UniCredit S.p.A. is holding talsk with Kazakh investors regarding the sale of a controlling stake in ATFBank Joint Stock Company, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. A Kazakh government source said a deal was likely to be struck in 2013. "The talks are about a controlling stake in ATFBank, most probably, this is a deal to be struck in 2013," the source told Reuters.

The source also said that Bolat Utemuratov and a separate group of Kazakh businessmen were both interested in acquiring the stake. A source at ATF said the sale price has not yet been decided. "The talks have been under way for a few months now, and calculations are being made as to how much it would cost," that source said.

UniCredit said in March 2012 that it would consider selling its interest in ATF, if it receives a suitable offer.