** Citi says Lendlease Group shares can expect near-term price upside on potential announcement of further asset sales and/or development projects
** The Aussie real estate firm said on Monday the Foreign Investment Review Board had provided approval for the sale of its 12 community development projects to Stockland Corp
** Citi says the sale confirms A$1.9 bln ($1.25 bln)of asset sales out of co's A$5.5 bln disposal program announced in late May
** Further asset sales are required to execute its A$500 mln buyback program, says Citi
** LLC down 9.9% as of last close, lagging behind a 16.9% gain on the ASX Real Estate index
($1 = 1.5223 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)
((Nikita.Jino@thomsonreuters.com;))