We've noted that Putnam Investments and MFS Investment Management have been put on the block by their insurer parents. The rumor mill has been active recently. Possible acquirers of Putnam are said to include some biggies, Citigroup and Bank of America, as well as Franklin Resources and Mellon Financial. As for MFS, Nuveen Investments and Morgan Stanley are thought to be mulling a deal. Also, a European company has been rumored as a buyer of either. The key for Putnam will be valuation. It was hard hit by the fund trading scandals of three years ago; redemptions have been heavy. Its current turnaround effort is not yet seen as a resounding success. So if a buyer fails to emerge no one will really be surprised.

For more on these targets:
- Here's a Financial Times article via msnbc.com
- MFS, Putnam up for sale. Article