Old Mutual confirms approaches for stake in U.S. fund arm

LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - Anglo-South African financial services company Old Mutual (Other OTC: ODMTY - news) on Tuesday confirmed it had received multiple approaches from potential buyers of its stake in U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . fund firm Old Mutual Asset Management (OMAM).

The company said it was responding to media speculation after the Financial Times on Monday evening reported it was close to selling the stake to U.S. rival Affiliated Managers (NYSE: AFM-CL - news) Group.

"Old Mutual confirms that it has received approaches from third parties to acquire its stake in OMAM. There can be no certainty that these approaches will lead to any transaction," it said in a statement.

Old Mutual also confirmed it was continuing to assess routes to splitting up its four main businesses.

The Group reported adjusted operating profit before tax of 1.7 billion pounds ($2.46 billion)and had 304 billion pounds of funds under management from core operations for the year ending Dec. 31.

($1 = 0.6904 pounds) (Reporting by Maiya Keidan; editing by Simon Jessop)