HONG KONG (Standard&Poor's) March 19, 2012--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today assigned its 'A-' long-term issue rating to an offshore issue of Chinese renminbi (RMB)-denominated senior unsecured bonds by Bank of Communications Co. Ltd. (BoCom; A-/Stable/--; cnAA/--). We also assigned our 'cnAA' Greater China credit scale rating to the fixed-rate bonds. BoCom issued the bonds in Hong Kong, and in two tranches: RMB700 million at 2.98% due March 9, 2014; and RMB300 million at 3.1% due March 9, 2015. Both tranches constitute direct, unconditional, unsubordinated, general, and unsecured obligations of the bank. RELATED CRITERIA AND RESEARCH Banks: Rating Methodology And Assumptions, Nov. 9, 2011 Credit FAQ: Greater China Credit Rating Scale Explained, April 27, 2011 Standard&Poor's
