place of work
	 	 	10	 
	 
	7 Deductions
	 	 	10	 
	 
	8 Expenses
	 	 	10	 
	 
	9 Holidays
	 	 	10	 
	 
	10 Sickness benefits
	 	 	11	 
	 
	11 Restrictions during the Employment
	 	 	12	 
	 
	12 Confidential Information and Company documents
	 	 	13	 
	 
	13 Inventions and other intellectual property
	 	 	15	 
	 
	14 Termination
	 	 	16	 
	 
	15 Restrictive covenants
	 	 	19	 
	 
	16 Grievance, dismissal and disciplinary procedures
	 	 	23	 
	 
	17 Disclosure of information
	 	 	24	 
	 
	18 General
	 	 	24	 
	 
	19 Other Agreements
	 	 	25	 
	 
	20 Choice of law and submission to jurisdiction
	 	 	25	 
	 
	21 Counterparts
	 	 	25	 
	 
	22 Definitions
	 	 	26	 










 









 







THIS
AGREEMENT is dated 10/02 2011 and is made BETWEEN:





	(1)	 	HSBC ASIA HOLDINGS B.V. (No. 33296181), whose registered office is at De entrée 242, 1101 EE
Amsterdam, The Netherlands (the “Company”); and
	 
	(2)	 	STUART GULLIVER of 1 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong SAR (the “Executive”).





NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:




1 Appointment





	1.1	 	The provisions of this Agreement will commence with effect from the Commencement Date.
	 
	1.2	 	The Company shall continue to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees to act as a
senior executive of the Company at Band 0. The Executive will be seconded to HSBC Holdings
plc (“HSBC”) as Group Chief Executive of the Group and on the basis that his principal office
will be located in Hong Kong (as set out at clause 6.3), and agrees to do so on and subject
to the following terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement.
	 
	1.3	 	The Executive will report to the Chairman of the Group although HSBC or the Company has the
right in its absolute discretion to change the person or persons to whom the Executive
reports at any time subject always to such reporting line being appropriate to the
Executive’s seniority within the Group and status as an executive director of HSBC.
	 
	2	 	Remuneration
	 
	2.1	 	HSBC shall pay to the Executive on behalf of the Company, a gross salary currently at the
rate of GBP1,250,000 per annum (the “Salary”) less Statutory Deductions, which shall accrue
day to day and be payable by equal monthly instalments in arrears on or about the 20th of each
calendar month. The Board will review the Executive’s salary annually in March, the first
such review to take place in March 2011. There is no obligation on HSBC or the Company to
increase the Executive’s Salary pursuant to any such review or otherwise provided always that
such reviews are conducted reasonably and in good faith having regard to the Executive, the
treatment of other executives of comparable status and all other relevant circumstances. There
will be no review of the Salary after notice has been given by either party to terminate the
Employment.
	 
	2.2	 	HSBC on behalf of the Company may at its sole discretion (acting reasonably and in good
faith) both as to whether to pay or award any Variable Pay (as defined at clause 2.3) and if
so, how much, pay or award the Executive Variable Pay of such amount as the Board may
determine in respect of each complete financial year of HSBC during which the Employment
subsists.
	 
	2.3	 	For the purposes of this Agreement “Variable Pay” means any non-pensionable incentive
compensation including any bonus or deferred bonus in the form of (i) cash or (ii) equity
awarded under any share plan in force from time to time (in relation to which performance
conditions may or may not be attached) and subject to clauses 2.10 and 2.11.




 









 






	2.4	 	The operation of and all arrangements relating to any such Variable Pay, (including without
limitation the payment or award date for any Variable Pay from time to time), will be at the
absolute discretion of the Board which may in its absolute discretion, terminate, replace or
amend any such plan at any time provided that the Executive is treated no less favourably than
other executives of comparable status and in similar circumstances.
	 
	2.5	 	The Executive shall not be entitled to be considered for and/or to receive any Variable Pay
if on the date that any such Variable Pay is due to be declared he:
	 
	2.5.1	 	is no longer employed by the Company or any Group Company; or
	 
	2.5.2	 	is under notice of termination of employment (including if the Executive is not assigned
any duties in accordance with the garden leave provisions at clause 14.4),
	 
	 	 	due to the termination of the Employment by either the Executive (other than in response to
the Company’s repudiatory breach of contract) or by the Company pursuant to clause 14.1.2 of
this Agreement.
	 
	2.6	 	The remuneration specified in clauses 2.1 and 2.2 (if any), shall be inclusive of any fees
to which the Executive may be entitled as a director of HSBC or any Group Company or of any
other company or any unincorporated body in which the Executive holds the office as nominee
or representative of HSBC or any Group Company.
	 
	2.7	 	Payment of Salary and any Variable Pay to the Executive shall be made either by HSBC or by
a Group Company and, if by more than one company, in such proportions as the Board may from
time to time think fit, subject always to the Company’s reasonable consideration of any
detrimental net employment tax consequences on the Executive, by doing so.
	 
	2.8	 	Payments made to the Executive by HSBC (or such other Group Company to which the Executive is
seconded from time to time) are made for and on behalf of the Company.
	 
	2.9	 	The Executive may be eligible to participate in any employee share plan established by HSBC
from time to time. Eligibility to participate is subject to the rules of the relevant plan in
force from time to time and is at the discretion of the Board. The Company will use reasonable
endeavours to procure that any discretion relating to the grant of additional awards to the
Executive is exercised reasonably and in good faith having regard to the Executive, the
treatment of other executives of comparable status and all other relevant circumstances.
	 
	2.10	 	If the Executive is eligible to participate in an employee share plan pursuant to clauses 2.2
and/or 2.9, his rights under such plan will be subject to and in accordance with the rules of
that plan in force from time to time. Subject to such rules, the rights and obligations of the
Executive under the terms and conditions of his office or employment shall not be affected by
his participation in the plan or any right he may have to participate in the plan.
	 
	2.11	 	Subject to the rules of the relevant plan as referenced at clauses 2.2 and 2.9, in
participating in such a plan, the Executive waives all and any rights to




 









 






	 	 	compensation or damages arising from the loss or failure to receive any rights or benefits
under the plan (or the diminution in value of such rights or benefits) as a result of:






	 	(a)	 	the termination of his office or employment and/or giving notice of
termination of employment with any Group Company for any reason whatsoever (whether
lawful or unlawful); and/or
	 
	 	(b)	 	the exercise or failure to exercise any discretion (whether lawful or
unlawful) conferred by the rules of the plan.






	3	 	Benefits
	 
	3.1	 	Hong Kong
	 
	 	 	To enable the Executive to carry out his duties at the
Group’s
 request from a principal office in Hong
Kong, he shall be provided with the following benefits at no cost to himself
(including with regard to any tax that may be assessable on the provision of such benefits),
so that they are available to him during such time as he shall spend in Hong Kong:
	 
	3.1.1	 	an appropriate level of accommodation in Hong Kong which is convenient for the proper
performance of his duties and is commensurate with his position and in accordance with local
policy. The Company shall procure that telephone rental, authorised business calls and
reasonable utility costs will be met by the Group which shall also pay the taxes in respect of
the property and the cost of insuring and maintaining it; and
	 
	3.1.2	 	a car and/or chauffeur driven services appropriate to his position in Hong Kong, subject to the
rules of the relevant scheme from time to time in force. 
	 
	3.2	 	Car
	 
	 	 	The Executive shall have access to the chauffeur driven services operated
by HSBC in London from the chauffeur pool.
	 
	3.3	 	Pension
	 
	3.3.1	 	Subject to clause 3.6.3, the Executive is eligible to receive a total annual allowance of 50
per cent. of annual Salary in order to fund pension arrangements which will be provided to him
in the following way:






	 	(a)	 	Subject to clause 3.3.1(c), with effect from the Commencement Date to 31
March 2011:






	 	(i)	 	the Executive will continue to be a member of an offshore
defined contribution pension plan called Trailblazer (the “Scheme”) subject to
its rules from time to time in force, to which HSBC will make an employer
contribution of 30 per cent. of Salary per annum, payable by monthly
instalments. Details of the Scheme are set out in the Explanatory Booklet, a
copy of which is available from Deloitte. The Scheme is not a contracted-out
scheme for the purposes of the Pension Schemes Act 1993. The Company and HSBC
reserve the right




 









 






	 	 	 	in its absolute discretion to terminate or substitute another pension scheme
for the Scheme at any time. Any such termination or substitution will not
constitute a breach of contract; and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the Executive will receive an annual cash allowance of 20 per
cent. of annual Salary (less Statutory Deductions) in order to fund personal
pension arrangements.






	 	(b)	 	Subject to clause 3.3.1(c) and the Executive’s review at the relevant
time of the way in which he wishes pension entitlement to be delivered to him, with
effect from 1 April 2011:






	 	(i)	 	the annual employer contribution as set out at clause 3.3.1(a)(i) will
be reduced to £50,000 per annum; and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the balance of the Executive’s annual pension allowance of 50
per cent. of annual Salary less £50,000, will be paid to him as an annual cash
allowance less Statutory Deductions.






	 	(c)	 	Subject to relevant legislation in force from time to time, upon the
Executive reaching the Lifetime Allowance as specified in relevant legislation
and/or the Scheme rules, employer contributions to the Scheme will cease in full and
instead the Executive will receive the annual allowance of 50 per cent. of annual
Salary in cash only (less Statutory Deductions) payable in monthly
installments.






	3.4	 	Personal Accident Insurance Cover
	 
	 	 	The Executive is entitled to non-contributory membership of HSBC’s personal accident
insurance scheme.
	 
	3.5	 	Clubs
	 
	 	 	HSBC on behalf of the Company shall make payments on the Executive’s behalf in respect of the
annual membership subscription of two clubs or such similar two clubs as the Executive shall
nominate each year, to be approved by HSBC through HSBC’s Group Managing Director, Human
Resources.
	 
	3.6	 	Medical Benefits
	 
	 	 	The Executive shall participate in the schemes set out under clauses 3.6.1 to 3.6.4 subject
always to the relevant schemes’ terms and conditions from time to time in force and subject
to the Executive meeting the requirements of the relevant scheme and being deemed eligible by
the relevant insurance provider. Neither the Company nor HSBC shall be liable to provide any
benefits or any compensation in lieu thereof or take any action to enforce the provision of
such benefits in circumstances where the scheme provider refuses for any reason whatsoever,
to provide any benefits to the Executive.
	 
	3.6.1	 	Health Checks
	 
	 	 	The Executive and his spouse/partner are eligible for an annual voluntary health check with a
medical adviser appointed and paid for by HSBC on behalf of the Company.




 









 






	3.6.2	 	Medical Cover
	 
	 	 	The Executive and his spouse/partner and eligible dependants are entitled to participate in
the Group’s International Medical Scheme.
	 
	3.6.3	 	Group Income Protection
	 
	 	 	If the Executive is unable by reason of illness or injury, to perform the material or
substantial parts of his duties hereunder, following a period of absence from work in excess
of 26 consecutive weeks, the Executive will be eligible to be considered for a monthly
payment equivalent to 50 per cent. of monthly Salary. In the event of such payment, the
Executive’s total annual pension allowance as set out at clause 3.3 will continue to be
payable, subject to an overall cap of 35 per cent. of the Executive’s annual Salary.
	 
	3.6.4	 	Life Assurance Cover
	 
	 	 	Under the Group Life Assurance Scheme, in the event of the Executive’s death, a sum
equivalent to four times annual Salary will be paid to the Executive’s nominated
beneficiaries, subject to approval by the trustees of the Group Life Assurance Scheme.
	 
	3.7	 	Tax Advice
	 
	 	 	The Group shall pay the reasonable costs incurred by the Executive in seeking tax advice from
an appropriate adviser selected by him, for the purposes of UK and Hong Kong Tax Return
preparation and associated tax compliance services and limited financial planning in relation
to remuneration received by the Executive by reason of his employment with the HSBC Group.
The Group will not pay for tax services to be provided to the Executive’s spouse.
	 
	3.8	 	Directors and Officers Liability
	 
	 	 	The Executive shall benefit from cover under HSBC’s policy on Directors’ and Officers’
Liability (including Outside Directors’ and Officers’ Liability) subject always to the policy
and the rules of the policy from time to time in force.
	 
	4	 	Duration of the Employment
	 
	4.1	 	The Employment pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on the Commencement Date and,
subject to clauses 5.4 and 14, shall continue until terminated by either party giving to the
other not less than twelve months’ notice in writing.
	 
	4.2	 	Notwithstanding clause 4.1 and any retirement date specified in any applicable pension
scheme, the Employment shall automatically terminate when the Executive reaches the normal
retiring age from time to time applicable to senior executives of HSBC which, for the
avoidance of doubt, is currently 65.
	 
	4.3	 	The Executive’s period of continuous employment commenced on 1 October 1980.




 









 












	5	 	Scope and Duties of the Employment
	 
	5.1	 	In the Executive’s position as Group Chief Executive, he shall:
	 
	5.1.1	 	devote the whole of his time, attention and skill to his duties;
	 
	5.1.2	 	faithfully and diligently perform such duties and exercise such powers consistent with his
position as may from time to time be assigned to or vested in him by the Board;
	 
	5.1.3	 	obey the reasonable and lawful directions of the Board;
	 
	5.1.4	 	at all times act in the way he considers in good faith, most likely to promote the success
of HSBC (and applicable Group Companies) for the benefit of the members as a whole in
accordance with Section 172 Companies Act 2006;
	 
	5.1.5	 	perform his services in a professional and competent manner and in cooperation with others;
	 
	5.1.6	 	keep the Board at all times promptly and fully informed (in writing if so requested) of his
conduct of and activities in relation to the business of HSBC and any Group Company and
provide such explanations in connection therewith as the Board may require from time to time
including for the avoidance of doubt, any misconduct of other employees or directors or his
own; and
	 
	5.1.7	 	comply with the duties set out in the Companies Act 2006.
	 
	5.2	 	The Executive shall comply with:
	 
	5.2.1	 	all of HSBC’s, the Company’s and Group Company’s codes, rules, regulations, policies and
procedures (including without limitation HSBC’s Compliance Guidelines),
	 
	5.2.2	 	the codes, practices, rules, principles and regulations of the UK Listing Authority
(including the Model Code on directors’ dealings in securities as set out in Annex 1 to
Chapter 9 of the Listing Rules), the FSA, any other stock exchange and/or regulatory
authorities relevant to HSBC, the Company or any Group Company from time to time and of any
association or professional body to which HSBC, the Company and/or any Group Company and/or
the Executive belong to from time to time,
	 
	5.2.3	 	such laws as may be relevant to the Group and to the Executive’s duties under this
Agreement; and
	 
	5.2.4	 	the Code for Dealing in HSBC Group Securities and every regulation of the Group for the time
being in force in relation to dealings in shares or other securities of HSBC or any Group
Company

	 
		 	
insofar as they may affect him, HSBC, the Company, any Group Company or its or their
directors, officers or employees.
	 
	5.3	 	The Executive shall comply with any rules, policies and procedures set out in HSBC’s Employee
Handbook, a copy of which is available on HSBC’s




 









 






	 	 	intranet. The Employee Handbook does not form part of this agreement and HSBC may amend it at
any time.
	 
	5.4	 	The Executive’s continued employment will be subject to him continuing to hold approved
status for any position he may hold that requires FSA approval. In the event of approval
being withdrawn (under current FSA regulations this includes instances such as insider dealing
and market manipulation) in respect of this position or any subsequent position, the Company
reserves the right to summarily terminate the Executive’s employment without being further
liable to him (other than in respect of amounts accrued due at the Termination Date). If the
Executive’s current role does not require registration with the FSA, his role in the future
may require him to pass regulatory exams and/or obtain regulatory registrations. It is
therefore a condition of the Executive’s continuing employment that he passes any such exams
and obtains such registrations. The Company shall provide the Executive with all reasonable
co-operation in relation to him obtaining and/or retaining FSA approved status and such other
regulatory registrations as may be required from time to time.
	 
	5.5	 	The Executive shall do such things as are necessary to ensure compliance by himself with the
Corporate Governance Code and, so far as it lies within his power to do so, by HSBC and any
applicable Group Company.
	 
	5.6	 	The Company and HSBC reserve the right to appoint any other person or persons to act jointly
with the Executive in the event that the Executive is not assigned any duties in accordance
with the garden leave provisions at clause 14.4 (or in place of the Executive if he is
suspended in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement) in any position to which he may
be assigned from time to time.
	 
	5.7	 	The Executive shall if and so long as the Company requires and without any further
remuneration therefore (except as otherwise agreed):
	 
	5.7.1	 	carry out duties on behalf of any Group Company; and
	 
	5.7.2	 	act as a director or officer of any Group Company
	 
	 	 	Provided always that such duties or offices are consistent with his role as Group Chief
Executive.
	 
	5.8	 	The Company may at its sole discretion transfer the Executive’s employment and assign the
provisions of this Agreement to any Group Company at any time, subject always to the Executive
enjoying no less favourable terms and conditions of employment.
	 
	5.9	 	The Executive agrees that a copy of clauses 5, 11, 12 and 15 of this Agreement will be
provided by him to any person, firm, company or other entity making an offer of employment,
appointment as a director or officer, agency, consultancy, partnership or joint venture to him
during the Employment or thereafter whilst any restrictions in clause 15 remain in force
immediately upon receiving any such offer.




 









 






	6	 	Hours and place of work
	 
	6.1	 	HSBC’s standard working week is 35 hours (excluding unpaid lunch breaks). The Executive
shall be required to work such hours, including additional hours (without further
remuneration) as are necessary for the proper performance of the duties hereunder.
	 
	6.2	 	Notwithstanding clause 6.1 the Executive acknowledges that because of the autonomous nature
of his role the duration of the Executive’s working time is not measured or monitored or
determined by the Company or HSBC so that the limit on weekly working time set out in
Regulation 4 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (or such other regulations as may from time
to time come into force) does not apply to the Executive’s Employment.
	 
	6.3	 	The Executive’s principal place of work will be HSBC’s offices at 1 Queen’s Road Central,
Hong Kong SAR, but the Company may reasonably require the Executive to work at any place of
business of the Group within Hong Kong or by mutual agreement, in any other global location,
on either a temporary or an indefinite basis. The Executive will be given reasonable notice
of any permanent change in his place of work. In the performance of the duties hereunder, the
Executive will be required to travel and undertake his duties both from Hong Kong and from
London and in other global locations as the Group sees fit from time to time.
	 
	7	 	Deductions
	 
	 	 	For the purposes of the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Executive hereby authorises HSBC on
behalf of the Company to deduct from the remuneration hereunder any sums due from the
Executive to the Company or to HSBC including, without limitation, any overpayments, loans or
advances made to him by the Company or by HSBC, the cost of repairing any damage or loss to
the Group’s property caused by the Executive (and of recovering such costs) and any losses
suffered by the Group as a result of any negligence or breach of duty by the Executive or
sums in respect of sub-clause 10.6 of this Agreement.
	 
	8	 	Expenses
	 
	 	 	HSBC on behalf of the Company shall reimburse the Executive in respect of all expenses
reasonably incurred by the Executive in the proper performance of the duties hereunder
subject to the Executive providing such receipts or other evidence as HSBC may require and
subject to HSBC’s rules and policies from time to time relating to expenses.
	 
	9	 	Holidays
	 
	9.1	 	The Executive shall be entitled to receive his normal remuneration for all bank and public
holidays normally observed in the United Kingdom and a further 30 working days’ paid holiday
in each holiday year (being the period from 1 January to 31 December) including one period of
10 consecutive working days which must be taken as core leave. The Executive’s holiday shall
be taken at such times as are agreed with the Chairman.
	 
	9.2	 	In the holiday year in which the Employment terminates, the Executive’s entitlement to
holiday shall accrue on a pro rata basis for each complete




 









 






	 	 	month of service during the relevant year. If, on the termination of the Employment, the
Executive has exceeded his accrued holiday entitlement, the excess may be deducted from any
sums due to the Executive and the Executive hereby authorises HSBC on behalf of the Company
to make such deduction. If the Executive has any unused holiday entitlement, the Company or
HSBC may either require the Executive to take such unused holiday during any notice period
(whether or not the Executive is on garden leave in accordance with clause 14.4) or make
payment in lieu thereof.
	 
	9.3	 	Holiday entitlement for one holiday year may not be taken in subsequent holiday years unless
otherwise agreed by the Chairman. Failure to take holiday entitlement in the appropriate
holiday year will lead to forfeiture of any accrued holiday not taken, without any right to
payment in lieu thereof unless otherwise agreed by HSBC’s Group Managing Director, Human
Resources in accordance with the holiday policy applicable to Executive Directors from time to
time.
	 
	10	 	Sickness benefits
	 
	10.1	 	HSBC on behalf of the Company shall continue to pay the Salary during any period of
absence on medical grounds in accordance with the sick pay policy set out in HSBC’s Employee
Handbook (“HSBC Sick Pay”) provided that the Executive complies in full with any of the
requirements set out in HSBC’s Employee Handbook and clause 10.2 below. Thereafter the
Executive will only be entitled to such salary and benefits, if any, as the Board shall in its
absolute discretion from time to time allow. Upon the Executive’s return to work from such
absence to perform his duties hereunder, he shall be entitled to receive the Salary and the
benefits set out at clause 3, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and subject to any
relevant scheme rules.
	 
	10.2	 	At any time during the Employment, the Executive shall, if so required by the Board:
	 
	10.2.1	 	supply the Company with medical certificates covering any period of sickness or incapacity
exceeding seven days (including weekends); and
	 
	10.2.2	 	undergo, at the expense of HSBC, an examination by a registered medical practitioner or
practitioners to be nominated by HSBC (including but not limited to the Executive’s general
practitioner or any other physician responsible for the Executive’s care). The Executive
authorises the medical practitioner to disclose and discuss with the Company and HSBC any
report prepared as a result of any such examination pursuant to the Access to Medical Reports
Act 1988. The Company has the right to postpone the Executive’s return to work (and the
continuance or reinstatement of his normal pay, if appropriate) until the medical practitioner
has confirmed that the Executive is fit to perform his duties.
	 
	10.3	 	Payment of the Executive’s Salary pursuant to clause 10.1 shall be inclusive of any Statutory
Sick Pay to which the Executive may be entitled by law. HSBC on behalf of the Company will
also deduct from it any other statutory benefits if applicable due to the Executive, together
with any Statutory Deductions.
	 
	10.4	 	Subject to the applicable scheme rules in force from time to time, during the Executive’s
absence from work on medical grounds, the Executive will




 









 






	 	 	continue to be covered by HSBC’s life assurance arrangements, private medical insurance and
personal accident insurance and whilst he is entitled to receive HSBC Sick Pay he shall be
entitled to receive the pension allowance as set out at clause 3.3. The Executive’s
entitlement to participation in any Variable Pay plan and the accrual of holiday entitlement
above the minimum statutory entitlement shall cease on the expiry of the payment of HSBC Sick
Pay until such time as the Executive is able to perform his duties hereunder.
	 
	10.5	 	The Company reserves the right to terminate the Employment in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement for reasons unrelated to the Executive’s illness or sickness absence when the
Executive is absent through sickness or injury at any time, notwithstanding any outstanding or
prospective entitlement to pay in accordance with clause 10.1, private medical insurance,
permanent health insurance or long term disability benefits. Neither HSBC nor the Company
shall be liable for any loss arising from such termination.
	 
	10.6	 	If the Executive’s absence shall be occasioned by the actionable negligence of a third party
in respect of which damages are recoverable in respect of the period of the Executive’s
incapacity, then the Executive shall:
	 
	10.6.1	 	forthwith notify HSBC and the Company of all the relevant circumstances and of any claim,
compromise, settlement or judgment made or awarded in connection therewith;
	 
	10.6.2	 	if HSBC so requires, refund to HSBC such sum as HSBC may determine, not exceeding the lesser
of:






	 	(a)	 	the amount of damages recovered by the Executive under such compromise,
settlement or judgment; and
	 
	 	(b)	 	the sums advanced to the Executive by HSBC in respect of the period of
incapacity






	 	 	subject to any deductions made by any court or tribunal that takes into account the payments
made to the Executive in this clause 10 when awarding any such damages or compensation.
	 
	11	 	Restrictions during the Employment
	 
	11.1	 	The Executive shall not during the Employment directly or indirectly either on his own
account or on behalf of any other person, company, business entity or other organisation be
employed, engaged, concerned or interested in any other business or undertaking, provided that
this shall not prohibit the holding (directly or through nominees) of investments listed on
the London Stock Exchange plc or in respect of which dealing takes place on the Alternative
Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange plc or on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited or on any Recognised Investment Exchange as long as not more than 5 per cent of the
issued shares or other securities of any class of any one company shall be so held without the
prior sanction of a resolution of the Board.
	 
	11.2	 	The Executive shall obtain the Chairman’s prior written approval (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld) before accepting appointment as a non-executive director of any company
outside the Group. Approval is




 









 






	 	 	currently limited to one FTSE100 constituent company or other significant company in the UK
or elsewhere.
	 
	11.3	 	The Executive shall not (and shall procure so far as the Executive is able that any person
connected with the Executive within the meaning of section 252 Companies Act 2006 (Connected
Person) shall not) deal or become or cease to be interested (within the meaning set out in
Schedule 1 Companies Act 2006) in any securities of HSBC, except in accordance with HSBC’s
code for securities transactions by directors.
	 
	11.4	 	Subject to any regulations issued by HSBC, the Executive and any Connected Person shall not
be entitled to receive or obtain directly or indirectly any discount, rebate or commission in
respect of any sale or purchase of goods effected or other business transacted (whether or not
by the Executive) by or on behalf of HSBC or any Group Company and if he or any Connected
Person (or any firm or company in which he or any Connected Person is interested) shall obtain
any such discount, rebate or commission the Executive shall account to HSBC or the relevant
Group Company for the amount received by the Executive or any Connected Person (or a due
proportion of the amount received by such company or firm having regard to the extent of the
Executive’s or the Connected Person’s interest therein).
	 
	11.5	 	The Executive agrees to disclose to the Board any matters relating to any Connected Person
which may, in the reasonable opinion of the Board, be considered to interfere, conflict or
compete with the proper performance of the Executive’s obligations under this Agreement.
	 
	11.6	 	During the Employment, the Executive agrees that he will not in competition with HSBC or any
Group Company:
	 
	11.6.1	 	deal with, canvass, solicit or endeavour to take away from HSBC or any Group Company,
whether directly or indirectly and whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person,
firm, company or other entity any customers or prospective customers; or
	 
	11.6.2	 	directly or indirectly solicit or entice away from or endeavour to entice away from HSBC or
any Group Company any individual employed or engaged by HSBC or any Group Company; or
	 
	11.6.3	 	directly or indirectly make preparations to compete with any business carried on by HSBC or
any Group Company.
	 
	11.6.4	 	During the Employment the Executive shall inform the appropriate member of the Board without
delay if he becomes aware that any director, officer, or senior employee of the Company, HSBC
or any Group Company is planning to materially breach any of the provisions of their contract
of employment or implied duties of loyalty, good faith and fidelity.
	 
	12	 	Confidential Information and Company documents
	 
	12.1	 	The Executive recognises that, whilst performing the duties hereunder for HSBC and the Group
the Executive will have access to and come into contact with trade secrets and confidential
information belonging to the Company, HSBC and/or any Group Company and will obtain personal
knowledge of and influence over its or their customers, suppliers and/or employees. The




 









 






	 	 	Executive therefore agrees that the restrictions set out in this clause 12 are reasonable and
necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, HSBC and the Group
both during and after the termination of the Employment. The Executive shall neither during
the Employment (except in the proper performance of the duties) nor at any time (without
limit) after the termination of the Employment directly or indirectly:
	 
	12.1.1	 	divulge or communicate to any person, company, business entity or other organisation; or
	 
	12.1.2	 	use for his own purposes or for any purposes other than those of HSBC, the Company or any
Group Company; or
	 
	12.1.3	 	through any failure to exercise due care and diligence, cause any unauthorised disclosure of
	 
	 	 	any trade secrets or Confidential Information relating to HSBC, the Company or any Group
Company, but so that these restrictions shall cease to apply to any information which shall
become available to the public generally otherwise than through the default of the Executive
and to any use or disclosure authorised by the Board or required by law.
	 
	12.2	 	Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Executive from making a protected disclosure in
accordance with section 43A Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Public Interest Disclosure Act
1998.
	 
	12.3	 	“Confidential Information” shall include details of suppliers and their terms of business,
details of customers, clients and prospective customers/clients and their requirements, the
prices charged to and terms of business with customers, marketing plans and sales forecasts,
financial information, results and forecasts (save to the extent that these are included in
published audited accounts), any proposals relating to the acquisition or disposal of a
company or business or any part thereof or to any proposed expansion or contraction of
activities, or any other business strategy or tender, details of employees and officers and of
the remuneration and other benefits paid to them, information relating to research activities,
inventions, secret processes, designs, software, formulae and product lines, any information
which the Executive either is aware or reasonably ought to know is confidential and any
information which has been given to HSBC, the Company or any Group Company in confidence by
customers, suppliers or other persons.
	 
	12.4	 	All notes, memoranda, records, lists of customers and suppliers and employees,
correspondence, documents, computer and other discs and tapes, data listings, codes, designs
and drawings and other documents and material whatsoever (whether made or created by the
Executive or otherwise) relating to the business of HSBC, the Company or any Group Company
(and any copies of the same):
	 
	12.4.1	 	shall be and remain the property of HSBC, the Company or the relevant Group Company; and
	 
	12.4.2	 	shall be handed over by the Executive to HSBC, the Company or to the relevant Group Company
or irrevocably deleted from any computer and/or word processing system in the Executive’s
possession or under the Executive’s control, on demand and in any event on the termination of
the




 









 






	 	 	Employment. Provided always that, at the reasonable request of the
Executive, he shall be provided, subject always to the provisions
of clause 12.1, with copies of all Board Minutes (and documents
referred to therein) of Group Companies of which he was a director,
in respect of any period during which he was a director of such
Group Company, which are reasonably required by the Executive for
the purposes of defending himself in any regulatory or legal
proceedings relating to his duties as a director of such Group
Company.
	 
	13	 	Inventions and other intellectual property
	 
	13.1	 	The Executive may make inventions or create other intellectual property during the
Employment. In this respect the Executive has a special responsibility to further the
interests of the Company, HSBC and the Group given the Executive’s position at HSBC and the
remuneration paid to the Executive under this Agreement.
	 
	13.2	 	In recognition of the Executive’s position, remuneration and responsibility, the Executive
acknowledges and agrees that any invention, improvement, design, process, information,
copyright work, trade mark, trade name or get-up or any other intellectual property (together
the “Intellectual Property”) made, created or discovered by him during the Employment (whether
capable of being patented or registered or not) in conjunction with or in any way affecting or
relating to the business of HSBC, the Company or any Group Company or capable of being used or
adapted for use in HSBC, the Company or any such Group Company or in connection therewith
shall be immediately disclosed to the Company and shall belong to and be the absolute property
of HSBC or such Group Company as the Company may direct.
	 
	13.3	 	However clause 13.2 shall only apply to the extent that any invention was made by the
Executive in the course of his duties or in the course of duties falling outside the
Executive’s normal duties but which have been specifically assigned to him (together “Duties”)
and (i) such invention was reasonably expected to result therefrom; and/or (ii) at the time of
making the invention, because of the nature of his Duties and the particular responsibilities
arising therefrom, the Executive had a special obligation to further the interests of HSBC,
the Company and the Group.
	 
	13.4	 	The Executive acknowledges that he has no rights, interest or claims, either during the
Employment or after the termination of the Employment, in or to any such Intellectual Property
and he shall not use such Intellectual Property other than during the period of the Employment
and for the purpose of HSBC, the Company or the Group.
	 
	13.5	 	If and whenever required to do so by the Company, (whether during the Employment or after its
termination), the Executive shall at the expense of the Company or such Group Company as the
Company may direct:
	 
	13.5.1	 	apply or join with the Company or such Group Company in applying for letters patent or other
protection or registration in the United Kingdom and in any other part of the world for any
such Intellectual Property; and
	 
	13.5.2	 	execute and do all instruments and things necessary for vesting the said letters patent or
other protection or registration when obtained and all right title and interest to and in the
same absolutely and as sole beneficial owner in




 









 






	 	 	the Company or such Group Company or in such other person as the Company may specify.
	 
	13.6	 	The Executive agrees that he irrevocably and unconditionally waives all rights (including all
moral rights) under Chapter IV of the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988 in connection
with his authorship of any existing or future copyright work, in whatever part of the world
such rights may be enforceable
	 
	13.7	 	Nothing in this clause shall be construed as restricting the Executive’s rights or those of
HSBC or the Company under the Patents Act 1977 and in particular, sections 39 to 43 Patents
Act 1977.
	 
	14	 	Termination
	 
	14.1	 	Notwithstanding clause 4.1 the Employment shall be subject to termination by the Company:
	 
	14.1.1	 	notwithstanding the actual or expected provision of any permanent health insurance benefits
or any other benefit, by not less than six months’ notice in writing given at any time while
the Executive shall have been incapacitated by reason of ill health or accident from
performing the duties hereunder for a period of or periods aggregating the total period during
which the Executive is entitled to receive HSBC Sick Pay provided always that, subject to
clause 10.5, the Company shall not terminate the Employment in these circumstances if the
effect of such termination would be to deprive the Executive of the benefit of payments under
any permanent health insurance scheme. If at any time during the currency of such a notice
the Executive shall provide a medical certificate satisfactory to the Board to the effect that
he has fully recovered physical and/or mental health and that no recurrence of illness or
incapacity can reasonably be anticipated, the Company shall withdraw the notice;
	 
	14.1.2	 	by summary notice in writing and with no liability to make any further payment to the
Executive (other than in respect of amounts accrued due at the Termination Date) if the
Executive shall have:






	 	(a)	 	committed by any act or omission any serious breach or repeated or
continued (after warning) a material breach of the Executive’s obligations
hereunder; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	been guilty of conduct by act or omission (whether in the course of the
duties hereunder or otherwise) which (i) in the reasonable opinion of the Board,
tends to bring the Executive and/or the Company and/or any Group Company into
disrepute on account of material economic or reputational consequences for all or
any of them or (ii) causes HSBC, the Company or any Group Company substantial
economic harm, provided in either case, that if such conduct is capable of remedy,
he has first been given the reasonable opportunity to remedy the contract and has
failed to do so; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	been convicted of a criminal offence under any statutory enactment or
regulation (other than an offence under any road traffic legislation in the United
Kingdom or elsewhere for which a fine or non custodial penalty is imposed and which
does not render him unable to discharge his duties under this Agreement); or




 









 






	 	(d)	 	become bankrupt or had an interim order made against the Executive under
the Insolvency Act 1986 or compounded with his creditors generally; or
	 
	 	(e)	 	in the reasonable opinion of the Board, failed to perform the duties
hereunder to a satisfactory standard, after having received a written warning from
HSBC or the Company relating to the same; or
	 
	 	(f)	 	been disqualified from being a director by reason of any order made under
the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or any other enactment; or
	 
	 	(g)	 	resigned of his own choice as a director of HSBC or any Group Company,
not being at the request of or with the prior written agreement of the Board (save
with reasonable and proper cause and where remaining as a director would
substantially disadvantage him in his capacity as an officeholder of HSBC); or
	 
	 	(h)	 	become prevented by an applicable law or regulation from performing any
material part of his duties; or
	 
	 	(i)	 	been guilty of a material breach of the rules or regulations as amended
from time to time of the UK Listing Authority (including the Model Code for
transactions in securities by directors of listed companies), The London Stock
Exchange plc, the FSA or any other stock exchanges or regulatory authorities
relevant to HSBC or any Group Company or any Code of Practice issued by HSBC or any
Group Company (as amended from time to time); or
	 
	 	(j)	 	been expelled or subject to any serious disciplinary action by a relevant
professional body or failed or ceased to meet the requirements of any regulatory
body or statutory authority as a result of which the Executive is no longer able to
perform all or any of the duties under this Agreement or;
	 
	 	(k)	 	ceased to be eligible to work in the United Kingdom in accordance with
Sections 15-25 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.






	 	 	Any delay by the Company in exercising such right of termination shall not constitute a
waiver thereof.
	 
	14.2	 	If the Company becomes entitled to terminate the Employment pursuant to clauses 5.4 or
14.1.2, or whilst the Company, HSBC or any external body investigates any allegation which
would or may entitle the Company to terminate the Employment pursuant to clauses 5.4 or 14.1.2
it shall be entitled (but without prejudice to its right subsequently to terminate such
appointment on the same or any other ground) to suspend the Executive on full pay for so long
as it may think fit or, for such period as is reasonable in the circumstances. During the
period of any suspension the Executive will continue to be bound by the provisions of this
Agreement and must continue at all times to conduct himself with good faith towards HSBC, the
Company and all Group Companies.




 









 






	14.3	 	The Company reserves the right in its absolute discretion to give the Executive pay in lieu
of all or any part of the notice of termination (whether notice is given by the Company or by
the Executive). A dismissal without notice per se shall not constitute or imply an election
under this clause 14.3. For this purpose, the Executive agrees that pay in lieu will consist
of the Salary and other contractual benefits (or cash equivalent) as set out at clause 3 of
this Agreement for the relevant period of notice (subject to Statutory Deductions in the
normal way) but excluding accommodation and car and chauffeur driven services as referenced at
clauses 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 respectively, any Variable Pay and any other emolument referable to
the Employment.
	 
	14.4	 	During any period of notice of termination or part thereof (whether given by the Company or
the Executive), the Company shall (but only for a period or periods in aggregate not exceeding
six months) be under no obligation to assign any duties to the Executive and shall be entitled
to exclude him from the Group’s premises and to direct that the Executive refrains from
contacting (other than purely social contact with persons with whom the Executive has
established social relationships) any customers, clients, suppliers, agents, professional
advisers or employees of HSBC, the Company or any Group Company and refrains from accessing
the computer or other data or similar system of HSBC, the Company or any Group Company
(whether directly or indirectly) and remove him from office as a director of HSBC and any
Group Company and from all or any offices held by him in HSBC or any Group Company, provided
that this shall not affect the Executive’s entitlement to receive Salary and other contractual
benefits (excluding Variable Pay if the circumstances in clause 2.5 apply). For the avoidance
of doubt, during such period the Executive shall continue to be bound by the same obligations
to the Company and the Group as were owed prior to the commencement of the period including
the duty of good faith and fidelity.
	 
	14.5	 	The Executive agrees that during any period of notice of termination whether given by the
Company or by the Executive he will give such assistance in effecting an orderly and
comprehensive handover as HSBC and the Company may reasonably require and with regard to any
claim made by or against any Group Company. For the avoidance of doubt such assistance may
include attending meetings, reviewing documents, giving and signing statements/affidavits and
attending hearings and giving evidence.
	 
	14.6	 	Without prejudice to the constitution (including for the avoidance of doubt the articles of
association) of HSBC or any Group Company, on the termination of the Employment (howsoever
arising) or on either the Company or the Executive having served notice of such termination
and the Company having exercised its right to place the Executive on garden leave pursuant to
clause 14.4, the Executive shall at the request of the Company or HSBC:
	 
	14.6.1	 	resign from office as a Director of HSBC and of any Group Company and all other offices
held by the Executive in HSBC and/or any Group Company provided however that such resignation
shall be without prejudice to any claims which the Executive may have against the Company or
any Group Company arising out of the termination of the Employment; and
	 
	14.6.2	 	transfer without payment to the Company or as the Company may direct to HSBC or to any third
party, any shares or other securities held by the Executive in HSBC or any Group Company as a
nominee or trustee for




 









 






	 	 	HSBC, the Company or any Group Company and deliver to HSBC or the Company (as directed) the
related certificates; and
	 
	14.6.3	 	forthwith deliver to HSBC all Confidential Information and all materials within the scope of
clause 12.3 including any copies of any such materials and all credit cards and other property
of or relating to the business of HSBC, the Company or of any Group Company which may be in
the Executive’s possession or under the Executive’s power or control and, if requested,
provide a signed statement that he has fully complied with the obligations under this clause
14.6.3.
	 
	14.7	 	If the Executive shall have been offered but shall unreasonably have refused to agree to the
transfer of this Agreement by way of novation to a company which has acquired or agreed to
acquire the whole or substantially the whole of the undertaking and assets of or of the equity
share capital of HSBC, the Executive shall have no claim against the Company or HSBC in
respect of the termination of his employment hereunder by reason of the subsequent voluntary
winding-up of HSBC or of the disclaimer of this Agreement by the Company within one month
after such acquisition.
	 
	15	 	Restrictive covenants
	 
	15.1	 	For the purposes of this clause 15 the following words have the following meanings:
	 
	15.1.1	 	“Company Products” means any banking or financial products researched into, developed,
supplied, distributed or sold by the Company with which the duties of the Executive were
materially concerned or for which he was directly or ultimately responsible during the
Restricted Period;
	 
	15.1.2	 	“Company Services” means any banking or financial services (including but not limited to
technical and product support, technical advice and customer services) developed or supplied
by the Company with which the duties of the Executive were materially concerned or for which
he was directly or ultimately responsible during the Restricted Period;
	 
	15.1.3	 	“Comparator Group” means the following companies and entities, subject always to amendment
from time to time by the Remuneration Committee of the Board of HSBC and as notified to the
Executive by no later than 30 days after any such amendment: Banco Bradesco, Banco Itau,
Banco Santander, Bank of America, Bank of China, Barclays, BBVA, BNP Paribas, Citigroup,
Credit Suisse Group, DBS Group, Deutsche Bank, Fortis, ICBC, JP Morgan Chase, Lloyds Banking
Group, National Australia Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Scotland, Societe
Generale, Standard Chartered, UBS, Unicredito Italiano and Wells Fargo (and all group
companies of the companies and entities set out in this clause 15.1.3) and, where any
companies or entities set out in this clause 15.1.3 are the subject of a takeover or undergo
any form of reconstruction, the entities to which the relevant business assets of such
companies or entities are transferred from time to time;
	 
	15.1.4	 	“Confidential Information” has the meaning ascribed thereto in clause 12.2;
	 
	15.1.5	 	“Customer” means any person or firm or company or other organisation whatsoever to whom or
which the Company supplied Company Products




 









 






	 	 	and/or Company Services during the Restricted Period and with whom or which, during the
Restricted Period:






	 	(a)	 	the Executive had material personal dealings pursuant to the Employment;
or
	 
	 	(b)	 	any employee who was under the direct or indirect supervision of the
Executive had material personal dealings pursuant to their employment,






	 	 	provided that in the case of a firm, company or other organisation “Customer” shall not
include any division, branch or office of such firm or company or other organisation with
which the Executive and/or any such employee as defined in sub-clause (b) above had no
dealings during the Restricted Period save that where a restructuring of the firm or company
or organisation has occurred following such personal dealings “Customer” shall include the
part of the business with which the Executive or any employee as defined in sub-clause (b)
above had dealings during the Restricted Period;
	 
	15.1.6	 	“Prospective Customer” means any person or firm or company or other organisation whatsoever
with whom or which the Company shall have had negotiations or material discussions regarding
the possible distribution, sale or supply of Company Products and/or Company Services during
the Restricted Period and which were ongoing and not finally concluded at the Termination Date
and with whom or which during such period:






	 	(a)	 	the Executive shall have had material personal dealings pursuant to the
Employment; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	any employee who was under the direct or indirect supervision of the
Executive shall have had material personal dealings pursuant to their employment; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	the Executive was directly responsible in a client management capacity on
behalf of the Company,






	 	 	provided that in the case of a firm, company or other organisation “Prospective Customer”
shall not include any division, branch or office of such firm, company or other organisation
with which the Executive and/or any such employee had no dealings during the Restricted
Period save that where a restructuring of the firm or company or organisation has occurred
following such personal dealings, “Prospective Customer” shall include the part of the
business with which the Executive or any employee as defined in sub-clause (b) had dealings
during the Restricted Period;
	 
	15.1.7	 	“Restricted Employee” means any person who is on the Termination Date, or was during the
Restricted Period, employed or engaged by the Company or any Group Company and is by reason of
such employment or engagement in possession of, or is reasonably likely to be in possession
of, any trade secret or Confidential Information relating to the business of the Company or
any Group Company or has acquired influence over its Customers or Prospective Customers (as
defined in this clause 15 but so that references to “the Executive” shall be replaced by
references to the relevant employee and so that references to “Employment” shall mean the
relevant employee’s employment with the Company or Group Company, being in either case a




 









 






	 	 	person with whom the Executive had material dealings during the Restricted Period);
	 
	15.1.8	 	“Restricted Period” means the period of 12 months ending on the Termination Date or, in the
event that no duties were assigned to the Executive for any part of the duration of the notice
period, the 12 months immediately preceding the last day on which the Executive carried out
any duties for the Company;
	 
	15.1.9	 	“Restricted Products” means Company Products or any products of the same or of a similar
kind;
	 
	15.1.10	 	“Restricted Services” means Company Services or any services of the same or of a similar
kind;
	 
	15.1.11	 	“Restricted Supplier” means any person, company, business entity or other organisation
whatsoever who has supplied goods or services to the Company or any Group Company (other than
utilities and goods or services supplied for administrative purposes) during any part of the
Restricted Period or who has agreed prior to the Termination Date to supply goods or services
to the Company to commence at any time in the twelve months following the Termination Date.
	 
	15.2	 	The Executive recognises that, whilst performing his duties for the Company, he will have
access to and come into contact with trade secrets and Confidential Information belonging to
the Company and certain Group Companies and will obtain personal knowledge of and influence
over its or their customers and/or employees. The Executive therefore agrees that the
restrictions set out in this clause 15 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate
business interests of the Company and any applicable Group Company both during and after the
termination of the Employment.
	 
	15.3	 	The Executive hereby undertakes with the Company that he will not for the period of six
months after the Termination Date without the prior written consent of the Company (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld) whether by himself, through his employees or agents
or otherwise howsoever and whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm,
company or other organisation, directly or indirectly:
	 
	15.3.1	 	in competition with the Company anywhere in the world in a senior capacity, be employed by
or engaged or otherwise interested in any of the companies (or other entities) in the
Comparator Group in the business of researching into, developing, distributing, selling,
supplying or otherwise dealing with Restricted Products or Restricted Services; or
	 
	15.3.2	 	in competition with the Company, accept orders or facilitate the acceptance of any orders or
have any business dealings for Restricted Products or Restricted Services from any Customer or
Prospective Customer; or
	 
	15.3.3	 	employ or otherwise engage in the business of or be personally involved to a material extent
in employing or otherwise engaging in the business of researching into, developing,
manufacturing, distributing, selling, supplying or otherwise dealing with Restricted Products
or Restricted Services any Restricted Employee; or




 









 






	15.3.4	 	interfere with, or endeavour to interfere with, the supply or provision of goods or services
(other than utilities, or goods or services supplied for an administrative purpose) to the
Company or to induce the cessation of the supply or provision of such goods or services from
any Restricted Supplier; or
	 
	15.3.5	 	in competition with the Company, solicit business from, or solicit the supply of goods or
services (other than utilities, or goods or services supplied for an administrative purpose)
from any Restricted Supplier for the purposes of the provision of Restricted Products or
Restricted Services.
	 
	15.4	 	The Executive hereby undertakes with the Company that he will not for the period of twelve
months after the Termination Date without the prior written consent of the Company (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld) whether by himself, through his employees or agents
or otherwise howsoever and whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm,
company or other organisation, directly or indirectly:
	 
	15.4.1	 	in competition with the Company, solicit business from or endeavour to entice away or
canvass any Customer or Prospective Customer if such solicitation or canvassing is in respect
of Restricted Products or Restricted Services; or
	 
	15.4.2	 	solicit or induce or endeavour to solicit or induce any Restricted Employee to cease working
for or providing services to the Company, whether or not any such person would thereby commit
a breach of contract.
	 
	15.5	 	If the restrictions in clauses 15.3 and/or 15.4 are for any reason held to be unenforceable
in any jurisdiction in the world the Executive shall agree to such amended or lesser
restriction as would enable that restriction to be enforced so far as possible in such
jurisdiction.
	 
	15.6	 	The benefit of clauses 15.3 and 15.4 shall be held on trust by the Company for HSBC and for
each Group Company and the Company reserves the right to assign the benefit of such provisions
to HSBC and to any Group Company, in addition such provisions also apply as though there were
substituted for references to “the Company” references to HSBC or to each Group Company in
relation to which the Executive has in the course of his duties for the Company or by reason
of rendering services to or holding office in such Group Company:
	 
	15.6.1	 	acquired knowledge of its trade secrets or Confidential Information; or
	 
	15.6.2	 	had material personal dealings with its Customers or Prospective Customers; or
	 
	15.6.3	 	supervised directly or indirectly employees having material personal dealings with its
Customers or Prospective Customers,
	 
	 	 	but so that references in clause 15 to “the Company” shall for this purpose be deemed to be
replaced by references to HSBC or to the relevant Group Company. The obligations undertaken
by the Executive pursuant to this clause 15.6 shall, with respect to each such Group Company,
constitute a separate and distinct covenant and the invalidity or unenforceability of any
such covenant shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the covenants in favour of
HSBC or any other Group Company or the Company. In addition, at the request of the Company
the Executive shall enter into a direct agreement




 









 






	 	 	or undertaking with HSBC or any other Group Company whereby he will accept restrictions
corresponding to the restrictions in this clause 15 (or such of them as may be appropriate).
	 
	15.7	 	In the event of the transfer (within the meaning of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection
of Employment) Regulations 2006 (the “Transfer Regulations”) of the undertaking or the part of
the undertaking in which the Executive shall at the time be employed as the result of which
(by virtue of the Transfer Regulations) the Employment is automatically transferred to another
(“the Transferee”), the provisions of this clause 15 shall have effect as though references in
it (and in all associated terms defined in this Agreement) to “the Group” are construed as
references to “any other company within the Transferee’s Group” (which for these purposes
shall comprise the Transferee and any holding company of the Transferee and the subsidiaries
of the Transferee and of any such holding companies for the time being).
	 
	15.8	 	The Executive hereby undertakes with the Company that he will not at any time without the
consent of the Company after the Termination Date:
	 
	15.8.1	 	engage other than as a private consumer in any trade or business or be associated with any
person, firm or company engaged in any trade or business using the name(s) “HSBC” or “The
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation” or incorporating the word(s) “Hongkong Shanghai
Banking Corporation”;
	 
	15.8.2	 	in the course of carrying on any trade or business, claim, represent or otherwise indicate
any present association with the Company or any Group Company or for the purpose of carrying
on or retaining any business or custom, claim, represent or otherwise indicate any past
association with the Company or any Group Company to its detriment other than simple and
factual statements regarding the Executive’s period of employment, job title, responsibilities
and role.
	 
	15.9	 	The parties agree that the periods referred to in clauses 15.3 and 15.4 above will be reduced
by one day for every day, during which, at the Company’s direction, the Executive is on garden
leave in accordance with clause 14.4.
	 
	15.10	 	While the restrictions in this clause 15 (on which the Executive has had the opportunity to
take independent legal advice, as the Executive hereby acknowledges) are considered by the
parties to be reasonable in all the circumstances, it is agreed that if any such restrictions,
by themselves, or taken together, shall be adjudged to go beyond what is reasonable in all the
circumstances for the protection of the legitimate interests of HSBC, the Company or a Group
Company but would be adjudged reasonable if part or parts of the wording thereof were deleted,
the relevant restriction or restrictions shall apply with such deletion(s) as may be necessary
to make it or them valid and effective.
	 
	16	 	Grievance, dismissal and disciplinary procedures
	 
	16.1	 	If the Executive wishes to obtain redress of any grievance relating to the Employment or is
dissatisfied with any reprimand, suspension or other disciplinary step taken by the Company,
he shall apply in writing to the Chairman setting out the nature and details of any such
grievance or dissatisfaction. If the Executive is not satisfied with the decision of the




 









 






	 	 	Chairman he may within seven days of the decision appeal in writing to a non-executive
director of HSBC nominated by the Board.
	 
	16.2	 	The disciplinary rules applicable to the Executive are set out in HSBC’s Employee Handbook.
The disciplinary procedure is not contractually binding on HSBC or the Company.
	 
	17	 	Disclosure of information
	 
	17.1	 	For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 the Executive hereby consents to the
processing by the Company or HSBC of personal data including sensitive data of which the
Executive is the subject. The Executive agrees that the data may be collected and held by the
Company or by HSBC, or be disclosed or transferred to other employees of the Company or HSBC
or to any other member of a Group Company (including if necessary to other offices of HSBC,
the Company or any Group Company outside the European Economic Area) or to any other person as
may be reasonably necessary or as otherwise permitted by law. In this event, the Executive’s
personal information/data and sensitive personal data will be protected by the strictest code
of secrecy and security, and only used in accordance with the Company’s or HSBC’s strict
instructions.
	 
	17.2	 	The Executive agrees that HSBC, the Company and any Group Company may intercept, process and
monitor communications transmitted by or to the Executive via any private telecommunication
systems (including e-mail) or services of HSBC, the Company or any Group Company.
	 
	18	 	General
	 
	18.1	 	The provisions of this Agreement are severable and, if any one or more provision may be
determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable in whole or in part under the laws of any
jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Agreement in that jurisdiction shall not be
affected and the legality and enforceability of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction shall
not be affected.
	 
	18.2	 	Any notice or other document to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and may be
given personally to the Executive or to the Secretary of the Company (as the case may be) or
may be sent by first class post or other fast postal service or by facsimile transmission to,
in the case of the Company, its registered office for the time being and in the case of the
Executive either to his address shown on the face hereof or to his last known place of
residence.
	 
	18.3	 	Any such notice shall be deemed served when in the ordinary course of the means of
transmission it would first be received by the addressee in normal business hours.
	 
	18.4	 	The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints any other director of HSBC or of the Company from
time to time, jointly and severally, to be his attorney in his name and on his benefit to sign
any documents and do things necessary or requisite to give effect to those matters which he is
obliged to do pursuant to this Agreement (including but not limited to clauses 13 and 14.6.1).
In favour of any third party a certificate in writing signed by any director or by the
Secretary of HSBC or of the Company that any instrument or act falls within




 









 






	 	 	the authority hereby conferred shall be conclusive evidence that such is the case.
	 
	18.5	 	HSBC and any other Group Company may enforce the terms of this Agreement. No other person who
is not a party to this Agreement may enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of
Third Parties) Act 1999.
	 
	18.6	 	This Agreement contains the statement of initial employment particulars of the Executive as
required under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
	 
	18.7	 	There are no collective agreements that affect the terms and conditions of the Executive’s
employment.
	 
	19	 	Other Agreements
	 
	19.1	 	This Agreement together with HSBC’s Employee Handbook (as amended from time to time)
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and shall be in substitution for and shall
replace any previous letters of appointment, agreements or arrangements (including without
limitation the Executive’s service agreement with the Company dated 5 September 2008), whether
written, oral or implied, relating to the employment of the Executive by HSBC, the Company or
any Group Company.
	 
	19.2	 	Without prejudice to clause 19.1, in the event of any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and any other document purporting to relate to the employment of the Executive
(including HSBC’s Employee Handbook from time to time in force) the terms of this Agreement
prevail.
	 
	19.3	 	The Executive hereby acknowledges that he has no outstanding claims of any kind against HSBC,
the Company and/or any Group Company (otherwise than in respect of remuneration and expenses
accrued due and existing rights with respect to deferred bonuses and/or under and in
accordance with any HSBC share plan, as at the date of this Agreement but not yet paid).
	 
	20	 	Choice of law and submission to jurisdiction
	 
	20.1	 	This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England
and Wales.
	 
	20.2	 	The Executive hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice in England but
this Agreement may be enforced by the Company or by HSBC in any court of competent
jurisdiction.
	 
	21	 	Counterparts
	 
	 	 	This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties on separate
counterparts, but in that case shall not be effective until each party has executed at least
one counterpart. Each counterpart shall constitute the original of this Agreement, but all
counterparts together constitute one and the same instrument.




 









 






	22	 	Definitions
	 
	22.1	 	In this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires the following expressions have the
following meanings:
	 
	 	 	“Board” means the Board of Directors for the time being of HSBC or any committee of the Board
(including the Group Management Board) to which powers have been properly delegated or such
person or persons designated by the Board from time to time as its representative for the
purposes of this Agreement;
	 
	 	 	“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Group from time to time;
	 
	 	 	“Corporate Governance Code” means the UK Corporate Governance Code published by the Financial
Reporting Council (as amended from time to time);
	 
	 	 	“Commencement Date” means 1 January 2011;
	 
	 	 	“Employment” means the Executive’s employment under this Agreement;
	 
	 	 	“FSA” means the Financial Services Authority;
	 
	 	 	“Group” means (1) HSBC Holdings plc and any entity which from time to time is a holding
company of HSBC Holdings plc or a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc or of any such holding
company; and (2) any entity over which from time to time any of the entities defined in
paragraph (1) of this definition either directly or indirectly exercises management control,
even though it may own less than fifty per cent (50%) of the shares and is prevented by law
from owning a greater shareholding and “Group Company” and “Group Companies” shall be
construed accordingly;
	 
	 	 	“Recognised Investment Exchange” means an investment exchange granted recognition under
section 285 (1) Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 including a recognised overseas
investment exchange;
	 
	 	 	“Statutory Deductions” means appropriate tax, national insurance contributions and any other
applicable statutory deductions;
	 
	 	 	“Termination Date” means the date on which the Executive’s Employment terminated;
	 
	 	 	“UK Listing Authority” means the FSA in its capacity as the competent authority for the
purposes of Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
	 
	22.2	 	references to clauses, sub-clauses and schedules are unless otherwise stated to clauses and
sub-clauses of and schedules to this Agreement;
	 
	22.3	 	the headings to the clauses are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement;
	 
	22.4	 	the words “subsidiary” and “holding company” have the meanings set out in section 1159 of the
UK Companies Act 2006 and “management control” shall be demonstrated by the ability to
exercise significant influence over an entity or its management; and




 









 





	22.5	 	a reference to any statute or statutory provision (whether of the United Kingdom or
elsewhere) includes any subordinate provision (as defined by section 21(1) Interpretation Act
1978) made under it and provision which has superseded it or re-enacted it (with or without
modification) before or after the date of this Agreement except where it is after the date of
this Agreement to the extent that the liability of any party is thereby increased or extended.




IN WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been executed the day and year first above written.




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	Executed as a Deed by

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	the Company in the presence of:

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Dated:	 	 	 	 
	 


	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	Director
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Dated:	 	 	 	 
	 


	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	Director/Secretary
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 






	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	Executed as a Deed by

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	the Executive

	 	 	)	          	  Dated:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	in the presence of:

	 	 	)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	  Dated:	 	 	 	 
	 


	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	Signature of Witness
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Witness Name: 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	Witness Address: 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Witness occupation: