** Shares of life insurer Brighthouse Financial BHF.O jump as much as 24.2%, hitting their highest in seven years
** Stock last up 20.7% at $61.87 in early trading
** BHF is looking to sell itself with private capital managers expected to bid for the firm, the Financial Times reports, citing people familiar with the matter
** Co was carved-out of life insurer MetLife MET.N in 2017
** BHF preference is to find an outright buyer rather than sell a minority equity stake, the report adds
** Co has a market capitalization of $3 bln as of last close - LSEG data
** BHF stock slipped 9.2% in 2024
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))