Thai BJC shareholders approve $6.2 billion Big C buy

1 min readUpdated May 30, 2025Mar 22, 201612:22 AM

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Thailand’s Berli Jucker shareholders have voted in favor of a $6.2 billion acquisition of hypermarket operator Big C Supercenter Pcl (BIGC.BK) from France’s Casino Group.

Some 99.99 percent of voters approved the plan at Monday’s meeting, two financial sources who attended it said.

Berli, the core retail business of Thai tycoon Charoan Sirivadhanabhakdi’s TCC group, won a hotly contested auction for Casino’s 58.6 percent stake in Big C.

Earlier, Casino said it was on track to reduce debt as promised after Standard & Poor’s cut the French retailer’s credit rating to junk, citing falling profits, weakness in Brazil and competition at home.

The Thai group secured $6.2 billion short-term financing deal with 15 banks to fund the Big C acquisition on Wednesday.

Berli is expected to pay Casino by the end of March and the company will buy the remaining shares from minority shareholders in a tender offer, to be completed by May, one source said.

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What this means

Berli Jucker's decisive $6.2 billion acquisition of Big C Supercenter is a strategic power play that significantly bolsters TCC Group's retail footprint. This move will intensify pressure on other hypermarket operators in Thailand, directly using Berli's existing market presence. Given Casino Group’s documented financial pressures and credit rating downgrade, Berli has likely secured a valuable asset at a pivotal moment. The risk lies in integrating such a large acquisition swiftly, especially after securing a substantial short-term financing deal. However, TCC's established retail operations suggest a strong capacity to manage this expansion. The market will now keenly observe the success of the remaining shares tender offer, due by May, to gauge the deal's full impact.

Sarah Chen

Questions & Answers

Which company acquired Big C Supercenter Pcl and how much did they pay?

Berli Jucker, the core retail business of Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s TCC group, acquired Big C Supercenter. The company paid $6.2 billion for the hypermarket operator from France's Casino Group.

What percentage of Big C Supercenter was bought from Casino Group?

Berli Jucker acquired a 58.6 percent stake in Big C Supercenter from France's Casino Group. Shareholders approved the $6.2 billion acquisition plan at a recent meeting.

Why did Casino Group sell its stake in Big C Supercenter?

Casino Group sold its stake in Big C Supercenter to reduce debt, as previously promised. This followed a credit rating cut to junk by Standard & Poor's due to falling profits, weakness in Brazil, and domestic competition.

When is Berli Jucker expected to complete the acquisition and buy remaining shares?

Berli Jucker is expected to pay Casino by the end of March. The company will then buy the remaining shares from minority shareholders in a tender offer, which is expected to be completed by May.

Reader pulse

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