Academy Securities, Inc.

BBVA Securities Inc.

CIBC World Markets Corp.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

ING Financial Markets LLC

Lloyds Securities Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Natixis Securities Americas LLC

RB International Markets (USA) LLC

TD Securities (USA) LLC

From (and including) the issue date to (but excluding) June 19, 2028 (the “Fixed Rate Period”), interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrear on June 19 and December 19 of each year, beginning on December 19, 2018.

From (and including) June 19, 2028 (the “Floating Rate Period”), interest on the Notes will be payable quarterly in arrear on March 19, June 19, September 19 and December 19, beginning on September 19, 2028 (each, a “Floating Rate Period Interest Payment Date”).

The second London banking day preceding the applicable Floating Rate Period Interest Reset Date (each, an “Interest Determination Date”).

“London banking day” means any day on which dealings in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

LIBOR will be determined by the calculation agent in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) With respect to any Floating Rate Period Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will be the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the related Floating Rate Period Interest Reset Date that appears on Reuters Page “LIBOR01” (or such other page as may replace such page on Reuters or such other information service or source, in each case, as may be nominated by the person providing or sponsoring the information appearing on such page for purposes of displaying comparable rates) (the “relevant screen page”) as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that Floating Rate Period Interest Determination Date. If no such rate appears, then LIBOR, in respect of that Floating Rate Period Interest Determination Date, will be determined in accordance with the provisions described in (2) and (3) below.

If the Independent Financial Adviser or HSBC Holdings determines the Alternative Base Rate, the Independent Financial Adviser or HSBC Holdings, as applicable, may also, following consultation with the calculation agent, make changes to the day count fraction, the business day convention, the definition of business day, the remaining Floating Rate Period Interest Determination Dates and any method for obtaining the substitute or successor base rate if the Alternative Base Rate or the Alternative Screen Page is unavailable on the relevant Floating Rate Period Interest Determination Date or otherwise, in each case in order to follow market practice, as well as any other changes (including to the Floating Rate Period Margin) that HSBC Holdings, following consultation with the Independent Financial Adviser (if appointed), determine in good faith are reasonably necessary to ensure the proper operation of the Alternative Base Rate, as well as the comparability of the interest rate determined by reference to the Alternative Base Rate to the interest rate determined by reference to LIBOR (the “Floating Rate Calculation Changes”). Any Floating Rate Calculation Changes will apply to the Notes for all future Floating Rate Interest Periods.

HSBC Holdings will promptly give notice of the determination of the Alternative Base Rate, the Alternative Screen Page and any Floating Rate Calculation Changes to the trustee, the paying agent, the calculation agent and the noteholders; provided that failure to provide such notice will have no impact on the effectiveness of, or otherwise invalidate, any such determination.

“Alternative Base Rate” means the rate that has replaced LIBOR in customary market usage for determining floating interest rates in respect of bonds denominated in U.S. dollars or, if the Independent Financial Adviser or HSBC Holdings (in consultation with the calculation agent and acting in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner), as applicable, determine that there is no such rate, such other rate as the Independent Financial Adviser or HSBC Holdings (in consultation with the calculation agent and acting in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner), as applicable, determine in its or HSBC Holdings’ sole discretion is most comparable to LIBOR. If the Alternative Base Rate is determined, such Alternative Base Rate will be the Alternative Base Rate for the remaining Interest Periods.

“Alternative Screen Page” means the alternative screen page, information service or source on which the Alternative Base Rate appears (or such other page, information service or source as may replace the alternative screen page, information service or source, in each case, as may be nominated by the person providing or sponsoring the information appearing on such page for purposes of displaying comparable rates).

“Independent Financial Adviser” means an independent financial institution of international repute or other independent financial adviser experienced in the international capital markets, in each case appointed by HSBC Holdings at its own expense.

The Notes are not redeemable at the option of the noteholders at any time.

HSBC Holdings may redeem the Notes in whole (but not in part) in its sole discretion on June 19, 2028. The redemption price will be equal to 100% of their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to (but excluding) the date of redemption.

Prior to a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event

On the issue date, and for so long as no Loss Absorption Disqualification Event has occurred, an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes means any one of the following events:

(i) an order is made by an English court which is not successfully appealed within 30 days after the date such order was made for HSBC Holdings’ winding up other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency;

(ii) an effective resolution is validly adopted by HSBC Holdings’ shareholders for its winding up other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency;

(iii) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

(iv) failure to pay any interest on the Notes when due and payable, which failure continues for 30 days.

After a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event

On and after the date a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event has occurred, an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes means any one of the following events:

(i) an order is made by an English court which is not successfully appealed within 30 days after the date such order was made for HSBC Holdings’ winding up other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

(ii) an effective resolution is validly adopted by HSBC Holdings’ shareholders for its winding up other than in connection with a scheme of amalgamation or reconstruction not involving bankruptcy or insolvency.

After a Loss Absorption Disqualification Event has occurred, in addition to Events of Default, the Indenture also will provide separately for “Defaults.” A Default with respect to the Notes means any one of the following events:

(i) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

(ii) failure to pay any interest on the Notes when due and payable, which failure continues for 30 days.

If a Default occurs, the trustee may institute proceedings in England (but not elsewhere) for HSBC Holdings’ winding-up; provided that the trustee may not, upon the occurrence of a Default, accelerate the maturity of any outstanding Notes, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, failure to make any payment in respect of the Notes will not be a Default in respect of the Notes if such payment is withheld or refused:

(i) in order to comply with any fiscal or other law or regulation or with the order of any court of competent jurisdiction, in each case applicable to such payment; or

(ii) in case of doubt as to the validity or applicability of any such law, regulation or order, in accordance with advice given as to such validity or applicability at any time during the said grace period of 30 days by independent legal advisers acceptable to the trustee;

provided, however, that the trustee may, by notice to HSBC Holdings, require HSBC Holdings to take such action (including but not limited to proceedings for a declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction) as the trustee may be advised in an opinion of counsel, upon which opinion the trustee may conclusively rely, is appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances to resolve such doubt, in which case HSBC Holdings will forthwith take and expeditiously proceed with such action and will be bound by any final resolution of the doubt resulting therefrom. If any such resolution determines that the relevant payment can be made without violating any applicable law, regulation or order then the preceding sentence will cease to have effect and the payment will become due and payable on the expiration of the relevant grace period of 30 days after the trustee gives written notice to HSBC Holdings informing it of such resolution.

A “Loss Absorption Disqualification Event” will be deemed to have occurred if clause (iii) or (iv) of the definition of Event of Default (as such term is defined as of the issue date) has caused or is likely to cause the Notes to be fully or partially ineligible to meet HSBC Holdings’ minimum requirements for (x) eligible liabilities and/or (y) loss absorbing capacity instruments, in each case pursuant to the relevant Loss Absorption Regulations, as a result of any:

(i) Loss Absorption Regulation becoming effective on or after the issue date; or

(ii) amendment to, or change in, any Loss Absorption Regulation, or any change in the application or official interpretation of any Loss Absorption Regulation, in any such case becoming effective on or after the issue date.