Articles by David de Jong

Largest Delta Lloyd Shareholder, Highfields, Will Vote Against Rights Offer

Highfields Capital Management LP, the largest shareholder in Delta Lloyd NV, will vote against the Dutch insurer’s plan to raise 650 million euros ($706 million) in a rights offer it called “unnecessary.” “Their actions are so detrimental to shareholders, and …

Delta Lloyd Cuts Size of Rights Offer to $715 Million to Placate Investors

Delta Lloyd NV surged as much as 12 percent in Amsterdam trading after the Dutch insurer bowed to investor pressure and cut the size of a rights offer to 650 million euros ($715 million). “Following months of analysis, today’s announcement …

Update: Aegon Reports Q4 Pretax Profit of $534.9M, Down 14% on U.S. Income

Aegon NV, the Dutch owner of U.S. insurer Transamerica Corp., fell in Amsterdam trading after decline in U.S. income pushed down fourth-quarter pre-tax earnings. The stock dropped as much as 4.5 percent and was down 3.2 percent as of 10:25 …

Dutch Finance Minister Rules Out Sale of ASR Nederland as Parliament Backs IPO

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem ruled out a private sale of ASR Nederland NV, the insurer nationalized during the financial crisis, as parliament signaled its support for an initial public offering of the asset. Dijsselbloem reiterated his plan to hold …

Update: Dutch Insurer Aegon Plans $432M Share Buy-Back, to Cut U.S. Costs

Aegon NV jumped the most in almost six years after saying it plans to buy back 400 million euros ($432 million) of shares and cut costs to improve its return on equity. The Dutch owner of insurer Transamerica Corp. announced …

Delta Lloyd Plans to Raise $1.06 Billion in Rights Offer to Improve Capital Position

Delta Lloyd NV plans to raise as much as 1 billion euros ($1.06 billion) in a rights offer as the Dutch insurer seeks to improve its capital to meet new regulatory standards. The shares dropped. “We realize this is a …

Dutch Insurer NN Eyes Growth Through Acquisitions

NN Group NV, the Dutch insurer and asset manager spun out of ING Groep NV, is ready to expand and will consider acquisitions amid speculation that it could seek to acquire Delta Lloyd NV. Delta Lloyd’s shares soared. “If we …

Market Responds to Suggestions that NN Group Acquire Delta Lloyd

Delta Lloyd NV, the Dutch insurer under pressure to bolster capital, climbed as much as 6.6 percent after Rabobank pitched the idea of a purchase by NN Group NV. “There is a scenario possible by which NN Group would acquire …

Delta Lloyd Uncertainties Persist Amid Concern It May Need to Plug Capital Gap

Delta Lloyd NV extended a record decline on Tuesday after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut the shares to neutral amid concern the insurer may need to ask shareholders for funds to plug a capital gap. The stock plummeted 8.2 percent …

Update: Delta Lloyd’s $588 Million First Half Loss Raises Capital Concerns

Delta Lloyd NV fell the most on record after interest-rate hedging and declines in bonds spurred a first-half loss, raising concern the Dutch insurer may need to raise capital. The shares fell 20 percent to 13.17 euros at 5:30 p.m. …