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AEGON Announces Strong Q4 2010 Results


News provided by

AEGON N.V.

24 Feb, 2011, 06:30 GMT

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THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, February 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Strong Earnings, Sales and Capital Position

- Underlying Earnings Before tax in Q4 up 2% to EUR 489 Million, Bringing the Total for 2010 to EUR 2 Billion

- Net Income in Q4 of EUR 318 Million Resulting in a net Profit for the Year of EUR 1.8 Billion

- New Life Sales Stable at EUR 558 Million; Full Year Sales up 5% to EUR 2.2 Billion

- Gross Deposits Increased 16% to EUR 7.8 Billion Adding to a Total of EUR 32.6 Billion in Full Year Deposits

- Excess Capital* of EUR 3.8 Billion, of Which EUR 1.7 Billion at the Holding; IGDa) Solvency Ratio of 198%

- Repurchase all Remaining Convertible Core Capital Securities by end of June 2011

- Today's 10% Equity Issue Will Fund Part of EUR 2.25 Billion Required for Repurchase, Allowing AEGON to Maintain its Strong Capital Position and to Achieve the Targeted 75% Core Capital Ratio by year-end 2012

- Remaining Amount Generated From Internal Resources, Including any Proceeds From Divestments

- Sustainable Earnings Growth With an Improved Risk-Return Profile

AEGON is well on track with its transformational process and aims to deliver sustainable earnings growth with an improved risk-return profile. However, underlying earnings and other key metrics in 2011 will be affected by strategic management actions. From this new base, the company announces specific targets today which reflect AEGON's pursuit of these objectives:

    
    - Grow underlying earnings before tax on average by 7 to 10% per annum

    - Achieve a return on equity of 10% to 12% in the medium term

    - Increase fee businesses to 30% to 35% of underlying earnings before tax
      by 2015

    - Increase normalized operational free cash flow14 with 30% by 2015

    - Intent to resume dividend payments with dividend of EUR 0.10 per common
      share related to H2 2011 in May 2012

Statement of Alex Wynaendts, CEO

"AEGON has delivered a strong set of results for the full year 2010. During the year, we have concentrated our efforts on executing a consistent strategy aimed at sharpening our focus on our core business, improving our risk-return profile and executing significant cost reduction programs. As a result of our efforts over the past years, AEGON is a different company today. Today's equity offering, together with internal resources, including proceeds from divestments, will position us to repurchase all remaining core capital securities provided by the Dutch State by the end of June 2011. The equity offering supports our strategy to maintain a strong capital position, including achieving our target ratio of 75% core capital by the end of 2012. After completing the repurchase, we intend to resume dividend payments in May 2012. AEGON has demonstrated its ability to deliver and we are committed to delivering the long-term value that our customers, shareholders and business partners have every reason to expect."

    
    KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
 
    amounts in EUR      Notes    Q4    Q3   %    Q4    %     FY     FY    %
    millions b)                2010  2010       2009        2010   2009
 
    Underlying earnings
    before tax              1   489   473   3    478   2   1,972  1,185   66
 
    Net income              2   318   657 (52)   393 (19)  1,760    204    -
 
    New life sales          3   558   527   6    557   -   2,213  2,100    5
 
    Gross deposits   
    excluding run-off
    businesses              4 7,813 9,408 (17) 6,723  16  32,580 27,616   18
 
    Value of new business
    (VNB)                   5   141   120  18    216 (35)    555    767  (28)
 
    Return on equity        6  9.9% 10.0%  (1)   9.4%  5    9.8%   5.7%   72

For notes see page 20.

* Excess capital above AA capital adequacy requirements

Supplements: Financial Supplement and Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements Q4 available on www.aegon.com

STRATEGIC HIGHLIGHTS <start_tabble>

- AEGON announces targets to deliver sustainable earnings growth with

improved risk-return profile

- Sharpened focus on core activities and capturing efficiencies in US

- Integration of Asian businesses under leadership of new CEO AEGON Asia

AEGON's AMBITION

To be a leader in all our chosen markets by 2015

AEGON'S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

    
    - Reallocate capital

    - Increase returns

    - Optimize ONE AEGON

    ...resulting in sustainable, profitable growth.

Pursuing sustainable earnings growth with an improved risk-return profile

AEGON will pursue sustainable earnings growth, underpinned by an improved risk-return profile and a strong capital position, with the objective of sustainable cash flows and dividends. AEGON has announced specific targets which reflect the company's pursuit of these objectives.

Underlying earnings before tax in 2011 are expected to be negatively impacted by strategic management actions; the wind-down of small bank BOLI and COLI and the potential divestment of Transamerica Reinsurance. In addition, pension legislation changes in Hungary and Poland are expected to negatively impact underlying earnings.

AEGON's ambition

AEGON's ambition is to become a leader in all its chosen markets by 2015. This means becoming the most recommended life and pensions provider among customers, the preferred partner among distributors and the employer of choice among both current and prospective employees.

Achieving this ambition is based on three strategic priorities: to reallocate capital to areas that offer strong growth prospects and higher returns, to increase returns from the company's existing businesses and to optimize ONE AEGON by increasing efficiency and making better use of the company's global resources.

Reallocate capital

AEGON has taken steps to sharpen its focus on the company's three core businesses: life insurance, pensions and asset management. The company also intends to achieve a greater geographical balance by reallocating capital to the growth markets of Central & Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. As part of this approach, AEGON has assessed its businesses to ensure they meet the company's requirements in terms of earnings growth, cash flow generation, return on capital and customer life cycle needs. As a result, AEGON is currently reviewing its strategic options for its life reinsurance business, Transamerica Reinsurance.

As announced in December 2010, AEGON decided to discontinue new sales of executive non-qualified benefit plans and related small bank Bank-Owned and Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI/COLI) business in the United States. In 2010, underlying earnings before tax from BOLI/COLI amounted to EUR 49 million. As of the first quarter of 2011, earnings from the BOLI/COLI business will no longer be reported in underlying earnings but in the run-off category.

In Spain, AEGON has signed an agreement to expand its life insurance and pension partnership with Banca Civica. The agreement includes the acquisition of a 50% stake in the life insurance business of Caja de Burgos and a strengthening of AEGON's existing partnership with Caja Navarra. Caja de Burgos, Caja Navarra and two other savings banks, Caja Canarias and CajaSol, joined together in 2010 to form Banca Civica. The agreement will give AEGON the exclusive right to distribute its life insurance and pension products through Caja de Burgos's network of 148 branches. Caja de Burgos is the leading savings bank in Spain's northern province of Burgos, with a significant presence in the surrounding areas and more than 550,000 customers. The agreement is subject to various conditions and approvals, including authorization by the European Commission.

Improve risk profile

AEGON has recently further increased equity hedging on its back-book in the Netherlands by extending its current equity hedge program.

During the fourth quarter, AEGON further reduced its already limited exposure to peripheral European sovereign bonds, based on fair value, from EUR 1.5 billion to EUR 1.1 billion at December 31, 2010.

Increase returns

AEGON's aim is to increase returns in all of its businesses by increasing efficiency and delivering operational excellence. AEGON expects to achieve this by further reducing costs while investing in core competences and improving service levels to ensure continued customer loyalty.

In the United States, AEGON will pursue further operational and cost efficiencies by consolidating its operations currently based in Louisville, Kentucky with other existing US locations. Additional efficiencies are also being captured through the consolidation and outsourcing of certain back office activities currently carried out in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In the United Kingdom, AEGON is taking significant steps to improve its return on capital. AEGON is on track to reduce costs by 25% in its UK life and pensions operations by the end of 2011, and is directing more resources to the key growth At-Retirement and Workplace Savings markets, where AEGON has leading positions. The restructuring program is progressing well and of the targeted reduction in operating expenses of GBP 80 to 85 million annually, already GBP 33 million has been enacted in 2010.

Optimize ONE AEGON

AEGON will implement a new organizational structure for its operations in Asia under the leadership of a newly-established CEO position for Asia. Whereas a number of AEGON's businesses in Asia previously had been managed from the US, under the new structure all Asian based insurance businesses will be managed as one regional division headquartered in Hong Kong. The aim is to leverage product and distribution expertise, capture efficiencies, and pursue organic growth of AEGON's franchise in Asia. The integration, which will be carried out during 2011, is in line with AEGON's strategy to achieve a greater geographical balance in favor of those regions and markets that offer higher growth and returns in the longer-term.

    
    FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
 
    EUR         Notes Q4 2010 Q3 2010     % Q4 2009    % FY 2010  FY 2009   %
    millions
 
    Underlying
    earnings
    before tax
    Americas             406     376    8     350   16    1,598      817  96
    The         
    Netherlands           87      97  (10)     95   (8)     385      398  (3)
    United 
    Kingdom               (6)     28    -      33    -       72       52  38
    New markets           59      55    7      48   23      200      170  18
    Holding and
    other                (57)    (83)  31     (48) (19)    (283)    (252)(12)
    Underlying
    earnings
    before tax           489     473    3     478    2    1,972    1,185  66
 
    Fair value
    items                 30     204  (85)   (164)   -      221     (544)  -
    Realized
    gains /
    (losses) on
    investments          255     129   98     315  (19)     658      518  27
    Impairment
    charges             (133)    (92) (45)   (212)  37     (452)  (1,277) 65
    Other    
    income /
    (charges)           (258)    (14)   -       5    -     (309)    (323)  4
    Run-off   
    businesses           (28)    (28)   -     (47)  40     (165)     (13)  -
    Income    
    before tax           355     672  (47)    375   (5)   1,925     (454)  -
    Income tax           (37)    (15)(147)     18    -     (165)     658   -
    Net income           318     657  (52)    393  (19)   1,760      204   -
 
    Net income / (loss)
    attributable to:
    Equity    
    holders of
    AEGON N.V.           318     657  (52)    393  (19)   1,759      204   -
    Minority
    interest               -       -    -       -    -        1        -   -
 
    Net     
    underlying
    earnings             387     395   (2)    390   (1)   1,553    1,005  55
 
    Commissions
    and
    expenses           1,659   1,525    9   1,407   18    6,145    6,046   2
    of which 
    operating
    expenses       12    909     835    9     841    8    3,397    3,292   3
 
    New life
    sales
    Life single
    premiums           2,003   1,656   21   2,017   (1)   7,512    7,062   6
    Life     
    recurring
    premiums
    annualized           358     361   (1)    355    1    1,462    1,393   5
    Total    
    recurring
    plus 1/10
    single               558     527    6     557    -    2,213    2,100   5
 
    New life
    sales
    Americas       13    146     171  (15)    143    2      629      566  11
    The        
    Netherlands          113      32    -      93   22      248      239   4
    United 
    Kingdom              224     264  (15)    247   (9)   1,061    1,010   5
    New markets    13     75      60   25      74    1      275      285  (4)
    Total 
    recurring
    plus 1/10
    single               558     527    6     557    -    2,213    2,100   5
 
    New premium        
    production accident
    and health insurance 180     146   23     125   44      622      561  11
    New premium       
    production general
    insurance             15      14    7      21  (29)      58       56   4
 
    Gross
    deposits
    (on and off
    balance)
    Americas       13  5,757   4,706   22   4,404   31   21,020   19,188  10
    The        
    Netherlands          490     525   (7)  1,107  (56)   2,382    3,434 (31)
    United 
    Kingdom               25      16   56      35  (29)      96      177 (46)
    New markets    13  1,541   4,161  (63)  1,177   31    9,082    4,817  89
    Total gross 
    deposits
    excluding 
    run-off
    businesses         7,813   9,408  (17)  6,723   16   32,580   27,616  18
    Run-off   
    businesses             -       -    -      (4)   -        -      930   -
    Total gross        7,813   9,408  (17)  6,719   16   32,580   28,546  14
    deposits
 
    Net
    deposits
    (on and off
    balance)
    Americas       13  (578)     535    -     385    -    1,227    3,769 (67)
    The        
    Netherlands        (260)     (83)   -     496    -     (221)   1,101   -
    United 
    Kingdom               12       2    -      29  (59)      53      151 (65)
    New markets    13    304   3,293  (91)     18    -    3,905      286   -
    Total net deposits
    excluding run-off
    businesses         (522)   3,747    -     928    -    4,964    5,307  (6)
    Run-off   
    businesses       (1,424)  (1,081) (32) (6,513)  78   (6,541) (14,111) 54
    Total net
    deposits         (1,946)   2,666    -  (5,585)  65   (1,577)  (8,804) 82
 



    REVENUE-GENERATING INVESTMENTS
 
                           Dec.31,       Sept.30,                                       
                             2010           2010     %
    Revenue-generating 
    investments (total)   413,191        404,894     2
    Investments
    general
    account               143,188        145,625    (2)
    Investments for
    account of
    policyholders         146,237        140,438     4
    Off balance
    sheet
    investments
    third
    parties               123,766        118,831     4
 

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Underlying earnings before tax

AEGON's underlying earnings before tax increased to EUR 489 million in the fourth quarter, a 2% improvement compared with the same quarter last year.

In the Americas, underlying earnings rose to EUR 406 million as higher fee income - related to growth in pension and variable annuity account balances - more than offset lower spread income. This was consistent with AEGON's strategy to increase earnings from fee businesses. Earnings from the Americas included a one-time EUR 28 million favorable employee benefits plan release. In the Netherlands, underlying earnings decreased to EUR 87 million as a result of lower investment income and lower results on mortality. In the United Kingdom, underlying earnings amounted to a loss of EUR 6 million, due to a EUR 30 million charge related to an ongoing program to correct historical issues within customer policy records. Underlying earnings from New Markets increased to EUR 59 million as a result of the inclusion of AEGON Asset Management. Higher funding costs and increased project related expenses resulted in EUR 57 million of costs in the fourth quarter of 2010 for the holding company.

Net income

Net income decreased to EUR 318 million. This was primarily the result of higher underlying earnings, a positive contribution from fair value items and lower impairments offset by lower realized gains and charges mainly related to restructuring in the United States.

Fair value items

In the fourth quarter, results from fair value items amounted to EUR 30 million. In the Americas, most categories showed considerable improvements compared with the fourth quarter 2009, while in the Netherlands the improved results were driven by the fair value of guarantees net of related hedges and better private equity performance.

Realized gains on investments

Realized gains on investments increased to EUR 255 million, primarily as a result of an asset sale of multiple mineral estates located primarily in the Western United States (EUR 183 million). The remainder was realized mainly as a result of normal trading in AEGON's bond portfolios.

Impairment charges

Impairments amounted to EUR 133 million and were mostly linked to US residential mortgage-backed securities, US commercial mortgage loans and Irish banks.

Other charges

Other charges amounted to EUR 258 million and consisted of a number of items. In the United States, the wind-down of small bank BOLI and COLI business and the consolidation of the Louisville operations with other existing US locations as announced in December 2010 resulted in a charge of EUR 206 million.

Consolidation of AEGON's asset management operations led to a EUR 12 million restructuring charge.

A restructuring program is ongoing in the United Kingdom to achieve a 25% cost reduction by the end of 2011. This led to a charge of EUR 6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

In Hungary, unfavorable pension legislation changes resulted in a write-down of intangibles of EUR 18 million and a EUR 5 million restructuring charge related to the Hungarian pension operations. In addition, a bank tax in Hungary led to a charge of EUR 5 million.

Run-off businesses

AEGON's run-off businesses in the Americas recorded a loss of EUR 28 million, an improvement over the comparable period last year primarily due to lower account balances and less amortization yield paid on internally transferred assets.

Income tax

Tax charges for the quarter amounted to EUR 37 million. These charges included EUR 17 million in tax benefits related to cross-border intercompany reinsurance transactions and tax benefits of EUR 51 million resulting from the utilization of tax losses for which previously no deferred tax asset was recognized.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased 8% compared with the fourth quarter 2009 to EUR 909 million, mainly due to strengthening of the dollar and pound sterling against the euro. However, operating expenses declined 2% during 2010, excluding currency effects, restructuring and US employee benefit plan charges.

New life sales

New life sales for the fourth quarter amounted to EUR 558 million, which was the same level achieved during the comparable quarter last year. Higher sales in the Netherlands as a result of strong pensions sales and continued strong single premium production in Central & Eastern Europe were offset by declines in the Americas and the United Kingdom.

Deposits

Gross deposits, excluding run-off businesses, increased 16% to EUR 7.8 billion driven by US pensions, variable annuities and AEGON Asset Management.

As a result of outflows from fixed annuities and stable value solutions in the US and the Dutch savings business, total outflows for the fourth quarter 2010 amounted to EUR 0.5 billion. For the full year, however, AEGON recorded EUR 5 billion in net deposits driven by strong asset management and US pension sales.

Value of new business

Compared with the fourth quarter 2009, the value of new business declined considerably to EUR 141 million, mainly as a result of the strategic shift from spread to fee business. In the Americas, the value of new business declined as a result of lower sales of fixed annuities and life reinsurance products and lower margins. In the United Kingdom, the main reason was a decrease in immediate annuity sales and margins. In the Netherlands the positive effect of higher pension sales was more than offset by lower margins for life insurance.

Revenue-generating investments

Revenue-generating investments increased 2% compared with the end of the third quarter 2010 to EUR 413 billion, primarily as a result of higher equity markets.

Capital management

At the end of the fourth quarter, AEGON's core capital position amounted to EUR 17.8 billion, excluding revaluation reserves. This was equivalent to 75%7 of the company's total capital base. Repurchase of the Convertible Core Capital Securities issued to the Dutch State will decrease this capital base ratio. However, AEGON aims to bring the proportion of core capital up to at least 75% of total capital by the end of 2012.

The revaluation reserves at December 31, 2010 declined compared with the end of the third quarter to EUR 1 billion, as an increase in risk-free interest rates had a negative impact on the value of fixed income securities. Shareholders' equity declined to EUR 17.2 billion, as the earnings contribution and positive currency effects were more than offset by lower revaluation reserves.

During the fourth quarter, excess capital rose to EUR 3.8 billion. Excess capital in the holding increased to EUR 1.7 billion as a result of dividend payments received from the operating units, while the units were able to increase their excess capital position to EUR 2.1 billion as a result of capital generated in the operations of EUR 1 billion partly offset by new business strain of EUR 0.4 billion. Excess capital was negatively impacted by a lower than expected charge in the Netherlands for longevity of EUR 225 million.

AEGON has agreed with its regulator, the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), that in the current environment it will maintain a capital buffer at the holding of 1.5 times its annual holding expenses. Currently, these holding expenses amount to EUR 0.6 billion on a normalized annual basis, which in effect means a buffer of EUR 0.9 billion for the holding.

At December 31, 2010, AEGON's Insurance Group Directive (IGD) ratio amounted to 198%. Higher regulatory solvency in the United States and the United Kingdom was offset by the Netherlands as result of a charge for longevity.

Dividend policy

AEGON aims to pay out a sustainable dividend to allow equity investors to share in the performance of the company, which can grow over time if performance of the company so allows. After investments in new business to generate organic growth, capital generation in AEGON's operating subsidiaries is available for distribution to the holding company, while maintaining a capital and liquidity position in the operating subsidiaries in line with AEGON's capital management and liquidity risk policies.

AEGON uses cash flows from the operating subsidiaries to pay for holding expenses, including funding costs. The remaining cash flow is available to execute AEGON's strategy and to fund dividends on its shares, subject to maintaining the holding company targeted excess capital. Depending on circumstances, future prospects and other considerations, AEGON may deviate from this target. AEGON will also take capital position, financial flexibility, leverage ratios and strategic considerations into account when declaring or proposing dividends on its common shares.

Under normal circumstances, AEGON would expect to declare an interim dividend when announcing its second quarter results and to propose a final dividend at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders for approval. Dividends would normally be paid in cash or stock at the election of the shareholder. The relative value of cash and stock dividends may vary. Stock dividends paid may, subject to capital management and other considerations, be repurchased in order to limit dilution.

AEGON intends to resume dividend payments on its common shares after the full repurchase of the core capital securities issued to the Dutch State, which AEGON expects to occur before the end of June 2011. Absent unforeseen circumstances, AEGON intends to propose a final EUR 0.10 dividend per common share at the annual General Meeting of Shareholders in 2012 covering the second half of 2011.

When determining whether to declare or propose a dividend, AEGON has to balance prudence versus offering an attractive return to shareholders, for example in adverse economic and/or financial market conditions. Also, AEGON's operating subsidiaries are subject to (local) insurance regulations which could restrict dividends to be paid to the holding company. There is no requirement or assurance that AEGON will declare and pay any dividends.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Hague, February 24, 2011

Press conference call

8:00 am CET: Audio webcast on http://www.aegon.com

Analyst & investor presentation / conference call

9:00 am CET: Audio webcast on http://www.aegon.com

Call-in numbers

USA: +1-480-629-9725

UK: +44-207-153-2027

NL: +31-45-631-6901

Record date AGM

The record date for attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of AEGON N.V. is April 14, 2011. The agenda will be available on AEGON's website from March 31, 2011.

Supplements

AEGON's Q4 2010 Financial Supplement and Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements are available on www.aegon.com.

The full version of this press release is available at: http://www.aegon.com/en/Home/Media/Press-releases/2011/2011/AEGON-announces-strong-Q4-2010-results/

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)

About AEGON

As an international life insurance, pension and asset management company based in The Hague, AEGON has businesses in over twenty markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. AEGON companies employ approximately 27,500 people and have some 40 million customers across the globe.

    
    
    
                                                                         
                        Full year      Full year   Third quarter    Full year
    Key figures - EUR        2010           2009            2010         2009
    Underlying earnings                                                   
    before tax        2.0 billion    1.2 billion     473 million  1.2 billion
                                                                          
    New life sales    2.2 billion    2.1 billion     527 million  2.1 billion
    Gross deposits                                                         
    (excl. run-off)    33 billion     28 billion     9.4 billion   28 billion
    Revenue generating
    investments (end of                                                   
    period)           413 billion    363 billion     405 billion  363 billion

Cautionary note regarding non-GAAP measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures: underlying earnings before tax, net underlying earnings, commission and expenses, operating expenses and value of new business (VNB). The reconciliation of underlying earnings before tax to the most comparable IFRS measure is provided in Note 3 "Segment information" of our Condensed consolidated interim financial statements. VNB 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. We may define and calculate VNB differently than other companies. Please see AEGON's Embedded Value Report dated May 12, 2010 for an explanation of how we define and calculate VNB. AEGON believes that these non-GAAP measures, together with the IFRS information, provide meaningful supplemental information that our management uses to run our business as well as useful information for the investment community to evaluate AEGON's business relative to the businesses of our peers.

Local currencies and constant currency exchange rates

This press release contains certain information about our results and financial condition 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 us presented in EUR, which is the currency of our primary financial statements.

Forward-looking statements

The statements contained in this press release 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. We undertake 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 our fixed income
      investment portfolios; and

    - 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 we hold;

    - The frequency and severity of insured loss events;

    - Changes affecting mortality, morbidity, persistence and other factors
      that may impact the profitability of our insurance products;

    - 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;

    - Increasing levels of competition in the Americas, the Netherlands, the
      United Kingdom and new markets;

    - Changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting our
      operations, the products we sell, and the attractiveness of certain 
      products to our consumers;

    - Regulatory changes relating to the insurance industry in the
      jurisdictions in which we operate;

    - 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 our debt ratings issued by recognized rating
      organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on our 
      ability to raise capital and on our liquidity and financial condition;

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

    - The effect of the European Union's Solvency II requirements and other
      regulations in other jurisdictions affecting the capital we are 
      required to maintain;

    - Litigation or regulatory action that could require us to pay
      significant damages or change the way we do business;

    - Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;

    - Competitive, legal, regulatory, or tax changes that affect the
      distribution cost of or demand for our products;

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

    - Our failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational
      efficiencies as well as other cost saving initiatives;

    - Our inability to obtain consent from the Dutch Central Bank to
      repurchase our Core Capital Securities; and

    - Our inability to divest Transamerica Reinsurance on terms acceptable to
      us.

Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the company are described in the company's filings with Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the company 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 the company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

    
    Contact information

    Media relations: Greg Tucker
    +31(0)70-344-8956
    gcc-ir@aegon.com

    Investor relations: Gerbrand Nijman
    +31-(0)70-344-8305
    877-548-9668 - toll free USA only
    ir@aegon.com

http://www.aegon.com

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