British insurer Aviva announced it had sold another 21 per cent of shares in Dutch unit Delta Lloyd for £318 million ($493 million, 398 million euros), one day after unveiling a large restructuring.
Aviva said it has placed 37 million Delta Lloyd shares at 10.75 euros per share, in a deal which slashes its holding from 41 per cent to about 20 per cent.
“The offering was completed very successfully with strong investor demand allowing the transaction to be increased from an initial sale of 25 million shares to a final sale of 37 million shares. The transaction was several times oversubscribed at the increased size,” it said in a statement.
The group added that, after completion of the deal, Aviva’s remaining stake will comprise approximately 34 million Delta Lloyd ordinary shares, equivalent to just below 20 per cent of ordinary share capital.
In late 2009, Aviva had sold a large 42-percent stake in Delta Lloyd in an initial public offering on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. The group subsequently offloaded another 15 per cent of shares in May 2011.
Delta Lloyd Group is a financial services provider which offers life insurance, general insurance, asset management and banking products and services.
Friday’s announcement came one day after Aviva revealed plans to exit 16 non-core business areas and announced senior management changes following a major strategic review of the embattled group.
Aviva is seeking to strengthen its capital base and share price after the shock resignation of its chief executive earlier this year.
CEO Andrew Moss sensationally quit in May as head of Aviva — Britain’s second biggest insurer after Prudential — amid spreading shareholder revolts over pay for top managers viewed as underperforming.
London, July 6, 2012 (AFP)
