AEGON REPAYS EUR1BN IN CORE CAPITAL

Netherlands-based assurer Aegon has repaid EUR1bn ($1.5bn) of the EUR3bn in core capital that the company received in last year's bailouts ( IIN 24, October 28 2008). Aegon raised EUR1bn in an August rights issue. It has repaid EUR1.15bn to the Dutch government under the terms of the assurer's agreement when it received the funds. Aegon had previously announced on October 28 and on November 11 that it would be repaying the EUR1bn. It has now announced that it has done so. In 2008 the Netherlands set aside EUR20bn for aid to financial firms, of which EUR10bn was taken up by ING and EUR3bn by Aegon.