SYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Hong Kong-listed dietary supplements company Biostime International Holdings Ltd 1112.HK has agreed to buy Australian vitamin maker Swisse Wellness Pty Ltd for more than A$1.5 billion ($1.08 billion), Australian media reported on Thursday.
The company beat Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding 601607.SS and Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital in a sale managed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) GS.N , the Australian newspaper and Fairfax Media said in reports, citing unnamed sources.
Swisse and Goldman Sachs were not immediately available for comment. Biostime issued a statement saying it had requested a trading halt for its shares, without giving an explanation. ($1=1.3933 Australian dollars)