ROME (Reuters) - Italy's market watchdog Consob is examining the additional information it requested Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (M:BMPS) to provide in relation to its plan to reopen a debt-to-equity conversion offer, a Consob source said on Wednesday.
In a last-ditch attempt to raise privately the 5 billion euros (4.19 billion pounds) it needs by year-end to stay in business, Monte dei Paschi has proposed reopening the swap to target retail bondholders who could not take up the initial offer as it was deemed too risky for them.
Monte dei Paschi's board meets later on Wednesday over the bank's rescue plan though its chances of success are looking increasingly slim and a state bailout looms. Consob is expected to rule quickly over the request.