LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - The United Kingdom has raised afurther 500 million pounds from the sale of shares in LloydsBanking Group, finance minister George Osborne said onThursday.
The size of the stake owned by British taxpayers in Lloydshas fallen below 22 percent, according to a regulatory filing.The UK took a 40 percent stake in Lloyds when it was rescued in2009.
"We have raised a further 500 million pounds ($745 million)through Lloyds share sales," Osborne said on Twitter. "Ninebillion pounds now recovered and being used to pay down ournational debt."($1 = 0.6703 pounds) (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by John Stonestreet)