OREANDA-NEWS. August 20, 2014. Lately, BOC successfully issued RMB2 billion yuan-denominated "Arc de Triomphe Bonds" in Paris, France.

One portion of the issue, worth RMB1.5 billion, has a tenor of 2 years and carries a coupon rate of 3.35%; while the other portion, worth RMB0.5 billion, has a tenor of 5 years and carries a coupon rate of 3.85%.

It was the first RMB bond issued in the French market by a Chinese institution. Proceeds from the issue will be used to support the offshore RMB business in Paris and trade activities between the two countries.

The public issue of the "Arc de Triomphe Bond" generated active responses among local and international investors, with the total subscription amount hitting RMB7.3 billion. The bonds were 3.65 times over-subscribed. Investors are extensively distributed by geography, with European investors accounting for 34% of the total, which has mirrored the keen interest of European markets in RMB business.

As the only centenarian financial enterprise in China, BOC is also the most internationalized and diversified bank of the country, with operations spanning a wide variety of sectors including commercial banking, investment banking, direct investment, investment management, insurance, fund and leasing, and overseas presence in 40 countries and regions. BOC is the only financial institution from emerging market economies that has entered the list of global systematically important financial institutionsfor three consecutive years, and has been one of the "Fortune Global 500" for 26 straight years, ranked 7th by capital strength among its peers worldwide. Its key financial indicators have attained world-leading levels. Established in 1986, BOC Paris Branch is the first branch opened by a Chinese bank in France, and holds comprehensive banking business license which allows it to deal in all banking activities as approved by the financial laws of France.