ICBC participates in EUR 3.2 billion syndicated bridge loan to facilitate Berli Jucker Public Company Limited’s acquisition of a 58.6% ownership stake in Big C Supercenter (Linked to Record ID #95800)

Project narrative

In early 2016, Berli Jucker Public Company Limited (the core retail business of Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s TCC Group) won a hotly contested auction for Casino Guichard Perrachon’s 58.6% ownership stake in Big C Thailand (also known as ‘Big C Supercenter’) from Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA (a French retailer). In order to facilitate the acquisition, Berli Jucker Public Company Limited signed an EUR 3.2 billion one-year syndicated bridge loan agreement with Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, BNP Paribas, Bangkok Bank, HSBC, Mizuho Bank, Rabobank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. on March 16, 2016. The borrowing terms of the loan are unknown. Record ID#95800 captures Bank of China's estimated contribution and Record ID#98834 captures ICBC's estimated contribution. The borrower also entered into a THN 88 billion loan tranche with lenders such as Kasikornbank, Kiatnakin Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, TISCO Bank, and Thai Military Bank. The acquisition was completed on May 11, 2016.