Kuwait's NBK raises stake in Boubyan Bank to 47 pct

KUWAIT, April 12 (Reuters) - National Bank of Kuwait (NBKK.KW), the country's largest lender, has raised its stake in Islamic lender Boubyan Bank (BOUK.KW) to 47 percent, bourse data showed on Monday.

NBK had received the Kuwaiti central bank's approval last month to raise its 40 percent stake in Boubyan to a maximum of 60 percent. The approval is valid for three months, starting March 22. [ID:nLDE62R02R

NBK, the biggest shareholder in Boubyan, has been boosting its Islamic banking business. Last month, NBK's shareholders approved a 10 percent capital increase through a rights issue to fund expansion. [ID;nLDE6260J1]

Boubyan bank, which complies with Islam's ban on interest, competes with larger rival Kuwait Finance House (KFIN.KW) and Kuwait International Bank (KIBK.KW).

(Click on [nISLAMIC] for more Islamic finance stories and ISLAMIC for a speed guide)

(Reporting by Diana Elias, Editing by Dinesh Nair)

((diana.elias@thomsonreuters.com, +965 2246 03 50, Reuters Messenger: diana.elias.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: NBK BOUBYAN/

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