Aug 7 (Reuters) - British insurer Just Group

posted on Thursday a 23% fall in first-half operating profit,

pressured by weaker new business margins amid stiff competition

and tighter credit spreads.

The company, which agreed to a 2.4-billion-pound ($3.20

billion) takeover deal by Canada's Brookfield Wealth Solutions ( BNT )

in late July, reported an underlying operating profit of

192 million pounds, down from 249 million pounds last year.

($1 = 0.7490 pounds)