a.s.r. gets the green light for combination with Aegon Nederland
ASR Nederland N.V. (a.s.r.) meets all the conditions set for the transaction to combine business activities of a.s.r. and Aegon Nederland. The Consumer & Market Authority has approved the new combination and the Dutch Central Bank and the European Central Bank have also issued a statement of no objection. The works councils of a.s.r. and Aegon N.V. (Aegon) had previously issued a positive opinion. Now that the transaction has been finalised, a.s.r. will start combining operations.
a.s.r. and Aegon announced last October the new combination of a.s.r. and Aegon Nederland. The transaction includes all of Aegon Nederlands’ insurance operations, including all of its insurance, pensions, mortgages, distribution and services businesses and banking operations. The integration of the various businesses will be phased and carried out with the utmost care for all parties involved. It is expected to be completed by 2026 at the latest.
Jos Baeten, CEO of a.s.r.: ‘Today marks a historic moment in the history of a.s.r. and Aegon Nederland. Now that all the formalities are behind us, we will start combining the organisations, that’s quite a job. Not only are we going to merge the activities, we’re also going to bring together two cultures, ultimately creating one winning culture in which the employees of both companies recognise themselves and feel at home. We will go from two strong reputable companies, to one a.s.r., committed to all 6.5 million clients, advisors, investors and society, in which I have full confidence. I thank the teams at Aegon Group, Aegon Nederland and a.s.r., who have worked together to ensure a successful closing’.
As agreed at the January 17, 2023 EGM, with the completion of the transaction, the Supervisory Board (SB) of a.s.r., with the appointment of Daniëlle Jansen Heijtmajer and Lard Friese, has been expanded from 5 to 7 members. Now that the transaction is a fact, the new governance structure announced in June 2023 is also effective.
The relationship agreement has been amended so that two matters now require unanimous Supervisory Board approval. These relate to the succession of our CEO Jos Baeten, in case he steps down before the end of his current term, and material decisions on capital management which would lead to a change in the risk profile. The rest of the agreement remains unchanged. The relationship agreement is available on the website.
-
2 May 2024Equal Pay for Men and Women at a.s.r.: No Gender Pay GapAccording to the annual Gender Pay Gap analysis, a.s.r. ensures equal pay for men and women performing equivalent work. This commitment to gender equality is reflected in the fact that there is no pay gap between male and female employees at a.s.r. In contrast, the average Dutch business had a pay gap of 6.9% in 2022. It is the first time that this analysis has been conducted since the integration of Aegon Nederland.
-
25 Apr 2024a.s.r. joins Forum for Insurance Transition to Net-Zero (FIT)a.s.r. has joined the Forum for Insurance Transition to Net-Zero (FIT), a new initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). A total of 19 insurers and reinsurers worldwide have joined this initiative. FIT builds upon the efforts of the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA). It provides a broader platform for collaboration and innovation and a.s.r. is one of the three Dutch insurers actively participating. a.s.r. hereby reaffirms its commitment to a sustainable and climate-neutral insurance sector.
-
18 Apr 2024500 a.s.r. employees roll up their sleeves on first “Doenkracht Donderdag”Across the Netherlands, 500 a.s.r. employees will participate in activities on Thursday, April 18, during Doenkracht Donderdag (“Doenkracht Thursday”). On this day, employees will step away from their usual tasks and wholeheartedly engage in volunteer work across 6 of a.s.r.’s 7 business cities. a.s.r.’s social organisation, Doenkracht, collaborates with various organisations in and around these cities that can benefit from external help. This initiative marks the first time a.s.r. is organising such an event, drawing inspiration from Aegon Nederland, which previously introduced Vrijwilligerswerk Vrijdag (“Volunteering on Friday”). The commitment to community activities aligns with a.s.r.’s mission to empower individuals in the Netherlands to make informed financial decisions, fostering greater financial awareness, savvy, and resilience.