Italy could pay as much as 17 billion euros to wind down Veneto banks - minister

ROME/MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian state will pay 5.2 billion euros ($5.8 billion) to wind down two ailing Veneto-based banks and transfer their good assets to Intesa Sanpaolo, but the final cost for the state could rise to up to 17 billion euros.

Explaining the deal in a press conference on Sunday, Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said that on top of the 5.2 billion euro payment, the state will offer additional guarantees for up to 12 billion euros to cover for potential losses stemming from a due diligence of the two banks' bad and risky loans.

($1 = 0.8937 euros)

(Reporting by Steve Scherer and Silvia Aloisi)