Malaysia's Bumi-Commerce buys stake in China bank

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Reuters) - Malaysia's second-biggest lender, Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd (BUCM.KL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), is investing 156.2 million ringgit ($49.43 million) for a 19.99 percent stake in China's Bank of Yingkou Company, Bumiputra said on Monday.

It is acquiring the stake by buying new shares in Yingkou at 1.58 times book value, Bumiputra added.

Malaysia's banks are moving quickly to expand abroad as earnings potential is limited in their saturated home market of 26 million people. (Reporting by Clarence Fernandez, editing by Mark Bendeich)