Bacardi takes on local partner for V&S bid: media

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Private equity firm Ratos (RATOb.ST) has joined forces with spirits group Barcardi to bid for state-owned Absolut Vodka maker Vin & Sprit VSG.UL, Swedish media said on Thursday, without citing their sources.

Dailies Dagens Industri and Dagens Nyheter reported Ratos was interested in Vin & Sprit's Distillers and Wines divisions, with Barcardi gunning for Absolut, one of the world's leading vodka brands.

Ratos was not immediately available for comment.

Earlier this week a source with knowledge of the matter said another of the four bidders, U.S. firm Fortune Brands, would bid with another Swedish private equity group, Nordic Capital, again intending to split Vin & Sprit's assets.

Binding bids for V&S are due on Thursday from the four remaining bidders, a separate source close to the process told Reuters.

France's Pernod-Ricard (PERP.PA), Bermuda-based Bacardi, and Swedish private equity group EQT, which is bidding in cooperation with investment firm Investor (INVEb.ST), were still in the process along with Fortune Brands, the second source said.

Analysts expect the sale of Vin & Sprit, the biggest so far in Sweden's planned privatization effort, to fetch $6 billion to $7 billion.

(Editing by David Holmes)