FORM 6-K
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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

February 2016

 

 

AEGON N.V.

 

 

Aegonplein 50

2591 TV THE HAGUE

The Netherlands

Aegon’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements Q4 2015, dated February 19, 2016, are included as appendix and incorporated herein by reference.


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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: February 19, 2016

   By   

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

     

J.H.P.M. van Rossum

     

Executive Vice President

     

Corporate Controller


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Condensed consolidated income statement

     2   

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

     3   

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

     4   

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity

     5   

Condensed consolidated cash flow statement

     6   

Notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

     7   

 

 

 

 

Unaudited    1


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Condensed consolidated income statement                
                                     

EUR millions

    Notes        Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Premium income

    4        4,901        5,163        20,311        19,864   

Investment income

    5        2,153        2,063        8,525        8,148   

Fee and commission income

      607        565        2,438        2,137   

Other revenues

            3        2        14        7   

Total revenues

      7,665        7,793        31,289        30,157   

Income from reinsurance ceded

      781        860        3,321        2,906   

Results from financial transactions

    6        5,369        6,062        401        13,772   

Other income

    7        67        33        83        61   

Total income

      13,882        14,748        35,094        46,896   
     

Benefits and expenses

    8        13,305        13,936        33,325        44,898   

Impairment charges / (reversals)

    9        (40     75        (22     87   

Interest charges and related fees

      104        104        412        371   

Other charges

    10        12        138        774        172   

Total charges

      13,382        14,253        34,488        45,528   
     

Share in net result of joint ventures

      30        14        142        56   

Share in net result of associates

            -        1        5        24   

Income / (loss) before tax

      530        510        754        1,448   

Income tax (expense) / benefit

            (52     (111     (134     (262

Net income / (loss)

            478        399        619        1,186   
     

Net income / (loss) attributable to:

             

Equity holders of Aegon N.V.

      477        399        619        1,186   

Non-controlling interests

            -        -        1        1   
     

Earnings per share (EUR per share)

    18               

Basic earnings per common share

      0.21        0.17        0.23        0.49   

Basic earnings per common share B

      0.01        -        0.01        0.01   

Diluted earnings per common share

      0.21        0.17        0.23        0.49   

Diluted earnings per common share B

            0.01        -        0.01        0.01   

 

2    Unaudited


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Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income

 

               
EUR millions   Q4 2015     Q4 2014     FY 2015     FY 2014  
     

Net income / (loss)

    478        399        619        1,186   
     

Other comprehensive income:

           

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

           

Changes in revaluation reserve real estate held for own use

    8        8        13        9   

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

    (16     (434     240        (1,156

Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified

    (15     139        (77     333   
     

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

           

Gains / (losses) on revaluation of available-for-sale investments

    (1,068     2,294        (2,175     6,759   

(Gains) / losses transferred to the income statement on disposal and impairment of available-for-sale investments

    (160     (279     (485     (702

Changes in cash flow hedging reserve

    (95     559        446        1,188   

Movement in foreign currency translation and net foreign investment hedging reserve

    337        499        1,414        1,668   

Equity movements of joint ventures

    (5     6        (8     10   

Equity movements of associates

    -        (17     (1     (10

Disposal of group assets

    6        -        (544     -   

Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified

    404        (765     783        (2,018

Other

    -        (2     9        (5

Other comprehensive income for the period

    (606     2,008        (386     6,075   

Total comprehensive income / (loss)

    (129     2,407        234        7,262   
     

Total comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to:

           

Equity holders of Aegon N.V.

    (129     2,406        234        7,262   

Non-controlling interests

    1        -        -        (1

 

Unaudited    3


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Condensed consolidated statement of financial position

 

 
            Dec. 31,
2015
    Dec. 31,
2014
 

EUR millions

    Notes                   
   

Assets

       

Intangible assets

    11        2,110        2,073   

Investments

    12        160,792        153,653   

Investments for account of policyholders

    13        200,226        191,467   

Derivatives

    14        11,545        28,014   

Investments in joint ventures

      1,561        1,468   

Investments in associates

      242        140   

Reinsurance assets

    16        11,257        9,593   

Deferred expenses

    17        12,547        10,373   

Assets held for sale

    20        -        9,881   

Other assets and receivables

      7,615        7,628   

Cash and cash equivalents

            9,594        10,610   

Total assets

      417,489        424,902   
   

Equity and liabilities

       

Shareholders’ equity

      23,931        24,293   

Other equity instruments

            3,800        3,827   

Issued capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of Aegon N.V.

      27,732        28,120   

Non-controlling interests

            9        9   

Group equity

      27,741        28,129   
   

Trust pass-through securities

      157        143   

Subordinated borrowings

      759        747   

Insurance contracts

      123,042        111,927   

Insurance contracts for account of policyholders

      112,679        102,250   

Investment contracts

      17,718        15,359   

Investment contracts for account of policyholders

      90,119        91,849   

Derivatives

    14        10,890        26,048   

Borrowings

    19        12,445        14,158   

Liabilities held for sale

    20        -        7,810   

Other liabilities

            21,940        26,481   

Total liabilities

 

            389,749        396,772   

Total equity and liabilities

            417,489        424,902   

 

4    Unaudited


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Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

 
EUR millions   Share
capital 1
    Retained
earnings
    Revaluation
reserves
    Remeasurement
of defined
benefit plans
    Other
reserves
    Other equity
instruments
    Issued
capital and
reserves 2
    Non-
controlling
interests
    Total  
       

Year ended December 31, 2015

                       
       

At beginning of year

    8,597        9,076        8,308        (1,611     (77     3,827        28,120        9        28,129   
       

Net income / (loss) recognized in the income statement

    -        619        -        -        -        -        619        1        619   
       

Other comprehensive income:

                       

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

                       

Changes in revaluation reserve real estate held for own use

    -        -        13        -        -        -        13        -        13   

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

    -        -        -        240        -        -        240        -        240   

Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified

    -        -        (2     (75     -        -        (77     -        (77
       

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

                       

Gains / (losses) on revaluation of available-for-sale investments

    -        -        (2,175     -        -        -        (2,175     -        (2,175

(Gains) / losses transferred to income statement on disposal and impairment of available-for-sale investments

    -        -        (485     -        -        -        (485     -        (485

Changes in cash flow hedging reserve

    -        -        446        -        -        -        446        -        446   

Movement in foreign currency translation and net foreign investment hedging reserves

    -        -        -        (86     1,500        -        1,414        -        1,414   

Equity movements of joint ventures

    -        -        -        -        (8     -        (8     -        (8

Equity movements of associates

    -        -        -        -        (1     -        (1     -        (1

Disposal of group assets

    -        -        (468     -        (76     -        (544     -        (544

Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified

    -        -        836        -        (52     -        783        -        783   

Other

    -        10        -        -        -        -        10        (1     9   

Total other comprehensive income

    -        10        (1,837     79        1,363        -        (385     (1     (386

Total comprehensive income / (loss) for 2015

    -        628        (1,837     79        1,363        -        234        -        234   
       

Shares issued and withdrawn

    1        -        -        -        -        -        1        -        1   

Issuance and purchase of treasury shares

    -        52        -        -        -        -        52        -        52   

Dividends paid on common shares

    (211     (292     -        -        -        -        (503     -        (503

Dividend withholding tax reduction

    -        1        -        -        -        -        1        -        1   

Coupons on non-cumulative subordinated notes

    -        (28     -        -        -        -        (28     -        (28

Coupons on perpetual securities

    -        (111     -        -        -        -        (111     -        (111

Share options and incentive plans

    -        (7     -        -        -        (27     (33     -        (33

At end of period

    8,387        9,319        6,471        (1,532     1,286        3,800        27,732        9        27,741   
       

Year ended December 31, 2014

                       
       

At beginning of year

    8,701        8,361        3,023        (706     (1,778     5,015        22,616        10        22,626   
       

Net income / (loss) recognized in the income statement

    -        1,186        -        -        -        -        1,186        1        1,186   
       

Other comprehensive income:

                       

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

                       

Changes in revaluation reserve real estate held for own use

    -        -        9        -        -        -        9        -        9   

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

    -        -        -        (1,156     -        -        (1,156     -        (1,156

Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified

    -        -        (2     335        -        -        333        -        333   
       

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

                       

Gains / (losses) on revaluation of available-for-sale investments

    -        -        6,759        -        -        -        6,759        -        6,759   

(Gains) / losses transferred to income statement on disposal and impairment of available-for-sale investments

    -        -        (702     -        -        -        (702     -        (702

Changes in cash flow hedging reserve

    -        -        1,188        -        -        -        1,188        -        1,188   

Movement in foreign currency translation and net foreign investment hedging reserves

    -        -        -        (84     1,752        -        1,668        -        1,668   

Equity movements of joint ventures

    -        -        -        -        10        -        10        -        10   

Equity movements of associates

    -        -        -        -        (10     -        (10     -        (10

Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified

    -        -        (1,968     -        (50     -        (2,018     -        (2,018

Other

    -        (4     -        -        -        -        (4     (1     (5

Total other comprehensive income

    -        (4     5,285        (905     1,701        -        6,077        (1     6,075   

Total comprehensive income / (loss) for 2014

    -        1,182        5,285        (905     1,701        -        7,262        (1     7,262   
       

Issuance and purchase of treasury shares

    -        (67     -        -        -        -        (67     -        (67

Other equity instruments redeemed

    -        11        -        -        -        (1,184     (1,173     -        (1,173

Dividends paid on common shares

    (104     (266     -        -        -        -        (370     -        (370

Coupons on non-cumulative subordinated notes

    -        (24     -        -        -        -        (24     -        (24

Coupons on perpetual securities

    -        (128     -        -        -        -        (128     -        (128

Share options and incentive plans

    -        7        -        -        -        (4     3        -        3   

At end of period

    8,597        9,076        8,308        (1,611     (77     3,827        28,120        9        28,129   

1 For a breakdown of share capital please refer to note 18.

2 Issued capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of Aegon N.V.

 

Unaudited    5


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Condensed consolidated cash flow statement

 

 
EUR millions   FY 2015     FY 2014  
   

Cash flow from operating activities

    914        4,122   
   

Purchases and disposals of intangible assets

    (52     (27

Purchases and disposals of equipment and other assets

    (83     (65

Purchases, disposals and dividends of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures

    749        22   

Cash flow from investing activities

    615        (71
   

Issuance and purchase of treasury shares

    (213     (199

Dividends paid

    (292     (266

Issuances, repurchases and coupons of perpetuals

    (148     (1,344

Issuances, repurchases and coupons of non-cumulative subordinated notes

    (38     (32

Issuances and repayments of borrowings

    (2,095     2,555   

Cash flow from financing activities

    (2,785     715   
   

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    (1,257     4,766   

Net cash and cash equivalents at January 1

    10,649        5,652   

Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates

    200        231   

Net cash and cash equivalents at end of period

    9,593        10,649   
                     

Cash and cash equivalents

    9,594        10,610   

Cash and cash equivalents classified as Assets held for sale

    -        43   

Bank overdrafts classified as other liabilities

    -        (4

Net cash and cash equivalents

    9,593        10,649   

 

6    Unaudited


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Notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

Amounts in EUR millions, unless otherwise stated

Aegon N.V., incorporated and domiciled in the Netherlands, is a public limited liability company organized under Dutch law and recorded in the Commercial Register of The Hague under number 27076669 and with its registered address at Aegonplein 50, 2591 TV, The Hague, the Netherlands. Aegon N.V. serves as the holding company for the Aegon Group and has listings of its common shares in Amsterdam and New York.

Aegon N.V. (or ‘the Company’) and its consolidated subsidiaries (‘Aegon’ or ‘the Group’) have life insurance and pensions operations in over twenty countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia and are also active in savings and asset management operations, accident and health insurance, general insurance and to a limited extent banking operations. Its headquarters are located in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Group employs over 31,500 people worldwide (2014: over 28,000).

1. Basis of presentation

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at, and for the period ended, December 31, 2015, have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 ‘Interim Financial Reporting’, as adopted by the European Union (hereafter ‘IFRS’). They do not include all of the information required for a full set of financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and should therefore be read together with the 2014 consolidated financial statements of Aegon N.V. as included in Aegon’s Annual Report for 2014. Aegon’s Annual Report for 2014 is available on its website (aegon.com).

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of investment properties and those financial instruments (including derivatives) and financial liabilities that have been measured at fair value. Certain amounts in prior periods may have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income, shareholders’ equity or earnings per share.

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at, and for the period ended, December 31, 2015, were approved by the Executive Board on February 18, 2016.

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements are presented in euro (EUR) and all values are rounded to the nearest million unless otherwise stated. The consequence is that the rounded amounts may not add up to the rounded total in all cases.

The published figures in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited.

2. Significant accounting policies

All accounting policies and methods of computation applied in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the same as those applied in the 2014 consolidated financial statements.

New IFRS accounting standards effective

The following standards, interpretations, amendments to standards and interpretations became effective in 2015:

 

t  

IAS 19 Employee Benefits – Amendment Employee Contributions;

t  

Annual improvements 2010-2012 Cycle; and

t  

Annual improvements 2011-2013 Cycle.

None of these revised standards and interpretations had a significant effect on the condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2015.

For a complete overview of IFRS standards, published before January 1, 2015, that will be applied in future years, and were not early adopted by the Group, please refer to Aegon’s Annual Report for 2014.

 

Unaudited    7


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Taxes

Taxes on income for the year ended December 31, 2015, are accrued using the tax rate that would be applicable to total annual earnings.

Judgments and critical accounting estimates

Preparing the condensed consolidated interim financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions, including the likelihood, timing or amount of future transactions or events, that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from the estimates made.

In preparing the condensed consolidated interim financial statements, significant judgments made by management in applying the Group’s accounting policies and the key sources of estimating uncertainty were not significantly different than those that were applied to the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2014, except for the actuarial assumptions as discussed below.

Actuarial assumption updates

Assumptions are reviewed and updated periodically, based on historical experience and observable market data, including market transactions such as acquisitions and reinsurance transactions.

In 2015 Aegon implemented assumption updates resulting in a net EUR 24 million gain to income before tax. Charges arising from assumption updates included in underlying earnings before tax amounted to EUR 77 million.

 

t  

A charge for actuarial assumption updates in the Americas Life & Protection business amounted to EUR 17 million, and was primarily related to updated mortality assumptions of active lives and updated lapse assumptions.

t  

Actuarial assumption updates in the Americas Investments & Retirement business resulted in a charge of EUR 60 million and was primarily related to expense assumption updates related to fixed and variable annuity contracts.

In fair value items a favorable amount of EUR 101 million has been recorded primarily reflecting an update of the risk free yield curve to determine Aegon’s liabilities for certain variable annuity contracts as well as economic scenario updates for both fixed and variable annuity contracts.

Exchange rates

Assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rates on the balance sheet date. Income, expenses and capital transactions (such as dividends) are translated at average exchange rates or at the prevailing rates on the transaction date, if more appropriate. The following exchange rates are applied for the condensed consolidated interim financial statements:

Closing exchange rates

 

                         USD         GBP   

December 31, 2015

     1         EUR         1.0863         0.7370   

December 31, 2014

     1         EUR         1.2101         0.7760   

Weighted average exchange rates

 

                         USD         GBP   

Nine months ended December 31, 2015

     1         EUR         1.1100         0.7256   

Nine months ended September 30, 2014

     1         EUR         1.3288         0.8061   

 

8    Unaudited


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2.1 Future adoption of voluntary changes in accounting policies

On January 13, 2016, Aegon provided an update on its strategic plans at its Analyst & Investor Conference. Following this update Aegon will make voluntary changes in accounting policies, effective January 1, 2016, to reflect its strategic priorities. The voluntary changes in accounting policies will be applied retrospectively. Firstly, Aegon will adopt a group-wide accounting policy for reinsurance transactions that are entered into as part of a plan to exit a business when using reinsurance as means to exit businesses. Also, Aegon will make two voluntary accounting policy changes that better reflect its business strategy after restructuring in the United Kingdom. The changes in the United Kingdom do not impact other reporting units within Aegon as these are changes specific to Aegon UK. However, these changes do increase alignment with other reporting units within Aegon.

In the paragraphs below, details are provided for these changes in accounting policies including the impact on shareholders equity and net income.

Accounting related to certain reinsurance transactions

Aegon will adopt one single group-wide accounting policy for reinsurance transactions that are entered into as part of a plan to exit a business. The existing accounting policy records a deferred cost of reinsurance which is subsequently amortized. Under the new accounting policy, when the company enters into a reinsurance contract as part of a plan to exit a business, an immediate gain or loss will be recognized in the income statement.

For purposes of this accounting policy, a business is defined as “designated insurance liabilities to be disposed of through reinsurance transactions”. The insurance liabilities are designated according to their homogenous risk profiles, possible examples include but are not limited to geographical area, product type, distribution channel, policyholder profiles, and policy form or riders.

The adoption of the new accounting policy is expected to decrease shareholders’ equity at the date of adoption (January 1, 2016) by between USD 0.1 billion and USD 0.2 billion. Aegon estimates that this accounting change will increase net income by approximately USD 10 million, USD 10 million and USD 20 million for the years 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively as deferred costs of reinsurance are no longer amortized and the initially recorded deferred costs of reinsurance have been directly accounted for in the income statement at the date of the reinsurance transaction.

Insurance accounting for business in United Kingdom

In January 2016, Aegon announced the restructuring of its business and operations in the UK. This involves splitting the Aegon UK business into three components: the annuity business, the traditional pension book and the new digital solutions platform. By extracting the digital solutions platform from the rest of the business, management aims to ensure the focus and separate culture required to successfully build a viable and sustainably growing business over the longer term.

Aegon will make two voluntary accounting policy changes that better reflect its business strategy after restructuring in the United Kingdom, only effecting Aegon UK. The changes involve the aggregation level at which the liability adequacy test is carried out and the definition of when a substantially modified contract will be derecognized.

Level of aggregation

The current accounting policy for the level of aggregation for the liability adequacy test in the United Kingdom is on a geographical basis, therefore the total Aegon UK book is considered as one population. In the announced restructuring, Aegon’s business in the United Kingdom has been split into different portfolios that will be managed independently from one another. Management is of the opinion that the liability adequacy test should be disaggregated to a portfolio level to reflect this change in strategy. This change in the definition of portfolio for Aegon UK will better align with other reporting units in the Group where insurance contracts are grouped consistent with the Company’s manner of acquiring, servicing and measuring the profitability of its insurance contracts.

 

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Substantial modification

The current accounting policy for Aegon’s business in the United Kingdom is to derecognize insurance contracts when legal extinguishment occurs. As the annuity business, the traditional pension book and the new digital solutions platform will be managed separately post-restructuring, Aegon has decided to change its accounting policy for Aegon UK to one that applies criteria from IAS 39 contract modification. Under these criteria a change should be significant enough to be considered an extinguishment of the existing contract and the issuance of a new contract. Aegon considers that this change in accounting policy is preferred as introducing a more sophisticated approach to contract modification is consistent with how the business will be managed post-restructuring and will provide the user with information that is more relevant and that reliably reflects the economic substance of our transactions with our upgraded policyholders, as required by IFRS 4 and IAS 8, in relation to the nature of contract modifications.

Both changes in accounting policy, affecting Aegon UK, will be adopted retrospectively as of January 1, 2016 to coincide with the commencement of the restructuring in 2016. The changes are expected to decrease net income of the year 2015 approximately by between GBP 0.8 billion and GBP 0.9 billion as the two policy changes combined trigger a premium deficiency in 2015. This also reflects the total impact on shareholders’ equity at the date of adoption (January 1, 2016) as there is no impact on the income statement 2014 and 2013.

2.2 Future changes to segment reporting presentation

Based on the amended strategic plans as announced on January 13, 2016, Aegon has reconsidered its segment reporting. IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be defined in line with how the ‘chief operating decision maker’ (CODM, i.e. Aegon’s Executive Board) manages the business. Currently, Aegon has the following reportable segments: Americas, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, New Markets and Holdings and other activities. New Markets was established to aggregate Aegon’s emerging businesses and global / European initiatives which is a combination of the following operating segments: Central & Eastern Europe, Asia, Spain & Portugal, Asset Management and VA Europe. Under IFRS 8 these operating segments were aggregated as one reportable segment due to their respective size.

Given that Aegon will change its managerial view to geographical areas and underlying businesses have developed since 2010, internal management reports will change as of 2016 accordingly. Alignment of segment reporting with those changes and developments will be put in place in 2016 reflecting Aegon’s announcements related to its strategic plan. This means that the operating segments as described above will be presented on this basis and introduces separate presentation of the asset management business. The following will be reported from 2016 onwards:

 

t  

Americas: one operating segment which covers business units in the United States, Brazil and Mexico, including any of the units’ activities located outside these countries;

t  

Europe: which covers the following operating segments: the Netherlands, United Kingdom (including VA Europe), Central & Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal;

t  

Asia: one operating segment which covers businesses operating in Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and Indonesia including any of the units’ activities located outside these countries;

t  

Asset Management: one operating segment which covers business activities from Aegon Asset Management;

t  

Holding and other activities: one operating segment which includes financing, employee and other administrative expenses of holding companies.

For Europe, the underlying businesses (the Netherlands, United Kingdom including VA Europe, Central & Eastern Europe and Spain and Portugal) are separate operating segments which under IFRS 8 cannot be aggregated, therefore further details will be provided for these operating segments in the segment note.

The change in segment reporting does not have an impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of Aegon.

 

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3. Segment information

Aegon conducted its operations through five primary reporting segments in 2015:

 

1. Aegon Americas: covers business units in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Mexico, including any of the units’ activities located outside these countries;
2. Aegon the Netherlands: covers businesses operating in the Netherlands;
3. Aegon UK: covers businesses operating in the United Kingdom;
4. New Markets: covers businesses operating in Central & Eastern Europe; Asia, Spain and Portugal, as well as Aegon’s variable annuities activities in Europe and Aegon Asset Management that are aggregated as one reportable segment due to their respective size;
5. Holding and other activities: includes financing, employee and other administrative expenses of holding companies.

These segments are based on the business as presented in internal reports that are regularly reviewed by the Executive Board which is regarded as the chief operating decision maker.

Aegon’s segment information is prepared by consolidating on a proportionate basis Aegon’s joint ventures and associated companies.

Performance Measure

A performance measure of reporting segments utilized by the Company is underlying earnings before tax. Underlying earnings before tax reflects Aegon’s profit from underlying business operations and excludes components that relate to accounting mismatches that are dependent on market volatility or relate to events that are considered outside the normal course of business.

Aegon believes that its performance measure, underlying earnings before tax, provides 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 underlying earnings before tax. While many other insurers in Aegon’s peer group present substantially similar performance measures, the performance measures presented in this document may nevertheless differ from the performance measures presented by other insurers. There is no standardized meaning to these measures under IFRS or any other recognized set of accounting standards.

The reconciliation from underlying earnings before tax to income before tax, being the most comparable IFRS measure, is presented in the tables in this note.

The items that are excluded from underlying earnings before tax as described further below are: fair value items, realized gain or losses on investments, impairment charges/reversals, other income or charges, run-off businesses and share in earnings of joint ventures and associates.

In 2015, management decided to change the measurement of underlying earnings before tax by including the impact of model updates as part of ‘Other income/(charges)’ rather than as part of underlying earnings before tax. The models are used to support calculations of our liabilities for insurance and investment contracts sold to policyholders and related assets. Model updates could result in either a strengthening of reserves or a release of reserves held to cover for insurance or investment contracts inforce and the related treatment of deferred acquisition costs or costs of value of business acquired. The reason for this change in measurement is that management believes that these model updates are expected to be non-recurring.

 

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As a result, presentation as part of ‘Other income/(charges)’ provide better insight to users of Aegon’s financial statements in the actual performance from its underlying business operations. In 2015 an amount of EUR 205 million has been recorded in ‘Other income/(charges)’. The impact of this change in measurement on 2014 would have been an increase in Aegon Group consolidated underlying earnings before tax of EUR 82 million and a decrease in ‘Other income/(charges)’ for the same amount for segment reporting purposes. The impact is split between the Americas (EUR 57 million) and New Markets (EUR 26 million). The presentation of the items in the IFRS income statement will remain unchanged and continue to be part of the line ‘Policyholder claims and benefits’.

Fair value items

Fair value items include the over- or underperformance of investments and guarantees held at fair value for which the expected long-term return is included in underlying earnings before tax. Changes to these long-term return assumptions are also included in the fair value items.

In addition, hedge ineffectiveness on hedge transactions, fair value changes on economic hedges without natural offset in earnings and for which no hedge accounting is applied and fair value movements on real estate are included under fair value items.

Certain assets held by Aegon Americas, Aegon the Netherlands and Aegon UK are carried at fair value and managed on a total return basis, with no offsetting changes in the valuation of related liabilities. These include assets such as investments in hedge funds, private equities, real estate (limited partnerships), convertible bonds and structured products. Underlying earnings before tax exclude any over- or underperformance compared to management’s long-term expected return on assets. Based on current holdings and asset returns, the long-term expected return on an annual basis is 8-10%, depending on asset class, including cash income and market value changes. The expected earnings from these asset classes are net of deferred policy acquisition costs (DPAC) where applicable.

In addition, certain products offered by Aegon Americas contain guarantees and are reported on a fair value basis and the total return annuities and guarantees on variable annuities. The earnings on these products are impacted by movements in equity markets and risk-free interest rates. Short-term developments in the financial markets may therefore cause volatility in earnings. Included in underlying earnings before tax is a long-term expected return on these products and excluded is any over- or underperformance compared to management’s expected return.

The fair value movements of certain guarantees and the fair value change of derivatives that hedge certain risks on these guarantees of Aegon the Netherlands and Variable Annuities Europe (included in New Markets) are excluded from underlying earnings before tax, and the long-term expected return for these guarantees is set at zero.

Holding and other activities include certain issued bonds that are held at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL). The interest rate risk on these bonds is hedged using swaps. The fair value movement resulting from changes in Aegon’s credit spread used in the valuation of these bonds are excluded from underlying earnings before tax and reported under fair value items.

Realized gains or losses on investments

Includes realized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, mortgage loans and other loan portfolios.

Impairment charges/reversals

Impairment charges include impairments on available-for-sale debt securities, shares including the effect of deferred policyholder acquisition costs, mortgage loans and other loan portfolios at amortized cost, joint ventures and associates. Impairment reversals include reversals on available-for-sale debt securities.

 

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Other income or charges

Other income or charges is used to report any items which cannot be directly allocated to a specific line of business. Also items that are outside the normal course of business are reported under this heading. As of the third quarter 2015, the impact of model updates used to support calculations of our liabilities for insurance and investment contracts sold to policyholders and related assets are reported under this caption as well (refer to page 11).

Other charges may include restructuring charges that are considered other charges for segment reporting purposes because they are outside the normal course of business. In the condensed consolidated interim financial statements, these charges are included in operating expenses.

Run-off businesses

Includes underlying results of business units where management has decided to exit the market and to run-off the existing block of business. Currently, this line includes results related to the run-off of the institutional spread-based business, structured settlements blocks of business, bank-owned and corporate-owned life insurance (BOLI/COLI) business, and the sale of the life reinsurance business in the United States. Aegon has other blocks of business for which sales have been discontinued and of which the earnings are included in underlying earnings before tax.

Share in earnings of joint ventures and associates

Earnings from Aegon’s joint ventures in the Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, China and Japan and Aegon’s associates in India, Brazil, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Mexico and France are reported on an underlying earnings before tax basis.

 

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3.1 Income statement

 

EUR millions   Americas     The
Netherlands
    United
Kingdom
    New
Markets
    Holding and
other
activities
    Eliminations     Segment
Total
    Joint
ventures and
associates
eliminations
    Consolidated  

Three months ended December 31, 2015

                   
     

Underlying earnings before tax geographically

    310        135        26        54        (39     -        486        8        493   

Fair value items

    (64     22        (31     9        (1     -        (65     (15     (80

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

    (22     33        38        10        -        -        58        -        58   

Impairment charges

    (11     (8     -        (1     -        -        (20     (21     (41

Impairment reversals

    83        2        -        -        -        -        84        -        84   

Other income / (charges)

    (29     -        14        (4     -        -        (19     21        2   

Run-off businesses

    14        -        -        -        -        -        14        -        14   

Income / (loss) before tax

    281        183        46        68        (40     -        537        (7     530   

Income tax (expense) / benefit

    (37     (43     17        (17     20        -        (60     7        (52

Net income / (loss)

    244        140        63        51        (20     -        478        -        478   

Inter-segment underlying earnings

    (58     (13     (23     92        2             
     

Revenues

                   

Life insurance gross premiums

    1,844        483        1,393        549        1        (27     4,244        (106     4,138   

Accident and health insurance

    560        36        10        24        2        (2     630        (1     629   

General insurance

    -        92        -        63        1        -        156        (22     134   

Total gross premiums

    2,404        612        1,404        636        4        (29     5,029        (129     4,901   

Investment income

    919        558        611        76        101        (100     2,165        (12     2,153   

Fee and commission income

    417        91        10        210        -        (73     654        (47     607   

Other revenues

    1        -        -        (1     5        -        5        (1     3   

Total revenues

    3,741        1,260        2,026        920        109        (203     7,853        (188     7,665   

Inter-segment revenues

    7        -        -        93        103                                   

 

EUR millions   Americas     The
Netherlands
    United
Kingdom
    New
Markets
    Holding and
other
activities
    Eliminations     Segment
Total
    Joint
ventures and
associates
eliminations
    Consolidated  

Three months ended December 31, 2014

                   
     

Underlying earnings before tax geographically

    367        172        29        33        (39     1        562        (4     557   

Fair value items

    (172     61        1        (14     (9     -        (132     4        (129

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

    11        248        42        4        -        -        304        (1     303   

Impairment charges

    (21     (5     -        (4     -        -        (31     (23     (54

Impairment reversals

    2        1        -        -        -        -        3        -        3   

Other income / (charges)

    (17     (99     (38     (37     (1     -        (191     23        (168

Run-off businesses

    (3     -        -        -        -        -        (3     -        (3

Income / (loss) before tax

    167        377        34        (18     (49     1        511        (1     510   

Income tax (expense) / benefit

    (17     (105     1        (6     13        -        (112     1        (111

Net income / (loss)

    150        272        35        (23     (35     1        399        -        399   

Inter-segment underlying earnings

    (46     (15     (16     73        3             
     

Revenues

                   

Life insurance gross premiums

    1,855        739        1,226        713        (1     (17     4,514        (89     4,426   

Accident and health insurance

    518        30        13        36        2        (2     596        (1     595   

General insurance

    -        104        -        57        -        -        161        (19     142   

Total gross premiums

    2,372        873        1,239        806        -        (18     5,272        (109     5,163   

Investment income

    888        611        514        60        89        (88     2,073        (11     2,062   

Fee and commission income

    390        86        11        174        -        (66     595        (30     565   

Other revenues

    1        -        -        1        1        -        3        (1     2   

Total revenues

    3,652        1,570        1,764        1,041        90        (173     7,943        (150     7,793   

Inter-segment revenues

    6        -        -        79        88                                   

 

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EUR millions   Americas     The
Netherlands
    United
Kingdom
    New
Markets
    Holding and
other
activities
    Eliminations     Segment
Total
    Joint
ventures and
associates
eliminations
    Consolidated  

Year ended December 31, 2015

                   
       

Underlying earnings before tax geographically

    1,200        537        125        236        (163     2        1,939        34        1,973   

Fair value items

    (589     55        (27     8        (68     -        (620     (59     (679

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

    (74     306        95        20        -        -        346        (8     338   

Impairment charges

    (43     (25     -        (2     -        -        (70     (21     (91

Impairment reversals

    114        5        -        -        -        -        119        -        119   

Other income / (charges)

    (938     (22     27        (47     -        -        (980     21        (959

Run-off businesses

    52        -        -        -        -        -        52        -        52   

Income / (loss) before tax

    (277     857        220        215        (230     2        786        (33     754   

Income tax (expense) / benefit

    31        (196     (2     (71     71        -        (167     33        (134

Net income / (loss)

    (246     661        218        144        (159     2        619        -        619   

Inter-segment underlying earnings

    (220     (55     (75     339        10             
       

Revenues

                   

Life insurance gross premiums

    7,046        2,240        5,650        2,565        4        (106     17,400        (431     16,969   

Accident and health insurance

    2,266        234        47        170        6        (6     2,717        (14     2,703   

General insurance

    -        473        -        244        2        -        720        (80     640   

Total gross premiums

    9,312        2,947        5,697        2,979        13        (112     20,836        (524     20,311   

Investment income

    3,680        2,277        2,327        291        387        (385     8,576        (51     8,525   

Fee and commission income

    1,704        351        43        813        -        (278     2,633        (195     2,438   

Other revenues

    9        -        -        2        7        -        19        (5     14   

Total revenues

    14,705        5,575        8,067        4,086        406        (776     32,064        (775     31,289   

Inter-segment revenues

    24        2        -        356        393                                   

 

EUR millions   Americas     The
Netherlands
    United
Kingdom
    New
Markets
    Holding and
other
activities
    Eliminations     Segment
Total
    Joint
ventures and
associates
eliminations
    Consolidated  

Year ended December 31, 2014

                   
       

Underlying earnings before tax geographically

    1,134        558        115        196        (139     1        1,865        (9     1,856   

Fair value items

    (497     (207     (15     (6     (82     -        (807     2        (806

Realized gains / (losses) on investments

    85        431        164        16        -        -        697        (3     694   

Impairment charges

    (38     (19     -        (43     -        -        (100     (23     (123

Impairment reversals

    58        7        -        -        -        -        66        -        66   

Other income / (charges)

    (52     (113     (49     (24     (3     -        (240     22        (218

Run-off businesses

    (21     -        -        -        -        -        (21     -        (21

Income / (loss) before tax

    669        658        215        139        (223     1        1,458        (10     1,448   

Income tax (expense) / benefit

    (79     (166     (37     (50     60        -        (272     10        (262

Net income / (loss)

    590        491        178        89        (164     1        1,186        -        1,186   

Inter-segment underlying earnings

    (173     (58     (59     272        18             
       

Revenues

                   

Life insurance gross premiums

    6,461        3,982        4,859        2,015        -        (70     17,246        (351     16,896   

Accident and health insurance

    1,874        233        56        163        6        (6     2,326        (11     2,316   

General insurance

    -        501        -        224        -        -        725        (72     653   

Total gross premiums

    8,334        4,716        4,916        2,402        6        (76     20,298        (433     19,864   

Investment income

    3,312        2,568        2,073        234        326        (323     8,191        (42     8,148   

Fee and commission income

    1,485        324        43        623        -        (237     2,237        (100     2,137   

Other revenues

    2        -        -        3        5        -        10        (3     7   

Total revenues

    13,134        7,608        7,032        3,262        336        (637     30,735        (578     30,157   

Inter-segment revenues

    16        -        -        292        327                                   

 

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3.2 Investments geographically

Amounts included in the tables on investments geographically are presented on an IFRS basis.

 

                                         EUR millions (unless otherwise stated)  
Americas
USD millions
    United
Kingdom
GBP millions
     December 31, 2015   Americas     The
Netherlands
    United
Kingdom
    New
Markets
    Holding
& other
activities
    Eliminations     Total
EUR
 
         Investments                
  708        350       Shares     652        136        475        73        124        -        1,460   
  70,918        9,717       Debt securities     65,284        23,370        13,185        5,551        -        -        107,390   
  10,930        -       Loans     10,062        28,007        -        421        88        -        38,577   
  11,713        118       Other financial assets     10,783        335        160        80        18        -        11,376   
  913        -       Investments in real estate     840        1,148        -        2        -        -        1,990   
  95,182        10,185       Investments general account     87,620        52,996        13,819        6,128        230        -        160,792   
  -        12,731       Shares     -        9,174        17,274        259        -        (8     26,699   
  5,395        8,643       Debt securities     4,967        14,642        11,728        270        -        -        31,606   
  104,488        23,731       Unconsolidated investment funds     96,187        17        32,200        6,441        -        -        134,845   
  11        2,295       Other financial assets     10        2,923        3,115        6        -        -        6,054   
  -        753       Investments in real estate     -        -        1,022        -        -        -        1,022   
  109,894        48,154       Investments for account of policyholders     101,164        26,756        65,337        6,977        -        (8     200,226   
     
  205,076        58,338       Investments on balance sheet     188,784        79,752        79,157        13,104        230        (8     361,019   
  231,060        612       Off balance sheet investments third parties     212,704        897        830        131,940        -        -        346,371   
  436,136        58,951       Total revenue generating investments     401,487        80,648        79,987        145,045        230        (8     707,390   
     
         Investments                
  79,040        9,974       Available-for-sale     72,761        22,479        13,534        5,617        18        -        114,409   
  10,930        -       Loans     10,062        28,007        -        421        88        -        38,577   
  114,193        47,611       Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     105,121        28,119        64,601        7,064        124        (8     205,020   
  913        753       Investments in real estate     840        1,148        1,022        2        -        -        3,012   
  205,076        58,338       Total investments on balance sheet     188,784        79,752        79,157        13,104        230        (8     361,019   
     
  8        -       Investments in joint ventures     7        837        -        714        3        -        1,561   
  82        6       Investments in associates     75        19        9        139        -        -        242   
  30,150        4,551       Other assets     27,755        17,349        6,175        4,250        32,267        (33,128     54,668   
  235,315        62,896       Consolidated total assets     216,621        97,956        85,341        18,207        32,501        (33,136     417,489   

 

                                         EUR millions (unless otherwise stated)  
Americas
USD millions
    United
Kingdom
GBP millions
     December 31, 2014   Americas     The
Netherlands
    United
Kingdom
    New
Markets
    Holding
& other
activities
    Eliminations     Total
EUR
 
         Investments                
  770        150       Shares     636        161        193        28        105        (1     1,122   
  76,393        9,832       Debt securities     63,130        23,250        12,670        4,274        -        -        103,324   
  11,117        -       Loans     9,187        27,052        -        487        11        -        36,738   
  11,914        267       Other financial assets     9,845        366        344        16        107        -        10,678   
  873        -       Investments in real estate     721        1,069        -        2        -        -        1,792   
  101,067        10,249       Investments general account     83,519        51,898        13,208        4,806        224        (1     153,653   
  -        13,287       Shares     -        9,487        17,122        420        -        (10     27,019   
  5,549        10,026       Debt securities     4,585        19,320        12,920        244        -        -        37,070   
  104,704        22,769       Unconsolidated investment funds     86,525        -        29,341        6,293        -        -        122,159   
  34        2,851       Other financial assets     28        401        3,674        13        -        -        4,117   
  -        855       Investments in real estate     -        -        1,101        -        -        -        1,101   
  110,287        49,788       Investments for account of policyholders     91,138        29,209        64,159        6,971        -        (10     191,467   
     
  211,353        60,037       Investments on balance sheet     174,658        81,106        77,367        11,777        224        (11     345,121   
  168,561        443       Off balance sheet investments third parties     139,295        868        570        72,474        -        -        213,208   
  379,914        60,479       Total revenue generating investments     313,953        81,974        77,937        84,251        224        (11     558,328   
         Investments                
  84,527        9,998       Available-for-sale     69,851        23,197        12,884        4,284        12        -        110,229   
  11,117        -       Loans     9,187        27,052        -        487        11        -        36,738   
  114,836        49,184       Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     94,898        29,788        63,381        7,005        200        (11     195,261   
  873        855       Investments in real estate     721        1,069        1,101        2        -        -        2,893   
  211,353        60,037       Total investments on balance sheet     174,658        81,106        77,367        11,777        224        (11     345,121   
     
  11        -       Investments in joint ventures     9        789        -        670        1        -        1,468   
  110        18       Investments in associates     91        19        24        6        -        -        140   
  39,994        4,740       Other assets     33,050        34,737        6,108        4,067        36,785        (36,574     78,172   
  251,468        64,795       Consolidated total assets     207,808        116,652        83,498        16,519        37,010        (36,586     424,902   

 

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4. Premium income and premiums paid to reinsurers

 

                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Gross

           

Life

    4,138        4,426        16,969        16,896   

Non-Life

    763        738        3,342        2,968   

Total

    4,901        5,163        20,311        19,864   
     

Reinsurance 1

           

Life

    733        811        2,694        2,701   

Non-Life

    75        83        286        310   

Total

    808        894        2,979        3,011   

1 Premiums paid to reinsurers are recorded within Benefits and expenses in the income statement.

5. Investment income

 

                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Interest income

    1,761        1,707        7,087        6,759   

Dividend income

    365        326        1,306        1,265   

Rental income

    27        30        133        124   

Total investment income

    2,153        2,063        8,525        8,148   
     

Investment income related to general account

    1,520        1,490        6,099        5,717   

Investment income for account of policyholders

    633        572        2,426        2,431   

Total

    2,153        2,063        8,525        8,148   

6. Results from financial transactions

 

                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Net fair value change of general account financial investments at FVTPL other than derivatives

    16        (4     (35     192   

Realized gains /(losses) on financial investments

    59        303        349        697   

Gains /(losses) on investments in real estate

    29        15        145        (4

Net fair value change of derivatives

    (3     943        3        1,621   

Net fair value change on for account of policyholder financial assets at FVTPL

    5,246        4,796        (110     11,226   

Net fair value change on investments in real estate for account of policyholders

    16        12        67        53   

Net foreign currency gains /(losses)

    2        (3     (29     (21

Net fair value change on borrowings and other financial liabilities

    4        (1     9        5   

Realized gains /(losses) on repurchased debt

    1        1        2        3   

Total

    5,369        6,062        401        13,772   

The increase of the net fair value change on for account of policyholder financial assets at FVTPL in Q4 2015 compared to Q4 2014 is mainly driven by equity markets and interest rates movements.

Net fair value change on for accounts of policyholder financial assets at FVTPL is offset by amounts in the Claims and benefits line reported in note 8 - Benefits and expenses.

7. Other income

Other income of EUR 67 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, mainly relates to a release of EUR 38 million of an earn-out provision, which is partly offset by an impairment charge related to the net asset value of one of our joint ventures amounting to EUR 21 million (refer to note 9) recorded in the impairment charges line. In addition, other income includes EUR 22 million related to the impact of model updates in the United States.

 

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8. Benefits and expenses

 

                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Claims and benefits

    12,369        13,227        30,153        42,234   

Employee expenses

    587        576        2,280        2,067   

Administration expenses

    361        288        1,278        1,127   

Deferred expenses

    (370     (417     (1,533     (1,465

Amortization charges

    357        262        1,147        936   

Total

    13,305        13,936        33,325        44,898   

The following table provides an analysis of the claims and benefits:

 

                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Benefits and claims paid life

    5,193        4,104        20,517        15,827   

Benefits and claims paid non-life

    531        470        2,128        1,752   

Change in valuation of liabilities for insurance contracts

    5,266        6,217        7,880        17,273   

Change in valuation of liabilities for investment contracts

    (223     740        (6,678     1,404   

Other

    (14     (16     (17     (42
     

Policyholder claims and benefits

    10,753        11,515        23,830        36,214   

Premium paid to reinsurers

    808        894        2,979        3,011   

Profit sharing and rebates

    6        (3     31        17   

Commissions

    802        821        3,313        2,992   

Total

    12,369        13,227        30,153        42,234   

The lines Change in valuation of liabilities for insurance contracts and Change in valuation of liabilities for investment contracts reflect changes in technical provisions resulting from fair value changes on for account of policyholder financial assets included in Results from financial transactions (note 6) of EUR 5,246 (2014 Q4: EUR 4,796 ). In addition, the line Change in valuation of liabilities for insurance contracts includes changes in technical provisions for life insurance contracts of EUR 243 (2014 Q4: EUR 2,514).

9. Impairment charges/(reversals)

 

                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Impairment charges / (reversals) comprise:

         

Impairment charges on financial assets, excluding receivables 1

    42        57        95        132   

Impairment reversals on financial assets, excluding receivables 1

    (84     (3     (119     (66

Impairment charges / (reversals) on non-financial assets and receivables

    3        21        1        21   

Total

    (40     75        (22     87   
     

Impairment charges on financial assets, excluding receivables, from:

         

Shares

    -        -        4        5   

Debt securities and money market instruments

    8        22        32        36   

Loans

    12        12        37        68   

Investments in joint ventures

    21        23        21        23   

Total

    42        57        95        132   
     

Impairment reversals on financial assets, excluding receivables, from:

         

Debt securities and money market instruments

    (80     (2     (109     (56

Loans

    (5     (1     (9     (10

Total

    (84     (3     (119     (66

1 Impairment charges / (reversals) on financial assets, excluding receivables, are excluded from underlying earnings before tax for segment reporting (refer to note 3).

 

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10. Other charges

Other charges of EUR 774 million for 2015 relate to the book loss on the sale of Aegon’s Canadian life insurance business. For the sale of Canada refer to note 22. Acquisitions / divestments.

11. Intangible assets

 

                

EUR millions

    Dec. 31, 2015        Dec. 31, 2014   
   

Goodwill

    299        216   

VOBA

    1,682        1,546   

Future servicing rights

    57        255   

Software

    61        50   

Other

    12        5   

Total intangible assets

    2,110        2,073   

Intangible assets, except for goodwill, are predominantly impacted by periodic amortization of balances and changes in exchange rates. Future servicing rights reduced compared to December 31, 2014 following the sale of Clark Consulting in the third quarter of 2015.

12. Investments

 

                              

EUR millions

    Dec. 31, 2015        Dec. 31, 2014   
   

Available-for-sale (AFS)

    114,409        110,229   

Loans

    38,577        36,738   

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL)

    5,816        4,895   

Financial assets, for general account, excluding derivatives

    158,803        151,862   

Investments in real estate

    1,990        1,792   

Total investments for general account, excluding derivatives

    160,792        153,653   
   

Financial assets, for general account, excluding derivatives

       

EUR millions

    AFS        FVTPL        Loans        Total   
   

Shares

    820        640        -        1,460   

Debt securities

    105,151        2,239        -        107,390   

Money market and other short-term investments

    7,141        303        -        7,444   

Mortgages loans

    -        -        33,214        33,214   

Private loans

    -        -        2,847        2,847   

Deposits with financial institutions

    -        -        106        106   

Policy loans

    -        -        2,201        2,201   

Other

    1,297        2,635        210        4,141   

December 31, 2015

    114,409        5,816        38,577        158,803   
   
      AFS        FVTPL        Loans        Total   
   

Shares

    623        499        -        1,122   

Debt securities

    101,498        1,826        -        103,324   

Money market and other short-term investments

    6,799        500        -        7,299   

Mortgages loans

    -        -        32,164        32,164   

Private loans

    -        -        2,058        2,058   

Deposits with financial institutions

    -        -        349        349   

Policy loans

    -        -        2,028        2,028   

Other

    1,310        2,070        139        3,519   

December 31, 2014

    110,229        4,895        36,738        151,862   

 

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13. Investments for account of policyholders

 

                
     
EUR millions   Dec. 31, 2015     Dec. 31, 2014  

Shares

    26,699        27,019   

Debt securities

    31,606        37,070   

Money market and short-term investments

    1,907        795   

Deposits with financial institutions

    1,222        2,908   

Unconsolidated investment funds

    134,845        122,159   

Other

    2,925        415   

Total investments for account of policyholders at fair value through profit or loss, excluding derivatives

    199,204        190,366   

Investment in real estate

    1,022        1,101   

Total investments for account of policyholders

    200,226        191,467   

14. Derivatives

Positive and negative fair values decreased, mainly due to the unwind of mutually offsetting derivatives. In addition derivatives balances moved, mainly as a result from changes in interest rates and other market movements during the period.

15. Fair value

The following tables provide an analysis of financial instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis by level of the fair value hierarchy:

 

 

Fair value hierarchy

 

                           
         
EUR millions   Level I     Level II     Level III     Total  

As at December 31, 2015

           
     

Financial assets carried at fair value

           

Available-for-sale investments

           

Shares

    29        498        293        820   

Debt securities

    28,701        72,307        4,144        105,151   

Money markets and other short-term instruments

    -        7,141        -        7,141   

Other investments at fair value

    31        337        928        1,297   

Total Available-for-sale investments

    28,761        80,283        5,365        114,409   
     

Fair value through profit or loss

           

Shares

    254        385        -        640   

Debt securities

    16        2,217        6        2,239   

Money markets and other short-term instruments

    -        303        -        303   

Other investments at fair value

    2        1,368        1,265        2,635   

Investments for account of policyholders 1

    121,227        76,232        1,745        199,204   

Derivatives

    54        11,270        222        11,545   

Total Fair value through profit or loss

    121,552        91,775        3,239        216,566   

Total financial assets at fair value

    150,313        172,058        8,604        330,975   
     

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

           

Investment contracts for account of policyholders 2

    16,943        23,266        156        40,365   

Borrowings 3

    -        617        -        617   

Derivatives

    4        8,782        2,104        10,890   

Total financial liabilities at fair value

    16,946        32,665        2,260        51,871   

 

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Fair value hierarchy

 

                           
         
EUR millions   Level I     Level II     Level III     Total  

As at December 31, 2014

           
     

Financial assets carried at fair value

           

Available-for-sale investments

           

Shares

    26        316        280        623   

Debt securities

    27,491        70,203        3,803        101,497   

Money markets and other short-term instruments

    -        6,799        -        6,799   

Other investments at fair value

    31        345        934        1,310   

Total Available-for-sale investments

    27,548        77,662        5,018        110,229   
     

Fair value through profit or loss

           

Shares

    217        282        -        499   

Debt securities

    48        1,761        17        1,826   

Money markets and other short-term instruments

    95        405        -        500   

Other investments at fair value

    1        832        1,237        2,070   

Investments for account of policyholders 1

    114,490        73,919        1,956        190,366   

Derivatives

    52        27,642        320        28,014   

Total Fair value through profit or loss

    114,903        104,842        3,530        223,275   

Total financial assets at fair value

    142,451        182,504        8,548        333,503   
     

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

           

Investment contracts for account of policyholders 2

    15,371        22,683        165        38,220   

Borrowings 3

    -        571        -        571   

Derivatives

    31        23,007        3,010        26,048   

Total financial liabilities at fair value

    15,403        46,261        3,175        64,839   

1 The investments for account of policyholders included in the table above represents only those investments carried at fair value through profit or loss.

2 The investment contracts for account of policyholders included in the table above represents only those investment contracts carried at fair value.

3 Total borrowings on the statement of financial position contain borrowings carried at amortized cost that are not included in the above schedule.

Significant transfers between Level I, Level II and Level III

Aegon’s policy is to record transfers of assets and liabilities between Level I, Level II and Level III at their fair values as of the beginning of each reporting period.

The table below shows transfers between Level I and II for financial assets and financial liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

 

Fair value transfers

 

                           
EUR millions   Full Year 2015     Full Year 2014  
     Transfers
Level I to
Level II
    Transfers
Level II to
Level I
    Transfers
Level I to
Level II
    Transfers
Level II to
Level I
 

Financial assets carried at fair value

           

Available-for-sale investments

           

Debt securities

    14        156        -        45   

Total

    14        156        -        45   
     

Fair value through profit or loss

           

Shares

    -        40        -        -   

Investments for account of policyholders

    (3     209        163        1   

Total

    (3     248        163        1   

Total financial assets at fair value

    11        405        163        46   
     

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

           

Investment contracts for account of policyholders

    -        1        -        -   

Total financial liabilities at fair value

    -        1        -        -   

 

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Transfers are identified based on transaction volume and frequency, which are indicative of an active market.

Movements in Level III financial instruments measured at fair value

The following table summarizes the change of all assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (‘Level III’), including realized and unrealized gains (losses) of all assets and liabilities and unrealized gains (losses) of all assets and liabilities still held at the end of the respective period.

 

Roll forward of Level III financial instruments                                                   
EUR millions   January 1,
2015
    Total gains /
losses in
income
statement 1
    Total gains /
losses in OCI 2
    Purchases     Sales     Settlements     Net
exchange
differences
    Reclassification     Transfers
from Level I
and Level II
    Transfers
to Level I
and Level II
    December 31,
2015
    Total unrealized
gains and
losses for the
period recorded
in the P&L for
instruments
held at
December 31,
2015 3
 

Financial assets carried at fair value available-for-sale investments

                           

Shares

    280        32        30        92        (124     (33     16        -        -        -        293        -   

Debt securities

    3,803        (2     29        842        (367     (198     212        -        182        (359     4,144        -   

Other investments at fair value

    934        (206     9        179        (72     (18     102        -        -        -        928        -   
      5,018        (176     69        1,113        (563     (249     330        -        182        (359     5,365        -   
     

Fair value through profit or loss

                           

Debt securities

    17        -        -        -        (2     -        2        -        -        (9     6        -   

Other investments at fair value

    1,237        (20     -        179        (397     -        139        -        291        (162     1,265        17   

Investments for account of policyholders

    1,956        126        -        486        (773     -        33        -        -        (83     1,745        85   

Derivatives

    320        (173     -        12        48        -        15        -        -        -        222        (176
      3,530        (67     -        677        (1,124     -        188        -        291        (255     3,239        (74
     

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

                           

Investment contracts for account of policyholders

    165        3        -        12        (34     -        14        -        -        (5     156        3   

Derivatives

    3,010        (925     -        -        (98     -        116        -        -        -        2,104        (972
      3,175        (922     -        13        (131     -        131        -        -        (5     2,260        (969

 

EUR millions   January 1,
2014
    Total gains /
losses in
income
statement 1
    Total gains /
losses in OCI 2
    Purchases     Sales     Settlements     Net
exchange
differences
    Reclassification     Transfers
from Level I
and Level II
    Transfers
to Level I
and Level II
    December 31,
2014
    Total unrealized
gains and
losses for the
period recorded
in the P&L for
instruments
held at
December 31,
2014 3
 

Financial assets carried at fair value available-for-sale investments

                           

Shares

    322        47        (12     60        (153     -        17        -        -        (1     280        -   

Debt securities

    3,162        28        45        1,419        (504     (268     226        -        258        (503     3,803        -   

Other investments at fair value

    826        (116     2        155        (52     (9     112        -        17        -        934        -   
      4,310        (41     35        1,634        (708     (277     354        -        275        (503     5,018        -   
     

Fair value through profit or loss

                           

Debt securities

    17        (1     -        6        -        (9     2        -        2        -        17        1   

Other investments at fair value

    1,217        21        -        57        (269     -        156        -        118        (62     1,237        25   

Investments for account of policyholders

    1,989        92        -        534        (640     -        38        -        90        (148     1,956        85   

Derivatives

    328        66        -        -        (17     -        17        (75     -        -        320        (76
      3,552        177        -        598        (926     (9     213        (75     210        (209     3,530        36   
     

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

                           

Investment contracts for account of policyholders

    114        4        -        32        (1     -        16        -        -        -        165        4   

Derivatives

    1,431        1,622        -        -        (41     -        106        (75     -        -        3,010        1,752   
      1,545        1,626        -        32        (42     -        122        (75     -        -        3,175        1,756   

1 Includes impairments and movements related to fair value hedges. Gains and losses are recorded in the line item results from financial transactions of the income statement.

2 Total gains and losses are recorded in line items Gains/ (losses) on revaluation of available-for-sale investments and (Gains)/ losses transferred to the income statement on disposal and impairment of available-for-sale investment of the statement of other comprehensive income.

3 Total gains / (losses) for the period during which the financial instrument was in Level III.

During 2015, Aegon transferred certain financial instruments from Level II to Level III of the fair value hierarchy. The reason for the change in level was that the market liquidity for these securities decreased, which led to a change in market observability of prices. Prior to transfer, the fair value for the Level II securities was determined using observable market transactions or corroborated broker quotes respectively for the same or similar instruments. The amount of assets and liabilities transferred to Level III was EUR 473 million (2014: EUR 485 million). Since the transfer, all such assets have been valued using valuation models incorporating significant non market-observable inputs or uncorroborated broker quotes.

Similarly, during 2015, Aegon transferred EUR 619 million (2014: EUR 712 million) of financial instruments from Level III to other levels of the fair value hierarchy. The change in level was mainly the result of a return of activity in the market for these securities and that for these securities the fair value could be determined using observable market transactions or corroborated broker quotes for the same or similar instruments.

 

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The table below presents information about the significant unobservable inputs used for recurring fair value measurements for certain Level III financial instruments.

 

Overview of significant unobservable inputs              
EUR millions   Carrying
amount December 31,
2015
        Valuation technique 1       Significant unobservable
input 2
        Range (weighted average)  

Financial assets carried at fair value available-for-sale investments

         

Shares

    132      Net asset value     n.a.        n.a.   
      161      Other     n.a.        n.a.   
      293                       
   

Debt securities

         
      3,640      Broker quote     n.a.        n.a.   
      219      Discounted cash flow     Credit spread        1.52% - 3.83% (2.84%)   
      285      Other     n.a.        n.a.   
      4,144                       
   

Other investments at fair value

         

Tax credit investments

    785      Discounted cash flow     Discount rate        7.4%   

Investment funds

    97      Net asset value     n.a.        n.a.   

Other

    45      Other     n.a.        n.a.   

December 31, 2015

    928                       

    

                           
   

Fair value through profit or loss

         

Debt securities

    6      Other     n.a.        n.a.   
      6                       
   

Other investments at fair value

         

Investment funds

    1,260      Net asset value     n.a.        n.a.   

Other

    6      Other     n.a.        n.a.   

    

    1,265                       
   

Derivatives 3

         

Longevity swap

    86      Discounted cash flow     Discount rate        2.44%   

Other

    23      Other     n.a.        n.a.   

December 31, 2015

    109                       

    

                           
   

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

         

Derivatives

         

Embedded derivatives in insurance contracts

    2,072      Discounted cash flow     Credit spread        0.30% - 0.40% (0.33%)   

Other

    32      Other     n.a.        n.a.   

Total financial liabilities at fair value

    2,104                       

1 Other in the table above (column Valuation technique) includes investments for which the fair value is uncorroborated and no broker quote is received.

2 Not applicable (n.a.) has been included when no significant unobservable assumption has been identified and used.

3 Investments for account of policyholders are excluded from the table above and from the disclosure regarding reasonably possible alternative assumptions. Policyholder assets, and their returns, belong to policyholders and do not impact Aegon’s net income or equity. The effect on total assets is offset by the effect on total liabilities. Derivatives exclude derivatives for account of policyholders amounting to EUR 113 million.

The description of Aegon’s methods of determining fair value is included in the consolidated financial statements for 2014. For reference purposes, the valuation techniques included in the table above are described in more detail on the following pages.

Shares

When available, Aegon uses quoted market prices in active markets to determine the fair value of its investments in shares. Fair values for unquoted shares are estimated using observations of the price/earnings or price/cash flow ratios of quoted companies considered comparable to the companies being valued. Valuations are adjusted to account for company-specific issues and the lack of liquidity inherent in an unquoted investment. Adjustments for illiquidity are generally based on available market evidence. In addition, a variety of other factors are reviewed by management, including, but not limited to, current operating performance, changes in market outlook and the third-party financing environment.

 

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Available-for-sale shares include shares in a Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) for an amount of EUR 120 million (December 31, 2014: EUR 107 million) that are measured at par, which are reported as part of Other in the column Valuation technique. A FHLB has implicit financial support from the United States government. The redemption value of the shares is fixed at par and they can only be redeemed by the FHLB.

Debt securities

Aegon’s portfolio of debt securities can be subdivided in Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), Asset-backed securities (ABS), Corporate bonds and Sovereign debt. Below relevant details in the valuation methodology for these specific types of debt securities are described.

Valuations of RMBS, CMBS and ABS are monitored and reviewed on a monthly basis. Valuations per asset type are based on a pricing hierarchy which uses a waterfall approach that starts with market prices from indices and follows with third-party pricing services or brokers. The pricing hierarchy is dependent on the possibilities of corroboration of the market prices. If no market prices are available, Aegon uses internal models to determine fair value. Significant inputs included in the internal models are generally determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons to instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles. Market standard models may be used to model the specific collateral composition and cash flow structure of each transaction.

Valuations of corporate bonds are monitored and reviewed on a monthly basis. The pricing hierarchy is dependent on the possibility of corroboration of market prices when available. If no market prices are available, valuations are determined by a discounted cash flow methodology using an internally calculated yield. The yield is comprised of a credit spread over a given benchmark. In all cases, the benchmark is an observable input. The credit spread contains both observable and unobservable inputs. Aegon starts by taking an observable credit spread from a similar bond of the given issuer, and then adjusts this spread based on unobservable inputs. These unobservable inputs may include subordination, liquidity and maturity differences. The weighted average credit spread used in valuation of corporate bonds has increased to 2.84% (December 31, 2014: 2.67%).

If available, Aegon uses quoted market prices in active markets to determine the fair value of its sovereign debt investments. If Aegon cannot make use of quoted market prices, market prices from indices or quotes from third-party pricing services or brokers are used.

Tax credit investments

The fair value of tax credit investments is determined by using a discounted cash flow valuation technique. This valuation technique takes into consideration projections of future capital contributions and distributions, as well as future tax credits and the tax benefits of future operating losses. The present value of these cash flows is calculated by applying a discount rate. In general, the discount rate is determined based on the cash outflows for the investments and the cash inflows from the tax credits/tax benefits (and the timing of those cash flows). These inputs are unobservable in the market place. The discount rate used in valuation of tax credit investments has decreased to 7.4% (December 31, 2014: 8.5%).

Investment funds

Investment funds include real estate funds, private equity funds and hedge funds. The fair values of investments held in non-quoted investment funds are determined by management after taking into consideration information provided by the fund managers. Aegon reviews the valuations each month and performs analytical procedures and trending analyses to ensure the fair values are appropriate.

 

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Derivatives

Where quoted market prices are not available, other valuation techniques, such as option pricing or stochastic modeling, are applied. The valuation techniques incorporate all factors that a typical market participant would consider and are based on observable market data when available. Models are validated before they are used and calibrated to ensure that outputs reflect actual experience and comparable market prices.

Fair values for exchange-traded derivatives, principally futures and certain options, are based on quoted market prices in active markets. Fair values for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives represent amounts estimated to be received from or paid to a third party in settlement of these instruments. These derivatives are valued using pricing models based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows, directly observed prices from exchange-traded derivatives, other OTC trades, or external pricing services. Most valuations are derived from swap and volatility matrices, which are constructed for applicable indices and currencies using current market data from many industry standard sources. Option pricing is based on industry standard valuation models and current market levels, where applicable. The pricing of complex or illiquid instruments is based on internal models or an independent third party. For long-dated illiquid contracts, extrapolation methods are applied to observed market data in order to estimate inputs and assumptions that are not directly observable. To value OTC derivatives, management uses observed market information, other trades in the market and dealer prices.

Some OTC derivatives are so-called longevity derivatives. The payout of longevity derivatives is linked to publicly available mortality tables. The derivatives are measured using the present value of the best estimate of expected payouts of the derivative plus a risk margin. The best estimate of expected payouts is determined using best estimate of mortality developments. Aegon determined the risk margin by stressing the best estimate mortality developments to quantify the risk and applying a cost-of-capital methodology. The most significant unobservable input for these derivatives is the (projected) mortality development.

Aegon normally mitigates counterparty credit risk in derivative contracts by entering into collateral agreements where practical and in ISDA master netting agreements for each of the Group’s legal entities to facilitate Aegon’s right to offset credit risk exposure. Changes in the fair value of derivatives attributable to changes in counterparty credit risk were not significant.

Embedded derivatives in insurance contracts including guarantees

All bifurcated guarantees for minimum benefits in insurance and investment contracts are carried at fair value. These guarantees include guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (GMWB) in the United States, United Kingdom and Japan which are offered on some variable annuity products and are also assumed from a ceding company; minimum investment return guarantees on insurance products offered in the Netherlands, including group pension and traditional products; variable annuities sold in Europe and Japan.

Since the price of these guarantees is not quoted in any market, the fair values of these guarantees are based on discounted cash flows calculated as the present value of future expected payments to policyholders less the present value of assessed rider fees attributable to the guarantees. Given the complexity and long-term nature of these guarantees which are unlike instruments available in financial markets, their fair values are determined by using stochastic models under a variety of market return scenarios. A variety of factors are considered including credit spread, expected market rates of return, equity and interest rate volatility, correlations of market returns, discount rates and actuarial assumptions. The most significant unobservable factor is credit spread. The credit spread used in the valuations of embedded derivatives in insurance contracts increased to 0.33% (December 31, 2014: 0.30%).

 

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The expected returns are based on risk-free rates. Aegon added a premium to reflect the credit spread as required. The credit spread is set by using the credit default swap (CDS) spreads of a reference portfolio of life insurance companies (including Aegon), adjusted to reflect the subordination of senior debt holders at the holding company level to the position of policyholders at the operating company level (who have priority in payments to other creditors). Aegon’s assumptions are set by region to reflect differences in the valuation of the guarantee embedded in the insurance contracts.

Since many of the assumptions are unobservable and are considered to be significant inputs to the liability valuation, the liability included in future policy benefits has been reflected within Level III of the fair value hierarchy.

Effect of reasonably possible alternative assumptions

During 2015 Aegon bought an additional longevity swap to further protect the longevity position of Aegon the Netherlands. All longevity swaps combined had a carrying amount of EUR 86 million per December 31, 2015 and are reported as derivatives. As a result the most significant unobservable input became the discount rate as opposed to the previous year, where mortality was the most significant unobservable input.

The effect of changing the discount rate with 100 basis points up or down would result in an increase of EUR 58 million, and a decrease of EUR 34 million, respectively on the fair value measurement of the derivatives. The effect of changes in other unobservable inputs on fair value measurement were not significantly different than those that were applied to the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Fair value information about financial instruments not measured at fair value

The following table presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities, excluding financial instruments which are carried at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

Fair value information about financial instruments not measured at fair value

 

 
EUR millions  

Carrying
amount December 31,

2015

   

Total

estimated fair
value December 31,
2015

    Carrying
amount December 31,
2014
   

Total

estimated fair
value December 31,
2014

 
   

Assets

         

Mortgage loans - held at amortized cost

    33,214        37,648        32,164        36,692   

Private loans - held at amortized cost

    2,847        3,165        2,058        2,454   

Other loans - held at amortized cost

    2,517        2,517        2,516        2,516   
   

Liabilities

         

Trust pass-through securities - held at amortized cost

    157        146        143        139   

Subordinated borrowings - held at amortized cost

    759        828        747        828   

Borrowings - held at amortized cost

    11,829        12,194        13,588        14,056   

Investment contracts - held at amortized cost

    17,260        17,792        14,985        15,492   

Financial instruments for which carrying value approximates fair value

Certain financial instruments that are not carried at fair value are carried at amounts that approximate fair value, due to their short-term nature and generally negligible credit risk. These instruments include cash and cash equivalents, short-term receivables and accrued interest receivable, short-term liabilities, and accrued liabilities. These instruments are not included in the table above.

16. Reinsurance assets

The increase in reinsurance assets mainly results from an agreement with a reinsurance company in Americas related to a fixed annuity block of business and changes in exchange rates.

 

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17. Deferred expenses

 

            

EUR millions

     Dec. 31, 2015         Dec. 31, 2014   
     

DPAC for insurance contracts and investment contracts with discretionary participation features

     11,649         9,523   

Deferred cost of reinsurance

     431         441   

Deferred transaction costs for investment management services

     467         409   

Total deferred expenses

     12,547         10,373   

18. Share capital

 

                

EUR millions

    Dec. 31, 2015        Dec. 31, 2014   
     

Share capital - par value

    328        327   

Share premium

    8,059        8,270   

Total share capital

    8,387        8,597   
     

Share capital - par value

       

Balance at January 1

    327        325   

Issuance

    1        -   

Share dividend

    -        2   

Balance

    328        327   
     

Share premium

       

Balance at January 1

    8,270        8,375   

Share dividend

    (211     (106

Balance

    8,059        8,270   

Basic and diluted earnings per share

 

           
                              

EUR millions

    Q4 2015        Q4 2014        FY 2015        FY 2014   
     

Earnings per share (EUR per share)

           

Basic earnings per common share

    0.21        0.17        0.23        0.49   

Basic earnings per common share B

    0.01        -        0.01        0.01   

Diluted earnings per common share

    0.21        0.17        0.23        0.49   

Diluted earnings per common share B

    0.01        -        0.01        0.01   

Earnings per share calculation

           

Net income / (loss) attributable to equity holders of Aegon N.V.

    477        399        619        1,186   

Coupons on other equity instruments

    (35     (32     (139     (152

Earnings attributable to common shares and common shares B

    442        366        479        1,034   
     

Earnings attributable to common shareholders

    439        364        476        1,027   

Earnings attributable to common shareholders B

    3        3        3        7   
     

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in millions)

    2,109        2,096        2,101        2,094   

Weighted average number of common shares B outstanding (in millions)

    585        581        584        580   

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the average number of shares outstanding for share options. During the full year ended December 31, 2015 and during 2014, the average share price did not exceed the exercise price of these options. As a result, diluted earnings per share do not differ from basic earnings per share.

 

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Dividend

It will be proposed to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 20, 2016, absent unforeseen circumstances, to pay a final dividend for the year 2015 of EUR 0.13 per common share. After taking into account the interim dividend 2015 of EUR 0.12 per common share, this will result in a total 2015 dividend of EUR 0.25 per common share. Proposed final dividend for the year and proposed total 2015 dividend per common share B amount to 1/40th of the dividend paid on common shares. The interim dividend 2015 was paid in cash or stock at the election of the shareholder. The stock dividend amounted to one new Aegon common share for every 45 common shares held. The stock dividend and cash dividend are approximately equal in value. To neutralize the dilutive effect of the 2015 interim dividend paid in shares, Aegon executed a share buyback program to repurchase 20,136,673 common shares. Between September 16, 2015, and October 13, 2015, these common shares were repurchased at an average price of EUR 5.2777 per share. These shares will be held as treasury shares and will be used to cover future stock dividends.

Final dividend 2014

The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 20, 2015, approved a final dividend over 2014 of EUR 0.12 per common share payable in either cash or stock, related to the second half of 2014, paid in the first half of 2015. The stock dividend amounted to one new Aegon common share for every 55 common shares held. The stock dividend and cash dividend are approximately equal in value. Dividend paid on common shares B amounted to 1/40th of the dividend paid on common shares. 42% of shareholders elected to receive the stock dividend. The remaining 58% opted for cash dividend.

To neutralize the dilutive effect of the 2014 final dividend paid in shares, Aegon executed a program to repurchase 16,279,933 common shares. Between June 17, 2015, and July 14, 2015, these common shares were repurchased at an average price of EUR 6.6324 per share. These shares will be held as treasury shares and will be used to cover future stock dividends.

19. Borrowings

 

    
EUR millions   Dec. 31, 2015     Dec. 31, 2014  
     

Capital funding

    2,015        2,338   

Operational funding

    10,430        11,821   

Total borrowings

    12,445        14,158   

Included in borrowings is EUR 617 million relating to borrowings measured at fair value (December 31, 2014: EUR 571 million).

Operational funding

During 2015, Aegon redeemed EUR 1,500 million ECB LTRO with a floating coupon. In 2015, Aegon also repurchased the mortgages from Saecure 7 and Saecure 11 for EUR 1,378 million.

On November 11, 2015 Aegon borrowed EUR 450 million under an ECB LRO facility with a floating coupon. Moreover, Aegon used its MRO facility and borrowed EUR 225 mln on December 30, 2015.

On November 24, 2015, Aegon Bank N.V. successfully placed its inaugural 5-year, EUR 750 million Conditional PassThrough Covered Bonds at 8 basis points over mid swaps resulting in an effective yield of 0.267%.

 

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20. Assets and liabilities held for sale

Canada

On October 15, 2014, Aegon reached an agreement to sell its Canadian operations for a total consideration of CAD 600 million (EUR 428 million). The transaction was closed on July 31, 2015 after obtaining regulatory approval. At September 30, 2015, the Canadian operations of Aegon are no longer classified as assets and liabilities held for sale.

The Canadian operations were included in the Americas segment (note 3). For more information refer to note 22. Acquisitions / divestments.

La Mondiale Participations

La Mondiale Participations was classified as assets and liabilities held for sale per December 31, 2014. On March 3, 2015, Aegon completed the sale and therefore La Mondiale Participations is no longer reported as assets and liabilities held for sale.

Both the Canadian operations and La Mondiale Participations were sold and are no longer classified as assets and liabilities held for sale. As a result no unrealized gains relating to assets and liabilities held for sale are included in other comprehensive income, for the full year ended of December 31, 2015 (December 31, 2014: EUR 477 million).

21. Commitments and contingencies

On January 13, 2015, the Dutch court approved a request filed jointly by Aegon and Stichting Belangenbehartiging Pensioengerechtigden van de Vervoer- en Havenbedrijven (BPHV) to remove restrictions on the capital of the harbour workers’ former pension fund Optas. On April 21, 2015 the appeal period expired, after which Aegon made the agreed payment to BPHV of EUR 80 million and the restrictions on the capital were removed. In addition Aegon will contribute up to EUR 20 million to help mitigate the effect of an announced reduction in the tax-free pension allowance in the Netherlands.

There have been no other material changes in contingent assets and liabilities as reported in the 2014 consolidated financial statements of Aegon.

22. Acquisitions / divestments

Acquisitions

On June 4, 2015 Aegon completed a strategic asset management partnership with La Banque Postale. Under the terms of the agreement, Aegon has acquired a 25% stake in La Banque Postale Asset Management (LBPAM) for a consideration of EUR 117 million.

On September 25, 2015, Aegon announced that it has acquired Mercer’s US defined contribution record-keeping business. On December 31, 2015, Aegon completed the acquisition after obtaining regulatory approval. The total purchase price amounted to USD 78 million, consisting of USD 71 million cash and USD 7 million contingent consideration.

On December 7, 2015 Aegon announced that it has increased its investment in Aegon Religare Life Insurance Company (ARLI) from 26 percent to 49 percent. The company is renamed as Aegon Life Insurance Company Ltd.

 

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Divestments

On March 3, 2015, Aegon completed the sale of its 35% share in La Mondiale Participations following the granting of approval by the French Competition Authority (Autorité de la Concurrence). The agreement to sell Aegon’s stake in La Mondiale Participations to La Mondiale for EUR 350 million was announced on November 24, 2014. Proceeds from the sale were added to Aegon’s excess capital buffer, and increased the group’s Insurance Group Directive (IGD) solvency ratio by over 4 percentage points at the time of the sale.

On July 31, 2015, Aegon completed the sale of its Canadian life insurance business following regulatory approval. The agreement to sell Aegon’s Canadian life insurance business for an amount of CAD 600 million (EUR 428 million) was announced on October 16, 2014. The transaction results in a book loss of CAD 1,054 million (EUR 751 million) recorded at September 30, 2015. Aegon earmarked the proceeds of this transaction for the redemption of the USD 500 million 4.625% senior bond, due December 2015.

The results of the Canadian operations reflect amounts previously recorded in Other Comprehensive Income that were reclassified into the income statement including CAD 178 million (EUR 127 million) release of the foreign currency translation reserve, CAD (72) million (EUR (51) million) release of the net foreign investment hedging reserve and CAD 668 million (EUR 476 million) for the release of the available for sale reserve. The net cash proceeds were CAD 543 million (EUR 387 million) consisting of CAD 600 million (EUR 428 million) cash received and the cash and cash equivalents included in the sale of CAD 57 million (EUR 41 million). Expenses related to the transaction, including cost of sale, amount to CAD 11 million (EUR 8 million).

The table below presents the statement of financial position of the Canadian life insurance business at the moment of the completion of the sale.

 

Statement of financial position

 

 
     July 31,
2015
 

EUR millions

       
   

Assets

   

Intangible assets

    198   

Investments

    5,506   

Investments for account of policyholders

    1,459   

Reinsurance assets

    989   

Deferred expenses

    832   

Other assets and receivables

    270   

Cash and cash equivalents

    40   

Total assets

    9,293   
   

Insurance contracts

    5,008   

Insurance contracts for account of policyholders

    1,341   

Investment contracts

    56   

Investment contracts for account of policyholders

    118   

Derivatives

    33   

Other liabilities

    1,056   

Total liabilities

    7,612   

On September 1, 2015, Aegon completed the sale of Clark Consulting following regulatory approval. The agreement to sell Clark Consulting for USD 177.5 million (EUR 160 million) was announced on July 10, 2015 and resulted in a gain of USD 8 million (EUR 7 million).

On September 7, 2015, Aegon completed the sale of its 25.1% share in platform provider and discretionary fund manager Seven Investment Management (7IM) for GBP 19 million (EUR 26 million). This transaction has led to a net gain of GBP 7 million (EUR 10 million). 7IM was recorded as an associate in the books of Aegon.

 

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23. Events after the balance sheet date

On January 13, 2016, Aegon announced to repurchase EUR 400 million worth of common shares in 2016, of which a first tranche of EUR 200 million will be repurchased before March 31, 2016. These shares will be repurchased to neutralize the dilutive effect of the cancellation of the preferred shares in 2013. It will be proposed to shareholders at their next Annual General Meeting on May 20, 2016, to cancel any repurchased shares under this program. The shares will be repurchased at or below the daily volume-weighted average price.

On January 18, 2016 Aegon Nederland NV signed an agreement to sell its commercial non-life insurance business, which includes the proxy and co-insurance run-off portfolios, to Allianz Benelux. This sale is expected to be completed before July 1, 2016. This transaction follows the announcement last year that the commercial line of Aegon Nederland was no longer strategically core to the company’s non-life business, and that Aegon Nederland will continue to invest in income protection and retail non-life insurance. The transaction is still subject to approval by the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank) and the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (Autoriteit Consument & Markt).

 

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Disclaimers

Cautionary note regarding non-IFRS measures

This document includes the following non-IFRS financial measures: underlying earnings before tax, income tax and income before tax. These non-IFRS measures are calculated by consolidating on a proportionate basis Aegon’s joint ventures and associated companies. The reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable IFRS measure is provided in note 3 ‘Segment information’ of Aegon’s Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements. Aegon believes that these non-IFRS measures, together with the IFRS information, provide meaningful information about the underlying operating results of Aegon’s business including insight into the financial measures that senior management uses in managing the business.

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. 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:

 

t  

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

t  

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;
t  

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

t  

Consequences of a potential (partial) break-up of the euro or the potential exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union;

t  

The frequency and severity of insured loss events;

t  

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

t  

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

t  

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

t  

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

t  

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;

t  

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

t  

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;

t  

Regulatory changes relating to the pensions, investment, and insurance industries in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates;

t  

Standard setting initiatives of supranational standard setting bodies such as the Financial Stability Board and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors or changes to such standards that may have an impact on regional (such as EU), national or US federal or state level financial regulation or the application thereof to Aegon, including the designation of Aegon by the Financial Stability Board as a Global Systemically Important Insurer (G-SII).

t  

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;

t  

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

t  

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

t  

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;

t  

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;

t  

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

t  

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

t  

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;

t  

Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;

t  

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

t  

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

t  

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;

t  

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

t  

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.

 

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Corporate and shareholder information

 

Headquarters      
Aegon N.V.      
P.O. Box 85      
2501 CB The Hague      
The Netherlands      
+ 31 (0) 70 344 32 10      
aegon.com      

Group Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

 

Media relations      
+ 31 (0) 70 344 89 56      
gcc@aegon.com      
Investor relations      
+ 31 (0) 70 344 83 05      
or 877 548 96 68 - toll free, USA only   
ir@aegon.com      

Publication dates quarterly results 2016

May 12, 2016    Results first quarter 2016   
August 11, 2016    Results second quarter 2016   
November 10, 2016    Results third quarter 2016   

Aegon’s Q4 2015 press release and Financial Supplement are available on aegon.com.

About Aegon

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