Velenje, 14 March (STA) - Gorenje has invited three Asia-based companies that sent non-binding bids for a majority stake in the company to conduct due diligence of the home appliance maker. Gorenje will accept binding bids by 8 May, the company said.
Gorenje reported last week that it had received four non-binding bids for a majority stake in the company by four companies in Asia that operate in the same industry. A non-binding bid also came from a European company this week.
The business newspaper Finance reported unofficially that two major Chinese manufactures, Haier and Hefei Meiling, were among the bidders.
No other companies are being named at this stage, but previous reports also mentioned Chinese company Midea among interested investors.
After a careful analysis and an assessment of "business and other elements" of the five companies, Gorenje invited three potential investors from Asia to conduct due diligence.
The Velenje-based company will provide them with access to a virtual data room on Gorenje from 23 March, enable them to visit selected plants and meet the management of the company in April.
Gorenje launched the procedure for finding a strategic partner on 2 February, after Družba Rothschild & Co probed a number of international companies for their interest in partnering up with the Slovenian group.