The fund manager is currently embroiled in a much widerfinancial scandal centred on the £13 billion ($20.4 billion)industry in split capital investment trusts and which is currentlybeing investigated by regulatory bodies. As the scandal grew, thevalue of split capital trusts fell and Aberdeen was forced to lookelsewhere to raise capital and cut its £250 million ($393 million)debt pile. The preferred option earlier this year was the £100million ($157 million) flotation of its property investmentoperation, API.

But now Aberdeen has confirmed that since it unveiled theseproposals it has received at least 20 approaches about buying API.Analysts believe that a trade sale could raise more than aflotation and could raise quicker.

Press speculation has cited fund managers Morley and Schroder aswell as British Land as potential suitors. The division is alsothought to have attracted interest from US companies.