Glencore to seek HK IPO approval this week: sources

Glencore, based in Baar, Switzerland, and the Hong Kong exchange declined to comment on the IPO plans.

The exchange's listing committee regularly meets on Thursdays. Occasionally, it meets earlier in the week to review large offerings.

The company has met with investors in the past weeks to gauge interest in an offering, with several of its key trading partners in Asia showing interest to buy the stock.

The IPO would give the company cash to fund expansion of its mining assets around the world, while Glencore could also use the stock as a currency for acquisitions.

If Glencore decides to proceed with an offering, it is likely to hire Bank of America Merrill Lynch <BAC.N>, Barclays Capital <BARC.L>, BNP Paribas <BNPP.PA>, Societe Generale <SOGN.PA> and UBS <UBSN.VX> to manage the listing, alongside its existing trio of financial advisers, a person familiar with the matter said last week.

Citi <C.N>, Morgan Stanley <MS.N> and Credit Suisse <CSGN.VX> are likely to serve as joint global co-ordinators, the most senior role on an initial public offering (IPO), with the other five banks probably acting as joint bookrunners.

(Reporting by Elzio Barreto and Fiona Lau; Editing by Chris Lewis and Muralikumar Anantharaman)