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Under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme ... - Finance - EDF

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Risk Factors<br />

Structured <strong>Note</strong>s<br />

An investment in <strong>Note</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> premium and/or <strong>the</strong> interest on or principal of which is<br />

determined by reference to one or more values of currencies, commodities, interest rates or<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r indices or formulae, ei<strong>the</strong>r directly or inversely, may entail significant risks not<br />

associated with similar investments in a conventional debt security, including <strong>the</strong> risks that<br />

<strong>the</strong> resulting interest rate will be less than that payable on a conventional debt security at <strong>the</strong><br />

same time and/or that an investor may lose <strong>the</strong> value of its entire investment or part of it, as<br />

<strong>the</strong> case may be. Nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> current nor <strong>the</strong> historical value of <strong>the</strong> relevant currencies,<br />

commodities, interest rates or o<strong>the</strong>r indices or formulae should be taken as an indication of<br />

future performance of such currencies, commodities, interest rates or o<strong>the</strong>r indices or<br />

formulae during <strong>the</strong> term of any <strong>Note</strong>s.<br />

The prices at which Zero Coupon <strong>Note</strong>s, as well as o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>Note</strong>s issued at a substantial<br />

discount from <strong>the</strong>ir principal amount payable at maturity, trade in <strong>the</strong> secondary market tend<br />

to fluctuate more in relation to general changes in interest rates than do <strong>the</strong> prices for<br />

conventional interest-bearing securities of comparable maturities.<br />

Risks Relating to Renminbi-denominated <strong>Note</strong>s<br />

<strong>Note</strong>s denominated in RMB ("RMB <strong>Note</strong>s") may be issued under <strong>the</strong> <strong>Programme</strong>. RMB<br />

<strong>Note</strong>s contain particular risks for potential investors, including <strong>the</strong> following:<br />

Renminbi is not freely convertible; <strong>the</strong>re are significant restrictions on remittance of<br />

Renminbi into and outside <strong>the</strong> PRC<br />

Renminbi is not freely convertible at present and despite a movement towards liberalization<br />

of cross-border RMB remittances, notably in <strong>the</strong> current account activity, <strong>the</strong>re is no<br />

assurance that <strong>the</strong> PRC government will continue such movement in <strong>the</strong> future or that new<br />

PRC regulations will not be promulgated in <strong>the</strong> future which have <strong>the</strong> effect of restricting or<br />

eliminating <strong>the</strong> remittance of Renminbi into or outside <strong>the</strong> PRC.<br />

Holders of RMB <strong>Note</strong>s may be required to provide certifications and o<strong>the</strong>r information<br />

(including Renminbi account information) in order to allow such holder to receive payments<br />

in Renminbi in accordance with <strong>the</strong> Renminbi clearing and settlement system for<br />

participating banks in Hong Kong.<br />

There is only limited availability of Renminbi outside <strong>the</strong> PRC, which may affect <strong>the</strong><br />

liquidity of RMB <strong>Note</strong>s and <strong>the</strong> Issuer's ability to source Renminbi outside <strong>the</strong> PRC to<br />

service such RMB <strong>Note</strong>s<br />

As a result of <strong>the</strong> restrictions by <strong>the</strong> PRC Government on cross-border Renminbi fund flows,<br />

<strong>the</strong> availability of Renminbi outside of <strong>the</strong> PRC is limited. However, pursuant to<br />

arrangements between <strong>the</strong> PRC Central Government and <strong>the</strong> Hong Kong government, all<br />

corporations are now allowed to open RMB accounts in Hong Kong. There is no longer any<br />

limit on <strong>the</strong> ability of corporations to convert RMB and <strong>the</strong>re is no longer any restriction on<br />

<strong>the</strong> transfer of RMB funds between different accounts in Hong Kong.<br />

Although it is expected that <strong>the</strong> offshore Renminbi market will continue to grow in depth and<br />

size, its growth is subject to many constraints as a result of PRC laws and regulations on<br />

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