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

May 2014

 

 

AEGON N.V.

 

 

Aegonplein 50

2591 TV THE HAGUE

The Netherlands

 

 

 

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Aegon’s press release, dated May 15, 2014, 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: May 15, 2014				By		/s/ E. Lagendijk
						E. Lagendijk
						Executive Vice President and General Counsel

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The Hague, May 15, 2014

Aegon delivers strong earnings and sales growth in Q1 2014

 

•

Solid business growth drives higher underlying earnings before tax

 

•

Underlying earnings up 7% to EUR 498 million, driven by growth, higher equity markets and lower holding leverage cost, partly offset by unfavorable exchange rates

 

•

Fair value items loss of EUR 116 million, mainly due to hedging programs without accounting match

 

•

Net income up strongly to EUR 392 million

 

•

Return on equity increases to 8.4%

 

•

Strong sales growth driven by pensions, variable annuities and asset management

 

•

Gross deposits up 35% to EUR 13.5 billion, driven by pensions and variable annuities in US and asset management; net deposits impacted by transfer of Polish pension assets and replacement of a large investment mandate

 

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Life sales down 8% to EUR 459 million; growth in US more than offset by lower UK sales post-RDR

 

•

Increase of 17% to EUR 279 million in accident and health and general insurance sales

 

•

Market consistent value of new business remains strong at EUR 223 million

 

•

Active capital management lowers funding costs

 

•

Redemption and refinancing of debt supports achieving leverage goals by year-end 2014

 

•

Holding excess capital of EUR 1.7 billion following deleveraging; solvency ratio remains at 212%

 

•

Operational free cash flows of EUR 331 million

Statement of Alex Wynaendts, CEO

“Aegon delivered again a strong set of results, maintaining the positive momentum of previous quarters. Pensions, variable annuities and asset management all drove strong sales as many new and current customers placed their trust in Aegon. This is the result of ongoing improvements to products, service levels and operations that the group is implementing to enhance customer engagement.

“We are executing on our objective to reduce outstanding debt, which further strengthens our balance sheet and reduces funding costs. At the same time, we continue to make the necessary investments to accelerate the use of digital technology to get closer to our customers and to further enhance efficiencies across our organization. Aegon’s strong performance gives us every confidence in our business and its continued ability to gain and retain customers and achieve a leadership position in each of our chosen markets.”

Key performance indicators

 

amounts in EUR millions b)		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Underlying earnings before tax			1				498				473				5				464				7
Net income							392				157				150				224				74
Sales			2				2,086				1,741				20				1,738				20
Market consistent value of new business			3				223				268				(17	)			232				(4	)
Return on equity			4				8.4	%			7.7	%			9				7.8	%			8

 

Media relations		Investor relations
Robin Boon		Willem van den Berg
+31(0) 70 344 8956		+31(0) 70 344 8305
gcc@aegon.com		ir@aegon.com

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STRATEGIC HIGHLIGHTS

 

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Retiready launched to address retirement needs of growing non-advised market in UK

 

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Fitch rates Aegon UK AA- and S&P affirms rating and revises outlook to Stable

 

•

Capital management actions reduce interest expenses, improving financial flexibility

Aegon’s ambition

Aegon continues to pursue its strategic aim to be a leader in all of its chosen markets, 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

In Spain, Aegon reached an agreement to exit its life and pensions partnership with Caja de Badajoz and sell its 50% interest in the joint venture to Caja3. The sale is expected to result in a book gain of approximately EUR 7 million. It is anticipated that the transaction will close during the third quarter of 2014. Aegon’s share in underlying earnings before tax of the joint venture totaled EUR 3 million in 2013. The transaction with Caja3 is part of Aegon’s restructuring of its business in Spain, a result of the ongoing consolidation within the banking sector. Aegon maintains a long-term commitment to Spain and has reinforced its market position last year with an exclusive strategic partnership with Banco Santander to distribute life and general insurance products through its extensive network of over 4,500 bank branches.

In the United Kingdom, Aegon launched Retiready, the final piece of the award-winning Aegon Retirement Choices platform. Retiready is a new digital service designed to empower customers without a financial advisor to prepare for their retirement and take control of their financial future. The service encourages customers to consider their retirement ambitions, shows how incremental pension contribution adjustments can make a significant difference and then provides a range of options, including a simple pension and individual savings account, to address retirement needs. Retiready rounds out Aegon’s platform offering in the United Kingdom and highlights Aegon’s commitment to addressing the retirement needs of this important market.

Deliver operational excellence

Aegon’s focus on operational excellence is about finding the most efficient and most effective way to use the resources within the organization. Often this results in cost savings that can be invested back into the business to improve the customer experience and drive growth. Other times, the result is a new structure that improves cooperation and innovation.

Aegon is a major provider of residential mortgages loans in the Netherlands and, as part of its SAECURE program, recently executed a transaction that provides funding for approximately 8,000 mortgages. Strong investor demand for these securities, based in part, on Aegon’s proven underwriting criteria and highly rated customer service, allowed Aegon to issue approximately EUR 1.4 billion of Dutch RMBS securities at the tightest pricing since the financial crisis.

Fitch Ratings has assigned a financial strength rating of AA- to Aegon UK. Fitch considers Aegon UK core to the Aegon group, citing the company’s strong position in the UK corporate and individual pensions markets, and its material contribution to the group’s results. Standard & Poor’s has also recognized Aegon’s UK businesses, recently changing the outlook on its A+ rating of Aegon UK from Negative to Stable. S&P specifically noted Aegon UK’s strategic importance to the Aegon group and early signs of success in executing the business transformation program.

 

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Enhance customer loyalty

Aegon believes that creating a customer-centric culture will enable it to grow further by responding to changing markets and customer behaviors. A key element of Aegon’s strategy is to get closer to its customers by increasing innovation at all levels of the organization.

In the United States, a new tool called Your Financial Life was added to Transamerica.com to help those that are at or near retirement plan for the future, learn about their options and connect with others. Aegon believes that there is no such thing as a “typical” retirement and recognizes that the process of retiring can be confusing, and at times, a bit overwhelming. Your Financial Life on Transamerica.com improves the customer experience by providing a one-stop retirement resource.

In the Netherlands, Aegon recently launched Mijn Aegon, an online portal that allows customers to easily access all of their Aegon products in one overview. Using Mijn Aegon, customers can quickly view the status of their pension, their mortgage and the coverage provided under their personal and home insurance policies. Over 350,000 customers have already registered to use Mijn Aegon.

Empower employees

Aegon continues to implement processes and programs to help employees better understand how they contribute to the company’s strategy and to recognize individual and team efforts that directly support Aegon’s four strategic objectives.

In the United States, Transamerica has introduced a program to recognize the contributions made by employees in moving Aegon forward in each of its four strategic objectives. Employees can nominate other employees or teams that have demonstrated above-and-beyond effort on a specific project or a high degree of consistency in delivering value services in connection with Aegon’s four strategic objectives.

The results from Aegon’s third annual global employee survey show that initiatives like these are making employees feel more engaged with Aegon’s strategy and more empowered to contribute to Aegon’s success. Survey results continued to improve and Aegon is now consistently tracking above the financial services sector average for employee engagement and at the high performance norm for enablement.

Capital management actions improve financial flexibility

Aegon completed the redemption of USD 550 million perpetual capital securities in March, reducing outstanding debt and interest expenses. In April, Aegon issued EUR 700 million of subordinated debt, which is expected to be Tier 2 compliant under Solvency II. The 30-year securities are callable after ten years and pay a fixed coupon of 4%. The company subsequently called for the redemption of USD 1,050 million 7.25% perpetual capital securities, effective June 15, 2014. The redemption and refinancing of debt will help the company achieve its goal of a leverage ratio of 26% to 30% and a fixed charge cover of 6 to 8 times by year-end 2014.

Agreement reached over Dutch harbor workers’ pension capital

On April 14, 2014, Aegon announced that it had reached an agreement with the foundation representing Dutch harbor workers and employers (BPVH) on removing restrictions on the capital of the harbor workers’ former pension fund Optas. The agreement ends a dispute that began when the Optas pension fund was transformed into an insurance company, that was subsequently acquired by Aegon in 2007. Aegon and BPVH will file a request with the Dutch court to remove the current restriction on Optas’ capital. Subject to required court approval, Aegon will make a payment of EUR 80 million to the foundation, offer more favorable pension conditions to the harbor workers and will contribute up to EUR 20 million over the coming years to help mitigate the effect of an announced reduction in the tax-free pension allowance in the Netherlands.

 

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Financial overview ^c)

 

EUR millions		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Underlying earnings before tax
Americas							302				299				1				307				(1	)
The Netherlands							129				124				4				114				13
United Kingdom							27				20				37				21				30
New Markets							61				46				34				60				2
Holding and other							(21	)			(15	)			(39	)			(38	)			44
Underlying earnings before tax							498				473				5				464				7
Fair value items							(116	)			(272	)			57				(279	)			58
Realized gains / (losses) on investments							110				104				6				112				(2	)
Impairment charges							(8	)			(1	)			—				(18	)			57
Other income / (charges)							(6	)			(33	)			82				(4	)			(52	)
Run-off businesses							14				15				(9	)			(10	)			—
Income before tax							492				286				72				265				85
Income tax							(100	)			(129	)			22				(41	)			(147	)
Net income							392				157				150				224				74
Net income / (loss) attributable to:
Equity holders of Aegon N.V.							392				155				153				224				75
Non-controlling interests							—				2				(100	)			—				(100	)
Net underlying earnings							370				350				6				338				10
Commissions and expenses							1,427				1,469				(3	)			1,423				—
of which operating expenses			9				779				836				(7	)			790				(1	)
New life sales
Life single premiums							1,062				2,085				(49	)			1,491				(29	)
Life recurring premiums annualized							353				271				30				350				1
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							459				480				(4	)			499				(8	)
New life sales
Americas			10				116				113				2				110				5
The Netherlands							32				95				(66	)			40				(18	)
United Kingdom							249				213				17				286				(13	)
New markets			10				62				58				8				63				(1	)
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							459				480				(4	)			499				(8	)
New premium production accident and health insurance							261				181				45				225				16
New premium production general insurance							17				18				—				14				28
Gross deposits (on and off balance)
Americas			10				8,507				7,062				20				6,988				22
The Netherlands							486				329				48				404				20
United Kingdom							53				62				(14	)			49				8
New markets			10				4,428				3,179				39				2,563				73
Total gross deposits							13,475				10,632				27				10,004				35
Net deposits (on and off balance)
Americas			10				1,978				1,203				64				1,613				23
The Netherlands							38				(87	)			—				(134	)			—
United Kingdom							28				38				(26	)			40				(31	)
New markets			10				(2,927	)			885				—				145				—
Total net deposits excluding run-off businesses							(883	)			2,039				—				1,664				—
Run-off businesses							(619	)			(164	)			—				(1,073	)			42
Total net deposits / (outflows)							(1,502	)			1,876				—				591				—

Revenue-generating investments

 

		Mar. 31, 2014				Dec. 31, 2013				%
Revenue-generating investments (total)			481,624				475,285				1
Investments general account			138,567				135,409				2
Investments for account of policyholders			167,903				165,032				2
Off balance sheet investments third parties			175,154				174,843				—

 

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OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Underlying earnings before tax

Aegon’s underlying earnings before tax in the first quarter of 2014 increased 7% compared to the first quarter of 2013 to EUR 498 million. Business growth, favorable equity markets (EUR 39 million) and the positive impact of deleveraging (EUR 10 million), more than offset investments in technology (EUR 10 million) and the impact of unfavorable currency exchange rates (EUR 11 million).

Underlying earnings from the Americas declined 1% compared to the first quarter of 2013 to EUR 302 million. Higher earnings from growth in variable annuity, mutual fund and pension balances, resulting from both financial markets and net inflows, were more than offset by one-time items and adverse currency movements. The first quarter of 2014 also included a seasonal unfavorable mortality impact of EUR 20 million.

In the Netherlands, underlying earnings increased 13% to EUR 129 million, as a result of higher investment income and lower funding costs.

Underlying earnings from Aegon’s operations in the United Kingdom were up 30% to EUR 27 million in the first quarter of 2014. The positive impact of higher equity markets and improved persistency more than offset costs related to the development of the recently-launched direct-to-consumer offering on the platform, Retiready.

Underlying earnings from New Markets increased 2% to EUR 61 million. Lower earnings from Asia were more than offset by higher earnings from Aegon Asset Management and Central & Eastern Europe.

Total holding costs decreased 44% to EUR 21 million, mainly as a result of lower net interest costs following deleveraging, lower operating expenses and a one-time gain of EUR 8 million related to interest on taxes.

Net income

Net income increased to EUR 392 million as a result of higher underlying earnings and lower losses on fair value items.

Fair value items

The results from fair value items amounted to a loss of EUR 116 million. The loss was mainly driven by hedging programs without accounting match in the United States and the Netherlands. In addition, swaps related to hybrids held at the holding incurred a loss due to declining interest rates.

Realized gains on investments

Realized gains on investments slightly declined to EUR 110 million, and were primarily related to the sale of a stake in a single equity investment and portfolio repositioning in the Netherlands.

Impairment charges

Impairments declined to EUR 8 million and were mainly related to the foreign currency residential mortgage portfolio in Hungary in the first quarter of 2014. The improvement compared to last year was the result of the favorable credit environment in the United States where impairments remained low and were more than offset by recoveries.

 

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Other charges

Other charges amounted to EUR 6 million and were primarily related to restructuring costs in the United Kingdom.

Run-off businesses

The results of run-off businesses improved to EUR 14 million as earnings in the first quarter of 2013 included a charge related to the faster than anticipated transfer of reinsurance assets.

Income tax

Income tax amounted to EUR 100 million in the first quarter. The effective tax rate on underlying earnings for the first quarter of 2014 was 26%. The effective tax rate on total income was 20%, driven by tax exempt income in the United States and certain tax exempt realized gains in the Netherlands.

Return on equity

Return on equity increased to 8.4% for the first quarter of 2014, driven by higher net underlying earnings and reduced funding costs as a result of deleveraging. Return on equity for Aegon’s ongoing businesses, excluding run-off businesses, amounted to 9.1% over the same period.

Operating expenses

In the first quarter of 2014, operating expenses declined 1% to EUR 779 million mainly as a result of timing of expenses and favorable currency effects.

Sales

In the first quarter of 2014, Aegon’s total sales were up 20% to EUR 2.1 billion. Gross deposits increased 35% compared to the first quarter of 2013, driven by the variable annuity and retirement businesses in the United States and Aegon Asset Management. Net outflows, excluding run-off businesses, amounted to EUR 0.9 billion. This was the result of the loss of a single large mandate in Aegon Asset Management, which was replaced by a smaller but higher margin mandate from the same client, and a one-time transfer of pension assets to the Polish government due to legislative changes. New premium production for accident and health insurance increased 16% to EUR 261 million, mainly due to several portfolio acquisitions, which resulted from new distribution agreements. New life sales declined 8%, driven mainly by lower pension production in the United Kingdom as the first quarter of 2013 was a particularly strong quarter due to the introduction of the Retail Distribution Review. In the Americas, new life sales were up 5%, primarily driven by higher sales of universal life products with secondary guarantees, which was partly offset by adverse currency movements.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business declined slightly to EUR 223 million, as strong sales growth and higher margins in the United States were more than offset by lower margins on Dutch mortgages and methodology changes.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments increased 1% during the first quarter of 2014 to EUR 482 billion, driven by positive market movements.

 

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Capital management

Shareholders’ equity increased EUR 1.5 billion compared to the end of the fourth quarter of 2013 to EUR 19.1 billion at March 31, 2014. This was driven by net income for the quarter and lower interest rates, resulting in higher revaluation reserves. The revaluation reserves increased by EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 4.4 billion. Aegon’s shareholders’ equity, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, amounted to EUR 15.6 billion – or EUR 7.43 per common share at the end of the first quarter. The company’s gross leverage ratio improved to 31.5% in the first quarter, mainly driven by the call of perpetual capital securities. Excess capital in the holding declined to EUR 1.7 billion, resulting from the call of perpetual capital securities, interest payments and operating expenses.

Aegon’s Insurance Group Directive (IGD) solvency ratio remained stable compared to year-end 2013 at 212%, as the impact of the call of perpetual capital securities was offset by earnings generated in the quarter and tightening credit spreads. The capital in excess of the S&P AA threshold in the United States increased by USD 0.3 billion to USD 0.8 billion, driven by free cash flow generated in the first quarter of 2014. The IGD ratio in the Netherlands, excluding Aegon Bank, remained stable at ~240%, as earnings generated in the first quarter were partly offset by higher employee pension liabilities. The Pillar I ratio in the United Kingdom, including the with-profit fund, was flat at ~150% at the end of the first quarter of 2014.

Effective March 15, 2014, Aegon redeemed junior perpetual capital securities with a coupon of 6.875% and a principal amount of USD 550 million. On April 28, 2014, Aegon announced that it will call for the redemption of perpetual capital securities with a coupon of 7.25% issued in 2007. The redemption will be effective June 15, 2014, when the principal amount of USD 1,050 million will be repaid with accrued interest. This transaction has largely been financed by EUR 700 million subordinated notes with a coupon of 4% issued on April 25. As a result of the calls and the new issuance, Aegon’s fixed charge cover is expected to increase approximately 1.4 times on an annualized basis. Although total interest expenses will be approximately EUR 55 million lower as a result of these capital management transactions, underlying earnings before tax will be negatively impacted by EUR 28 million on an annualized basis. The interest cost on the newly issued notes is accounted for in underlying earnings while the interest on the perpetual capital securities was recorded directly in equity.

Cash flows

Operational free cash flows were EUR 331 million in the first quarter of 2014. Excluding one-time items of EUR (22) million and market impacts of EUR 48 million, operational free cash flows amounted to EUR 305 million. One-time items were primarily related to temporary higher reserve strain for term and universal life business in the United States and business transformation costs in the United Kingdom. The impact of market movements during the first quarter mainly resulted from credit spread movements.

 

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Changes in accounting policies

Effective January 1, 2014, Aegon has made voluntary changes to its accounting policies to improve the consistency, comparability and transparency of Aegon’s financial results. The following changes became effective:

 

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Aegon has considered and sought alignment with the proposed description of deferrable policy acquisition costs in the current proposals for future insurance accounting under IFRS. Under the new accounting policy, deferred policy acquisition costs only include costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or renewal of insurance contracts. The previous accounting policy was based on a broader definition of costs that could be deferred, including sales support costs.

 

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Aegon has established its longevity reserves in the Netherlands on prospective mortality tables instead of observed mortality tables. Its IFRS reserves were previously based on observed mortality tables, while actual experience was taken through underlying earnings. The adoption of prospective mortality tables ensures that Aegon’s IFRS reserving for longevity is consistent with that of its regulatory solvency calculations and internal economic framework.

Aegon has applied these changes retrospectively and therefore restated its 2013 financial position, in accordance with IFRS, for reasons of comparability. As a result, shareholders’ equity was negatively impacted by EUR 2.4 billion, and underlying earnings before tax were positively impacted by EUR 23 million at the date of adoption (January 1, 2014). More details of these changes and a summary of their effects on the financial position of the company are shown in Aegon’s adjusted financial supplement for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Financial overview, Q1 2014 geographically ^c)

 

EUR millions		Americas				The Netherlands				United Kingdom				New Markets				Holding, other activities & eliminations				Total
Underlying earnings before tax by line of business
Life			106				73				21				18				—				219
Individual savings and retirement products			130				—				—				(5	)			—				125
Pensions			65				50				5				1				—				122
Non-life			—				1				—				8				—				9
Distribution			—				4				—				—				—				4
Asset Management			—				—				—				32				—				32
Other			—				—				—				—				(21	)			(21	)
Share in underlying earnings before tax of associates			2				—				—				7				—				9
Underlying earnings before tax			302				129				27				61				(21	)			498
Fair value items			(49	)			(36	)			(3	)			7				(36	)			(116	)
Realized gains / (losses) on investments			9				84				16				2				—				110
Impairment charges			3				(2	)			—				(9	)			—				(8	)
Other income / (charges)			3				(3	)			(4	)			(2	)			—				(6	)
Run-off businesses			14				—				—				—				—				14
Income before tax			282				172				37				59				(57	)			492
Income tax			(63	)			(29	)			(9	)			(16	)			16				(100	)
Net income			219				143				28				43				(41	)			392
Net underlying earnings			212				100				25				45				(12	)			370

Employee numbers

 

		Mar. 31, 2014				Dec. 31, 2013
Employees			27,432				26,891
of which agents			5,017				4,753
of which Aegon’s share of employees in joint ventures and associates			1,459				1,462

 

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AMERICAS

 

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Underlying earnings before tax increase 2% to USD 414 million

 

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Net income more than doubles to USD 300 million primarily due to lower hedge losses

 

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Sales of life insurance up 9% to USD 158 million, driven by higher universal life sales

 

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Gross deposits up 26% to USD 11.7 billion reflecting strong growth in pensions and variable annuities; net deposits, excluding run-off, increase 27% to USD 2.7 billion

Underlying earnings before tax

Underlying earnings from the Americas in the first quarter of 2014 increased 2% to USD 414 million. Higher earnings from growth in variable annuity, mutual fund and pension balances, driven by both markets and net inflows, were partly offset by lower earnings in Life & Protection.

 

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Life & Protection earnings declined 15% to USD 141 million. This was driven by an unfavorable adjustment of USD 13 million related to lower than anticipated reinvestment yields. The seasonal unfavorable mortality impact amounted to USD 27 million in the first quarter.

 

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Earnings from Individual Savings & Retirement were up 14% to USD 178 million. Variable annuity earnings increased to USD 108 million, driven by higher fee income from higher account balances. Fixed annuity earnings slightly increased to USD 58 million. The impact of ongoing portfolio reduction was more than offset by higher product spreads, resulting from lower crediting rates, and a one-time gain from changes in the asset portfolio backing the fixed annuity book of USD 7 million. Earnings from retail mutual funds increased to USD 12 million, as a result of higher account balances.

 

•

Employer Solutions & Pensions earnings increased 8% to USD 89 million. This was primarily driven by the growth of account balances, which was partially offset by non-recurring expenses of USD 3 million.

 

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Earnings from Canada increased to USD 4 million, driven by the non-recurrence of charges in the first quarter of 2013. Earnings in the first quarter of 2014 included adverse lapse experience amounting to USD 4 million. Latin America contributed USD 2 million in underlying earnings for the quarter.

Net income

Net income from Aegon’s businesses in the Americas more than doubled to USD 300 million in the first quarter. A lower loss from fair value items, higher underlying earnings and an increased result from run-off businesses more than offset lower realized gains on investments.

Results from fair value items amounted to USD (67) million. The loss on fair value hedges without an accounting match under IFRS, which is related to the macro hedge on the GMIB variable annuities block, was USD 87 million. This was somewhat higher than the expected quarterly loss, driven by declining interest rates. Fair value hedges with an accounting match, which include the hedges on Aegon’s GMWB variable annuities block, contributed a profit of USD 61 million, mainly driven by declining interest rates and an increase in fees on the in-force block. Fair value investments underperformed long-term expectations by USD 18 million, mainly driven by alternative investments, including hedge funds.

Gains on investments of USD 12 million were primarily related to pre-payment fees on mortgages. Gross impairments remained low and were more than offset by recoveries on investments in subprime residential mortgage-backed securities, resulting in a net positive of USD 5 million for the quarter.

The results of run-off businesses improved to USD 19 million, as earnings in the first quarter of 2013 included a charge related to the faster than anticipated transfer of reinsurance assets.

 

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Return on capital

In the first quarter of 2014, the return on average capital invested in Aegon’s business in the Americas, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, amounted to 6.5%. Excluding the capital allocated to the run-off businesses, return on capital amounted to 7.3%. The return on capital of Aegon’s businesses excludes the benefit of leverage at the holding.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses decreased 4% to USD 453 million, mainly due to the non-recurrence of incentive accruals booked in the first quarter of 2013, and lower employee benefit expenses.

Sales

New life sales were up 9% to USD 158 million, driven by the redesigned secondary guarantee universal life product introduced last year. New premium production for accident and health insurance increased 28% to USD 338 million. This was mainly driven by several portfolio acquisitions, which resulted from new distribution agreements. Excluding these acquisitions, sales were still higher than in the first quarter of 2013, driven by higher supplemental health sales for both group and individual coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

Gross deposits increased 26% to USD 11.7 billion. Gross deposits in pensions were up 34% to USD 8.3 billion, driven by plan takeovers and the focus on retirement readiness by growing customer participation and contributions, partly through expanded use of auto-enrollment and auto-escalation. Gross deposits in variable annuities of USD 2.0 billion were up 26% compared to the first quarter of 2013, mainly due to continued focus on key distribution partners and expansion of Aegon’s distribution through alternative channels. Gross deposits in mutual funds increased 2% to USD 1.2 billion.

Net deposits, excluding run-off businesses, were up 27% to USD 2.7 billion in the first quarter, mainly driven by a 24% increase in pension net deposits to USD 2.3 billion. Net deposits in variable annuities increased 40% to USD 1.0 billion, the result of higher gross deposits and stable withdrawal rates. Net flows into retail mutual funds were stable at USD 0.2 billion. Fixed annuities experienced net outflows of USD 0.7 billion due to the overall portfolio reduction as part of a strategic repositioning of the business.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business increased 66% to USD 208 million in the first quarter of 2014. This was driven by higher sales volumes and increased margins in variable annuities and life insurance.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments increased 2% to USD 372 billion during the first quarter. Investments for account of policyholders and off balance sheet investments for third parties were up 3%, driven by net deposits as well as positive market movements. General account assets increased 2% during the quarter, as the decline in interest rates more than offset outflows from the run-off businesses and fixed annuities.

 

10

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Americas c)
USD millions		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Underlying earnings before tax by line of business
Life and protection							141				150				(6	)			166				(15	)
Fixed annuities							58				53				10				56				3
Variable annuities							108				99				9				94				15
Retail mutual funds							12				11				2				5				128
Individual savings and retirement products							178				163				9				155				14
Employer solutions & pensions							89				88				1				82				8
Canada							4				3				76				—				—
Latin America							2				4				(49	)			2				25
Underlying earnings before tax							414				408				2				405				2
Fair value items							(67	)			(145	)			54				(296	)			77
Realized gains / (losses) on investments							12				37				(68	)			59				(80	)
Impairment charges							5				5				(3	)			—				—
Other income / (charges)							4				(16	)			—				(6	)			—
Run- off businesses							19				20				(6	)			(13	)			—
Income before tax							387				309				25				149				160
Income tax							(86	)			(128	)			33				(2	)			—
Net income							300				181				66				147				105
Net underlying earnings							290				302				(4	)			290				—
Commissions and expenses							1,110				1,108				—				1,067				4
of which operating expenses							453				480				(6	)			473				(4	)
New life sales			10
Life single premiums							66				39				69				44				49
Life recurring premiums annualized							152				151				1				141				8
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							158				154				2				145				9
Life & protection							134				128				4				119				12
Canada							16				17				(2	)			16				4
Latin America							8				9				(12	)			10				(20	)
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							158				154				2				145				9
New premium production accident and health insurance							338				230				47				264				28
Gross deposits (on and off balance) by line of business			10
Life & protection							2				3				(3	)			2				23
Fixed annuities							71				104				(31	)			189				(62	)
Variable annuities							2,038				2,299				(11	)			1,622				26
Retail mutual funds							1,210				940				29				1,187				2
Individual savings & retirement products							3,320				3,344				(1	)			2,998				11
Employer solutions & pensions							8,288				6,236				33				6,168				34
Canada							36				24				50				47				(23	)
Latin America							5				4				17				6				(17	)
Total gross deposits							11,651				9,610				21				9,221				26
Net deposits (on and off balance) by line of business			10
Life & protection							(10	)			(10	)			3				(10	)			(2	)
Fixed annuities							(686	)			(657	)			(4	)			(553	)			(24	)
Variable annuities							982				1,279				(23	)			699				40
Retail mutual funds							226				64				—				243				(7	)
Individual savings & retirement products							522				686				(24	)			389				34
Employer solutions & pensions							2,284				1,077				112				1,841				24
Canada							(90	)			(100	)			10				(94	)			5
Latin America							3				3				(6	)			3				19
Total net deposits excluding run-off businesses							2,709				1,656				64				2,129				27
Run-off businesses							(848	)			(242	)			—				(1,416	)			40
Total net deposits / (outflows)							1,862				1,415				32				713				161

 

Revenue-generating investments
		Mar. 31, 2014				Dec. 31, 2013				%
Revenue-generating investments (total)			371,958				363,262				2
Investments general account			106,391				104,425				2
Investments for account of policyholders			105,760				103,659				2
Off balance sheet investments third parties			159,808				155,179				3

 

11

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THE NETHERLANDS

 

•

Underlying earnings before tax increase 13% to EUR 129 million due to higher investment income

 

•

Net income up to EUR 143 million, mainly driven by a lower loss from fair value items

 

•

New life sales decline to EUR 32 million as a result of lower production in pensions

Underlying earnings before tax

Underlying earnings from Aegon’s operations in the Netherlands increased 13% to EUR 129 million in the first quarter. This was mainly driven by higher investment income and lower funding costs.

 

•

Earnings from Aegon’s Life & Savings operations in the Netherlands were up 6% to EUR 73 million. This was the result of higher investment income and lower funding costs.

 

•

Earnings from the Pension business increased 27% to EUR 50 million, mainly driven by higher income on mortgages allocated to the investment portfolio due to the growth of the Pension business.

 

•

Non-life earnings amounted to EUR 1 million. Management actions taken to improve the profitability of the disability segment showed positive results. This was offset by higher claims in the general insurance business related to the large storm in October 2013 and several large fires, with claims from the proxy channel emerging after a time lag of one quarter. In order to further improve the profitability of the Non-life business, Aegon has terminated several proxy relationships, increased premiums, simplified products and strengthened claims monitoring.

 

•

Earnings from the distribution businesses amounted to EUR 4 million. The decrease compared to the first quarter of 2013 was mainly driven by lower margins, as a result of the competitive market environment.

Net income

Net income from Aegon’s businesses in the Netherlands increased 77% to EUR 143 million. Results on fair value items amounted to a loss of EUR 36 million, which was primarily the result of fair value movements on interest rate and longevity hedges. Realized gains on investments totaled EUR 84 million and were the result of the sale of a stake in a single equity investment and portfolio repositioning. Impairments amounted to EUR 2 million.

Return on capital

The return on average capital invested in Aegon’s businesses in the Netherlands, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, increased to 13.4%, driven by higher net underlying earnings. The return on capital of Aegon’s businesses excludes the benefit of leverage at the holding.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased 4% to EUR 185 million, as realized cost savings were more than offset by a reclassification of expenses.

Sales

New life sales amounted to EUR 32 million in the first quarter. Individual life sales declined 10% to EUR 12 million, driven by the ongoing shift to banksparen products. Pension sales amounted to EUR 20 million, down 22% from the first quarter of 2013 which included a large buyout deal. PPI deposits nearly doubled to EUR 17 million, driven by Aegon’s attractive product offering.

 

12

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Gross deposits increased to EUR 486 million, mainly due to a strong performance by Aegon’s online bank in the Netherlands, Knab, following a repositioning. Knab accounted for EUR 107 million of gross deposits in the first quarter, up from EUR 24 million in the first quarter of 2013.

Production of mortgages in the first quarter of 2014 increased 45% to EUR 1.1 billion. Of this production, demand for the recently launched Dutch mortgage fund from third party investors accounted for EUR 450 million. Premium production for accident and health decreased to EUR 4 million, resulting from a focus on profitability. General insurance production remained stable and amounted to EUR 8 million.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business in the Netherlands amounted to EUR 39 million, down 59% compared to the first quarter of 2013. This decline was primarily driven by a lower contribution from mortgages as margins declined and by shifting part of the production to the Dutch Mortgage Fund.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments amounted to EUR 74 billion, up 3% compared with the previous quarter due to net inflows and positive market impacts.

 

13

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The Netherlands ^c)

 

EUR millions		Notes		Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Underlying earnings before tax by line of business
Life and Savings					73				59				24				69				6
Pensions					50				65				(23	)			40				27
Non-life					1				(6	)			—				(1	)			—
Distribution					4				6				(29	)			6				(35	)
Underlying earnings before tax					129				124				4				114				13
Fair value items					(36	)			(145	)			75				(73	)			51
Realized gains / (losses) on investments					84				66				27				63				32
Impairment charges					(2	)			3				—				(8	)			80
Other income / (charges)					(3	)			(6	)			50				—				—
Income before tax					172				41				—				96				80
Income tax					(29	)			(7	)			—				(15	)			(92	)
Net income					143				34				—				81				77
Net underlying earnings					100				96				4				87				15
Commissions and expenses					254				250				1				249				2
of which operating expenses					185				190				(3	)			179				4
New life sales
Life single premiums					260				810				(68	)			346				(25	)
Life recurring premiums annualized					6				14				(57	)			5				30
Total recurring plus 1/10 single					32				95				(66	)			40				(18	)
Life and Savings					12				8				44				14				(10	)
Pensions					20				87				(77	)			26				(22	)
Total recurring plus 1/10 single					32				95				(66	)			40				(18	)
New premium production accident and health insurance					4				1				—				13				(66	)
New premium production general insurance					8				6				25				8				(4	)
Gross deposits (on and off balance) by line of business
Life and Savings					486				329				48				404				20
Total gross deposits					486				329				48				404				20
Net deposits (on and off balance) by line of business
Life and Savings					38				(87	)			—				(134	)			—
Total net deposits / (outflows)					38				(87	)			—				(134	)			—

Revenue-generating investments

 

		Mar. 31,				Dec. 31,
		2014				2013				%
Revenue-generating investments (total)			74,182				71,993				3
Investments general account			46,652				45,354				3
Investments for account of policyholders			26,555				25,646				4
Off balance sheet investments third parties			974				994				(2	)

 

14

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UNITED KINGDOM

 

•

Underlying earnings increased strongly to GBP 22 million due to improved persistency

 

•

Fast growing platform; assets reach GBP 1.6 billion, inflows double to GBP 0.3 billion

 

•

Changing regulation supports core strategy of focusing on At Retirement and Workplace Savings and of transferring customers to Aegon’s award-winning platform

 

•

New non-advised direct-to-consumer platform, Retiready, expected to accelerate growth

Underlying earnings before tax

Underlying earnings before tax from Aegon’s operations in the United Kingdom in the first quarter were up compared with all quarters of 2013 at GBP 22 million, driven by improved persistency and higher equity markets. These results were achieved while maintaining investments in technology, particularly the Retiready platform.

 

•

Earnings from Life remained stable at GBP 18 million.

 

•

Earnings from Pensions doubled to GBP 4 million as earnings benefited from higher equity markets compared to the first quarter of 2013. In addition, earnings increased due to an improvement in persistency, which was partly offset by expenses of GBP 5 million mainly related to developing Retiready.

 

•

Fee revenues amounted to GBP 112 million. The contribution from the new platform was small, but is growing rapidly.

Net income

Net income was up 74% to GBP 23 million. This was driven by higher realized gains on investments, which amounted to GBP 13 million, resulting from selective de-risking. Other charges included business transformation costs of GBP 8 million in the first quarter of 2014 and were mostly related to restructuring. The business transformation program is expected to continue until the end of 2014.

Customers

During the first quarter of 2014 Aegon gained approximately 43,000 policies from new customers, which included approximately 29,000 new members from 245 employers through auto-enrollment. The vast majority of Aegon’s existing schemes, in terms of assets under management, are due to implement the auto-enrollment requirements in the remaining quarters of 2014.

Sales

The inflows on Aegon’s platform nearly doubled to GBP 0.3 billion, reaching GBP 1.6 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2014. Aegon won the award for the Best Workplace Savings Platform for the second year running at the Platforum awards, and is one of the fastest growing platforms. The average policy size on the platform is approximately GBP 60,000 – more than double the amount for the traditional book of pensions and bonds. Gross inflow in the traditional pension business was GBP 0.6 billion, while assets remained stable at GBP 45 billion during the first quarter.

Growth of platform assets is expected to accelerate in the remaining quarters of 2014, primarily driven by the launch of Retiready, the new digital service for the non-advised client group, on April 30, 2014. Retiready offers a simple, customer-focused service, allowing customers to understand and take control of their financial planning up to and into retirement. The service provides access to a Retiready Pension, offering one of four straightforward, low cost, investment funds, or a Retiready ISA for those who want 24/7 digital access to information about their pension and retirement savings.

 

15

---

 

Aegon began engaging with its existing customers to provide them with the opportunity to upgrade their policy on to the platform, which will significantly enhance the customer experience.

Regulation

The first quarter of 2014 saw significant change following the Budget announcement of an end to compulsory annuitization, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announcements of charge caps for auto-enrollment business, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) review of long-standing clients.

The Budget changes support Aegon’s core strategy to grow the business in the target markets of At Retirement, which will benefit from an increase in drawdown business, and Workplace Savings, which will benefit from growing savings from policyholders through the added flexibility offered by their pensions. At the end of the first quarter of 2014, approximately 37,000 of Aegon’s clients had drawdown products, representing close to GBP 4 billion in assets.

On the DWP and FCA announcements, Aegon’s strategy is to upgrade its traditional policies onto its platform to build scale. These changes should enable Aegon to accelerate this strategy and capture the benefit from customers consolidating their other assets on the platform. Aegon currently estimates the impact of the DWP requirements on underlying earnings to be between GBP 20 to 25 million on an annual basis. Aegon has also responded to the changes by simplifying platform charges and the investment fund range for the pension’s platform One Retirement.

Return on capital

The return on average capital invested in Aegon’s businesses in the United Kingdom, excluding revaluation reserves and defined benefit plan remeasurements, remained stable at 3.3% in the first quarter of 2014. The increase in net underlying earnings was offset by a higher capital base.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased 11% to GBP 77 million, as expenses were incurred related to investments in technology and business transformation costs of GBP 13 million. Excluding these costs, expenses were down compared to the first quarter of 2013, driven by cost reductions.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business in the United Kingdom declined to GBP 1 million, driven by lower margins and volumes on annuities and lower margins arising from auto-enrollment.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments were stable, compared to year-end 2013, at GBP 57 billion.

 

16

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United Kingdom ^c)

 

GBP millions		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Underlying earnings before tax by line of business
Life							18				27				(34	)			18				—
Pensions							4				(11	)			—				2				175
Distribution							—				—				—				(2	)			—
Underlying earnings before tax							22				16				35				18				27
Fair value items							(2	)			(5	)			55				(2	)			1
Realized gains / (losses) on investments							13				8				58				1				—
Impairment charges							—				(2	)			—				—				—
Other income / (charges)			5				(3	)			2				—				4				—
Income before tax							30				20				49				21				47
Income tax attributable to policyholder return							(5	)			(15	)			68				(6	)			21
Income before income tax on shareholders return							25				5				—				15				76
Income tax on shareholders return							(2	)			(4	)			47				(1	)			(98	)
Net income							23				1				—				14				74
Net underlying earnings							21				10				117				16				32
Commissions and expenses							144				156				(8	)			154				(7	)
of which operating expenses							77				84				(8	)			69				11
New life sales			6
Life single premiums							454				917				(51	)			820				(45	)
Life recurring premiums annualized							161				87				85				162				—
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							206				179				15				244				(15	)
Life							14				13				7				15				(7	)
Pensions							193				166				16				229				(16	)
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							206				179				15				244				(15	)
New premium production accident and health insurance							1				—				—				—				—
Gross deposits (on and off balance) by line of business
Variable annuities							—				1				—				2				—
Savings							44				51				(14	)			40				12
Total gross deposits							44				52				(15	)			42				5
Net deposits (on and off balance) by line of business
Variable annuities							(17	)			(15	)			(17	)			(5	)			—
Savings							40				46				(13	)			39				2
Total net deposits / (outflows)							23				31				(27	)			34				(32	)
Platform assets under administration							1,562				1,279				22				211				—

Revenue-generating investments

 

		Mar. 31, 2014				Dec. 31, 2013				%
Revenue-generating investments (total)			57,453				57,277				—
Investments general account			9,084				8,938				2
Investments for account of policyholders			48,091				48,101				—
Off balance sheet investments third parties			277				239				16

 

17

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NEW MARKETS

 

•

Underlying earnings before tax increase 2% to EUR 61 million driven by higher earnings from Aegon Asset Management

 

•

Net income up 48% to EUR 43 million

 

•

New life sales flat at EUR 62 million as continued strong performance in Asia is offset by the effect of a divestment in Spain and lower sales in Poland

 

•

Record gross deposits of EUR 4.4 billion driven by strong retail flows; EUR 2.9 billion net outflows due to Polish legislation change and replacement of an institutional mandate

Underlying earnings before tax

In the first quarter of 2014, Aegon’s underlying earnings before tax from New Markets increased slightly to EUR 61 million, as higher earnings from asset management more than offset lower earnings in Asia and the earnings loss from a divestment in Spain.

 

•

Earnings from Central & Eastern Europe increased 13% to EUR 19 million, primarily driven by a reserve release of EUR 4 million in Turkey. In addition, earnings were negatively impacted by EUR 2 million due to a one-off expense related to the Polish pension fund business.

 

•

Results from Aegon’s operations in Asia declined to nil, driven by a lower earnings contribution from Aegon’s high net worth and direct marketing activities in the region.

 

•

Earnings from Spain & France amounted to EUR 10 million. The new joint venture with Santander added EUR 4 million to underlying earnings which was offset by the impact of the divestment of the joint venture with Unnim. The earnings contribution from partner La Mondiale in France increased to EUR 7 million.

 

•

Results from Variable Annuities Europe were stable at EUR 1 million.

 

•

Earnings from Aegon Asset Management increased 41% to EUR 32 million as a result of higher third party asset balances and performance fees as well as timing of expenses.

Net income

The net income from Aegon’s operations in New Markets increased to EUR 43 million. Impairments equaled EUR 9 million, driven by the Hungarian foreign currency mortgage portfolio. Adverse currency movements and client anticipation of additional debt relief measures by the government negatively impacted the level of impairments. This was partly offset by a positive result in fair value items of EUR 6 million on the currency hedge set up to protect this portfolio.

Return on capital

The return on average capital invested in Aegon’s businesses in New Markets, excluding revaluation reserves, increased to 8.8%, mainly as a result of higher net underlying earnings and lower average capital. Average capital decreased following the impairment of intangible assets related to the Polish pension fund business in the third quarter of 2013. Return on capital of Aegon’s businesses excludes the benefit of leverage at the holding.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses decreased 1% to EUR 156 million in the first quarter. Exchange rate impacts and timing of expenses at Aegon Asset Management more than offset the negative impact from a one-off expense in the Polish pension fund business.

 

18

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Sales

New life sales amounted to EUR 62 million.

 

•

In Central & Eastern Europe, new life sales declined 15% to EUR 24 million. Sales growth in Turkey, Slovakia and Ukraine due to improved distribution productivity was more than offset by adverse currency movements and lower sales in Poland resulting from lower production in the broker and banking channels.

 

•

In Asia, new life sales increased 40% to EUR 26 million. This was mainly driven by increased sales of universal life products in Hong Kong. Expansion of distribution through brokers led to a significant increase in average case size.

 

•

New life sales in Spain declined 24% to EUR 13 million, due to the loss of sales from the joint venture with Unnim, which was divested in the second quarter of 2013. The joint venture with Santander accounted for EUR 6 million of new life sales in the first quarter of 2014.

New premium production from Aegon’s accident and health insurance business declined to EUR 9 million, mainly driven by lower sales of the direct marketing activities in Japan and Australia. New premium production from Aegon’s general insurance business was up 76% to EUR 10 million, driven by the inclusion of the Santander joint venture.

Gross deposits in New Markets amounted to EUR 4.4 billion, up 73% from the first quarter of 2013. Gross deposits in Aegon Asset Management increased 82% to EUR 4.1 billion, mainly driven by strong growth in retail sales in the United Kingdom and China. Gross deposits in Asia increased 46% to EUR 138 million driven by continued strong sales of variable annuities in Japan.

Net outflows in New Markets amounted to EUR 2.9 billion, mainly driven by the loss of a single large institutional mandate, which was replaced by a smaller but higher margin mandate from the same client. In addition, the one-time transfer of Polish pension fund assets to the Polish government, due to legislative changes, led to outflows of EUR 1.5 billion.

Market consistent value of new business

The market consistent value of new business in New Markets increased 53% to EUR 32 million as a result of the positive impact of the inclusion of the joint ventures with Santander and higher universal life sales in Hong Kong.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments decreased 4% to EUR 68 billion during the first quarter of 2014, driven by net outflows in asset management and the Polish pension fund business.

 

19

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New Markets ^c)

 

EUR millions		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Underlying earnings before tax
Central Eastern Europe							19				14				35				16				13
Asia							—				(1	)			88				9				—
Spain & France							10				7				35				11				(14	)
Variable Annuities Europe							1				3				(66	)			1				(16	)
Aegon Asset Management							32				23				38				23				41
Underlying earnings before tax							61				46				34				60				2
Fair value items							7				2				—				(3	)			—
Realized gains / (losses) on investments							2				1				107				2				(28	)
Impairment charges							(9	)			(6	)			(59	)			(10	)			7
Other income / (charges)							(2	)			(11	)			85				(4	)			56
Income before tax							59				32				83				45				29
Income tax							(16	)			(10	)			(63	)			(16	)			4
Net income							43				22				92				29				48
Net income / (loss) attributable to:
Equity holders of Aegon N.V.							43				20				108				29				50
Non-controlling interests							—				2				(100	)			—				(100	)
Net underlying earnings							45				32				41				38				21
Commissions and expenses							233				259				(10	)			230				1
of which operating expenses							156				176				(11	)			157				(1	)
New life sales			10
Life single premiums							205				155				32				147				40
Life recurring premiums annualized							42				42				(1	)			48				(14	)
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							62				58				8				63				(1	)
Life							60				57				6				62				(2	)
Associates							2				1				99				1				35
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							62				58				8				63				(1	)
Central Eastern Europe							24				29				(16	)			28				(15	)
Asia							26				15				66				18				40
Spain & France							13				14				(7	)			17				(24	)
Total recurring plus 1/10 single							62				58				8				63				(1	)
New premium production accident and health insurance							9				10				(10	)			12				(26	)
New premium production general insurance							10				11				(15	)			6				76
Gross deposits (on and off balance)			10
Central Eastern Europe							58				59				(3	)			57				2
Asia							138				164				(16	)			95				46
Spain & France							1				1				11				7				(88	)
Variable Annuities Europe							85				89				(5	)			122				(31	)
Aegon Asset Management							4,147				2,866				45				2,282				82
Total gross deposits							4,428				3,179				39				2,563				73
Net deposits (on and off balance)			10
Central Eastern Europe							(1,494	)			46				—				(35	)			—
Asia							132				156				(16	)			70				89
Spain & France							(1	)			(1	)			(80	)			(3	)			56
Variable Annuities Europe							(17	)			(17	)			—				(14	)			(18	)
Aegon Asset Management							(1,546	)			700				—				127				—
Total net deposits / (outflows)							(2,927	)			885				—				145				—

Revenue-generating investments

 

		Mar. 31, 2014				Dec. 31, 2013				%
Revenue-generating investments (total)			67,953				70,705				(4	)
Investments general account			3,603				3,396				6
Investments for account of policyholders			6,450				6,357				1
Off balance sheet investments third parties			57,899				60,951				(5	)

 

20

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Market consistent value of new business

 

		MCVNB
EUR millions, after tax		Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
Americas			152				179				(15	)			95				60
The Netherlands			39				59				(34	)			95				(59	)
United Kingdom			1				8				(84	)			21				(94	)
New Markets			32				22				45				21				53
Total			223				268				(17	)			232				(4	)

Modeled new business: APE

 

		Premium business APE
EUR millions		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
			7
Americas							358				282				27				305				17
The Netherlands							81				191				(58	)			88				(8	)
United Kingdom							250				201				24				286				(13	)
New Markets							118				112				5				108				9
Total							806				787				2				787				2
Modeled new business: Deposits
		Deposit business Deposits
EUR millions		Notes				Q1 2014				Q4 2013				%				Q1 2013				%
			7
Americas							5,021				6,717				(25	)			4,518				11
United Kingdom							—				—				—				2				—
New Markets							225				258				(13	)			211				7
Total							5,246				6,975				(25	)			4,731				11

MCVNB/PVNBP summary

 

		Premium business
						MCVNB				PVNBP				MCVNB / PVNBP				MCVNB / APE
EUR millions		Notes				Q1 2014								%				%
			8
Americas							72				1,515				4.7				20.1
The Netherlands							46				1,661				2.8				57.1
United Kingdom							1				1,630				0.1				0.5
New Markets							29				1,029				2.9				25.1
Total							149				5,835				2.5				18.4
		Deposit business
						MCVNB				PVNBP				MCVNB / PVNBP				MCVNB / Deposits
EUR millions		Notes				Q1 2014								%				%
			8
Americas							80				7,680				1.0				1.6
The Netherlands							(7	)			165				(4.4	)			—
New Markets							2				264				0.8				1.0
Total							75				8,108				0.9				1.4

Currencies

Income statement items: average rate 1 EUR = USD 1.3695 (2013: USD 1.3195).

Income statement items: average rate 1 EUR = GBP 0.8276 (2013: GBP 0.8506).

Balance sheet items: closing rate 1 EUR = USD 1.3783 (2013: USD 1.2841; year-end 2013: USD 1.3780).

Balance sheet items: closing rate 1 EUR = GBP 0.8267 (2013: GBP 0.8456; year-end 2013: GBP 0.8320).

 

21

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Hague – May 15, 2014

Presentation

The conference call presentation is available on aegon.com.

Supplements

Aegon’s Q1 2014 Financial Supplement and Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements are available on aegon.com.

Conference call including Q&A

09:00 a.m. CET

Audio webcast on aegon.com

Dial-in numbers

United States: +1 480 629 9673

United Kingdom: +44 207 153 2027

The Netherlands: +31 45 631 6902

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

 

 

Aegon’s roots go back more than 150 years – to the first half of the nineteenth century. Since then, Aegon has grown into an international company, with businesses in more than 25 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 its 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 preferred shares, the revaluation reserve and the reserves related to defined benefit plans.

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.

 

		Q1 2014
Employee expenses			475
Administrative expenses			276
Operating expenses for IFRS reporting			751
Operating expenses related to jv’s and associates			28
Operating expenses in earnings release			779

 

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

11)	Operational free cash flow 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.

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.

c)	2013 comparative figures have been enhanced with the impacts of voluntary accounting policies changes related to the deferral of policy acquisition costs and longevity reserving in the Nederlands which are effective January 1, 2014 as announced on January 22, 2014.

 

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DISCLAIMERS

Cautionary note regarding non-IFRS measures

This document includes the 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 its 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.

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 or the potential independence of Scotland from the United Kingdom

 

•

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.