Deutsche Bank is trimming the list of bidders for its U.S. DWS [profile] mutual fund arm and much of the rest of its global asset management business. Today Reuters reports that there are now fewer than 10 bidders in the running in the sale.

So who's still in? Two sources told the wire service that Columbia [profile] parent Ameriprise, Claymore and Rydex acquirer Guggenheim Partners, and Delaware [profile] parent Macquarie are all still in. And though last week the Financial Times claimed that State Street [profile] had already dropped out of the auction, with Ameriprise preparing to follow suit [see MFWire.com, 2/9/2012], one source now claimed to Reuters that State Street is still in.

Other possible bidders previously named include: Apax Partners; and Great-West and Putnam's Canadian parent, Power Corp.

In November, the giant German bank publicly announced a "strategic review" of its asset management business, excluding its mutual fund business in Germany, the rest of Europe and Asia [see MFWire.com, 2/9/2012]. All told, about $525 billion and 1,500 staff are on the line. 

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