51³Ô¹ÏÍø completes privatisation of Hang Seng Bank

At a glance

51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s privatisation of Hang Seng Bank became effective on 26 January 2026 and Hang Seng Bank shares were delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 January 2026.

Hang Seng Bank is now a wholly owned subsidiary of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific and therefore a wholly owned subsidiary of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Group.

About 51³Ô¹ÏÍø

51³Ô¹ÏÍø is one of the world’s largest banking groups, serving more than 40 million customers, ranging from individual savers and investors to some of the world’s biggest companies and governments.

About Hang Seng Bank

Hang Seng is Hong Kong’s leading domestic bank, serving nearly four million customers through a network of more than 250 outlets in Hong Kong, and outlets in major cities in mainland China.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø Group CEO

Commenting on the completion of the privatisation, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Group CEO Georges Elhedery said:

“Hang Seng remains its own bank, with its own governance, brand, branch network and customer proposition. What people value in Hang Seng Bank, the role it plays in the community and the way it serves generations of customers, will continue.

“At the same time, the opportunities ahead grow stronger. By bringing together our shared heritage, Hang Seng Bank’s local strength and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s global reach, we will help ideas travel further, open new markets and create more opportunity for families, small businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and companies.

“We are honoured to carry this legacy forward and confident in what we can build together in the years ahead.”

Georges Elhedery, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Group CEO
28 January 2026

FAQs

For further information on the results of the Hang Seng Bank Court Meeting and General Meeting, please refer to the “Results of Hang Seng Bank Court Meeting and General Meeting” link above under the Useful Links section of this page.

The privatisation is an investment for growth in Hong Kong, one of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø¡¯s home markets, and is in line with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø¡¯s strategy to increase leadership and market share where it has clear competitive advantage and the greatest opportunities to grow and support its clients.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø aims to grow in Hong Kong by strengthening the banking presence of both 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific and Hang Seng, focusing on their relative strengths and competitive advantages, while allowing all customers to choose where to bank.

The Scheme was sanctioned by the High Court on 23 January 2026 and the reduction of Hang Seng Bank¡¯s share capital was confirmed at the same hearing. The Scheme became effective on 26 January 2026, and all Scheme Shares have been cancelled and extinguished.

Upon completion of the Proposal, Hang Seng Bank became a wholly owned subsidiary of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific and therefore 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Holdings. The listing of Hang Seng Bank shares was withdrawn from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 January 2026.

Payment of the Scheme Consideration will be made by or on behalf of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific on or before 4 February 2026.

All shares held by minority shareholders of Hang Seng Bank on the scheme record date (23 January 2026) have been cancelled in exchange for an immediate cash payment of HK$155 per share. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø now holds 100% of Hang Seng’s issued share capital.

Payment of the Scheme Consideration will be made by or on behalf of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific on or before 4 February 2026.

Payment of the Scheme Consideration will be made by or on behalf of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific on 4 February 2026.

If you held Hang Seng Bank shares electronically via a brokerage or securities account, your account should be credited on 4 February 2026.

If you held share certificates in Hang Seng Bank, or typically received your dividends by cheque, a cheque will be posted on 4 February 2026. If your address is in Hong Kong, you should receive the cheque within two business days.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø continues to target a dividend payout ratio for 2025 of 50% of earnings per ordinary share excluding material notable items and related impacts, for its shareholders.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s share buyback announced on 30 July 2025 was completed on 24 October 2025. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Asia Pacific will finance the entire amount of the scheme consideration payable to the scheme shareholders from the internal resources of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Group. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø will not initiate any further share buybacks for three quarters from 9 October 2025. A decision to recommence buybacks will be subject to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s normal buyback considerations and process on a quarterly basis.

Timetable

For further information, please refer to the section headed ¡°Expected Timetable¡± in the Scheme Document and the announcement in the ¡°Results of Hang Seng Bank Court Meeting and General Meeting" link above under the Useful Links section of this page.

  • On or before 4 February 2026: The latest time for despatch of cheques for the payment of Scheme Consideration to Scheme Shareholders, or payment of Scheme Consideration to HKSCC Nominees by bank transfer.

Contact information

For shareholder enquiries:
Scheme shareholders who have questions regarding administrative and procedural matters relating to the Proposal may contact the Share Registrar, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, through the following channels:

By phone: +852 2862 8555
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time) Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in Hong Kong)

By email: hangseng_privatisation@computershare.com.hk

For media and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø investor enquiries:

Media enquiries: 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Press Office - pressoffice@hsbc.com
Investor enquiries: Hong Kong - investorrelations@hsbc.com.hk
UK - investorrelations@hsbc.com

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