REUTERS/FILE/David Gray Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - Australia's Macquarie (MQG.AX) and Malaysian hospital chain Columbia Asia are among the bidders for the acquisition of a healthcare joint venture between Ramsay Health Care and Sime Darby, according to sources familiar with the matter. Ramsay Health Care (RHC.AX) and Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby (SIME.KL) in June announced their plan to sell Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care (RSD) in a deal that could value the Asia-focused joint venture at 6 billion ringgit ($1.28 billion). Macquarie has been investing in the healthcare sector since 2005 and has been operating in Malaysia for over 24 years, while Columbia Asia has been running medical facilities across Southeast Asia with significant presence in Malaysia. Bloomberg had earlier reported that a unit of Kuala Lumpur- listed Sunway Bhd was also among the shortlisted bidders along with Columbia Asia and Macquarie. Columbia Asia, Macquarie, Sunway, Ramsay and Sime Darby did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Persons: David Gray, Macquarie, Sime Darby, Ramsay, Ramsay Sime Darby, Rishav Chatterjee, Saumyadeb Organizations: Macquarie Group Ltd, Ramsay Health Care, Sime, Ramsay Sime, Ramsay Sime Darby Health, IHH Healthcare, KKR, Co Inc, Columbia, Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Columbia Asia, Malaysian, Asia, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Macquarie . Columbia Asia, Macquarie, Sunway, Bengaluru, Yantoultra, Singapore