NAIROBI, March 12 (Reuters) - Kenya's CIC Insurance CIC.NR plans to issue bonus shares, increase its share capital and expand its business to Malawi this year after reporting a marginal rise in full-year pretax profit.

The insurer, in which Co-operative Bank COOP.NR is the single largest shareholder, said in a statement that it plans to double its share capital to 6 billion shillings ($69.52 million) and issue one bonus share for every five shares held.

Pretax profit rose slightly to 1.67 billion shillings from 1.65 billion shillings a tear earlier, largely because of a modest rise in investment income against rising operating costs, commissions and claims.

Investment income rose 7 percent to 1.7 billion shillings, while claims increased by 30 percent to 6 billion shillings and operating rose 20 percent to 2.4 billion shillings.

Earnings per share ticked up to 0.67 shillings from 0.64 shillings in 2012. The insurer said it would pay a dividend of 0.10 shillings per share, unchanged from the previous year. ($1 = 86.3000 Kenyan shillings)

(Reporting by James Macharia; Editing by David Goodman)

((james.macharia@thomsonreuters.com)(Tel: +254 20 221 4608)(Reuters Messaging: james.macharia.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))

Keywords: CICINSURANCE RESULTS/