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BNP Paribas achieves another first amongst foreign banks in China

BNP Paribas China Ltd has become the first foreign bank to underwrite an onshore corporate bond issued by a Chinese domestic issuer in the China market, after being awarded the Type-A Corporate Bond Lead Underwriting Licence in September this year.

BNP Paribas China Ltd acted as a joint lead underwriter for China Universal Leasing Co. Ltd’s RMB 500 million bond, issued on December 9. The super short-term commercial paper marks the first time a foreign financial institution has worked with a domestic player to issue in the world’s second-biggest market.

CG Lai, CEO of BNP Paribas China Ltd, said: “We are honored to become the first foreign bank to underwrite a bond issued by a Chinese domestic company, underscoring our consistent commitment to China. As a fully-licenced bank, BNP Paribas brings the strength of our comprehensive onshore expertise to continually help more foreign investors navigate China’s market and deepen our engagement in China’s domestic financial market to help our clients achieve their long-term business ambitions.”

George Sun, Head of Global Markets for Greater China, said: ”We are pleased to successfully complete this deal and we will look into more opportunities that can help both onshore and offshore clients tap into the growing potential of China’s domestic bond market. ”

BNP Paribas China Ltd was granted a Type-A licence, allowing it to lead underwrite domestic corporate debt from Chinese companies, from China’s National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors in September. Previously, BNP Paribas China was awarded the Type B licence in December of 2018.