News: API UPDATE 1-Australian Pharmaceutical Industries gets $509 mln buyout proposal from...

(Adds detail, Wesfarmers comment)

July 12 (Reuters) - Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) on Monday said it has received an unsolicited, non-binding buyout proposal from retail conglomerate Wesfarmers (WES) that values the pharmacy chain operator at A$679.9 mln ($508.9 mln).

Under the offer, shareholders of the pharmaceutical firm would get A$1.38 apiece, a premium of 20.5% to API's last close of A$1.145 on Friday.

The deal would give Wesfarmers access to API's network of retail stores, skincare clinics, and a distribution network of pharmaceutical and healthcare products, marking Wesfarmers' entry into the country's health sector.

"If the proposal is successful, API would form the basis of a new healthcare division of Wesfarmers and a base from which to invest and develop capabilities in the health and wellbeing sector," Wesfarmers said in a separate exchange filing.

API's major shareholder Washington H Soul Pattinson Co (SOL) , which owns 19.3% in the pharmaceutical firm, has indicated its support for the proposal and agreed to vote in favour of it, the retail conglomerate added.

Earlier, API said in a separate filing that it would stop manufacturing personal care and over-the-counter products in New Zealand in a move to simplify its business, and flagged a hit to its earnings for the full-year ending Aug. 31.

($1 = 1.3360 Australian dollars)