Province of British Columbia Issues $800M Notes

The province of British Columbia issued $200 million 5.25 per cent notes on September 21, 2001, due September 21, 2005, series BCEC-16, listed on the London Stock Exchange plc, pursuant to its US$5 billion Euro Debt Issuance Programme. The underwriters for the offering were The Toronto-Dominion Bank, CIBC World Markets plc and Royal Bank of Canada Europe Limited, along with Banque Bruxelles Lambert S.A., Coöperative Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Fortis Bank nv-sa, KBC Bank NV, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, Luxembourg, Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Limited, Deutsche Bank AG London, Dexia Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, société anonyme acting under the name of Dexia Capital Markets, Merrill Lynch International, National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc. and Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale.

On October 25, 2001, the province followed up with an issue of $500 million 4.25 per cent notes due December 1, 2005, series BCEC-17, listed on the London Stock Exchange, pursuant to the programme. The underwriters for the offering were the TD Bank and CIBC World Markets, along with Fortis Bank nv-sa, KBC Bank NV, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Banque Bruxelles Lambert S.A., Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, Luxembourg, Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale, BNP Paribas, Coöperative Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe), Deutsche Bank AG London, Dexia Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, société anonyme acting under the name of Dexia Capital Markets, National Bank Financial, Scotia Capital and Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale.

On October 29, 2001, the province reopened an existing series of US$250 million 7.25 per cent notes due February 8, 2005, series BCEUS-5, listed on the London Stock Exchange, by issuing an additional US$100 million of such notes under the programme. The sole underwriter was Royal Bank of Canada Europe Limited.

Michael Shepherd, Ministry of the Attorney General, represented the province. Peter Noble, Frank Picciola and Susan Mann of Ogilvy Renault’s London office acted as counsel to the underwriters in the three offerings.

Lawyer(s)

Susan E. Mann Peter S. Noble Frank L. Picciola