MILAN—Troubled Italian lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA said Monday it is considering asking its bondholders to voluntarily convert their securities into shares.

The bank, which is in the midst of a €5 billion ($5.6 billion) recapitalization unveiled in July, said it hasn't decided whether it will do it or how.

At the end of July, the bank said it planned to sell €28 billion in gross nonperforming loans and raise €5 billion to solve once and for all its soured-loan problem, which has been a major drag on its earnings in recent years.

On Monday, the bank said it affirmed the objectives of the plan, but that it is considering asking bondholders to convert their bonds into equity after some "preliminary indications" it received from institutional investors.

Write to Giovanni Legorano at giovanni.legorano@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 26, 2016 14:15 ET (18:15 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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