3i close to selling Giochi Preziosi stake -sources

LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - UK-based buyout firm 3i Group (III.L) is close to selling its 52 percent stake in Giochi Preziosi, Italy's biggest toymaker, to a consortium of Italian rival Clessidra and Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI), said sources close to the matter.

The deal, which would also see founder Enrico Preziosi cut his stake from 47 percent to about 45 percent, will give Intesa about 10 percent of the business and Clessidra around 45 percent, said the sources on Tuesday.

The deal, which would value Giochi Preziosi at more than 700 million euros ($1.1 billion), could be signed as early as this week, they added.

3i declined to comment. (Reporting by Zaida Espana and Mathieu Robbins; Editing by David Holmes)