HONG KONG/SINGAPORE, Oct 16 (Reuters) - KKR & Co ( KKR )

is set to launch the sale of Singapore-based Goodpack in a deal

that could value the provider of shipping containers and

logistics services at around $1.8 billion, people with knowledge

of the matter said.

The private equity giant has hired Deutsche Bank

and Rippledot to advise on the sale and a formal process will

begin in the coming weeks, the people said, declining to be

identified as the information was not public.

The seller has started sounding out selected parties

including global strategic and financial investors to gauge

potential interest in the deal, two of the people said.

KKR has decided to put Goodpack up for sale four years after

its first such attempt, which failed to materialise as the onset

of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business and hit valuations.

Goodpack's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,

and amortization (EBITDA) is projected to be about $120 million

to $130 million, with a sale aiming to fetch a multiple of up to

15 times over that, said one of the people.

KKR and Deutsche Bank declined to comment. Rippledot and

Goodpack did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

KKR acquired Goodpack, which was established in 1980, for

about S$1.4 billion ($985 million) in 2014 and delisted it from

Singapore Exchange.

Goodpack then changed senior management, expanded into new

markets such as food and chemicals and set up offices in Europe

and the United States.

The company provides services to customers in rubber,

chemicals, automotive, food products and other industries, its

website showed.

It operates a fleet of four million-plus pallet-sized

containers across over 5,000 delivery and collection points

worldwide.