BNP Paribas to acquire Fosun's around 9 per cent stake in Belgian insurer Ageas

KONG BNP Paribas has signed an agreement with China's Fosun Group to acquire its around 9 per cent stake in Belgian insurer Ageas for a sum the French bank estimates at 730 million euros (US$777 million).

Ageas and BNP Paribas are long time partners via a joint shareholding in AG Insurance, Belgium's leading insurer. Ageas owns 75 per cent and BNP the remaining 25 per cent.

"Ageas is pleased to see that BNP Paribas recognises, through this investment, the value of its partnership for the long term and the potential of the company going forward," the Belgian insurer said in a separate statement.

Last month, Ageas dropped plans to buy Direct Line after the British home and motor insurer turned down a revised 3.17 billion pound ($3.95 billion) takeover bid from the Belgian insurer.

BNP'S statement on the size of the stake and value of the deal differed slightly from a separate statement by Fosun.

Fosun International said in a Sunday filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it agreed on April 12 to sell up to up to 15,401,253 shares of Ageas, which represents an 8.19 per cent stake in the Belgian insurer, to BNP Paribas Cardif, a subsidiary of the French bank, for up to 670 million euros.

The sale will be done via three block trades with the last two trades completed within 10 business days after regulatory clearance is obtained or waived, according to the filing.

The Chinese company said it intended to use proceeds of the sale for general working capital.

"The disposal is part of the company's effort of streamlining its portfolio and implementing core business-focused strategy. It also demonstrates the group's continuous determination on improving its financial performance and creating maximum value for its shareholders," Fosun said.

The company said yesterday the data disclosed in its announcement corresponded to the shareholding ratio of Fosun International.

BNP and Ageas did not respond to Reuters requests for an explanation about the discrepancies in their statements regarding the sale.