Primary, whose main businesses are medical centres and diagnostic services, has been considering the future of the Symbion consumer and pharmacy divisions since its $2.65billion takeover of the company in February.

Primary retains Symbion's diagnostics assets, comprising pathology, diagnostic imaging and medical centres.

Primary announced yesterday that it would sell the Symbion consumer business to the Australian arm of French drug-maker sanofi-aventis. The Symbion consumer business sells vitamin and mineral supplements and other health-care products. Brands include Bio-Organics, Cenovis, Natures Own, Natural Nutrition and Betadine.

Analysts had expected Primary could get about $500-550million for the consumer business, and about $400-450million for pharmacy.

Swiss-based Zuellig Pharma has been touted as a likely buyer of the Symbion pharmacy business, but analysts have said that Primary may hang on to the asset if the price offered is not suitable.

A source close to Primary said yesterday that Symbion had received interest from several parties in relation to the pharmacy business and bids from multiple parties were expected by mid-week.

However, Primary would not sell unless the price was right, and other options for the division included a demerger or an initial public offer.

Primary managing director Edmund Bateman said yesterday that the pharmacy business had been performing ''extremely well''.

''Primary continues to assess a number of options in relation to Symbion Pharmacy, with a view of optimising value for Primary shareholders,'' he said.

Primary said the agreement to sell the Symbion consumer business to sanofi-aventis followed a competitive sale process.

Primary intends to use the proceeds from the sale to pay down debt facilities used to acquire Symbion.

It is carrying about $2.5billion of debt after its acquisition of Symbion.

Shares in Primary rose 25c to $5 yesterday. AAP