MILAN, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Italian asset manager Anima (ANIM.MI), opens new tab said on Friday it appointed Goldman Sachs as financial adviser to assess an up to 1.6-billion-euro ($1.71 billion) buyout proposal from Banco BPM (BAMI.MI), opens new tab.

Italy’s third-largest Banco BPM already owns 22% of Anima. Put forward earlier this week, the buyout offer, aimed at taking Anima private, is contingent on acquiring at least 67% of the fund manager.

Beside Goldman Sachs, Anima named law firm Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici as its legal adviser, the asset manager said in a statement after a board meeting.

Additionally, independent directors will be assisted by financial adviser Vitale&Co. on financial matters and law firm A&O Shearman on legal matters, the statement said.

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Reporting by Elvira Pollina, editing by Alvise Armellini

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