MANAMA: BBK, formerly known as Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, plans to issue a 100 million-dinar ($265.3 million) convertible bond by the end of March to boost its capital ratios, its CEO said.

"Soon we will be launching a capital issue ... a convertible perpetual issue 100 million dinars ... that will be launched by end of March," CEO Abdulkarim Bucheery said.

The bank had a capital adequacy ratio, a key indicator of its financial health, of 14.87 percent at the end of December, above a minimum requirement of 12.5 percent.