Bank of China plans up to $6 billion rights issue: Sources

Bank of China Ltd, one of China's four largest banks, is expected to announce a plan soon to raise up to $6 billion through an H-share rights issue to beef up its capital base, sources said on Friday.

Trading in its Hong Kong stock was halted on Friday pending a price sensitive statement, according to a Hong Kong stock exchange filing on Friday.

A company spokesperson declined to comment and no other information was immediately available.

The Beijing-based lender was planning a rights issue of H shares to raise $6 billion instead of a share placement, three people with knowledge of the deal told Reuters.

"Underwriters will hold a meeting on Friday afternoon," a source said.

BOC said previously it could issue up to 20% of its existing H shares as part of a broader plan to raise capital in Hong Kong and Shanghai.