Baxter reportedly considering vaccines unit sale

Baxter International is believed to be exploring the possibility of a sale of its vaccines business. 

This is according to a report from Reuters, which suggests the company is set to become the latest major pharmaceutical giant to divest some of its non-core assets in an effort to focus more closely on its strengths.

Goldman Sachs has reportedly been tasked with finding a buyer for the unit and has contacted a number of parties who have expressed an interest, including several private equity firms.

Baxter's division contains vaccines for meningitis C and tick-borne encephalitis, in addition to a number of collaborations related to the development of vaccinations against seasonal and pandemic influenza. For 2013, it recorded sales of around $300 million (181.06 million pounds).

Citing anonymous sources, Reuters said it is not currently possible to determine the value of any potential deal and noted the company has not yet sent out detailed financial information to prospective buyers.