In Brief: $4.8B Merger Loan To Hit Market Monday

Bankers Trust Corp., Chase Manhattan Corp., and Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter & Co. are on track to bring a $4.8 billion loan package to market next Monday, market sources said.

Underwriters had considered shelving the package, to be used for the merger of packaging giants Jefferson Smurfit Corp. and Stone Container Corp., because of declines in both companies' stock and weakening demand for leveraged loan paper.

"We know what's being said out there. We've heard the speculation," a market source said but added, "We're on track .... I can't promise anything won't change as we go through the process."

The four-part financing includes a $1.5 billion bridge loan, a $1.5 billion institutional investor tranche, a $1 billion term loan, and an $800 million revolving credit. The deal is one of the largest of the year, behind only the $10.8 billion loan to Texas Utilities Co. and $12 billion financing for Worldcom Inc.

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