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August 17, 2023
1H23 results press release |
Aegon reports first half year 2023 results
Starting the next chapter of Aegons transformation with solid 1H 2023 performance
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IFRS results from now on reported under the new insurance accounting standard IFRS 17 |
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Net loss of EUR 199 million reflects previously announced investments and assumption updates in the US
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Operating result increases by 3% compared with the first half of 2022 to EUR 818 million |
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Operating capital generation before holding funding and operating expenses increases by 13% compares with the first half of
2022 to EUR 620 million reflecting business growth and improved claims experience |
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The capital ratios of main units remain above their respective operating levels; Group Solvency II ratio amounts to 202%
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Cash Capital at Holding decreases to EUR 1.3 billion, mainly as a result of capital returns to shareholders
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2023 interim dividend increases by EUR 0.03 compared with 2022 interim dividend to EUR 0.14 per common share
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Transaction combining Aegons Dutch businesses with a.s.r. closed in July; related EUR 1.5 billion share buyback has
begun |
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Strong sales growth in US, UK Workplace business, and life insurance businesses in China and Brazil. Sales momentum in asset
management and UK Retail businesses affected by challenging market conditions |
Statement of Lard Friese, CEO
Aegon had a solid first half of the year. Our operating result increased by 3% compared with the same period in 2022, and reflects
improved results in all insurance units while asset management was negatively impacted by a challenging market environment. Our net result was a loss of EUR 199 million, and reflects previously announced items in the US that will position us
well for future growth. Our operating capital generation was strong, driven largely by our US business. The capital ratios of our main units remained above their respective operating levels in the first half of 2023. These results provide a solid
basis to raise the interim dividend by 3 eurocents compared with the 2022 interim dividend to 14 eurocents per share.
In
the US, Transamerica performed well. New Life sales increased by 17% compared with the previous year, driven by another strong increase in the number of World Financial Group (WFG) agents, now at a record-high of 70,000. Written sales of mid-sized
retirement plans increased almost 70%, driven largely by a pooled plan sale of USD 1.7 billion. Aegons UK Workplace solutions platform also continued to deliver strong results, with a significant increase in net deposits driven by the
onboarding of new schemes and higher net deposits on existing schemes. We also saw increased sales in our partnerships in China and Brazil. At the same time, results at Aegons asset management and UK Retail businesses continued to be affected
by adverse market conditions.
We took significant steps in our transformation. We completed the sale of Aegons
insurance, pension and asset management business in Central and Eastern Europe, and we announced the sale of our stake in our business in India. In addition, we closed the transaction with a.s.r. for which Aegon received EUR 2.2 billion and a 29.99%
stake in a.s.r., and we have started the related EUR 1.5 billion share buyback program.
Now we have begun the next
chapter in our transformation. At our 2023 Capital Markets Day held in June, we outlined how we will invest in our Strategic Assets. In the US, we will ensure that Transamerica captures its full potential and becomes Americas leading middle
market life insurance and retirement company. At the same time, Transamerica will continue to reduce its exposure to Financial Assets and to improve the level and predictability of capital generation. In this respect, we welcome the fact that we
have been able to execute an additional reinsurance transaction on 14,000 universal life policies with secondary guarantees, generating approximately USD 225 million of capital that will be used to further reduce Aegons exposure to
Financial Assets over time. Together with the prior reinsurance transaction undertaken in 2021, a total of 25% of the statutory reserves backing these policies have now been reinsured.
As part of our strategy, we are also investing in our partnerships. Aegon Asset Management and La Banque Postale have extended their
partnership via their joint venture, La Banque Postale Asset Management (LBP AM), through to 2035. Through our shareholding, Aegon has also participated in LBP AMs acquisition of La Financière de lEchiquier, which will accelerate
LBP AMs growth strategy. In the UK, Aegon has extended its partnership with Nationwide Building Society (NBS) under which Aegon UK will integrate NBS financial planning teams in order to support its strategy to be the leading digital
platform provider in the workplace and retail markets. In addition, Aegon has increased its economic ownership in its Brazilian joint venture, Mongeral Aegon Group, to almost 60%.
I would like to thank our colleagues for all their hard work and dedication in ensuring the success of our ongoing transformation.
Please note that all comparisons are versus the first half of 2022 unless stated otherwise.
Contact details and dial-in information can be found at the end of this press release, on page 24.