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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
GENERAL
The AEGON Group conducts its capital management processes at various levels in the organization. The main goal of AEGON’s capital management is to manage the capital adequacy of its operating companies to high standards within leverage tolerances consistent with strong capitalization.
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
AEGON manages capital adequacy at the level of its country units and their operating companies. AEGON seeks to maintain its internal capital adequacy levels at the higher of local regulatory requirements, 165% of the relevant local Standard & Poor’s capital adequacy models or internally imposed requirements. During 2003, the capital adequacy of AEGON’s operating units continued to be strong. All of its units were capitalized within these tolerances. In the United States, at December 31, 2003, AEGON held 330% of the minimum capital required by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
CAPITAL BASE
AEGON applies leverage tolerances to its capital base. The capital base reflects the capital employed in core activities and consists of shareholders’ equity, capital securities and dated subordinated and senior debt. AEGON seeks to manage its capital base to comprise at least 70% shareholders’ equity, between 5% and 15% capital securities, and a maximum of 25% dated subordinated and senior debt. At December 31, 2003, AEGON’s leverage was within these prescribed tolerances: equity capital represented 71% of its total capital base, while senior and dated subordinated debt comprised 19% of its total capital base. Capital securities accounted for the remaining 10%. The ratio of shareholders’ equity to total capital remains stable at approximately the same level as it was at year-end 2002.
AEGON manages currency risk related to its capital base using established currency risk policies. Capital employed in operating subsidiaries required to satisfy (local) regulatory and self-imposed capital requirements is kept in local currencies and is subject to currency movements when translated into euro for reporting purposes. The non-equity components of AEGON’s capital base are held in or swapped into various currencies proportionally to the value of AEGON’s activities in those currencies. Although AEGON’s debt-to-total-capital ratio is accordingly not materially affected by currency volatility, currency fluctuations may affect the level of the capital base as a result of translation into euro.
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Shareholders’ equity was EUR 14,132 million at December 31, 2003, compared to EUR 14,231 million at December 31, 2002. The decrease of EUR 99 million was largely due to the negative currency exchange rate difference of EUR 1,779 million (primarily resulting from the decline in the value of the US dollar compared to the euro), offset by net income of EUR 1,793 million before distribution of both preferred and common dividends. Goodwill charges of EUR 358 million, mainly as a result of the consolidation of the Meeùs Groep in the Netherlands, were largely offset by the gain on the sale of TFC’s real estate tax services and flood hazard certification business units.
DEBT FUNDING AND LIQUIDITY
AEGON’s funding strategy continues to be based on assuring excellent access to international capital markets at low costs. As part of this strategy, AEGON aims to offer debt securities in amounts that are eligible for inclusion in major capital market indices and supports maintenance of liquid secondary markets in these securities by the banking community. This focus on the institutional fixed income investor base will continue to be supported by an active investor relations program to keep investors well informed about AEGON’s strategy and results.
Most of AEGON’s external debt is issued by the parent company, AEGON N.V., as well as two companies whose securities are guaranteed by AEGON N.V.
AEGON N.V. has employed its regular access to the capital markets through private placements issued under its USD 6 billion Euro Medium Term Notes Program and under a separate US shelf registration. AEGON’s USD 2 billion Euro Commercial Paper Program and AEGON Funding Corp.’s USD 4.5 billion Euro Commercial Paper Program facilitate access to international and domestic money markets, when required. Additionally, AEGON utilizes a USD 300 million US Domestic Commercial Paper Program. AEGON maintains back-up credit facilities to support outstanding amounts under its Commercial Paper programs. Its committed credit facilities, provided by banks with strong credit quality, exceed USD 3 billion. In addition AEGON has access to various credit lines.
Internal sources of liquidity include distributions from operating subsidiaries on the basis of excess capital or cash and cash equivalents. Internal distributions may be subject to (local) regulatory requirements. Each business unit further manages its liquidity through closely managing the liquidity of its investment portfolio.
AEGON uses common derivative financial instruments such as swaps, options, futures and cross-currency derivatives to hedge against its exposures related to external borrowings. In general, the accounting treatment of the derivative mirrors the accounting treatment of the underlying financial instrument.
In the second quarter of 2003, in line with its funding strategy, AEGON N.V. issued EUR 1 billion of five year fixed rate notes, USD 750 million of ten year fixed rate notes and USD 250 million of two year floating rate notes to refinance maturing long-term and short-term debt. At December 31, 2003, AEGON N.V. had EUR 1.8 billion outstanding under its Medium Term Notes Program and EUR 1.6 billion under its Commercial Paper Programs.
The duration profile of AEGON’s capital debt and interest rate structure is managed in line with the estimated duration of its investments in its subsidiaries. Of AEGON’s total capital debt at December 31, 2003, approximately EUR 2.1 billion matures within three years, EUR 1.2 billion between three and five years, and EUR 2.4 billion thereafter. AEGON believes its working capital, backed by the external funding programs and facilities, is amply sufficient for the group’s present requirements.
During 2003, Standard and Poor’s lowered AEGON N.V.’s credit ratings and now rates AEGON’s senior debt at A+ with a stable outlook. The insurance financial strength ratings of our insurance operations in the United States are now AA, with a stable outlook. Moody’s maintained the senior debt rating of AEGON N.V. at A2, with a negative outlook, while the outlook on the Aa3 insurance financial strength ratings of our Unites States operations remained stable.
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