Aviva makes "good start to 2013" with Delta Lloyd sale Insurance giant Aviva has raised £353 million through the sale of its remaining 19.4 per cent stake in Dutch firm Delta Lloyd, just weeks after agreeing the $1.8 billion (£1.1bn) disposal of its US business as part of a restructuring aimed at boosting its flagging share price. New chief executive Mark Wilson, who joined from Asian rival AIA at the start of the month, said the deal marked "a good start to 2013" for the group, which is aiming to concentrate on its core insurance and investment businesses. The Norwich-headquartered insurer, which has sizeable general insurance operations in Scotland, employing about 1,500 in Perth and 1,000 in Bishopbriggs, said the sale of 34 million Delta Lloyd shares to institutional investors would strengthen its balance sheet. Wilson added: "It will further increase Aviva's cash and capital position and is consistent with our focus on businesses where we can earn higher returns." Shares in Delta Lloyd, which offers asset management, banking and insurance services in Belgium and the Netherlands, were priced at €12.65 (£10.31) each, representing a 1.6 per cent discount to Tuesday's closing price. The disposal is part of a major overhaul being led by Scots-born chairman John McFarlane following the departure of former chief executive Andrew Moss in May amid discontent over a poor share price performance. As part of the plans announced in July, McFarlane is working towards the sale or scaling back of 16 underperforming businesses. Investec analyst Kevin Ryan said the Delta Lloyd deal would simplify Aviva's structure "and is further evidence of the determination to restructure and as such, is good news in our view." He added: "Further disposals can be expected in the first half of this year and we would anticipate the restructuring will be completed by the end of 2013."