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As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2023

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form F-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

AEGON N.V.1

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

 

The Netherlands   6311   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Aegonplein 50

PO Box 85

2501 CB The Hague

The Netherlands

+31-70-344-8305

(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Andrew S. Williams

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Transamerica Corporation

1201 Wills Street, Suite 800

Baltimore, MD 21231

(443) 475-3243

(Name, address, including ZIP code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

A. Peter Harwich, Esq.

Paul M. Dudek, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

 

J. Onno van Klinken

General Counsel and Member of Management Board

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50

PO Box 85

2501 CB The Hague

The Netherlands

 

Reinier Kleipool

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V.

Claude Debussylaan 80

1082 MD Amsterdam

The Netherlands

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effectiveness of this registration statement.

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)  ☐

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross Border Third-Party Tender Offer)  ☐

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

1 

In connection with the consummation of the redomiciliation transactions described herein, Aegon N.V. will be renamed and converted into Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme), and subsequently renamed and converted into Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares.

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

We are registering the common shares of Aegon Ltd. (which is the name of the Bermuda exempted company into which Aegon N.V. will be converted following the consummation of the steps described herein) to be held by persons in the United States following the steps described herein. Dutch law currently does not facilitate a direct change of legal domicile of a Dutch public limited liability company (such as Aegon N.V.) to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area. As a result, Aegon as a practical matter intends to first change its legal domicile to Luxembourg, which is a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area that does facilitate a change of legal domicile to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area and shortly thereafter change its legal domicile to Bermuda. Therefore, the redomiciliation will occur in two principal steps expected to take place on the same day: (1) the conversion of Aegon N.V. into Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme), pursuant to which (A) Aegon N.V. will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon S.A., and (B) the common shares of Aegon N.V. will remain issued and outstanding, and will become common shares of Aegon S.A., and (2) as soon as practicable on the same day as step (1), the subsequent conversion of Aegon S.A. into Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares, pursuant to which (A) Aegon S.A. will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon Ltd., and (B) the common shares of Aegon S.A. will remain issued and outstanding, and will become common shares of Aegon Ltd. As a result of the steps described above, a holder of common shares of Aegon N.V. will become the holder of the same number of common shares of Aegon Ltd.


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The information contained in this document is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This document is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted or would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

Subject to completion, dated June 30, 2023

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

752,605,544 Common Shares

 

LOGO

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

 

Dear shareholder,

On June 30, 2023, we announced our intention to change our legal domicile from the Netherlands to Bermuda. Subsequently, Aegon’s group supervision will transfer to the Bermuda Monetary Authority, the current regulator of Aegon’s three insurance entities incorporated in Bermuda under the Transamerica name. Following the combination of our Dutch business with a.s.r., we will no longer have a regulated insurance business in the Netherlands. Under Solvency II rules, Aegon’s current supervisor, the Dutch Central Bank, or DNB, can therefore no longer remain Aegon’s group supervisor. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda. The Solvency II Regime will continue to apply to our insurance businesses located in the European Union. Aegon’s regulated insurance entities in the US, UK, Spain, Portugal and in other jurisdictions will continue to be supervised by their current local regulators.

The change of legal domicile to Bermuda allows us to maintain our headquarters in the Netherlands and to remain a Dutch tax resident. Bermuda has a well-developed system of corporate law, enabling application of international governance standards going forward, and is a well-known location for insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s current subsidiaries. In addition, Bermuda’s regulatory regime is well recognized, having been granted equivalent status by the EU under the Solvency II regime, and by the UK under its own solvency regime. It is also considered to be a qualified jurisdiction and reciprocal jurisdiction by the U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (subject to certain limitations and exceptions). While the DNB will no longer be our default group supervisor after the combination of the Dutch business with a.s.r. on the basis of the Solvency II regime, it is expected to temporarily stay on as de facto group supervisor on the basis of a delegation arrangement to be entered into with the Spanish supervisory authority, the Direccíón General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones, or DGSFP, prior to the change in legal domicile being completed to ensure a smooth transfer of group supervision. In the interim phase as it is anticipated now, the presence of a continued and constant delegated group supervisor therefore is expected to be ensured.

In the past two and a half years, we have worked hard to execute on the strategy as communicated to you at our capital markets day in December 2020. We have been able to deliver on many of our strategic intentions, such as sharpening our strategic focus and improving Aegon’s strategic and financial profile through enhanced operational performance and strengthening of our capital position. Completion of the transaction with a.s.r. forms a leader in the Dutch insurance market and enables Aegon to increase its focus on creating advantaged businesses in chosen markets outside the Netherlands. We believe the proposed redomiciliation will help us succeed in furthering our strategic intentions going forward as presented at our capital markets day on June 22, 2023. Upon completion of the redomiciliation to Bermuda, Aegon’s headquarters will remain in the Netherlands, Aegon will remain a Dutch tax resident and Aegon’s shares will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE. Aegon will continue to report under the IFRS accounting standards. Aegon is exploring the implementation of U.S. GAAP in the medium term, in addition to IFRS, so as to allow for better comparison against U.S. peers and provide long-term strategic flexibility for the Aegon Group.

We ask the Aegon general meeting of shareholders for approval of the proposed redomiciliation. The purpose of this U.S. Shareholder Circular is to ensure that Aegon’s U.S. shareholders are adequately informed of the facts and circumstances relevant to vote on the approval of the proposed redomiciliation. See “About this U.S. Shareholder Circular”.

As further explained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of Aegon have concluded that the proposed redomiciliation is in the interest of Aegon and its stakeholders, and unanimously recommend voting in favor of the proposed redomiciliation. We encourage you to read the information included or incorporated by reference in this U.S. Shareholder Circular carefully. We hope that you will follow the recommendation of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board and vote in favor of the proposed redomiciliation.

We greatly value your support as shareholder and look forward to the Extraordinary General Meeting expected to be held on                 , 2023.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Eilard Friese, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board

 

William L.A. Connelly, Chairman of the Supervisory Board

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission, the Registrar of Companies of Bermuda or the Bermuda Monetary Authority has approved or disapproved the conversions and other transactions described in this U.S. Shareholder Circular, nor have they approved or disapproved of the securities to be registered under this U.S. Shareholder Circular or determined if this U.S. Shareholder Circular is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Our common shares are listed on the Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol “AGN”, and our common shares of New York registry are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AEG”. The common shares of Aegon Ltd. will remain listed under the same symbol after the Redomiciliation.

Investing in our common shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 22 of this prospectus.

 

 

This U.S. Shareholder Circular is dated                 , 2023.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS U.S. SHAREHOLDER CIRCULAR

     1  

FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

     3  

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     7  

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE REDOMICILIATION

     10  

SUMMARY

     15  

RISK FACTORS

     22  

THE REDOMICILIATION

     25  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     32  

COMPARISON OF AEGON N.V. AND AEGON LTD. GOVERNANCE

     46  

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

     57  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     58  

BUSINESS

     59  

MANAGEMENT

     60  

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     61  

TAXATION

     62  

LEGAL MATTERS

     65  

EXPERTS

     65  

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

     66  

INDEMNIFICATION

     67  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     68  

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     69  

 

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ABOUT THIS U.S. SHAREHOLDER CIRCULAR

This document, which forms part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, by Aegon N.V. (File No. 333-                ), constitutes a prospectus of Aegon Ltd. and Aegon N.V. under Section 5 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, with respect to the Aegon Ltd. securities to be held by persons in the United States if the redomiciliation transactions described herein are consummated. The contents of this U.S. Shareholder Circular are substantially similar to the Shareholder Circular provided separately to Shareholders of Aegon N.V. in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting of Aegon N.V. expected to be held on                 , 2023, as modified herein in order to satisfy the requirements for registration statements specified by the SEC. This document is meant to serve solely as a prospectus in connection with such registration and is not intended as a substitute for any such Shareholder Circular provided separately to you. As foreign private issuers, Aegon N.V. and Aegon S.A. are exempt from U.S. proxy rules pursuant to Rule 3a12-3(b) under the Exchange Act, and this document is not required to comply with U.S. proxy rule requirements as a result.

Neither this U.S. Shareholder Circular nor the information herein constitutes an offer of securities under Dutch or Bermuda law, and this U.S. Shareholder Circular is not a prospectus or an offering document within the meaning of Dutch or Bermuda law and the rules of the Bermuda securities regulator or the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten).

This U.S. Shareholder Circular incorporates important business and financial information about Aegon that is not included in or delivered with this U.S. Shareholder Circular. You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference in this U.S. Shareholder Circular through the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Such information will also be available in hard copy without charge upon written or oral request by contacting Aegon at the following address and telephone number no later than                 , 2023, which is the date that is five business days before the date of the extraordinary general meeting of Aegon N.V., expected to be held on                 , 2023:

Investor Relations

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50

2591 TV The Hague

The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-344-8305

Tel: 1-443-475-3243

E-mail: ir@aegon.com

 

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AEGON N.V.

With roots dating back more than 175 years, Aegon N.V., through its member companies, which we collectively refer to as “Aegon” or the “Aegon Group”, is a global financial services company with its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Our common shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam, a regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V., the principal market for our common shares, on which they trade under the symbol “AGN”. Our common shares, in the form of New York Registry Shares, or NYRSs, are also listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AEG”. Holders of NYRSs hold their shares in the registered form issued by Aegon’s New York transfer agent on Aegon’s behalf. NYRSs and shares of Aegon N.V. listed on Euronext are exchangeable on a one-to-one basis and are entitled to the same rights, except that cash dividends are paid in U.S. dollars on NYRSs. Aegon operates in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and serves millions of customers. Its main markets are the United States, the Netherlands (prior to Completion of the ASR Transaction) and the United Kingdom. Aegon encourages product innovation and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit within its businesses. New products and services are developed by local business units with a continuous focus on helping people take responsibility for their financial future. Aegon uses a multi-brand, multi-channel distribution approach to meet its customers’ needs. Aegon faces intense competition from a large number of other insurers, as well as non-insurance financial services companies such as banks, broker-dealers and asset managers, for individual customers, employer and other group customers and agents and other distributors of insurance and investment products.

Aegon N.V. is a holding company. Aegon’s products and services include insurance, long-term savings, banking and asset management. Aegon’s operations are conducted through its operating subsidiaries. Aegon’s headquarters are located at Aegonplein 50, P.O. Box 85, 2501 CB The Hague, the Netherlands (telephone +31-70-344-8305; internet: www.aegon.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference and is not part of this U.S. Shareholder Circular.

AEGON S.A.

In connection with the Redomiciliation, Aegon N.V. will be converted into Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme) for a limited amount of time between the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time (each as defined herein) (which is expected to take place on the same day as the Luxembourg Conversion, as soon as practicable following the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time). Throughout the Redomiciliation, Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon S.A. and subsequently Aegon Ltd., and the shares of Aegon will remain issued and outstanding, and will become common shares of Aegon S.A. and subsequently Aegon Ltd.

AEGON LTD.

In connection with the Redomiciliation, Aegon S.A. will be converted into Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares. Throughout, Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist after completion of the Redomiciliation as Aegon Ltd., and the shares of Aegon will remain issued and outstanding, and will become common shares of Aegon Ltd. Aegon’s headquarters will remain in the Netherlands, and Aegon will remain a Dutch tax resident. Aegon Ltd. will be a holding company and Aegon’s operations will continue to be conducted through its operating subsidiaries. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda. Aegon Ltd.’s common shares will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam, a regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V., the principal market for our common shares, on which they will continue to trade under the symbol “AGN”. Aegon Ltd.’s common shares, in the form of NYRSs, will also remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AEG”.

 

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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

Capitalized terms used in this U.S. Shareholder Circular have the meanings given below, unless the context requires otherwise (words in the singular form include the plural form, and vice versa):

 

“Aegon”

means Aegon N.V. until the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and (i) after the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and before the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, Aegon S.A., and (ii) after the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, Aegon Ltd.

 

“Aegon Group”

means Aegon together with its subsidiaries

 

“Aegon Ltd.”

means Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda Ltd.

 

“Aegon Ltd. Common Share”

means a common share in the share capital of Aegon Ltd.

 

“Aegon Ltd. Share”

means a share in the share capital of Aegon Ltd.

 

“Aegon N.V.”

means Aegon N.V., a Dutch public limited liability company

 

“Aegon N.V. Common Share B”

means a common share B in the share capital of Aegon N.V.

 

“Aegon N.V. Creditor”

means a creditor of Aegon N.V.

 

“Aegon N.V. Share”

means a share in the share capital of Aegon N.V.

 

“Aegon S.A.”

means Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme)

 

“AFM”

means the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets

 

“Amended 1983 Merger Agreement”

means the merger agreement between Aegon and Vereniging Aegon, as originally entered into in 1983 and as amended and restated May 29, 2013 and filed as exhibit 10.1 to the registration statement

 

“Articles of Association”

means the articles of association of Aegon N.V., as amended, and filed as exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement

 

“a.s.r.”

means ASR Nederland N.V.

 

“ASR Transaction”

means the proposed sale of the Aegon Dutch business to be combined with a.s.r.’s business operations in the Netherlands, in return for (i) a cash consideration of EUR 2.5 billion, subject to a downward adjustment of approximately EUR 0.3 billion in relation to a.s.r.’s share issuance of October 28, 2022 and to certain other adjustments and (ii) a 29.99% shareholding in a.s.r. pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement filed as exhibit 10.2 to the registration statement

 

“Audit Committee Decree”

means the Dutch Decree of July 26, 2008 implementing Article 41 of Directive No. 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union of May 17, 2006 on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts, amending Directives No. 78/660/EEC and No. 83/349/EEC of the Council of the European Communities and repealing Directive No. 84/253/EEC of the Council of the European Communities

 

“Bermuda Conversion”

has the meaning as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation

 

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“Bermuda Conversion Effective Time”

has the meaning as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation

 

“Bermuda Ltd.”

means an exempted company with liability limited by shares incorporated pursuant to the Companies Act

 

“BMA”

means the Bermuda Monetary Authority

 

“Board

means (i) after the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and before the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, the board of directors of Aegon S.A. and (ii) after the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, the board of directors of Aegon Ltd.

 

“Board Rules”

means the Board rules of Aegon Ltd. as they will read upon completion of the Redomiciliation

 

“Bye-Laws”

means the bye-laws of Aegon Ltd. as they will read upon completion of the Redomiciliation, the form of which is filed as exhibit 3.3 to the registration statement

 

“Code”

means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

 

“ComFrame”

means the Common Framework for the Supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups issued by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors

 

“Common Share”

means a common share in the share capital of Aegon

 

“Companies Act”

means the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda

 

“Conversion Proposal”

means the draft terms of the Luxembourg Conversion, drawn up by the Executive Board

 

“Creditor Opposition Period”

means the one-month period following the date of publication in a nationally-distributed newspaper in the Netherlands of the filing of the Conversion Proposal

 

“CSRD”

means directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and the Council of December 14, 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting

 

“DGSFP”

means the Spanish Dirección General de Seguros y Fondo de Pensiones

 

“DNB”

means the Dutch Central Bank

 

“Dutch EGM”

means the extraordinary general meeting of Aegon N.V., expected to be held on             , 2023

 

“Dutch EGM Record Date”

means the record date of the Dutch EGM, being the 28th day prior to the date of the Dutch EGM

 

“Dutch Legislative Proposal”

means the legislative proposal for the implementation of the Mobility Directive into Dutch law

 

“Dutch N.V.”

means a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap) pursuant to the Dutch Civil Code

 

“Dutch Securities Transactions Act”

means the Dutch Securities Bank Giro Transactions Act (Wet giraal effectenverkeer)

 

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“Dutch Trade Register”

means the Dutch trade register (handelsregister)

 

“EEA”

means European Economic Area

 

“EIOPA”

means the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority

 

“Enterprise Chamber”

means the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam court of appeal

 

“Euronext Amsterdam”

means the regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam N.V.

 

“Executive Board”

means Aegon N.V.’s executive board

 

“General Meeting”

means the general meeting of Shareholders of Aegon

 

“Joint Guidelines”

means EBA and ESMA Joint Guidelines (revised) on Suitability of members of the management board and key function holders (EBA/GL/2021/06)

 

“Luxembourg Conversion”

has the meaning as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation

 

“Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time”

has the meaning as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation

 

“Luxembourg EGM”

means the extraordinary general meeting of Aegon S.A., expected to be held in Luxembourg on or around             , 2023

 

“Luxembourg EGM Record Date”

means the record date for the Luxembourg EGM, being the 28th day prior to the date of the Luxembourg EGM

 

“Management Board”

means the management board of Aegon

 

“Memorandum of Association”

means the memorandum of continuance of Aegon Ltd. as it will read upon completion of the Redomiciliation, which will serve as Aegon Ltd.’s memorandum of association

 

“Mobility Directive”

means Directive (EU) 2019/2121 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 27, 2019 amending Directive (EU) 2017/1132 as regards cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions

 

“NAIC”

means the U.S. National Association of Insurance Commissioners

 

“NYRSs”

means the Aegon N.V. Shares held in New York registry form

 

“NYSE”

means the New York Stock Exchange

 

“NYSE Listing Rules”

means the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual

 

Pre-Mobility Directive Conversion Provisions

has the meaning as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation—Mobility Directive

 

“Redomiciliation”

means the change in legal domicile of Aegon by means of the cross-border conversion of Aegon N.V. into Aegon S.A. and the subsequent cross-border conversion of Aegon S.A. into Aegon Ltd.

 

“Share”

means a share in the share capital of Aegon

 

“Shareholder”

means a shareholder of Aegon

 

“Shareholder Circular”

means the Shareholder Circular provided separately to Shareholders of Aegon N.V. in connection with the Dutch EGM expected to be held on             , 2023

 

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“Solvency II Regime”

means the Solvency II Directive and Delegated Regulation as well as implementing standards and guidelines

 

“Special Cause”

has the meaning ascribed to it in the Voting Rights Agreement

 

“Supervisory Board”

means Aegon N.V.’s supervisory board

 

“Trading Day”

means a day on which trading generally occurs on Euronext Amsterdam or NYSE

 

“U.S. Shareholder Circular”

means this U.S. shareholder circular, which constitutes a prospectus of Aegon Ltd. and Aegon N.V. under Section 5 of the Securities Act

 

“Voting Rights Agreement”

means the voting rights agreement between Aegon and Vereniging Aegon, as originally entered into on May 26, 2003 filed as exhibit 10.3 to the registration statement

 

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements contained and incorporated by reference in this U.S. Shareholder Circular that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: “aim,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “target,” “may,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “project,” “counting on,” “plan,” “continue,” “want,” “forecast,” “goal,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “is confident,” “will” and similar expressions as they relate to us. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, any statements that refer to our sustainability, environmental and social targets, commitments, goals, efforts and expectations and other events or circumstances that are partially dependent on future events are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. We undertake 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:

 

   

Whether the Redomiciliation can be timely implemented or implemented at all;

 

   

The effects of the Redomiciliation on trading, liquidity and the price of the Shares;

 

   

Changes to the group supervision of Aegon Group;

 

   

Tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders resulting from the Redomiciliation;

 

   

The governance of Aegon following the Redomiciliation;

 

   

Our ability to consummate the ASR Transaction and the timing thereof;

 

   

Whether the ASR Transaction is able to achieve the strategic objectives of such transaction;

 

   

The payment of any dividends;

 

   

Unexpected delays, difficulties, and expenses in executing against our environmental, climate, diversity and inclusion or other “ESG” targets, goals and commitments, and changes in laws or regulations affecting us, such as changes in data privacy, environmental, safety and health laws;

 

   

Changes in general economic and/or governmental conditions, particularly in the United States, the Netherlands (prior to completion of the ASR Transaction) and the United Kingdom;

 

   

Civil unrest, (geo-) political tensions, military action or other instability in a country or geographic region;

 

   

Changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, such as with regard to:

 

   

The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in our 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 the equity and debt securities we hold;

 

   

The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain public sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of government exposure that we hold; and

 

   

The impact from volatility in credit, equity, and interest rates;

 

   

Changes in the performance of our investment portfolio and decline in ratings of our counterparties;

 

   

Lowering of one or more of our debt ratings issued by recognized rating organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on our ability to raise capital and on our liquidity and financial condition;

 

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Lowering of one or more of insurer financial strength ratings of our insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the written premium, policy retention, profitability and liquidity of our insurance subsidiaries;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

Changes affecting inflation levels, particularly in the United States, the Netherlands (prior to completion of the ASR Transaction) and the United Kingdom;

 

   

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;

 

   

Increasing levels of competition in the United States, the Netherlands (prior to completion of the ASR Transaction), the United Kingdom and emerging markets;

 

   

Catastrophic events, either manmade or by nature, including by way of example acts of God, acts of terrorism, acts of war and pandemics, could result in material losses and significantly interrupt our business;

 

   

The frequency and severity of insured loss events;

 

   

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

 

   

Our projected results are highly sensitive to complex mathematical models of financial markets, mortality, longevity, and other dynamic systems subject to shocks and unpredictable volatility. Should assumptions to these models later prove incorrect, or should errors in those models escape the controls in place to detect them, future performance will vary from projected results;

 

   

Reinsurers to whom we have ceded significant underwriting risks may fail to meet their obligations;

 

   

Changes in customer behavior and public opinion in general related to, among other things, the type of products we sell, including legal, regulatory or commercial necessity to meet changing customer expectations;

 

   

Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;

 

   

Third-party information used by us may prove to be inaccurate and change over time as methodologies and data availability and quality continue to evolve impacting our results and disclosures;

 

   

As our operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology, operational risks such as system disruptions or failures, security or data privacy breaches, cyberattacks, human error, failure to safeguard personally identifiable information, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including with respect to third parties with which we do business may disrupt our business, damage our reputation and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows;

 

   

The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including our ability to complete, or obtain regulatory approval for, acquisitions and divestitures, integrate acquisitions, and realize anticipated results, and our ability to separate businesses as part of divestitures;

 

   

Our failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational efficiencies as well as other cost saving and excess cash and leverage ratio management initiatives;

 

   

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

 

   

Litigation or regulatory action that could require us to pay significant damages or change the way we do business;

 

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

 

   

Consequences of an actual or potential break-up of the European monetary union in whole or in part, or potential consequences of member states leaving the European Union;

 

   

Changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting our operations’ ability to hire and retain key personnel, taxation of our companies, the products we sell, and the attractiveness of certain products to our consumers;

 

   

Regulatory changes relating to the pensions, investment, and insurance industries in the jurisdictions in which we operate;

 

   

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 U.S. federal or state level financial regulation or the application thereof to us, including our designation by the Financial Stability Board as a Global Systemically Important Insurer (G-SII);

 

   

Changes in accounting regulations and policies or a change by us in applying such regulations and policies, voluntarily or otherwise, which may affect our reported results, shareholders’ equity or regulatory capital adequacy levels; and

 

   

Changes in ESG standards and requirements, including assumptions, methodology and materiality, or a change by us in applying such standards and requirements, voluntarily or otherwise, may affect our ability to meet evolving standards and requirements, or our ability to meet our sustainability and ESG-related goals, or related public expectations.

Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting us are described in our filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE REDOMICILIATION

The questions and answers below highlight only selected information from this U.S. Shareholder Circular and only briefly address some potential questions about the proposed Redomiciliation. The following questions and answers do not include all the information that is important to Aegon shareholders. Shareholders are urged to read carefully this entire U.S. Shareholder Circular, including the documents referred to or incorporated by reference herein, to fully understand the proposed Redomiciliation.

 

Q:

Why am I receiving this U.S. Shareholder Circular?

 

A:

We are registering the common shares of Aegon Ltd. to be held by persons in the United States in connection with the Redomiciliation. This document, which forms part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the SEC by Aegon N.V. (File No. 333-                 ), constitutes a prospectus of Aegon Ltd. and Aegon N.V. under Section 5 of the Securities Act, with respect to the Aegon Ltd. securities if the Redomiciliation described herein is consummated.

 

Q:

When and where is the Dutch EGM?

 

A:

The Dutch EGM is expected to be held on                 , 2023, in The Hague, Netherlands.

 

Q:

When and where is the Luxembourg EGM?

 

A:

The Luxembourg EGM is expected to be held on                 , 2023, in Luxembourg.

 

Q:

Are the steps in the Redomiciliation conditioned on one another?

 

A:

Yes. As part of the Redomiciliation, Shareholders may vote on the Luxembourg Conversion and on the Bermuda Conversion, in the Dutch EGM and in the Luxembourg EGM, respectively. There is no guarantee that Shareholders will vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion or on the Bermuda Conversion and Shareholders may first vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion but then still vote against the Bermuda Conversion. Both votes require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, and in addition, for the Bermuda Conversion, a quorum of half of the issued share capital applies. If sufficient Shareholders vote against the Luxembourg Conversion and/or the Bermuda Conversion and/or the applicable quorum is not met, the Redomiciliation will not be implemented. Furthermore, Aegon may also decide to implement the Redomiciliation at another time than currently envisioned. In addition, the Executive Board in its discretion may decide to not implement the Redomiciliation at all.

 

Q:

What is the background to the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

As a result of the ASR Transaction, Aegon will no longer have a regulated insurance entity presence in the Netherlands. Under the Solvency II Regime, Aegon’s current supervisor, the DNB can therefore no longer remain Aegon’s group supervisor. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda.

Bermuda hosts many respected international insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s subsidiaries. Bermuda’s regulatory regime is well recognized, having been granted equivalent status by the EU under the Solvency II Regime, and by the UK under its own Solvency UK regime. It has also been designated as a qualified jurisdiction and reciprocal jurisdiction by the NAIC. This enables insurance companies that are regulated by the BMA to easily conduct cross-border business. Aegon’s regulated insurance entities in the U.S., UK, Spain, Portugal and in other jurisdictions will continue to be supervised by their current local regulators. In addition, Aegon’s asset management activities in the Netherlands will continue to be supervised by the AFM and the DNB.

 

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The change of legal domicile to Bermuda allows for continued application of the IFRS framework. In addition to the IFRS framework, Aegon is exploring the implementation of the U.S. GAAP accounting framework in the medium term to allow for better comparison against U.S. peers and provide long-term strategic flexibility for the Aegon Group. In addition, a change in legal domicile to Bermuda allows Aegon to maintain its headquarters in the Netherlands and remain a Dutch tax resident. Finally, Bermuda is a well-known location for insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s current subsidiaries, and has a well-developed corporate law system that fits Aegon’s intended governance, based on international governance standards, going forward.

Please see the section entitled “The Redomiciliation—Reasons for the Redomiciliation”.

 

Q:

What is the Aegon Board’s recommendation?

 

A:

The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board considered the financial and non-financial aspects of the Redomiciliation in consultation with their advisors. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board, having duly considered the relevant strategic, economic, financial and social aspects, have concluded that the Redomiciliation is in the interest of Aegon and its stakeholders and promotes the sustainable success of Aegon’s business. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion and other voting items at the Dutch EGM, vote in favor of the Bermuda Conversion at the Luxembourg EGM and timely issue their voting proxies for the Luxembourg EGM, all in order to ensure implementation of the Redomiciliation.

 

Q:

What will happen in the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

In the Redomiciliation, Aegon, currently a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap), or Dutch N.V., will become a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares, or Bermuda Ltd. Dutch law currently does not facilitate a direct change of legal domicile of a Dutch public limited liability company (such as Aegon N.V.) to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area. As a result, Aegon as a practical matter intends to first change its legal domicile to Luxembourg, which is a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area that does facilitate a change of legal domicile to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area and shortly thereafter change its legal domicile on to Bermuda. Therefore, the Redomiciliation consists of two principal steps expected to take place on the same day: (i) the Luxembourg Conversion and (ii) the Bermuda Conversion, and requires two General Meetings for the approval and implementation thereof. First, the Dutch EGM will resolve on the Luxembourg Conversion and subsequently the Luxembourg EGM will resolve on the Bermuda Conversion. Throughout, Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon Ltd. and the shares of Aegon will remain issued and outstanding, and will become shares of Aegon Ltd. Upon the Redomiciliation, Aegon’s headquarters will remain in the Netherlands, and Aegon will remain a Dutch tax resident. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda. Aegon Ltd.’s common shares will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam, a regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V., the principal market for our common shares, on which they will continue to trade under the symbol “AGN”. Aegon Ltd.’s common shares, in the form of NYRSs, will also remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AEG”.

Please see the section entitled “The Redomiciliation”.

 

Q:

What changes are being made to the governing documents of Aegon in connection with the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

After the Redomiciliation, Aegon, as a Bermuda Ltd., will be subject to Bermuda law and its governance will predominantly be determined by Bermuda law, its Bye-Laws and its Board Rules. In preparing the Bye-Laws and the Board Rules, Aegon has taken into account the following guiding principles:

 

   

to continue to take into account the interests of Aegon and all its stakeholders;

 

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to apply international governance standards that are well-recognized and accepted; and

 

   

to preserve the current governance principles of Aegon, including the appropriate checks and balances, and to take into account the existing framework of Shareholder rights to the extent possible and practical in view of the Redomiciliation, and where appropriate in the context of Aegon’s international footprint.

Pursuant to these guiding principles, the proposed governance structure of Aegon Ltd. is intended to support and strengthen Aegon’s position as an international company.

Please see the sections entitled “Description of Securities—Post-Redomiciliation Governance” and “Comparison of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd. Governance”.

 

Q:

Will the management or board of directors of Aegon change in connection with the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

Aegon N.V. currently has a two-tier board structure comprising the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. Following the Redomiciliation, Aegon Ltd. will have a single tier board consisting of one executive member—the CEO—and eight non-executive directors. It is expected that Aegon’s current Supervisory Board members will be the non-executive directors and Aegon’s CEO, Eilard Friese, will join the board as the executive director. Matthew Rider is expected to continue his role as Aegon’s CFO as a member of the Group’s executive committee, together with the members of Aegon’s current Management Board.

 

Q:

Following the Redomiciliation, will Aegon’s securities trade on a stock exchange?

 

A:

Aegon N.V.’s common shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam, a regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V., the principal market for our common shares, on which they trade under the symbol “AGN”. Aegon N.V.’s common shares, in the form of NYRSs, are also listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AEG”. Following the Redomiciliation, our common shares will continue to be listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Q:

What constitutes a quorum at the Dutch EGM?

 

A:

There are no quorum requirements at the Dutch EGM.

 

Q:

What constitutes a quorum at the Luxembourg EGM?

 

A:

The vote on the Bermuda Conversion requires a quorum of half of the issued share capital. There are no quorum requirements for the Luxembourg EGM to be held, nor for any of the agenda items other than the vote on the Bermuda Conversion.

 

Q:

What vote is required to approve the Redomiciliation at the Dutch EGM?

 

A:

All voting items relating to the Redomiciliation, except for the vote on the Luxembourg Conversion, require a simple majority of the votes cast. The vote on the Luxembourg Conversion requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. The directors, executive officers and affiliates of Aegon N.V. are currently entitled to vote     % of the outstanding shares entitled to be voted in connection with the Redomiciliation.

 

Q:

What vote is required to approve the Redomiciliation at the Luxembourg EGM?

 

A:

All voting items relating to the Redomiciliation, except for the vote on the Bermuda Conversion, require a simple majority of the votes cast. The vote on the Bermuda Conversion requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. The directors, executive officers and affiliates of Aegon N.V. are currently entitled to vote     % of the outstanding shares entitled to be voted in connection with the Redomiciliation.

 

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Q:

What happens if the Redomiciliation is not approved?

 

A:

The Redomiciliation will not be implemented and Aegon will remain a Dutch N.V. In such event, Aegon would maintain its legal domicile in the Netherlands and have to re-engage with its College of Supervisors on the implications on group supervision, as the current arrangements assume an interim period followed by the Redomiciliation, with DNB expected to de facto fulfill the role of group supervisor of Aegon for the limited duration of this interim period only. The Executive Board may also resolve at its own discretion to convene a new Luxembourg EGM for a new vote on the Bermuda Conversion.

 

Q:

Are there withdrawal rights in connection with the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

No. There are no withdrawal rights available to holders of Aegon shares in connection with the Redomiciliation.

 

Q:

What are the material tax consequences to me of the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

The Redomiciliation is not a taxable event for Aegon or Shareholders for Dutch corporate income tax, Dutch dividend withholding tax and Dutch personal income tax purposes. The Dutch dividend withholding tax, corporate income tax and personal income tax treatment of Shareholders after the Redomiciliation is expected to generally remain the same as if the Redomiciliation had not occurred. Furthermore, the Redomiciliation will qualify as a tax-free “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder will not recognize any gain or loss solely as a result of the Redomiciliation, will have the same tax basis in each of its Shares following the Redomiciliation as the U.S. holder had immediately prior to the Redomiciliation, and will have a holding period in each of its Shares following the Redomiciliation that includes the U.S. holder’s holding period in such Shares immediately prior to the Redomiciliation.

For a discussion of the material Dutch tax and U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Redomiciliation, see “Taxation”, portions of which constitute the opinions of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. and Latham & Watkins LLP, respectively.

 

Q:

Do I have appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights if I object to the proposed Redomiciliation?

 

A:

No. There are no appraisal rights or dissenters’ rights available to holders of Aegon shares in connection with the Redomiciliation.

 

Q:

What conditions must be satisfied to complete the Redomiciliation?

 

A:

The Luxembourg Conversion, and therefore the Redomiciliation, will only be implemented if the Executive Board, at its full discretion, resolves to implement the Luxembourg Conversion and the Redomiciliation. The Executive Board will only resolve on the implementation of the Luxembourg Conversion and the Redomiciliation if sufficient proxies and voting instructions approving the required resolutions at the Luxembourg EGM, as determined by the Executive Board at its full discretion, have been obtained from Shareholders for the Luxembourg EGM as set out in Section “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation—Decision-making in the Dutch EGM and Luxembourg EGM—Cancellation of the Luxembourg EGM”.

Furthermore, Aegon may also decide to implement the Redomiciliation at another time than currently envisioned. In addition, the Executive Board in its discretion may decide to not implement the Redomiciliation at all. The Bermuda Conversion requires the customary confirmatory approval of the BMA and the Bermuda Minister of Finance acting through the Bermuda Registrar of Companies that the formalities for changing the legal domicile to Bermuda prescribed by the Companies Act have been satisfied. These approvals are expected to be obtained upon registration in Bermuda.

 

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For a summary of the conditions that must be satisfied prior to completion of the Redomiciliation, please see the section entitled “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation—Conditions for the Redomiciliation” and “Risk Factors—The Redomiciliation may not be implemented or may not be implemented in a timely manner.”

 

Q:

What happens if the Redomiciliation is not consummated?

 

A:

Aegon will remain a Dutch N.V. and the rights of Shareholders will remain unchanged. In such event, Aegon would maintain its legal domicile in the Netherlands and have to re-engage with its College of Supervisors on the implications on group supervision, as the current arrangements assume an interim period followed by the Redomiciliation, with DNB expected to de facto fulfil the role of group supervisor of Aegon for the limited duration of this interim period only. Please see “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation—Decision-making in the Dutch EGM and Luxembourg EGM—Cancellation of the Luxembourg EGM” for additional information.

 

Q:

When is the Redomiciliation expected to be completed?

 

A:

It is currently anticipated that the Redomiciliation will be consummated promptly following the Luxembourg EGM, which is expected to occur on or about                 , 2023. For a summary of the conditions that must be satisfied prior to completion of the Redomiciliation, please see the section entitled “The Redomiciliation—Structure of the Redomiciliation—Conditions for the Redomiciliation” and “Risk Factors—The Redomiciliation may not be implemented or may not be implemented in a timely manner”.

 

Q:

Who can help answer my questions?

 

A:

If you have questions about the Redomiciliation or if you need hard copies of this U.S. Shareholder Circular you should contact:

Investor Relations

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50

2591 TV The Hague

The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-344-8305

Tel: 1-443-475-3243

E-mail: ir@aegon.com

You may also obtain additional information about Aegon from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular and does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read carefully this entire U.S. Shareholder Circular, including the information incorporated by reference herein, to fully understand the proposed Redomiciliation (as described below). Please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our Company

With roots dating back more than 175 years, Aegon is a global financial services company with its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Aegon operates in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and serves millions of customers. Its main markets are the United States, the Netherlands (prior to Completion of the ASR Transaction) and the United Kingdom. Aegon encourages product innovation and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit within its businesses. New products and services are developed by local business units with a continuous focus on helping people take responsibility for their financial future. Aegon uses a multi-brand, multi-channel distribution approach to meet its customers’ needs. Aegon faces intense competition from a large number of other insurers, as well as non-insurance financial services companies such as banks, broker-dealers and asset managers, for individual customers, employer and other group customers and agents and other distributors of insurance and investment products.

Aegon N.V. is a holding company. Aegon’s products and services include insurance, long-term savings, banking and asset management. Aegon’s operations are conducted through its operating subsidiaries. As a result of the transactions constituting the Redomiciliation, Aegon N.V., a Dutch N.V., will be converted into Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg S.A., and subsequently Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda Ltd. Thereafter, Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon Ltd. and the shares of Aegon will remain issued and outstanding, and will become shares of Aegon Ltd. Upon the Redomiciliation, Aegon’s headquarters will remain in the Netherlands, and Aegon will remain a Dutch tax resident. Aegon’s headquarters are located at Aegonplein 50, P.O. Box 85, 2501 CB The Hague, the Netherlands (telephone +31-70-344-8305; internet: www.aegon.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference and is not part of this U.S. Shareholder Circular.

Summary of the Redomiciliation

In the Redomiciliation, Aegon, currently a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap), or Dutch N.V., will become a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares, or Bermuda Ltd. Dutch law currently does not facilitate a direct change of legal domicile of a Dutch public limited liability company (such as Aegon N.V.) to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area. As a result, Aegon as a practical matter intends to first change its legal domicile to Luxembourg, which is a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area that does facilitate a change of legal domicile to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area and shortly thereafter change its legal domicile to Bermuda. Therefore, the Redomiciliation consists of two principal steps: (i) the Luxembourg Conversion and (ii) the Bermuda Conversion. Aegon will be Aegon S.A. for a limited amount of time between the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time (which is expected to take place on the same day as the Luxembourg Conversion, as soon as practicable following the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time). The Redomiciliation will take place through a two-step cross-border conversion where each conversion will change the legal form and legal domicile of Aegon by an amendment of its Articles of Association. Upon each conversion, Aegon continues to exist and its assets and liabilities will not be liquidated or transferred. Each Shareholder will eventually hold one Aegon Ltd. Share immediately after the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time for each Aegon N.V. Share held immediately prior to the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time. Aegon Ltd.’s common shares will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam, a regulated market operated by Euronext Amsterdam N.V., the principal market for our common shares, on which they will continue to trade under the symbol “AGN”. Aegon Ltd.’s common shares, in the form of NYRSs, will also remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AEG”.

 

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The Luxembourg Conversion, and therefore the Redomiciliation, will only be implemented if the Executive Board, at its full discretion, resolves to implement the Luxembourg Conversion and the Redomiciliation. The Executive Board will only resolve on the implementation of the Luxembourg Conversion and the Redomiciliation if sufficient proxies and voting instructions approving the required resolutions at the Luxembourg EGM, as determined by the Executive Board at its full discretion, have been obtained from Shareholders for the Luxembourg EGM. Furthermore, Aegon may also decide to implement the Redomiciliation at another time than currently envisioned. In addition, the Executive Board in its discretion may decide to not implement the Redomiciliation at all. The Bermuda Conversion requires the customary confirmatory approval of the BMA and the Bermuda Minister of Finance acting through the Bermuda Registrar of Companies that the formalities for changing the legal domicile to Bermuda prescribed by the Companies Act have been satisfied. These approvals are expected to be obtained upon registration in Bermuda.

For more information, please see the section entitled “The Redomiciliation”.

Governance Following the Redomiciliation

After the Redomiciliation, Aegon, as a Bermuda Ltd., will be subject to Bermuda law and its governance will predominantly be determined by Bermuda law, its Bye-Laws and its Board Rules, guided by well-recognized and accepted international governance standards. As Aegon will continue to be listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the NYSE, Aegon will continue to comply with the rules and regulations that apply to it by virtue of its listing on Euronext Amsterdam and those of the SEC applicable to foreign private issuers. For more information, see “Description of Securities”. Additionally, a description of the main elements of Aegon Ltd.’s envisaged governance as well as a comparison to Aegon N.V.’s current governance is included in the governance comparison table, included under “Comparison of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd. Governance”.

Group Supervision Following the Redomiciliation

Following completion of the ASR Transaction, Aegon will no longer have a regulated insurance entity in the Netherlands. After an interim period during which DNB is expected to de facto continue to fulfill the role of group supervisor, DNB will no longer remain Aegon’s group supervisor. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda. The key elements of the group supervision as to be exercised by the BMA are set out in “Description of Securities—Post-Redomiciliation Regulatory Framework”.

The remaining European regulated insurance entities in the group that are established in the EEA, will remain subject to supervision by their relevant regulators at individual level pursuant to the Solvency II Regime. Aegon’s regulated entities established in other jurisdictions will also remain subject to their relevant regulators at the individual level. In addition, subgroup supervision will be exercised by the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority with respect to entities established in the United Kingdom as subsidiaries of Aegon Europe Holding B.V. on the basis of the relevant provisions of the UK regulatory regime for insurers.

Reasons for the Redomiciliation

As a result of the ASR Transaction, Aegon Group will no longer have a regulated insurance business in the Netherlands. Under the Solvency II Regime, Aegon’s current supervisor, the DNB can therefore no longer remain Aegon’s group supervisor. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda.

Bermuda hosts many respected international insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s subsidiaries. Bermuda’s regulatory regime is well recognized, having been granted equivalent status by the EU under the

 

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Solvency II Regime, and by the UK under its own Solvency UK regime. It has also been designated as a qualified jurisdiction and reciprocal jurisdiction by the NAIC. This enables insurance companies that are regulated by the BMA to easily conduct cross-border business. Aegon’s regulated insurance entities in the U.S., UK, Spain, Portugal and in other jurisdictions will continue to be supervised by their current local regulators. In addition, Aegon’s asset management activities in the Netherlands will continue to be supervised by the AFM and the DNB.

The change of legal domicile to Bermuda allows for continued application of the IFRS framework. In addition to the IFRS framework, Aegon is exploring the implementation of the U.S. GAAP accounting framework in the medium term to allow for better comparison against U.S. peers and provide long-term strategic flexibility for the Aegon Group. In addition, a change in legal domicile to Bermuda allows Aegon to maintain its headquarters in the Netherlands and remain a Dutch tax resident. Finally, Bermuda is a well-known location for insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s subsidiaries, and has a well-developed corporate law system that fits Aegon’s intended governance, based on international governance standards, going forward.

Please see the section entitled “The Redomiciliation—Reasons for the Redomiciliation”.

Required Vote

The Redomiciliation requires approval by Shareholders. As part of the Redomiciliation, Shareholders may vote on the Luxembourg Conversion and on the Bermuda Conversion, in the Dutch EGM and in the Luxembourg EGM, respectively. There is no guarantee that Shareholders will vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion and on the Bermuda Conversion and Shareholders may first vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion but then still vote against the Bermuda Conversion. Both votes require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, and in addition, for the Bermuda Conversion, a quorum of half of the issued share capital applies. If sufficient Shareholders vote against the Luxembourg Conversion and/or the Bermuda Conversion and/or the applicable quorum is not met, the Redomiciliation will not be implemented. The directors, executive officers and affiliates of Aegon N.V. are currently entitled to vote     % of the outstanding shares entitled to be voted in connection with the Redomiciliation.

Recommendation to Shareholders

The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board considered the financial and non-financial aspects of the Redomiciliation in consultation with their advisors. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board, having duly considered the relevant strategic, economic, financial and social aspects, have concluded that the Redomiciliation is in the interest of Aegon and its stakeholders and promotes the sustainable success of Aegon’s business. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board unanimously recommend that the shareholders of Aegon vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion and other voting items at the Dutch EGM, vote in favor of the Bermuda Conversion at the Luxembourg EGM and timely issue their voting proxies for the Luxembourg EGM, all in order to ensure implementation of the Redomiciliation.

Expected timetable for the principal events of the Redomiciliation

The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on current expectations and may be subject to change. In particular, should completion of the ASR Transaction be delayed, this may create a corresponding

delay in the timetable for the Redomiciliation. If any of the stated times and/or dates change, the revised times and/or dates will be announced by Aegon in due course.

 

 

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Principal events

  

Time and/or date

Publication of the Conversion Proposal    June 30, 2023
Formal announcement of the filing of the Conversion Proposal   

July 1, 2023

First day Creditor Opposition Period    July 2, 2023
Last day of the Creditor Opposition Period   

August 1, 2023

Convocation of the Dutch EGM and the Luxembourg EGM                    , 2023
Dutch EGM Record Date                    , 2023
Luxembourg EGM Record Date                    , 2023
Latest time Shareholders may vote through the e-voting system for the Dutch EGM    11:59 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Latest time for receipt of a power of attorney issued by a Shareholder for the Dutch EGM    6:00 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Latest time Shareholders can vote through the e-voting system for the Luxembourg EGM    11:59 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Latest time for receipt of a power of attorney issued by a Shareholder for the Luxembourg EGM    6:00 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Opening Dutch EGM    (CET) on                 , 2023
Opening Luxembourg EGM    (CET) on                 , 2023
Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time    (CET) on                 , 2023
Bermuda Conversion Effective Time    11:30 p.m. (CET) at the latest on                 , 2023

Material Tax Consequences

The Redomiciliation is not a taxable event for Aegon or Shareholders for Dutch corporate income tax, Dutch dividend withholding tax and Dutch personal income tax purposes. The Dutch dividend withholding tax, corporate income tax and personal income tax treatment of Shareholders after the Redomiciliation is expected to generally remain the same as if the Redomiciliation had not occurred. Furthermore, the Redomiciliation will qualify as a tax-free “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder will not recognize any gain or loss solely as a result of the Redomiciliation, will have the same tax basis in each of its Shares following the Redomiciliation as the U.S. holder had immediately prior to the Redomiciliation, and will have a holding period in each of its Shares following the Redomiciliation that includes the U.S. holder’s holding period in such Shares immediately prior to the Redomiciliation. For a discussion of the material Dutch tax and U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Redomiciliation, see “Taxation”, portions of which constitute the opinions of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. and Latham & Watkins LLP, respectively.

Summary Risk Factors

We have included certain risk factors in this U.S. Shareholder Circular in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and other risk factors are incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. In

 

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summary, those risk factors cover the following topics; although we urge you to read and carefully consider the risk factors included or incorporated by reference herein in their entirety:

Risks relating to the Redomiciliation

 

   

Currently, Shareholder rights are governed by the laws of the Netherlands and Aegon’s Articles of Association, while following the Redomiciliation, rights of Shareholders will be governed by the laws of Bermuda and the Bye-Laws, and accordingly certain rights of Shareholders will change as a result of the Redomiciliation, which may adversely affect the position of Shareholders

 

   

The Redomiciliation may not be implemented, or may not be implemented in a timely manner

 

   

The change in regulatory regime involves uncertainty as to the implications, and adapting to such new regime may lead to substantial costs and require substantial time spent by Aegon’s management

 

   

Changes in law, policy or practice may result in adverse tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders in relation to the Redomiciliation and Aegon Ltd. going forward

 

   

The Redomiciliation may result in adverse tax consequences to Aegon’s Shareholders

 

   

The Redomiciliation may have an adverse effect on trading, liquidity and the price of the Common Shares on the stock exchange, as some Shareholders may not wish to hold shares of a Bermuda issuer or be invested in Aegon without its Dutch business following the ASR Transaction, and this could negatively affect trading, liquidity and the price of the Common Shares

 

   

If Aegon ceases to be listed on an appointed stock exchange, or if the BMA withdraws its general permission, the provisions of the Bermuda Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulation may apply to issuances and transfers of its shares to or from a non-resident of Bermuda

Financial risks

 

   

Rapidly rising interest rates

 

   

Interest rate volatility, and sustained low or negative interest rate levels

 

   

Disruptions in the global financial markets and general economic conditions

 

   

Higher inflation

 

   

Illiquidity of certain investment assets

 

   

Credit risk, declines in value and defaults in Aegon’s debt securities, private placements, mortgage loan portfolios and other instruments or the failure of certain counterparties

 

   

Decline in equity markets

 

   

Downturn in the real estate market

 

   

Default of a major market participant

 

   

Failure by reinsurers to which Aegon has ceded risk

 

   

Downgrade in Aegon’s credit ratings

 

   

Fluctuations in currency exchange rates

 

   

Unsuccessful management of derivatives

 

   

Subjective valuation of Aegon’s investments, allowances and impairments

 

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Underwriting risks

 

   

Differences between actual claims experience/underwriting and reserve assumptions

 

   

Products with guarantees

 

   

Restrictions on underwriting criteria and the use of data

 

   

Unexpected return on offered financial and insurance products

 

   

Reinsurance may not be available, affordable, or adequate

 

   

Catastrophic events

Operational risks

 

   

Competitive factors

 

   

Difficulty in managing the Company’s acquisitions and divestments

 

   

Difficulties in distributing and marketing products through its current and future distribution channels

 

   

Inability to adapt to and apply new technologies

 

   

Failure of data management and governance

 

   

Epidemics or pandemics

 

   

Unsuccessful in managing exposure to climate risk and adequately adapting investment portfolios

 

   

Unidentified or unanticipated risk events

 

   

Failure of Aegon’s information technology or communications systems

 

   

Computer system failure or security breach

 

   

Breach of data privacy or security obligations

 

   

Inaccuracies in econometric, financial, or actuarial models, or differing interpretations of underlying methodologies

 

   

Inaccurate, incomplete or unsuccessful quantitative models, algorithms or calculations

 

   

Issues with third party providers, including events such as bankruptcy, disruption of services, poor performance, non-performance, or standards of service level agreements not being upheld

 

   

Inability to attract and retain personnel

Political, regulatory and supervisory risks

 

   

Requirement to increase technical provisions and/or hold higher amounts of regulatory capital as a result of changes in the regulatory environment or changes in rating agency analysis

 

   

Political or other instability in a country or geographic region

 

   

Changes in accounting standards

 

   

Inability of Aegon’s subsidiaries to pay dividends to Aegon N.V. or Aegon Ltd.

 

   

Risks of application of intervention measures

Legal and compliance risks

 

   

Unfavorable outcomes of legal and arbitration proceedings and regulatory investigations and actions

 

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Changes in government regulations in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates

 

   

Increased attention to ESG matters and evolving ESG standards and requirements

 

   

Tax risks

 

   

Judgments of U.S. courts may not be enforceable against Aegon in Dutch courts

 

   

Inability to manage risks associated with the reform and replacement of benchmark rates

 

   

Inability to protect intellectual property

Risks relating to Aegon’s common shares

 

   

Volatility of Aegon’s share price

 

   

Offering of additional common shares in the future

 

   

Significant influence of Vereniging Aegon over Aegon’s corporate actions

 

   

Currency fluctuations

 

   

Influence of Perpetual Contingent Convertible over the market price for Aegon’s common shares

See “Risk Factors” herein and the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this U.S. Shareholder Circular or the registration statement of which this U.S. Shareholder Circular forms a part.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this U.S. Shareholder Circular involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this U.S. Shareholder Circular or the registration statement of which this U.S. Shareholder Circular forms a part, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement, before acquiring any of our securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our securities.

Risks relating to the Redomiciliation

Currently, rights of Shareholders are governed by the laws of the Netherlands and the Articles of Association of Aegon N.V., while following the Redomiciliation, rights of Shareholders will be governed by the laws of Bermuda and the Bye-Laws of Aegon Ltd., and accordingly certain rights of Shareholders will change as a result of the Redomiciliation, which may adversely affect the position of Shareholders.

Following the Redomiciliation, the Memorandum of Association and the Bye-laws will be the constitutive documents of Aegon. These new constitutive documents and Bermuda law will contain provisions that differ from those included in the Articles of Association and the laws of the Netherlands and, therefore, certain rights as a shareholder of Aegon Ltd. may differ materially from the rights currently possessed as a shareholder of Aegon N.V. For example, under Dutch law, Shareholders have statutory pre-emptive rights with respect to the issuance of Shares of the same class (unless such pre-emptive rights have been excluded, as the General Meeting currently typically authorizes on an annual basis); Bermuda law, however, does not offer pre-emptive rights unless such pre-emptive rights are granted pursuant to the Bye-Laws or agreed contractually. Also, under Dutch law, the general meeting decides on the issuance of Shares (unless the Board has been authorized by the general meeting to do so, as the General Meeting currently typically authorizes on an annual basis), whereas, under Bermuda law, the Board may decide on Share issuances without Shareholder approval, subject to there being sufficient unissued authorized share capital. In addition, although the Bye-Laws provide for a mandatory public offer regime, Dutch law mandatory public offer rules will not apply to Aegon. Furthermore, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code will no longer apply to Aegon and Aegon does not intend to apply the Dutch Corporate Governance Code voluntarily as its governance will be based on international governance standards, reflecting the international footprint of Aegon’s business, as described in “Description of Securities—Post-Redomiciliation Governance”. See “Comparison of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd. Governance” for a description of the material differences between the governance of Aegon N.V. under the Articles of Association and the laws of the Netherlands, compared to the governance of Aegon Ltd. under the Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws and the laws of Bermuda. Such differences and other changes in the applicable law and Aegon’s constitutive documents may adversely affect the position of Shareholders.

The Redomiciliation may not be implemented or may not be implemented in a timely manner.

Completion of the Redomiciliation is contingent on factors and circumstances of which some are not, or not completely, within the control of Aegon. As a result, the Redomiciliation may not be implemented or may not be implemented according to the timeline as currently foreseen by Aegon and as included in “The Redomiciliation—Expected timetable for the principal events of the Redomiciliation”, including as a result of the following factors and circumstances:

 

   

the Redomiciliation requires approval by Shareholders. As part of the Redomiciliation, Shareholders may vote on the Luxembourg Conversion and on the Bermuda Conversion, in the Dutch EGM and in the Luxembourg EGM, respectively. There is no guarantee that Shareholders will vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion or of the Bermuda Conversion and Shareholders may first vote in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion but then still vote against the Bermuda Conversion. Both votes require a

 

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two-thirds majority of the votes cast, and in addition, for the Bermuda Conversion a quorum of half of the issued share capital applies. If sufficient Shareholders vote against the Luxembourg Conversion and/or the Bermuda Conversion and/or the applicable quorum is not met, the Redomiciliation will not be implemented;

 

   

Aegon N.V. creditors may during the Creditor Opposition Period object to the Redomiciliation (as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Creditor opposition”). Although Aegon believes the Redomiciliation will not prejudice the position of its creditors and accordingly that any such objections would be without merit, exercise of creditor opposition rights may delay or frustrate implementation of the Redomiciliation;

 

   

the implementation of the Redomiciliation may be subject to litigation on any grounds, which may delay or otherwise frustrate the implementation of the Redomiciliation; and

 

   

although neither the Luxembourg Conversion nor the Bermuda Conversion is expected to require Aegon to obtain a declaration of no objection from the DNB or from other regulators for the acquisition of a qualifying holding in the Aegon regulated entities (as set out in “The Redomiciliation—Regulatory Approvals required for the Redomiciliation”), regulators may take a different view. If any regulator would assert that regulatory approval is nevertheless required for the implementation of the Redomiciliation and such approval is not forthcoming, this may delay or, ultimately, prevent the implementation of the Redomiciliation.

In addition, Aegon may also decide to implement the Redomiciliation at another time than currently envisioned. In addition, the Executive Board in its discretion may decide to not implement the Redomiciliation at all.

The change in regulatory regime involves uncertainty as to the implications, and adapting to such new regime may lead to substantial costs and require substantial time spent by Aegon’s management.

After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda. The capital requirements that apply and the monitoring thereof at group level may be subject to change over time. Any additional risks associated with the regulated entities’ membership of the insurance group may be mitigated by imposing additional requirements at the individual level of the relevant insurance entities. The Solvency II Regime will continue to apply to the European insurance entities of the Aegon Group at the individual level. At the level of other individual regulated subsidiaries, Aegon’s regulated entities may be subject to additional requirements in accordance with the relevant jurisdiction’s local regulatory framework. The change in regulatory regime involves uncertainty as to the implications and adapting to such new regime may lead to substantial costs and require substantial time spent by Aegon’s management, which may adversely affect Aegon and its business.

See “Description of Securities—Post-Redomiciliation Regulatory Framework

Changes in facts, law, policy or practice may result in adverse tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders in relation to the Redomiciliation and Aegon Ltd. going forward.

Certain aspects of the tax treatment of the Redomiciliation and Aegon Ltd. going forward depend on determinations of facts and interpretations of applicable tax laws for which no clear precedent or authority is available. Relevant tax laws, and case law, policies and practices on their application and interpretation are continuously under review and are subject to change, which may result in new or revised interpretation or application of relevant statutory provisions, statutory changes, revisions to regulations, policies and decrees, including the Dutch Tax Decree on the conversion of legal entities (Besluit omzetting rechtspersonen) dated April 14, 2022, and other modifications. The expected tax treatment of the Redomiciliation and Aegon Ltd. going forward may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation or changes at any time, and any such action may apply on a retroactive or retrospective basis. This could lead to additional taxes to be paid by

 

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Aegon Ltd. and consequently, Aegon Ltd. may have to engage in tax litigation to defend or achieve results reflected in prior estimates, declarations or assessments which may be time-consuming and expensive.

For a discussion of the material Dutch tax and U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Redomiciliation, see “Taxation”.

Aegon Ltd. will seek to maintain its management and organizational structure in such a manner that its place of effective management would be in the Netherlands for Dutch tax law purposes. However, the determination of whether Aegon Ltd. has a presence for relevant tax purposes in a jurisdiction other than the Netherlands, is largely a question of fact, based on all relevant circumstances. Further, eligibility to relief from source taxation (such as withholding taxes) under relevant tax treaties or domestic tax law may be subject to further conditions. Changes to applicable facts and circumstances may have a bearing on the determination of whether Aegon Ltd. has a presence for relevant tax purposes in a jurisdiction other than the Netherlands and/or eligibility to relief under any tax treaty or domestic tax law.

The Redomiciliation may result in adverse tax consequences to the Shareholders

The Redomiciliation may result in adverse tax consequences to Shareholders and hence Shareholders and especially Shareholders which are resident for tax purposes in jurisdictions other than the Netherlands or the United States should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the Redomiciliation.

For a discussion of the material Dutch tax and U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Redomiciliation, see “Taxation”.

The Redomiciliation may have an adverse effect on trading, liquidity and the price of the Common Shares on the stock exchange, as some Shareholders may not wish to hold shares of a Bermuda issuer or be invested in Aegon without its Dutch business following the ASR Transaction, and this could negatively affect trading, liquidity and the price of the Common Shares

As a result of the Redomiciliation, Aegon will have its legal domicile in Bermuda. Certain Shareholders may pursuant to their investment policies not be able to, or otherwise wish not to, hold or invest in shares of a Bermuda issuer. In addition, some Shareholders may sell their Common Shares upon the ASR Transaction closing, all of which may, as a result, have an adverse effect on trading, liquidity and the price of the Common Shares.

If Aegon ceases to be listed on an appointed stock exchange, or if the BMA withdraws its general permission, the provisions of the Bermuda Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulation may apply to issuances and transfers of its shares to or from a non-resident of Bermuda.

The permission of the BMA is required, pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulations, for all issuances and transfers of shares of Bermuda companies to or from a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, other than in cases where the BMA has granted a general permission. The BMA, in its notice to the public dated June 1, 2005, has granted a general permission for, among other things, the issue and subsequent transfer of any securities where any equity securities of a Bermuda company are listed on an appointed stock exchange (which includes the Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE), general permission is hereby given for the issue and subsequent transfer of any securities of the company from and/or to a non-resident, for as long as any equity securities of the company remain so listed. For so long as equity securities of Aegon remain listed on an appointed stock exchange the specific permission for the issue and transfer of its securities will not be required from the BMA pursuant to the Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulations.

 

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THE REDOMICILIATION

Introduction

On June 30, 2023, Aegon announced its intention to change its legal domicile to Bermuda. Subsequently, Aegon’s group supervision will change from DNB to the BMA. Upon completion of the Redomiciliation, Aegon’s headquarters will remain in the Netherlands. Aegon will remain a Dutch tax resident and the Common Shares will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE.

Dutch law currently does not facilitate a direct change of the legal domicile of a Dutch public limited liability company (such as Aegon N.V.) to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area. In view thereof, Aegon as a practical matter intends to first change its legal domicile to Luxembourg, which is a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area that does facilitate a change of legal domicile to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area and shortly thereafter change its legal domicile to Bermuda. Therefore, the Redomiciliation consists of two principal steps: (i) the Luxembourg Conversion and (ii) the Bermuda Conversion, and requires two General Meetings for the approval and implementation thereof. First, the Dutch EGM will resolve on the Luxembourg Conversion and subsequently the Luxembourg EGM will resolve on the Bermuda Conversion.

This U.S. Shareholder Circular provides the background to and the strategic reasons for the Redomiciliation and the key terms thereof. The Luxembourg Conversion and the Bermuda Conversion cannot be viewed independently of each other and together constitute the Redomiciliation.

Reasons for the Redomiciliation

Background for the Redomiciliation

As a result of the ASR Transaction, the Aegon Group will no longer have a regulated insurance entity presence in the Netherlands. Under the Solvency II Regime, Aegon’s current supervisor, the DNB can therefore no longer remain Aegon’s group supervisor. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda.

Bermuda hosts many respected international insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s subsidiaries. Bermuda’s regulatory regime is well recognized, having been granted equivalent status by the EU under the Solvency II Regime, and by the UK under its own Solvency UK regime. It has also been designated as a qualified jurisdiction and reciprocal jurisdiction by the NAIC. This enables insurance companies that are regulated by the BMA to easily conduct cross-border business. Aegon’s regulated insurance entities in the U.S., UK, Spain, Portugal and in other jurisdictions will continue to be supervised by their current local regulators. In addition, Aegon’s asset management activities in the Netherlands will continue to be supervised by the AFM and the DNB.

The change of legal domicile to Bermuda allows for continued application of the IFRS framework. In addition to the IFRS framework, Aegon is exploring the implementation of the U.S. GAAP accounting framework in the medium term to allow for better comparison against U.S. peers and provide long-term strategic flexibility for the Aegon Group. In addition, a change in legal domicile to Bermuda allows Aegon to maintain its headquarters in the Netherlands and remain a Dutch tax resident. Finally, Bermuda is a well-known location for insurance companies, including three of Aegon’s subsidiaries, and has a well-developed corporate law system that fits Aegon’s intended governance, based on international governance standards, going forward.

 

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Effects of the Redomiciliation

Continuation of Aegon

Aegon will retain its legal personality and will continue to exist throughout the Redomiciliation process. All assets and liabilities, rights, obligations and other legal relationships of Aegon N.V. will remain with Aegon S.A. and subsequently Aegon Ltd. without Aegon being liquidated in the process. Aegon N.V. Shares will become Aegon S.A. Shares and subsequently Aegon Ltd. Shares upon completion of the Redomiciliation and we expect the Shares will at all times continue to be outstanding without interruption and remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE throughout the Redomiciliation process.

Group supervision

Following completion of the ASR Transaction, Aegon will no longer have a regulated insurance entity presence in the Netherlands. After an interim period during which DNB is expected to de facto continue to fulfill the role of group supervisor, DNB will no longer remain Aegon’s group supervisor. After consulting the members of the college of supervisors, the BMA has informed Aegon that the BMA will become its group supervisor if Aegon were to transfer its legal seat to Bermuda. The key elements of the group supervision as to be exercised by the BMA are set out in “Description of Securities—Post-Redomiciliation Regulatory Framework”.

The remaining European regulated insurance entities in the group that are established in the EEA, will remain subject to supervision by their relevant regulators at individual level pursuant to the Solvency II Regime. Aegon’s regulated entities established in other jurisdictions will also remain subject to their relevant regulators at the individual level. In addition, subgroup supervision will be exercised by the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority with respect to entities established in the United Kingdom as subsidiaries of Aegon Europe Holding B.V. on the basis of the relevant provisions of the UK regulatory regime for insurers.

Governance

After the Redomiciliation, Aegon will be subject to Bermuda law and its governance will predominantly be determined by its Bye-Laws and Board Rules, guided by well-recognized and accepted international governance standards. Accordingly, the rights of Shareholders will be determined by Bermuda law and these governing documents.

Following the Redomiciliation, Shareholders will continue to hold the same relative equity and voting interests that they currently hold in Aegon.

The governance of Aegon Ltd. is described in “Description of Securities”. The changes in governance resulting from the Redomiciliation are described in the comparison table of governance of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd., under “Comparison of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd. Governance”.

Material Tax consequences

Aegon will remain a Dutch tax resident after the Redomiciliation. Aegon is not pursuing the Redomiciliation for tax reasons. The Dutch dividend withholding tax, corporate income tax and personal income tax treatment of Shareholders after the Redomiciliation is expected to generally remain the same as before the Redomiciliation. A description of Dutch tax and U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Redomiciliation is set out in “Taxation”, portions of which constitute the opinions of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. and Latham & Watkins LLP, respectively.

Capital management

The changes in legal domicile and group supervision are not expected to have a material impact on Aegon’s capital management framework. Aegon’s capital management approach will continue to focus on capitalization of its operating units, cash capital at the holding level and gross financial leverage.

 

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Structure of the Redomiciliation

General overview

Dutch law currently does not facilitate a direct change of legal domicile of a Dutch public limited liability company (such as Aegon) to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area. Therefore, Aegon as a practical matter intends to first change its legal domicile to Luxembourg, which is a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area that does facilitate a change of legal domicile to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area and shortly thereafter change its legal domicile to Bermuda. As a result, the Redomiciliation comprises various steps. The two principal steps are set out below:

 

  Step 1:

the cross-border conversion of Aegon N.V. into Aegon S.A. (the “Luxembourg Conversion”), which will be resolved upon at the Dutch EGM;

 

  Step 2:

the cross-border conversion of Aegon S.A. into Aegon Ltd. (the “Bermuda Conversion”), which will be resolved upon at the Luxembourg EGM;

Upon the Luxembourg Conversion taking effect (the “Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time”), Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as a Luxembourg company (a Luxembourg société anonyme) governed by the laws of Luxembourg. All assets and liabilities, rights, obligations and other legal relationships of Aegon N.V. will remain with Aegon S.A., and Aegon N.V. will not be liquidated in the process.

Similarly, upon the Bermuda Conversion taking effect (the “Bermuda Conversion Effective Time”), Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as a Bermuda Ltd. governed by the laws of Bermuda. All assets and liabilities, rights, obligations and other legal relationships of Aegon S.A. will remain with Aegon Ltd., and Aegon S.A. will not be liquidated in the process.

At the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time, all Aegon N.V. Shares will remain issued, and will become Aegon S.A. Shares pursuant to the Luxembourg Conversion. At the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, all Aegon S.A. Shares will remain issued, and will become Aegon Ltd. Shares. Each Shareholder will eventually hold one Aegon Ltd. Share immediately after the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time for each Aegon N.V. Share held immediately prior to the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time.

Both the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time are expected to occur on the same day – the day of the Luxembourg EGM – with the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time expected to occur as soon as practicable following the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time. Between the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, should markets be open for trading, the Shares may not be eligible to be traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE. Each Shareholder will eventually hold one Aegon Ltd. Share immediately after the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time for each Aegon N.V. Share held immediately prior to the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time.

Mobility Directive

The legal framework for cross-border movement of companies in the European Union is currently in the process of being changed. The European Union has adopted the Mobility Directive, which aims at facilitating such cross-border movements. However, the Mobility Directive requires implementation into national law before it takes effect and at the date of the Conversion Proposal, the Mobility Directive had not yet been implemented in Dutch law.

The Dutch Legislative Proposal includes a transitional provision that provides that the legal provisions applicable prior to the entry into force of the Dutch Legislative Proposal (the “Pre-Mobility Directive Conversion Provisions”) shall continue to apply to cross-border conversions for which the conversion proposal has been filed at the office of the Dutch Trade Register prior to the entry into force of the Dutch Legislative

 

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Proposal. The Conversion Proposal was filed with the Dutch Trade Register on June 30, 2023, ahead of the implementation of the Dutch Legislative Proposal, as a result of which the Luxembourg Conversion is to be implemented in accordance with the Pre-Mobility Directive Conversion Provisions, irrespective of whether the Luxembourg Conversion takes place before or after the implementation of the Dutch Legislative Proposal. In view thereof, Aegon has implemented a procedure for the Luxembourg Conversion taking into account the Pre-Mobility Directive Conversion Provisions as well as the Dutch Legislative Proposal, both to the extent practicable.

Conditions for the Redomiciliation

The Luxembourg Conversion, and therefore the Redomiciliation, will only be implemented if the Executive Board, at its full discretion, resolves to implement the Luxembourg Conversion and the Redomiciliation. The Executive Board will only resolve on the implementation of the Luxembourg Conversion and the Redomiciliation if sufficient proxies and voting instructions approving the required resolutions at the Luxembourg EGM, as determined by the Executive Board at its full discretion, have been obtained from Shareholders for the Luxembourg EGM as set out in “—Decision-making in the Dutch EGM and Luxembourg EGM—Cancellation of the Luxembourg EGM”.

The Bermuda Conversion requires the customary confirmatory approval of the BMA and the Bermuda Minister of Finance acting through the Bermuda Registrar of Companies that the formalities for changing the legal domicile to Bermuda prescribed by the Companies Act have been satisfied. These approvals are expected to be obtained upon registration in Bermuda.

Euronext Amsterdam/NYSE listing

The Common Shares will trade as Aegon N.V. Common Shares until the close of trading on the last Trading Day before the Redomiciliation and as Aegon Ltd. Common Shares on the first Trading Day after the Redomiciliation. The Common Shares will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE throughout the Redomiciliation process and there will be no (re-)admission to trading of Common Shares on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE. Should the market be open for trading between the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, the Shares may not be eligible to be traded on Euronext Amsterdam and the NYSE.

Following the Luxembourg Conversion, Aegon N.V. Shares will remain issued and become Aegon S.A. Shares at the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time, and Shareholders will from that moment hold Aegon S.A. Shares.

Following the Bermuda Conversion, Aegon S.A. Shares will remain issued and become Aegon Ltd. Shares at the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, and Shareholders will from that moment hold Aegon Ltd. Shares.

Any trades in Aegon N.V. Common Shares on Euronext Amsterdam (through the systems of Euroclear Nederland) or on NYSE during the period of two Trading Days ending on the day on which the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time occurs, will be settled in the form of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares. Upon completion of the Redomiciliation, it is expected that the identifiers (such as the ISIN) of the outstanding securities and financial instruments issued by Aegon will change.

Creditor Opposition

As part of the procedure for the Luxembourg Conversion, Aegon facilitates the Creditor Opposition Period, during which any Aegon N.V. creditor may file a request with the district court of The Hague opposing the Luxembourg Conversion. Creditors, employees and customers of Aegon N.V.’s subsidiaries and other stakeholders are not considered Aegon N.V. creditors and hence are inadmissible to creditor opposition proceedings. The Luxembourg Conversion will not alter the financial position of Aegon nor the requirement or ability to pay its debts. In accordance with Dutch law, in the request to the district court of The Hague, an Aegon

 

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N.V. Creditor must substantiate (i) that the financial position of Aegon N.V. after the Luxembourg Conversion does not provide the Aegon N.V. Creditor with sufficient safeguards that its claim will be repaid, and (ii) that it has received insufficient additional safeguards from Aegon N.V. that its debt will be paid.

If an Aegon N.V. Creditor has opposed to the Luxembourg Conversion, this may impact if and when the Luxembourg Conversion, and as a result the Redomiciliation, can and will be implemented.

Although the Pre-Mobility Directive Conversion Provisions do not provide for a creditor opposition period, Aegon has decided to facilitate the Creditor Opposition Period. Due to the lack of a statutory basis, however, Aegon cannot guarantee that the district court of The Hague will facilitate creditor opposition proceedings when lodged by Aegon N.V. creditors.

Interim Luxembourg governance

Dutch law currently does not facilitate a direct change of legal domicile of a Dutch public limited liability company (such as Aegon N.V.) to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area. As a result, Aegon as a practical matter intends to first change its legal domicile to Luxembourg, which is a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area that does facilitate a change of legal domicile to a jurisdiction outside the European Economic Area and shortly thereafter change its legal domicile to Bermuda. Therefore, the Redomiciliation consists of two principal steps: (i) the Luxembourg Conversion and (ii) the Bermuda Conversion, Aegon will be Aegon S.A. for a limited amount of time between the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time (which is expected to take place on the same day as the Luxembourg Conversion, as soon as practicable following the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time). During this limited time, Aegon S.A. will be governed by Luxembourg law and the Luxembourg Articles of Association. The form of Luxembourg Articles of Association is filed as exhibit 3.2 to the registration statement. Such Articles of Association do not reflect the final governance of Aegon following the Redomiciliation; the post-Redomiciliation governance is reflected in the Bye-Laws, as further explained in “Description of Securities—Post-Redomiciliation Governance.”

Regulatory Approvals required for the Redomiciliation

As set out in “—Structure of the Redomiciliation”, the Redomiciliation will take place through a two-step cross-border conversion, where each conversion will change the legal form and legal domicile of Aegon by an amendment of its Articles of Association. Upon each conversion, Aegon continues to exist and its assets and liabilities will not be liquidated or transferred. Aegon does not need to be re-established in the respective jurisdiction of destination, i.e. in Luxembourg or Bermuda. As a result, neither the Luxembourg Conversion nor the Bermuda Conversion is expected to require Aegon to obtain a declaration of no objection from the DNB or from other regulators for the acquisition of a qualifying holding in the Aegon regulated entities. Aegon intends to keep the DNB and other relevant regulators, informed of the process and timelines for the Redomiciliation. Where applicable, Aegon will timely submit the required pre- and post-notification filings. The Bermuda Conversion requires the customary confirmatory approval of the BMA and Bermuda Minister of Finance acting through the Bermuda Registrar of Companies that the formalities for changing the legal domicile to Bermuda prescribed by the Companies Act have been satisfied.

Decision-making in the Dutch EGM and Luxembourg EGM

Dutch EGM

The vote on the Luxembourg Conversion will be subject to a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. All other voting items at the Dutch EGM will require a simple majority of votes cast.

 

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Luxembourg EGM

The Luxembourg EGM will vote on the Bermuda Conversion, which will also include the change of the name from “Aegon S.A.” to “Aegon Ltd.”, the approval of the Memorandum of Association and the adoption of the Bye-Laws.

The vote on the Bermuda Conversion requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast and a quorum of half of the issued share capital.

Cancellation of the Luxembourg EGM

The Executive Board considers it in the interest of Aegon and its stakeholders to prevent that the Luxembourg Conversion is implemented without also thereafter implementing the Bermuda Conversion. Accordingly, if insufficient voting instructions and proxies have been obtained to approve the Bermuda Conversion and the related proposals at the Luxembourg EGM and to satisfy the applicable quorum requirements, the Executive Board will cancel the Luxembourg EGM and will not implement the Luxembourg Conversion. As a result, the Redomiciliation will not be implemented. In such event, Aegon would maintain its legal domicile in the Netherlands and have to re-engage with its College of Supervisors on the implications on group supervision, as the current arrangements assume an interim period followed by the Redomiciliation, with DNB expected to de facto fulfil the role of group supervisor of Aegon for the limited duration of this interim period only. The Executive Board may also resolve at its own discretion to convene a new Luxembourg EGM for a new vote on the Bermuda Conversion.

Vereniging Aegon

The board of Vereniging Aegon, pursuant to the terms of a voting undertaking agreement, dated as of June 29, 2023 between Aegon and Vereniging Aegon, shall recommend to its members to instruct the board of Vereniging Aegon to vote (i) all of its Aegon N.V. Common Shares and Common Shares B (based on one vote per 40 Aegon N.V. Common Shares B), representing approximately     % of the voting rights in Aegon N.V., in favor of the Luxembourg Conversion at the Dutch EGM and (ii) all of its Aegon S.A. Common Shares and Aegon S.A. Common Shares B in favor of the Bermuda Conversion at the Luxembourg EGM (based on one vote per 40 Aegon S.A. Common Shares B) representing approximately     % of the voting rights in Aegon S.A.

Accounting Treatment of the Redomiciliation

There will be no accounting effect or change in the carrying amount of the consolidated assets and liabilities of Aegon N.V. as a result of the Redomiciliation. The consolidated business, capitalization, assets, liabilities and financial statements of Aegon Ltd. immediately following the Redomiciliation will be the same as those of Aegon N.V. immediately prior to the Redomiciliation.

Expected timetable for the principal events of the Redomiciliation

The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on current expectations and may be subject to change. In particular, should completion of the ASR Transaction be delayed, this could create a delay in the timetable for the Redomiciliation. In addition, other factors outside Aegon’s control may create significant delays in the timetable for the Redomiciliation or certain steps thereof or require Aegon to change the period between certain steps. If any of the stated times and/or dates change, the revised times and/or dates will be announced by Aegon in due course.

 

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Principal events

  

Time and/or date

Publication of the Conversion Proposal    June 30, 2023
Formal announcement of the filing of the Conversion Proposal    July 1, 2023
First day Creditor Opposition Period    July 2, 2023
Last day of the Creditor Opposition Period    August 1, 2023
Convocation of the Dutch EGM and the Luxembourg EGM                    , 2023
Dutch EGM Record Date                    , 2023
Luxembourg EGM Record Date                    , 2023
Latest time Shareholders may vote through the e-voting system for the Dutch EGM    11:59 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Latest time for receipt of a power of attorney issued by a Shareholder for the Dutch EGM    6:00 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Latest time Shareholders can vote through the e-voting system for the Luxembourg EGM    11:59 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Latest time for receipt of a power of attorney issued by a Shareholder for the Luxembourg EGM    6:00 p.m. (CET) on                 , 2023
Opening Dutch EGM    (CET) on                 , 2023
Opening Luxembourg EGM    (CET) on                 , 2023
Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time    (CET) on                 , 2023
Bermuda Conversion Effective Time    11:30 p.m. (CET) at the latest on                 , 2023

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

This section of the registration statement includes a description of the material terms of the Bye-laws and of applicable Bermuda law, which are set out in more detail in the chapter “Comparison of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd. Governance”, as applicable to Aegon Ltd. The following description is intended as a summary only and does not constitute legal advice regarding those matters and should not be regarded as such. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Bye-laws, which are included as exhibit 3.3 to this registration statement. We urge you to read the full text of the Bye-laws.

Post-Redomiciliation Governance

After the Redomiciliation, Aegon, as a Bermuda Ltd., will be subject to Bermuda law and its governance will predominantly be determined by Bermuda law, its Bye-Laws and its Board Rules.

In preparing the Bye-Laws and the Board Rules, Aegon has taken into account the following guiding principles:

 

   

to continue to take into account the interests of Aegon and all its stakeholders;

 

   

to apply international governance standards that are well-recognized and accepted; and

 

   

to preserve the current governance principles of Aegon, including the appropriate checks and balances, and to take into account the existing framework of Shareholder rights to the extent possible and practical in view of the Redomiciliation, and where appropriate in the context of Aegon’s international footprint.

Pursuant to these guiding principles, the proposed governance structure of Aegon Ltd. is intended to support and strengthen Aegon’s position as an international company.

Following the Redomiciliation, Aegon will have a single tier board consisting of one executive member – the CEO – and eight non-executive members.

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and the Bye-Laws, the Board manages and conducts the business of Aegon Ltd. and is responsible for the general affairs of the Company, which includes setting the strategy of the Company. The non-executive members of the Board have an overall advisory and supervisory duty. The executive member(s) of the Board will be primarily charged with, through a delegation of such authority by the Board, Aegon Ltd.’s day-to-day operations and the developing, proposing to the Board and implementing of Aegon’s strategy.

Following the Redomiciliation, the Board will have four committees, comprising of Non-Executive Directors: the Audit Committee, the Risk Committee, the Nomination and Governance Committee and the Compensation and Human Resource Committee.

The General Meeting appoints the executive and non-executive members of the Board. If the appointment of a member of the Board is proposed by the Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital. Members of the Board will be appointed for a term of not more than four years. A term limit of a total of 12 years applies to non-executive directors. However, for an individual case and by way of exception, the Board may, in the interest of Aegon Ltd., decide to deviate from the term limit. If the removal or suspension of a member of the Board is proposed by the Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital.

 

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Shareholders of Aegon Ltd. representing at least 1% of the issued capital or 100 or more Shareholders jointly will have the right to request one or more items to be added to the agenda of a General Meeting. Shareholders representing at least 10% of the paid-up share capital may request a General Meeting. An amendment of the Bye-Laws of Aegon Ltd., setting out the governance structure of Aegon Ltd., will require the approval of the General Meeting.

In accordance with Bermuda law, the Board will be authorized to issue Aegon Ltd. Shares up to Aegon Ltd.’s authorized capital. In view thereof, the authorized capital of Aegon Ltd. will be reduced following the Redomiciliation to limit the available scope for issuances of Aegon Ltd. Shares. Furthermore, any issue of Aegon Ltd. Shares in an amount of 10% or more of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital requires the approval of the General Meeting, unless (i) the Board determines that the issuance of Aegon Ltd. Shares is necessary or conducive for purposes of safeguarding, conserving or strengthening the capital position of Aegon Ltd. or (ii) such Aegon Ltd. Shares are issued to a person exercising a previously granted right to subscribe for shares. As a result, for instance, any transaction which would require the issuance of more than 10% of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital will require approval of the General Meeting, even though under Bermuda law there is no requirement of shareholder approval for major transactions.

Under Bermuda law, the Board approves and adopts the annual accounts. However, the Board will present and discuss the annual accounts and its Board report with Shareholders annually at the Aegon Ltd. annual general meeting.

As a Bermuda Ltd., Aegon is committed to continue to consider the interests of all its stakeholders. Under Bermuda law, the members of the Board owe a fiduciary duty to Aegon to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of Aegon and exercise their powers and fulfil the duties of their office honestly. The Bye-Laws, similar to the current statutory duties of the members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, stipulate that the Board shall take into account, among other matters, the long-term consequences of decisions, sustainability, Aegon’s reputation and the interest of all corporate stakeholders, including, amongst others, Shareholders, employees, business relations, policyholders, relations with regulators, creditors and other groups, directly or indirectly, influenced by the business of Aegon.

The Bye-Laws contain a waiver from each Shareholder and Aegon Ltd. of any claim or right of action it may have against Aegon Ltd. at any time, whether individually or by or in the right of Aegon Ltd., against any Board member on account of any action taken by such Board member or the failure of such Board member to take any action in the performance of their duties with or for Aegon Ltd. This waiver does not apply to claims arising out of fraud or dishonesty or to recover any gain, personal profit or advantage to which such Board member is not legally entitled. The Bye-Laws provide that Board members are indemnified in respect of, any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company or any subsidiary thereof. The indemnification does not extend to claims arising from fraud or dishonesty.

Aegon will continue to embed sustainability, inclusion and diversity within its company strategy, through the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in its policy and business conduct. Aegon will remain committed to a responsible way of doing business and will continue to seek to balance the increasing expectations in this respect on the part of stakeholders, including Shareholders, policyholders, customers, creditors, employees, business partners, and the wider community. The policies of Aegon relating to ESG matters that are currently in place for Aegon N.V., will continue to be in place for Aegon upon the Redomiciliation. They may be amended from time to time going forward to take into account international ESG standards and potential further changes in Aegon’s businesses. Furthermore, due to its continued listing on Euronext Amsterdam, Aegon will continue to be subject to the CSRD and its reporting requirements, ensuring substantial insight into Aegon’s corporate sustainability progress, once these come into effect.

In addition, Aegon remains committed to strengthening inclusion and diversity and ensuring its inclusion and diversity statement permeates all areas and levels of the Aegon Group. Aegon will continue to have an

 

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inclusion and diversity policy setting out diversity requirements and targets applicable to the Aegon Ltd. Board. Aegon will continue to adhere to the objectives regarding inclusion and diversity, as these may evolve from time to time going forward to reflect emerging best practices and standards in the jurisdictions in which the Aegon Group is active. As part of Aegon’s diversity policy, it will continue to strive for female and male representation on the Board of at least one-third of its members.

Aegon acknowledges the importance of maintaining appropriate remuneration of the Board and management of Aegon. Aegon intends to abide by remuneration guidelines that take into account Aegon’s international footprint and that are reflective of international market practices in respect of remuneration. In accordance with the Bye-Laws, these remuneration guidelines are adopted by the Board. Aegon’s current remuneration policy that came into effect on January 1, 2020, will continue to apply to Aegon’s executive director and non-executive directors, respectively, after the Redomiciliation until the end of the four-year term of the current policy on December 31, 2023. The Board will undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the remuneration structure for Aegon’s executive and non-executive directors, including a consultation of Shareholders, to arrive at the new remuneration guidelines that will come into effect on January 1, 2024.

To ensure appropriate checks and balances in relation to the remuneration of the Board, Shareholders will be offered an annual non-binding advisory vote in respect of the past year’s remuneration report, which report shall include the appropriate disclosure on the past year’s remuneration of the individual members of the Board. Aegon will take into account the outcome of such advisory vote in an appropriate manner and engage with Shareholders. Aegon will reflect on the outcome of these engagements in future remuneration reports.

As Aegon will continue to be listed on Euronext Amsterdam and NYSE, Aegon will continue to comply with the rules and regulations that apply to it by virtue of its listing on Euronext Amsterdam and those of the SEC applicable to foreign private issuers listed on a U.S. stock market, such as NYSE. As a Bermuda Ltd., however, the Dutch Corporate Governance Code will no longer apply to Aegon and Aegon will also not voluntary apply the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

A description of the main elements of Aegon Ltd.’s envisaged governance as well as a comparison to Aegon N.V.’s current governance is included in the governance comparison table, included under “Comparison of Aegon N.V. and Aegon Ltd. Governance”. In addition, the form of Bye-Laws are filed as exhibit 3.3 to the registration statement hereto. The following paragraphs include a description of the material terms of the Bye-Laws and of applicable Bermuda law relating to the securities.

Share Capital

Immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, the total authorized share capital of Aegon Ltd. will consist of 4,000,000,000 common shares, with a par value of EUR 0.12 per share, and 2,000,000,000 common shares B, with a par value of EUR 0.12 per share and, assuming no changes in the issued share capital between the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, there will be                  common shares and                  common shares B outstanding. Of the aforementioned issued shares,                  Aegon Ltd. Common Shares and                  Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B will be held by Aegon Ltd. as treasury shares and                  common shares will be held by its subsidiaries, assuming no changes in the number of treasury shares between the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time.

All of the Aegon Ltd. Shares that will be issued and outstanding immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time will be fully paid and not subject to calls for additional payments of any kind. All of the Aegon Ltd. Shares will be registered shares. Holders of New York Shares hold their Aegon Ltd. Shares in registered form issued by Aegon Ltd.’s New York transfer agent on Aegon Ltd.’s behalf. New York Shares and shares of Bermuda registry are exchangeable on a one-to-one basis and are entitled to the same rights except that cash dividends on shares of New York registry are usually paid in U.S. dollars.

 

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Immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, assuming no changes in the number of shares held in the form of NYRSs between the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time,                  Aegon Ltd. Shares will be held in the form of New York Shares. Furthermore, there will be approximately                  record holders of our NYRSs resident in the United States.

Reduction of the Issued Capital

Subject to certain restrictions contained in the laws of Bermuda and the Bye-Laws, Aegon Ltd. may, if authorized by the General Meeting and the Board, reduce its issued share capital in any way, including by (i) extinguishing or reducing the liability on any of its shares in respect of capital not paid up, (ii) cancelling any paid-up capital that is lost or unrepresented by available assets or (iii) either with or without reducing the number of such shares paying off any paid-up capital that is in excess of the requirements of the company. Reducing the paid-up share capital of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B also requires the approval of the meeting of holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B.

Dividends

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws and subject to Bermuda law, the Board may declare dividends or make distributions out of contributed surplus to be paid to the Shareholders in proportion to the number of Aegon Ltd. Shares held by them, including such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the position of Aegon Ltd. Such dividend may be paid in cash, in any currency, or any way in kind, at the discretion of the Board. No unpaid dividend or other distributions shall bear any interest against Aegon Ltd.

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, a Board resolution to declare a dividend requires the consenting vote of the majority of the non-executive Board members participating in the decision.

If any dividend is being declared, holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B are entitled to one-fortieth (1/40) of the dividends paid on common shares.

Those who are recorded as shareholders in Aegon Ltd.’s register of shareholders on the record date specified in the resolution declaring the dividend shall be deemed to be entitled to receive such dividends. Such dividend record date and the dividend payment date are determined by the Board.

The Board may, before declaring any dividend or making a distribution out of contributed surplus, set aside such sums as it thinks proper as reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose of Aegon Ltd. and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of Aegon Ltd. or be invested in such investments as the Board may from time to time think fit.

If and when Aegon has paid any dividends in the past, it has traditionally paid interim dividends (usually in September) after the release of its six-month results and final dividends (usually in June) upon adoption of the annual accounts at the annual General Meeting.

In its capital planning and policy, Aegon aims to pay out a sustainable dividend to allow equity investors to share in its performance, which can grow over time if its performance so allows. Aegon’s plans for returning capital to shareholders are based on its actual and expected capital position within the capital management zones, the expected levels of capital generation and the expected allocation of capital to invest in Aegon’s strategy, in new business, and in the quality of its balance sheet.

After investment in new business to generate organic growth, the expected capital generation in Aegon’s operating subsidiaries is expected to be made available for distribution to the holding company, while maintaining a capital and liquidity position in the operating subsidiaries in line with Aegon’s capital management and liquidity risk policies in addition to adhering to local regulatory and statutory requirements and restrictions.

 

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Aegon uses the cash flows from its operating subsidiaries to pay unallocated holding expenses, including funding costs. The remaining cash flow is available to execute its strategy and to fund dividends on its shares, subject to maintaining the holding company targeted capital and liquidity in line with its capital management and liquidity risk policies. Depending on circumstances, future prospects and other considerations, the Board may elect to deviate from the aforementioned capital and liquidity measures. The Board will also take capital position, financial flexibility, leverage ratios and strategic considerations into account when declaring or proposing dividends on its shares.

While Aegon uses dividends as the primary means to distribute capital to Aegon’s shareholders, share buy-back programs are also recognized as an appropriate means to return capital.

Under normal circumstances, Aegon expects to declare a final dividend prior to the annual General Meeting and to declare an interim dividend when announcing its second quarter results. Holders of Common Shares historically have been permitted to elect to receive dividends, if any, in cash or in Common Shares, though Aegon’s intenton is to pay dividends in cash, and the decision to offer an election in cash or Common Shares is at the discretion of the Board. The relative value of cash and stock dividends may vary. The number of shares distributed as stock dividend may be repurchased by Aegon in the market in order to undo the dilution caused by the distribution of dividend in stock. Depending on circumstances, future prospects and other considerations, the Board may choose to deviate from this approach.

When planning and determining whether to declare or propose a dividend, the Board has to balance prudence with offering an attractive return to shareholders. This is particularly important during adverse economic and/or financial market conditions. Furthermore, Aegon Ltd.’s operating subsidiaries are subject to local insurance regulations that could restrict dividends to be paid to it. There is no requirement or assurance that Aegon Ltd. will declare and pay any dividends.

Aegon Ltd. will pay cash dividends on shares of New York registry in U.S. dollars through Citibank, N.A., its NYSE paying agent, based on the foreign exchange reference rate (WM/Reuters closing spot exchange rate fixed at 5.00 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST)) on the U.S. ex-dividend day.

Voting Rights and Appointment of Board

Voting Rights

Both the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares and Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B have one vote per share.

General Meeting of Shareholders

All holders of Aegon Ltd. Shares will be entitled to attend personally or by proxy any General Meeting upon compliance with the procedures described below. The shares of both classes offer equal full voting rights. All Aegon Ltd. Shares are entitled to one vote for each Aegon Ltd. Share represented at the meeting. Shareholders representing at least 10% of the paid-up share capital may request a General Meeting.

The Voting Rights Agreement that is currently in effect between Aegon N.V. and Vereniging Aegon and will immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time continue to be in effect between Aegon Ltd. and Vereniging Aegon, as amended to reflect that Bermuda law will become the governing law of the agreement, provides that under normal circumstances, i.e. except in the event of a “Special Cause”, Vereniging Aegon will not be able to exercise more votes than is proportionate to the financial rights represented by its shares. This means that in the absence of a “Special Cause” Vereniging Aegon has agreed to cast one vote for every Aegon Ltd. Common Share it holds and one vote for every 40 Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B it holds. A “Special Cause” includes the acquisition of a 15% or more interest in Aegon Ltd., a tender offer for Aegon Ltd. Shares or a proposed business combination by any person or group of persons whether individually or as a group, other

 

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than in a transaction approved by the Board. If, in its sole discretion, Vereniging Aegon determines that a “Special Cause” exists, Vereniging Aegon will notify the General Meeting and retain its right to exercise the full voting power of one vote per Aegon Ltd. Common Share B for a limited period of six months.

A General Meeting is required to be held at least once every year. General Meetings are called by the Board. Furthermore, Shareholders representing at least ten percent of the paid-up share capital can request a General Meeting. If the Board has not taken steps necessary to convene a meeting within 21 days of the requisition, the Shareholders may themselves convene a meeting, to be held within three months of the requisition.

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, General Meetings can be held in Bermuda, elsewhere or digitally, at the choice of the Board. Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, in relation to any General Meeting, the Board may specify in the notice of the meeting or in any document sent to Shareholders by or on behalf of the Board in relation to the meeting, the record date which shall not be more than 60 business days before the date fixed for the meeting. In such case, notwithstanding any provision in the Bye-Laws to the contrary, each person entered in Aegon Ltd.’s register of shareholders at the record date as a Shareholder shall be entitled to attend and to vote at the relevant meeting and to exercise all of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder in relation to that meeting in respect of the Aegon Ltd. Shares registered in their name at the record date.

Resolutions are adopted at General Meetings by a simple majority of the votes cast unless a greater majority is provided by law or by the Bye-Laws. Resolutions may be adopted if a quorum is present. The quorum for a General Meeting is set at 1/3 of the paid-up share capital.

Major Shareholders of Aegon Ltd.

At the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular, Vereniging Aegon is, and immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, will continue to be Aegon’s largest shareholder, holding approximately     % of the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares and 100% of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B, assuming no changes in the issued share capital and in the holdings of Vereniging Aegon between the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time. This translates to a shareholding of Vereniging Aegon of     % of the issued share capital of Aegon and exercising in ordinary course     % of the voting rights in Aegon, assuming no changes in the issued share capital and in the holdings of Vereniging Aegon between the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time.

Pursuant to the 1983 Amended Merger Agreement and the Voting Rights Agreement, entered into between Aegon and Vereniging Aegon, certain voting arrangements are in place, as set out in more detail in the section “Major Shareholders” in Aegon’s annual report and incorporated by reference herein.

The main voting arrangement included in the Voting Rights Agreement is that, in the event of a “Special Cause”, Vereniging Aegon may exercise its full voting rights over its Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B. Vereniging Aegon’s voting rights will increase to approximately 32.6% for up to six months per Special Cause. Vereniging Aegon is a membership association under Dutch law. One of the principal characteristics of a membership association is that it has no share capital. The objective of Vereniging Aegon is the balanced representation of the interests of Aegon Ltd. and all of its stakeholders, Aegon Group companies, insured parties, employees and other constituencies of the Aegon Group. The table below shows the expected ownership percentage of Vereniging Aegon, immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, assuming no changes in the issued share capital and in the holdings of Vereniging Aegon between the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time.

 

Title of class

           Number        
owned
             Percent of class          

Common Shares

     

Common Shares B

     

 

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Vereniging Aegon has two administrative bodies: the general meeting of members and the executive committee. As of the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular, the general meeting of members consisted of nineteen (19) individuals who were elected as members of Vereniging Aegon. The majority of the voting rights is with the seventeen (17) members not being employees or former employees of Aegon or one of the Aegon Group companies, nor current or former members of the Board. Those members represent a broad cross-section of Dutch society, and are called elected members.

As of the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular, the executive committee of Vereniging Aegon consisted of seven (7) members. Five (5) of those members, including the chairman and vice-chairman, are not nor have ever been, related to Aegon. The other two members are also members of the Executive Board, one of whom will immediately following the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time, be a member of the Board. Resolutions of the executive committee, other than with regard to amendment of the articles of association of Vereniging Aegon, require an absolute majority of votes. When a vote in the executive committee results in a tie, the general meeting of members has the deciding vote. Amendments of the articles of association of Vereniging Aegon require an unanimous proposal from the executive committee of Vereniging Aegon (including consent of the two representatives of Aegon Ltd.). In case the amendment concerns the number or the authority of the two members of the Vereniging Aegon/the executive committee of the Vereniging Aegon who are also members of the Board, separate approval of Aegon Ltd. is required. These special requirements do not apply in the event of a hostile change of control at the General Meeting, in which event Vereniging Aegon may amend its articles of association without the cooperation of the two members of the Board.

Given the importance of Vereniging Aegon as a stakeholder of Aegon and its purpose to ensure a balanced representation of the direct and indirect interests of Aegon and of companies with which Aegon forms a group, of insured parties, employees, shareholders and other related parties of these companies, Aegon considers it important that the position of Vereniging Aegon is maintained.

Accordingly, following the Redomiciliation, the governance position of and arrangements with Vereniging Aegon are intended to remain materially unchanged. The current voting arrangements with Vereniging Aegon will be continued, under the Voting Rights Agreement and the Amended 1983 Merger Agreement as well as under the Bye-Laws, as amended to reflect that Bermuda law and the relevant provisions of the Bye-Laws.

Composition of the Board.

Aegon Ltd. will have a single tier board structure, comprising both executive and non-executive directors. The Board determines the number of executive directors and non-executive directors, provided that the majority of the Board shall consist of non-executive directors. Members of the Board are nominated by the Board and appointed by the General Meeting. If the members of the Board are to be appointed upon a nomination by the Board, the resolution of the General Meeting requires a simple majority of the votes cast. The General Meeting may, in addition, bring forward a resolution to appoint someone not nominated by the Board, in which case the General Meeting resolution requires a two-thirds majority of votes cast, representing at least one half of Aegon Ltd.’s issued capital.

Board members are appointed for a term of not more than four years. A term limit of a total of 12 years applies to non-executive directors. However, for an individual case and by way of exception, the Board may, in the interest of Aegon Ltd., decide to deviate from the term limit.

If the removal or suspension of a Board member is proposed by the Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital.

The Board may fill a vacancy that arises at its own discretion, such appointment to be ratified at the next General Meeting.

 

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The Board and each executive director individually may represent Aegon Ltd.

Shareholder Proposals.

Shareholders who, alone or jointly, represent at least one percent of the issued capital or 100 or more Shareholders jointly, have the right to request of the Board that items be placed on the agenda of a General Meeting and that statements of not more than 1000 words with respect to the matter referred to in the proposed agenda item are sent to the Shareholders entitled to receive notice of that meeting. A requisition made by a Shareholder requiring notice of a resolution must be received by Aegon Ltd. not less than six weeks before the meeting. Matters that are not reserved for, or do not require a shareholder’s resolution pursuant to law or the Bye-Laws, may only be included as a non-binding discussion item.

Amendment of Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws.

Pursuant to Bermuda law and the Bye-Laws, an amendment to the memorandum of association of Aegon Ltd. requires the approval of the Board and the General Meeting. The Bye-Laws provide that the Board resolves on an amendment of the Bye-Laws. In order for such amendment to take effect, it must be approved by the General Meeting.

Under Bermuda law, Shareholders who, alone or jointly, represent at least 20% of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital or any class thereof have the right to apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by the General Meeting, other than an amendment which alters or reduces Aegon Ltd.’s share capital as provided in Bermuda law. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda court. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering Aegon Ltd.’s memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No application may be made by Shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.

Financial Statements.

The General Meeting annually adopts Aegon Ltd.’s financial statements with respect to the previous calendar year.

Liquidation Rights

A winding-up of Aegon Ltd. requires approval by the Board and the General Meeting. In the event of a winding-up of Aegon Ltd., the liquidator may, with the approval of the General Meeting, divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of Aegon Ltd. and may for such purposes set such values as it deems fair upon any property to be divided. The liquidator may furthermore, with the approval of the General Meeting, determine how such division shall be carried out between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders, provided that any distributions on Aegon Ltd. Common Share B shall be 1/40th of the distributions on a common share. The liquidator may, with approval of the General Meeting, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trust for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the approval of a subsequent General Meeting, shall think fit, but in such way that no shareholder shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which there is any liability.

Issuance of Shares and Preemptive Rights

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, the Board is, at its sole discretion, authorized to issue shares up to the authorized share capital amount at such terms and conditions as the Board may determine. The issuance of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B is subject to the prior approval of the meeting of holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B.

 

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Holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares do not have any pre-emptive rights by virtue of law or the Bye-Laws, but the Board is authorized to grant such rights to Shareholders at the occasion of a share issuance. Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B will have pre-emptive rights in relation to the issuance, allotment or offer of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B.

The Board is authorized to issue Aegon Ltd. Shares for a nominal amount of less than 10% of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital. Any issuance of Aegon Ltd. Shares for a nominal amount of 10% or more of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital requires the approval of the General Meeting, unless (i) the Board determines that the issuance of Aegon Ltd. Shares is necessary or conducive for purposes of safeguarding, conserving or strengthening the capital position of Aegon Ltd. or (ii) such Aegon Ltd. Shares are issued to a person exercising a previously granted right to subscribe for shares.

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, any transaction which would require the issuance of more than 10% of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital will require shareholder approval.

Repurchase by Aegon Ltd. of its Own Shares

In accordance with the Bye-Laws, the Board may, at its discretion, authorize the purchase by Aegon Ltd. of its own shares, of any class, at any price (whether at par or above or below par). Any Aegon Ltd. Shares to be repurchased may be selected in any manner whatsoever, upon such terms as the Board may in its discretion determine, provided always that such purchase is effected in accordance with the provisions of Bermuda law. The whole or any part of the amount payable on any such purchase may be paid or satisfied otherwise than in cash, to the extent permitted by law. Aegon Ltd. may not effect a repurchase of its own shares may if, on the date on which the repurchase is to be effected, there are reasonable grounds for believing that Aegon Ltd. is, or after the repurchase would be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due.

Any shares repurchased by Aegon Ltd. may be cancelled, or held by Aegon Ltd. as treasury shares.

Mergers and Amalgamations

Any amalgamation or merger of Aegon Ltd. requires approval by the Board and the General Meeting.

In the event of an amalgamation or merger of Aegon Ltd., a Shareholder who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation or merger and is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such Shareholder’s Aegon Ltd. Shares may, within one month of notice of the General Meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those Aegon Ltd. Shares.

Under Bermuda law, Shareholders who individually or jointly hold at least 95% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Aegon Ltd. may give notice to the remaining Shareholders and require the remaining Shareholders to sell their remaining Aegon Ltd. Shares subject to the terms set out in the notice, unless the remaining Shareholders apply to the Supreme Court for an appraisal.

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, any person who alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly acquires 30% or more of Aegon Ltd.’s voting rights, except as a result of certain permitted acquisitions, must without delay make a public announcement thereof and must within 30 days make a general offer to all holders of shares in accordance with the Bye-Laws. Where a person does not make such offer within the prescribed time frame, such person in breach of the Bye-Laws and the Board may take several actions as set out in the Bye-Laws, including a suspension of voting rights or rights to dividends.

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent for the NYRSs will be Citibank, N.A.

 

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Post-Redomiciliation Regulatory Framework

The summary below of the regulation of Aegon following the Redomiciliation is meant to be read together with the section entitled “Regulation and Supervision” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in this registration statement on Form F-4, as well as the risk factor herein under the heading “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Redomiciliation—The change in regulatory regime involves uncertainty as to the implications, and adapting to such new regime may lead to substantial costs and require substantial time spent by Aegons management”. Capitalized terms used in this section but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Supervisory framework and qualification

As a result of the ASR Transaction, there will be no remaining insurance or reinsurance entities of Aegon established in the Netherlands. Insurance presence in the European Union will be limited to Aegon’s insurance activities in Spain and Portugal. The updated group structure following the ASR Transaction will have an impact on the regulatory framework applicable to the Aegon Group, which is currently subject to the Solvency II Regime and has DNB as its group supervisor. In the interim period between the closing of the ASR Transaction and the Redomiciliation, the DGSFP is allocated the role of group supervisor by default in accordance with the Solvency II Regime. The DGSFP, in cooperation with DNB and after informing EIOPA, is expected to delegate the tasks and responsibilities pertaining to its role as group supervisor to DNB for a predefined period, which is expected to cover duration of the interim time period. This would allow DNB to de facto continue its group supervision of Aegon until completion of the Redomiciliation on the basis of this delegation arrangement. The delegation arrangement between DNB and the DGSFP will provide a temporary solution for group supervision. Should the Redomiciliation not be implemented or take longer than currently expected, Aegon will have to re-engage with its College of Supervisors on the implications on group supervision as the currently envisaged arrangements assume a limited duration of the interim period between the Transaction and the Redomiciliation and therefore of the exercise of de facto group supervision by DNB on the basis of the delegation arrangement (see also “The Redomiciliation—Decision-making in the Dutch EGM and Luxembourg EGM—Cancellation of the Luxembourg EGM”).

After the Redomiciliation, the Solvency II Regime will remain applicable to the local remaining insurance entities in the EEA, being the Spanish and Portuguese insurance entities. As Bermuda is deemed equivalent from a Solvency II Regime perspective, the college of supervisors of Aegon will refer to the BMA for the exercise of group supervision, as a result of which only single-entity level Solvency II Regime supervision will remain in respect of Aegon’s regulated EEA insurance entities. In addition Aegon Europe Holding B.V. and its UK subsidiaries will be subject to subgroup supervision of the UK Prudential Regulation Authority. At the overall Aegon Group level, i.e. from Aegon’s top holding company downwards (following the Redomiciliation, Aegon Ltd.), group supervision is expected to be exercised by the BMA and, accordingly, the relevant Bermuda laws and regulations concerning group supervision will apply at the consolidated level.

The Bermuda Insurance Act 1978 and related regulations, which are reflective of international developments and the principles for insurance group supervision by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), provide the BMA with broad authority in its role as group supervisor in order to, amongst other things, (i) coordinate the gathering of information and dissemination of relevant or essential information for going concerns and emergency situations (including information which is important for the supervisory task of other competent authorities), (ii) review and assess the financial situation of the group, (iii) assess the compliance with the rules on solvency and on risk concentration and intra-group transactions of the group, (iv) assess the system of governance of the group, (v) plan and coordinate supervisory activities in cooperation with other competent authorities concerned, (vi) coordinate any enforcement action against the group and its members and (vii) plan and coordinate meetings of the college of supervisors of the Aegon group. At the level of individual regulated subsidiaries, there will be no change in the applicable regulatory regime and legal requirements as a result of the Redomiciliation of Aegon’s top holding company.

 

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Aegon is expected to retain its designation as an Internationally Active Insurance Group in accordance with the principles of the ComFrame and will continue to engage with the global IAIS and ComFrame.

Aegon’s post-Redomiciliation capital management framework

The change in group supervision will not have a material impact on Aegon’s capital management approach, which will continue to focus on the capitalization of its operating units, Cash Capital at the Holding and gross financial leverage.

Aegon expects its group solvency ratio and surplus under the Bermuda solvency framework to be broadly in line with that under the Solvency II Regime during a transition period until the end of 2027. The method to translate Transamerica’s capital position into the group solvency position will also be similar to the current methodology. After the transition period, Aegon will fully adopt the Bermudian solvency framework.

Aegon anticipates that its debt instruments that are currently grandfathered under the Solvency II Regime will remain so until the end of 2025. In addition, Aegon’s debt instruments will continue to be subject to existing triggers for mandatory deferral or cancellation of interest payments or conversion into equity, based on the group solvency ratio.

Aegon’s future debt structure and refinancing decisions will remain primarily driven by economic considerations, taking into account investor expectations, market circumstances, regulatory requirements, and rating agency considerations.

Regulation of an Insurance Holding Company

Following the ASR Transaction and the Redomiciliation, Aegon will be a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares. Aegon will continue to be a holding company and Aegon’s operations will continue to be conducted through its operating subsidiaries.

In addition to BMA acting in a supervisory capacity for Aegon Group following the Redomiciliation, the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978 (the Bermuda Insurance Act) (the “Insurance Act”) will continue to regulate the insurance business of Aegon’s Bermuda-domiciled insurance subsidiaries.

Regulation of an Insurance Group

Many insurers, including Aegon, operate within a group structure. An insurance group, in accordance with the Bermuda regulatory framework, is two or more affiliated entities, one or more of which conducts insurance business. Aegon and (except as otherwise excluded with regulatory approval) its affiliates, including its insurance interests, are included within the holding company system for purposes of certain supervision requirements. See “—Supervisory framework and qualification”.

Internationally Active Insurance Groups and the Common Framework for the Supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups

In November 2019, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) adopted the Common Framework for the Supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups (ComFrame). ComFrame establishes supervisory standards and guidance applicable to entities that meet the IAIS’s criteria for internationally active insurance groups (IAIGs) and that are so designated by their group-wide supervisor. Under ComFrame, an IAIG is defined as an insurance group which has (1) premiums written in three or more jurisdictions, with the percentage of gross premiums written outside the home jurisdiction comprising at least 10% of the group’s total gross written premiums, and (2) based on a rolling three-year average, total assets of at least $50 billion, or gross written premiums of at least $10 billion. ComFrame establishes international standards for the designation of a

 

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group-wide supervisor for each IAIG and for the imposition of a group capital requirement applicable to an IAIG in addition to the current legal entity capital requirements imposed by relevant insurance laws and regulations. ComFrame also includes uniform standards for insurer corporate governance, enterprise risk management and other control functions and resolution planning. Aegon Ltd. will be appointed as the Head of the IAIG pursuant to Section 27I of the Bermuda Insurance Act.

Group Governance

The Board will be required to establish and effectively implement corporate governance policies and procedures, which must be periodically reviewed to ensure they continue to support the overall organizational strategy of Aegon Group. In particular, the Board must:

 

   

ensure that operational and oversight responsibilities of the group are clearly defined and documented and that the reporting of material deficiencies and fraudulent activities are transparent and devoid of conflicts of interest;

 

   

establish systems for identifying on a risk-sensitive basis those policies and procedures that must be reviewed annually and those policies and procedures that must be reviewed at other regular intervals;

 

   

establish a risk management and internal controls framework and ensure that it is assessed regularly and such assessment is reported to the Board, the chief executive officer and senior executives;

 

   

establish and maintain sound accounting and financial reporting procedures and practices for Aegon Group; and

 

   

establish and keep under review group functions relating to actuarial, compliance, internal audit and risk management functions which must address certain specific requirements.

Insurance Code of Conduct

In August 2022, the BMA published a revised version of the Insurance Code of Conduct (“Insurance Code”). Overall, the amendments aim to improve and enhance the Insurance Code and its application, while at the same time incorporating various administrative changes. The most substantive changes to the Insurance Code relate to:

 

   

Corporate Governance, including a new requirement that the board of directors of an insurer that is a subsidiary of a Bermuda registered insurance group must have an appropriate number of non-executive directors;

 

   

Risk Management Framework, including the addition of a definition of “Environment, Social and Governance Risk”; and

 

   

Outsourcing, including enhanced requirements for material outsourcing arrangements.

The Insurance Code, as amended, came into force on September 1, 2022. Bermuda insurers and insurance groups are required to be compliant with sections 1 through 7 of the Insurance Code by September 1, 2023 and applicable parts of section 8 of the Insurance Code by March 1, 2023.

Policyholder Priority

The Insurance Act provides for the prior payment of policyholders’ liabilities ahead of general unsecured creditors in the event of the liquidation or winding up of an insurer. Accordingly, subject to certain statutorily preferred debts, the insurance debts of an insurer must be paid in priority to all other unsecured debts of the insurer. Insurance debt is defined as a debt to which an insurer is or may become liable pursuant to an insurance contract, excluding debts owed to an insurer under an insurance contract where the insurer is the person insured.

 

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Economic Substance Act

Pursuant to the Economic Substance Act 2018 (as amended) of Bermuda (the “ES Act”) effective as of January 1, 2019, a registered entity other than an entity which is resident for tax purposes in certain jurisdictions outside Bermuda (i.e. not designated by the European Union as a non-cooperative jurisdiction for tax purposes; any such entity, a “non-resident entity”) that carries on as a business any one or more of the “relevant activities” referred to in the ES Act must comply with certain economic substance requirements.

Aegon is carrying on relevant activities for the purposes of the ES Act however for so long as it remains tax resident in the Netherlands it will not be required to comply with such economic substance requirements save that it will be required to file an annual declaration making its claim of tax residency and providing evidence to support that claim. The ES Act requires in-scope entities which are engaged in such “relevant activities” to be directed and managed in Bermuda, have an adequate level of qualified employees in Bermuda, incur an adequate level of annual expenditure in Bermuda, maintain physical offices and premises in Bermuda and perform core income-generating activities in Bermuda. The list of “relevant activities” includes carrying on any one or more of: banking, insurance, fund management, financing and leasing, headquarters, shipping (defined to include passenger cruise ships), distribution and service centers, intellectual property and holding entities.

Cyber Code and Reporting Events

In October 2020, the BMA issued the Insurance Sector Operational Cyber Risk Management Code of Conduct (“Cyber Code”) which applies to all registered insurers, insurance managers and intermediaries (e.g. agents, brokers, insurance market place providers). The Cyber Code establishes duties, requirements, standards, procedures and principles to be complied with in relation to operational cyber risk management and is designed to promote the stable and secure management of information technology systems of regulated entities. The Cyber Code defines a cyber reporting event as being any act that results in the unauthorized access to, disruption or misuse of the electronic systems or information stored on such systems of a licensed undertaking, including any breach of security leading to the loss or unlawful destruction or unauthorized disclosure of or access to such systems or information, where (i) a cyber reporting event has the likelihood of adversely impacting policyholders or clients; (ii) an insurer has reached a view that there is a likelihood that loss of its system availability will have an adverse impact on its insurance business; (iii) an insurer has reached the view that there is a likelihood that the integrity of its information or data has been compromised and may have an adverse impact on its insurance business; (iv) an insurer has become aware that there is a likelihood that there has been unauthorized access to its information systems whereby such would have an adverse impact on its insurance business; or (v) an event has occurred for which a notice is required to be provided to a regulatory body or governmental agency. Cyber reporting events are only reportable to the BMA where the event results in a significant adverse impact to the regulated entity’s operations, their policyholders or clients.

Fit and Proper Controllers

The BMA maintains supervision over the controllers (as defined herein) of all Bermuda registered insurers. For so long as shares of Aegon are listed on the NYSE, Euronext Amsterdam or another recognized stock exchange, the Insurance Act requires that the BMA be notified in writing within 45 days of any person becoming, or ceasing to be, a controller.

A controller includes (i) the managing director of the registered insurer or its parent company; (ii) the chief executive of the registered insurer or of its parent company; (iii) a shareholder controller (as defined below); and (iv) any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the registered insurer or of its parent company are accustomed to act. All registered insurers are required to give written notice to the BMA of a change in controller(s) within 45 days of becoming aware of such change. The BMA may object to a controller and require the controller to reduce its shareholdings and direct, among other things, that voting rights attaching to the shares shall not be exercisable.

 

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The definition of shareholder controller generally refers to (i) a person who holds 10% or more of the shares carrying rights to vote at a shareholders’ meeting of the registered insurer or its parent company, or (ii) a person who is entitled to exercise 10% or more of the voting power at any shareholders’ meeting of such registered insurer or its parent company, or (iii) a person who is able to exercise significant influence over the management of the registered insurer or its parent company by virtue of its shareholding or its entitlement to exercise, or control the exercise of, the voting power at any shareholders’ meeting.

In addition, all Bermuda insurers (and, in respect of the parent company of an insurance group) are required to give the BMA written notice of the fact that a person has become, or ceased to be, a controller or officer of the registered insurer within 45 days of becoming aware of such fact. An officer in relation to an insurer or the parent company of an insurance group includes a director, chief executive or senior executive performing the duties of underwriting, actuarial, risk management, compliance, internal audit, finance or investment matters.

 

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COMPARISON OF AEGON N.V. AND AEGON LTD. GOVERNANCE

The table summarizes the main elements of the governance of Aegon N.V. and the governance of Aegon Ltd. following the Redomiciliation. The summary as set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles of Association (with regard to Aegon N.V.) and the Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws (with regard to Aegon Ltd.). This summary does not constitute legal advice and should not be regarded as such.

 

Aegon N.V.

  

Aegon Ltd.

Authorized share capital

The authorized share capital of Aegon N.V. is included in the Articles of Association and consists of:

 

6,000,000,000 common shares; and

 

3,000,000,000 common shares B,

 

each with a nominal value of EUR 0.12.

 

The Aegon N.V. Common Shares B profit rights are one fortieth (1/40th) of the Aegon N.V. Common Shares. Both the Aegon N.V. Common Shares and the Aegon N.V. Common Shares B have one vote per share.

  

The authorized share capital of Aegon Ltd. is included in the Memorandum of Association and consists of:

 

4,000,000,000 common shares; and

 

2,000,000,000 common shares B,

 

each with a par value of EUR 0.12.

 

The Aegon Ltd Common Shares B profit rights are one fortieth (1/40th) of the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares. Both the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares and the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B have one vote per share.

Issue of shares

Upon proposal of the Executive Board, which proposal has been approved by the Supervisory Board, the General Meeting may issue Aegon N.V. Shares and grant rights to acquire Aegon N.V. Shares and may also authorize the Executive Board to do so. An Executive Board resolution to issue Aegon N.V. Shares or to grant rights to acquire Aegon N.V. Shares is subject to Supervisory Board approval. Aegon N.V. Shares may be issued up to the amount of the authorized share capital.

 

A resolution to issue Aegon N.V. Common Shares B requires the approval of the meeting of holders of Aegon N.V. Common Shares B.

 

Currently, the Executive Board is typically authorized by the General Meeting on an annual basis to, subject to the prior approval of the Supervisory Board, issue Aegon N.V. Common Shares or grant rights to acquire Aegon N.V. Common Shares (i) up to 10% of the issued share capital and (ii) up to 25% of the issued share capital in connection with a rights issue.

  

The Board is authorized to issue Aegon Ltd. Shares for a nominal amount of less than 10% of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital. Any issuance of Aegon Ltd. Shares for a nominal amount of 10% or more of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital requires the approval of the General Meeting, unless (i) the Board determines that the issuance of Aegon Ltd. Shares is necessary or conducive for purposes of safeguarding, conserving or strengthening the capital position of Aegon Ltd. or (ii) such Aegon Ltd. Shares are issued to a person exercising a previously granted right to subscribe for shares.

 

Aegon Ltd. Shares may be issued up to the amount of the authorized share capital.

 

The issuance of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B requires the prior approval of the meeting of holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B.

 

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Aegon N.V.

  

Aegon Ltd.

Pre-emptive rights

Under Dutch law and the Articles of Association, Shareholders have mandatory pre-emptive rights with respect to the issuance of Aegon N.V. Shares of the same class.

 

Upon proposal of the Executive Board, which proposal has been approved by the Supervisory Board, the General Meeting may limit/exclude pre-emptive rights and may also authorize the Executive Board to do so. The resolution of the General Meeting requires a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast if less than one-half of the issued share capital is represented at the meeting. Currently the Executive Board is typically authorized by the General Meeting on an annual basis to, subject to the prior approval of the Supervisory Board, restrict or exclude pre-emptive rights in relation to an issuance of Aegon N.V. Common Shares or grant rights to acquire Aegon N.V. Common Shares for a period of 18 months (i) up to 10% of the issued share capital and (ii) up to 25% of the issued share capital in connection with a rights issue.

  

Under Bermuda law, a holder of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares does not have mandatory pre-emptive rights upon the issuance of Aegon Ltd. Shares. Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, the Board may resolve to grant pre-emptive rights at the occasion of an issuance of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares.

 

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, a holder of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B has pre-emptive rights with respect to the issuance, allotment or offer of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B.

Repurchase of shares

The General Meeting may authorize the Executive Board to repurchase Aegon N.V. Shares. The repurchase of Aegon N.V. Shares is subject to certain restrictions pursuant to the Articles of Association and Dutch law.

 

Furthermore, repurchases of Aegon N.V. Shares are only permitted to the extent the applicable regulatory requirements are met.

  

The Board is authorized, subject to certain restrictions of Bermuda law and the Bye-Laws, to repurchase Aegon Ltd. Shares.

 

Furthermore, repurchases of Aegon Ltd. Shares are only permitted to the extent the applicable regulatory requirements are met.

Reduction of share capital

Aegon N.V. may, subject to certain restrictions of Dutch law and the Articles of Association, reduce its issued share capital by lowering the nominal value of the Aegon N.V. Shares, by cancelling Aegon N.V. Shares held in treasury or by cancelling all Aegon N.V. Common Shares B.

 

The General Meeting may, at the proposal of the Executive Board, which proposal has to be approved by the Supervisory Board, resolve to reduce the issued share capital which requires a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast if less than one-half of the issued share capital is represented at the meeting.

  

Aegon Ltd. may, subject to certain restrictions of Bermuda law and the Bye-Laws, reduce its paid-up share capital in any way, including by:

 

a)  extinguishing or reducing the liability on any of its shares in respect of capital not paid up;

 

b)  cancelling any paid-up capital that is lost or unrepresented by available assets; or

 

c)  either with or without reducing the number of such shares, paying off any paid-up capital that is in excess of the requirements of the company.

 

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Reducing the issued share capital of Aegon N.V. Common Shares B also requires the approval of the meeting of holders of Aegon N.V. Common Shares B.

  

A reduction of paid-up share capital requires approval by the Board and the General Meeting.

 

Reducing the paid-up share capital of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B also requires the approval of the meeting of holders of Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B.

Board structure and number of Board members

Aegon N.V. has a two-tier board structure, comprising the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board.

 

The Executive Board is responsible for the day-to-day management and strategy of the company, under the supervision of the Supervisory Board.

 

The Supervisory Board determines the number of Executive Board members.

 

The Supervisory Board determines the number of Supervisory Board members, provided that the Supervisory Board must have at least seven members.

  

Aegon Ltd. has a single tier board structure, comprising executive directors and non-executive directors.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and the Bye-Laws, the Board shall manage and conduct the business of Aegon Ltd. and is responsible for the general affairs of Aegon Ltd., which includes setting the strategy of Aegon Ltd. The non-executive directors have an overall advisory and supervisory duty.

 

The executive directors will be primarily charged with, through a delegation of such authority by the Board, Aegon Ltd.’s day-to-day operations and the developing, proposing to the Board and implementing of Aegon’s strategy.

 

The Board determines the number of executive directors and non-executive directors, provided that the majority of the Board shall consist of non-executive directors.

Appointment and removal of board members
The General Meeting appoints the members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board.   

The General Meeting appoints the members of the Board.

 

Voting in respect of Board member appointments will be based on the general voting mechanism (for / against / abstain).

If the appointment of an Executive Board member or a Supervisory Board member is proposed by the Supervisory Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital.

 

Executive Board members and Supervisory Board members are appointed for a term of not more than four

  

If the appointment of Board member is proposed by the a Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital.

 

Board members are appointed for a term of not more than four years. A term limit of a total of 12 years applies to non-executive directors. However, for an

 

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years. A term limit of a total of 12 years applies to Supervisory Board members.

 

If the suspension or removal of an Executive Board member or a Supervisory Board member is proposed by the Supervisory Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital.

 

The Supervisory Board may suspend an Executive Board member.

  

individual case and by way of exception, the Board may, in the interest of Aegon Ltd., decide to deviate from the term limit.

 

If the removal or suspension of a Board member is proposed by the Board, the General Meeting resolution requires a simple majority of the votes cast, while otherwise, the resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which majority must represent more than half of the issued share capital.

 

An executive director of the Board may also be suspended by the Board, in which case only the non-executive directors will take part in the deliberations and decision making.

Board vacancies and inability to act

In case an Executive Board member is unable to act or when a vacancy arises, the remaining Executive Board member(s) will be temporarily entrusted with the management of Aegon N.V.

 

If all seats of the Executive Board members are vacant or if all Executive Board members are unable to act, the Supervisory Board is charged with the management and may delegate this authority.

  

In case a Board member is unable to act or when a vacancy arises, the remaining Board members will be temporarily entrusted with the management of Aegon Ltd.

 

The Board may fill a vacancy that arises at its own discretion, such appointment to be ratified at the next General Meeting.

 

Board members may grant a proxy a fellow Board member to exercise their vote at a meeting of the Board in case they are unable to act.

Independence of the Board

The independence standards of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, the Audit Committee Decree and the Joint Guidelines apply to the Supervisory Board.

 

In addition, the independence requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act and the NYSE Listing Rules are applicable.

  

At least a majority of the Board members must be independent, as defined in a separate document to be adopted by the Board, setting out Aegon Ltd.’s corporate governance principles.

 

In addition, the independence requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act and the NYSE Listing Rules are applicable.

Diversity of the Board

Aegon N.V. has a diversity policy in line with Dutch law diversity requirements, pursuant to which a quota applies to the Supervisory Board of at least one-third female and one-third male members.

Aegon N.V. furthermore takes into account the diversity requirements of the Joint Guidelines.

   Aegon will continue to have an inclusion and diversity policy for the Board setting out diversity requirements and targets applicable to the Board. Aegon will continue to adhere to the objectives regarding inclusion and diversity, as these may evolve from time to time going forward to reflect emerging best practices and standards in the jurisdictions in which the Aegon Group is active. As part of the inclusion and diversity policy for the

 

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   Board, Aegon will continue to strive for female and male representation on the Board of at least one-third of its members.
Decision-making by the Board and Quorum

Resolutions of the Executive Board are adopted with a simple majority of the votes cast and may only be adopted if the majority of the Executive Board members in office are present or represented.

 

Resolutions of the Supervisory Board are adopted with a simple majority of the votes cast and may only be adopted if the majority of the Supervisory Board members in office are present or represented.

 

In the event of a tie vote in the Executive Board, the proposal shall be rejected.

 

In the event of a tie vote in the Supervisory Board, the chairman has the deciding vote if more than two Supervisory Board members are present or represented.

  

Resolutions of the Board are adopted with a simple majority of the votes cast, unless a specified majority applies pursuant to which resolutions also require the majority of the non-executive directors.

 

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, the quorum for the transaction of business at a Board meeting is at least the majority of the Board members in office at the time of the meeting.

 

Any temporary Board members are taken into account for the calculation of a quorum.

Fiduciary duties

Each member of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board has a statutory duty to act in the corporate interest of Aegon N.V. and its business.

 

Under Dutch law, the corporate interest extends to the interests of all corporate stakeholders, such as shareholders, creditors, employees, customers and suppliers.

  

Under Bermuda law, the Board members owe a fiduciary duty to Aegon Ltd. to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of Aegon Ltd. and exercise their powers and fulfil the duties of their office honestly.

 

Aegon Ltd.’s Bye-Laws will provide that, when exercising their duties, the Board members will take into account the long-term consequences of decisions, sustainability, Aegon’s reputation and the interest of all corporate stakeholders, including, amongst others, Shareholders, employees, business relations, policyholders, relations with regulators, creditors and other groups, directly or indirectly, influenced by the business of Aegon.

Conflict of interest
An Executive Board or Supervisory Board member may not participate in the adoption of resolutions and deliberations in case of a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists if the Executive Board or Supervisory Board member is unable to serve the best interests of Aegon N.V. and the business connected with it with the required level of integrity and objectivity.   

In accordance with Bermuda law, a Board member who believes that they have or might have a direct or indirect personal interest which conflicts with the interests of Aegon Ltd., whether potential or actual, must notify the Board at the first opportunity at a meeting of the Board or by writing to the Board members as required by Bermuda law.

 

Unless the conflict is fully disclosed, any contract entered into by Aegon Ltd. and a company in which a Board member has an interest may be voidable at the instance of the Aegon Ltd. and any profit made recoverable by Aegon Ltd.

 

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   A member of the Board who has a conflict of interest shall not participate in any deliberations and decision-making of the Board, unless the Board decides otherwise.
Remuneration of Board members

The General Meeting adopts a remuneration policy for the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. Pursuant to Dutch law, the General Meeting resolution requires a three-fourths majority. The remuneration policy must be re-adopted every four years.

 

A remuneration report must annually be submitted to a non-binding advisory vote of the General Meeting.

  

The Board establishes guidelines for the remuneration of the Board members in line with international practice.

 

The Board determines the remuneration and other terms of service of the executive directors and the non-executive directors, with due observance of the remuneration guidelines. The executive directors shall not participate in the deliberations and decision-making process of the Board in determining the remuneration and other terms of service for the executive directors and non-executive directors.

 

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, Shareholders are offered the opportunity to annually provide a non-binding advisory vote with respect to the past financial year’s remuneration report.

Indemnification of Board members
The Articles of Association include an indemnification of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board members against any and all liabilities, claims, judgments, fines and penalties incurred as a result of any action, investigation or other proceeding. An Executive Board member or a Supervisory Board member is not indemnified for gaining personal profits, advantages or remuneration to which he was not legally entitled, or if the Executive Board member or Supervisory Board member is liable for wilful misconduct (opzet) or intentional recklessness (bewuste roekeloosheid).    The Bye-Laws provide that Board members are indemnified in respect of, any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to Aegon Ltd. or any subsidiary thereof. The indemnification does not extend to claims arising from fraud or dishonesty.
Discharge of Board members
The General Meeting may discharge members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board for the performance of their management and supervision, respectively.   

The Bye-Laws contain a waiver from each Shareholder and Aegon Ltd. of any claim or right of action it may have against Aegon Ltd. at any time, whether individually or by or in the right of Aegon Ltd., against any Board member on account of any action taken by such Board member or the failure of such Board member to take any action in the performance of their duties with or for Aegon Ltd.

 

This waiver does not apply to claims arising out of fraud or dishonesty or to recover any gain, personal profit or advantage to which such Board member is not legally entitled.

 

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Convocation and agenda of a General Meeting

Notice of General Meetings are given by the Supervisory Board or the Executive Board. The convocation of the General Meeting is published on Aegon N.V.’s website at least 42 days prior to the day of the General Meeting.

 

Shareholders may exercise their rights at a General Meeting, if they are the Shareholders on the 28th day before the day of the General Meeting.

 

Pursuant to the Articles of Association, General Meetings must take place in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlemmermeer, Leidschendam, Rijswijk (ZH), Rotterdam or Voorburg.

 

Pursuant to the Articles of Association, the Executive Board is authorized to determine that rights to attend the General Meeting and voting can be exercised by using an electronic means of communications.

  

Notice of General Meetings are given by the Board. Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, General Meetings must be convened at least 30 days prior to the day of the General Meeting.

 

Shareholders may exercise their rights at a General Meeting if they are Shareholders on the record date for the General Meeting. The record date shall be determined by the Board and shall not be more than 60 business days before the date of the General Meeting.

 

General Meetings may be held in or outside Bermuda, including in the Netherlands. Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, the General Meetings may also be held solely by electronic means of communication.

The agenda of the General Meeting includes the items proposed by the Executive Board or Supervisory Board.   
Shareholder right to propose an agenda item

Shareholders representing at least 1% of the issued capital or shares worth at least EUR 100 million may request one or more items to be added to the agenda of a General Meeting.

 

Such request must be received by Aegon N.V. not later than on the sixtieth day prior to the date of the meeting.

 

Shareholders may not put items on the agenda for (in)formal voting on matters that are not reserved for Shareholders. Those items may only be put on the agenda as a non-binding discussion item.

  

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, Shareholders representing at least 1% of the issued capital or 100 or more Shareholders jointly may request one or more items to be added to the agenda of a General Meeting.

 

A requisition made by a Shareholder requiring notice of a resolution must be received by Aegon Ltd. not less than six weeks before the meeting.

 

Matters that are not reserved for, or do not require a Shareholder’s resolution pursuant to the Bye-Laws or Bermuda law, may only be included as an item non-binding to the Board.

Shareholder right to call a General Meeting
Shareholders representing at least 10% of the issued share capital, may request that a General Meeting be convened. If neither the Executive Board nor the Supervisory Board have ensured that a meeting is held within eight weeks the Shareholders may be authorized by the competent Dutch court to convene a General Meeting.    Shareholders representing at least 10% of the paid-up share capital may request a General Meeting. If the Board has not taken steps necessary to convene a General Meeting within 21 days of the requisition, the Shareholders may themselves convene a General Meeting, to be held within 3 months of the requisition.
Decision-making of the General Meeting
Unless Dutch law or the Articles of Association provide otherwise, all resolutions of the General Meeting are adopted with a simple majority of the votes cast.    Unless Bermuda law or the Bye-Laws provide otherwise, all resolutions of the General Meeting are adopted with a simple majority of the votes cast.

 

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No quorum requirement applies when holding a General Meeting and when transacting business at such meeting.

  

 

Resolutions may be adopted if a quorum is present. The quorum for a General Meeting is set at 1/3 of the paid-up share capital.

Shareholder vote on material transactions

Pursuant to Dutch law, the Executive Board must obtain the approval of the General Meeting for resolutions regarding a significant change in the identity or Aegon N.V. or its business, including in any event:

 

a)  transferring the business or practically the entire business to a third party;

 

b)  concluding or cancelling a long-lasting cooperation of Aegon N.V. or a subsidiary of Aegon N.V. with another legal entity or as a fully liable general partner in a partnership, provided that the cooperation or cancellation is of material significance to Aegon N.V.;

  

Bermuda law does not provide for a shareholder vote for material transactions, other than if the transaction would require shareholder approval in itself (e.g. merger, amalgamation).

 

Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, any transaction which would require the issuance of more than 10% of Aegon Ltd.’s issued share capital will require approval of the General Meeting. Reference is made to the above description under “Issue of Shares”.

c)  acquiring or disposing of a participating interest in the share capital of Aegon N.V. with a value of at least one-third of Aegon N.V.’s assets, as shown in the consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes according to the last adopted annual accounts by Aegon N.V. or a subsidiary of Aegon N.V.

  
Amendment of the constitutional documents

The General Meeting resolves on the amendment of the Articles of Association upon proposal of the Executive Board with the approval

of the Supervisory Board.

  

The Board resolves on the amendment of the Bye-Laws. In order for such amendment to take effect, it must be approved by the General Meeting.

 

An amendment of the Memorandum of Association needs to be approved by the Board and the General Meeting.

 

A Board resolution to amend the Bye-Laws or the Memorandum of Association requires the consenting vote of the majority of the non-executive directors participating in the decision.

 

Under Bermuda law, Shareholders who, alone or jointly, represent at least 20% of Aegon Ltd.’s paid-up share capital or any class thereof have the right to, within 21 days after a resolution to amend the Memorandum of Association has been adopted by the General Meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an annulment of such amendment of the Memorandum of Association, other than an amendment which alters or reduces Aegon Ltd.’s share capital as provided in Bermuda law. No application may be made by Shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.

 

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Mergers; demergers
The General Meeting resolves on a merger or a demerger upon a Supervisory Board approved proposal of the Executive Board.   

Any amalgamation or merger of Aegon Ltd. requires approval by the Board and the General Meeting.

Bermuda law does not provide for the possibility of a legal demerger.

Dissolution; winding-up

The General Meeting resolves on dissolution upon a Supervisory Board approved proposal of the Executive Board.

 

Any liquidation surplus is transferred to the Shareholders proportional to the profit rights attached to the Aegon N.V. Common Shares and the Aegon N.V. Common Shares B, respectively.

  

Subject to Bermuda law, a winding-up of Aegon Ltd. requires approval by the Board and the General Meeting.

 

In the event of a winding-up of Aegon Ltd., the liquidator may, with the approval of a subsequent General Meeting, divide amongst the Shareholders whole or any part of the assets of Aegon Ltd. and may for such purposes set such values as they deem fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders, provided that the liquidation surplus shall be transferred to the Shareholders in proportion to the profit rights attached to the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares and the Aegon Ltd. Common Shares B respectively.

Profit reservation, dividends and other distributions

Under Dutch law, distributions may only be made to the extent Aegon N.V. has sufficient distributable reserves.

 

Pursuant to the Articles of Association, the Supervisory Board may decide, upon the proposal of the Executive Board, to set aside part of the profit to increase and/or form reserves.

 

The profits remaining thereafter are at the disposal of the General Meeting.

 

The Executive Board may decide, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to make interim distributions.

  

Under Bermuda law, Aegon Ltd. may declare and pay a dividend, or make a distribution out of contributed surplus, provided there are reasonable grounds for believing that after any such payment (a) the company will be solvent and (b) the realizable value of its assets will be greater than its liabilities.

 

The Board may declare dividends and interim dividends and may decide to set aside part of the profit to increase and/or form reserves.

 

A Board resolution to declare a dividend requires the consenting vote of the majority of the non-executive directors participating in the decision.

Annual accounts

The annual accounts of Aegon N.V. must be signed by the members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board.

 

The annual accounts are adopted annually by the General Meeting.

  

The annual accounts of Aegon Ltd. must contain a signature of one Board member on the balance sheet. The Board approves and adopts the annual accounts.

 

The annual accounts must be discussed annually in the General Meeting. However in accordance with Bermuda law, the annual accounts are not adopted by the General Meeting.

 

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Auditor

Upon nomination by the Supervisory Board, the General Meeting appoints the independent external auditor of Aegon N.V.

 

Pursuant to Dutch law, a mandatory audit firm rotation after ten years applies to Aegon.

  

Upon proposal by the Board, the General Meeting appoints the independent external auditor of Aegon Ltd. for a period of one year.

 

Although Bermuda law does not provide for a mandatory audit firm rotation, Aegon Ltd. will voluntarily continue to abide to an audit firm rotation after ten years.

Inquiry proceedings

Inquiry proceedings are a specific legal procedure at the Dutch Enterprise Chamber (Ondernemingskamer) to take interim measures and investigate policies and affairs of Dutch companies. The inquiry proceedings cover any misconduct of corporate bodies as well as of the persons acting as part of these corporate bodies.

   Shareholders who believe their interests as a minority shareholder are not appropriately taken into account may seek the intervention of the Bermuda Supreme Court.
Shareholders representing at least 1% of the issued capital or shares worth at least EUR 20 million may initiate inquiry proceedings at the Dutch Enterprise Chamber.   
Shareholder suits and derivate actions
In the event that a third party is liable to Aegon N.V., only Aegon N.V. itself may bring civil action against that party. The individual Shareholders do not have the right to bring an action on behalf of Aegon N.V. Only in the event that the cause for the liability of a third party to Aegon N.V. also constitutes a tortious act directly against a Shareholder, does that Shareholder have an individual right of action against such third party.    Save for certain exceptions, under Bermuda law, in the event that a third party is liable to Aegon Ltd., only Aegon Ltd. itself may bring civil action against that party. The decision to sue would be made by the Board or any person authorized to do so by the Board.
Squeeze-out
Pursuant to Dutch law, a Shareholder who provides at least 95% of the issued share capital of Aegon N.V., alone or together with group companies, may institute proceedings against minority Shareholders jointly for the transfer of their shares to such shareholder. The proceedings are held before the Enterprise Chamber. The Enterprise Chamber may grant the claim for squeeze-out and determines the price to be paid for the Aegon N.V. Shares. Specific arrangements apply for squeeze-out proceedings after a public takeover offer.    Under Bermuda law, Shareholders who individually or jointly hold at least 95% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Aegon Ltd. may give notice to the remaining Shareholders and require the remaining Shareholders to sell their remaining Aegon Ltd. Shares subject to the terms set out in the notice, unless the remaining Shareholders apply to the Supreme Court for an appraisal.
Appraisal or dissenters’ rights
Dutch law does not recognize the concept of appraisal or dissenters’ right. Dutch law does provide for cash exit rights for dissenting Shareholders in case of cross-    In the event of an amalgamation or merger of Aegon Ltd., a Shareholder who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation or merger and is not satisfied that fair

 

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border mergers, and, subject to the Legislative Proposal being adopted, demergers and conversions.    value has been offered for such Shareholder’s Aegon Ltd. Shares may, within one month of notice of the General Meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those Aegon Ltd. Shares.
Mandatory tender offer
Under Dutch law, any person who, acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, acquires 30% or more of Aegon N.V.’s voting rights will, subject to certain exemptions, be required to make a mandatory tender offer for all outstanding Aegon N.V. Shares.    Pursuant to the Bye-Laws, any person who alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly acquires 30% or more of Aegon Ltd.’s voting rights, except as a result of certain permitted acquisitions, must without delay make a public announcement thereof and must within 30 days make a general offer to all holders of shares in accordance with the Bye-Laws. Where a person does not make such offer within the prescribed time frame, such person is in breach of the Bye-Laws and the Board may take several actions as set out in the Bye-Laws, including a suspension of voting rights or rights to dividends.

 

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MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

We are incorporating by reference the information set forth under “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major Shareholders” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We are incorporating by reference the information set forth under “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects ” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

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BUSINESS

We are incorporating by reference the information set forth under “Item 4. Information on the Company” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

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MANAGEMENT

We are incorporating by reference the information set forth under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We are incorporating by reference the information set forth under “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-B. Related Party Transactions” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.

 

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TAXATION

Material Dutch tax consequences to Shareholders after completion of the Redomiciliation

This section is intended as a summary of the material Dutch and U.S. federal tax consequences for Aegon and Shareholders in respect of the Redomiciliation. Aegon is not pursuing the Redomiciliation for tax reasons. The statements below are based on current law, policy and practice, which are each subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive or retrospective effect. Furthermore, the discussion below is not exhaustive and relates only to the material tax consequences of the Redomiciliation. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the particular tax consequences to them of the Redomiciliation.

Material Dutch tax consequences to Shareholders after completion of the Redomiciliation

The Dutch dividend withholding tax, corporate income tax and personal income tax treatment of Shareholders after the Redomiciliation is expected to generally remain the same as before the Redomiciliation.

Material Dutch tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders of the Redomiciliation

In connection with the filing of Aegon’s registration statement on Form F-4, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., special Netherlands tax counsel to Aegon, has delivered a tax opinion to Aegon to the effect that the statements below, to the extent that they constitute descriptions or summaries of Dutch tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, are the opinion of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. with respect to the material Dutch tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders of the Redomiciliation. Such tax opinion of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. is based on factual and on certain customary qualifications, assumptions and limitations. Subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein and in such tax opinion of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., which is filed as Exhibit 8.2 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the discussion under this section “Material Dutch tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders of the Redomiciliation” represents the opinion of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. with respect to the material Dutch tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders of the Redomiciliation. In addition, if any of the representations or assumptions upon which the opinion is based are inconsistent with the actual facts, the Dutch tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders of the Redomiciliation could be different from those described below, and Aegon and its Shareholders could be adversely affected.

The Luxembourg Conversion is not a taxable event for Aegon or its Shareholders for Dutch corporate income tax, Dutch dividend withholding tax and Dutch personal income tax purposes. Support for this view may be found in paragraph 11.1 of the updated Decree on the conversion of legal entities (Besluit omzetting rechtspersonen) dated April 14, 2022, which approves, to the extent needed to address any uncertainty, that a cross-border conversion of a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap) shall not be treated as a taxable event if it is converted into a foreign entity (i) governed by the laws of a Member State of the European Union or EEA, (ii) having its registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the European Union or EEA; and (iii) sufficiently similar to a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap) or limited liability company (besloten vennootschap).

Furthermore, the subsequent Bermuda Conversion is not a taxable event for Aegon or its Shareholders for Dutch corporate income tax, Dutch dividend withholding tax and Dutch personal income tax purposes. Support for this view may be found in paragraph 10.1 of the updated Decree on the conversion of legal entities (Besluit omzetting rechtspersonen) dated April 14, 2022, which provides that no taxable event occurs for Dutch tax purposes if, in the case of a conversion of a company governed by foreign law into another company governed by foreign law, the existence of that company is not terminated and there is no transfer of assets or liabilities.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders of the Redomiciliation

The following discussion sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax consequences arising as a result of the Redomiciliation to U.S. holders (as defined below) of Aegon N.V. Shares, which remain issued and become

 

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Aegon Ltd. Shares as a result of the Redomiciliation, and assumes the Redomiciliation is implemented as described in this U.S. Shareholder Circular. This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax matters that may be relevant to a particular Shareholder. This section also does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal income tax laws of the United States.

This discussion is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations and judicial and administrative interpretations, in each case as in effect and available on the date hereof. All of the foregoing are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.

In connection with the filing of Aegon’s registration statement on Form F-4, Latham & Watkins LLP, special United States tax counsel to Aegon, has delivered a U.S. federal income tax opinion to Aegon to the effect that the statements below, to the extent that they constitute descriptions or summaries of U.S. federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, are the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the Redomiciliation. Such U.S. federal income tax opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP is based on factual representations contained in a certificate provided to Latham & Watkins LLP by Aegon, and on certain customary qualifications, assumptions and limitations. Subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein and in such U.S. federal income tax opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, which is filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the discussion under this section “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders of the Redomiciliation” represents the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the Redomiciliation. The opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP is not binding on the IRS or any court, and Aegon does not intend to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Redomiciliation. Consequently, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of those set forth below. In addition, if any of the representations or assumptions upon which the opinion is based are inconsistent with the actual facts, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of the Redomiciliation could be different from those described below, and U.S. holders could be adversely affected.

For the purposes of this section, a ‘U.S. holder’ is a beneficial owner of Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

A citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

   

A corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States (including the District of Columbia);

 

   

An estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. Federal income taxation regardless of its source;

 

   

A trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of such trust.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding Shares and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences to them of the Redomiciliation, including the applicability and effect of any state, local, non-U.S. and other tax laws.

The Redomiciliation will qualify as a tax-free “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Under such treatment, a U.S. holder will not recognize any gain or loss solely as a result of the Redomiciliation, will have the same tax basis in each of its Shares following the Redomiciliation as the U.S.

 

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holder had immediately prior to the Redomiciliation, and will have a holding period in each of its Shares following the Redomiciliation that includes the U.S. holder’s holding period in such Shares immediately prior to the Redomiciliation.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Shareholders After Completion of the Redomiciliation

Since Aegon will remain a tax resident in the Netherlands following the Redomiciliation, for a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to Shareholders after the Redomiciliation, see the section titled “Item 10–Additional Information–E. Taxation–United States tax consequences to holders of shares” incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited, Bermuda counsel to Aegon, has provided a legal opinion for Aegon regarding (i) valid issue, (ii) paying up and (iii) non-assessability of the shares of Aegon Ltd., based on the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set out therein. Certain legal matters relating to U.S. law will be passed upon for Aegon by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters relating to Dutch law will be passed upon for Aegon by De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., Amsterdam.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this U.S. Shareholder Circular by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V., an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

The Netherlands

Aegon N.V. is a Dutch company located in the Netherlands. Many of our directors and officers are residents of the Netherlands or countries other than the United States. In addition, although we have substantial assets in the United States, a large portion of our assets and the assets of our directors and officers are located outside of the United States. As a result, U.S. investors may find it difficult in a lawsuit based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws:

 

   

to effect service of process within the United States upon Aegon N.V. and our directors and officers located outside the United States;

 

   

to enforce in U.S. courts or outside the United States judgments obtained against those persons in U.S. courts;

 

   

to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against those persons in courts in jurisdictions outside the United States; and

 

   

to enforce against those persons in the Netherlands, whether in original actions or in actions for the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, civil liabilities based solely upon U.S. Federal securities laws.

The United States and the Netherlands do not currently have a treaty providing for reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, except arbitration awards. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not based solely upon the federal securities laws, would not be directly enforceable in the Netherlands. However, if the party in whose favor a final judgment is rendered brings a new suit in a competent court in the Netherlands, such party may submit to the Dutch court the final judgment that has been rendered in the United States. If the Dutch court finds that the jurisdiction of the federal or state court in the United States has been based on grounds that are internationally acceptable and that proper legal procedures have been observed, the court in the Netherlands would, in principle, give binding effect to the final judgment that has been rendered in the United States unless such judgment contravenes Dutch public policy.

A shareholder of a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands cannot sue individual members of the supervisory board or executive board derivatively; that is, in the name of and for the benefit of Aegon N.V.

Moreover, under Dutch law, the duties owed by members of the Aegon N.V. Supervisory Board and Aegon N.V. Executive Board are owed primarily to Aegon N.V. and our businesses, not to our shareholders. This may limit the rights of the shareholders of a Dutch company to sue members of its supervisory or executive boards. On January 1, 2020, the new Act on the Resolution of Mass Damages Claims in Collective Actions (Wet afwikkeling massaschade in collectieve actie) entered into effect in the Netherlands, which allows claims for monetary damages in collective actions initiated by a representative foundation or association seeking to protect similar interests of persons against a company or its supervisory or executive directors, which was not previously possible.

Bermuda

Aegon Ltd. will, after the Redomiciliation be an exempted company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda. In addition, some of Aegon Ltd.’s directors and officers may reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets and Aegon Ltd.’s assets are or may be located in jurisdictions outside of the United States. It may therefore be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon Aegon Ltd.’s non-U.S. based directors and officers or to recover against Aegon Ltd. or such directors and officers or obtain judgments from U.S. courts against Aegon Ltd. or them, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability of the U.S. federal securities laws.

 

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There is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a United States judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against Aegon Ltd. or Aegon Ltd.’s directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over Aegon Ltd. or Aegon Ltd.’s directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules. A judgment debt from a U.S. court that is final and for a sum certain based on U.S. federal securities laws will not be enforceable in Bermuda unless the judgment debtor had submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. court, and the issue of submission and jurisdiction is a matter of Bermuda (not U.S.) law.

In addition, and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce a U.S. federal securities law that is either penal or contrary to Bermuda public policy. An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, will not be entertained by a Bermuda court. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, would not be available under Bermuda law of enforceable in a Bermuda court, as they would be contrary to Bermuda public policy. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against Aegon Ltd. or Aegon Ltd.’s directors and officers in the first instance for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial jurisdiction under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impost civil liability on Aegon Ltd. or Aegon Ltd.’s directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law.

INDEMNIFICATION

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement, of which this U.S. Shareholder Circular forms a part, on Form F-4 to register the issuance of securities deemed to be offered to shareholders of Aegon N.V. as described elsewhere in this U.S. Shareholder Circular. We also file annual reports with, and furnish other information to, the SEC and with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. You may read and copy any document that we have filed with or furnished to the SEC through the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

If you would like hard copies of this U.S. Shareholder Circular or our filings with the SEC (excluding exhibits) or if you have questions about the Redomiciliation or the proposals to be presented at the annual general meeting, you should contact Aegon at the following address and telephone number:

Investor Relations

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50

2591 TV The Hague

The Netherlands

Tel: +31-70-344-8305

Tel: 1-443-475-3243

E-mail: ir@aegon.com

Any of the documents you request will be available without charge. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you should contact your broker, bank or other nominee for additional information.

This U.S. Shareholder Circular is part of a registration statement and constitutes a prospectus of Aegon Ltd. and Aegon N.V. As allowed by SEC rules, this U.S. Shareholder Circular does not contain all of the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. Information and statements contained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

Aegon has not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the Redomiciliation that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. The information contained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular speaks only as of the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

As permitted by the SEC, this U.S. Shareholder Circular does not contain all the information you can find in our registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this U.S. Shareholder Circular, which means that:

 

   

incorporated documents are considered part of this U.S. Shareholder Circular;

 

   

we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents;

 

   

information that we file with the SEC after the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular that is incorporated by reference in this U.S. Shareholder Circular automatically updates and supersedes this U.S. Shareholder Circular; and

 

   

information that is more recent that is included in this U.S. Shareholder Circular automatically updates and supersedes information in documents incorporated by reference with a date earlier than this U.S. Shareholder Circular.

We incorporate by reference into this U.S. Shareholder Circular our documents listed below. Unless otherwise noted, all documents incorporated by reference have the SEC file number 1-10882.

 

   

Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022;

 

   

Report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on June 30, 2023;

each of the following documents that we file with or furnish to the SEC after the date of this U.S. Shareholder Circular from now until we terminate the offering of securities under this U.S. Shareholder Circular and the registration statement:

 

   

reports filed under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

 

   

reports filed or furnished on Form 6-K that indicate that they are incorporated by reference in this U.S. Shareholder Circular.

These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition. You may obtain copies of these documents in the manner described above. You may also request a copy of these filings (excluding exhibits) at no cost by contacting us as follows or by visiting our website at www.aegon.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference and is not part of this U.S. Shareholder Circular.

No person is authorized to give any information or represent anything not contained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular. We are only offering the securities in places where sales of those securities are permitted. The information contained in this U.S. Shareholder Circular, as well as information incorporated by reference, is current only as of the date of that information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

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Part II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 20.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Aegon maintains insurance to indemnify members of the Aegon Ltd. Board of Directors and officers of Aegon. The concept of indemnification of directors of a company from liabilities arising from their actions as members of the executive or supervisory boards is, in principle, accepted in the Netherlands and sometimes is provided for in the company’s articles of association. Although the laws of Bermuda do not contain any provisions in this respect, the Bye-Laws provide that Board members are indemnified in respect of, any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company or any subsidiary thereof. The indemnification does not extend to claims arising from fraud or dishonesty. Aegon Ltd. has also contractually agreed to indemnify members of the Aegon Ltd. Board of Directors and officers of Aegon Ltd.

 

Item 21.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

  (a)

Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index on the page immediately before the signature page for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form F-4, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

  (b)

Financial Statement Schedules

See our financial statements in “Item 18. Financial Statements” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 for the financial statements incorporated by reference in this registration statement on Form F-4.

 

Item 22.

Undertakings.

 

  (a)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period during which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the U.S. Securities Act, each such post- effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered thereby, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include, or to file a Form 6-K that incorporates by reference herein, any financial statements required by “Item 8.A. of Form 20-F” at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the U.S. Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows:

(1) That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reoffering’s by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other Items of the applicable form.

(2) That every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the U.S. Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered thereby, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the U.S. Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (i) to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within one

 

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business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means, and (ii) to arrange or provide for a facility in the United States for the purpose of responding to such requests. The undertaking in clause (i) above includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction and the company being acquired involved thereby, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

         Incorporation by Reference

Exhibit

No.

  Description    Form    File No.    Exhibit    Filing Date
  3.1***   Articles of Association of Aegon N.V.    6-K    001-10882       June 4, 2013
  3.2*   Form of Luxembourg Articles of Association of Aegon S.A.            
  3.3*   Form of Bermuda Bye-laws of Aegon Ltd.            
  3.4*   Form of Memorandum of Continuance of Aegon Ltd. which will serve as Aegon Ltd.’s memorandum of association.            
  4.1   Any instruments defining the rights of long-term debt holders. None of our instruments relating to long-term debt has total amount of securities authorized thereunder that exceed 10% of our consolidated total assets. Pursuant to the requirement of this Exhibit 4, we agree to furnish to the SEC upon request a copy of any instrument defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of us or of our subsidiaries for which consolidated or unconsolidated financial statements are required to be filed.            
  5.1*   Opinion of Appleby (Bermuda) Limited regarding the (i) valid issue, (ii) paying up and (iii) non-assessability of the Aegon Ltd. shares.            
  8.1*   Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, with respect to certain U.S. tax matters.            
  8.2*   Opinion of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., with respect to certain Dutch tax matters.            
10.1***   1983 Amended Merger Agreement between Aegon and Vereniging AEGON, as amended and restated May 29, 2013.    20-F    001-10882    4.1    March 21, 2014
10.2†***   Business Combination Agreement among Aegon Europe Holding B.V., Aegon N.V. and ASR Nederland N.V., dated October  26, 2022, relating to the combination of ASR Nederland N.V. and Aegon Nederland N.V.    20-F    001-10882    4.4    March 22, 2023
10.3***   Voting Rights Agreement, as amended and restated May 29, 2013.    20-F    001-10882    4.2    March 21, 2014
21.1***   List of Subsidiaries of Aegon Ltd.    20-F    001-10882    8    March 22, 2023
23.1*   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V., independent registered public accounting firm for Aegon N.V.            

 

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          Incorporation by Reference

Exhibit

No.

   Description    Form    File
No.
   Exhibit    Filing
Date
23.2*    Consent of Appleby (Bermuda) Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1).            
23.3*    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).            
23.4*    Consent of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. (included in Exhibit 8.2).            
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on signature page to the initial filing of the Registration Statement).            
107*    Filing Fee Table.            

 

*

Filed herewith.

**

To be filed by amendment or a future filing that is incorporated by reference herein.

***

Previously filed.

Certain information in this agreement and its schedules has been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Reg S-K, but will be furnished supplementary to the SEC upon request.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in The Hague, the Netherlands, on the 30th day of June, 2023.

 

Aegon N.V.
By:  

/s/ Eilard Friese

Name:   Eilard Friese
Title:  

Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint J.O. van Klinken, J.H.P.M. van Rossum and M.R. Brizee, and each of them singly, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any subsequent registration statement filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitutes or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/ Eilard Friese

Eilard Friese

  

Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Matthew J. Rider

Matthew J. Rider

  

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director

(Principal Financial and Principal Accounting Officer)

  June 30, 2023

/s/ William L.A. Connelly

William L.A. Connelly

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Mark A. Ellman

Mark A. Ellman

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Jack McGarry

Jack McGarry

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Caroline Ramsay

Caroline Ramsay

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Thomas Wellauer

Thomas Wellauer

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

 

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Signature

  

Capacity

 

Date

/s/ Corien M. Wortmann-Kool

Corien M. Wortmann-Kool

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Dona D. Young

Dona D. Young

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

/s/ Karen Fawcett

Karen Fawcett

  

Supervisory Director

  June 30, 2023

 

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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Aegon N.V., has signed this registration statement on the 30th day of June, 2023.

 

Transamerica Corporation
By:  

/s/ Andrew S. Williams

 

Name:Andrew S. Williams

 

Title:  Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

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Exhibit 3.2

Form of

Aegon S.A.

Société anonyme

Articles of Association

 

A.

NAME - PURPOSE - DURATION - REGISTERED OFFICE

Article 1 Definitions

 

1.1

In these articles of association, the following expressions shall have the following meaning:

 

  (a)

Claims” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 21.1;

 

  (b)

Common Share” and “Common Shares” have the meaning ascribed to them in Article 6.1;

 

  (c)

Common Share B” and “Common Shares B” have the meaning ascribed to them in Article 6.1;

 

  (d)

Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 2;

 

  (e)

D&O Insurance” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 21.7;

 

  (f)

Euroclear Netherlands” means the Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V., trading under the name Euroclear Nederland, being the central depositary as referred to in the Giro Act;

 

  (g)

Expenses” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 21.3;

 

  (h)

General Meeting” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 4.2;

 

  (i)

Giro Act” means the Dutch Securities Bank Giro Transaction Act (Wet giraal effectenverkeer);

 

  (j)

Law” has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 2;

 

  (k)

Shares” and “Share” have the meaning ascribed to them in Article 6.1; and

 

  (l)

Statutory Giro System” the giro system as referred to in the Giro Act.

Article 2 Name - Legal form

There exists a public limited company (société anonyme) under the name Aegon S.A. (the “Company”) which shall be governed by the law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended (the “Law”), as well as by the present articles of association.

 

1


Article 3 Purpose

 

3.1

The purpose of the Company is to incorporate, to acquire and alienate shares and interests in, to finance, to grant security for obligations of, to enter into general business relationships with, to manage, and to grant services to, legal entities and other entities, in particular those involved in the insurance business, and to do all that is connected therewith or which may be conducive thereto, all to be interpreted in the broadest sense.

 

3.2

In achieving the aforesaid objects due regard will be taken, within the scope of sound business operations, to provide fair safeguards for the interests of all the parties directly or indirectly involved in the Company.

Article 4 Duration

 

4.1

The Company is incorporated for an unlimited period of time.

 

4.2

It may be dissolved at any time by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders of the Company (the “General Meeting”) adopted in the manner required for an amendment of these articles of association.

Article 5 Registered office

 

5.1

The registered office of the Company is established in the City of Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

5.2

The board of directors may transfer the registered office of the Company within the same municipality or to any other municipality in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and, if necessary, subsequently amend these articles of association to reflect such change of registered office.

 

5.3

Branches or other offices may be established either in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg or abroad by a resolution of the board of directors.

 

5.4

In the event that the board of directors determines that extraordinary political, economic or social circumstances or natural disasters have occurred or are imminent that would interfere with the normal activities of the Company at its registered office, the registered office may be temporarily transferred abroad until the complete cessation of these extraordinary circumstances; such temporary measures shall not affect the nationality of the Company which, notwithstanding the temporary transfer of its registered office, shall remain a Luxembourg company.

 

B.

SHARE CAPITAL – SHARES

Article 6 Issued share capital

 

6.1

The Company’s issued share capital is set at [•] (EUR [•]), represented by [•] ([•]) common shares with a nominal value of twelve eurocents (EUR 0.12) each (hereinafter referred to as the “Common Shares” and each individually a “Common Share”) and [•] ([•]) common shares B having a nominal value of twelve eurocents (EUR 0.12) (hereinafter referred to as the “Common Shares B”) and each individually a “Common Share B”, the Common Shares and the Common Shares B are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares” and each individually a “Share”).1

 

1 

Amount of the issued capital of Aegon S.A. will be equal to the issued capital of Aegon N.V., immediately prior to the conversion into Aegon S.A.

 

2


6.2

The value or price of a Common Share B, for the purpose of Article 6.3 Article 7.2, Article 8.7 or otherwise, will be determined as one fortieth (1/40th) of the value or price of a Common Share. For such purposes, no account will be taken of the difference between Common Shares and Common Shares B in terms of the proportion between financial rights and voting rights.

 

6.3

The Company’s share capital may be increased or reduced by a resolution of the General Meeting adopted in the manner required for an amendment of these articles of association or as set out in Article 7 hereof, provided that an increase or reduction of the Company’s share capital in relation to the Common Shares B requires the approval of the meeting of holders of Common Shares B.

 

6.4

Any new Common Shares to be paid for in cash shall be offered by preference to the existing holders of Common Shares. Any new Common Shares B to be paid for in cash shall be offered by preference to the existing holders of Common Shares B. In case of a plurality of shareholders, such Shares shall be offered to the shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares of the same class held by them in the Company’s share capital. The board of directors shall determine the time period during which such preferential subscription right may be exercised, which may not be less than fourteen (14) days from the date of dispatch of a registered mail or any other means of communication individually accepted by the addressees and ensuring access to the information sent to the shareholders announcing the opening of the subscription period. The General Meeting may limit or cancel the preferential subscription right of the existing shareholders subject to quorum and majority required for an amendment of these articles of association.

 

6.5

If after the end of the subscription period not all of the preferential subscription rights offered to the existing shareholders have been subscribed by the latter, third parties may be allowed to participate in the share capital increase, except if the board of directors decides that the preferential subscription rights shall be offered to the existing shareholders who have already exercised their rights during the subscription period, in proportion to the portion their Shares represent in the share capital; the modalities for the subscription are determined by the board of directors. The board of directors may also decide in such case that the share capital shall only be increased by the amount of subscriptions received by the existing shareholders of the Company.

 

6.6

The Company may repurchase its own Shares subject to the provisions of the Law. Pursuant to the resolutions adopted by the Company’s shareholders at the annual General Meeting held in the Netherlands on 25 May 2023, the board of directors is authorised to repurchase and cancel Shares during a period of eighteen (18) months starting on 25 May 2023, for a consideration set by the board of directors. Shares may only be acquired at a price not lower than the actual market value of the shares immediately prior to the acquisition and not higher than ten percent (10%) above such market value. The number of Shares that may be so acquired will not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Company’s share capital.

 

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Article 7 Authorised capital and issuance of Shares

 

7.1

The authorised capital, including the share capital, is set at seven hundred and twenty million euro (EUR 720,000,000.00) consisting of four billion (4,000,000,000) Common Shares and two billion (2,000,000,000) Common Shares B.

 

7.2

During a period of eighteen (18) months as from the effectiveness of these articles of association, the board of directors is hereby authorised to issue Shares, to grant options to subscribe for Shares and to issue any other instruments giving access to Shares within the limits of the authorised capital to such persons and on such terms as they shall see fit as well as to limit or cancel the preferential subscription right of existing shareholders as set out in Article 6.4, it being understood, that any issuance of such instruments will reduce the available authorised capital accordingly and provided that an issuance of Common Shares B and the granting of rights to subscribe for Common Shares B are subject to the prior approval of the meeting of holders of Common Shares B.

 

7.3

The above authorisation may be renewed through a resolution of the General Meeting adopted in the manner required for an amendment of these articles of association and subject to the provisions of the Law, each time for a period not exceeding five (5) years.

 

7.4

The authorised capital of the Company may be increased or reduced by a resolution of the General Meeting adopted in the manner required for an amendment of these articles of association.

Article 8 Shares – Transfer of Shares

 

8.1

The Company may have one (1) or several shareholders.

 

8.2

Death, suspension of civil rights, dissolution, bankruptcy or insolvency or any other similar event regarding any of the shareholders shall not cause the dissolution of the Company.

 

8.3

The Shares are in registered form. No share certificates shall be issued.

 

8.4

The original register of Shares shall be kept at the registered office of the Company, where it shall be available for inspection by any shareholder. The register shall be regularly updated, and, at the discretion of the board of directors, copies of whole or part of the register of Shares may be kept at more than one address. This register shall contain all the information required by the Law. Ownership of Shares is established by registration in said share register. Shares included in the Statutory Giro System will be registered in the name of Euroclear Netherlands or an intermediary (as referred to in the Giro Act), provided that ownership of such Shares is determined in accordance with the Giro Act. Holders of Shares that are not included in the Statutory Giro System are obliged to furnish their names and addresses to the Company in writing; these will be recorded in the share register and such further data as the board of directors deems desirable, whether at the request of a shareholder or not. Certificates evidencing registrations made in the register with respect to a shareholder shall be issued upon request and at the expense of the Company.

 

8.5

The Company will recognise only one (1) holder per Share. In case a Share is owned by several persons, not forming a community of property as referred to in the Giro Act, they shall appoint a single representative who shall represent them in respect of the Company. The Company has the right to suspend the exercise of all rights attached to that Share, except for relevant information rights, until such representative has been appointed.

 

4


8.6

The Shares are freely transferable in accordance with the provisions of the Law, provided that a transfer of Common Shares B requires the prior approval of the board of directors.

 

8.7

An application for approval of the board of directors as referred to in Article 8.6 must be made in writing and addressed to the Company, for the attention of the board of directors. It must state the number of Common Shares B the applicant wishes to transfer and the person to whom the applicant wishes to transfer the Common Shares B concerned. The board of directors must respond to the request within three (3) months from receipt. If it refuses to grant the approval requested, it must inform the applicant of another person who is prepared to purchase the Common Shares B concerned against payment in cash. If that other person and the applicant do not reach agreement on the amount of the purchase price, it will be determined by one or more experts designated by the board of directors, taking into account the principle as set out in Article 6.2.

 

8.8

Any transfer of registered Shares shall become effective (opposable) towards the Company and third parties either (i) through a declaration of transfer recorded in the register of shares, signed and dated by the transferor and the transferee or their representatives, or (ii) upon notification of a transfer to, or upon the acceptance of the transfer by the Company.

 

8.9

If and for so long some or all of Shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market within the meaning of the Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments, as amended, established or operating in a Member State of the European Union, established or operating within a member state of the European Economic Area, any natural or legal person, acting alone or in concert with others, who would come to acquire or dispose of Shares, or any other securities of the Company targeted by applicable law, shall comply with applicable reporting requirements within the timeframe set forth by applicable law.

 

C.

GENERAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Article 9 Powers of the General Meeting

The shareholders exercise their collective rights in the General Meeting. Any regularly constituted General Meeting shall represent the entire body of shareholders of the Company. The General Meeting is vested with the powers expressly reserved to it by the Law and by these articles of association.

Article 10 General Meetings – Convening notices, Conduct Bureau, Quorum, Vote and Majority

 

10.1

Convening Notices. The General Meeting of the Company may at any time be convened by the board of directors or, as the case may be, by the statutory auditor(s).

 

10.2

The General Meeting of the Company will be convened in accordance with the requirements of the Law.

 

5


10.3

In the event that the presence quorum required by the Law or these Articles to hold a General Meeting is not met on the date of the first convened General Meeting, another General Meeting may be convened in accordance with the requirements of the Law, at least seventeen (17) days prior to the date of the reconvened meeting provided that (i) the first General Meeting was properly convened in accordance with the above provisions; and (ii) no new item has been added to the agenda.

 

10.4

The board of directors may set any conditions in the convening notice that must be respected by a shareholder to participate in any General Meeting and to vote.

 

10.5

The board of directors may determine any further conditions that must be fulfilled by the shareholders for them to take part in any meeting and adopt all other regulations and rules concerning the participation in General Meetings in order to enable shareholders to exercise their right to vote, including whether Shareholders may attend the meeting in accordance with Article 10.7.

 

10.6

Conduct. Shareholders individually or jointly representing at least one per cent (1%) of the Company’s issued share capital or whose Shares, alone or jointly, are worth at least one hundred million euro (EUR 100,000,000) according to the Official Price List of Euronext Amsterdam N.V. (or any publication replacing it) have the right to place items on the agenda of the General Meeting and submit draft resolutions for items included or to be included on the agenda.

 

10.7

Shareholders taking part in a meeting by conference call, through video conference or by any other means of communication allowing for their identification, allowing all persons taking part in the meeting to hear one another on a continuous basis and allowing for an effective participation of all such persons in the meeting, are deemed to be present for the computation of the quorums and votes, subject to such means of communication being made available at the place of the meeting.

 

10.8

A shareholder may act at any General Meeting by appointing another person, who need not be a shareholder, as its proxy in writing by a signed document transmitted to the Company, either by post or by electronic means, to the postal or email address indicated in the convening notice, a copy of such appointment being sufficient proof thereof. One person may represent several or even all shareholders.

 

10.9

Each shareholder may vote at a General Meeting through a signed voting form sent by post, electronic mail, facsimile or any other means of communication to the Company’s registered office or its agent specified in the convening notice. The shareholders may only use voting forms provided by the Company which contain at least the place, date and time of the meeting, the agenda of the meeting, the proposals submitted to the shareholders, as well as for each proposal, three (3) boxes allowing the shareholder to vote in favour, against or abstain from voting by ticking the appropriate box.

 

10.10

Voting forms which, for a proposed resolution, do not show (i) a vote in favour or (ii) a vote against the proposed resolution or (iii) an abstention, are void with respect to such resolution.

 

10.11

Bureau. A board of the meeting (bureau) shall be formed at any General Meeting, composed of a chairperson, a secretary and a scrutineer. The chairperson of the board of directors or any other member of the board of directors appointed by the board of directors shall preside as chairperson at a General Meeting. The bureau of the General Meeting shall ensure that the General Meeting is held in accordance with applicable rules and, in particular, in compliance with the rules in relation to convening, majority requirements, vote tallying and representation of shareholders.

 

6


10.12

Without prejudice to any other power which he or she may have under the provisions of these articles of association, the chairperson of the General Meeting may take such action as he or she thinks fit to promote the orderly conduct of the business of the meeting as specified in the notice of the General Meeting.

 

10.13

The chairperson of the General Meeting shall appoint a secretary and the shareholders shall appoint a scrutineer.

 

10.14

The bureau of the meeting may decide on a discretionary basis if the conditions to attend and act and vote at any General Meeting, either in person, by proxy or by correspondence, are fulfilled.

 

10.15

Quorum, majority and vote. Each Share entitles to one vote in General Meetings. No voting rights may be exercised in the General Meeting with respect to any Share held by the Company or by a subsidiary of the Company, or any Share for which the Company or a subsidiary of the Company holds the depositary receipts.

 

10.16

An attendance list must be kept at all General Meetings.

 

10.17

A shareholder may individually decide not to exercise, temporarily or permanently, all or part of his voting rights, notwithstanding Article 10.15. The waiving shareholder is bound by such waiver and the waiver is mandatory for the Company upon notification to the latter.

 

10.18

In case the exercise of the voting rights has been waived by one (1) or several shareholders in accordance with Article 10.17, such shareholders may attend any General Meeting, but the Shares in respect of which they have waived the exercise of the right to vote are not taken into account for the determination of the conditions of quorum and majority to be complied with at the General Meetings.

 

10.19

Except as otherwise required by the Law or these articles of association, resolutions at a General Meeting duly convened shall not require any quorum and shall be adopted at a simple majority of the votes validly cast regardless of the portion of issued share capital represented. Abstentions and nil votes shall not be taken into account.

 

10.20

An extraordinary General Meeting may only amend these articles of association if no less than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued share capital is represented and the agenda indicates the proposed amendments to these articles of association, including the text of any proposed amendment to the Company’s object or form. If this quorum is not reached, a second General Meeting shall be convened in accordance with the formalities foreseen in this Article 10. The second General Meeting shall deliberate validly regardless of the proportion of issued share capital represented. At both General Meetings, resolutions must be adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast. In the event the amendment of the articles of association pertains to the rights attached to the Common B Shares, no less than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued share capital and of the Common B Shares as a separate class shall be represented and resolutions must be adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast and two thirds of the votes cast by shareholders holding Common B Shares as a separate class. Abstentions and nil votes shall not be taken into account.

 

7


10.21

The board of directors may suspend the voting rights of any shareholder in breach of his obligations as described by these articles of association or any relevant contractual arrangement entered into by such shareholder.

 

10.22

Change of nationality. The shareholders may change the nationality of the Company by a resolution of the General Meeting in the manner required for an amendment of these articles of association.

 

10.23

Minutes of General Meetings. The bureau of the General Meeting shall draw up minutes of the meeting which shall be signed by the members of the bureau of the General Meeting as well as by any shareholder upon its request.

 

10.24

Any copy and excerpt of such original minutes to be produced in judicial proceedings or to be delivered to any third party, shall be certified as a true copy of the original by the notary having had custody of the original deed, in case the meeting has been recorded in a notarial deed, or shall be signed by the chairperson of the board of directors, if any, or jointly by any two (2) of its members.

 

D.

MANAGEMENT

Article 11 Composition and powers of the board of directors

 

11.1

The Company shall be managed and administered by a board of directors, composed of at least three (3) members; all of whom except the Chief Executive Officer shall be non-executive. None of the members of the board of directors, except for the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have an executive position or executive mandate with the Company or any entity controlled by the Company.

 

11.2

The board of directors is vested with the broadest powers to act in the name of the Company and to take any action necessary or useful to fulfil the Company’s corporate purpose, with the exception of the powers reserved by the Law or by these articles of association to the General Meeting.

 

11.3

The board of directors may adopt rules governing its decision-making process and working methods and describing the duties, tasks, composition, procedures and decision-making of the board of directors.

Article 12 Daily management

 

12.1

The daily management of the Company as well as the representation of the Company in relation to such daily management may be delegated to one (1) or more directors, officers or other agents, acting individually or jointly. Their appointment, removal and powers shall be determined by a resolution of the board of directors.

 

12.2

The Company may also grant special powers by notarised proxy or private instrument.

 

8


Article 13 Appointment, removal and term of office, remuneration of directors

 

13.1

The directors shall be appointed by the General Meeting upon proposal by the board of directors. A resolution of the General Meeting to appoint a director other than in accordance with a proposal by the board of directors requires at least two-thirds of the votes cast representing more than fifty per cent (50%) of the Company’s issued capital.

 

13.2

A director will retire not later than the day on which the annual General Meeting is held in the fourth (4th) calendar year after the calendar year in which such member was last appointed. A director who retires in accordance with the previous sentence is immediately eligible for reappointment.

 

13.3

Each director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the board of directors. Each director may be removed from office by the General Meeting at any time, with or without cause. A resolution of the General Meeting to remove a director, other than pursuant to a proposal by the board of directors thereto, requires at least two-thirds of the votes cast representing more than fifty per cent (50%) of the Company’s issued capital.

 

13.4

If a legal entity is appointed as director of the Company, such legal entity must designate a physical person as permanent representative who shall perform this role in the name and on behalf of the legal entity. The relevant legal entity may only remove its permanent representative if it appoints a successor at the same time. An individual may only be a permanent representative of one (1) director of the Company and may not be himself a director of the Company at the same time.

 

13.5

The General Meeting determines the remuneration policy of the board of directors in accordance with the contents prescribed by applicable laws. The board of directors will make a proposal to that end. The remuneration policy is adopted by the General Meeting with a majority of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the votes cast.

 

13.6

The board of directors establishes the remuneration and further conditions of employment for each director with due observance of the aforementioned policy. With respect to arrangements in the form of Shares and/or rights to subscribe for Shares, the board of directors submits a proposal for approval to the General Meeting. This proposal must at least state the number of Shares or rights to subscribe for Shares that can be assigned to the directors as well as the criteria for assignment and amendment.

 

13.7

Directors are entitled to an indemnity from the Company and a D&O insurance in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of these articles of association.

Article 14 Vacancy in the office of a director

In the event of a vacancy in the office of a director because of death, legal incapacity, bankruptcy, resignation or otherwise, this vacancy may be filled on a temporary basis and for a period of time not exceeding the initial mandate of the replaced director by the remaining directors until the next General Meeting which shall resolve on the permanent appointment in accordance with the applicable legal provisions, or the remaining directors may elect by co-optation a new director to fill such vacancy until the next General Meeting, which shall ratify such co-optation or elect a new director instead.

 

9


Article 15 Convening meetings of the board of directors

 

15.1

The board of directors shall meet upon call by the chairperson, if any, or by any of its directors. Meetings of the board of directors shall be held at the registered office of the Company unless otherwise indicated in the notice of meeting.

 

15.2

Written notice of any meeting of the board of directors must be given to its directors twenty-four (24) hours at least in advance of the time scheduled for the meeting, except in case of emergency, in which case the nature and the reasons of such emergency must be mentioned in the notice. Such notice may be omitted in case of consent of each director in writing, by facsimile, electronic mail or any other similar means of communication, a copy of such signed document being sufficient proof thereof. No prior notice shall be required for a board meeting to be held at a time and location determined in a prior resolution adopted by the board of directors and which has been communicated to all directors.

 

15.3

No prior notice shall be required in case all the members of the board of directors are present or represented at a meeting of the board of directors and waive any convening requirement or in the case of resolutions in writing approved and signed by all members of the board of directors.

Article 16 Conduct of meetings of the board of directors

 

16.1

The board of directors may elect a chairperson among its members. It may also choose a secretary who does not need to be a director and who shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors.

 

16.2

The chairperson, if any, shall chair all meetings of the board of directors, but in his absence, the board of directors may appoint another director as chairperson pro tempore by vote of the majority of the directors present or represented at any such meeting.

 

16.3

Any director may act at any meeting of the board of directors by appointing any other director as his proxy in writing, or by facsimile, electronic mail or any other similar means of communication, a copy of the appointment being sufficient proof thereof. A director may represent one (1) or more, but not all of the other directors.

 

16.4

Meetings of the board of directors may also be held by conference call or video conference or by any other means of communication allowing all persons participating at such meeting to hear one another on a continuous basis allowing an effective participation in the meeting. Participation in a meeting by these means is equivalent to participation in person at such meeting.

 

16.5

The board of directors can deliberate or act validly at a board meeting only if at least half of its members are present or represented at a board meeting.

 

16.6

Decisions shall be adopted by a majority vote of the directors present or represented at such meeting. In the case of a tie, the chairperson, if any, or, in his absence, the chairperson pro tempore, shall have a casting vote.

 

16.7

The board of directors may, unanimously, pass resolutions by circular means when expressing its approval in writing, by facsimile, electronic mail or any other similar means of communication. Each director may express his consent separately, the entirety of the consents evidencing the adoption of the resolutions. The date of such resolutions shall be the date of the last signature.

 

10


Article 17 Conflicts of interest

 

17.1

Save as otherwise provided by the Law, any director who has, directly or indirectly, a financial interest conflicting with the interest of the Company in connection with a transaction falling with the competence of the board of directors, must inform the board of directors of such conflict of interest and must have his declaration recorded in the minutes of the board meeting. The relevant director may not take part in the discussions relating to such transaction nor vote on such transaction. Any such conflict of interest must be reported to the next General Meeting prior to such meeting taking any resolution on any other item.

 

17.2

Where, by reason of a conflicting interest, the number directors required in order to validly deliberate is not met, the board of directors may decide to submit the decision on this specific item to the General Meeting, or to resolve on the matter itself despite the conflict of interest.

 

17.3

The conflict-of-interest rules shall not apply where the decision of the board of directors relates to day-to-day transactions entered into under normal conditions.

 

17.4

The daily manager(s) of the Company, if any, are subject to Articles 17.1 to 17.3 of these articles of association provided that if only one (1) daily manager has been appointed and is in a situation of conflicting interests, the relevant decision shall be adopted by the board of directors.

Article 18 Minutes of the meeting of the board of directors

 

18.1

The minutes of any meeting of the board of directors shall be signed by the chairperson or, in his absence, by the chairperson pro tempore, or by any two (2) directors.

 

18.2

Copies or excerpts of such minutes which may be produced in judicial proceedings or otherwise shall be signed by the chairperson or by any two (2) directors.

Article 19 Committees of the board of directors

The board of directors may establish one (1) or more committees and for which it shall, if one (1) or more of such committees are set up, appoint the members who must be members of the board of directors (subject always, if the Common Shares of the Company are listed on a foreign stock exchange, to the requirements of such foreign stock exchange applicable to the Company and/or such regulatory authority competent in relation to such listing), determine the purpose, powers and authorities as well as the procedures and such other rules as may be applicable thereto.

Article 20 Dealing with third parties

 

20.1

The Company shall be bound towards third parties in all circumstances (i) by the signature of one (1) member of the board of directors, or (ii) by the joint signature or the sole signature of any person(s) to whom such signatory power may have been delegated by the board of directors within the limits of such delegation.

 

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20.2

Within the limits of the daily management, the Company shall be bound towards third parties by the signature of any person(s) to whom such power may have been delegated, acting individually or jointly in accordance within the limits of such delegation.

Article 21 Indemnity and Insurance

 

21.1

To the extent permissible by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, both former directors and directors currently in office (each of them, for the purpose of this Article 21 only, an “Indemnified Person”), against any and all liabilities, claims, judgments, fines and penalties (the “Claims”) incurred by the Indemnified Person as a result of any threatened, pending or completed action, investigation or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal or administrative (each, a “Legal Action”), brought by any party other than the Company itself or its group companies, in relation to acts or omissions in or related to his capacity as an Indemnified Person. Claims will include derivative actions brought on behalf of the Company or its group companies against the Indemnified Person and claims by the Company (or any of its group companies) itself for reimbursement for claims by third parties on the ground that the Indemnified Person was jointly liable toward that third party in addition to the Company.

 

21.2

The Indemnified Person will not be indemnified with respect to Claims in so far as they relate to the gaining in fact of personal profits, advantages or remuneration to which he was not legally entitled, or if the Indemnified Person has been adjudged to be liable for wilful misconduct or intentional recklessness.

 

21.3

Any expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation costs) (collectively, the “Expenses”) incurred by the Indemnified Person in connection with any Legal Action will be settled or reimbursed by the Company, but only upon receipt of a written undertaking by that Indemnified Person that he will repay such Expenses if a competent court in an irrevocable judgment has determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified. Expenses will be deemed to include any tax liability which the Indemnified Person may be subject to as a result of his indemnification.

 

21.4

Also in case of a Legal Action against the Indemnified Person by the Company itself or its group companies, the Company will settle or reimburse to the Indemnified Person his reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation costs, but only upon receipt of a written undertaking by that Indemnified Person that he will repay such fees and costs if a competent court in an irrevocable judgment has resolved the Legal Action in favour of the Company or the relevant group company rather than the Indemnified Person.

 

21.5

The Indemnified Person will not admit any personal financial liability vis-à-vis third parties, nor enter into any settlement agreement, without the Company’s prior written authorisation. The Company and the Indemnified Person will use all reasonable endeavours to cooperate with a view to agreeing on the defence of any Claims, but in the event that the Company and the Indemnified Person fail to reach such agreement, the Indemnified Person will comply with all directions given by the Company in its sole discretion, in order to be entitled to the indemnity contemplated by this Article 21.

 

21.6

The indemnity contemplated by this Article 21 does not apply to the extent Claims and Expenses are reimbursed by insurers.

 

12


21.7

The Company will provide for and bear the cost of adequate insurance covering Claims against sitting and former directors (“D&O insurance”), unless such insurance cannot be obtained at reasonable terms.

 

21.8

This Article 21 can be amended without the consent of the Indemnified Persons as such. However, the indemnity provided herein nevertheless continues to apply to Claims and/or Expenses incurred in relation to the acts or omissions by the Indemnified Person during the periods in which this clause was in effect.

 

E.

AUDIT AND SUPERVISION

Article 22 Auditor(s)

 

22.1

The transactions of the Company shall be supervised by one (1) or several independent auditors (réviseur(s) d’entreprises agréé(s)) in accordance with applicable law.

 

22.2

The independent auditor(s) shall be appointed by the General Meeting which shall determine their number, fix their remuneration, and their term of office, which may not exceed six (6) years. A former or current independent auditor may be reappointed by the General Meeting.

 

22.3

An independent auditor may only be removed by the General Meeting for cause or with his approval.

 

F.

FINANCIAL YEAR – ANNUAL ACCOUNTS – ALLOCATION OF PROFITS – INTERIM DIVIDENDS

Article 23 Financial year

The financial year of the Company shall begin on the first of January of each year and shall end on the thirty-first of December of the same year.

Article 24 Annual accounts and allocation of profits

 

24.1

At the end of each financial year, the accounts are closed and the board of directors draws up an inventory of the Company’s assets and liabilities, the balance sheet and the profit and loss accounts in accordance with the Law.

 

24.2

Of the annual net profits of the Company, five per cent (5%) at least shall be allocated to a reserve as referred to in Article 461-1 of the Law. This allocation shall cease to be mandatory as soon and as long as the aggregate amount of such reserve amounts to at least ten per cent (10%) of the share capital of the Company.

 

24.3

Sums contributed to a reserve of the Company may also be allocated to the legal reserve as referred to in Article 461-1 of the Law.

 

24.4

In case of a share capital reduction, the Company’s legal reserve as referred to in Article 461-1 of the Law may be reduced in proportion so that it does not exceed ten per cent (10%) of the share capital.

 

13


24.5

Upon recommendation of the board of directors, the General Meeting shall determine how the remainder of the Company’s profits shall be used in accordance with the Law and these articles of association.

 

24.6

For all dividends and other distributions in respect of Shares included in the Statutory Giro System the Company will be discharged from all obligations towards the relevant shareholders by placing those dividends or other distributions at the disposal of, or in accordance with the regulations of, Euroclear Netherlands.

 

24.7

Distributions shall be made to the shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares they hold, provided that the holders of Common Shares B are entitled to receive dividends or other distributions in an amount equal to one fortieth (1/40th) of the distributions made to a holder of Common Shares.

Article 25 Interim dividends - Share premium and assimilated premiums

 

25.1

The board of directors may proceed with the payment of interim dividends subject to the provisions of the Law and these articles of association.

 

25.2

Any share premium, assimilated premium or other distributable reserve may be freely distributed to the shareholders subject to the provisions of the Law and these articles of association.

 

G.

LIQUIDATION

Article 26 Liquidation

 

26.1

In the event of dissolution of the Company in accordance with Article 4.2 of these articles of association, the liquidation shall be carried out by one (1) or several liquidators who are appointed by the General Meeting deciding on such dissolution and which shall determine their powers and their compensation. Unless otherwise provided, the liquidators shall have the most extensive powers for the realisation of the assets and payment of the liabilities of the Company.

 

26.2

The surplus resulting from the realisation of the assets and the payment of the liabilities shall be distributed among the shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares held by them, provided that the holders of Common Shares B are entitled to receive such distributions in an amount equal to one fortieth (1/40th) of the distributions made to a holder of Common Shares.

 

H.

FINAL CLAUSE - GOVERNING LAW

Article 27 Governing law

All matters not governed by these articles of association shall be determined in accordance with the Law.

 

14

Exhibit 3.3

FORM OF

BYE-LAWS

OF

AEGON LTD.

The undersigned HEREBY CERTIFIES that the attached Bye-Laws are a true copy of the Bye-Laws of Aegon Ltd. (Company) adopted upon continuance of the Company into Bermuda effective [•] 2023.

 

……………………………………………

Director


BYE-LAWS OF AEGON LTD.

INDEX

 

Bye-Law    Page  

1.

  DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION      1  

2.

  OBJECTS, REGISTERED OFFICE, OFFICES      5  

3.

  SHARE CAPITAL      5  

4.

  MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS      8  

5.

  ISSUE OF SHARES      8  

6.

  PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS      9  

7.

  CERTIFICATES      10  

8.

  REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS      11  

9.

  REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS      12  

10.

  TRANSFER OF SHARES      12  

11.

  TRANSMISSION OF SHARES      14  

12.

  INCREASE OF AUTHORISED CAPITAL      15  

13.

  ALTERATION OF CAPITAL      15  

14.

  REDUCTION OF CAPITAL      15  

15.

  MANDATORY OFFER PROVISIONS      16  

16.

  GENERAL MEETINGS AND RESOLUTIONS IN WRITING      18  

17.

  NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS      19  

18.

  PROCEEDINGS AT SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS      20  

19.

  VOTING      22  

20.

  PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES      24  

21.

  ELECTION, SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS      26  

22.

  RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS      29  

23.

  ALTERNATE DIRECTORS      29  

24.

  DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS      29  

25.

  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD      30  

26.

  REMUNERATION      31  

27.

  DELEGATION OF THE BOARD’S POWERS      32  

28.

  PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD      32  

29.

  OFFICERS      34  

30.

  SECRETARY AND RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE      35  

31.

  THE SEAL      35  

32.

  DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS      36  

33.

  RESERVES      37  


34.

  CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS      37  

35.

  RECORD AND REGISTRATION DATES      38  

36.

  ACCOUNTING RECORDS      39  

37.

  AUDIT      40  

38.

  SERVICE OF NOTICES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS      40  

39.

  DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS      42  

40.

  UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS      42  

41.

  WINDING UP      43  

42.

  INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE      44  

43.

  AMALGAMATION AND MERGER      45  

44.

  CONTINUATION      45  

45.

  ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS AND MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION      45  


BYE–LAWS

OF

AEGON LTD.

(Adopted upon continuance into Bermuda effective [•] 2023)

 

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

In these Bye-Laws, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms have the meanings given below:

Auditor: the person or firm for the time being appointed as auditor of the Company;

Beneficial Ownership: the power to vote or direct the voting of, or to dispose or direct the disposition of, the shares in question, and “Beneficially Owned” and “Beneficial Owner” shall be construed accordingly;

Board: the Directors appointed or elected pursuant to these Bye-Laws and acting by resolution as provided for in the Companies Act and in these Bye-Laws or the Directors present at a meeting of Directors at which there is a quorum;

Business Day: any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, when banks are open for business in each of Hamilton, Bermuda and Amsterdam, the Netherlands;

Bye-Laws: the bye-laws of the Company in their present form;

Chairperson: the Non-Executive Director who is appointed as chairperson of the Board in accordance with Bye-Law 28.1;

Clear Days: in relation to the period of a notice, that period excluding the day on which the notice is given or served, or deemed to be given or served, and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;

Common Share Offer Price: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 15.4(d);

Common Shares: the common shares in the capital of the Company with the rights and restrictions contained in these Bye-Laws;

Common Shares B: the common shares B in the capital of the Company with the rights and restrictions contained in these Bye-Laws;

Companies Act: the Companies Act 1981;

Company: Aegon Ltd., a company continued into Bermuda on [•] 2023;

 

1


Director: a director of the Company;

Dutch Statutory Giro System: the giro system as referred to in the Giro Act;

Effective Date: the date these Bye-Laws came into effect;

Electronic Record: has the same meaning as in the Bermudan Electronic Transactions Act 1999;

Euroclear Nederland: Nederlands Centraal Instituut voor Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V., acting under the trade name Euroclear Nederland, being the central institution as referred to in the Giro Act;

Executive Director: an executive director of the Company;

Giro Act: the Dutch Securities Bank Giro Transactions Act (Wet giraal effectenverkeer);

Indemnified Person: any Director, Officer, Resident Representative, member of a committee duly constituted under these Bye-Laws and any liquidator, manager or trustee for the time being acting in relation to the affairs of the Company (including anyone previously acting in such capacity), and their heirs, executors and administrators, personal representatives or successors or assigns;

Intermediary: an intermediary as referred to in the Giro Act;

Limit: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 15.1;

Meeting Date: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 35.2;

Memorandum of Association: the memorandum of continuance and/or memorandum of association of the Company as the same may be amended from time to time;

Non-Executive Director: a non-executive director of the Company;

Offer: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 15.3;

Offeror: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 15.4;

Officer: a person appointed by the Board pursuant to these Bye-Laws, but shall not include the Auditor;

paid up: paid up or credited as paid up;

Permitted Acquisition: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 15.2;

Record Date: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 35.2;

 

2


Record Date Holder: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 35.2;

Register: the register of Shareholders referred to in these Bye-Laws (including any branch register of Shareholders maintained by the Company) in each case as maintained in accordance with the Companies Act;

Registered Office: the registered office of the Company;

Relevant Shares: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 35.2;

Resident Representative: (if any) the individual or the company appointed to perform the duties of the resident representative as set out in the Companies Act and includes any assistant or deputy Resident Representative appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the Resident Representative;

Resolution: a resolution of the Shareholders passed in a general meeting or, where required, of a separate class or separate classes of Shareholders passed in a separate meeting of such separate class or classes of Shareholders;

Seal: the common seal of the Company (if any) and includes every authorised duplicate seal;

Secretary: the secretary for the time being of the Company and any person appointed to perform any of the duties of the secretary and includes any assistant or deputy Secretary appointed by the Board;

share: a share in the capital of the Company, for the avoidance of doubt including Common Shares and Common Shares B;

Shareholder: a shareholder or member of the Company;

Stakeholder Interest: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 25.4;

Subject Shares: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 15.7;

Subsidiary and Holding Company: have the same meanings as in section 86 of the Companies Act, except that references in that section to a company shall include any body corporate or other legal entity, whether incorporated or established in Bermuda or elsewhere;

Vereniging Aegon: Vereniging Aegon, an association incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, with corporate seat in The Hague, the Netherlands and registered in the Dutch trade register under number 40531114;

Vice-Chairperson: the Non-Executive Director who is appointed as vice-chairperson of the Board in accordance with Bye-Law 28.1; and

Voting Agreement: has the meaning as ascribed thereto in Bye-Law 19.9.

 

3


1.2

For the purposes of these Bye-Laws, a corporation or any other legal entity which is a Shareholder shall be deemed to be present in person at a general meeting or a meeting of a separate class or classes of Shareholders if, in accordance with the Companies Act, its authorised representative(s) is/are present.

 

1.3

For the purposes of these Bye-Laws, a corporation which is a Director shall be deemed to be present in person at a meeting of the Board if a person authorised to attend on its behalf is present, and shall be deemed to discharge its duties and carry out any actions required under these Bye-Laws and the Companies Act, including the signing and execution of documents, deeds and other instruments, if a person authorised to act on its behalf so acts.

 

1.4

Words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa.

 

1.5

Any reference to a gender includes all genders and non-binary natural persons.

 

1.6

Words importing persons include any company or association or body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporated and natural persons.

 

1.7

Any reference to writing includes all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible, legible and reproducible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record.

 

1.8

Unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions defined in the Companies Act bear the same meanings in these Bye-Laws.

 

1.9

Headings are used for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of these Bye-Laws.

 

1.10

A reference to anything being done by electronic means includes its being done by means of any electronic or other communications equipment or facilities and reference to any communication being delivered or received, or being delivered or received at a particular place, includes the transmission of an Electronic Record to a recipient identified in such manner or by such means as the Board may from time to time approve or prescribe, either generally or for a particular purpose.

 

1.11

A reference to a signature or to anything being signed or executed include such forms of electronic signature or other means of verifying the authenticity of an Electronic Record as the Board may from time to time approve or prescribe, either generally or for a particular purpose.

 

1.12

A reference to any statute or statutory provision (whether in Bermuda or elsewhere) includes a reference to any modification or re-enactment of it for the time being in force and to every rule, regulation or order made under it (or under any such modification or re-enactment) and for the time being in force and any reference to any rule, regulation or order made under any such statute or statutory provision includes a reference to any modification or replacement of such rule, regulation or order for the time being in force.

 

4


1.13

In these Bye-Laws:

 

  (a)

powers of delegation shall not be restrictively construed but the widest interpretation shall be given thereto;

 

  (b)

the word Board in the context of the exercise of any power contained in these Bye-Laws, includes any Executive Director or any committee as referred in Bye-Law 27.4 of the Company to which or, as the case may be, to whom the power in question has been delegated by the Board;

 

  (c)

no power of delegation shall be limited by the existence or, except where expressly provided by the terms of delegation, the exercise of any other power of delegation; and

 

  (d)

except where expressly provided by the terms of delegation, the delegation of a power shall not exclude the concurrent exercise of that power by any other body or person who is for the time being authorised to exercise it under these Bye-Laws or under another delegation of the powers.

 

2.

OBJECTS, REGISTERED OFFICE, OFFICES

 

2.1

In accordance with the Memorandum of Association, the objects of the Company are to incorporate, to acquire and alienate shares and interests in, to finance, to grant security for obligations of, to enter into general business relationships with, to manage, and to grant services to, legal entities and other entities, in particular those involved in the insurance business, and to do all that is connected therewith or which may be conducive thereto, all to be interpreted in the broadest sense.

 

2.2

The Registered Office shall be at such place in Bermuda as the Board shall from time to time appoint.

 

2.3

The Company may have other offices, both within and outside Bermuda, as the Board from time to time shall determine or the business of the Company may require.

 

3.

SHARE CAPITAL

 

3.1

The authorised share capital of the Company at the date of adoption of these Bye-Laws is seven hundred and twenty million euro (EUR 720,000,000.00) divided into (4,000,000,000) Common Shares of par value EUR 0.12 each, and two billion (2,000,000,000) Common Shares B of par value EUR 0.12 each.

 

3.2

The Common Shares shall, subject to the other provisions of these Bye-Laws, entitle the holders thereof to the following rights:

 

  (a)

Dividends:

The holder of a Common Share shall be entitled to receive dividends, on a pari passu and pro rata basis based on the number of Common Shares outstanding from time to time, as and when declared by the Board on the Common Shares as a class.

 

5


  (b)

Capital distributions:

The holder of a Common Share shall be entitled to receive in the event of a return of assets on liquidation, reduction of capital or otherwise, whether voluntary or involuntary, to share on a pari passu and pro rata basis based on the number of Common Shares outstanding from time to time in such assets of the Company as are available for distribution.

 

  (c)

Voting:

The holder of a Common Share shall be entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, general meetings of the Company and meetings of holders of Common Shares. Every holder of Common Shares present in person or by proxy shall on a poll have one vote for each Common Share held by them. The voting rights attached to pledged Common Shares may not be granted to the pledgee. Pledgees of Common Shares are not entitled to receive notice of meetings or attend meetings.

 

3.3

The Common Shares B shall, subject to the other provisions of these Bye-Laws, entitle the holders thereof to the following rights:

 

  (a)

Dividends:

The holder of a Common Share B shall be entitled to receive dividends in an amount equal to one fortieth (1/40th) of the profits or reserves which the Board resolves to distribute to the holder of a Common Share, on a pari passu and pro rata basis based on the number of Common Shares B outstanding from time to time, as and when declared by the Board on the Common Shares B as a class.

 

  (b)

Capital distributions:

The holder of a Common Share B shall be entitled to be paid in the event of a return of assets on liquidation, reduction of capital or otherwise, whether voluntary or involuntary, a sum equal to one fortieth (1/40th) of the sum to be paid to the holder of a Common Share, to share on a pari passu and pro rata basis based on the number of Common Shares B outstanding from time to time in such assets of the Company as are available for distribution.

 

  (c)

Voting:

The holder of a Common Share B shall be entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, general meetings of the Company and meetings of holders of Common Shares B. Every holder of Common Shares B present in person or by proxy shall on a poll have one vote for each Common Share B held by them, to be exercised in accordance with the Voting Agreement referred to in Bye-Law 19.9. The voting rights attached to pledged Common Shares B may not be granted to the pledgee. Pledgees of Common Shares B are not entitled to receive notice of meetings or attend meetings.

 

6


3.4

The value or price of a Common Share B, for the purpose of Bye-Law 5.4, Bye-Law 10.2, Bye-Law 14.1 or otherwise, will be determined as one fortieth (1/40th) of the value or price of a Common Share. For such purposes, no account will be taken of the difference between Common Shares and Common Shares B in terms of the proportion between financial rights and voting rights.

 

3.5

The Board may, at its discretion and without the sanction of a Resolution, authorise the purchase by the Company of its own shares as referred to in Section 42A of the Companies Act, of any class, at any price (whether at par or above or below par), and any shares to be so purchased may be selected in any manner whatsoever, upon such terms as the Board may in its discretion determine, provided always that such purchase is effected in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. The whole or any part of the amount payable on any such purchase may be paid or satisfied otherwise than in cash, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act.

 

3.6

The Board may, at its discretion and without the sanction of a Resolution, authorise the acquisition by the Company of its own shares as referred to in Section 42B of the Companies Act, of any class, at any price (whether at par or above or below par), and any shares to be so acquired may be selected in any manner whatsoever, to be held as treasury shares, upon such terms as the Board may in its discretion determine, provided always that such acquisition is effected in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. The whole or any part of the amount payable on any such acquisition may be paid or satisfied otherwise than in cash, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act. The Company shall be a Shareholder either through shares being registered in the Register in the Company’s name or held in the Dutch Statutory Giro System in the Company’s name, but subject always to the provisions of the Companies Act and for the avoidance of doubt the Company shall not exercise any rights and shall not enjoy or participate in any of the rights attaching to those shares save as expressly provided for in the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws.

 

3.7

Subject to the provisions of these Bye-Laws, any shares of the Company held by the Company as treasury shares in accordance with Bye-Law 3.5 shall be at the disposal of the Board, which may hold all or any of the shares, dispose of or transfer all or any of the shares for cash or other consideration, or cancel all or any of the shares. For the avoidance of doubt, treasury shares do not carry the right to vote or to receive payments from capital distributions or dividends.

 

3.8

The Company shall not exercise any rights and shall not enjoy any or participate in any of the rights attaching to shares, registered in the Register in the Company’s name, held in the Dutch Statutory Giro System in the Company’s name, or otherwise Beneficially Owned by the Company, unless the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws expressly provide otherwise.

 

7


4.

MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS

 

4.1

Subject to the Companies Act, all or any of the special rights for the time being attached to any class of shares for the time being issued may from time to time (whether or not the Company is being wound up) be altered or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of at least seventy-five per cent (75%) of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of such shares voting in person or by proxy. To any such separate meeting, unless determined otherwise, all the provisions of these Bye-Laws as to general meetings of the Company shall mutatis mutandis apply.

 

4.2

For the purposes of these Bye-Laws, unless otherwise expressly provided by the rights attached to any shares or class of shares, those rights attaching to any class of shares for the time being shall not be deemed to be altered by:

 

  (a)

the creation or issue of further shares;

 

  (b)

the creation or issue for full value (as determined by the Board) of further shares ranking as regards participation in the profits, dividends, distributions or assets of the Company or otherwise in priority to them; or

 

  (c)

the purchase or redemption by the Company of any of its own shares.

 

5.

ISSUE OF SHARES

 

5.1

The Company may only issue fully paid shares.

 

5.2

The unissued shares shall be at the disposal of the Board in its sole discretion subject to the following and to these Bye-Laws generally (including Bye-Laws 5.4 and 6.2 in particular):

 

  (a)

subject to (b), prior to the allotment or issuance of any shares, the Board must designate the applicable shares as a class of share as set out in Bye-Law 3.1; and

 

  (b)

no share shall be designated as Common Shares B without a Resolution by the meeting of holders of Common Shares B.

 

5.3

No shares may be allotted, issued, or if in issue, re-designated, if such shares have not been designated in accordance with Bye-Law 5.2(a).

 

5.4

Subject to the provisions of these Bye-Laws, any issuance, offer or allotment of unissued shares or grant of a right to subscribe for such shares for a nominal amount of less than ten per cent (10%) of the Company’s issued share capital is at the disposal of the Board, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may determine. Any issuance, offer or allotment of unissued shares or grant of a right to subscribe for such shares for a nominal amount of ten per cent (10%) or more of the Company’s issued share capital requires the sanction of a Resolution, unless (i) the Board has determined such issue, offer, allotment or grant of right to subscribe for shares is necessary or conducive for purposes of safeguarding, conserving or strengthening the capital position of the Company or (ii) such shares are issued to a person exercising a previously granted right to subscribe for shares.

 

8


5.5

Subject to the rights, privileges and conditions attached to any class of shares in issue and these Bye-Laws (including for greater certainty Bye-Law 5.2(b)), the Board may, from time to time, re-designate any class of shares as any other class of shares. For the avoidance of doubt, unissued shares do not carry the right to vote or to receive payments from capital distributions or dividends.

 

5.6

The Board may in connection with the issue of any shares exercise all powers of paying commission and brokerage conferred or permitted by law. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, any such commission or brokerage may be satisfied by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly in one way and partly in the other.

 

5.7

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, shares may be issued in fractional denominations and in such event the Company shall deal with such fractions to the same extent as its whole shares, so that a share in a fractional denomination shall have, in proportion to the fraction of a whole share that it represents, all the rights of a whole share, including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) the right to vote, to receive dividends and distributions and to participate in a winding-up.

 

5.8

Except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or in any fractional part of a share or (except only as otherwise provided in these Bye-Laws, including for greater certainty the holding of shares in accordance with the Dutch Statutory Giro System, or by law) any other right in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.

 

6.

PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS

 

6.1

No pre-emptive rights shall apply to the issuance, allotment, or offer of any Common Shares or the grant of a right to Subscribe for Common Shares.

 

6.2

Unless the Board excludes or limits pre-emptive rights in accordance with Bye-Law 6.4, if the Company proposes to issue, or allot, or offer any Common Shares B or grant a right to subscribe for Common Shares B, those shares or rights shall not be issued, allotted, offered or granted to any person unless the Company has first offered them to the holders of the Common Shares B on the same terms, and at the same price, as those shares or rights are being offered to other persons on a pari passu and pro rata basis to the number of shares held by those holders (as nearly as possible without involving fractions and subject to Bye-Law 6.3). No pre-emptive rights shall apply to the issuance, allotment, or offer of any Common Shares B to a person exercising a right to subscribe for shares previously granted.

 

9


6.3

Subject to the provisions of these Bye-Laws, the Board shall be authorised to set the terms of such issuance, allotment, offering of shares or rights to subscribe for shares to all Shareholders and may make such arrangements as the Board may deem necessary or practical in relation to, without limitation, record dates, fractional entitlements, taking away practical or legal impediments under applicable law or complying with requirements of any jurisdiction or regulatory body.

 

6.4

If the Company is required to offer shares to the holders of Common Shares B pursuant to Bye-Law 6.1, the Board may exclude or limit these pre-emptive rights in accordance with a prior authorisation granted by Resolution of the meeting of holders of Common Shares B, provided that if less than half (1/2) of the then outstanding Common Shares B that are entitled to vote on the matter is represented during such meeting of holders of Common Shares B, the Resolution can only be adopted with at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.

 

7.

CERTIFICATES

 

7.1

No share certificates shall be issued by the Company unless, in respect of a class of shares, the Board has either for all or for some holders of such shares (who may be determined in such manner as the Board thinks fit) determined that the holder of such shares may be entitled to share certificates. In the case of a share held jointly by several persons, delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.

 

7.2

If a share certificate is defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced without fee but on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of the costs and out of pocket expenses of the Company in investigating such evidence and preparing such indemnity as the Board may think fit and, in case of defacement, on delivery of the old certificate to the Company.

 

7.3

All certificates for share or loan capital or other securities of the Company (other than letters of allotment, scrip certificates and other like documents) shall, except to the extent that the terms and conditions for the time being relating thereto otherwise provide, be in such form as the Board may determine (including, without limitation, in the form of Electronic Records) and issued under the Seal or signed by a Director, the Secretary or any person authorised by the Board for that purpose. The Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case, that any signatures on any such certificates do not need to be autographic but may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical or electronic means or may be printed thereon or that such certificates need not be signed by any person, or may determine that a representation of the Seal may be printed on any such certificates. If any person holding an office in the Company who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has been used on, any certificate ceases for any reason to hold their office, such certificate may nevertheless be issued as though that person had not ceased to hold such office.

 

7.4

Nothing in these Bye-Laws shall prevent title to any securities of the Company from being evidenced and/or transferred without a written instrument in accordance with regulations made from time to time in this regard under the Companies Act, as the case may be, and the Board shall have power to implement any arrangements which it may think fit for such evidencing and/or transfer which accord with those regulations or the Companies Act.

 

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7.5

The Board may by resolution decide that the Company shall not deliver certificates for its securities and that, instead, holders of the Company’s securities will have their holdings of securities of the Company evidenced by an electronic, book-based, direct registration service or other non-certificated entry or position on, in the case of Shareholders, the Register or, in the case of other securities of the Company, a register of securityholders to be kept by the Company in place of a physical security certificate or evidenced in accordance with the Dutch Statutory Giro System, in each case, pursuant to a registration system that may be adopted by the Company, in conjunction with its transfer agent (if any). This Bye-Law shall be read such that a registered holder of securities of the Company pursuant to any such electronic, book-based, direct registration service or other non-certificated entry or position shall be entitled to all of the same benefits, rights, entitlements and shall incur the same duties and obligations as a registered holder of securities evidenced by a physical security certificate. The Board and the Company’s transfer agent may adopt such policies and procedures and require such documents and evidence as they may determine necessary or desirable in order to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of such a registration system by electronic, book based, direct registration system or other non-certificated means.

 

8.

REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

8.1

The Register shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place in Bermuda as the Board may from time to time direct in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Company may keep one or more overseas or branch registers in any place, and the Board may make, amend and revoke any such regulations as it may think fit respecting the keeping of such registers. The Board may authorise any share on the Register to be included in a branch register or any share registered on a branch register to be registered on another branch register, provided that at all times the Register is maintained in accordance with the Companies Act.

 

8.2

In the event shares have been transferred to an Intermediary for the admission into a collective deposit or to Euroclear Nederland for the admission into a giro depot as referred to in the Giro Act, such shares shall be registered in the Register in the name of the Intermediary or Euroclear Nederland, respectively, to be held in accordance with the Giro Act.

 

8.3

The Register or any branch register may be closed at such times and for such period as the Board may from time to time decide, subject to the Companies Act. Except during such time as it is closed, the Register and each branch register shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon (or between such other times as the Board from time to time determines, but no less than two hours) on every working day. Unless the Board so determines, no Shareholder or intending Shareholder shall be entitled to have entered in the Register or any branch register any indication of any trust or any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any fractional part of a share and if any such entry exists or is permitted by the Board it shall not be deemed to abrogate any of the provisions of Bye-Law 5.8.

 

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8.4

The Company may request Euroclear Nederland, any Intermediary, custodian, securities depositary (or nominee thereof) or any other person the Company knows or may reasonably assume to professionally hold or administer shares or rights derived therefrom to provide the name, address, holdings of shares or rights derived therefrom, the unique identifier for legal entities and, where applicable, the email address for each participant or person for whom the shares or rights derived therefrom are held or administered.

 

9.

REGISTER OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a register of the Directors and Officers of the Company as required by the Companies Act. The register of Directors and Officers shall be open to inspection in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in Bermuda on every working day.

 

10.

TRANSFER OF SHARES

 

10.1

Subject to the Companies Act and to such of the exceptions and restrictions contained in these Bye-Laws as may be applicable:

 

  (a)

a holder of Common Shares may transfer all or any of its Common Shares by an instrument of transfer in the common form, including without limitation common procedures for transfer within the Dutch Statutory Giro System, or in any other form which the Board may approve; and

 

  (b)

a holder of Common Shares B may only transfer all or any of its Common Shares B with the prior written approval of the Board; such transfer may take place by an instrument of transfer in the common form, including without limitation common procedures for transfer within the Dutch Statutory Giro System, or in any other form which the Board may approve.

 

10.2

An application for approval of the Board as referred to in Bye-Law 10.1(b) must be made in writing and addressed to the Company, for the attention of the Board. It must state the number of Common Shares B the applicant wishes to transfer and the person to whom the applicant wishes to transfer the Common Shares B concerned. The Board must respond to the request within three (3) months from receipt. If it refuses to grant the approval requested, it must inform the applicant of another person who is prepared to purchase the Common Shares B concerned against payment in cash. If that other person and the applicant do not reach agreement on the amount of the purchase price, it will be determined by one or more experts designated by the Board, taking into account the principle as set out in Bye-Law 3.4.

 

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10.3

Notwithstanding a transfer within and in accordance with the procedures of the Dutch Statutory Giro System, the instrument of transfer of a share shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect thereof. All instruments of transfer when registered may be retained by the Company. The Board may also decline to register any transfer unless:

 

  (a)

the instrument of transfer is duly stamped (if required by law) and lodged with the Company, at such place as the Board shall appoint for the purpose, accompanied by the certificate for the shares (if any has been issued) to which it relates, and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer,

 

  (b)

the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share,

 

  (c)

the instrument of transfer is in favour of less than five (5) persons jointly;

 

  (d)

in the case of the transfer of Common Shares B, the Board’s prior written consent to the transfer was obtained in accordance with Bye-Laws 10.1(b) and 10.2;

 

  (e)

in case of the transfer of shares held within the Dutch Statutory Giro System, such transfer is made in accordance with the common procedures of the Dutch Statutory Giro System; and

 

  (f)

it is satisfied that all applicable consents, authorisations, permissions or approvals of any governmental body or agency in Bermuda or any other applicable jurisdiction required to be obtained under relevant law prior to such transfer have been obtained.

 

10.4

Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under this Bye-Law.

 

10.5

If the Board declines to register a transfer it shall, within three (3) months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to the transferee notice of such refusal.

 

10.6

No fee shall be charged by the Company for registering any transfer, probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, order of court or other instrument relating to or affecting the title to any share, or otherwise making an entry in the Register relating to any share (except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed on it in connection with such transfer or entry).

 

10.7

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bye-Laws, the Board shall, subject to the Companies Act and other applicable laws and the facilities and requirements of any relevant trading or settlement system concerned, including the Dutch Statuary Giro System, have the power to implement any arrangements it may, in its absolute discretion, think fit in relation to the settlement of transactions of whatever nature concerning such shares in accordance with such trading or settlement system. To the extent such arrangements are so implemented, other than provisions in these Bye-Laws mandated by applicable laws, no provision of these Bye-Laws shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is in any respect inconsistent with the requirements of such system.

 

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10.8

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bye-Laws, shares that are listed or admitted to trading on an appointed stock exchange may be transferred in accordance with the rules and requirements of such exchange.

 

11.

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

 

11.1

In the case of the death of a Shareholder, the survivor or survivors, where the deceased was a joint holder, and the estate representative, where he was a sole holder, shall be the only person recognised by the Company as having any title to their shares; nothing herein contained shall release the estate of a deceased holder (whether the sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly with other persons. For the purpose of this Bye-Law, estate representative means the person to whom probate or letters of administration has or have been granted in Bermuda or, failing any such person, such other person as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine to be the person recognised by the Company for the purpose of this Bye-Law.

 

11.2

Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law may, subject as hereafter provided and upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to their entitlement, either be registered themselves as the holder of the share or elect to have some person nominated by him registered as the transferee thereof. If the person so becoming entitled elects to be registered himself, they shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that they so elect. If they shall elect to have their nominee registered, they shall signify their election by signing an instrument of transfer of such share in favour of their nominee. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfer of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or instrument of transfer as aforesaid as if the death of the Shareholder or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or instrument of transfer was an instrument of transfer signed by such Shareholder.

 

11.3

A person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of a Shareholder or otherwise by operation of applicable law shall (upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Board as to their entitlement) be entitled to receive and may give a discharge for any dividends or other monies payable in respect of the share, but they shall not be entitled in respect of the share to receive notices of or to attend or vote at general meetings of the Company or, save as aforesaid, to exercise in respect of the share any of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder until they shall have become registered as the holder thereof. The Board may at any time give notice requiring such person to elect either to be registered themselves or to transfer the share and, if the notice is not complied with within sixty (60) days, the Board may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends and other monies payable in respect of the shares until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

 

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11.4

Subject to any directions of the Board from time to time in force, the Secretary may exercise the powers and discretions of the Board under this Bye-Law.

 

12.

INCREASE OF AUTHORISED CAPITAL

The Company may from time to time increase its authorised capital by such sum to be divided into shares as set out in Bye-Law 3.1 as the Company by Resolution shall prescribe.

 

13.

ALTERATION OF CAPITAL

 

13.1

The Company may from time to time by Resolution:

 

  (a)

cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the Resolution in that behalf, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled;

 

  (b)

change the currency denomination of its share capital;

 

  (a)

consolidate and divide all or any of the Company’s share capital into shares of larger par value than its existing shares; and

 

  (b)

sub-divide the Company’s shares or any of them into shares of smaller par value than is fixed by the Company’s Memorandum of Association, so, however, that in the sub-division the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in the case of the share from which the reduced share is derived.

 

13.2

Where any difficulty arises in regard to any division, consolidation, or sub-division of shares under this Bye-Law, not being a difficulty regarding the power to effectuate such alterations, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may implement such actions in a manner which does not result in fractional shares (whether by rounding or in any other manner as the Board deems fit) or arrange for the sale of the shares representing fractions and the distribution of the net proceeds of sale in due proportion amongst the Shareholders who would have been entitled to the fractions, and for this purpose the Board may authorise some person to transfer the shares representing fractions to the purchaser thereof, who shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall their title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale.

 

14.

REDUCTION OF CAPITAL

 

14.1

Subject to the Companies Act, its Memorandum of Association and any confirmation or consent required by law or these Bye-Laws, the Company may from time to time by Resolution authorise the reduction of its issued share capital, provided that such reduction shall only become effective with the approval of the Board and, insofar the reduction concerns the Common Shares B, by Resolution of the meeting of holders of Common Shares B.

 

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14.2

In relation to any such reduction, the Board may, subject to the approval by Resolution, determine the terms upon which such reduction is to be effected including, in the case of a reduction of part or only of a class of shares, those shares to be affected, subject to Bye-Law 14.1.

 

15.

MANDATORY OFFER PROVISIONS

 

15.1

A person must not, other than Euroclear Nederland, an Intermediary or solely as custodian or securities depositary (or nominee thereof) or under any arrangements implemented and/or approved by the Board under Bye-Law 7.4, whether by himself, or with persons determined by the Board to be acting in concert with him, directly or indirectly, in any manner, acquire after the Effective Date Beneficial Ownership of any shares which, taken together with shares already Beneficially Owned by him and by persons determined by the Board to be acting in concert with him, carry, directly or indirectly, thirty per cent (30%) or more of the voting rights attributable to the shares (the “Limit”), except as result of a “Permitted Acquisition”, as hereinafter defined.

 

15.2

An acquisition is a “Permitted Acquisition” if:

 

  (a)

the Board in its absolute discretion consents to the acquisition which consent may be subject to such conditions as the Board may think fit; or

 

  (b)

it concerns an acquisition by Vereniging Aegon, provided that the Voting Agreement is in effect at the time of such acquisition.

 

15.3

Where any person breaches the Limit, except as result of a Permitted Acquisition, that person shall without delay make a public announcement thereof and shall within thirty (30) days of breaching the Limit make a general offer to all holders of shares in accordance with Bye-Law 15.4 (an “Offer”).

 

15.4

An Offer must comply with the following requirements:

 

  (a)

the Offer complies with the applicable rules and regulations of the relevant stock exchange(s);

 

  (b)

the Offer is unconditional in all respects and is open for acceptance for a period of not less than thirty (30) days;

 

  (c)

the making or implementation of the Offer is not dependent on the passing of a resolution at any meeting of shareholders of the person making the Offer (the “Offeror”);

 

  (d)

the Offer is in cash or is accompanied by a cash alternative, in each case,

 

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  (i)

at an Offer price per Common Share not less than the greater of:

 

  (A)

the highest price paid by the Offeror or by any persons determined by the Board to be acting in concert with him for any interest in Common Shares during the twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Limit was exceeded;

 

  (B)

the one hundred and eighty (180) day volume weighted average price on Euronext Amsterdam of the Common Shares on the date on which the Limit was exceeded, or such other share exchange as determined by the Board; and

 

  (C)

if, before the Offer closes for acceptance, the Offeror or any persons determined by the Board to be acting in concert with him acquires any interest in Common Shares at above the Offer price, the highest price paid for the interest in the Common Shares so acquired,

(such offer price the “Common Share Offer Price”); and

 

  (ii)

at an Offer price per Common Share B of one fortieth (1/40th) of the Common Share Offer Price.

 

15.5

Where any person breaches the Limit, except as a result of a Permitted Acquisition, and does not make an Offer within the time period as referred to in Bye-Law 15.3, subject to the application of Bye-Law 15.6, that person is in breach of these Bye-Laws.

 

15.6

The obligation to make an Offer pursuant to Bye-Law 15.3 shall lapse if the person to which the obligation applies is no longer in breach of the Limit within thirty (30) days after breaching the Limit, unless such person has exercised his voting rights in that period.

 

15.7

The Board may do all or any of the following where it has reason to believe that the Limit is or may be breached:

 

  (a)

require any Shareholder or person appearing or purporting to be interested in any shares of the Company to provide such information as the Board considers appropriate to determine any of the matters under this Bye-Law 15;

 

  (b)

have regard to such public filings or disclosures as it considers appropriate to determine any of the matters under this Bye-Law 15;

 

  (c)

make such determinations under this Bye-Law 15 as it thinks fit, either after calling for submissions from affected Shareholders or other persons or without calling for such submissions;

 

  (d)

determine that some or all of the voting rights attached to such number of shares owned or Beneficially Owned by the person in breach of these Bye-Laws pursuant to Bye-Law 15.5 and any person determined by the Board to be acting in concert with him (the “Subject Shares”), are from a particular time suspended and incapable of being exercised for a definite or indefinite period;

 

17


  (e)

determine that some or all of the Subject Shares will not carry any right to any dividends or other distributions from a particular time for a definite or indefinite period; and

 

  (f)

take such other action as it thinks fit for the purposes of this Bye-Law 15 including:

 

  (i)

prescribing rules (not inconsistent with this Bye-Law 15);

 

  (ii)

setting deadlines for the provision of information;

 

  (iii)

drawing adverse inferences where information requested is not provided;

 

  (iv)

making determinations or interim determinations; and

 

  (v)

changing any decision or determination or rule previously made.

 

15.8

The Board has full authority to determine the application of this Bye-Law 15. Any resolution or determination of, or decision or exercise of any discretion or power by, the Board or any Director acting in good faith under or pursuant to the provisions of this Bye-Law 15 shall be final and conclusive; and anything done by, or on behalf of, or on the authority of, the Board or any Director acting in good faith pursuant to the provisions of this Bye-Law 15 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons concerned and shall not be open to challenge, whether as to its validity or otherwise on any ground whatsoever. The Board shall not be required to give any reasons for any decision, determination or declaration taken or made in accordance with this Bye-Law 15.

 

16.

GENERAL MEETINGS AND RESOLUTIONS IN WRITING

 

16.1

Save and to the extent that the Company elects to dispense with the holding of one or more of its annual general meetings in the manner permitted by the Companies Act, the Board shall convene, and the Company shall hold general meetings as annual general meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act. Subject to these Bye-laws and the Companies Act, general meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Board shall appoint. The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, and shall, when requisitioned by Shareholders pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act, convene general meetings other than annual general meetings, which shall be called special general meetings, at such time and place as the Board may appoint.

 

16.2

Anything which may be done by Resolution of the class of Common Shares B in a separate meeting of holders of Common Shares B may be done by resolution in writing, signed by the holders of such class of shares who at the date of the notice of the resolution in writing represent the majority of votes that would be required if the resolution had been voted on at a meeting of holders of Common Shares B. Such resolution in writing may be signed by the holders of Common Shares B or their proxy, or in the case of a holder of Common Shares B that is a

 

18


  corporation or any other legal entity (whether or not a company within the meaning of the Companies Act) by its representative on behalf of such holder of Common Shares B, in as many counterparts as may be necessary. For the avoidance of doubt any Resolution on which the holders of Common Shares are entitled to vote may not be passed by way of a resolution in writing.

 

16.3

Notice of any resolution in writing to be made under this Bye-Law shall be given to all the holders of the class of Common Shares B who would be entitled to attend a meeting of holders of Common Shares B and vote on the resolution. The requirement to give notice of any resolution in writing to be made under this Bye-Law to holders of the class of Common Shares B shall be satisfied by giving to those holders of the class of Common Shares B a copy of that resolution in the same manner that is required for a notice of a general meeting or meeting of holders of a class of shares of the Company at which the resolution could have been considered, except that the length of the period of notice shall not apply. The date of the notice shall be set out in the copy of the Resolution.

 

16.4

A resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-Law is as valid as if it had been passed by a meeting of holders of Common Shares B of the Company. A resolution in writing made in accordance with this Bye-Law shall constitute minutes for the purposes of the Companies Act and these Bye-Laws.

 

17.

NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

 

17.1

An annual general meeting, special general meeting, or meeting of holders of any class of shares shall be called by not less than thirty (30) Clear Days’ notice in writing. The notice shall specify the place, day and time of the meeting, means of electronic communication, if any, and, the nature of the business to be considered. Notice of every general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares shall be given in any manner permitted by these Bye-Laws to all Shareholders other than such as, under the provisions of these Bye-Laws or the terms of issue of the shares they hold, are not entitled to receive such notice from the Company and to each Director, and to any Resident Representative who or which has delivered a written notice upon the Registered Office requiring that such notice be sent to them or it.

 

17.2

If notice of a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares is for a shorter period than specified in Bye-Law 17.1 or if no notice is sent in accordance with Bye-Law 17.1, a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares may only be deemed to have been duly called if it is so unanimously agreed by all of the Shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat.

 

17.3

Provided that a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares is otherwise called in accordance with Bye-Law 17.1, the accidental omission to give notice of a meeting or (in cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with the notice) the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting or such instrument of proxy by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

 

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17.4

A Shareholder present, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of shares in the Company shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which it was called.

 

17.5

The Board may cancel or postpone a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares after it has been convened and notice of such cancellation or postponement shall be served in accordance with these Bye-Laws upon all Shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting so cancelled or postponed setting out, where the meeting is postponed to a specific date, notice of the new meeting in accordance with this Bye-Law.

 

18.

PROCEEDINGS AT SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

 

18.1

In accordance with the Companies Act, a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares may be held with only one (1) individual present, provided that the requirement for a quorum is satisfied. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares unless a quorum is present at the time that the meeting proceeds to business. The absence of a quorum shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting and therefore not preclude the appointment, choice or election of a chairperson.

 

18.2

Save as otherwise provided in these Bye-Laws, a Shareholder or Shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote representing the holders of more than one third (1/3) of the issued shares entitled to vote at such meeting shall be a quorum.

 

18.3

If a quorum is not present within five (5) minutes (or such longer time as the chairperson of the meeting may determine to wait) after the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of Shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to such other day and such other time and place as the chairperson of the meeting may determine and at such adjourned meeting two (2) Shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote and representing the holders of more than one third of the issued shares entitled to vote at such meeting or the highest amount required from time to time by any stock exchange on which any of the shares are listed shall be a quorum, provided that if the Company or a class of Shareholders only has one Shareholder, one Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall constitute the necessary quorum. The Company shall give not less than thirty (30) Clear Days’ notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum and such notice shall state the quorum shall be as set out in the preceding sentence. If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or such other time the chairperson of the meeting may determine, the meeting shall be dissolved.

 

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18.4

A general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares shall be held at a physical location at such time and place as the Board shall appoint, provided that the Board may decide that (i) each Shareholder has the right to take part in, address and, to the extent he is entitled to vote, to vote at the physical meeting using electronic means of communication, to which use of electronic means of communications the Board may attach conditions, or (ii) to organise the meeting by sole means of electronic communication (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by telephone, or by video conferencing) as to permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

18.5

Subject to the Companies Act, a Resolution may only be put to a vote at a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares if:

 

  (a)

it is proposed by or at the direction of the Board; or

 

  (b)

it is proposed at the direction of the Court; or

 

  (c)

it is proposed on the requisition in writing of (i) Shareholders representing at least one per cent (1%) of the shares, or (ii) not less than one hundred (100) Shareholders, and is made in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the Companies Act; or

 

  (d)

the chairperson of the meeting in their absolute discretion decides that the Resolution may properly be regarded as within the scope of the meeting.

 

18.6

Subject to the Companies Act, any matter that is not expressly reserved for, or that does not expressly require the, Shareholders’ prior approval by Resolution pursuant to the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws, may only be put as a non-voting discussion item that shall be non-binding on the Company and the Board to a general meeting or a meeting of holder of any class of shares unless otherwise determined by, in the case of a Resolution pursuant to Bye-Laws 18.5(a) or 18.5(c), the Board; in the case of a Resolution pursuant to Bye-Law 18.5(b), a competent court; or in the case of a Resolution pursuant to Bye-Law 18.5(d), the chairperson of that meeting, in each case, in the sole discretion of such determiner.

 

18.7

No amendment may be made to a Resolution, at or before the time when it is put to a vote, unless the chairperson of the meeting in their absolute discretion decides that the amendment or the amended resolution may properly be put to a vote at that meeting.

 

18.8

Each Director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares. The Resident Representative, if any, upon giving the notice referred to in Bye-Law 17.1 above, shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares.

 

18.9

The Chairperson shall preside as chairperson at every general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares of the Company. If the Chairperson is absent, the Vice-Chairperson shall preside as chairperson of the meeting, unless the Board has designated another person for that purpose. If the chairpersonship of the meeting is not provided for in accordance with the preceding two sentences, the meeting itself will appoint a chairperson. If the Secretary is absent and no replacement has been designated prior to the meeting, the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint another person to act as secretary of the meeting. If desired, one or more scrutineers may be appointed by the chairperson of the meeting.

 

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18.10

If the chairperson of the meeting rules a resolution or an amendment to a resolution admissible or out of order (as the case may be), the proceedings of the meeting or on the resolution in question shall not be invalidated by any error in their ruling. Any ruling by the chairperson of the meeting in relation to a resolution or an amendment to a resolution shall be final and conclusive.

 

18.11

The chairperson of the meeting may, with the consent by Resolution of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time (or sine die) and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. In addition to any other power of adjournment conferred by law, the chairperson of the meeting may at any time without consent of the meeting adjourn the meeting (whether or not it has commenced or a quorum is present) to another time and/or place (or sine die) if, in their opinion, it would facilitate the conduct of the business of the meeting to do so or if they are so directed (prior to or at the meeting) by the Board. When a meeting is adjourned sine die, the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Board. When a meeting is adjourned for three (3) months or more or for an indefinite period, at least thirty (30) Clear Days’ notice shall be given of the adjourned meeting. Save as expressly provided by these Bye-Laws, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

 

19.

VOTING

 

19.1

Save where a greater majority is required by the Companies Act or the Bye-Laws, any question proposed for consideration at any general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares shall be decided on by a simple majority of votes cast.

 

19.2

Subject to Bye-Laws 18.11 and 35.2 and to any rights or restrictions attached to any class of shares, at any general meeting or meeting of holders of any class of shares of the Company, each Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall be entitled to vote on any question to be decided on a poll vote and each Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall be entitled on a poll to vote for each share held by them.

 

19.3

At any general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares, a Resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by a poll vote.

 

19.4

On a poll, votes may be cast in person, by proxy or in the form of an Electronic Record.

 

19.5

A poll may be conducted by way of paper ballot or electronic voting device.

 

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19.6

A person entitled to more than one vote on a poll need not use all their votes or cast all the votes they use in the same way.

 

19.7

In the case of an equality of votes at a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares, the chairperson of such meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote and the Resolution shall fail.

 

19.8

In the case of joint holders of a share, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register in respect of the joint holding.

 

19.9

The holder(s) of Common Shares B shall enter into a Voting Agreement with the Company. The Voting Agreement shall provide that the holder(s) of Common Shares B shall exercise one (1) vote for every forty (40) Common Shares B held, save for the circumstances provided for in the Voting Agreement allowing the exercise of more of the voting rights attached to the Common Shares B in accordance with Bye-Law 3.3(c). The Voting Agreement shall be publicly available on the Company’s corporate website. If a holder of Common Shares B intends to exercise more than one (1) vote for every forty (40) Common Shares B he holds, he will give notice of such intention to the general meeting prior to the voting at such meeting in accordance with the Voting Agreement.

 

19.10

A Shareholder who is a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health or in respect of whom an order has been made by any Court having jurisdiction for the protection or management of the affairs of persons incapable of managing their own affairs may vote, by their receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person in the nature of a receiver, committee or curator bonis appointed by such Court and such receiver, committee, curator bonis or other person may vote on a poll by proxy, and may otherwise act and be treated as such Shareholder for the purpose of general meetings or a meeting of holders of any class of shares.

 

19.11

No Shareholder shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to vote at any meeting unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid.

 

19.12

The decision of the chairperson of a general meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares on the outcome of a vote on any matter shall be final and decisive. If:

 

  (a)

any objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter; or

 

  (b)

any votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected; or

 

  (c)

any votes are not counted which ought to have been counted,

 

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the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any Resolution unless the same is raised or pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairperson of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the meeting on any Resolution if the chairperson of the meeting decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairperson of the meeting on such matters shall be final and conclusive.

 

19.13

When determining how many votes are cast by Shareholders, how many Shareholders are present or represented at a meeting or what portion of the Company’s issued capital is represented at a meeting, no account will be taken of shares for which no votes can be cast by law. Common Shares B are only taken into account so far as the voting rights attached thereto are actually exercisable. Votes not permitted to be cast pursuant to a Voting Agreement as referred to in Bye-Law 19.9 are deemed not exercisable for the purpose of this Bye-Law.

 

20.

PROXIES AND CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES

 

20.1

A Shareholder may appoint one or more persons as their proxy, with or without the power of substitution, to represent him and vote on their behalf in respect of all or some only of their shares at any general meeting (including an adjourned meeting) and any meeting of the relevant class of shares. A proxy need not be a Shareholder. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing executed by the appointor or their attorney authorised by him in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under its Seal or executed by an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign the same, or in the form of an Electronic Record.

 

20.2

A Shareholder which is a corporation or any other legal entity may, by written authorisation, appoint any person (or two (2) or more persons in the alternative) as its representative to represent it and vote on its behalf at any general meeting (including an adjourned meeting) and any meeting of the relevant class of shares and such a corporate representative may exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation or any other legal entity which they represents as that corporation or any other legal entity could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder and the Shareholder shall for the purposes of these Bye-Laws be deemed to be present in person at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present at it.

 

20.3

Any Shareholder may appoint a proxy or (if a corporation or any other legal entity) representative for a specific general meeting, and adjournments thereof, or may appoint a standing proxy or (if a corporation or any other legal entity) representative, by serving on the Company at the Registered Office, or at such place or places as the Board may otherwise specify for the purpose, a proxy or (if a corporation or any other legal entity) an authorisation. Any standing proxy or authorisation shall be valid for all general meetings and adjournments thereof or resolutions in writing, as the case may be, until notice of revocation is received at the Registered Office or at such place or places as the Board may otherwise specify for the purpose. Where a standing proxy or authorisation exists, its operation shall be deemed to have been suspended at any general meeting or adjournment thereof at which the Shareholder is present

 

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  or in respect to which the Shareholder has specially appointed a proxy or representative. The Board may from time to time require such evidence as it shall deem necessary as to the due execution and continuing validity of any standing proxy or authorisation and the operation of any such standing proxy or authorisation shall be deemed to be suspended until such time as the Board determines that it has received the requested evidence or other evidence satisfactory to it.

 

20.4

A Shareholder may appoint a proxy which may be irrevocable in accordance with its terms and the holder thereof shall be the only person entitled to vote the relevant shares at the general meeting or at the meeting of the relevant class of shares at which such holder is present. Notice of the appointment of any such proxy shall be given to the Company at its Registered Office, and shall include the name, address, telephone number and electronic mail address of the proxy holder. The Company shall give to the proxy holder notice of all meetings of Shareholders of the Company and shall be obliged to recognise the holder of such proxy until such time as the holder notifies the Company in writing that the proxy is no longer in force.

 

20.5

Subject to Bye-Laws 20.3 and 20.4, the instrument appointing a proxy or corporate representative together with such other evidence as to its due execution as the Board may from time to time require, shall be delivered at the Registered Office or at such place or places and at such time as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment or, in either case or the case of a resolution in writing, in any document sent therewith, prior to the holding of the relevant meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote or, in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of a meeting or adjourned meeting, before the time appointed for the taking of the poll, or, in the case of a resolution in writing, prior to the effective date of the resolution in writing and in default the instrument of proxy or authorisation shall not be treated as valid.

 

20.6

The decision of the chairperson of any general meeting or meeting of holders of any class of shares as to the validity of any appointments of a proxy shall be final.

 

20.7

Instruments of proxy or authorisation shall be in any common form or in such other form as the Board may approve and the Board may, if it thinks fit, make available with the notice of any meeting or any resolution in writing forms of instruments of proxy or authorisation for use at that meeting or in connection with that resolution in writing. The instrument of proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll, to speak at the meeting and to vote on any amendment of a resolution in writing or amendment of a Resolution put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The instrument of proxy or authorisation shall, unless the contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates. If the terms of the appointment of a proxy include a power of substitution, any proxy appointed by substitution under such power shall be deemed to be the proxy of the Shareholder who conferred such power. All the provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the execution and delivery of an instrument or other form of communication appointing or evidencing the appointment of a proxy shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the instrument or other form of communication effecting or evidencing such an appointment by substitution.

 

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20.8

A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or authorisation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or unsoundness of mind of the principal, or revocation of the instrument of proxy or of the corporate authority, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, unsoundness of mind or revocation shall have been received by the Company at the Registered Office (or such other place as may be specified for the delivery of instruments of proxy or authorisation in the notice convening the meeting or other documents sent therewith) at least one hour before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting, or the taking of the poll, or the day before the effective date of any resolution in writing at which the instrument of proxy or authorisation is used.

 

20.9

Subject to the Companies Act, the Board may at its discretion waive any of the provisions of these Bye-Laws related to proxies or authorisations and, in particular, may accept such verbal or other assurances as it thinks fit as to the right of any person to attend, speak and vote on behalf of any Shareholder at general meetings or to sign resolutions in writing.

 

21.

ELECTION, SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

 

21.1

The Board shall consist of one or more Executive Directors and one or more Non-Executive Directors. The Board shall determine the number of Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors in its sole discretion, provided that the majority of the Board shall consist of Non-Executive Directors.

 

21.2

Each Director shall be elected at a general meeting of the Company for a term ending at the conclusion of the annual general meeting held in the fourth (4th) calendar year after the election unless a shorter term is set out in his nomination. A Director will be eligible for re-election upon expiry of his term. The consecutive term of a Non-Executive Director shall expire at the closing of the annual general meeting held in the twelfth (12th) calendar year after their election, unless the Board, in the interest of the Company decides otherwise.1

 

21.3

The election or re-election of Directors by the general meeting follows the following procedure and majority requirements.

 

  (a)

No person shall be nominated as a Director unless (i) they are nominated by the Board in accordance with Bye-Law 18.5(a) and any board rules applicable to the Board from time to time or by Shareholders in accordance with Bye-Law 18.5(c) and (ii) the nomination complies with this Bye-Law and Bye-Law 21.4.

 

1 

The consecutive term referred to in Bye-Law 21.5 shall be reduced by the period the Non-Executive Director served as member of the supervisory board of Aegon N.V.

 

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  (b)

In the case of an election or re-election proposed by a Shareholder in accordance with Bye-Law 18.5(c) to be effected at an annual general meeting, not less than one hundred twenty (120) nor more than one hundred fifty (150) days after the date of the Company’s notice of the annual general meeting sent to Shareholders in connection with the prior year’s annual general meeting, a notice executed by a Shareholder must have been received by the Secretary of the Company of the intention to propose such person for election, setting forth as to each person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director the information detailed in Bye-Law 21.4. In the case of any notice of a nomination of a person by a Shareholder for election or re-election as a Director at a special general meeting, such notice must be given prior to the later of one hundred twenty (120) days before the date of the special general meeting and the date which is ten (10) days after the date of the first public announcement or other notification of the date of the special general meeting.

 

  (c)

The election or re-election of any person proposed as a Director shall be effected by a separate Resolution.

 

  (d)

Unless otherwise required by the Companies Act, the election or re-election of Directors shall be decided by the applicable threshold of the majority of the votes cast specified below, in each case at a general meeting of the Company, at which a quorum as referred to in Bye-Law 18.1 is present, by the Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter. The election or re-election of a Director shall be decided on in accordance with the following:

 

  (i)

The election or re-election of a Director nominated by the Board pursuant to Bye-Law 21.3(a) shall be by a simple majority of votes cast.

 

  (ii)

The election or re-election of a Director nominated by Shareholders pursuant to Bye-Law 21.3(a) shall be by two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, representing more than half (1/2) of the then outstanding shares that are entitled to vote on the matter.

 

  (iii)

If there are two or more nominees to fill a vacancy on the Board, each such nominee shall be voted upon individually and only the nominee receiving the most votes in favour, which votes in favour must represent at least the required majority and representation of the votes cast under (i) and (ii), shall be elected as Director. If two (2) or more nominees receive the same number of votes in favour, the nominee who received the highest percentage of votes in favour shall be elected as Director. If two (2) or more nominees received both the same number of votes in favour and the same percentage of votes in favour, no nominee shall be elected.

 

21.4

The nomination of any person for election as a Director shall include:

 

  (a)

the nominee’s name and age;

 

  (b)

the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee;

 

27


  (c)

the class and number of shares which are owned of record and Beneficially Owned by each such nominee (if any); and

 

  (d)

such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules of any stock-exchange or regulatory authority to which the Company is subject; provided that, the Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director or that could be material to a reasonable Shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

21.5

All Directors, upon election, except upon re-election at an annual general meeting, must provide written acceptance of their election, in such form as the Board may think fit, by notice in writing to the Registered Office within thirty (30) days of their election.

 

21.6

Any one or more vacancies in the Board not filled at any general meeting shall be deemed casual vacancies for the purposes of these Bye-Laws. Without prejudice to the power of the Company by Resolution in pursuance of any of the provisions of these Bye-Laws to elect any person to be a Director, the Board, so long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, shall have power at any time, subject to Bye-Law 21.1, to appoint any person to be a Director so as to fill a casual vacancy. A Director so appointed shall hold office only until the following annual general meeting. If not reappointed by election at such annual general meeting, they shall vacate office at the conclusion thereof.

 

21.7

A Director may at any time be removed or suspended from their office by Resolution on a proposal of the Board. A Director who is suspended may not act as a Director of the Company including, without limitation, by exercising any powers that would otherwise vest in a Director, by attending or voting at meetings of the Board or by directly or indirectly taking part in the management of the Company. A Director who is suspended does not owe duties to the Company during the period of their suspension. A Resolution to remove or suspend a Director from their office as Director other than on proposal of the Board may only be adopted with a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, representing at least half (1/2) of the then outstanding shares that are entitled to vote on the motion. A suspension of a Director may be ended at any time by Resolution, provided that a Resolution to end the suspension of a Director other than on proposal of the Board may only be adopted with a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, representing at least half (1/2) of the then outstanding shares that are entitled to vote on the motion.

 

21.8

An Executive Director may be suspended by the Board at any time (without the sanction of a Resolution). A suspension of an Executive Director may be extended by the Board one or more times, but may not last longer than three (3) months in aggregate. If, at the end of that period, no decision has been taken on termination of the suspension or on removal, the suspension shall end. The Executive Directors shall not participate in any deliberations and decision-making in the Board that concerns the suspension of an Executive Director.

 

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22.

RESIGNATION AND DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

 

22.1

The office of a Director shall be deemed to have been vacated if he:

 

  (a)

resigns by notice in writing delivered to the Registered Office or tendered at a meeting of the Board;

 

  (b)

becomes of unsound mind or a patient for any purpose of any statute or applicable law relating to mental health and the Board resolves that such Director’s office is vacated, or dies;

 

  (c)

becomes bankrupt under the laws of any country;

 

  (d)

is prohibited by law from being a Director or, in the case of a corporate Director, is otherwise unable to carry on or transact business;

 

  (e)

ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws or is removed from office pursuant to these Bye-Laws;

 

  (f)

is the subject of a vote for his removal passed in accordance with Bye-Law 21.7.

 

22.2

The provisions of section 93(2) of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda shall not apply to the Company.

 

23.

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

No Director may appoint any other person to be an alternate Director.

 

24.

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

 

24.1

An Executive Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of Auditor) in conjunction with their office of Director for such period and upon such terms as the Board may determine, provided that the Executive Director can only hold such other office or place of profit for as long as it is a Director. The Executive Director may be paid such extra remuneration for any such other office or place of profit with the Company as the Board may determine, provided this is in accordance with the remuneration guidelines as referred to in Bye-Law 26.1.

 

24.2

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and Bye-Law 24.3, a Director may notwithstanding their office be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested; and be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is interested.

 

29


24.3

Any Director must inform the Board of any potential conflict of interest, which is a conflict between a direct or indirect personal interest of a Director and the interest of the Company or its business. So long as, where it is necessary, they declare the nature of their interest at the first opportunity at a meeting of the Board or by writing to the Directors as required by the Companies Act, a Director shall not by reason of their office be accountable to the Company for any benefit which they derive from any office or employment to which these Bye-Laws allow him to be appointed or from any transaction or arrangement in which these Bye-Laws allow him to be interested, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any interest or benefit. Upon disclosure of such potential conflicted interest to the Board, the Board will determine, on a simple majority vote, if such Director’s interest does indeed conflict with the interests of the Company or its business in such way as described in the first sentence. The respective Director shall not participate in any deliberations and decision-making of the Board, unless the Board decides otherwise. The conflicted Director shall not count towards the quorum of the Board meeting for that specific matter only. The determination of a conflict and decision to permit a conflicted Director to vote shall be taken without the respective Director participating in the deliberations and decision-making. If all Directors are conflicted, all Directors shall be permitted to participate in the deliberations and decision-making on the relevant subject in the Board.

 

24.4

For the purposes of these Bye-Laws, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Director is deemed to have an interest in a transaction or arrangement with the Company if he is the holder or Beneficial Owner of ten per cent (10%) or more of any class of the equity share capital of any body corporate (or any other body corporate through which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant body corporate with which the Company is proposing to enter into a transaction or arrangement, provided that there shall be disregarded any shares held by such Director as bare or custodian trustee and of which he is no Beneficial Owner, any shares comprised in a trust in which the Director’s interest is in reversion or remainder if and so long as some other person is entitled to receive the income thereof, and any shares comprised in an authorised unit trust in which the Director is only interested as a unit holder. For the purposes of this Bye-Law, an interest of a person who is connected with a Director shall be treated as an interest of the Director.

 

25.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD

 

25.1

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Bye-Laws, the Board shall manage and conduct the business of the Company and is responsible for the general affairs of the company, including setting the strategy of the Company. The Executive Directors are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company and shall furthermore exercise all, powers, authorities, discretions and tasks as delegated to them in accordance with Bye-Law 27.3. The Non-Executive Directors supervise the Executive Directors’ policy and performance of duties and the Company’s general affairs and its business, and give advice to the Executive Directors. The Non-Executive Directors furthermore perform any duties allocated to them under or pursuant to these Bye-Laws. The Executive Directors shall timely provide the Non-Executive Directors with the information they need to carry out their duties.

 

30


25.2

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Bye-Laws, the Board may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and incorporating the Company and may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of these Bye-Laws and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. The powers given by this Bye-Law shall not be limited by any special power given to the Board by these Bye-Laws and a meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board.

 

25.3

The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company except those powers that are required by the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws to be exercised by the Shareholders, the Shareholders’ meeting or a meeting of holders of any class of shares.

 

25.4

Subject to the Companies Act, in the exercise of its duties the Board shall take into account (among other matters) the long term consequences of decisions, sustainability, the Company’s reputation and the interest of all corporate stakeholders, including, amongst others, the Shareholders, the Company’s employees, business relations, policyholders, relations with regulators, and other groups, directly or indirectly, influenced by the business of the Company, all in the broadest sense (“Stakeholder Interest”).

For the purposes of a Director’s duty to act in the way he considers, in good faith, is in the best interests of the Company, the Director shall not be required to regard the benefit of any particular Stakeholder Interest or group of Stakeholder Interests as more important than any other.

 

25.5

Nothing in this Bye-Law, express or implied, is intended to or shall create or grant any right or cause of action to, by or for any person (other than the Company).

 

26.

REMUNERATION

 

26.1

The Company shall establish guidelines in respect of the remuneration of Directors. These remuneration guidelines are adopted by the Board.

 

26.2

The Board shall determine the remuneration and other terms of service of the Executive Directors and the Non-Executive Directors with due observance of the remuneration guidelines as referred to in Bye-Law 26.1. The Executive Directors shall not participate in the deliberations and decision-making process of the Board in determining the remuneration and other terms of service for the Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors.

 

26.3

At every annual general meeting, the Board shall present Shareholders with a remuneration report regarding the remuneration provided to the directors for the prior financial year and such report shall be put to an advisory vote of the Shareholders, which vote shall not be binding on the Board or the Company.

 

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26.4

No Director or former Director shall be accountable to the Company or the Shareholders for any benefit provided pursuant to this Bye-Law and the receipt of any such benefit shall not disqualify any person from being or becoming a Director of the Company.

 

27.

DELEGATION OF THE BOARD’S POWERS

 

27.1

Subject to the Companies Act, these Bye-Laws and any restrictions implemented by the Board, the Board or any individual Executive Director may act for, on behalf of, and in the name of the Company.

 

27.2

The Board may by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Bye-Laws) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney and of such attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. Such attorney may, if so authorised by the power of attorney, execute any deed, instrument or other document on behalf of the Company.

 

27.3

The Board may entrust to and confer upon any Director, Officer or, without prejudice to the provisions of Bye-Law 27.4, other person any of the powers, authorities and discretions exercisable by it upon such terms and conditions with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, authorities and discretions, and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of such powers, authorities and discretions but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected thereby. Such delegation of powers, authorities and discretions shall be included in the set of rules and regulations as referred to in Bye-Law 28.3.

 

27.4

The Board may, from time to time, establish such committees, in each case, it deems fit and may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions to such committees, consisting of such person or persons (whether a member or members of its body or not) as it thinks fit. Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, and in conducting its proceedings conform to any regulations which may be imposed upon it by the Board.

 

28.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD

 

28.1

The Board will designate one of the Non-Executive Directors as Chairperson and one of the Non-Executive Directors as Vice-Chairperson.

 

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28.2

The Board may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit. Unless otherwise specified in these Bye-Laws or in the regulations referred to in Bye-Law 28.3, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes on matters that are resolved on by the full Board as determined in the regulations referred to in Bye-Law 28.3 the chairperson of the meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote. A Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Board.

 

28.3

The Board may draw up a set of rules and regulations governing the exercise of its powers, authorities and discretions, including the division of tasks in the Board and between Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors. In conducting its proceedings, the Board shall conform to any such rules and regulations.

 

28.4

Notice of a meeting of the Board may be given to a Director by word of mouth or in any manner permitted by these Bye-Laws. A Director may retrospectively waive the requirement for notice of any meeting by consenting in writing to the business conducted at the meeting.

 

28.5

The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Board and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be a majority of the Directors then in office. Any Director who ceases to be a Director at a meeting of the Board may continue to be present and to act as a Director and, subject to Bye-Laws 24.3 and 1.1, be counted in the quorum until the termination of the meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.

 

28.6

The Resident Representative shall, upon delivering written notice of an address for the purposes of receipt of notice to the Registered Office, be entitled to receive notice of, attend and be heard at and to receive minutes of all meetings of the Board.

 

28.7

So long as a quorum of Directors remains in office, the continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in the Board but, if no such quorum remains, the continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act only for the purpose of calling a general meeting and setting the agenda for such general meeting.

 

28.8

The Chairperson shall preside as chairperson at every meeting of the Board. If the Chairperson is not present, the Vice-Chairperson shall act as chairperson of the Board meeting. If the Vice-Chairperson is not present, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairperson of the Board meeting.

 

28.9

The meetings and proceedings of any committee of the Board consisting of two (2) or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these Bye-Laws for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Board so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any rules or regulations imposed by the Board.

 

28.10

A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Board, as provided for in these Bye-Laws or by all the members of a committee for the time being shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board or, as the case may be, of such committee duly called and constituted. Such resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of the Directors or members of the committee concerned.

 

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28.11

A meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board may be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by telephone or by video conferencing) as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those Directors participating in the meeting are physically assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairperson of the meeting then is.

 

28.12

All acts done by the Board or by any committee of the Board or by any person acting as a Director or member of a committee or any person duly authorised by the Board or any committee shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the election of any member of the Board or such committee or person acting as aforesaid or that he was disqualified or had vacated his office, be as valid as if every such person had been duly elected and was qualified and had continued to be a Director, member of such committee or person so authorised.

 

28.13

The Company may by Resolution suspend or relax to any extent, either generally or in respect of any particular matter, any provision of these Bye-Laws prohibiting a Director from voting at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board, or ratify any transaction not duly authorised by reason of a contravention of any such provisions.

 

28.14

If a question arises at a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board as to the entitlement of a Director to vote or be counted in a quorum, the question may, before the conclusion of the meeting, be referred to the chairperson of the Board meeting and their ruling in relation to any Director other than themselves shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interests of the Director concerned have not been fairly disclosed. If any such question arises in respect of the chairperson of the Board meeting, it shall be decided by resolution of the Board (on which the chairperson of the Board meeting shall not deliberate or vote) and such resolution will be final and conclusive except in a case where the interests of the chairperson of the Board meeting have not been fairly disclosed.

 

29.

OFFICERS

 

29.1

The Board may appoint such Officers as the Board may determine from time to time. Executive Directors can be appointed as Officer. Non-Executive Directors cannot be appointed as Officer. Any person appointed as Officer pursuant to this Bye-Law shall hold office for such period and upon such terms and with such powers and duties as the Board may determine. The Board may revoke or terminate any such appointment.

 

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29.2

Any appointment of an Executive Director as Officer shall terminate if they cease to be a Director but without prejudice to any rights or claims which they may have against the Company by reason of such cesser. An Executive Director appointed as Officer shall not cease to be an Executive Director if their appointment to such executive office terminates.

 

29.3

Save as otherwise provided, the provisions of these Bye-Laws as to resignation and disqualification of Directors shall mutatis mutandis apply to the resignation and disqualification of Officers.

 

30.

SECRETARY AND RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE

 

30.1

The Secretary and, if required, the Resident Representative, shall be appointed by the Board at such remuneration (if any) and upon such terms as it may think fit and any Secretary and Resident Representative so appointed may be removed by the Board. The duties of the Secretary and the duties of the Resident Representative shall be those prescribed by the Companies Act together with such other duties as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board.

 

30.2

A provision of the Companies Act or these Bye-Laws requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as, or in the place of, the Secretary.

 

31.

THE SEAL

 

31.1

The Board may authorise the production of a common seal of the Company and one or more duplicate common seals of the Company, which shall consist of a circular device with the name of the Company around the outer margin thereof and the country and year of registration in Bermuda across the centre thereof.

 

31.2

Any document required to be under seal or executed as a deed on behalf of the Company may be:

 

  (a)

executed under the Seal in accordance with these Bye-Laws; or

 

  (b)

signed or executed by any person authorised by the Board for that purpose, without the use of the Seal.

 

31.3

The Board shall provide for the custody of every Seal. A Seal shall only be used by authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board. Subject to these Bye-Laws, any instrument to which a Seal is affixed shall be attested by the signature of:

 

  (a)

a Director; or

 

  (b)

the Secretary; or

 

  (c)

any one person authorised by the Board for that purpose.

 

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32.

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS

 

32.1

The Board may from time to time declare dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus to be paid to the Shareholders according to their rights and interests, in particular those set out in Bye-Laws 3.3 and 3.4, including such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the position of the Company. The Board, in its discretion, may determine that any dividend shall be paid in cash or shall be satisfied, subject to Bye-Law 34.2, in paying up in full shares in the Company to be issued to the Shareholders credited as fully paid. The Board may also pay any fixed cash dividend which is payable on any shares of the Company half yearly or on such other dates, whenever the position of the Company, in the opinion of the Board, justifies such payment.

 

32.2

Except insofar as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:

 

  (a)

all dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid;

 

  (b)

dividends or distributions out of contributed surplus may be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid-up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend or distribution is paid.

 

32.3

The Board may withhold and deduct from any dividend, distribution or other monies payable to a Shareholder by the Company on or in respect of any shares any applicable dividend withholding tax and all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company.

 

32.4

No dividend, distribution or other monies payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.

 

32.5

Subject to Bye-Law 32.6, any dividend, distribution or interest, or part thereof payable in cash, or any other sum payable in cash to the Shareholders may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post or by courier addressed to the holder at their address in the Register or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the shares at their registered address as appearing in the Register or addressed to such person at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first in the Register in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company. Any one of two (2) or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, distributions or other monies payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders.

 

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32.6

All dividends, distributions or interests in respect of shares held by a securities depositary, including Euroclear Nederland, shall be paid by placing those dividends, distributions or interest (minus any applicable withholding tax withheld or deducted pursuant to Bye-Law 32.3) at the disposal of such securities depositary, subject to and in accordance with the regulations of such securities depositary.

 

32.7

The Board may resolve to pay dividends, distributions or interest in another denomination than those of the shares, including the national currency of the country of an appointed stock exchange upon which the shares in question are listed for the time being.

 

32.8

Any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus unclaimed for a period of five (5) years from the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company and the payment by the Board of any unclaimed dividend, distribution, interest or other sum payable on or in respect of the share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof.

 

32.9

The Board may also, in addition to its other powers, direct payment or satisfaction of any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets, and in particular of paid-up shares or debentures of any other company, and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution or dividend, the Board may settle it as it thinks expedient, and in particular, may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may ignore fractions altogether, and may fix the value for distribution or dividend purposes of any such specific assets and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Shareholders upon the footing of the values so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board, provided that such dividend or distribution may not be satisfied by the distribution of any partly paid shares or debentures of any company without the sanction of a Resolution.

 

33.

RESERVES

The Board may, before declaring any dividend or distribution out of contributed surplus, set aside such sums as it thinks proper as reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board may from time to time think fit. The Board may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any sums which it may think it prudent not to distribute.

 

34.

CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS

 

34.1

The Board may from time to time resolve to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund which is available for distribution or to the credit of any share premium account and accordingly that such amount be set free for distribution amongst the Shareholders or any class of Shareholders who would be entitled thereto if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the footing that the same be not paid in cash but be applied either in or towards paying up amounts for the time

 

37


  being unpaid on any shares in the Company held by such Shareholders respectively or in payment up in full of unissued shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company, to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid amongst such Shareholders, or partly in one way and partly in the other, provided that for the purpose of this Bye-Law, a share premium account may be applied only in paying up of unissued shares to be issued to such Shareholders credited as fully paid.

 

34.2

Where any difficulty arises in regard to any distribution under this Bye-Law, the Board may settle the same as it thinks expedient and, in particular, may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments should be made to any Shareholders in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Board. The Board may appoint any person to sign on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the distribution any contract necessary or desirable for giving effect thereto and such appointment shall be effective and binding upon the Shareholders.

 

35.

RECORD AND REGISTRATION DATES

 

35.1

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bye-Laws, the Board may fix any date as the record date for any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue. Any such record may be on or at any time not more than sixty (60) Business Days before any date on which such dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is paid, allotted or issued (as the case may be).

 

35.2

In relation to any general meeting of the Company or of any class of holders of shares or to any adjourned meeting or any poll taken at a meeting or adjourned meeting of which notice is given, the Board may fix and specify in the notice of meeting or adjourned meeting or in any document sent to Shareholders by or on behalf of the Board in relation to the meeting, a time and date (“Record Date”) which is not more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting (“Meeting Date”) nor less than twenty (20) Business Days before the Meeting Date and, notwithstanding any provision in these Bye-Laws to the contrary, in such case:

 

  (a)

each person entered in the Register or another register designated by the Board, including the records of the Intermediary at the Record Date as a Shareholder, or a Shareholder of the relevant class, (“Record Date Holder”) shall be entitled to attend and to vote at the relevant meeting and to exercise all of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder, or a Shareholder of the relevant class, in relation to that meeting in respect of the shares, or the shares of the relevant class, registered in their name at the Record Date;

 

  (b)

the Intermediary shall file a written statement, at such place and time as specified in the notice of meeting, for each person entered into their records at the Record Date as a Shareholder, stating that that the person named therein is entitled through the Intermediary to the number of shares stated and that such person will retain such entitlement until the end of the meeting;

 

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  (c)

as regards any shares, or shares of the relevant class, which are registered in the name of a Record Date Holder at the Record Date but are not so registered at the Meeting Date (“Relevant Shares”), each holder of any Relevant Shares at the Meeting Date shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed that Record Date Holder as their proxy for the purpose of attending and voting in respect of those Relevant Shares at the Relevant Meeting (with power to appoint, or to authorise the appointment of, some other person as proxy), in such manner as the Record Date Holder in their absolute discretion may determine; and

 

  (d)

accordingly, except through their proxy pursuant to Bye-Law 35.2(c) above, a holder of Relevant Shares at the Meeting Date shall not be entitled to attend or to vote at the Relevant Meeting, or to exercise any of the rights or privileges of a Shareholder, or a Shareholder of the relevant class, in respect of the Relevant Shares at that meeting.

 

35.3

The Board may resolve that the entry of the name of a person in the Register or another register designated by the Board, including the records of an Intermediary at the Record Date as a Record Date Holder shall be sufficient evidence of their appointment as proxy in respect of any Relevant Shares for the purposes of this Bye-Law, but all the provisions of these Bye-Laws relating to the execution and deposit of an instrument appointing a proxy or any ancillary matter (including the Board’s powers and discretions relevant to such matter) shall apply to any instrument appointing any person other than the Record Date Holder as proxy in respect of any Relevant Shares.

 

35.4

The Board may from time to time make such arrangements for the purpose of controlling the attendance at any meeting, whether involving the issue of tickets or the imposition of some means of registration, including without limitation procedures for registration for shares held within the Dutch Statutory Giro System, or otherwise, as they shall in their absolute discretion consider appropriate, and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make new arrangements in place of them.

 

36.

ACCOUNTING RECORDS

 

36.1

The financial year shall be the calendar year.

 

36.2

At every annual general meeting, the Board shall present Shareholders with the annual accounts to be discussed during the meeting.

 

36.3

The Board shall cause to be kept accounting records sufficient to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to show and explain its transactions, in accordance with the Companies Act.

 

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36.4

The records of account shall be kept at the Registered Office or at such other place or places as the Board thinks fit, and shall at all times be open to inspection by the Directors, provided that if the records of account are kept at some place outside Bermuda, there shall be kept at an office of the Company in Bermuda such records as will enable the Directors to ascertain with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Company at the end of each three (3) month period. No Shareholder (other than an Officer of the Company) shall have any right to inspect any accounting record or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Board or by Resolution.

 

36.5

A copy of every balance sheet and statement of income and expenditure, including every document required by law to be annexed thereto, which is to be laid before the Company in general meeting, together with a copy of the Auditors’ report, shall be sent to each person entitled thereto in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act.

 

37.

AUDIT

Save and to the extent that an audit is waived in the manner permitted by the Companies Act, Auditors shall be appointed by Resolution on proposal of the Board, and their duties regulated in accordance with the Companies Act, any other applicable law and such requirements not inconsistent with the Companies Act as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

38.

SERVICE OF NOTICES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS

 

38.1

Any notice or other document (including but not limited to a share certificate, any notice of a general meeting of the Company, any instrument of proxy and any document to be sent in accordance with Bye-Law 36.5) may be sent to, served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company:

 

  (a)

personally;

 

  (b)

sending it through the post (by airmail where applicable) in a pre-paid letter addressed to such Shareholder at their address as appearing in the Register;

 

  (c)

by sending it by courier to or leaving it at the Shareholder’s address appearing in the Register;

 

  (d)

where applicable, by sending it by email or facsimile or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form or by sending an Electronic Record of it by electronic means, in each case to an address, account or number supplied by such Shareholder for the purposes of communication in such manner; or

 

  (e)

by publication of an Electronic Record of it on a website and notification of such publication (which shall include the address of the website, the place on the website where the document may be found, and how the document may be accessed on the website) by at least one of the other methods set out in paragraphs 38.1(a), 38.1(b), 38.1(c) or 38.1(d) of this Bye-Law, in accordance with the Companies Act.

 

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In the case of joint holders of a share, service or delivery of any notice or other document on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed as sufficient service on or delivery to all the joint holders.

 

38.2

Any notice or other document shall be deemed to have been served on or delivered to any Shareholder by the Company:

 

  (a)

if sent by personal delivery, at the time of delivery;

 

  (b)

if sent by post, forty-eight (48) hours after it was put in the post;

 

  (c)

if sent by courier or facsimile, twenty-four (24) hours after sending;

 

  (d)

if sent by email or other mode of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form or as an Electronic Record by electronic means, twelve (12) hours after sending; or

 

  (e)

if published as an Electronic Record on a website, at the time that the notification of such publication shall be deemed to have been delivered to such Shareholder,

and in proving such service or delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or document was properly addressed and stamped and put in the post, published on a website in accordance with the Companies Act and the provisions of these Bye-Laws, or sent by courier, facsimile, email or as an Electronic Record by electronic means, as the case may be, in accordance with these Bye-Laws.

 

38.3

Each Shareholder and each person becoming a Shareholder subsequent to the adoption of these Bye-Laws, by virtue of its holding or its acquisition and continued holding of a share, as applicable, shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that any notice or other document (excluding a share certificate) may be provided by the Company by Electronic Record or by way of accessing them on a website instead of being provided by other means.

 

38.4

Save as otherwise provided, the provisions of these Bye-Laws as to service of notices and other documents on Shareholders shall mutatis mutandis apply to service or delivery of notices and other documents to the Company or any Director, or a Resident Representative pursuant to these Bye-Laws.

 

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39.

DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

The Company shall be entitled to destroy all instruments of transfer of shares which have been registered and all other documents on the basis of which any entry is made in the register at any time after the expiration of seven (7) years from the date of registration thereof and all dividends mandates or variations or cancellations thereof and notifications of change of address at any time after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of recording thereof and all share certificates which have been cancelled at any time after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of cancellation thereof and all paid dividend warrants and cheques at any time after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of actual payment thereof and all instruments of proxy which have been used for the purpose of a poll at any time after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of such use and all instruments of proxy which have not been used for the purpose of a poll at any time after one (1) month from the end of the meeting to which the instrument of proxy relates and at which no poll was demanded. It shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document so destroyed was duly and properly made, that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered, that every share certificate so destroyed was a valid and effective certificate duly and properly cancelled and that every other document hereinbefore mentioned so destroyed was a valid and effective document in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company, provided always that:

 

  (a)

the provisions aforesaid shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties thereto) to which the document might be relevant;

 

  (b)

nothing herein contained shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any other circumstances which would not attach to the Company in the absence of this Bye-Law; and

 

  (c)

references herein to the destruction of any document include references to the disposal thereof in any manner.

 

40.

UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS

 

40.1

The Company shall be entitled to sell, at the best price reasonably obtainable, the shares of a Shareholder or the shares to which a person is entitled by virtue of transmission on death, bankruptcy, or otherwise by operation of law if and provided that:

 

  (a)

during a period of five (5) years, no dividend in respect of those shares has been claimed and at least three (3) cash dividends have become payable on the share in question;

 

  (b)

on or after expiry of that period of five (5) years, the Company has inserted an advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the area of the last registered address at which service of notices upon the Shareholder or person entitled by transmission may be effected in accordance with these Bye-Laws and in a national newspaper published in the relevant country, giving notice of its intention to sell such shares:

 

42


  (c)

during that period of five (5) years and the period of three (3) months following the publication of such advertisement, the Company has not received any communication from such Shareholder or person entitled by transmission; and

 

  (d)

if so required by the rules of any securities exchange upon which the shares in question are listed for the time being, notice has been given to that exchange of the Company’s intention to make such sale.

 

40.2

If during any five (5) year period referred to in Bye-Law 40.1 above, further shares have been issued in right of those held at the beginning of such period or of any previously issued during such period and all the other requirements of this Bye-Law (other than the requirement that they be in issue for five (5) years) have been satisfied in regard to the further shares, the Company may also sell the further shares.

 

40.3

To give effect to any such sale, the Board may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser and an instrument of transfer executed by that person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the holder of, or some person entitled by transmission to the shares. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall their title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in reference to the sale.

 

40.4

The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company which shall be obliged to account to the former Shareholder or other person previously entitled as aforesaid for an amount equal to such proceeds and shall enter the name of such former Shareholder or other person in the books of the Company as a creditor for such amount. No trust shall be created in respect of the debt, no interest shall be payable in respect of the same and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on the net proceeds, which may be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments as the Board from time to time thinks fit.

 

41.

WINDING UP

The Board may decide to wind up the Company, provided that the winding-up is approved at a subsequent general meeting of the Company by Resolution. If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Resolution and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide amongst the Shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for such purposes set such values as they deem fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trust for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets upon which there is any liability.

 

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42.

INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE

 

42.1

Subject to the proviso below, every Indemnified Person shall be indemnified and held harmless out of the assets of the Company against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs including defence costs incurred in defending any legal proceedings whether civil or criminal and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him by or by reason of any act done, conceived in or omitted in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of their duties and the indemnity contained in this Bye-Law shall extend to any Indemnified Person acting in any office or trust in the reasonable belief that he has been appointed or elected to such office or trust notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election provided always that the indemnity contained in this Bye-Law shall not extend to any matter which would render it void pursuant to the Companies Act.

 

42.2

No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for the acts, defaults or omissions of any other Indemnified Person.

 

42.3

To the extent that any Indemnified Person is entitled to claim an indemnity pursuant to these Bye-Laws in respect of amounts paid or discharged by him, the relevant indemnity shall take effect as an obligation of the Company to reimburse the person making such payment or effecting such discharge.

 

42.4

Each Shareholder and the Company agree to waive any claim or right of action they or it may at any time have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Indemnified Person on account of any action taken by such Indemnified Person or the failure of such Indemnified Person to take any action in the performance of their duties with or for the Company provided however that such waiver shall not apply to any claims or rights of action arising out of the fraud of such Indemnified Person or to recover any gain, personal profit or advantage to which such Indemnified Person is not legally entitled.

 

42.5

The Company shall advance moneys to any Indemnified Person for the costs, charges, and expenses incurred by the Indemnified Person in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against him, on condition and receipt of an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the Company that of the Indemnified Person shall repay such portion of the advance attributable to any claim of fraud or dishonesty if such a claim is proved against the Indemnified Person provided that no monies shall be paid hereunder unless payment of the same shall be authorised in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Director or Officer would be proper in the circumstances because they have met the standard of conduct which would entitle him to the indemnification thereby provided and such determination shall be made:

 

  (a)

by the Board, by a majority vote at a meeting duly constituted by a quorum of Directors not party to the proceedings or matter with regard to which the indemnification is, or would be, claimed;

 

44


  (b)

in the case such a meeting cannot be constituted by lack of a disinterested quorum, by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or

 

  (c)

the Shareholders by Resolution.

 

42.6

Without prejudice to the provisions of this Bye-Law, the Board shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any Indemnified Person or any persons who are or were at any time Directors, Officers, employees of the Company, or of any other company which is its holding company or in which the Company or such holding company has any interest whether direct or indirect or which is in any way allied to or associated with the Company, or of any subsidiary undertaking of the Company or any such other company, or who are or were at any time trustees of any pension fund in which employees of the Company or any such other company or subsidiary undertaking are interested, including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any liability incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of their duties or in the exercise or purported exercise of their powers or otherwise in relation to their duties, powers or offices in relation to the Company or any such other company, subsidiary undertaking or pension fund.

 

43.

AMALGAMATION AND MERGER

Any resolution proposed for consideration at any general meeting to approve the amalgamation or merger of the Company with any other company, wherever incorporated, shall require the approval of:

 

  (a)

the Board; and

 

  (b)

the Shareholders by Resolution.

 

44.

CONTINUATION

Subject to the Companies Act, the Company may with the approval of:

 

  (a)

the Board; and

 

  (b)

the Shareholders by Resolution,

approve the discontinuation of the Company in Bermuda and the continuation of the Company in a jurisdiction outside Bermuda.

 

45.

ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS AND MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

Subject to the provisions of these Bye-Laws, these Bye-Laws and the Memorandum of Association of the Company may be revoked or amended from time to time only by resolution of the Board, but no such revocation or amendment shall be operative unless and until it is approved at a subsequent general meeting of the Company by Resolution.

 

45

Exhibit 3.4

FORM No. 2d

LOGO

BERMUDA

THE COMPANIES ACT 1981

MEMORANDUM OF CONTINUANCE OF COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

Section 132C(2)

FORM OF MEMORANDUM OF CONTINUANCE

OF

Aegon Ltd.

(hereinafter referred to as “the Company”)

 

1.

The liability of the members of the Company is limited to the amount (if any) for the time being unpaid on the shares respectively held by them.

 

2.

The Company is an exempted company as defined by the Companies Act 1981.

 

3.

The authorised share capital of the Company is €720,000,000.00 divided into 4,000,000,000 common shares of €0.12 each and 2,000,000,000 common shares B of €0.12 each.

 

4.

The Company, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, has power to hold land situate in Bermuda not exceeding N/A in all, including the following parcels: -

Not applicable.

 

5.

Details of Incorporation:

The Company was incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands on 23 May 1969 under the name Eerste Nederlandsche Nillmij N.V.

The Company was continued into Luxembourg on [•] 2023 under the name Aegon S.A.

 

6.

The objects of the Company from the date of continuance are to incorporate, to acquire and alienate shares and interests in, to finance, to grant security for obligations of, to enter into general business relationships with, to manage, and to grant services to, legal entities and other entities, in particular those involved in the insurance business, and to do all that is connected therewith or which may be conducive thereto, all to be interpreted in the broadest sense.

 

7.

The following are provisions regarding the powers of the Company:


  (i)

has the powers of a natural person;

 

  (ii)

has the power to purchase its own shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 42A of the Companies Act 1981; and

 

  (iii)

has the power to acquire its own shares to be held as treasury shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 42B of the Companies Act 1981.


Signed by duly authorised persons in the presence of at least one witness attesting the signature thereof: -

 

 

   

 

(Authorised persons)     (Witnesses)

Dated this             day of

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50, PO Box 85

2501 CB The Hagueav

The Netherlands

  

Email BAdderley@applebyglobal.com

 

Direct Dial +1 441 298 3243 / Ext. 6163

Tel +1 441 295 2244

Your Ref

Appleby Ref: 207501.0004/BA/JN/MM

30 June 2023

 

 

  

Dear Sirs/Madams

 

Registration Statement on Form F-4

Bermuda Office

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited

Canon’s Court

22 Victoria Street

PO Box HM 1179

Hamilton HM EX

Bermuda

 

Tel +1 441 295 2244

 

 

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited (the Legal Practice) is a company limited by shares incorporated in Bermuda and approved and recognised under the Bermuda Bar (Professional Companies) Rules 2009. “Partner” is a title referring to a director, shareholder or an employee of the Legal Practice. A list of such persons can be obtained from your relationship partner.

  

We have acted as special legal counsel in Bermuda to Aegon N.V., a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (Netherlands) and which intends to continue into and under the laws of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) as Aegon S.A. (Company) and then continue into Bermuda as Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company (Continuance) pursuant to Section 132C of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda (Companies Act), and the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) of a registration statement on Form F-4 (Registration Statement), which term does not include any other document or agreement whether or not specifically referred to therein or attached as an exhibit or schedule thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. We refer, in particular, to the 752,605,544 common shares of par value EUR 0.12 each in the share capital of the Company (Shares) which will be registered with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Statement in connection with the Continuance. Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalised terms are used as defined in the Registration Statement or as defined in the Schedule to this opinion.

 

For the purposes of this opinion we have examined and relied upon the documents listed, and in some cases defined, in the Schedule to this opinion (Documents) together with such other documentation as we have considered requisite to this opinion.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Registration Statement has the same meanings when used in this opinion.

 

1.   ASSUMPTIONS

 

In stating our opinion we have assumed:

 

1.1  the genuineness of all signatures on the Documents;

 

 

Bermuda ◾ British Virgin Islands ◾ Cayman Islands ◾ Guernsey ◾ Hong Kong ◾ Isle of Man ◾ Jersey ◾ Mauritius ◾ Seychelles ◾ Shanghai


  

1.2  the authority, capacity and power of each of the persons signing the Documents;

 

1.3  under the laws of Luxembourg and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of Bermuda), the Company is, and, at all times relevant for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed herein, was, duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Luxembourg and has, and, at all times relevant for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed herein, had, the full power, authority and legal right to deregister as a body corporate limited by shares from Luxembourg and to register by way of Continuance as an exempted company limited by shares in Bermuda;

 

1.4  at all times relevant for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed herein, the laws of the Luxembourg permitted the Continuance of the Company to Bermuda;

 

1.5  that the Continuance will be duly authorised by the Company;

 

1.6  that all necessary action was, or will be, taken under the applicable laws of Luxembourg to authorise and permit the Continuance and any and all consents, approvals and authorisations for applicable Luxembourg governmental authorities required to authorise and permit the Continuance have been, or will be, obtained;

 

1.7  immediately prior to the Continuance, the Shares will be, or have been, duly and validly authorised, legally and validly issued and non-assessable under the laws of the Luxembourg;

 

1.8  the Registration Statement included therein, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective;

 

1.9  there is nothing under any law (other than the laws of Bermuda) that would or might affect the opinions set out herein and, in particular, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the Luxembourg and have assumed that such laws authorise the Continuance and that the Company has, or shall, comply fully with the laws of the Luxembourg in respect of such Continuance; and

 

1.10  that each Director of the Company, when the Board of Directors of the Company passed or adopted the resolutions approving the Continuance and matters relating thereto discharged his or her fiduciary duty owed to the Company and acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company.

 

2

 

Bermuda ◾ British Virgin Islands ◾ Cayman Islands ◾ Guernsey ◾ Hong Kong ◾ Isle of Man ◾ Jersey ◾ Mauritius ◾ Seychelles ◾ Shanghai


  

2.   OPINION

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the reservations set out below and to any matters not disclosed to us, we are of the opinion that:

 

2.1  upon issuance of the Certificate of Continuance (Certificate) in relation to the Continuance of the Company by the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, the Company will have been duly registered by way of continuance under Section 132C of the Companies Act as an exempted company under the laws of Bermuda.

 

2.2  once the Certificate has been issued, and appropriate entries have been made in the register of members of the Company in respect of the Shares which are to be registered by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Shares will, by operation of law, be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable (which term means, when used herein, that no further sums are required to be paid by the holders thereof in connection with the issue of such Shares).

 

3.   RESERVATIONS

 

We have the following reservations:

 

3.1  We express no opinion as to any law other than Bermuda law and none of the opinions expressed herein relates to compliance with or matters governed by the laws of any jurisdiction except Bermuda. This opinion is limited to Bermuda law as applied by the Courts of Bermuda at the date hereof.

 

3.2  Under the Companies Act, the register of members of a Bermuda exempted company is deemed prima facie evidence of any matters which the Companies Act directs or authorises to be set out therein and, in particular, a third-party interest in the Shares would not appear in such register.

 

3

 

Bermuda ◾ British Virgin Islands ◾ Cayman Islands ◾ Guernsey ◾ Hong Kong ◾ Isle of Man ◾ Jersey ◾ Mauritius ◾ Seychelles ◾ Shanghai


  

4.   DISCLOSURE

 

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be used, quoted or otherwise relied on for any other purpose. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of the Company and to the references to Appleby (Bermuda) Limited’s name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. As Bermuda attorneys we are not qualified to opine on matters of law in any jurisdiction other than Bermuda. As such, in giving this consent, we do not admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

This opinion is governed by and is to be construed in accordance with Bermuda law. It is given on the basis that it will not give rise to any legal proceedings with respect thereto in any jurisdiction other than Bermuda.

 

Yours faithfully

 

/s/ Appleby (Bermuda) Limited    

 

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited

 

4

 

Bermuda ◾ British Virgin Islands ◾ Cayman Islands ◾ Guernsey ◾ Hong Kong ◾ Isle of Man ◾ Jersey ◾ Mauritius ◾ Seychelles ◾ Shanghai


  

SCHEDULE 1

 

1.   A scanned copy of the Registration Statement.

 

5

 

Bermuda ◾ British Virgin Islands ◾ Cayman Islands ◾ Guernsey ◾ Hong Kong ◾ Isle of Man ◾ Jersey ◾ Mauritius ◾ Seychelles ◾ Shanghai

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO

 

June 30, 2023

 

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50, PO Box 85

2501 CB The Hague

The Netherlands

 

1271 Avenue of the Americas

 

New York, New York 10020-1401

 

Tel: +1.212.906.1200 Fax: +1.212.751.4864

www.lw.com

 

 

FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES

 

Austin

  

Milan

 

Beijing

  

Munich

 

Boston

  

New York

 

Brussels

  

Orange County

 

Century City

  

Paris

 

Chicago

  

Riyadh

 

Dubai

  

San Diego

 

Düsseldorf

  

San Francisco

 

Frankfurt

  

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Hamburg

  

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Madrid

  

Washington, D.C.

Re: Registration Statement on Form F-4

To the addressees set forth above:

We have acted as special United States tax counsel to Aegon N.V., a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap), in connection with its proposed Redomiciliation into Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares. As set forth in the Registration Statement, the Redomiciliation consists of two principal steps expected to take place on the same day: (i) the Luxembourg Conversion and (ii) the Bermuda Conversion, and requires two General Meetings for the approval and implementation thereof. Throughout, Aegon will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon Ltd. and the shares of Aegon will remain issued and outstanding, and will become shares of Aegon Ltd. This opinion is being delivered in connection with the registration statement on Form F-4 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 30, 2023, including the U.S. Shareholder Circular forming a part thereof, and amended as of the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings specified in the Registration Statement unless otherwise indicated.

In rendering our opinion, we have examined and, with your consent, are expressly relying upon (without any independent investigation or review thereof) the truth and accuracy of the factual statements, representations, warranties and assumptions contained in (i) the Registration Statement and (ii) such other documents and corporate records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of our opinion.

In addition, we have assumed, with your consent, that:

 

  1.

Original documents (including signatures) are authentic, documents submitted to us as copies conform to the original documents, and there has been (or will be by the Luxembourg Conversion Effective Time or the Bermuda Conversion Effective Time) execution and delivery of all documents where execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof;


June 30, 2023

Page 2

 

LOGO

 

 

  2.

The Redomiciliation will be consummated in the manner contemplated by, and in accordance with the two major steps described in the Registration Statement, and the Redomiciliation will be effective under the laws of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Bermuda;

 

  3.

All factual statements, descriptions, and representations contained in any of the documents referred to herein or otherwise made to us are true, complete, and correct in all respects and will remain true, complete, and correct in all respects at all times, and no actions have been taken or will be taken which are inconsistent with such factual statements, descriptions, or representations or which make any such factual statements, descriptions, or representations untrue, incomplete, or incorrect; and

 

  4.

Any statements made in any of the documents referred to herein “to the knowledge of” or similarly qualified are true, complete, and correct in all respects and will continue to be true, complete, and correct in all respects at all times, in each case without such qualification.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated in the Registration Statement, under currently applicable U.S. federal income tax law, the statements in the Registration Statement under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders of the Redomiciliation,” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of U.S. federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations stated therein, are our opinion. No opinion is expressed on any matters other than those specifically referred to above by reference to the Registration Statement.

In addition to the matters set forth above, this opinion is subject to the exceptions, limitations and qualifications set forth below.

 

  1.

This opinion represents our best judgment regarding the application of U.S. federal income tax laws arising under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing judicial decisions, administrative regulations and published rulings and procedures. We express no opinion as to U.S. federal, state, local, foreign, or other tax consequences, other than as set forth herein. Our opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not assert a contrary position. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that future legislative, judicial or administrative changes, on either a prospective or retroactive basis, would not adversely affect the accuracy of the conclusions stated herein. Nevertheless, we undertake no responsibility to advise you of any new developments in the application or interpretation of the U.S. federal income tax laws.


June 30, 2023

Page 3

 

LOGO

 

 

  2.

No opinion is expressed as to any transaction other than the Redomiciliation as described in the Registration Statement, or to any transaction whatsoever, including the Redomiciliation, if, to the extent relevant to our opinion, either all the steps described in the Registration Statement are not consummated in accordance with the terms thereof and without waiver or breach of any provisions thereof, or all of the factual statements, representations, warranties and assumptions upon which we have relied are not true and accurate at all relevant times.

This opinion is rendered in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm name in the Registration Statement in connection with the references to this opinion. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, as amended, or the rules or regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Sincerely,

/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

Exhibit 8.2

 

   Advocaten

Notarissen

Belastingadviseurs

LOGO

To:

Aegon N.V.

Aegonplein 50, PO Box 85

2501 CB The Hague

The Netherlands

(the “Company”)

   Claude Debussylaan 80

P.O. Box 75084

1070 AB Amsterdam

 

T +31 20 577 1771

F +31 20 577 1775

 

Date: 30 June 2023    Wiebe Dijkstra
     E wiebe.dijkstra@debrauw.com
Our ref.   M39962282/1/20743432    T +31 20 577 1031
     M +31 6 1355 8251
    
Re:   Dutch tax opinion | Aegon N.V. (the “Company”)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Descriptions of Dutch tax law in the registration statement on Form F-4 filed on 30 June 2023 in relation to the registration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission of shares in the capital of the Company

 

1

INTRODUCTION

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. (“De Brauw”, “we”, “us” and “our”, as applicable) acts as Dutch tax advisor to the Company in connection with the Registration.

Certain terms used in this opinion are defined in Annex 1 (Definitions).

 

2

DUTCH LAW

This opinion (including all terms used in it) is to be construed in accordance with Dutch law. It is limited to Dutch law and the law of the European Union, to the extent directly applicable in the Netherlands, in effect on the date of this opinion. Accordingly, we do not express any opinion on other matters such as matters of fact or the correctness of any representation included in the Registration Statement or in any other document contemplated by the Registration Statement.

 

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., Amsterdam, is registered with the Trade Register in the Netherlands under no. 27171912.

All services and other work are carried out under an agreement of instruction (“overeenkomst van opdracht”) with De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. The agreement is subject to the General Conditions, which have been filed with the register of the District Court in Amsterdam and contain a limitation of liability.

Client account notaries ING Bank IBAN NL83INGB0693213876 BIC INGBNL2A.


LOGO

 

3

SCOPE OF INQUIRY

We have examined, and relied upon the accuracy of the factual statements in the Registration Statement.

 

4

ASSUMPTIONS

We have made the following assumptions:

 

  (a)

each copy document conforms to the original and each original is genuine and complete; and

 

  (b)

the Registration Statement has been or will be filed with the SEC in the form referred to in this opinion;

 

  (c)

the Company’s place of effective management remains in the Netherlands both for purpose of article 4 of the State Taxes Act (Algemene wet inzake rijksbelastingen) and article 4 paragraph 4 of the Convention between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital;

 

  (d)

the instrument of ratification of the multilateral convention to implement tax treaty related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting as deposited by Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 9 April 2019, as available on the website of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (beps-mli-position-luxembourg-instrument-deposit.pdf (oecd.org)) on 9 am CET of the date of this opinion correctly reflects any reservations made by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in respect of this convention;

 

  (e)

as described in the Registration Statement, (i) Aegon N.V. will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon S.A. upon the conversion of Aegon N.V. into Aegon S.A. (a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme)), and (ii) Aegon S.A. will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon Ltd. upon the conversion of Aegon S.A. into Aegon Ltd. (a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares), in each case regardless of the company without interruption maintaining its place of effective management (place of effective management or siege de direction effective) in the Netherlands as defined in article 4, paragraph 4 of the Treaty for the avoidance of double taxable and the avoidance of tax between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and

 

2 / 7


LOGO

 

  (f)

Aegon S.A. and Aegon Ltd. are sufficiently similar to a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap) or limited liability company (besloten vennootschap).

 

5

OPINION

Based on the documents and investigations referred to and assumptions made in paragraphs 3 and 4, we are of the following opinion:

The statements in the Registration Statement under the heading “Material Dutch tax consequences to Aegon and its Shareholders of the Redomiciliation”, to the extent that they are statements about Dutch Tax law are correct in all material aspects, and such statements constitute the opinion of De Brauw.

 

6

QUALIFICATIONS

This opinion is subject to the qualification that we do not express any opinion on the attribution of any income, dividends, payments, profit, losses, assets, liabilities or functions to a presence for tax purposes, whether in the form of a permanent establishment (vaste inrichting), a dependent agent (vaste vertegenwoordiger) or otherwise, of the Company in a jurisdiction other than the Netherlands and the consequences of such attribution, including in respect of the availability of any relief under any tax treaty or domestic tax law and the application of any withholding taxes, in each case subsequent to or as a result of the Conversions.

 

7

RELIANCE

 

7.1

This opinion is an exhibit to the Registration Statement and may be relied upon for the purpose of the Registration. It may not be supplied, and its contents or existence may not be disclosed, to any person other than as an exhibit to (and therefore together with) the Registration Statement and may not be relied upon for any purpose other than the Registration.

 

7.2

By accepting this opinion, each person accepting this opinion agrees that:

 

  (i)

only De Brauw (and not any other person) will have any liability in connection with this opinion;

 

  (ii)

the agreement in this paragraph and all liability and other matters relating to this opinion will be governed exclusively by Dutch law and the Dutch courts will have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute relating to it; and

 

  (iii)

this opinion may be signed with an Electronic Signature. This has the same effect as if signed with a handwritten signature.

 

7.3

De Brauw hereby consents that the Company may:

 

  (i)

file this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and

 

  (ii)

refer to De Brauw giving this opinion under Exhibit 8.2 headed “Opinion of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V., with respect to certain Dutch tax matters” in the Registration Statement.

 

 

3 / 7


LOGO

The previous sentence is no admittance from me (or De Brauw) that I am (or De Brauw is) in the category of persons whose consent for the filing and reference as set out in that sentence is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or any rules or regulations of the SEC promulgated under it.

(signature page follows)

 

4 / 7


LOGO

 

Yours faithfully,

/s/ De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V.

 

Wiebe Dijkstra

 

5 / 7


LOGO

Annex 1 – Definitions

In this opinion:

Company” means (a) prior to the consummation of the Conversions, Aegon N.V., a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) organized under Dutch law, with corporate seat in the Hague, the Netherlands, Trade Register number 270766690000, and (b) from and after the consummation of the Conversions, Aegon Ltd., an exempted company with liability limited by shares incorporated pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda. Any references to the Company in this opinion shall be deemed to refer to clauses (a) or (b) as the context may require.

Conversions” means (1) the conversion of Aegon N.V. into Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme), pursuant to which (A) Aegon N.V. will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon S.A., and (B) the shares of Aegon N.V. will remain issued and outstanding, and will become shares of Aegon S.A., and (2) the subsequent conversion of Aegon S.A. into Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares, pursuant to which (A) Aegon S.A. will retain its legal personality without interruption and will continue to exist as Aegon Ltd., and (B) the shares of Aegon S.A. will remain issued and outstanding, and will become shares of Aegon Ltd.

De Brauw” means De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. and “we”, “us” and “our” are to be construed accordingly.

Dutch Civil Code” means the Dutch civil code (Burgerlijk Wetboek).

Dutch law” means the law directly applicable in the Netherlands.

Dutch Tax” means any taxes of any nature levied by or on behalf of the Netherlands or any of its subdivisions or taxing authorities.

eIDAS Regulation” means the Regulation (EU) 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing directive 1999/93/EC.

Electronic Signature” means any electronic signature (elektronische handtekening), any advanced electronic signature (geavanceerde elektronische handtekening) and any qualified electronic signature (elektronische gekwalificeerde handtekening) within the meaning of Article 3 of the eIDAS Regulation and Article 3:15a of the Dutch Civil Code.

Registration” means the registration of the Registration Shares with the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

6 / 7


LOGO

Registration Shares” means the Company shares to be registered with the SEC pursuant to the Registration.

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form F-4 originally filed with the SEC on 30 June 2023, as subsequently amended and supplemented, under the Securities Act, in relation to the Registration (excluding any documents incorporated by reference in it and any exhibits to it).

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

the Netherlands” means the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in Europe.

 

7 / 7

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Aegon N.V. of our report dated March 22, 2023, relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule(s) and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Aegon N.V.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ R.E.H.M. van Adrichem RA

PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

June 28, 2023

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form F-4

(Form Type)

Aegon N.V.1

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

                 
      Security
Type
  

Security

Class

Title

   Fee
Calculation
Rule
  Amount
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share
  Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
  Fee Rate    Amount of
Registration
Fee
                 
Fees to be Paid    Equity     Common shares, 
par value EUR
0.12 per share
   457(c) and 
457(f)(1)
  752,605,544(1)    $4.85(2)    $3,650,136,888.40(2)    0.0001102     $402,245.09 
           
        Total Offering Amounts   $3,650,136,888.40    0.0001102     $402,245.09 
           
        Total Fees Previously Paid       
           
          Net Fee Due            $402,245.09 

 

(1)

Based on an estimate of the common shares, par value EUR 0.12 per share, of Aegon N.V. held by persons in the United States that are expected to be outstanding as of the completion of the redomiciliation transactions described in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form F-4, plus an additional amount of common shares to cover any flowback into the United States, which represents the common shares of Aegon Ltd. into which such outstanding common shares of Aegon N.V. are expected to convert, on a one-for-one basis, in connection with the redomiciliation transactions described in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form F-4.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, based on the average of the high ($4.88 per share) and low ($4.82 per share) prices of the common shares of Aegon N.V. on the New York Stock Exchange on June 23, 2023, in accordance with Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(f)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

1 

In connection with the consummation of the redomiciliation transactions described in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form F-4, Aegon N.V. will be renamed and converted into Aegon S.A., a Luxembourg public limited liability company (société anonyme), and subsequently renamed and converted into Aegon Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company with liability limited by shares.


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