Bloomberg : Carlyle Group Explores Sale Of $6 Bln Vitamin Maker Nature's Bounty

(RTTNews) - Carlyle Group LP (CG) is exploring a sale of nutritional-supplements maker Nature's Bounty Co., whose brands include "MET-Rx" and "Pure Protein," the Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The private equity firm has held talks with potential advisers about selling the U.S. company, formerly known as NBTY Inc. Nature's Bounty could fetch as much as $6 billion in a sale, the report said.

While finding a buyer for the whole business is the preferred option, Carlyle also may decide to shop the international division separately, the report said. Holland & Barrett, based in the U.K. and founded in 1870, is the leading retailer of vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements in Europe, according to Nature's Bounty's website.

Holland & Barrett would likely draw interest from Asian suitors as the brand is well-known in China, where it sells its products on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s popular Tmall e-commerce site, the report said.