Fresenius, Smiths in 2-way race for Pfizer infusion pumps-sources

By Arno Schuetze and Ludwig Burger

FRANKFURT, June 6 (Reuters) - German healthcare supplier Fresenius (Swiss: FRE.SW - news) and British engineering company Smiths Group (Other OTC: SMGKF - news) have emerged as the final bidders for Pfizer (NYSE: PFE - news) 's infusion pumps business in a possible deal worth close to $1.5 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

Pfizer is hiving off the business, which it acquired as part of the $16 billion takeover of Hospira (NYSE: HSP - news) in September last year, to focus on drugs.

Infusion pumps provide exact dosage of intravenous drugs, sometimes by the millilitres per hour, and are used in medical areas such as intensive care, emergency care or neonatal care.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) is advising Pfizer on the divestment, the sources said.

Pfizer, Goldman, Fresenius and declined to comment while officials at Smiths were not immediately available for comment. (Editing by Harro ten Wolde)