's largestshareholder, Compagnia di Sanpaolo, is considering buying part of the lender's36.6% stake in BancaD'Italia, MF reportedMarch 30.

Commercialbanks can have stakes in the central bank of Italy. A legal decree noted thatthe owners of the central bank must reduce their stakes to 3% or less by theend of 2016 or face having to give up dividends paid out by the Bank of Italy.