News Release

Alejandro Lew Joins HSBC Latin America Debt Capital Markets Team

2 April 2007

HSBC today announced that Alejandro Lew will join HSBC's Latin America debt capital markets ("DCM") business as a director on April 9th. His appointment is part of HSBC's expansion of its Latin America DCM business. Lew will head DCM for Argentina, Chile and Uruguay and also be responsible for structured products related to DCM in these three countries. Based in Argentina, Lew will functionally report to Gerardo Mato, managing director, co-head of capital markets for the Americas, and locally to Gabriel Martino, group treasurer and head of global markets in Argentina. This is a newly created role.

"Adding Alejandro to HSBC's Latin America DCM team highlights the bank's success in bringing deals to the market which are both beneficial to the issuer and to investors," said Gerardo Mato. "Our ability to attract individuals of Alejandro's caliber also underscores HSBC's strength in the market as it continues to grow its franchise in the region."

Lew will join HSBC after ten years with JPMorgan Chase in New York and Argentina. Most recently, he served as Argentina head of local institutional and corporate sales while being responsible for local debt capital markets origination.  Lew was also responsible for cross border and onshore derivatives. He began his capital markets career as an analyst within Argentina's Ministry of Economy in 1993. Lew holds an economist studies degree from The School of Economics at La Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"With a presence in 17 markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, HSBC's domestic footprint in the region continues to grow and this appointment further underlines our ongoing commitment to building out our capital markets capabilities close to our key clients," said Alastair Bryce, head of corporate, investment banking & markets, Latin America.

Media Contacts

• Juanita Gutierrez
• Juanita.gutierrez@us.hsbc.com
• HSBC - North America
• 212.525.6282