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By Francesca Landini
MILAN, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A consortium led by Poste Italiane PST.MI that includes asset gatherer Anima Holding ANIM.MI and Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti said it submitted an offer on Thursday to buy UniCredit's CRDI.MI asset manager Pioneer.
The value of the offer was not disclosed. But under an agreement signed for the acquisition, the Italian post office pledged to give its asset management company BancoPosta Fondi SGR to Anima Holding, increasing its stake in Anima to up to 24.9 percent from the current 10.32 percent next year.
The combination between Poste Italiane's asset management company and Anima would create a entity with 147 billion euro in assets under management, they said in a joint statement.
The companies bidding for Pioneer said they wanted to create a leading asset management group and added that the deal, if successful, would also generate value for their shareholders.
UniCredit's recently appointed CEO Jean Pierre Mustier is looking to sell Pioneer and other businesses to boost the bank's stretched capital base. The disposal of the asset manager could fetch more than 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion), sources have said.
Pioneer is Europe's sixth-largest asset gatherer and has assets under management of around 225 billion euros.
Sources have said four other suitors were vying for Pioneer - France's Amundi AMUN.PA , U.S.-based Ameriprise Financial (NYSE:AMP) AMP.N , Australia's Macquarie MQG.AX and British group Aberdeen Asset Management ADN.L . three companies submitted their bid to UniCredit through a special vehicle in which Poste Italiane held the majority of share capital, they said.
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