Swiss insurance group Zurich Financial Services has issued CHF700m in debt to retail and individual investors.

The transaction has been conducted to refinance senior notes maturing at the end of July 2011.

The issue comprised CHF450m of six-year senior notes maturing in 2007 and CHF250m of 10-year senior notes maturing in 2021.

The six-year notes pay investors a coupon of 2.250%, while the 10-year notes pay out 2.875%.

The notes have been issued by Zurich Insurance Co under its euro medium-term note programme.