INSTANT VIEW: ING to split into two

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch bancassurer ING Group will split itself in two and launch a 7.5 billion euro ($11.3 billion) rights issue as part of a deal with the European Commission.

Following are analysts' reactions to the news:

FRED HUIBERS, HET HAAGS EFFEKTENKANTOOR

"This is still a difficult environment and ING may be running ahead of themselves with the rights issue but capital markets have shown they can be quite forgiving to ING."

PAUL BEIJSENS, THEODOR GILISSEN:

"I think the separation of the assets is a good move that brings more simplicity to ING as a financial institution. They could have opted for converting government shares into ordinary shares on a 1:1 ratio and I'm a little doubtful on why they will ask shareholders for new equity."

(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis; Writing by Ben Berkowitz; Editing by David Holmes)

($1=.6664 Euro)