Dutch insurer Aegon's second-half profit rises

(Reuters) - Aegon posted on Thursday a net profit of 741 million euros ($772.79 million) for the second half of 2024, as operating results and gains from its ASR Nederland stake cushioned the negative impact of restructuring charges.

The Dutch insurer expects its annual operating capital generation to reach around 1.2 billion euros ($1.25 billion), and a free cash flow of roughly 800 million euros by the end of the 2025.

"We have delivered on both our increased guidance for operating capital generation ... and on our free cash flow guidance ... for 2024. Our main business units remained well-capitalized," CEO Lard Friese said in a statement.

The company's operating capital generation before holding funding and operating expenses reached 658 million euros, surpassing the consensus median of 641 million euros.

The Amsterdam-listed company proposed a final dividend of 19 euro cents per share, pushing the total distribution for 2024 to 35 euro cents apiece.

Aegon aims to pay a dividend of 0.40 euros for 2025.

The group said its Solvency II ratio - which calibrates liquidity levels for extreme events - stands at 188%, exceeding the 185% forecast in a company-provided poll.

($1 = 0.9587 euros)

(Reporting by Jakob Van Calster and Mateusz Rabiega in Gdansk; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)