ING Groep NV (ING) will sell its U.S. group reinsurance business, ING Reinsurance U.S., to Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (RGA), the Dutch bancassurer said Friday.

ING said the deal, which is expected to realize a gain of EUR100M for the Dutch firm, should be closed in the first quarter of 2010. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.

The transaction is part of ING's "Back to Basics" strategy, through which it wants to release EUR6 billion to EUR8 billion by selling non-core business.

RGA is a U.S.-based global provider of life reinsurance.

-By Bart Koster; Dow Jones Newswires; +31 20 571 5201; bart.koster@dowjones.com