CIMB enters Panda Bond market with RMB3.0 billion 3-year issuance

31 October 2025

Kuala Lumpur: CIMB Bank Berhad (“CIMB” or “the Bank”) has made its debut RMB3.0 billion, 3-year Panda Bond issuance in the China Interbank Bond Market, that carries a fixed coupon rate of 2.18%, making this the largest single tranche issuance by a Malaysian institution to date. The Panda Bond with a robust order book of RMB4.64 billion saw a notable deepening of CIMB’s investor base, attracting a broad base of onshore and offshore institutional investors.

This Panda Bond issuance also represents the second largest Panda Bond issuance to date from an Asean Issuer and achieved the lowest coupon rate on record ever secured by an ASEAN issuer. 

The Panda Bond issued by CIMB Bank Berhad has been assigned an AAA rating by China Chengxin Credit Rating Group (CCXI). The net proceeds from the bond issuance will primarily be used to expand the Bank’s local and cross-border businesses, helping bolster regional trade and finance in various strategic key sectors. A portion of the proceeds will be retained onshore to reinforce CIMB’s business development in China, underscoring CIMB’s commitment to the Chinese market. 

Novan Amirudin, Group Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Group said, “We are pleased to see strong demand from investors for our RMB3.0 billion Panda Bond issuance in China’s Interbank Bond Market, which marks the largest single-tranche issuance by a Malaysian issuer to date. It reflects the confidence in CIMB’s diversified ASEAN franchise and financial strength. In line with our Forward30 roadmap, this reaffirms our commitment to reallocate resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects that deliver long-term value and sustainable growth across China, Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region. This significant milestone reinforces CIMB’s role as a bridge between China and ASEAN, adding momentum to our efforts to accelerate financial integration and promote cross-border investment and trade.”

CIMB collaborated with a consortium of 11 Chinese, Regional and International financial institutions to successfully complete the Panda Bond issuance.

Chu Kok Wei, Chief Executive Officer, Group Wholesale Banking, CIMB Group (L) and Sun Shuqiang, Minister Counsellor, The Economic and Commercial Office of The Embassy of The People’s Republic of China in Malaysia at a ceremony to commemorate the issuance of CIMB's debut RMB3.0 billion, 3-year Panda Bond in the China Interbank Bond Market.