Mediolanum does not see Fininvest selling

MILAN Oct 8 (Reuters) - The CEO of Mediolanum (MED.MI) said on Thursday does not expect Fininvest [FIN.UL] to sell shares in the asset manager to help pay the 750 million euros in damages which a court has ordered Fininvest to pay a business rival.

The court on Saturday ruled that Fininvest, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's holding company which owns 35.1 percent of Mediolanum, must pay the damages to CIR (CIRX.MI) over a 1990s battle for control of publisher Mondadori (MOED.MI).

The order raised market speculation that Fininvest might have to sell shareholdings to help pay for the fine or induce the companies it controls to pay higher dividends. Fininvest is appealing against the ruling.

"I really don't think so," Mediolanum's chief executive Ennio Doris said when asked about the possibility of Fininvest selling. Doris and his wife control 36.2 percent of Mediolanum.

At 1011 GMT Mediolanum's shares were up 2.08 percent at 4.917 euros. The DJ Stoxx European banking index .SX7P was up 0.66 percent. (Reporting by Maria Pia Quaglia; Writing by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Greg Mahlich)