(Refiles to remove "hold" tag in headline)
MILAN/FRANKFURT, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Germany's Uniper UN01.DE has hired Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) GS.N to sell its stake in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Italy, a deal that could value the whole business at 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), three people familiar with the deal told Reuters.
Books have been opened for due diligence on OLT Offshore LNG Toscana's business and a deal could materialise in the first half of 2017, the people said, also adding that there was no guarantee that a sale would take place.
Energy firm Uniper holds a 48.24 percent stake in the OLT terminal, while Italian utility group Iren IREE.MI owns 49.07 percent. The remaining 2.69 percent stake is held by U.S.-based shipping group Golar LNG GLNG.O .
Uniper, Goldman Sachs, OLT and Iren declined to comment. Golar LNG was not immediately available for comment. ($1 = 0.9247 euros)