Australia's Healthscope initiates $3.5 bln sale - media

SYDNEY, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The private equity owners of Australian hospital operator Healthscope have begun the first stage of a A$4 billion ($3.51 billion) planned sale by inviting nine banks to pitch for a role in the process, according to a media report on Wednesday.

TPG and Carlyle Group , the owners of Healthscope, will consider an initial public offering, selling the business to an offshore hospital operator or finding separate buyers for the hospital properties and operating �businesses, the Australian Financial Review reported.

Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, CIMB, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Macquarie Capital, Morgan Stanley and UBS have all been asked to apply for a role, the AFR said.

Healthscope, which owns 44 private hospitals in Australia and pathology operations in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand, was not immediately available to comment. ($1 = 1.1399 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

((colin.packham@thomsonreuters.com)(+61-2 9373 1812)(Reuters Messaging: colin.packham.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA HEALTHSCOPE/BANKS