Aegon Ltd. New York Registry Shares (AEG)

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a+” (Excellent) of the U.S. life/health (L/H) subsidiaries of Aegon Ltd. (Bermuda) [NYSE: AEG]. Aegon Ltd.’s U.S. L/H companies are Transamerica Life Insurance Company (Cedar Rapids, IA) and Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company (Harrison, NY) and referred to collectively as Aegon USA Group (Aegon USA). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a+” (Excellent) of the U.S. life/health (L/H) subsidiaries of Aegon N.V. (Netherlands) [NYSE: AEG]. Aegon’s U.S. L/H companies are Transamerica Life Insurance Company and Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company and referred to collectively as Aegon USA Group (Aegon USA). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

Aegon has completed the share buyback program announced on September 17, 2021, aimed at neutralizing the dilutive effect of the 2021 interim dividend paid in shares.

On September 20, 2021, Aegon and Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG) were informed that the Budapest Metropolitan Court has rejected their joint appeal challenging the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior’s decision to block VIG’s acquisition of Aegon’s Hungarian business.

Aegon announced today that it will repurchase common shares for an amount of EUR 96 million to neutralize the dilutive effect of its 2021 interim dividend paid in shares. These shares will be held as treasury shares and will be used to pay future dividends in shares.

Aegon Bank today published its first half 2021 report, which describes how the company has performed and contains interim financial information on a statutory basis. The report is available for download here.

Aegon has completed the share buyback program to neutralize the dilutive effect of the 2020 final dividend paid in shares and certain share-based variable compensation plans for senior management, as announced on July 7, 2021.

Aegon announces changes to the ex-dividend and record dates for the interim dividend 2021 for holders of Aegon’s New York Registry Shares (ISIN: US0079241032). These shares will be quoted ex-dividend on August 26, 2021, instead of on August 20, 2021. The record date is changed from August 23, 2021, to August 27, 2021. For holders of Aegon’s New York Registry Shares, the election period for shareholders will run from August 27 up to and including September 10, 2021. The dividend will be payable as of September 17, 2021 (unchanged).

Today, the European Commission has decided to grant the competition law clearance for the acquisition of Aegon’s businesses in Central and Eastern Europe by Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG).

Steady progress on strategic priorities and financial targets supports increase in dividend

Aegon today announces that it is exercising its right to redeem the USD 250 million floating rate perpetual capital securities with a minimum coupon of 4% issued in 2005. The redemption is in line with Aegon’s target to reduce leverage.

Aegon announced today that it will repurchase common shares for an amount of EUR 133 million to neutralize the dilutive effect of both its 2020 final stock dividend and certain share-based variable compensation plans for senior management.

Today, Aegon announced that Allegra van Hövell-Patrizi (1974) will succeed Maarten Edixhoven as CEO of Aegon the Netherlands and member of the Management Board of Aegon N.V, effective immediately.

Aegon N.V.’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) today approved all resolutions on the agenda. These include adoption of the Annual Accounts for the financial year 2020 and a final dividend for 2020 of EUR 0.06 per common share, bringing Aegon’s total dividend for 2020 to EUR 0.12 per common share.

Strong progress on expense savings program and plans to improve risk profile

Aegon announced today that Maarten Edixhoven will step down as CEO of Aegon the Netherlands and member of the Management Board, effective May 11, 2021.

Aegon Bank has set up an additional Covered Bond Program, using a Soft Bullet structure. Any new covered bonds issuances are expected to take place under this program.

Aegon Bank has today published its 2020 annual report. The report provides information on the bank’s strategy, governance, business and financial performance on a statutory basis. The report is available for download here.

The Executive Board will propose to the AGM that shareholders adopt the Annual Accounts 2020 and approve a final dividend for 2020 of EUR 0.06 per common share, which brings Aegon’s total dividend for 2020 to EUR 0.12 per common share.

Aegon today announced that Global Chief Technology Officer Mark Bloom is stepping down, effective June 1, 2021. Having led Aegon's technology and innovation activities for more than five years, he has decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities.

Aegon today announced that Elisabetta Caldera (1970, Italian) will join Aegon as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective June 1, 2021. Elisabetta has more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources and joins Aegon from Vodafone, where she held various senior HR leadership positions and most recently worked as HR Director Europe Cluster & Egypt. Prior to Vodafone, she held HR management roles at ABB and Alstom.

Aegon has taken note of an announcement issued today by Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG). The announcement issued by VIG reads as follows: “Acquisition of the Aegon entities prevented by Hungary for the moment. VIENNA INSURANCE GROUP AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe received a decree yesterday afternoon in which the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior announced that the intended acquisition by a foreign investor of the Aegon companies in Hungary is denied. As part of the approval process, Vienna Insurance Group has been in constructive talks with the responsible Hungarian Minister of Finance since January 2021. The decree is in contradiction with the course of the talks to date. Vienna Insurance Group expects that this issue will be resolved positively in the near future.” Aegon will continue to work with VIG to close the transaction.