Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d/16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

August 2015

 

 

AEGON N.V.

 

 

Aegonplein 50

2591 TV THE HAGUE

The Netherlands

 

 

 


Aegon’s press release, dated August 13, 2015, is included as appendix and incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

AEGON N.V.                                             

(Registrant)

Date: August 13, 2015     By  

/s/ J.H.P.M. van Rossum

      J.H.P.M. van Rossum
     

Executive Vice President

Corporate Controller


LOGO

The Hague – August 13, 2015

Aegon reports increase in earnings, sales and cash flows for the second quarter of 2015

 

    Solid underlying earnings

 

    Underlying earnings increase to EUR 549 million as fee business growth and the stronger US dollar were partly offset by lower US life & protection results, including adverse mortality of EUR 17 million

 

    Equity and interest rate hedging programs main drivers of fair value losses of EUR 293 million

 

    Net income amounts to EUR 350 million

 

    Return on equity of 8.2% and 8.9% excluding capital allocated to run-off businesses

 

    Continued strong profitable sales

 

    US retirement plans and asset management main drivers behind gross deposits of EUR 16.8 billion and net deposits of EUR 3.2 billion

 

    New life insurance sales level at EUR 518 million

 

    Accident & health and general insurance sales stable at EUR 248 million

 

    Market consistent value of new business of EUR 183 million impacted by low interest rates

 

    Increase in interim dividend supported by strong cash flows

 

    Operational free cash flows excluding market impacts and one-time items of EUR 388 million

 

    Holding excess capital of EUR 1.5 billion and gross leverage ratio improves to 27.7%

 

    Interim dividend increases to EUR 0.12 per share; dilutive effect of stock dividend to be neutralized

 

    More clarity obtained on Solvency II; ratio expected to be in the range of 140 – 170%

Statement of Alex Wynaendts, CEO

“Aegon’s businesses delivered solid results this quarter, despite adverse mortality experience in the United States and the negative impact from our hedging programs on net income. At the same time, we are pleased with the high level of sales as we continue to secure new distribution agreements and reach many new customers in all our markets.

“Executing on our strategy to ensure our businesses support our long-term growth ambitions, we sold our Canadian operations as well as Clark Consulting in the US. In addition, we have further improved our risk profile by hedging EUR 6 billion of longevity reserves in the Netherlands and by reducing balances of our legacy variable annuity products in the US.

“While uncertainties on Solvency II remain, we have obtained clarity on a number of items - including treatment of the US – which allows us to tighten the range of expected outcomes. Furthermore, we have applied for the use of our internal model and are currently awaiting regulatory approval.

“I am also pleased to announce that our strong capital position and growing cash flows enable us to raise the interim dividend to 12 eurocents.”

Key performance indicators

 

amounts in EUR millions b)

   Notes      Q2 2015     Q1 2015     %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015     YTD 2014     %  

Underlying earnings before tax

     1         549        469        17        514        7        1,018        1,012        1   

Net income

        350        316        11        343        2        666        735        (9

Sales

     2         2,442        2,750        (11     2,066        18        5,192        4,152        25   

Market consistent value of new business

     3         183        140        30        221        (17     323        444        (27

Return on equity

     4         8.2     6.6     25        8.7     (5     7.5     8.6     (12

All comparisons in this release are against the second quarter of 2014, unless stated otherwise.

 

Media relations    Investor relations
Dick Schiethart    Willem van den Berg
+31 (0) 70 344 8821    +31 (0) 70 344 8305
[email protected]    [email protected]


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STRATEGIC HIGHLIGHTS

 

    Additional longevity hedging in the Netherlands further reduces exposure

 

    Sale of Canadian operations completed

 

    Expanded partnerships with Edward Jones and Merrill Lynch in the US

 

    Guaranteed drawdown product launched on UK platform

Aegon’s ambition

Aegon’s aim to be a leader in all of its chosen markets is supported by four strategic objectives embedded in all Aegon businesses: Optimize portfolio, Deliver operational excellence, Enhance customer loyalty, and Empower employees. These provide the strategic framework for the company’s ambition to become the most-recommended life insurance and pension provider by customers and business partners, as well as the most-preferred employer in the sector.

Optimize portfolio

As part of Aegon’s strategy to enhance its risk-return profile and to improve capital efficiency, Aegon completed a third longevity transaction in the Netherlands on July 15, 2015. The transaction builds on previous longevity deals and underlines Aegon’s leadership in the Dutch pension market. The hedge, covering close to EUR 6 billion of underlying reserves, provides protection for a period of 50 years against longevity improvements. A significant number of younger pension customers are covered – evidence that the longevity risk transfer market continues to develop. The company will continue to explore further opportunities to manage its Dutch longevity risk efficiently.

On July 10, 2015, Aegon reached an agreement with Greenspoint Capital and the Newport Group to sell Clark Consulting, its Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) distribution and servicing unit in the US, for USD 177.5 million (EUR 160 million). Clark Consulting is a distinct entity within the BOLI/COLI insurance business that is currently in run-off. The impact on net income from the sale of Clark Consulting is expected to be immaterial as tax benefits from the recognition of a tax loss largely offset the loss on the sale.

On July 31, 2015, Aegon completed the CAD 600 million sale of its Canadian life insurance business to Wilton Re following regulatory approval. As indicated earlier, the transaction will result in a book loss of CAD 1.2 billion (EUR 0.8 billion), which will be booked in the third quarter of 2015. Aegon has earmarked the proceeds of this transaction for the redemption of the USD 500 million 4.625% senior bond, due in December 2015. The combination of the divestment and the redemption of the bond will improve Aegon’s return on equity by approximately 40 basis points, while reducing net underlying earnings by less than 1%. It will also improve Aegon’s leverage ratio by approximately 40 basis points on a pro forma basis, while the fixed charge cover ratio will improve by 0.5.

Deliver operational excellence

In the United States, Aegon launched its customized Transamerica retirement solutions with Merrill Lynch. This new program is the first time that Transamerica has offered a 403(b) retirement plan program for not-for-profit organizations, including higher education and healthcare institutions, with Merrill Lynch. In addition, Transamerica will be launching a mutual fund based corporate retirement plan program, primarily to companies with 401(k) plans up to USD 100 million. Transamerica and Merrill Lynch have also developed a workplace retirement program that will have a powerful and direct impact in helping more employees retire with confidence. Enhancing distribution relationships with strong partners such as Merrill Lynch is at the core of Aegon’s strategy to further expand the reach into its chosen markets.

 

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Additionally, Transamerica expanded its distribution partnership with Edward Jones, by offering corporate retirement plans and long term care products. Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors and small businesses throughout the United States. By joining forces with Edward Jones and expanding the distribution, many more Americans will gain access to retirement plan and long-term care solutions to prepare for their financial future.

In the Netherlands, Aegon is a leading provider of insured pension solutions, defined contribution arrangements and pension administration. Recognizing opportunities and trends in the Dutch market, Aegon is now the first to set up a ‘general pension fund’, or Algemeen Pensioen Fonds (APF). An APF allows for multiple pension plans to be combined within a single scheme, overseen by a single independent board, while ring-fencing assets. This new pension vehicle is particularly attractive for those funds that wish to maintain their own identity while also enjoying the benefits of economies of scale and higher quality through shared services.

In response to increasing customer demand and the recent regulatory changes in the market, Aegon launched a new pension product on its UK platform. The product, Secure Retirement Income, gives retirees access to drawdown with a guaranteed level of income. This offers customers an attractive alternative to an annuity or flexible access drawdown product, both of which have their limitations. This new option therefore enables people to keep their money invested, but with a guaranteed level of minimum income – thereby meeting the twin demands of flexibility and certainty.

Demonstrating Aegon’s efforts of becoming more digital, the company won several awards. In the United States, Transamerica won two prestigious Hermes Creative Awards in recognition of the company’s creativity and innovation; and in the Netherlands, Aegon was rated by ITDS Consultancy as the best insurer on social media thanks to its integrated online approach.

Enhance customer loyalty

Aegon opened an innovative new Customer Experience Center, or ‘cXcenter’, in the Netherlands. This center is enabling Aegon to better evaluate the accessibility and user-friendliness of its services. The new cXcenter allows Aegon to conduct in-depth interviews, client panels and eye tracking studies in order to enhance customer experience on Aegon.nl and the Mijn Aegon (‘My Aegon’) app.

In line with its commitment to help customers take responsibility for their financial future, Aegon has established a Research Center for Longevity and Retirement, leveraging the reputation and success of the Transamerica Institute in the United States. Its mission is to conduct research, educate the public, and inform a global dialogue on trends issues, and opportunities surrounding longevity, population aging, and retirement security. The Aegon Center brings together experts from across Aegon’s businesses in Europe, the Americas and Asia in addition to external parties. It will be a focal point for Aegon’s research on people’s attitudes toward aging and retirement.

 

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Financial overview

 

EUR millions

   Notes      Q2 2015     Q1 2015     %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015     YTD 2014     %  

Underlying earnings before tax

                   

Americas

        358        290        23        331        8        648        633        2   

The Netherlands

        136        131        4        131        4        267        259        3   

United Kingdom

        34        38        (10     32        9        72        58        24   

New Markets

        62        51        22        62        —          113        123        (8

Holding and other

        (41     (42     1        (41     —          (83     (62     (34
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Underlying earnings before tax

        549        469        17        514        7        1,018        1,012        1   

Fair value items

        (293     (159     (84     (263     (11     (451     (379     (19

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

        134        119        13        198        (32     252        308        (18

Net impairments

        7        (11     —          (3     —          (4     (11     65   

Other income / (charges)

        (11     (1     —          (14     24        (11     (20     43   

Run-off businesses

        3        8        (65     (1     —          11        13        (20
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income before tax

        389        425        (9 )      432        (10 )      814        924        (12 ) 

Income tax

        (39     (109     64        (88     56        (148     (189     22   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

        350        316        11        343        2        666        735        (9 ) 
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income / (loss) attributable to:

                   

Equity holders of Aegon N.V.

        350        316        11        343        2        666        735        (9

Net underlying earnings

        433        344        26        382        13        777        752        3   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Commissions and expenses

        1,761        1,713        3        1,471        20        3,474        2,898        20   

of which operating expenses

     9         923        902        2        810        14        1,825        1,589        15   

New life sales

                   

Life single premiums

        1,062        1,421        (25     1,247        (15     2,483        2,309        8   

Life recurring premiums annualized

        411        409        1        386        7        820        739        11   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        518        551        (6 )      511        1        1,068        970        10   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

New life sales

                   

Americas

     10         158        141        12        125        26        298        241        24   

The Netherlands

        25        38        (34     37        (34     62        69        (10

United Kingdom

        263        268        (2     278        (5     531        527        1   

New Markets

     10         72        105        (31     71        2        177        133        33   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        518        551        (6 )      511        1        1,068        970        10   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

New premium production accident and health insurance

        228        307        (26     235        (3     535        497        8   

New premium production general insurance

        20        22        (11     17        15        42        35        21   

Gross deposits (on and off balance)

                   

Americas

     10         9,069        11,550        (21     8,524        6        20,619        17,032        21   

The Netherlands

        1,116        1,563        (29     591        89        2,678        1,077        149   

United Kingdom

        88        80        11        70        25        168        124        36   

New Markets

     10         6,496        5,499        18        3,844        69        11,994        8,272        45   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross deposits

        16,769        18,692        (10 )      13,029        29        35,460        26,504        34   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net deposits (on and off balance)

                   

Americas

     10         1,913        4,404        (57     3,237        (41     6,317        5,215        21   

The Netherlands

        355        796        (55     271        31        1,150        309        —     

United Kingdom

        54        42        27        38        42        96        66        47   

New Markets

     10         975        2,276        (57     2,687        (64     3,250        (240     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits excluding run-off businesses

        3,296        7,518        (56 )      6,233        (47     10,814        5,350        102   

Run-off businesses

        (111     (213     48        (163     32        (324     (782     59   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits / (outflows)

        3,185        7,305        (56 )      6,070        (48 )      10,490        4,568        130   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue-generating investments

 

     Jun. 30,      Mar. 31,            Dec. 31,         
     2015      2015      %     2014      %  

Revenue-generating investments (total)

     645,017         637,599         1        558,328         16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

Investments general account

     158,956         172,504         (8     153,653         3   

Investments for account of policyholders

     205,903         215,291         (4     191,467         8   

Off balance sheet investments third parties

     280,158         249,804         12        213,208         31   

 

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OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Underlying earnings before tax

Aegon’s underlying earnings before tax in the second quarter of 2015 increased by 7% to EUR 549 million. Favorable currency movements (EUR 86 million), growth in variable annuity and pension balances in the United States and asset management balances (EUR 34 million) more than offset the reduction in recurring earnings resulting from the assumption changes and model updates implemented in the United States in the third quarter of 2014 (EUR 25 million), lower earnings from fixed annuities (EUR 13 million) and divestments (EUR 14 million).

Underlying earnings from the Americas were up by 8% to EUR 358 million. In US dollars, underlying earnings decreased by 13%. The positive impact on earnings from growth in variable annuity and pension balances was more than offset by the recurring earnings reduction from the assumption changes and model updates implemented in the third quarter of 2014, lower earnings from fixed annuities and the divestment of Canada. The quarter included adverse mortality of EUR 17 million.

In the Netherlands, underlying earnings increased by 4% to EUR 136 million, as favorable mortality and one-time items were partly offset by higher non-life claims and lower investment income.

Underlying earnings from Aegon’s operations in the United Kingdom were up 9% to EUR 34 million in the second quarter of 2015, mainly as a result of favorable currency movements.

Underlying earnings from New Markets were stable at EUR 62 million. Higher asset management and performance fees offset lower earnings in other markets and the divestment of Aegon’s stake in La Mondiale Participations.

Total holding costs remained flat at EUR 41 million.

Net income

Net income slightly increased to EUR 350 million. Higher underlying earnings and lower taxes were offset by a higher loss on fair value items and lower realized gains.

Fair value items

The loss from fair value items amounted to EUR 293 million. This loss was mainly driven by hedging programs in the United States and the Netherlands and alternative investments, which more than offset a gain on interest rate swaps on perpetuals at the holding of EUR 118 million as a result of higher interest rates. The loss in the Netherlands was driven by hedge ineffectiveness, which was only partly offset by the benefit from higher interest rates and credit spreads.

Realized gains on investments

Realized gains on investments amounted to EUR 134 million. These were primarily related to portfolio rebalancing in the Netherlands in a low rate environment.

Impairment charges

Gross impairments remained low as a result of the favorable credit environment. This, in combination with net recoveries, led to a positive result of EUR 7 million in the second quarter of 2015.

Other charges

Other charges amounted to EUR 11 million, the result of charges for policyholder taxes in the United Kingdom which were offset by an equal amount in the income tax line.

 

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Run-off businesses

The result from run-off businesses improved to EUR 3 million.

Income tax

Income tax amounted to EUR 39 million in the second quarter, driven by tax benefits in the United States and the United Kingdom. The effective tax rate on underlying earnings was 21%, impacted favorably by tax credits related to solar energy investments in the United States.

Return on equity

Return on equity was 8.2% in the second quarter of 2015, lower than prior year due to higher shareholders’ equity. Return on equity for Aegon’s ongoing businesses, excluding the capital allocated to the run-off businesses, amounted to 8.9% over the same period.

Operating expenses

In the second quarter, operating expenses increased by 14% to EUR 923 million, driven by a stronger US dollar, higher investments in technology-related initiatives and project related expenses. At constant currencies, the increase was 2%.

Sales

Aegon’s total sales were up 18% to EUR 2.4 billion in the second quarter of 2015, the result of a stronger US dollar, higher asset management deposits and increased indexed universal life sales. Gross deposits increased by 29%, driven by higher deposits in Aegon Asset Management and strong growth in bank deposits in the Netherlands. Net deposits, excluding run-off businesses, declined to EUR 3.3 billion. This was due to lower net inflows in Aegon Asset Management and lower net inflows in variable annuities, as a result of the successful enhanced alternative lump sum offer for the legacy GMIB block. New life sales were up 1% to EUR 518 million, as higher indexed universal life sales in the United States and favorable currency movements more than offset lower sales in the Netherlands and United Kingdom. New premium production for accident & health and general insurance was down slightly to EUR 248 million, as the effect of a stronger US dollar was more than offset by lower portfolio takeovers in the United States.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business amounted to EUR 183 million. The positive effect of currency movements and product adjustments in the United States was more than offset by the negative impact of lower interest rates.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments increased by 1% during the second quarter of 2015 to EUR 645 billion. This increase was driven by the acquisition of the 25% stake in La Banque Postale Asset Management and net inflows, which more than offset the unfavorable effect of market movements resulting from higher interest rates on the fixed income portfolio.

Capital management

Shareholders’ equity declined EUR 2.4 billion compared with the end of the first quarter of 2015 to EUR 25.0 billion on June 30, 2015. This was mainly caused by higher interest rates, which resulted in lower revaluation reserves on fixed income portfolios. The revaluation reserves were down by EUR 2.7 billion to EUR 7.2 billion. Aegon’s shareholders’ equity, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, declined to EUR 19.3 billion – or EUR 9.09 per common share – at the end of the second quarter. This was driven by unfavorable currency movements and the payment of the final dividend for 2014, which more than offset net income generated during the quarter.

 

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The gross leverage ratio further improved to 27.7% in the second quarter, well within the target range of 26-30%, driven by earnings generated in the quarter, net of the payment of the final dividend. Excess capital in the holding increased to EUR 1.5 billion. Dividends of EUR 0.6 billion paid to the holding by the United States were largely offset by the payment of the final dividend for 2014, the investment in La Banque Postale Asset Management, interest payments, the effect of currency hedges and operating expenses.

Aegon’s Insurance Group Directive (IGD) solvency ratio declined to 206% in the second quarter, mainly driven by negative market impacts. The capital in excess of the S&P AA threshold in the United States declined to USD 1.0 billion, due to dividends paid to the holding and negative market impacts. In the Netherlands, the IGD ratio, excluding Aegon Bank, declined to ~225%, driven by adverse market impacts. The Pillar I ratio in the United Kingdom, including the with-profit fund, remained stable at ~135%.

Aegon has obtained more clarity from the regulator on a number of items regarding Solvency II, which include amongst others volatility adjuster modelling in the Netherlands, use of matching adjustment in the United Kingdom and calibration of the US RBC ratio conversion at 250%. As a result, the company expects its Solvency II ratio to be in a tightened range of 140% to 170%, as there are still uncertainties remaining. Furthermore, Aegon has applied for the use of its internal model and is currently awaiting regulatory approval.

Operational free cash flows

Operational free cash flows excluding market impacts and one-time items amounted to EUR 388 million in the second quarter of 2015. The one-time items of EUR 256 million were primarily related to tax benefits arising from the re-domestication of a block of variable annuity business to the United States. Negative market impacts amounted to EUR 677 million and were mainly the result of interest rate mismatches and hedge losses in the Netherlands and the United States. Operational free cash flows including market impacts and one-time items amounted to a negative EUR 34 million for the quarter.

Interim dividend

Aegon aims to pay out a sustainable, growing dividend, in line with the growth of its cash flows. This policy is reflected in the increase of the 2015 interim dividend to EUR 0.12 per common share. The interim dividend will be paid in cash or stock at the election of the shareholder. The value of the stock dividend will be approximately equal to the cash dividend. Aegon will neutralize the dilutive effect of the stock dividend on earnings per share.

Aegon’s Euronext-listed shares will be quoted ex-dividend on August 21, 2015, whereas its NYSE-listed shares will be quoted ex-dividend on August 20, 2015. The record date is August 24, 2015. The election period for shareholders will run from August 26 up to and including September 11, 2015. The stock fraction will be based on the average share price on Euronext Amsterdam from September 7 through September 11, 2015. The stock dividend ratio will be announced on September 15, 2015 and the dividend will be payable as of September 18, 2015.

 

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Financial overview, Q2 2015 geographically

 

                             Holding,        
                             other        
           The     United     New     activities &        

EUR millions

   Americas     Netherlands     Kingdom     Markets     eliminations     Total  

Underlying earnings before tax by line of business

            

Life

     110        80        28        9        —          227   

Individual savings and retirement products

     157        —          —          (3     —          154   

Pensions

     88        51        6        3        —          148   

Non-life

     —          (1     —          8        —          8   

Asset Management

     —          —          —          46        —          47   

Other

     —          3        —          —          (41     (38

Share in underlying earnings before tax of associates

     2        2        —          (1     —          4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Underlying earnings before tax

     358        136        34        62        (41     549   

Fair value items

     (288     (117     (7     (3     123        (293

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

     (25     101        54        4        —          134   

Net impairments

     9        (3     —          1        —          7   

Other income / (charges)

     —          —          (11     —          —          (11

Run-off businesses

     3        —          —          —          —          3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before tax

     55        117        70        63        82        389   

Income tax

     26        (26     5        (24     (20     (39
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     82        91        75        39        63        350   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net underlying earnings

     278        106        38        38        (28     433   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Employee numbers

 

     Jun. 30,      Mar. 31,      Dec. 31,  
     2015      2015      2014  

Employees

     28,241         27,824         28,602   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

of which agents

     5,207         5,020         5,713   

of which Aegon’s share of employees in joint ventures and associates

     1,694         1,628         1,614   

 

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AMERICAS

 

    Underlying earnings amounted to USD 396 million, impacted by adverse mortality

 

    Net income of USD 89 million due to higher losses on fair value items

 

    Sales of life insurance up 2% to USD 175 million, driven by indexed universal life

 

    Gross deposits of USD 10.0 billion; net deposits of USD 2.0 billion

 

Underlying earnings before tax

Underlying earnings from the Americas in the second quarter of 2015 declined to USD 396 million. Higher earnings from growth in the variable annuity and pension balances, driven by both markets and net inflows, were more than offset by the impact on recurring earnings of the actuarial assumption changes and model updates implemented in the third quarter of 2014, lower fixed annuity earnings and the divestment of Canada.

 

    Life & Protection earnings declined to USD 126 million. Earnings from life insurance amounted to USD 68 million, which included adverse mortality of USD 19 million. Mortality improved compared with the previous quarter as a result of a decline in the frequency of claims. Accident & health insurance earnings amounted to USD 58 million, in line with expectations.

 

    Earnings from Investments & Retirement were stable at USD 272 million. Retirement plan earnings increased by 10% to USD 72 million, as higher fee income from higher account balances was partly offset by a USD 3 million loss related to mortality experience in the pension buy-out block. Variable annuity earnings were up 5% to USD 127 million, as higher fee income from higher account balances were partly offset by a model adjustment of USD 7 million resulting from a change in fund managers on a part of the asset base. Earnings from retail mutual funds were stable at USD 11 million. Fixed annuity earnings declined to USD 37 million, driven by the impact of continued balance reduction and an adjustment to the intangible balances of USD 5 million that resulted from asset portfolio changes. Earnings from stable value solutions declined to USD 25 million, due to lower account balances resulting from net outflows.

 

    Latin America contributed a loss of USD 2 million in underlying earnings for the quarter.

Net income

Net income from Aegon’s businesses in the Americas amounted to USD 89 million in the second quarter, driven by lower underlying earnings, higher losses from fair value items and losses on investments.

Results from fair value items amounted to a loss of USD 321 million.

 

    Fair value hedges with an accounting match, which include the hedges on Aegon’s GMWB variable annuities, contributed a loss of USD 47 million, primarily caused by the tightening of the spread between the swap and treasury curves.

 

    The loss on fair value hedges without an accounting match under IFRS, relating to the macro hedge on the GMIB variable annuities block and hedges that protect against low interest rates, was USD 213 million. This was higher than anticipated, driven by the impact of higher interest rates on the value of hedges on an IFRS basis, adjustments to the equity hedge program and losses related to the successful uptake of the enhanced alternative lump sum offering for legacy GMIB products.

 

    Fair value investments amounted to a loss of USD 61 million, primarily driven by an underperformance of oil and gas related investments and hedge funds.

Realized losses on investments of USD 28 million were primarily related to investments in emerging markets and the energy sector. Gross impairments remained low and were more than offset by recoveries on residential mortgage-backed securities, resulting in a net positive USD 10 million for the quarter. The results of run-off businesses improved to USD 3 million.

 

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Return on capital

In the second quarter of 2015, the return on average capital invested in Aegon’s business in the Americas, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, increased to 7.3%. Excluding capital allocated to the run-off businesses, return on capital amounted to 8.2%. The return on capital of Aegon’s businesses excludes the benefit of leverage at the holding.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses decreased by 4% to USD 453 million, mainly due to the divestment of Canada. Excluding this divestment, expenses increased by 2% compared with the second quarter of 2014. This was driven by growth of the business, investments in technology and higher employee benefit expenses, partly offset by lower restructuring charges.

Sales

New life sales were up 2% to USD 175 million, as growth in indexed universal life production more than offset the divestment of Canada and the withdrawal of the universal life secondary guarantee product due to the low interest rate environment. New premium production for accident and health insurance declined to USD 237 million, mainly resulting from a lower contribution from portfolio acquisitions than in the comparable quarter. Excluding these acquisitions, sales were in line with the second quarter of 2014.

Gross deposits amounted to USD 10.0 billion. Gross deposits in pensions declined to USD 6.6 billion, primarily due to lower takeover deposits. However, recurring deposits increased by 8% compared with the second quarter of 2014, both from new plan participants and higher contributions resulting from the continued focus on retirement readiness. Gross deposits in variable annuities were down to USD 2.1 billion, mainly driven by product adjustments implemented in the previous quarters in response to the low interest rate environment. Gross deposits in mutual funds were up 28% to USD 1.2 billion.

Net deposits, excluding run-off businesses, amounted to USD 2.1 billion in the second quarter. Net deposits for retirement plans were down to USD 2.1 billion, driven by lower takeover deposits and higher contract discontinuances. In the first half of 2015, the asset retention rate increased to approximately 13%, up from 11% in the first half of 2014. Aegon remains on track to meet its 20% target in the medium term. Net deposits in variable annuities amounted to USD 0.4 billion, mainly due to outflows resulting from the successful enhanced alternative lump sum offer for the legacy GMIB block. This offer generated outflows of USD 0.6 billion in the second quarter of 2015 and USD 1.0 billion in 2015 by the end of July. Net deposits on the core variable annuity block remained strong at approximately USD 1 billion. Net inflows in mutual funds were USD 0.1 billion. Fixed annuities experienced net outflows of USD 0.5 billion in line with the strategic repositioning of the business.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business declined to USD 102 million in the second quarter of 2015, primarily driven by a lower contribution from variable annuities and life products, in addition to the divestment of Canada. The former was caused by lower interest rates, which more than offset the product adjustments to improve the margins of variable annuities implemented in previous quarters.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments declined 2% to USD 384 billion over the second quarter. Investments for account of policyholders and off balance sheet investments for third parties were stable, as net deposits were offset by negative market movements. General account assets declined 7% over the quarter, due to the effect of rising interest rates and outflows from the run-off businesses and fixed annuities.

 

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Americas

 

USD millions    Notes      Q2 2015     Q1 2015     %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015     YTD 2014     %  

Underlying earnings before tax by line of business

                   

Life insurance

        68        1        —          103        (34     69        178        (61

Accident & health insurance

        58        37        56        65        (11     95        131        (28
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Life & protection

        126        38        —          167        (25     164        309        (47

Retirement plans

        72        68        5        65        10        140        126        11   

Mutual funds

        11        10        12        11        —          21        23        (6

Variable annuities

        127        157        (19     120        5        284        229        24   

Fixed annuities

        37        28        33        52        (29     65        110        (41

Stable value solutions

        25        25        1        27        (7     51        55        (8
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Investments & retirement

        272        288        (6     276        (1     561        543        3   

Canada

        —          —          —          10        —          —          14        —     

Latin America

        (2     1        —          —          —          (1     2        —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Underlying earnings before tax

        396        327        21        454        (13     723        868        (17 ) 

Fair value items

        (321     (102     —          (162     (98     (423     (229     (85

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

        (28     (33     16        70        —          (60     82        —     

Net impairments

        10        (4     —          21        (53     5        25        (79

Other income / (charges)

        —          —          —          (15     —          —          (11     —     
                   

Run- off businesses

        3        9        (67     (1     —          12        18        (35
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income before tax

        60        197        (70 )      367        (84 )      257        754        (66 ) 

Income tax

        29        (34     —          (71     —          (5     (157     97   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

        89        163        (45 )      296        (70 )      252        597        (58 ) 
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net underlying earnings

        308        235        31        318        (3 )      543        608        (11 ) 
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Commissions and expenses

        1,197        1,148        4        1,145        4        2,345        2,255        4   

of which operating expenses

        453        450        1        471        (4     903        925        (2

New life sales

     10                    

Life single premiums

        34        44        (24     80        (58     78        146        (47

Life recurring premiums annualized

        171        154        11        164        4        325        316        3   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        175        158        10        172        2        333        330        1   

Life & protection

        161        149        8        144        12        311        277        12   

Canada

        —          —          —          18        —          —          34        —     

Latin America

        13        9        46        10        28        22        18        20   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        175        158        10        172        2        333        330        1   

New premium production accident and health insurance

        237        328        (28     309        (23     566        647        (13
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross deposits (on and off balance) by line of business

     10                    

Life & protection

        2        2        (19     2        (14     4        4        (14

Retirement plans

        6,574        9,284        (29     8,141        (19     15,858        16,429        (3

Mutual funds

        1,222        1,310        (7     953        28        2,531        2,163        17   

Variable annuities

        2,126        2,340        (9     2,475        (14     4,466        4,513        (1

Fixed annuities

        70        80        (13     87        (20     151        159        (5
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Investments & retirement

        9,992        13,014        (23     11,656        (14     23,006        23,263        (1

Canada

        —          —          —          27        —          —          63        —     

Latin America

        3        3        (20     4        (39     6        9        (34
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross deposits

        9,996        13,019        (23 )      11,689        (14 )      23,015        23,340        (1 ) 
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net deposits (on and off balance) by line of business

     10                    

Life & protection

        (9     (12     26        (9     2        (22     (19     (13

Retirement plans

        2,053        4,598        (55     4,383        (53     6,651        7,270        (9

Mutual funds

        117        (166     —          131        (11     (49     357        —     

Variable annuities

        378        1,011        (63     1,349        (72     1,388        2,331        (40

Fixed annuities

        (452     (466     3        (753     40        (918     (1,439     36   

Stable value solutions

        —          —          —          (591     —          —          (1,193     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Investments & retirement

        2,096        4,977        (58     4,519        (54     7,073        7,325        (3

Canada

        —          —          —          (75     —          —          (165     —     

Latin America

        —          —          —          3        —          —          6        —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits excluding run-off businesses

        2,086        4,965        (58 )      4,437        (53 )      7,051        7,147        (1 ) 

Run-off businesses

        (121     (240     50        (224     46        (361     (1,072     66   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits / (outflows)

        1,965        4,725        (58 )      4,213        (53 )      6,690        6,075        10   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue-generating investments

 

     Jun. 30,
2015
     Mar. 31,
2015
     %     Dec. 31,
2014
     %  

Revenue-generating investments (total)

     384,480         391,892         (2 )      379,914         1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

Investments general account

     95,774         103,381         (7     101,067         (5

Investments for account of policyholders

     113,015         113,699         (1     110,287         2   

Off balance sheet investments third parties

     175,691         174,811         1        168,561         4   

 

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THE NETHERLANDS

 

    Underlying earnings before tax up 4% to EUR 136 million

 

    Net income increases to EUR 91 million, mainly driven by higher realized gains

 

    New life sales decline to EUR 25 million due to lower pension sales

Underlying earnings before tax

Underlying earnings from Aegon’s operations in the Netherlands increased to EUR 136 million. This increase was mainly the result of favorable mortality and an employee benefit release, which more than offset higher non-life claims.

 

    Life & Savings earnings increased by 2% to EUR 80 million. This was mainly driven by higher investment income, primarily generated by profitable mortgage production, and lower funding costs.

 

    Earnings from the Pension business were up 12% to EUR 51 million. Favorable mortality more than offset lower investment income. The latter was the result of rebalancing the fixed income portfolio in the previous quarters.

 

    The loss from the Non-life business amounted to EUR 1 million. This was driven by a continuation of the high level of claims in the proxy channel and commercial lines, which more than offset an employee benefit release of EUR 4 million.

 

    Earnings from the distribution businesses were stable at EUR 3 million, as lower fee income was offset by lower expenses.

Net income

Net income from Aegon’s businesses in the Netherlands amounted to EUR 91 million. The loss on fair value items amounted to EUR 117 million as the positive impact of rising credit spreads and interest rates was more than offset by hedge ineffectiveness in a volatile quarter. Realized gains on investments increased to EUR 101 million and were the result of portfolio rebalancing in a low rate environment. Impairments amounted to EUR 3 million.

Return on capital

The return on average capital invested in Aegon’s businesses in the Netherlands was 11.3%, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements. Return on capital of Aegon’s businesses excludes the benefit of leverage at the holding.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by 3% to EUR 200 million, mainly the result of investments to support the growth of the pension administration business and new ventures, such as Knab.

Sales

New life sales amounted to EUR 25 million in the second quarter. Pension sales declined to EUR 18 million, due to the absence of pension buyouts in the current low interest rate environment. Individual life sales were down to EUR 7 million, driven by the strong competition from bank products.

Gross deposits nearly doubled to EUR 1.1 billion, which was mainly the result of the continued strong performance of Knab, Aegon’s online bank in the Netherlands. Knab accounted for EUR 720 million of gross deposits in the second quarter, up from EUR 191 million in the second quarter of 2014. Knab continued to achieve strong customer growth in the second quarter, which is supported by very high customer satisfaction scores. PPI deposits more than doubled to EUR 43 million, driven by Aegon’s attractive and market leading product offering.

 

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Production of mortgages in the second quarter of 2015 amounted to EUR 1.2 billion, of which EUR 0.2 billion was related to third-party investor demand. Premium production for accident & health and general insurance increased by 9% to EUR 10 million.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business in the Netherlands was up 12% compared with the second quarter of 2014 to EUR 68 million. This increase was primarily the result of profitable mortgage production.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments amounted to EUR 82 billion, down 6% compared with the previous quarter. This was mainly due to negative market impacts as a result of higher interest rates.

 

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LOGO

 

The Netherlands

 

EUR millions

   Notes    Q2 2015     Q1 2015     %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015     YTD 2014     %  

Underlying earnings before tax by line of business

                   

Life and Savings

        80        81        (1     78        2        162        152        7   

Pensions

        51        55        (8     45        12        106        96        11   

Non-life

        (1     (9     93        3        —          (10     4        —     

Distribution

        3        4        (13     3        (2     7        7        (4

Share in underlying earnings before tax of associates

        2        —          —          1        135        2        1        135   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Underlying earnings before tax

        136        131        4        131        4        267        259        3   

Fair value items

        (117     151        —          (132     11        34        (167     —     

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

        101        140        (28     47        113        241        131        84   

Net impairments

        (3     (5     43        (3     (4     (8     (4     (79

Other income / (charges)

        —          (22     —          (5     —          (22     (8     (171
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income before tax

        117        396        (70 )      39        —          513        211        144   

Income tax

        (26     (92     72        (7     —          (118     (35     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

        91        304        (70 )      32        184        395        175        125   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net underlying earnings

        106        101        5        101        5        207        202        3   

Commissions and expenses

        263        275        (4 )      264        —          539        518        4   

of which operating expenses

        200        210        (5     194        3        410        380        8   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

New life sales

                   

Life single premiums

        144        257        (44     316        (54     401        576        (30

Life recurring premiums annualized

        10        12        (13     6        79        22        12        86   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        25        38        (34 )      37        (34 )      62        69        (10

Life and Savings

        7        12        (46     10        (32     19        21        (13

Pensions

        18        25        (29     28        (35     44        48        (9
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        25        38        (34 )      37        (34 )      62        69        (10

New premium production accident and health insurance

        2        4        (50     2        (5     7        7        1   

New premium production general insurance

        7        7        1        6        14        15        14        2   

Mortgages production

        1,200        1,179        2        1,381        (13 )      2,378        2,468        (4
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross deposits (on and off balance) by line of business

                   

Life and Savings

        1,073        1,537        (30     556        93        2,610        1,042        150   

Pensions

        43        26        64        35        23        68        35        98   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross deposits

        1,116        1,563        (29     591        89        2,678        1,077        149   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net deposits (on and off balance) by line of business

                   

Life and Savings

        312        770        (59     237        32        1,082        275        —     

Pensions

        43        26        64        35        23        68        35        98   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits / (outflows)

        355        796        (55     271        31        1,150        309        —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue-generating investments

 

     Jun. 30,
2015
     Mar. 31,
2015
     %     Dec. 31,
2014
     %  

Revenue-generating investments (total)

     81,547         86,969         (6     81,974         (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

Investments general account

     53,016         55,747         (5     51,898         2   

Investments for account of policyholders

     27,700         30,380         (9     29,209         (5

Off balance sheet investments third parties

     831         843         (1     868         (4

 

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UNITED KINGDOM

 

    Underlying earnings before tax of GBP 25 million

 

    Platform assets reach GBP 4.6 billion, record net inflows of GBP 1.0 billion

 

    40,000 direct customers added to Retiready

 

    Operating expenses down 13% to GBP 66 million

 

    Guaranteed pension drawdown product launched in July

Underlying earnings before tax

Underlying earnings before tax from Aegon’s operations in the United Kingdom in the second quarter amounted to GBP 25 million.

 

    Earnings from Life were stable at GBP 20 million, as selective de-risking of the investment portfolio in order to improve Aegon’s capital position under Solvency II was offset by the benefit from model updates of GBP 5 million.

 

    Earnings from Pensions were stable at GBP 4 million. Lower expenses were offset by lower margins arising from declining fees. In addition, persistency deteriorated due to the new Pension Flexibility regulation introduced in April. Aegon expects Pension earnings in the second half of the year to face continued pressure from the fee cap and the Pension Flexibility regulation.

 

    Fee revenues amounted to GBP 111 million, and were 2% lower compared with the second quarter of 2014. Fee revenues from the platform were up 56% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2015, due to the strong increase in assets under administration.

Net income

Net income declined to GBP 55 million, due to lower realized gains. Realized gains of GBP 40 million were the result of portfolio rebalancing actions in order to reduce interest rate risk. The loss on fair value items of GBP 5 million resulted from unrealized losses on equity hedges to protect the capital position.

Customers

During the second quarter of 2015, Aegon gained approximately 65,000 new customers. In addition, growth of the platform accelerated as planned, as Aegon upgraded over 40,000 customers to the platform during the second quarter, with more to follow.

Aegon launched Secure Retirement Income, an innovative guaranteed pension drawdown product, on its platform. This product was introduced in response to the recent regulatory changes, as it provides retirees with the option to keep their money invested, but with a guaranteed level of minimum income. In this way it meets the increased customer demand for flexibility and income certainty at the same time.

Sales

The net inflow on Aegon’s platform nearly tripled to GBP 1.0 billion, a combination of new money coming in and the upgrading of existing customers. As a result, total assets on the platform grew to GBP 4.6 billion at the end of second quarter of 2015. The average policy size of new individual policies on the platform, including those of customers that have chosen to upgrade, is approximately GBP 72,000, more than double the amount for the traditional book of pensions and bonds. Total assets under management for the drawdown product on the platform more than doubled in a year and was up 18% from the first quarter of 2015.

 

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Total new life sales were down 16% to GBP 190 million, primarily driven by lower traditional pension production.

Regulation

The fee caps for auto-enrollment business announced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), came into effect on April 1, 2015. Given that the ban on the Active Member Discount and renewal commission will not be implemented before April 2016, the full impact of this regulation on underlying earnings before tax will not be seen before April 2016 as well.

The Pension Flexibility regulation that came into effect in April 2015, resulted in higher outflows from Aegon’s back book in the second quarter of 2015. Aegon expects this trend to continue in the second half of 2015.

Return on capital

The return on average capital invested in Aegon’s businesses in the United Kingdom was 4.1% in the second quarter of 2015, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses declined 13% to GBP 66 million, driven by the reduction of business transformation costs and cost reduction programs.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business in the UK increased to GBP 3 million. This was mainly driven by higher margins on individual protection products, group pensions and annuities.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments declined 5% to GBP 60 billion during the second quarter, driven by negative market effects and net outflows.

 

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United Kingdom

 

GBP millions

   Notes      Q2 2015     Q1 2015     %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015     YTD 2014     %  

Underlying earnings before tax by line of business

                   

Life

        20        15        39        21        (5     35        39        (11

Pensions

        4        14        (68     4        —          18        9        102   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Underlying earnings before tax

        25        28        (13     26        (4     53        48        10   

Fair value items

        (5     (17     69        (11     52        (22     (13     (68

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

        40        1        —          80        (50     41        93        (56

Net impairments

        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Other income / (charges)

     5         (8     15        —          1        —          7        (2     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income before tax

        51        29        78        96        (47     80        126        (37

Income tax attributable to policyholder return

        8        (15     —          (11     —          (7     (16     52   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income before income tax on shareholders return

        59        13        —          85        (31     72        111        (35

Income tax on shareholders return

        (4     —          —          (12     64        (4     (14     68   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

        55        13        —          73        (25     68        97        (30
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net underlying earnings

        27        25        9        27        2        53        48        11   

Commissions and expenses

        128        132        (3     143        (10     260        287        (9

of which operating expenses

        66        64        4        77        (13     130        154        (16

New life sales

     6                    

Life single premiums

        385        394        (2     453        (15     779        907        (14

Life recurring premiums annualized

        151        160        (6     181        (17     311        342        (9
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        190        199        (5     226        (16     389        433        (10

Life

        14        12        15        13        6        26        27        (3

Pensions

        176        187        (6     213        (18     363        406        (11
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        190        199        (5     226        (16     389        433        (10
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

New premium production accident and health insurance

        —          —          —          —          —          —          1        —     

Gross deposits (on and off balance) by line of business

                   

Savings

        64        59        7        57        11        123        102        21   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross deposits

        64        59        7        57        11        123        102        21   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net deposits (on and off balance) by line of business

                   

Variable annuities

        (13     (15     11        (21     35        (29     (38     25   

Savings

        52        47        13        51        2        99        92        8   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits / (outflows)

        39        31        24        31        26        70        54        31   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Platform assets under administration (balance end of period)

        4,635        3,798        22        1,935        140        4,635        1,935        140   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue-generating investments

 

     Jun. 30,
2015
     Mar. 31,
2015
     %     Dec. 31,
2014
     %  

Revenue-generating investments (total)

     59,698         62,899         (5     60,479         (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

Investments general account

     10,009         10,549         (5     10,249         (2

Investments for account of policyholders

     49,149         51,844         (5     49,788         (1

Off balance sheet investments third parties

     540         506         7        443         22   

 

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NEW MARKETS

 

    Underlying earnings of EUR 62 million driven by strong asset management results

 

    Net income up to EUR 39 million

 

    New life sales amount to EUR 72 million

 

    Gross deposits increase to EUR 6.5 billion as a result of strong asset management sales

Underlying earnings before tax

In the second quarter of 2015, Aegon’s underlying earnings before tax from New Markets were stable at EUR 62 million as higher asset management and performance fees offset lower earnings in other markets and the divestment of Aegon’s stake in La Mondiale Participations.

 

    Earnings from Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) decreased to EUR 10 million due to lower investment income, lower margins on mortgages in Hungary and increased surrenders in Poland, the latter of which had an impact of EUR (4) million.

 

    Earnings from Asia amounted to EUR 2 million and were impacted by the recurring negative impact of model updates implemented in the third quarter of 2014.

 

    On a comparable basis, earnings from Spain & Portugal doubled to EUR 4 million as a result of growth of the business and favorable underwriting experience in the joint ventures with Banco Santander in Spain. Overall, earnings declined as a result of the divestment of Aegon’s stake in La Mondiale Participations.

 

    Variable Annuities Europe declined to EUR (1) million as a result of increased hedging expenses.

 

    Earnings from Aegon Asset Management were up 91% to EUR 47 million. This was mainly the result of higher performance and management fees and favorable currency movements. Performance fees of EUR 11 million were received in relation to mandates in China. The asset management partnership with La Banque Postale added EUR 1 million in earnings following the closing of the transaction early June.

Net income

Net income from Aegon’s operations in New Markets increased to EUR 39 million. The loss from fair value items amounted to EUR 3 million, which mainly related to hedging of variable annuities in Japan. Impairments were more than offset by recoveries related to the Hungarian mortgage portfolio, resulting in EUR 1 million net recoveries. Realized gains amounted to EUR 4 million.

Return on capital

The return on average capital, excluding revaluation reserves, invested in Aegon’s businesses in New Markets decreased to 7.0% due to higher average capital and a higher effective tax rate as a result of changes in the business mix. The return on capital of Aegon’s businesses excludes the benefit of leverage at the holding.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by 28% to EUR 209 million in the second quarter due to unfavorable currency movements as well as higher project related and performance driven variable expenses in Aegon Asset Management. At constant currencies, the increase was 17%.

 

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Sales

New life sales increased 2% to EUR 72 million compared with the second quarter of 2014.

 

    In Central & Eastern Europe, new life sales declined to EUR 22 million. Sales growth in Turkey and through the tied-agent network in Hungary was more than offset by lower sales in Poland resulting from changes in the product offering.

 

    In Asia, new life sales increased by 25% to EUR 40 million. This was mainly the result of favorable currency movements. In addition, sales in China increased as a result of the continued success of the whole life critical illness product.

 

    In Spain & Portugal, new life sales decreased to EUR 10 million due to a lower sales contribution from the bancassurance joint ventures.

New premium production from Aegon’s accident & health and general insurance businesses increased to EUR 23 million. This was mainly driven by growth in critical illness and unemployment insurance in Spain.

Gross deposits in New Markets were up 69% to EUR 6.5 billion. Deposits in Aegon Asset Management increased 74% to EUR 6.3 billion mainly as a result of higher absolute return fund sales in the United Kingdom and inflows in Chinese equity and bond funds. Deposits in Asia of EUR 91 million were affected by lower sales commissions on variable annuities in Japan. Deposits in Variable Annuities Europe were slightly up to EUR 90 million as a result of increased sales in the United Kingdom.

Net deposits in New Markets amounted to EUR 1.0 billion in the second quarter. Net inflows for Asset Management in the United Kingdom (EUR 0.8 billion), the Netherlands (EUR 0.4 billion) and the United States (EUR 0.2 billion) were partly offset by net outflows from Chinese funds.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business in New Markets decreased to EUR 19 million due to lower margins as a result of lower interest rates.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments increased 36% to EUR 134 billion during the second quarter of 2015. This was mainly driven by the inclusion of EUR 38 billion assets from the partnership with La Banque Postale, based on proportional accounting for Aegon’s 25% stake.

 

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New Markets

 

EUR millions

   Notes      Q2 2015     Q1 2015     %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015     YTD 2014     %  

Underlying earnings before tax

                   

Central & Eastern Europe

        10        5        75        19        (49     15        38        (60

Asia

        2        (3     —          6        (69     (1     6        —     

Spain & Portugal

        4        3        54        9        (58     6        19        (66

Variable Annuities Europe

        (1     1        —          3        —          —          4        (94

Aegon Asset Management

        47        45        5        25        91        92        56        64   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Underlying earnings before tax

        62        51        22        62        —          113        123        (8

Fair value items

        (3     (4     23        1        —          (8     8        —     

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

        4        5        (34     2        88        9        4        147   

Net impairments

        1        (2     —          (15     —          (1     (24     97   

Other income / (charges)

        —          —          —          1        —          —          (1     93   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Income before tax

        63        50        26        51        25        114        109        4   

Income tax

        (24     (22     (9     (16     (51     (46     (32     (45
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income

        39        28        40        35        13        67        77        (13
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net income / (loss) attributable to:

                   

Equity holders of Aegon N.V.

        39        28        39        35        12        67        77        (13

Net underlying earnings

        38        29        31        44        (13     68        89        (24
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Commissions and expenses

        297        295        1        240        23        592        473        25   

of which operating expenses

        209        192        9        163        28        402        320        26   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

New life sales

     10                    

Life single premiums

        353        596        (41     317        11        949        522        82   

Life recurring premiums annualized

        37        45        (18     39        (6     82        81        1   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        72        105        (31     71        2        177        133        33   

Life

        71        101        (29     70        2        172        130        32   

Associates

        1        4        (80     1        11        5        3        67   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        72        105        (31     71        2        177        133        33   

Central & Eastern Europe

        22        28        (22     25        (13     50        49        2   

Asia

        40        65        (39     32        25        105        57        83   

Spain & Portugal

        10        12        (10     14        (24     22        27        (17
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total recurring plus 1/10 single

        72        105        (31     71        2        177        133        33   

New premium production accident and health insurance

        10        11        (10     8        36        22        17        29   

New premium production general insurance

        12        15        (17     11        16        27        20        35   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Gross deposits (on and off balance)

     10                    

Central & Eastern Europe

        55        54        1        57        (3     109        114        (5

Asia

        91        202        (55     114        (20     293        252        16   

Spain & Portugal

        4        6        (26     1        —          10        1        —     

Variable Annuities Europe

        90        90        —          87        3        180        172        5   

Aegon Asset Management

        6,256        5,147        22        3,585        74        11,403        7,732        47   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total gross deposits

        6,496        5,499        18        3,844        69        11,994        8,272        45   
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net deposits (on and off balance)

     10                    

Central & Eastern Europe

        (36     24        —          41        —          (13     (1,453     99   

Asia

        73        190        (62     108        (33     263        240        9   

Spain & Portugal

        2        2        —          (1     —          4        (2     —     

Variable Annuities Europe

        (51     (21     (141     (14     —          (73     (30     (139

Aegon Asset Management

        988        2,081        (53     2,552        (61     3,069        1,006        —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net deposits / (outflows)

        975        2,276        (57     2,687        (64     3,250        (240     —     
     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Revenue-generating investments

 

     Jun. 30,
2015
     Mar. 31,
2015
     %     Dec. 31,
2014
     %  

Revenue-generating investments (total)

     133,841         98,497         36        84,251         59   
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

Investments general account

     5,549         5,602         (1     4,806         15   

Investments for account of policyholders

     7,410         7,400         —          6,971         6   

Off balance sheet investments third parties

     120,881         85,495         41        72,474         67   

 

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Market consistent value of new business

 

     MCVNB     MCVNB  
EUR millions, after tax    Q2 2015      Q1 2015      %     Q2 2014     %     YTD 2015      YTD 2014      %  

Americas

     92         62         47        134        (32     154         286         (46

The Netherlands

     68         40         69        60        12        108         99         9   

United Kingdom

     4         8         (55     (2     —          12         —           —     

New Markets

     19         29         (34     27        (31     48         59         (19
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

     183         140         30        221        (17 )      323         444         (27 ) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Modeled new business: APE

 

     Premium business
APE
    Premium business
APE
 
EUR millions    Notes      Q2 2015      Q1 2015      %     Q2 2014      %     YTD 2015      YTD 2014      %  
     7                         

Americas

        367         426         (14     347         6        793         705         13   

The Netherlands

        50         101         (51     62         (20     151         143         5   

United Kingdom

        263         268         (2     278         (5     531         528         1   

New Markets

        96         126         (24     130         (26     222         247         (10
     

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        776         922         (16 )      817         (5 )      1,698         1,623         5   
     

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

Modeled new business: Deposits

 

     Deposit business     Deposit business  
     Deposits     Deposits  
EUR millions    Notes      Q2 2015      Q1 2015      %     Q2 2014      %     YTD 2015      YTD 2014      %  
     7                         

Americas

        8,313         6,078         37        4,693         77        14,391         9,713         48   

New Markets

        187         299         (37     204         (8     486         429         13   
     

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

        8,500         6,377         33        4,897         74        14,877         10,143         47   
     

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

    

MCVNB/PVNBP summary

 

     Premium business      Premium business  
          MCVNB      PVNBP      MCVNB/
PVNBP
     MCVNB/
APE
     MCVNB      PVNBP      MCVNB /
PVNBP
     MCVNB
/ APE
 
EUR millions    Notes    Q2 2015      %      %      YTD 2015      %      %  
   8                        

Americas

        54         1,723         3.1         14.6         102         3,923         2.6         12.9   

The Netherlands

        75         1,487         5.1         150.8         119         3,199         3.7         79.0   

United Kingdom

        4         1,937         0.2         1.5         12         3,795         0.3         2.3   

New Markets

        22         671         3.3         23.4         54         1,632         3.3         24.4   
     

 

 

    

 

 

          

 

 

    

 

 

       

Total

        155         5,819         2.7         20.0         288         12,550         2.3         17.0   
     

 

 

    

 

 

          

 

 

    

 

 

       

 

     Deposit business     Deposit business  
            MCVNB     PVNBP      MCVNB /
PVNBP
    MCVNB /
Deposits
    MCVNB     PVNBP      MCVNB /
PVNBP
    MCVNB /
Deposits
 
EUR millions    Notes      Q2 2015      %     %     YTD 2015      %     %  
     8                      

Americas

        38        11,702         0.3        0.5        52        19,621         0.3        0.4   

The Netherlands

        (7     356         (2.0     —          (11     1,209         (0.9     —     

New Markets

        (3     221         (1.6     (1.8     (6     564         (1.1     (1.3
     

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

      

Total

        28        12,279         0.2        0.3        35        21,394         0.2        0.2   
     

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

      

Currencies

Income statement items: average rate 1 EUR = USD 1.1162 (2014: USD 1.3704).

Income statement items: average rate 1 EUR = GBP 0.7322 (2014: GBP 0.8212).

Balance sheet items: closing rate 1 EUR = USD 1.1142 (2014: USD 1.3692; year-end 2014: USD 1.2101).

Balance sheet items: closing rate 1 EUR = GBP 0.7085 (2014: GBP 0.8008; year-end 2014: GBP 0.7760).

 

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OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS – FIRST HALF YEAR OF 2015

Underlying earnings before tax

Aegon’s underlying earnings before tax in the first half of 2015 increased 1% to EUR 1,018 million compared to the first half of 2014. Favorable currency exchange rates and growth in variable annuity, pension and asset management balances more than offset adverse claims experience, negative persistency and the negative impact related to lower than anticipated reinvestment yields in the United States and Asia, divestments and the reduction in recurring earnings resulting from the assumption changes and model updates implemented in the third quarter of 2014.

Underlying earnings from the Americas increased 2% to EUR 648 million. Favorable currency movements and growth in variable annuity and pension balances more than offset adverse claims experience, the negative impact related to lower than anticipated reinvestment yields, lower fixed annuity earnings, divestments and the reduction in recurring earnings resulting from the assumption changes and model updates implemented in the third quarter of 2014.

In the Netherlands, underlying earnings increased 3% to EUR 267 million. This was mainly driven by lower funding costs and favorable mortality results, which were partly offset by higher non-life claims and lower investment income.

Underlying earnings from Aegon’s operations in the United Kingdom were up 24% to EUR 72 million in the first half of 2015, primarily due to favorable market movements and lower expenses.

Underlying earnings from New Markets declined 8% to EUR 113 million. Higher asset management fees, which were mainly driven by an increase in third-party business, were more than offset by higher surrenders in Poland following product changes implemented in the fourth quarter of 2014 and divestments in France and Spain.

Total holding costs increased 34% to EUR 83 million. This was primarily the result of higher net interest costs following a debt issuance to refinance a perpetual bond in the second quarter of 2014, the cost of which was previously directly accounted for through shareholders’ equity. In addition, higher Solvency II related expenses and the non-recurrence of a gain from interest on taxes recorded in the first quarter of 2014 also had a negative impact.

Net income

Net income was down to EUR 666 million due to a higher loss on fair value items and lower realized gains on investments.

Fair value items

The loss from fair value items increased to EUR 451 million. This loss was mainly driven by hedging programs in the United States and interest rate swaps on perpetuals at the holding, which were impacted by a drop in the Dutch government bond rates and increased interest rate volatility.

Realized gains on investments

Realized gains on investments declined to EUR 252 million. These were primarily related to portfolio rebalancing in a low rate environment.

 

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Impairment charges

Impairments remained low as a result of the favorable credit environment and amounted to EUR 4 million.

Other charges

Other charges amounted to EUR 11 million, caused by charges for policyholder taxes in the United Kingdom, which were offset by an equal and opposite amount in the income tax line, and a restructuring provision for the non-life business in the Netherlands.

Run-off businesses

The result from run-off businesses declined to EUR 11 million.

Income tax

Income tax amounted to EUR 148 million in the first half of 2015. The effective tax rate on underlying earnings was 24%, which was positively impacted by tax credits related to solar energy investments in the United States.

Return on equity

Return on equity declined to 7.5% for the first half of 2015, compared to 8.6% for the first half of

2014. The decline was driven primarily by lower net underlying earnings and higher shareholders’ equity. Return on equity for Aegon’s ongoing businesses, excluding the run-off businesses, amounted to 8.1% over the same period.

Operating expenses

In the first half, operating expenses increased 15% to EUR 1.8 billion driven by a stronger US dollar, higher investments in technology-related initiatives, higher Solvency II costs and an increase in defined benefit expenses. At constant currencies, the increase was 3%.

Sales

Compared to the first half of 2014, Aegon’s total sales increased 25% to EUR 5.2 billion, which was the result of a stronger US dollar, higher asset management deposits and increased indexed universal life sales. Gross deposits increased by 34%, driven by higher deposits in Aegon Asset Management and the strong growth in bank deposits in the Netherlands. Net deposits, excluding run-off businesses, more than doubled to EUR 10.8 billion. A strong rise of inflows in Aegon Asset Management more than offset lower net inflows in variable annuities, which resulted from the successful enhanced alternative lump sum offer for the legacy GMIB block. New life sales increased 10%, mainly due to increased sales of universal life products in the United States and Asia, and favorable currency movements. New premium production for accident & health and general insurance increased 9% to EUR 577 million, as a lower contribution from portfolio acquisitions was more than offset by higher supplemental health sales and a stronger US dollar.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business declined to EUR 323 million. The positive effect of currency movements and product adjustments in the United States was more than offset by the negative impact of lower interest rates.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments increased 16% during the first half of 2015 to EUR 645 billion, driven by net inflows, positive market movements and the acquisition of the 25% stake in La Banque Postale Asset Management.

 

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Capital management

Shareholders’ equity increased EUR 0.8 billion compared to the end of 2014 to EUR 25.0 billion at June 30, 2015. This was primarily driven by favorable currency movements, which more than offset lower revaluation reserves as a result of higher interest rates and credit spreads. The revaluation reserves declined by EUR 1.1 billion to EUR 7.2 billion. Aegon’s shareholders’ equity, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, amounted to EUR 19.3 billion—or EUR 9.09 per common share at the end of the first half.

The gross leverage ratio improved to 27.7% in the first half of 2015, well within the target range of 26-30%, driven by retained earnings as well as favorable currency movements. Excess capital in the holding increased to EUR 1.5 billion, as dividends paid to the holding and the proceeds of the divestment of La Mondiale Participations exceeded the payment of the final dividend for 2014, interest payments, the effect of currency hedges and operating expenses.

At June 30, 2015, Aegon’s Insurance Group Directive (IGD) ratio amounted to 206%. The capital in excess of the S&P AA threshold in the United States remained above the target level at USD 1.0 billion, despite higher dividends paid to the holding than earnings generated over the period. The IGD ratio, excluding Aegon Bank, in the Netherlands increased to ~225%, due to earnings generated in the first half of 2015. The Pillar I ratio in the United Kingdom, including the with-profit fund, slightly declined to ~135%, resulting from the negative impact of downgrades in the investment portfolio.

Operational free cash flows

Operational free cash flows in the first half of 2015 were EUR 820 million. Excluding one-time items of EUR 529 million and negative market impacts of EUR 436 million, operational free cash flows amounted to EUR 727 million. The one-time items were primarily related to tax benefits in the United States. The market movements were mainly the result of interest rate mismatches and hedge losses in the United States and the Netherlands.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Hague – August 13, 2015

Presentation

The conference call presentation is available on aegon.com as of 7.30 a.m. CET.

Supplements

Aegon’s Q2 2015 Financial Supplement and Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements are available on aegon.com.

Conference call including Q&A

9:00 a.m. CET

Audio webcast on aegon.com

Dial-in numbers

United States: +1 646 254 3362

United Kingdom: +44 203 427 1919

The Netherlands: +31 20 716 8256

Passcode: 7116860

Two hours after the conference call, a replay will be available on aegon.com.

Aegon’s roots go back 170 years – to the first half of the nineteenth century. Since then, Aegon has grown into an international company, with businesses in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Today, Aegon is one of the world’s leading financial services organizations, providing life insurance, pensions and asset management. Aegon’s purpose is to help people take responsibility for their financial future. More information: aegon.com.

 


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Notes:

 

1) For segment reporting purposes underlying earnings before tax, net underlying earnings, commissions and expenses, operating expenses, income tax (including joint ventures (jv’s) and associated companies), income before tax (including jv’s and associated companies) and market consistent value of new business are calculated by consolidating on a proportionate basis the revenues and expenses of Aegon’s joint ventures and Aegon’s associates. Aegon believes that these non-IFRS measures provide meaningful information about the underlying results of Aegon’s business, including insight into the financial measures that Aegon’s senior management uses in managing the business. Among other things, Aegon’s senior management is compensated based in part on Aegon’s results against targets using the non- IFRS measures presented here. While other insurers in Aegon’s peer group present substantially similar non-IFRS measures, the non-IFRS measures presented in this document may nevertheless differ from the non-IFRS measures presented by other insurers. There is no standardized meaning to these measures under IFRS or any other recognized set of accounting standards. Readers are cautioned to consider carefully the different ways in which Aegon and its peers present similar information before comparing them.

Aegon believes the non-IFRS measures shown herein, when read together with Aegon’s reported IFRS financial statements, provide meaningful supplemental information for the investing public to evaluate Aegon’s business after eliminating the impact of current IFRS accounting policies for financial instruments and insurance contracts, which embed a number of accounting policy alternatives that companies may select in presenting their results (i.e. companies can use different local GAAPs to measure the insurance contract liability) and that can make the comparability from period to period difficult.

For a definition of underlying earnings and the reconciliation from underlying earnings before tax to income before tax, being the most comparable IFRS measure, reference is made to Note 3 “Segment information” of Aegon’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

 

2)  Sales is defined as new recurring premiums plus 1/10 of single premiums plus 1/10 of gross deposits plus new premium production accident and health plus new premium production general insurance.

 

3)  The present value, at point of sale, of all cashflows for new business written during the reporting period, calculated using approximate point of sale economics assumptions. Market consistent value of new business is calculated using a risk neutral approach, ignoring the investment returns expected to be earned in the future in excess of risk free rates (swap curves), with the exeption of an allowance for liquidity premium. The market consistent value of new business is calculated on a post tax basis, after allowing for the time value financial options and guarentees, a market value margin for non-hedgeable financial and non-financial risks and the costs of non-hedgeable stranded capital.

 

4)  Return on equity is a ratio using a non-GAAP measure and is calculated by dividing the net underlying earnings after cost of leverage by the average shareholders’ equity excluding the revaluation reserve and the reserves related to defined benefit plans. The calculation of average shareholders’ equity has changed as of January 1, 2015. Periodic RoE is based on the shareholders’ equity at the beginning of the quarter and at the end of the quarter. YTD RoE is based on shareholders’ equity at the beginning of the year and closing balances of all consecutive quarters. Comparative numbers for 2014 have been updated.

 

5)  Included in other income/(charges) are charges made to policyholders with respect to income tax in the United Kingdom.

 

6)  Includes production on investment contracts without a discretionary participation feature of which the proceeds are not recognized as revenues but are directly added to Aegon’s investment contract liabilities.

 

7)  APE = recurring premium + 1/10 single premium.

 

8)  PVNBP: Present value of new business premiums (PVNBP) is the premiums for the new business sold during the reporting period, projected using assumptions and projection periods that are consistent with those used to calculate the market consistent value of new business, discounted back to point of sale using the swap curve (plus liquidity premium where applicable).

 

9)  Reconciliation of operating expenses, used for segment reporting, to Aegon’s IFRS based operating expenses.

 

     Q2 2015      YTD 2015  

Employee expenses

     563         1,125   

Administrative expenses

     315         612   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses for IFRS reporting

     878         1,737   

Operating expenses related to jv’s and associates

     45         88   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses in earnings release

     923         1,825   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

10)  New life sales, gross deposits and net deposits data include results from Aegon’s joint ventures and Aegon’s associates consolidated on a proportionate basis.

 

11)  Operational free cash flows reflect the sum of the return on free surplus, earnings on in-force business, release of required surplus on in-force business reduced by new business first year strain and required surplus on new business. Operational free cash flows is defined as the capital generated in a local operating unit measured as the change in the local binding capital metric for that period and after investments in new business. Operational free cash flow is a non-IFRS financial measure that should not be confused with cash flow from operations or any other cash flow measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. Management believes that operational free cash flows provides meaningful information to investors regarding capital generated on a net basis by Aegon’s operating subsidiaries that may be available at the holding company. Because elements of operational free cash flows are calculated in accordance with local solvency requirements rather than in accordance with any recognized body of accounting principles, there is no IFRS financial measure that is directly comparable to operational free cash flows.

 

a)  The calculation of the IGD (Insurance Group Directive) capital surplus and ratio are based on Solvency I capital requirements on IFRS for entities within the EU (Pillar 1 for Aegon UK), and local regulatory solvency measurements for non-EU entities.

Specifically, required capital for the life insurance companies in the US is calculated as two times the upper end of the Company Action Level range (200%) as applied by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in the US. The calculation of the IGD ratio excludes the available and required capital of the UK With-Profit funds. In the UK solvency surplus calculation the local regulator only allows the available capital number of the With-Profit funds included in overall local available capital to be equal to the amount of With-Profit funds’ required capital.

 

b)  The results in this release are unaudited.

 


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DISCLAIMERS

Cautionary note regarding non-IFRS measures

This document includes the following non-IFRS financial measures: underlying earnings before tax, income tax, income before tax and market consistent value of new business. These non-IFRS measures are calculated by consolidating on a proportionate basis Aegon’s joint ventures and associated companies. The reconciliation of these measures, except for market consistent value of new business, to the most comparable IFRS measure is provided in note 3 ‘Segment information’ of Aegon’s Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements. Market consistent value of new business is not based on IFRS, which are used to report Aegon’s primary financial statements and should not be viewed as a substitute for IFRS financial measures. Aegon may define and calculate market consistent value of new business differently than other companies. Aegon believes that these non-IFRS measures, together with the IFRS information, provide meaningful information about the underlying operating results of Aegon’s business including insight into the financial measures that senior management uses in managing the business. In addition, return on equity is a ratio using a non-GAAP measure and is calculated by dividing the net underlying earnings after cost of leverage by the average shareholders’ equity excluding the preferred shares, the revaluation reserve and the reserves related to defined benefit plans.

Local currencies and constant currency exchange rates

This document contains certain information about Aegon’s results, financial condition and revenue generating investments presented in USD for the Americas and GBP for the United Kingdom, because those businesses operate and are managed primarily in those currencies. Certain comparative information presented on a constant currency basis eliminates the effects of changes in currency exchange rates. None of this information is a substitute for or superior to financial information about Aegon presented in EUR, which is the currency of Aegon’s primary financial statements.

Forward-looking statements

The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:

 

    Changes in general economic conditions, particularly in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom;

 

    Changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, such as with regard to:

 

    The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in Aegon’s fixed income investment portfolios;

 

    The effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements on the financial markets and the resulting decline in the value of equity and debt securities Aegon holds; and

 

    The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain private sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of sovereign exposure that Aegon holds;

 

    Changes in the performance of Aegon’s investment portfolio and decline in ratings of Aegon’s counterparties;

 

    Consequences of a potential (partial) break-up of the euro;

 

    The frequency and severity of insured loss events;

 

    Changes affecting longevity, mortality, morbidity, persistence and other factors that may impact the profitability of Aegon’s insurance products;

 

    Reinsurers to whom Aegon has ceded significant underwriting risks may fail to meet their obligations;

 

    Changes affecting interest rate levels and continuing low or rapidly changing interest rate levels;

 

    Changes affecting currency exchange rates, in particular the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP exchange rates;

 

    Changes in the availability of, and costs associated with, liquidity sources such as bank and capital markets funding, as well as conditions in the credit markets in general such as changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness;

 

    Increasing levels of competition in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and emerging markets;

 

    Changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting Aegon’s operations, ability to hire and retain key personnel, the products Aegon sells, and the attractiveness of certain products to its consumers;

 

    Regulatory changes relating to the insurance industry in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates;

 

    Changes in customer behavior and public opinion in general related to, among other things, the type of products also Aegon sells, including legal, regulatory or commercial necessity to meet changing customer expectations;

 

    Acts of God, acts of terrorism, acts of war and pandemics;

 

    Changes in the policies of central banks and/or governments;

 

    Lowering of one or more of Aegon’s debt ratings issued by recognized rating organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on Aegon’s ability to raise capital and on its liquidity and financial condition;

 

    Lowering of one or more of insurer financial strength ratings of Aegon’s insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the premium writings, policy retention, profitability and liquidity of its insurance subsidiaries;

 

    The effect of the European Union’s Solvency II requirements and other regulations in other jurisdictions affecting the capital Aegon is required to maintain;

 

    Litigation or regulatory action that could require Aegon to pay significant damages or change the way Aegon does business;

 

    As Aegon’s operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology, a computer system failure or security breach may disrupt Aegon’s business, damage its reputation and adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows;

 

    Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;

 

    Competitive, legal, regulatory, or tax changes that affect profitability, the distribution cost of or demand for Aegon’s products;

 

    Changes in accounting regulations and policies or a change by Aegon in applying such regulations and policies, voluntarily or otherwise, may affect Aegon’s reported results and shareholders’ equity;

 

    The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including Aegon’s ability to integrate acquisitions and to obtain the anticipated results and synergies from acquisitions;

 

    Catastrophic events, either manmade or by nature, could result in material losses and significantly interrupt Aegon’s business; and

 

    Aegon’s failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational efficiencies as well as other cost saving and excess capital and leverage ratio management initiatives.

Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegon’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.