FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November, 2006
HSBC Holdings plc
42nd Floor, 8 Canada
Square, London E14 5HQ, England
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F).
Form 20-F X Form 40-F ......
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934).
Yes....... No X
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ..............)
NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES
Section 198 - Companies Act 1985
The Company was notified on 27 November 2006 that Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. had
a notifiable interest as at 27 November 2006 in 515,386,875 ordinary shares of
US$0.50 each in HSBC Holdings plc, representing approximately 4.45% of the
ordinary shares in issue.
A copy of the letter of the notification is quoted below.
P A Stafford
Deputy Group Company Secretary
HSBC Holdings plc
Letter to HSBC Holdings plc dated 27 November 2006 from Merrill Lynch
International
"Dear Sir
Companies Act 1985 ss 198-202 (as amended)
We are writing to notify you with regard to a change of circumstances affecting
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc's interest under the above legislation.
This letter serves as notification, by reason of the provisions of section 203
of the above Act, that:
a) BlackRock Inc. (as asset management company in which Merrill
Lynch & Co., Inc owns 49.8% of the common stock) has the interests in relevant
share capital of your company disclosed in the attachments to this letter;
b) Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc has in aggregate the interests in
the relevant share capital of your company disclosed in the attachment to this
letter.
If you have any queries regarding the contents of this letter, please contact
Alasdair Coutts-Britton on 020-7996-3565, Facsimile 020-7996-1174.
Yours faithfully
(signed)
Duly authorised for and on behalf of
The notifying companies
Attachment
Company: HSBC Holdings Plc as of: 17 November 2006
Class of shares: ordinary
Each company named below is interested in the aggregate number of the shares
identified above set opposite its name. Where the number includes shares
additional to those shown in the first attachment to the accompanying letter,
certain further details are also set out below.
Company Aggregate number of shares
interested in
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc 377,454,454
BlackRock Group 137,932,421
Aggregated total 515,386,875
Schedule
Part 1
Name Address
BlackRock Investment 33 King William Street
Management (UK) Limited London EC4R 9AS
Part 2
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. World Financial Center
North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York
NY 10281-1332"
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HSBC Holdings plc
By:
Name: P A Stafford
Title: Assistant Group Secretary
Date: 28 November, 2006