Business Segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Business Segments [Abstract]

Business Segments

25. Business Segments

We initiated a process in late 2010 to re-evaluate the financial information used to manage our business including the scope and content of the financial data being reported to our management. During the first quarter of 2011, we completed our evaluation and decided we would no longer manage and evaluate the performance of the receivables purchased from HSBC Finance as a separate operating segment. Rather, we would manage and evaluate the performance of these assets as a component of our Retail Banking and Wealth Management (formerly Personal Financial Services) operating segment, consistent with HSBC’s globally defined business segments. As a result, beginning in the first quarter of 2011, our management reporting was changed to reflect this decision and we now report our financial results under four reportable segments which are generally based upon customer group and global business: Retail Banking and Wealth Management (formerly Personal Financial Services), Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets and Private Banking. These changes have been reflected in the segment financial information for all periods presented to reflect this new segmentation.

HSBC previously announced that with effect from March 1, 2011, Retail Banking and Wealth Management would be managed as a single global business. This business is the historical Personal Financial Services with Asset Management moving from Global Banking and Markets to this new single business. Therefore, to coincide with the change in our management reporting effective beginning in the second quarter of 2011, we changed the name of our Personal Financial Services segment to Retail Banking and Wealth Management and have included the results of Asset Management, which provides investment solutions to institutions, financial intermediaries and individual investors, in this segment for all periods presented. There have been no other changes in the basis of our segmentation or measurement of segment profit as compared with the presentation in our 2010 Form 10-K.

Our segment results are reported on a continuing operations basis. As previously discussed, in August 2011 we agreed to sell our GM and UP credit card receivable portfolios and our private label credit card and closed-end receivable portfolio, all of which were purchased from HSBC Finance, to Capital One. Because the credit card and private label receivables being sold have been classified as held for sale and the operations and cash flows from these receivables will be eliminated from our ongoing operations upon disposition without any significant continuing involvement, we have determined we have met the requirements to report the results of these credit card and private label card receivables being sold as discontinued operations and have included these receivables in Assets of discontinued operations on our balance sheet for all periods presented. The results for these receivables were previously reported in the Retail Banking and Wealth Management segment.

Our segment results are reported on a continuing operations basis.

Net interest income of each segment represents the difference between actual interest earned on assets and interest incurred on liabilities of the segment, adjusted for a funding charge or credit. Segments are charged a cost to fund assets (e.g. customer loans) and receive a funding credit for funds provided (e.g. customer deposits) based on equivalent market rates. The objective of these charges/credits is to transfer interest rate risk from the segments to one centralized unit in Global Banking and Markets and more appropriately reflect the profitability of segments.

Certain other revenue and operating expense amounts are also apportioned among the business segments based upon the benefits derived from this activity or the relationship of this activity to other segment activity. These inter-segment transactions are accounted for as if they were with third parties.

Our segment results are presented under IFRSs (a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure) on a legal entity basis (“IFRS Basis”) as operating results are monitored and reviewed, trends are evaluated and decisions about allocating resources, such as employees are made almost exclusively on an IFRSs basis since we report results to our parent, HSBC in accordance with its reporting basis, IFRSs. We continue to monitor capital adequacy, establish dividend policy and report to regulatory agencies on a U.S. GAAP legal entity basis.

A summary of the significant differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRSs as they impact our results are summarized below:

Net Interest Income

Effective interest rate – The calculation of effective interest rates under IFRS 39, “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (“IAS 39”), requires an estimate of changes in estimated contractual cash flows, including fees and points paid or recovered between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate to be included. U.S. GAAP generally prohibits recognition of interest income to the extent the net interest in the loan would increase to an amount greater than the amount at which the borrower could settle the obligation. Under U.S. GAAP, prepayment penalties are generally recognized as received. U.S. GAAP also includes interest income on loans originated as held for sale which is included in other operating income for IFRSs.

Deferred loan origination costs and fees – Certain loan fees and incremental direct loan costs, which would not have been incurred but for the origination of loans, are deferred and amortized to earnings over the life of the loan under IFRSs. Certain loan fees and direct incremental loan origination costs, including internal costs directly attributable to the origination of loans in addition to direct salaries, are deferred and amortized to earnings under U.S. GAAP.

Loan origination deferrals under IFRSs are more stringent and result in lower costs being deferred than permitted under U.S. GAAP. In addition, all deferred loan origination fees, costs and loan premiums must be recognized based on the expected life of the receivables under IFRSs as part of the effective interest calculation while under U.S. GAAP they may be recognized on either a contractual or expected life basis.

Derivative interest expense – Under IFRSs, net interest income includes the interest element for derivatives which corresponds to debt designated at fair value. For U.S. GAAP, this is included in gain on financial instruments designated at fair value and related derivatives which is a component of other revenues.

Other Operating Income (Total Other Revenues)

Derivatives – Effective January 1, 2008, U.S. GAAP removed the observability requirement of valuation inputs to recognize the difference between transaction price and fair value as profit at inception in the consolidated statement of income. Under IFRSs, recognition is permissible only if the inputs used in calculating fair value are based on observable inputs. If the inputs are not observable, profit and loss is deferred and is recognized: (1) over the period of contract, (2) when the data becomes observable, or (3) when the contract is settled. This causes the net income under U.S. GAAP to be different than under IFRSs.

Unquoted equity securities – Under IFRSs, equity securities which are not quoted on a recognized exchange (MasterCard Class B shares and Visa Class B shares), but for which fair value can be reliably measured, are required to be measured at fair value. Securities measured at fair value under IFRSs are classified as either available-for-sale securities, with changes in fair value recognized in shareholders’ equity, or as trading securities, with changes in fair value recognized in income. Under U.S. GAAP, equity securities that are not quoted on a recognized exchange are not considered to have a readily determinable fair value and are required to be measured at cost, less any provisions for known impairment, and classified in other assets.

Loans held for sale – IFRSs requires loans originated with the intent to sell to be classified as trading assets and recorded at their fair value. Under U.S. GAAP, loans designated as held for sale are reflected as loans and recorded at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Under IFRSs, the income related to loans held for sale are reported in net interest income or trading revenue. Under U.S. GAAP, the income related to loans held for sale are reported similarly to loans held for investment.

For loans transferred to held for sale subsequent to origination, IFRSs requires these receivables to be reported separately on the balance sheet but does not change the measurement criteria. Accordingly, for IFRSs purposes such loans continue to be accounted for in accordance with held for sale investment guidance, with any gain or loss recorded at the time of sale.

U.S. GAAP requires loans that management intends to sell to be transferred to a held for sale category at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Under U.S. GAAP, the initial component of the lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment related to credit risk is recorded in the consolidated statement of income as provision for credit losses while the component related to interest rates and liquidity factors is reported in the consolidated statement of income in other revenues (losses).

Reclassification of financial assets – Certain securities were reclassified from “trading assets” to “loans and receivables” under IFRSs as of July 1, 2008 pursuant to an amendment to IAS 39 and are no longer marked to market. In November 2008, additional securities were similarly transferred to loans and receivables. These securities continue to be classified as “trading assets” under U.S. GAAP.

Additionally, certain Leverage Acquisition Finance (“LAF”) loans were classified as trading assets for IFRSs and to be consistent, an irrevocable fair value option was elected on these loans under U.S. GAAP on January 1, 2008. These loans were reclassified to “loans and advances” as of July 1, 2008 pursuant to the IAS 39 amendment discussed above. Under U.S. GAAP, these loans are classified as “held for sale” and carried at fair value due to the irrevocable nature of the fair value option.

Servicing assets – Under IFRSs, servicing assets are initially recorded on the balance sheet at cost and amortized over the projected life of the assets. Servicing assets are periodically tested for impairment with impairment adjustments charged against current earnings. Under U.S. GAAP, servicing assets are initially recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. All subsequent adjustments to fair value are reflected in current period earnings.

Securities – Effective January 1, 2009 under U.S. GAAP, the credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security is recognized in earnings while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) provided we have concluded we do not intend to sell the security and it is more-likely-than-not that we will not have to sell the security prior to recovery. Under IFRSs, there is no bifurcation of other-than temporary impairment and the entire decline in value is recognized in earnings. Also under IFRSs, recoveries in other-than-temporary impairment related to improvement in the underlying credit characteristics of the investment are recognized immediately in earnings while under U.S. GAAP, they are amortized to income over the remaining life of the security. There are also other less significant differences in measuring other-than-temporary impairment under IFRSs versus U.S. GAAP.

Under IFRSs, securities include HSBC shares held for stock plans at fair value. These shares held for stock plans are recorded at fair value through other comprehensive income. If it is determined these shares have become impaired, the fair value loss is recognized in profit and loss and any fair value loss recorded in other comprehensive income is reversed. There is no similar requirement under U.S. GAAP.

Loan Impairment Charges (Provision for Credit Losses)

IFRSs requires a discounted cash flow methodology for estimating impairment on pools of homogeneous customer loans which requires the discounting of cash flows including recovery estimates at the original effective interest rate of the pool of customer loans. The amount of impairment relating to the discounting of future cash flows unwinds with the passage of time, and is recognized in interest income. Also under IFRSs, if the recognition of a write-down to fair value on secured loans decreases because collateral values have improved and the improvement can be related objectively to an event occurring after recognition of the write-down, such write-down can be reversed, which is not permitted under U.S. GAAP. Additionally under IFRSs, future recoveries on charged-off loans or loans written down to fair value less cost to obtain title and sell are accrued for on a discounted basis and a recovery asset is recorded. Subsequent recoveries are recorded to earnings under U.S. GAAP, but are adjusted against the recovery asset under IFRSs. Under IFRSs, interest on impaired loans is recorded at the effective interest rate on the carrying amount net of impairment allowances, and therefore reflects the collectibility of the loans.

As discussed above, under U.S. GAAP, the credit risk component of the lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment related to the transfer of receivables to held for sale is recorded in the consolidated statement of income as provision for credit losses. There is no similar requirement under IFRSs.

Operating Expenses

Pension costs – Costs under U.S. GAAP are higher than under IFRSs as a result of the amortization of the amount by which actuarial losses exceeded the higher of 10 percent of the projected benefit obligation or fair value of plan assets (the “corridor.”). In 2011, amounts reflect a pension curtailment gain relating to the branch sales as under IFRSs recognition occurs when “demonstrably committed to the transaction” as compared to U.S. GAAP when recognition occurs when the transaction is completed. Furthermore, in 2010, changes to future accruals for legacy participants under the HSBC North America Pension Plan were accounted for as a plan curtailment under IFRSs, which resulted in immediate income recognition. Under US GAAP, these changes were considered to be a negative plan amendment which resulted in no immediate income recognition.

Share-based bonus arrangements – Under IFRSs, the recognition of compensation expense related to share-based bonuses begins on January 1 of the current year for awards expected to be granted in the first quarter of the following year. Under U.S. GAAP, the recognition of compensation expense related to share-based bonuses does not begin until the date the awards are granted.

Property – Under IFRSs, the value of property held for own use reflects revaluation surpluses recorded prior to January 1, 2004. Consequently, the values of tangible fixed assets and shareholders’ equity are lower under U.S. GAAP than under IFRSs. There is a correspondingly lower depreciation charge and higher net income as well as higher gains (or smaller losses) on the disposal of fixed assets under U.S. GAAP. For investment properties, net income under U.S. GAAP does not reflect the unrealized gain or loss recorded under IFRSs for the period.

Litigation accrual – A litigation accrual was recorded at year end related to a potential settlement of a legal matter where the loss criteria have been met and an accrual can be estimated for U.S. GAAP. Under IFRSs, apart from the likelihood of a potential settlement, it was determined that a present obligation does not exist at December 31, 2011 and therefore a liability was not recognized.

Assets

Customer loans (Loans) – On an IFRSs basis loans designated as held for sale at the time of origination and accrued interest are classified as trading assets. However, the accounting requirements governing when receivables previously held for investment are transferred to a held for sale category are more stringent under IFRSs than under U.S. GAAP.

Derivatives – Under U.S. GAAP, derivative receivables and payables with the same counterparty may be reported on a net basis in the balance sheet when there is an executed International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Netting Arrangement. In addition, under U.S. GAAP, fair value amounts recognized for the obligation to return cash collateral received or the right to reclaim cash collateral paid are offset against the fair value of derivative instruments. Under IFRSs, these agreements do not necessarily meet the requirements for offset, and therefore such derivative receivables and payables are presented gross on the balance sheet.

Goodwill – IFRSs and U.S. GAAP require goodwill to be tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. For IFRSs, goodwill was amortized until 2005, however goodwill was amortized under U.S. GAAP until 2002, which resulted in a lower carrying amount of goodwill under IFRSs.

VIEs – The requirements for consolidation of variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP are based more on the power to control significant activities as opposed to the variability in cash flows. As a result, under U.S. GAAP we were determined to be the primary beneficiary and consolidated a commercial paper conduit effective January 1, 2010. However in 2011, changes involving liquidity asset purchase agreements were made which resulted in us no longer being considered the primary beneficiary and this commercial paper conduit was deconsolidated at March 31, 2011. Under IFRSs this conduit is not consolidated.

Results for each segment on an IFRSs basis, as well as a reconciliation of total results under IFRSs to U.S. GAAP consolidated totals, are provided in the following tables.

	IFRS Consolidated Amounts
	RBWM			CMB		Global Banking and Markets			PB			Other			Adjustments/ Reconciling Items			Total			IFRS Adjustments(4)			IFRS Reclassi- fications(5)			U.S. GAAP Consolidated Totals
	(in millions)
December 31, 2011
Net interest income(1)	$	1,023		$	711	$	504		$	180		$	(83	)	$	(23	)	$	2,312		$	(41	)	$	163		$	2,434
Other operating income		409			453		969			184			336			23			2,374			7			(114	)		2,267
Total operating income		1,432			1,164		1,473			364			253			-			4,686			(34	)		49			4,701
Loan impairment charges(3)		247			6		5			(30	)		-			-			228			(3	)		33			258
		1,185			1,158		1,468			394			253			-			4,458			(31	)		16			4,443
Operating expenses(2)		1,653			741		986			261			65			-			3,706			39			16			3,761
Profit before income tax expense	$	(468	)	$	417	$	482		$	133		$	188		$	-		$	752		$	(70	)	$	-		$	682
Balances at end of period:
Total assets	$	28,017		$	21,669	$	213,164		$	6,525		$	92		$	-		$	269,467		$	(80,526	)	$	(115	)	$	188,826
Total loans, net		16,233			16,782		21,390			4,716			-			-			59,121			(4,636	)		(3,361	)		51,124
Goodwill		581			358		480			325			-			-			1,744			484			-			2,228
Total deposits		36,837			21,799		45,061			13,169			-			-			116,866			(4,788	)		27,651			139,729
December 31, 2010
Net interest income(1)	$	1,077		$	704	$	638		$	184		$	(11	)	$	(30	)	$	2,562		$	(110	)	$	161		$	2,613
Other operating income		277			455		1,010			132			193			30			2,097			82			1			2,180
Total operating income		1,354			1,159		1,648			316			182			-			4,659			(28	)		162			4,793
Loan impairment charges(3)		77			115		(180	)		(38	)		-			-			(26	)		30			30			34
		1,277			1,044		1,828			354			182			-			4,685			(58	)		132			4,759
Operating expenses(2)		1,371			681		724			242			70			-			3,088			94			132			3,314
Profit before income tax expense	$	(94	)	$	363	$	1,104		$	112		$	112		$	-		$	1,597		$	(152	)	$	-		$	1,445
Balances at end of period:
Total assets	$	22,289		$	16,470	$	177,150		$	5,380		$	24		$	-		$	221,313		$	(60,049	)	$	(90	)	$	161,174
Total loans, net		17,474			14,530		25,443			4,683			-			-			62,130			(1,695	)		(11,478	)		48,957
Goodwill		876			368		480			326			-			-			2,050			576			-			2,626
Total deposits		48,385			24,481		33,511			11,337			-			-			117,714			(3,725	)		6,629			120,618
December 31, 2009
Net interest income(1)	$	1,198		$	725	$	812		$	172		$	17		$	(22	)	$	2,902		$	(213	)	$	295		$	2,984
Other operating income		254			353		486			106			(515	)		22			706			1,018			(354	)		1,370
Total operating income		1,452			1,078		1,298			278			(498	)		-			3,608			805			(59	)		4,354
Loan impairment charges(3)		690			309		591			98			-			-			1,688			(29	)		(228	)		1,431
		762			769		707			180			(498	)		-			1,920			834			169			2,923
Operating expenses(2)		1,301			634		721			232			87			-			2,975			44			169			3,188
Profit before income tax expense	$	(539	)	$	135	$	(14	)	$	(52	)	$	(585	)	$	-		$	(1,055	)	$	790		$	-		$	(265	)
Balances at end of period:
Total assets	$	25,201		$	16,600	$	156,649		$	6,055		$	13		$	-		$	204,518		$	(59,721	)	$	(1,947	)	$	142,850
Total loans, net		19,448			14,849		17,360			5,355			-			-			57,012			(3,277	)		(3,276	)		50,459
Goodwill		876			368		480			326			-			-			2,050			576			-			2,626
Total deposits		48,240			24,107		29,897			11,566			-			-			113,810			(2,749	)		7,142			118,203

⁽¹⁾  Net interest income of each segment represents the difference between actual interest earned on assets and interest paid on liabilities of the segment adjusted for a funding charge or credit. Segments are charged a cost to fund assets (e.g. customer loans) and receive a funding credit for funds provided (e.g. customer deposits) based on equivalent market rates. The objective of these charges/credits is to transfer interest rate risk from the segments to one centralized unit in Treasury and more appropriately reflect the profitability of segments.

⁽²⁾  Expenses for the segments include fully apportioned corporate overhead expenses.

⁽³⁾  The provision assigned to the segments is based on the segments’ net charge offs and the change in allowance for credit losses.

⁽⁴⁾  Represents adjustments associated with differences between IFRSs and U.S. GAAP bases of accounting. These adjustments, which are more fully described above, consist of the following:

	Net Interest Income			Other Revenues			Provision for Credit Losses			Operating Expenses			(Loss) Income before Income Tax Expense			Total Assets
	(in millions)
December 31, 2011
Unquoted equity securities	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	(71	)
Reclassification of financial assets		(37	)		37			-			-			-			187
Securities		-			(18	)		-			(7	)		(11	)		(9	)
Derivatives		(4	)		(7	)		-			-			(11	)		(81,262	)
Loan impairment		(8	)		-			(4	)		-			(4	)		(28	)
Property		(5	)		-			-			(27	)		22			164
Pension costs		-			-			-			48			(48	)		(134	)
Purchased loan portfolios		-			-			-			-			-			3
Servicing assets		-			-			-			-			-			4
Interest recognition		2			-			-			-			2			(3	)
Sale of Cards and Retail Services business		-			-			-			-			-			(11	)
Other		11			(5	)		1			25			(20	)		634
Total	$	(41	)	$	7		$	(3	)	$	39		$	(70	)	$	(80,526	)
December 31, 2010
Unquoted equity securities	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	(73	)
Reclassification of financial assets		(148	)		320			19			-			153			187
Securities		-			(103	)		10			-			(113	)		(78	)
Derivatives		(5	)		(7	)		-			2			(14	)		(63,005	)
Loan impairment		(4	)		-			-			(1	)		(3	)		5
Property		(4	)		(56	)		-			(17	)		(43	)		199
Pension costs		-			-			-			120			(120	)		(120	)
Purchased loan portfolios		46			5			35			(1	)		17			18
Servicing assets		-			-			-			1			(1	)		8
Return of capital		-			3			-			-			3			-
Interest recognition		(5	)		-			-			-			(5	)		(6	)
Gain on sale of auto finance loans		-			(38	)		-			-			(38	)		-
Other		10			(42	)		(34	)		(10	)		12			2,816
Total	$	(110	)	$	82		$	30		$	94		$	(152	)	$	(60,049	)
December 31, 2009
Unquoted equity securities	$	-		$	35		$	-		$	-		$	35		$	(82	)
Reclassification of financial assets		(384	)		859			(143	)		-			618			30
Securities		-			58			-			-			58			(56	)
Derivatives		(2	)		(11	)		-			-			(13	)		(60,094	)
Loan impairment		2			-			6			-			(4	)		(9	)
Pension costs		-			-			-			43			(43	)		(50	)
Purchased loan portfolios		124			10			108			-			26			27
Servicing assets		-			(6	)		-			-			(6	)		(10	)
Return of capital		-			55			-			-			55			-
Interest recognition		2			-			-			-			2			(2	)
Other		45			18			-			1			62			525
Total	$	(213	)	$	1,018		$	(29	)	$	44		$	790		$	(59,721	)

⁽⁵⁾  Represents differences in financial statement presentation between IFRSs and U.S. GAAP.