Qatar-based bank Masraf Al Rayan is in the final stages of due diligence to acquire a stake in a Libyan lender. According to the group chief executive Adel Mustafawi, after preparing the required studies, a memorandum of understanding will be signed before proceeding to secure the required approvals from the authorities in both Qatar and Libya. Shareholders of Rayan had approved in February its plan to buy a stake in a Libyan lender, while also voting to give the board of directors control over a QR1bn ($275mn) war chest to make acquisitions over the next two years. Moreover, the bank has also made significant progress in fulfilling the requirements of acquiring a stake in Islamic Bank of Britain.