BofA plans to exercise a call option by the end of this month to raise its share in China's second largest lender by assets from its current holding of 10.75 per cent to 19.13 per cent.
But analysts say it is likely gradually to sell down at least part of the stake it acquired earlier, making a handsome profit in the process.
“Given the weak operating environment for US banks, we believe BofA may consider the option of selling its unrestricted CCB stake gradually in the coming quarters,” said Goldman Sachs analyst Ning Ma in a research note. “Moreover, BofA may also consider selling its stake, or part thereof, to institutional investors rather than doing block trades.”