Bank of China eyes more cash, may need $15 bln - sources

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Bank of China is in talks with investment banks to raise money to meet Beijing's new capital guidelines, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, in what could be a roughly $15 billion fundraising effort.

China's banking regulator has urged big state lenders to raise their capital adequacy ratios to 13 percent next year after rapid loan expansions in 2009, according to an earlier report by Reuters on Monday.

Bank of China's current capital adequacy ratio, a key measure of financial strength, is about 11 percent, with at least one analyst saying that the ratio would likely go down to 10 percent next year.

To meet the 13 percent guideline, Bank of China would have to raise around 100 billion yuan ($14.6 billion), according to sources.

The sources were not allowed to speak publicly about Bank of China's plans. The bank declined to comment.

(Reporting by George Chen; Editing by Michael Flaherty and Chris Lewis)

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