The bids will form a basis for negotiations between the consortium and the bidders on a final transaction, Pivovarna Laško said in a statement posted on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange late on Thursday.

The beverage group said it would work with the consortium in studying the bids and deciding on how to proceed.

While Laško did not provide details on the bidders, interest in Laško has in recent days been expressed by Dutch brewer Heiniken.

Slovenian media have also reported that investment funds Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Bain Capital, Mid Europa Partners and CVC Capital Partners are eying the stake.

The consortium is headed by the Bank Asset Management Agency (BAMC), the bad bank, which holds just under a quarter of Laško shares, and includes mostly state-owned banks and companies.

The information memorandum had been picked up by 21 potential bidders, half of them strategic investors, according to unofficial sources.

The new owner will have to recapitalise the brewery with at least EUR 75m, according to unofficial sources.