The future ownership of ING Investment Management Australia remains uncertain as contradicting reports over the strategy of the company's parent, ING Group, continue to surface.
Earlier this week, other agencies suggested that independent advisory firm Pottinger had been appointed to find a buyer for the asset manager.
A spokesperson for ING Group in the Netherlands said the company would not comment on market rumours, but did refer back to the company's earlier statements about its divestment strategy.
ING Group has announced it is preparing to spin off the ING insurance and investment management businesses through two initial public offerings (IPOs).
One IPO will take place in the United States, which comprises the company's franchise in retirement services, while the other will take place in Europe, but which will include the Asian Pacific insurance and investment management operations.
"The restructuring of the group is on track," ING Group chief executive Jan Hommen said last month.
"We continue to work towards the full physical separation of the banking and insurance activities, and we are laying the groundwork this year for two IPOs of our US and European & Asian insurance businesses so that we will be ready to proceed with transactions when market conditions are favourable," he said.
It is expected that the IPOs will take place some time during 2012.
