1.Effects

1.1Short-termeffects

1.1.1Short-termImpactonSmallandMediumShareholdersofHangSengBank

Inthefirsthalfof2025,HongKong'scapitalmarket,characterizedbyhighliquidityandheightenedglobalcapitalpreferenceforemergingAsia-Pacificmarkets,createdadual-benefitenvironmentforprivatizationtransactions.ThedailyaveragetradingvolumeoftheHongKongStockExchangesurgedby118%year-on-year,whilemarketcapitalizationclimbedtoHK$42.7trillion.Concurrently,cross-bordercapitalflowssuchasinternationalsovereignfundsandhedgefundscontinuedtopourintoHongKong'sstockmarket,significantlyboostinginvestorinterestinblue-chipstockslikeHangSengBank.IfHSBCproposeda30%-50%industry-averagepremium,notonlywouldlocalminorityshareholdersrealizeprofits,butinternationalinvestorsholdingHangSengsharescouldalsoleverageHongKong'shighliquiditytoexitswiftly,unlockingcross-borderassetappreciationandfurtherattractingshort-terminternationalhotmoneytofocusonHongKong'sbankingsector.

However,theuncertaintyintheinternationalmarkethasalsointensifiedshort-termrisks.CyclicaltensionsinSino-U.S.traderelationsmaytriggeraglobalriseinrisk-aversesentiment.IfinternationalcapitaltemporarilywithdrawsfromHongKongduetogeopoliticalrisks,itcouldputpressureonHangSengBank'sstockpriceduringtheofferperiod,therebyaffectingshareholders'expectationsoftheacquisitionpremium.Additionally,divergentratingsbyinternationalinvestmentbanksontheprivatizationdealmayleadtomarketinformationconfusion.Someinternationalinvestors,unfamiliarwithHongKong'sregulatoryrules,maydelaytheirdecisions,resultinginfluctuationsintheacceptancerateoftheofferandeventriggeringshort-termvaluationadjustmentsinglobalemergingmarketbankstocks.

1.1.2Short-termImpactonLocalHongKongEnterprisesandIndividualDepositors

ThemultinationalcorporateclientsofHangSengBank(particularlyEuropeanandAmericanmanufacturingandtradingcompaniesoperatinginHongKong)aremoresensitivetotheprivatizationnews.ThesebusinessesrelyonHangSeng'scross-bordersettlementandforeignexchangeriskmanagementservices,andmayworryintheshorttermaboutpotentialdisruptionsinserviceprocessesorfeeadjustmentsfollowingtheacquisition.Asaresult,theymaytransfersomecross-borderfundstobranchesofinternationalbankslikeCitibankandJPMorganChaseinHongKong,leadingtoashort-termdeclineinHangSengBank'scross-borderdepositsandsettlementbusinessvolume.Meanwhile,asHongKongservesasaglobaloffshoreRMBclearingcenter,theRMBcashpooloperationsofsomemultinationalenterprisesmighttemporarilyshifttocompetingmarketslikeSingaporeduetotheuncertaintysurroundingtheprivatization.

Amongindividualdepositors,internationalsaversholdingforeigncurrencyassets(suchasexpatriatesinHongKongandcross-borderinvestors)tendtofavordiversifyingrisks.AlthoughtheHongKongDepositProtectionSchemecoverslocalcurrencies,internationaldepositorsmaytransferUSD,EUR,andotherforeigncurrencydepositstootherinternationalbanksduetoconcernsaboutHSBC'sglobalexposure,exacerbatingshort-termfundingfluctuationsforHangSengBank.However,HSBC'sgloballyrecognizedbrandcredibilitycanpartiallymitigatepanic,particularlythroughitsextensivenetworkspanningover70countriesandregions,whichstabilizescoreinternationalclientsviacross-borderservicecommitmentsandpreventslarge-scalecapitaloutflows.

1.2Long-termeffects

1.2.1Long-termImpactonHSBCandHangSengBankEmployees

PrivatizationhasbecomeakeydriverforHSBC's"Asia-ledGrowthStrategy"andglobalresourceintegration.LeveragingHangSengBank'slocaladvantagesinHongKong,HSBCcandeeplycoordinatecross-borderbusinessintheAsia-PacificregionwithitsEuropeanandAmericanmarketnetworks.Forinstance,byutilizingHangSengBank'soffshoreRMBbusinesschannels,HSBCcanexpanditsshareofglobaloffshoreRMBbondunderwritingandcross-bordertradefinancing.Atthesametime,itintroduceswealthmanagementexpertisefromEuropeanandAmericanmarketsintoHongKong,buildingaglobalcross-borderwealthmanagementplatform.Additionally,HSBCcanallocateglobalcapitaltoinjectmorelow-costfundsfromEuropeanandAmericanmarketsintoHangSengBank,supportingitscreditdeploymentintheAsia-Pacificregionandenhancingtheoverallefficiencyofcross-bordercapitalutilizationwithinthegroup.

EmployeesofHangSengBankwilldeeplyintegrateintoHSBC'sglobaltalentsystem.Whilefacingshort-termpressurefromjobstreamlining,theywillhavelong-termopportunitiesforinternationalcareerdevelopment:technicalstaffcanparticipateinHSBC'sglobaldigitaltransformationinitiatives,suchascross-borderdigitalpaymentsystemsandglobalriskmanagementmodeloptimization;businessstaffwillhavethechancetobesecondedtoHSBCbranchesinEurope,theAmericas,andSoutheastAsia,engagingincross-bordermergersandacquisitionsandinternationalcapitalmarketoperations,gainingexposuretocutting-edgefinancialinstrumentsandmanagementmodelsworldwide.Additionally,HSBC'sglobalcompensationsystemandtrainingresourceswillbeextendedtocoreemployeesofHangSengBank,supportingtheirgrowthintointernationalfinancialprofessionals.

1.2.2Long-TermImpactsonHongKong'sFinancialMarketsandRegulatoryInstitutions

TheconsolidatedfinancialgroupwillstrengthenHongKong'spivotalroleintheglobalfinanciallandscape.IntheoffshoreRMBbusinesssector,leveragingHSBC'sglobalclientnetwork,HangSengBankcanundertakemorecross-borderRMBsettlementandfinancingneedsformultinationalcorporations,furtherexpandingHongKong'sglobalshareintheoffshoreRMBmarket(currentlyreaching80%),andfosteringdifferentiatedcompetitionwithLondonandSingapore.Meanwhile,theenhancedcross-borderbusinesscapabilitieswillattractmoreChineseenterprisestolistoverseasandraisefundsthroughHongKong,boostingHongKong'sinfluenceasaglobalpricingcenterforChineseassetsandsolidifyingitscorepositionintheAsia-Pacificfinancialhub.

Regulatoryauthoritiesneedtoestablishacross-borderregulatorysystemalignedwithinternationalstandards.AfterHangSengBank'sprivatization,HSBCGroup'scross-borderrisktransmissionhasincreased.HongKongregulatorsmuststrengthencollaborationwiththeFederalReserve,theEuropeanCentralBank,andtheUKFinancial