CGU in Dutch merger talks

CGU in Dutch merger talks

CGU, the second-largest insurer in the UK, yesterday revealed that its Dutch unit, Delta Lloyd, was in merger talks with the mutual Nuts Ohra to create the Netherlands's third-largest insurance company.

Delta Lloyd is the Netherlands' fifth-largest property, casualty and life insurer, with total premiums of pounds 1.1bn in 1998. Nuts Ohra, which makes 80 per cent of its premium income from health insurance, has been in talks with a number of potential buyers. It is expected to report a 1998 net loss of about 25m guilders (pounds 7m). CGU shares rose 2.5p to close at 896p.