Chinese Company Issues First $350 Million Tech Innovation Bond Raised in Digital Yuan

cryptonews.com:

A Chinese infrastructure company has successfully raised $350 million in digital yuan for its new technology innovation bond.

According to Shanghai Securities News, the Shandong Hi-Speed Group issued the “Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd. 2024 Public Offering to Institutional Investors of Science and Technology Innovation Renewable Corporate Bonds (First Phase)” and listed the bond on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

With the $350 million (¥2.5 billion) funds raised in China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the bond sets a precedent for future financial products and a new record for its low coupon rate of 2.94% with the 3+N years term in Shandong province.

This science and technology innovation bond has CITIC Securities as the lead underwriter and GF Securities, Dongxing Securities, Orient Investment Bank, and Huatai United Securities as joint lead underwriters.

To publicize the comprehensive adoption of digital yuan, some of the Shandong Hi-Speed Group’s affiliated toll stations have been upgraded to accept digital yuan payments.

The issuance of the bond marks the Group’s elevated move to promote China’s CBDC.

Shandong Hi-Speed Group is a Chinese state-owned capital investment company in the domestic expressway field and a Fortune Global 500 enterprise. It operates and manages 8,745 kilometers of expressways and owns six listed companies at home and abroad.

Chinese authorities have been actively promoting the country’s digital currency.

China State Council’s General Office previously announced a comprehensive reform initiative for Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, including a significant focus on the pilot use of digital yuan in various sectors.

A central feature of the plan was to incorporate e-CNY into trade settlement,