Berlin likely to bolster WestLB capital -sources

BERLIN, Nov 12 (Reuters) - German bank rescue fund Soffin is "very likely" to bolster the capital of troubled regional lender WestLB [WDLG.UL], a source close to the country's governing coalition told Reuters on Thursday.

Separately, a government source added that a move to shore up WestLB's capital position is "anything but fanciful".

WestLB's owners -- the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and regional savings banks -- are in talks with Berlin and Soffin about the move, which could see Soffin inject around 3 billion euros ($4.50 billion) in capital, the government source said.

The aim is to help WestLB with its plan to split itself in two, offloading around 85 billion euros worth of risky assets to a "bad bank" and creating a healthy core bank that will focus on corporate customers. [ID:nL7593651]

Negotiators have until the start of next week to draw up a plan suitable for presentation to the European Union, and the injection is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, when current guarantees protecting the bank expire.