WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 27 -- The International Finance Corporation (IFC) launched today a Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) bond issue for the amount of HK$ 350 million (approximately US$45.3 million equivalent) under its Euro Medium Term Note program. The 3-year fixed-rate notes carry a quarterly coupon of 5.91 percent per annum and a fixed re-offer price of 100.15 percent. The proceeds of the issue will be swapped into U.S. dollar floating-rate funds. The arranger and lead manager of the issue is Société Générale Asia Limited. Underwriting support was provided by a group of ten financial institutions. This transaction brings IFC's market borrowing to about US$2.5 billion for fiscal year 1996, which began on July 1, 1995. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest multilateral source of financing for private sector companies in developing countries. Its long-term debt is rated triple A by both Standard & Poor's Corp. and Moody's Investors Service.