July 25 (Bloomberg) -- Christian Lacroix SNC, the French fashion label that filed for protection from creditors in May, may receive as much as 15 million euros ($21 million) from Bernard Krief Consulting if a planned bid for Lacroix is accepted in France’s business court.

Bernard Krief plans to submit an offer for the apparel maker on July 27 before 10 a.m. Paris time, Louis Petiet, chairman of the Paris-based investment firm, said yesterday. The investor will pay a “symbolic price” for Lacroix and would inject 10 million euros to 15 million euros into the company over the next three years, Petiet said.

The Paris-based investor, which took over bankrupt French carmaker Heuliez SA earlier this month, would keep at least half of Christian Lacroix’s 125 employees and develop both the haute couture and the ready-to-wear businesses, Petiet said.

“We consider the Christian Lacroix brand to be a part of the national heritage,” Petiet said in a telephone interview. “Mr. Lacroix wishes to remain active and we have based our project on his continuing presence.”

Christian Lacroix’s press office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

The court is scheduled to accept a bid or rule to liquidate the fashion house in September, according to Petiet.

Founded in 1987, the Lacroix fashion house has never turned a profit and reported a 10 million-euro loss last year on revenue of 30 million euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ladka Bauerova in Paris at lbauerova@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 24, 2009 18:02 EDT