Rule 10.06(1) to (5) sets out certain requirements and restrictions on purchase of an issuer's shares or securities carrying a right to subscribe or purchase shares by an issuer or its subsidiaries.

The Intermediaries Exemption Waiver

Pursuant to this waiver, purchases of the Company's shares made by HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., HSBC Bank plc, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and HSBC France (collectively, "the Relevant Subsidiaries") in the ordinary course of business of the respective Relevant Subsidiaries as an intermediary and in relation to certain activities (such as client facilitation trading and derivatives hedging) are exempt from compliance with Rules 10.06(1) to (5).

This waiver is granted subject to certain conditions, including that the Company will report the net long positions held by the Relevant Subsidiaries in the Company's shares (together with the net long positions in the Company's CCSs pursuant to the CCS Waiver (as set out below) to The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "HK Stock Exchange") and the Securities and Futures Commission when the aggregate of such net long positions at the end of a trading day exceeds 0.5% of the Company's issued shares.

This waiver allows the Relevant Subsidiaries to take advantage of the exemption under English law which allows subsidiaries to hold shares in their parent company in their ordinary course of business as an intermediary.

CCS Waiver

Contingent convertible securities ("CCSs") are debt securities which may, in certain prescribed circumstances, convert into ordinary shares of the Company.

Pursuant to this waiver, the distribution, acquisition, holding and disposal of the CCSs by the Relevant Subsidiaries, including their roles as manager, global co-ordinator, bookrunner, stabilising manager and/or underwriter of any issuance of CCSs, and any market-making activity in the secondary market or similar activity intended to facilitate liquidity in the CCSs, are exempt from compliance with Rules 10.06(1) to (5).

This waiver is granted subject to certain conditions, including that the Company will report the net long positions held by the Relevant Subsidiaries in the Company's CCSs (together with the net long positions in the Company's shares held pursuant to the Intermediaries Exemption Waiver) to the HK Stock Exchange and the SFC when the aggregate of such net long positions at the end of a trading day exceeds 0.5% of the Company's issued shares.

This waiver allows the Relevant Subsidiaries to support the issuance of CCSs by the Company in the abovementioned managing, underwriting and/or market-making roles, which is common for financial institutions issuing debt securities.

Rule 10.06(2)(e) stipulates that an issuer shall not purchase its shares on the HK Stock Exchange during certain closed periods.

Buyback during closed periods

This waiver is granted in connection with a share buyback (the

"Buyback") by the Company in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong which will be put forward for the shareholders' approval at the Company's annual general meeting.

Pursuant to this waiver, the Company is permitted to conduct the Buyback during the closed periods or when the Company is in possession of inside information, provided that the relevant broker(s) appointed by the Company for the Buyback is appointed on irrevocable non-discretionary basis and the Buyback will be subject to certain purchase restrictions on the price that the broker must pay for the shares and the volume and speed which it can make purchases.

Rule 10.06(5) states that shares bought back by an issuer shall be automatically cancelled.

Treasury shares waiver

This waiver permits the Company to hold repurchased shares in treasury (instead of automatically cancelling them), subject to certain conditions including that the Company shall comply with the applicable laws in the United Kingdom and the UK Listing Rules in relation to treasury shares.

Rule 10.06(3) requires that an issuer should seek the HK Stock Exchange's approval before issuing new shares or announcing a new issue of shares within 30 days after the issuer's purchase of its own shares.

Consent to issue new options and shares under existing employee share plans and new CCSs

Pursuant to this consent, the Company is permitted to grant new options and issue new shares under existing employee share plans, and to issue new CCSs, within 30 days after purchase of shares under the buyback program.

Rule 13.36(1) requires that shareholders' approval shall be obtained prior to issue of convertible securities.

Authority to issue CCSs

Pursuant to this waiver, the Company is permitted to seek (and if approved, to utilise) an authority (the "Mandate") to issue CCSs (and to allow ordinary shares into which they may be converted or exchanged) in excess of the limit of the general mandate of 20 per cent of the Company's issued share capital.

This waiver has been granted on terms that permit the Mandate, if approved, to continue in force until: (1) the conclusion of the first annual general meeting of the Company following the date on which the Mandate is approved (or an earlier date which the Company may specify) at which time the Mandate shall lapse unless it is renewed, either unconditionally or subject to conditions; or (2) such time as it is revoked or varied by ordinary resolutions of the shareholders in general meeting.

The Share Buy-backs Code sets out certain requirements and restrictions for an issuer conducting share buyback.

As set out in the paragraph headed "CCS Waiver" above, the Relevant Subsidiaries of the Company will deal in the CCSs in the manner and for the reasons stated above.

Dealings in CCSs

Pursuant to this waiver, dealings by the Relevant Subsidiaries in the CCSs are exempt from compliance with the Buy-backs Code.