LCP Proudreed PLC - Irish Stock Exchange

THE HEDGING PROVIDERS AND THE LIQUIDITY FACILITY PROVIDER
HSBC Bank plc
HSBC Bank plc and its subsidiaries form a UK-based group providing a comprehensive range of banking
and related financial services.
HSBC Bank plc (formerly Midland Bank plc) was formed in England in 1836 and subsequently registered
as a limited company in 1880. In 1923, the company adopted the name of Midland Bank Limited which
it held until 1982 when the name was changed to Midland Bank plc.
During the year ended 31 December 1992, Midland Bank plc became a wholly-owned subsidiary
undertaking of HSBC Holdings plc, whose Group Head Office is at 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ.
HSBC Bank plc adopted its current name, changing from Midland Bank plc, in the year ended
31 December 1999.
The HSBC Group is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with over
9,800 offices in 77 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle
East and Africa. Its total assets at 31 December 2004 were US$1,266 billion. HSBC Bank plc is the HSBC
Group’s principal operating subsidiary undertaking in Europe.
The short-term unsecured obligations of HSBC Bank plc are currently rated A-1+, P-1, F1+ by S&P,
Moody’s and Fitch, respectively, and the long-term obligations of HSBC Bank plc are currently rated Aa2,
AA−, AA by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch respectively.
The information contained in this Offering Circular with respect to HSBC Bank plc relates to and has
been obtained from it. The delivery of this Offering Circular shall not create any implication that there
has been no change in the affairs of HSBC Bank plc since the date of this Offering Circular, or that the
information contained or referred to in it is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
Société Générale
Société Générale is a French limited liability company (Société Anonyme) having the status of a bank and
is registered in France in the Commercial Register under number 552120222. It has its registered office
at 29 Boulevard Haussman, 75009 Paris and its head office at Tour S.G., 17 Cours Valmy, 97972 Paris La
Defense.
Société Générale was incorporated by deed approved by the decree of 4th May 1864. It was then
nationalised in 1945, but returned to the private sector in July 1987 as a ‘‘Société Anonyme’’ under the laws
of the Republic of France. Its existence has been extended to December 31st, 2047.
The purpose of the Société Générale Group (the ‘‘SG Group’’) is to engage in banking, finance, insurance
brokerage and credit operations in France and outside France with all persons, corporate entities, public
and local authorities in accordance with the regulations applicable to ‘‘Etablissements de Crédit’’ (Credit
Institutions).
At December 31st, 2004, the SG Group had total assets of Euro 601.1 billion, total customer loans of Euro
198.9 billion, and total customer deposits of Euro 174.5 billion. At December 31st, 2004, SG Group
shareholders’ equity was Euro 18.6 billion. The SG Group employed, at December 31st, 2004, more than
93,000 employees and is present in 80 countries in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the
Middle East and Africa.
The short-term unsecured obligations of Société Générale are rated A-1+, P-1 and F1+ by S&P, Moody’s
and Fitch, respectively, and the long-term obligations are rated AA−, Aa2 and AA− by S&P, Moody’s and
Fitch, respectively .
The information contained in this Offering Circular with respect to Société Générale relates to and has
been obtained from it. The delivery of this Offering Circular shall not create any implication that there
has been no change in the affairs of Société Générale since the date of this Offering Circular, or that the
information contained or referred to in it is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
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