Russia's National Banking Council will discuss the privatization of a 7.6% stake in Russia's top lender, Sberbank, from the central bank's 57.6% share next week, a council source told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
"This is not just a decision by the government. It must be approved the National Banking Council," the source said.
The National Banking Council supervises the country's central bank.
On Monday, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina said the government had not yet made a final decision to sell the Sberbank shares this year, while on Wednesday Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said they did not rule out that the deal could be carried out in 2011.
First Deputy Central Bank Chairman Alexei Ulyukayev has also said the sale may take place this year, adding the 7.6% stake could be sold in stages. The size of the stake is to be set after valuing market appetite and meeting with investors. The shares will be sold via a public subscription.
Earlier this year, Russia kicked off its privatization program by selling 10% in the country's No.2 bank, VTB, for $3.3 billion.
Sberbank head German Gref said last month that the bank may float the shares in the second half of 2011, but did not determine the size of the stake.
MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti)
