SINGAPORE, Sept 1 — Retailers from Europe and Southeast Asia are expected to submit bids for Carrefour SA’s roughly US$1 billion (RM3.14 billion)-worth of Asian assets, with first round offers due today, according to sources involved in the auction.

France’s Carrefour, Europe’s top retailer, is exiting Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand to focus on markets where it has a leading position, sources with knowledge of the matter have previously told Reuters.

French retailer Casino and Singapore’s Dairy Farm International Holding Ltd were among the companies expected to submit bids today, sources said, with each group being advised by a team of investment banks.

Other parties said to be interested in the sale included, Britain’s Tesco Plc, Thailand’s Berli Jucker Pcl and Thailand’s biggest energy company, PTT Pcl.

Carrefour and the companies mentioned either could not immediately be reached or declined to comment. The sources involved did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the auction process. — Reuters