OREANDA-NEWS. August 21, 2014. Lately, in the selection campaign for "2014 Outstanding Investment Banks in China" sponsored by Securities Times and participated by investment banks in the China region, Agricultural Bank of China Limited ("ABC") won the highest-level "Best Investment Bank" Award and the individual award of "Best Syndicated Financing Bank".

ABC was also awarded "Best Short-term Commercial Papers Program" and "Best Syndicated Financing Program of the Year" for the "2013 first tranche of short-term commercial papers for State Grid Corporation of China" and the "syndicated loan project for Hangzhou-Xin'an River-Jingdezhen Expressway". It ranked top among commercial banks by both the level and number of awards received. It is the sixth time in a row that ABC has delivered stellar performance at the event since the launch of its investment banking business in 2009.

Since 2013, the investment banking departments of ABC have actively promoted investment banking, maintained market position and rapidly developed high-end investment banking by adhering to compliant operations. With these efforts, ABC saw its customer recognition and market awareness constantly boosted. ABC has secured a leading position in the issue of debt instruments, including GD Power Perpetual Bonds – the first of its kind in China and ABC Phase I – the first credit asset-backed securitization product. These set a market benchmark in terms of subscription ratio, issue price and participant institutions. Furthermore, by fully leveraging on the function of syndicated loan business, it headed the establishment of a number of large syndicated loan programs.

These programs were designed to support transportation infrastructure, urban redevelopment, upgrading and renovation of traditional industries, major projects of central enterprises, and mergers and acquisitions ("M&A"), thereby strongly bolstering the development of the real economy. In addition, ABC has actively carried out M&A business, facilitating industrial integration and the extension of the industry chain, and firmly supported the capital operations of customers by providing professional private equity financing advisory and IPO advisory services. ABC also maintained its edge in carbon finance and green finance, and launched EPC financial services and other innovative green credit products. It assisted traditional enterprises in energy conservation, emission reduction, transformation and upgrading, and aligned its social responsibility with economic benefits. By leveraging on the overall advantages of its domestic and overseas platforms, ABC has provided a range of globalized investment banking services to high-end customers, from share issue, listing sponsoring, to direct investment and debt financing.

This selection campaign is sponsored by Securities Times – one of the four major securities newspapers in China, which commands a high profile and influence in the industry. The panel of judges for investment bank awards consists of members of the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors, sponsoring institutions and project companies. The appraisal result is based on a rigorous voting system to ensure the fairness and authority of the event. ABC has been a remarkable award winner at the event for six consecutive years, which fully demonstrates the universal recognition among the industry of the development result and market position of its investment banking business.