Aegon pays off Dutch state aid

Insurance firm Aegon yesterday became the first Dutch financial institution to finish repaying its government for the state aid it received during the financial crisis, paving the way for it to start paying dividends and embark on takeovers again.

The Dutch government paid nearly €40 billion (35bn) to rescue its financial sector in 2008 when it nationalised ABN and provided capital injections for Aegon, ING and SNS Reaal.

Aegon has paid back €4.1bn to the Dutch state, having received a €3bn bailout. Aegon bought Edinburgh-based Scottish Equitable in 1994.