Italy's Atlante rescue fund would only consider potential investorsin Banca Popolare di Vicenza SpA'willing to provide capital and list the bank on the market, Reuters reported July7, citing a statement from the fund's manager Alessandro Penati.

Atlante will remaina shareholder of the bank until it is listed, in order to secure its stability,Penati said, adding that he was working on a plan to allow shareholders to buy Popolaredi Vicenza shares at €0.10 per share, the same price paid by Atlante, regardlessof what the lender's value may be in the future.

A merger between Popolare di Vicenza and Veneto Banca SpA might be possible after both banks are stableenough, Penati said.