BE Group Is Said to Make Fresh Takeover Approach for Ageas (1)

BE Group, an investment firm fronted by former bankers, has made a fresh attempt at a takeover of Belgium’s biggest insurer Ageas, people familiar with the matter said.

The consortium recently approached Ageas and has been trying to secure financing for a potential deal, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Shares in Ageas rose as much as 3.5% in early trading on Friday. The stock was up 2.4% at 9:03 a.m. in Brussels, giving it a market value of €8.5 billion ($9.2 billion).

BE Group has been chasing Ageas for some time. The insurer ...