HSBC Holdings plc has announced a 5 for 12 Rights Issue at 254 pence per share to raise approximately £12.5 billion (€13.7 billion) (net of expenses).
The offering is the biggest in the UK, eclipsing RBS's £12 billion issue last year, and underlined the perceived strength of the UK's largest bank compared with the problems that have weakened its rivals.
Higher regulatory capital requirements and changing market sentiment have raised expectations regarding capital levels.
The cash raised will be used to strengthen the bank's capital ratios by about 1.5 percentage points each. Its core equity tier one level will rise to 8.5 per cent and its tier one ratio to 9.8 per cent.
HSBC continues to manage capital allocation within the HSBC Group to concentrate on its core emerging markets and faster growing businesses.