SYDNEY, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Australia's South 32 S32.AX on Thursday confirmed it was open to acquiring the manganese business of Anglo American AAL.L .
The two companies share a manganese mining and smelting business located in Australia and South Africa, with Anglo American owning 40 per cent of the division.
"As a JV partner with a deep understanding of their value, we would be a buyer if the price is right," a spokeswoman said in a statement emailed to Reuters confirming a report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper website.