MILAN (Reuters) - Italian asset manager Anima said on Friday it appointed Goldman Sachs ( GS ) as financial adviser to assess an up to 1.6-billion-euro ($1.71 billion) buyout proposal from Banco BPM.

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 ( GS ), 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.

($1 = 0.9343 euros)