SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Shares in Singapore's United Engineers rose as much as 12 per cent on Friday on news that Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp is in talks with a group linked to Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi to sell its stake in the engineering and property firm.

OCBC, along with related companies, has a 36 per cent interest in United Engineers and is in talks with the Thai tycoon about a possible sale, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

United Engineers also said in a statement late on Thursday that it is in talks regarding a possible sale of one of its non-core businesses.