FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November
HSBC Holdings plc
42nd Floor, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ, England
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).
Form 20-F X Form 40-F ......
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Yes....... No X
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ..............).
25 November 2009
HSBC HOLDINGS PLC
THIRD INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2009
SCRIP DIVIDEND ALTERNATIVE
On 2 November 2009, the Directors of HSBC Holdings plc declared a third interim dividend for 2009 of US$0.08 per ordinary share payable on 13 January 2010 to holders of record on 19 November 2009 on the Hong Kong Overseas Branch Register and 20 November 2009 on the Principal Register in United Kingdom or the Bermuda Overseas Branch Register. The dividend is payable in cash in United States dollars, sterling or Hong Kong dollars, or a combination of these currencies, with a scrip dividend alternative. The "Market Value" for the issue of new shares under the scrip dividend alternative is:
US$12.2112 for each new share
The "Market Value" is the United States dollar equivalent of £7.39 being the average of the middle market quotations for the ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as derived from the Daily Official List for the five business days beginning on 18 November 2009.
Dividends payable in cash in sterling or Hong Kong dollars on 13 January 2010 will be converted from United States dollars at the forward exchange rates quoted by HSBC Bank plc in London at or about 11.00 am on 4 January 2010. These exchange rates will be announced to the London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Bermuda stock exchanges.
Particulars of the dividend arrangements will be mailed to shareholders on or about 1 December 2009, and elections must be received by the Registrars by 29 December 2009.
R G Barber
Group Company Secretary
HSBC Holdings plc
Media enquiries to Brendan McNamara on +44 (0) 20 7991 0655 or at [email protected]
Note to editors:
The HSBC Group
HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,500 offices in 86 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,422 billion at 30 June 2009, HSBC is one of the world's
largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HSBC Holdings plc
By:
Name: P A Stafford
Title: Assistant Group Secretary
Date: 25 November, 2009