(Fixes typo in para 3)
DUBAI, July 25 (Reuters) - HSBC Bank Middle East, awholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, said onMonday it was in discussions to sell its Lebanese business toLebanon's Blom Bank.
There was no certainty about whether a binding transactionwould result from the discussions but HSBC would make furtherdisclosures if appropriate, it said in an emailed statement.
HSBC has been seeking to divest businesses, including inBrazil to Turkey, as part of Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver'splan to boost profitability and pay higher dividends toshareholders.
HSBC has been in Lebanon since 1946 and has offices in Dora,Ras Beirut and St Georges Bay, according to its website. Thebank employs around 200 people in Lebanon. (Reporting by Tom Arnold; Writing by David French; Editing byLouise Heavens)