LONDON, April 3 (Reuters) - Global private equity firm KKR &Co LP has picked up $150 million worth of loans takenout by Indonesian oil and gas shipping group PT Berlian LajuTanker from two European banks as investment appetite in themaritime sector grows, trade finance sources familiar with thematter say.
KKR declined to comment. Berlian Laju did not respond torequests for comment.
The sources said the Berlian Laju loans were sold bySweden's Nordea Bank and France's BNP Paribas. Nordea Bank and BNP Paribas declined to comment.
KKR was also among the potential suitors for a $500 milliontranche of shipping loans that Britain's Lloyds Banking Group is aiming to sell, a separate trade source familiarwith the matter said. KKR and Lloyds declined to comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul, additional reporting by FreyaBerry and Steve Slater. Editing by Jane Merriman)