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The Netherlands Report of the Executive board
OPERATING EARNINGS BEFORE TAX AEGON The Netherlands’ operating earnings before tax fell by 24% to EUR 362 million in 2007, compared with pro forma operating earnings of EUR 474 million 2006. This decrease was due mainly to losses of EUR 40 million from financial assets carried at fair value (with no offsetting changes in the fair value of liabilities). In 2006, these fair value items had generated a gain of EUR 39 million. In addition, higher investment income was offset by losses on derivatives. Operating earnings in 2007 also included a one-off charge of EUR 27 million related to two separate non-recurring items. Meanwhile, OPTAS, acquired at the end of June 2007, contributed EUR 11 million to operating earnings before tax. Earnings in 2006 included EUR 17 million in depreciation costs related to AEGON The Netherlands’ group pension business – the result of a change in Dutch pension law no longer allowing surrender charges.
Individual savings and retirement products AEGON The Netherlands’ individual savings business reported operating earnings before tax of zero in 2007, compared with a profit of EUR 35 million the previous year. This decline was due primarily to a one-off charge of EUR 15 million related to the accelerated amortization of deferred expenses, as well as higher spending costs and lower interest margins. The increase in expenses is related to the repositioning of AEGON Bank, increased sales activity and a higher allocation of distribution expenses. Pensions and asset management Operating earnings before tax from AEGON The Netherlands’ pensions and asset management operations totaled EUR 107 million in 2007, down from pro forma operating earnings of EUR 197 million the previous year. This decline can be attributed to fluctuations in fair value items during the year. The acquisition of OPTAS contributed a net EUR 11 million to overall operating earnings before tax from the pensions and asset management business line. Distribution Operating earnings before tax from AEGON The Netherlands’ distribution business amounted to EUR 16 million in 2007, compared with EUR 18 million the year before. Increased operating earnings stemmed from the acquisition of Unirobe in the fourth quarter of 2006, offset by a EUR 12 million charge from the harmonization of claw-back provisions at AEGON The Netherlands’ Unirobe and Meeùs units. General insurance Operating earnings before tax from AEGON The Netherlands’ general insurance operations fell to EUR 8 million in 2007, down from EUR 26 million the year before. The decrease was due mainly to additional provisioning following severe storms in the Netherlands during the first quarter of 2007. Net operating earnings AEGON The Netherlands’ pro forma net operating earnings totaled EUR 283 million in 2007, a decrease from EUR 437 million the year before. The effective tax rate on operating earnings before tax rose to 22% in 2007, up from 8% in 2006. 2006 included the release of deferred tax liabilities linked to a reduction in the corporate tax rate in the Netherlands. Net income AEGON The Netherlands’ net income, which includes impairment charges and net gains/losses on investments, decreased by EUR 814 million to EUR 606 million. The fair value movements of guarantee provisions contributed EUR 648 million to earnings in 2006. In 2007, net gains on investments (before tax) amounted to EUR 140 million compared to EUR 513 million in 2006. The 2007 net gains on investments included EUR 325 million of losses on fair value movements in guarantees net of related swaps. Realized gains and losses on shares, bonds and real estate contributed EUR 794 million in 2007 (EUR 766 million in 2006). The gains and losses on investments (before tax) included a negative EUR 329 million from the decrease in market value of derivatives used for asset and liability management purposes in 2007, compared to a negative contribution of EUR 253 million in 2006. Other income/(charges) of EUR 30 million included a one-time gain related to the acquisition of OPTAS and the effect of a refinement of the calculation of unit-linked guarantees. The acquisition of OPTAS was completed in the second quarter of 2007. The acquired net assets amounted to EUR 1.7 billion, EUR 212 million higher than the acquisition price of EUR 1.5 billion resulting in a one-time gain at acquisition. Starting with the second quarter of 2007, AEGON refined its method of calculating the fair value of guarantees included in its unit-linked products in order to align these calculations with the calculations currently used for group pension contracts and traditional products. This change has been applied prospectively. The cumulative impact on income before tax recognized in 2007 amounted to a loss of EUR 181 million. Revenues Revenues of EUR 6,373 million increased by 6% in 2007 compared to 2006. Pension premiums increased by 4% reflecting the inclusion of OPTAS and increased recurring premiums. Life premiums increased by 6% to EUR 1,394 million. Accident and health premium income increased by EUR 12 million to EUR 203 million reflecting a full year of premiums from the disability product WIA. General insurance premiums remained stable. Investment income, which includes direct investment income of both general account and account of policyholder investments, increased by 6% compared to 2006. The increase reflects the inclusion of OPTAS. Fees and commission income was 18% higher than in 2006 primarily reflecting the full-year impact of the consolidation of Unirobe in the fourth quarter of 2006. Commissions and expenses Commissions and expenses increased 9% to EUR 1,188 million in 2007. Operating expenses amounted to EUR 843 million in 2007 compared with EUR 708 million in 2006. The increase was mainly caused by the inclusion of Unirobe. Production New life sales in the Netherlands increased 5% to EUR 260 million, driven by a growth in pensions sales through the corporate and institutional sales channels. New life sales decreased primarily because of lower unit-linked sales. Accident and health sales decreased by EUR 28 million to EUR 18 million reflecting lower sales of the WIA disability product that was successfully introduced in 2006. General insurance sales decreased by 21% to EUR 26 million reflecting AEGON’s continued focus on writing profitable business in a competitive market. Off balance sheet product sales amounted to EUR 390 million compared with EUR 408 million in 2006.
Background AEGON THE NETHERLANDS AEGON’s history in the Netherlands goes back to the burial funds of the mid-nineteenth century. Today, AEGON The Netherlands is one of the country’s leading providers of life insurance and pensions, with millions of customers and approximately 6,200 employees. AEGON The Netherlands has its headquarters in The Hague, but also has offices in Leeuwarden, Groningen and Nieuwegein. Organizational structure AEGON The Netherlands operates through a number of well known brands, including TKP Pensioen, OPTAS and Unirobe Meeùs Groep. In addition, AEGON itself is one of the most widely recognized brand names in the Dutch financial services sector. AEGON The Netherlands’ primary subsidiaries are:
In recent years, AEGON The Netherlands has taken significant steps to reorganize its businesses as part of broader efforts to improve overall efficiency and customer service. The company has combined its various business units into a single structure. By bringing together product knowledge, administration, IT and other back office support, AEGON The Netherlands has created a more effective and better structured organization. AEGON The Netherlands’ companies are present in five lines of business:
Sales and distribution AEGON The Netherlands operates through three sales organizations, each focusing on a separate segment of the Dutch market. Corporate and Institutional Clients serves large corporations and financial institutions such as company and industry pension funds. AEGON Bank meanwhile sells mainly to individuals both directly and through tied agents. Lastly, AEGON Intermediary focuses on independent agents and retail sales organizations in the Netherlands. Business overview Life and protection AEGON The Netherlands provides a range of life insurance and personal protection products and services, including traditional, universal and term life, endowment and annuity insurance as well as funeral insurance and accident and health cover. Life and protection is AEGON The Netherlands’ most important line of business, accounting for 63% of its operating earnings before tax in 2007. Individual savings and retirement AEGON The Netherlands provides a variety of individual savings and retirement products. These include the so-called ‘Levensloop’ (or Life Cycle) savings plans. Pensions and asset management Pensions and asset management is one of AEGON The Netherlands’ most important lines of business. In 2007, it accounted for 30% of the company’s operating earnings before tax. For many company and industry pension funds, AEGON The Netherlands provides a variety of pensions for both individuals and corporate customers and has a full range of pension solutions and administration-only services. Distribution AEGON The Netherlands offers financial advice covering areas such as insurance, pensions, mortgages, financing, savings and investment products. The company also has a real estate management business and acts as a broker for both residential and commercial property. In 2007, AEGON The Netherlands’ distribution business accounted for 4% of its operating earnings before tax. General insurance AEGON The Netherlands offers a limited range of general insurance products through its subsidiary AEGON Schadeverzekering. These are aimed at both the corporate and retail markets. They include house, car and fire insurance. In 2007, general insurance accounted for approximately 2% of AEGON The Netherlands’ operating earnings before tax. |
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