China Minsheng eyes HK IPO in 2008 or 2009 -chairman

BEIJING, March 6 (Reuters) - China Minsheng Banking Corp (600016.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Thursday it planned to float shares in Hong Kong this year or next, hoping to raise about HK$15 billion ($1.9 billion), the bank's chairman told Reuters in an interview.

"We plan to go to Hong Kong for an IPO this year or next year," said Dong Wenbiao, chairman of Minsheng, on the sidelines of China's top political advisory meeting.

"We hope to raise about HK$15 billion in the IPO," he said.

"We also plan to issue some convertible bonds and subordinated bonds this year in the domestic market," said Dong.

Dong said the bank was in the market to buy banks that have existing branch networks in Hong Kong and Europe, though he did not disclose any potential targets.

The chairman added that Minsheng welcomed foreign investors to buy a 30-40 percent stake in its credit card unit.

On earnings, he forecast that 2008 profit growth would at least double as a result of the sale of its stake in Haitong Securities (600837.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), China's third-largest brokerage.

($=7.12 yuan) (Reporting by George Chen and Xie Heng; editing by Ken Wills)