Shareholders of HSBC have voiced strong demands for the bank’s leadership to consider a strategic breakup, during a tense shareholder meeting. The pressure comes amidst growing concerns over HSBC’s performance and its sprawling global footprint. Several investors urged the board to explore options that could potentially unlock value for shareholders through an independent Asian operations division or even a complete separation from its international banking unit. HSBC’s executives acknowledged these concerns, but declined to provide concrete plans for addressing them. The bank faces increasing pressure to adapt to evolving market dynamics and streamline its operations in response to regulatory scrutiny and competition from fintech startups.
