MELBOURNE/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two of the world's biggest private equity firms, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and TPG , are potentially interested in Foster' wine business, but they are not currently working on rival bids, sources told Reuters.
Foster's, Australia's largest brewer, this week rejected a private equity offer worth up to $2.5 billion for its underperforming wine business as too cheap, but did not identify the name of the bidder.
A source briefed on the situation said Cerberus Capital Management
Other private equity firms are also potentially interested in the wine unit, including KKR and TPG, industry sources familiar with the situation said.
The Financial Times said on Thursday that other private equity firms were working on potential bids, including KKR and TPG.
But one of the source told Reuters although buyout firms such as TPG and KKR were assessing the wine business, it was too early to say that bids were being prepared.
"Every private equity group is kicking the tires now," the source said.
Spokesmen for KKR in New York and Melbourne declined to comment. TPG in Australia also declined to comment.
Foster's wants to continue with plans to separate its beer and wine businesses, with top brands including Penfold's, Beringer and Wolf Blass, after spending around A$7 billion buying wine assets at the top of the market.
Foster's shares were down 0.8 percent on Friday in heavy volume of three times an average day. They have surged 15 percent this year on speculation of a takeover of beer, while the broader market <.AXJO> is down 6 percent.
(Reporting by Victoria Thieberger in Melbourne and Megan Davies in New York; editing by Balazs Koranyi)
