Q4 loss 712 million euros vs forecast 306 mln loss
* Charges for aid repayment offset bank profits
* Assumption changes drive surprise insurance loss * Start of insurance disposal unlikely this year
* Shares up 4.6 pct, outperform banking sector
(Adds press conference, Breakingviews column)
AMSTERDAM, Feb 17 (Reuters) – Dutch bancassurer ING Groep (ING.AS) posted a fourth-quarter loss more than double forecasts, casting a shadow over plans to spin off its insurance business and refocus as a leading European retail bank.
ING also said on Wednesday it plans to spend the rest of this year working on how to split off its insurance business, making a trade sale or its preferred option of an initial public offering (IPO) unlikely until at least 2011. Some in the market had expected an IPO late this year.
