** Region Re RGN.AX rises as much as 2.6% to A$2.155, highest since February 18

** Stock set for biggest intraday pct gain since February 6

** Investor and manager of shopping centres announces share buyback of up to A$100 mln ($62.71 mln)

** Says co will fund buyback using proceeds from recently exchanged A$76 mln disposal of retail shopping centre and existing cash and undrawn debt facilities

** YTD, RGN up 4.1%

($1 = A$1.5946)

(Reporting by Sneha Kumar in Bengaluru)

((Sneha.kumar@thomsonreuters.com;))