[Satellite TODAY 04-20-12] Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) is seeking a loan of about $215 million from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and HSBC Holdings is advising on the financing, according to a Bloomberg report published April 19.

            The export credit loan is expected to be in place by about the third quarter of 2012.

The report said the proceeds of the loan would be used to fund the purchase of a satellite from Loral Space & Communications and two satellites from Boeing. ING Groep NV has also been retained by ABS in a consultancy role for part of the funding.

            In March, Boeing announced it had been awarded a contract for four electric propulsion satellites from ABS and Satmex. The first two satellites, ABS-3A and Satmex 7, are scheduled for delivery in late 2014 or early 2015.