Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd, Asia's largest bourse operator, said it is studying a bid for the London Metal Exchange as growth slows and it seeks to build up a commodities business.

It said on Monday that it was "one of a number of interested parties" studying the opportunity to buy the LME, the world's largest metals trading platform. The bourse will consider additional financing if needed, it said.

An acquisition of the 135-year-old metal bourse could help jump-start Hong Kong Exchanges' overseas expansion after it was surpassed this year as the world's largest market company by CME Group Inc as large initial public offerings from the mainland slow.