Thai trading company Berli Jucker has mandated HSBC and Mizuho for its 650 million $835 million bridge loan, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The loan, which has a tenor of one-and-a-half years, will largely be denominated in euros and will go towards footing the bill for its acquisition of German retailer Metro's cash-and-carry business in Vietnam.
HSBC had advised Metro on the sale while Lazard had advised Berli Jucker. It is unusual for a sell side adviser to be financing an acquisition but previously, HSBC was also one of the seven lenders that extended a bridge loan of about $6 billion to Thai retailer CP All to...