Aegon buys €750m Dutch govt securities

The purchase was a repayment for the money the government lent to the insurer during the financial crisis. The Dutch government held €1.5bn in securities in order to guarantee Aegon's balance sheet when the credit crunch hit. The deal fulfils Aegon's promise to repay €2.25m to the government, plus a 50% premium, which was due by the end of June. Aegon raised the money for the purchase by issuing 173.6 million new shares in February. The insurer paid €1.125bn in the deal, in which it paid €750m for the repurchase of €187.5m in securities, and a €375m premium.