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725348
PRESS RELEASE
AEGON-CNOOC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY STARTS ACTIVITIES IN CHINA
As from this week the joint venture between the AEGON Group and CNOOC with
headquarters located in Shanghai starts activities in China. All the necessary
regulatory approvals have been received. During the past year preparations have
been completed as scheduled. Both AEGON and CNOOC welcome the opportunity to
actually start doing business.
Joint venture
The joint venture provides the AEGON Group with an entry into the fast-growing
Chinese insurance market. The AEGON Group is one of the world's largest listed
insurance groups, with a strong emphasis on life insurance, pensions and related
savings and investment products.
The establishment of the joint venture is consistent with CNOOC's strategy to
build a portfolio of financial services investments. CNOOC's main activities are
oil and gas exploration and production. It has a wide international experience
and has entered into many ventures with international partners.
The joint venture is now headquartered in Pudong Lu Jia Zui area, Shanghai, and
is ready for business expansion to other cities in China subject to relevant
regulations, which according to the terms of the World Trade Organization
agreement will be introduced in the near future. The joint venture will fully
leverage the experience of the AEGON Group with regard to product design,
customer service, distribution channels and management expertise to better serve
the large Chinese market.
Commitment by combining strengths
In 2002 AEGON and CNOOC entered the joint venture as equal partners and each
contributed 50% to the initial capital base of approximately USD 24 million (EUR
27 million; CNY 200 million). Both parties view their participation in the
Chinese insurance market as a long-term commitment and are dedicated to
contribute to its development.
AEGON will contribute its insurance expertise and management experience. CNOOC
will contribute to this joint venture by sharing its knowledge of the Chinese
economy and its experience in collaborating with international partners.
AEGON Group
AEGON N.V. is the holding company of one of the world's largest listed life
insurance groups, ranked by market capitalization and assets. The Group was
founded in 1983, with roots in the Netherlands extending back over 150 years.
The AEGON Group is dedicated to creating better futures for all its
stakeholders, operating through locally managed units in three major markets:
the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The Group is also
present in a number of other countries, among which Canada, Hungary, Spain,
Germany and Taiwan. The Group employs almost 26,000 people worldwide and has its
headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Close to 90% of AEGON's business is
life insurance, pensions and related savings and investment products. The Group
is also active in accident and health insurance, general insurance, and limited
banking activities. AEGON recognizes that a modern company's license to operate
is defined both by its ability to create value for shareholders and
policyholders and its respect for wider corporate, social and environmental
responsibilities.
CNOOC
China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is a state-owned company
incorporated on 15 February 1982 with approval from the State Council. The
corporation is fully authorized by the "Regulations of the People's Republic
China on the Exploitation of Offshore Petroleum Resources in Cooperation with
Foreign Enterprises" which was promulgated by the State
Council. CNOOC has the overall responsibility for the exploitation of offshore
petroleum and natural gas resources in cooperation with foreign enterprises.
Headquartered in Beijing, CNOOC -- registered with a capital of CNY 50 billion
- -- employs 21,000 people. It has a majority stake in CNOOC Ltd., a listed
independent oil/gas company engaged in the E&P sector, owns China Offshore Oil
Research Center, a chemicals company, three specialized services companies and
five logistic companies and runs a petrochemicals joint venture company with
Shell. In addition, it operates three overseas representative offices in
Houston, Jakarta and Singapore. In 2002, CNOOC was recognized as "2002 Best
Company, Asia" by The Asset magazine, "2002 Best Global Managed Company" by UK
Financial Times, and "2002 Best Oil & Gas Company in Asia" by US Global Finance
magazine.
Safe harbor
Forward-looking statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Words such as `believe', `estimate', `intend', `may',
`expect', `anticipate', `predict', `project', `counting on', `plan', `continue',
`want', `forecast', `should', `would', `is confident' and `will' and similar
expressions as they relate to us are intended to identify such 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 speak only as of their dates.
All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations,
including, but not limited to, the following:
o changes in general economic conditions, particularly in the United States,
The Netherlands and the United Kingdom;
o changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets,
including:
- the frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in our fixed income
investment portfolios; and
- the effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements (such
as Enron and WorldCom) on the financial markets and the resulting decline
in value of equity and debt securities we hold;
o the frequency and severity of insured loss events;
o changes affecting mortality, morbidity and other factors that may affect the
profitability of our insurance products;
o changes affecting interest rate levels;
o changes affecting currency exchange rates, including the euro/US dollar and
euro/UK pound exchange rates;
o increasing levels of competition in the United States, The Netherlands, the
United Kingdom and emerging markets;
o changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting our operations,
the products we sell and the attractiveness of certain products to our
consumers;
o regulatory changes relating to the insurance industry in the jurisdictions in
which we operate;
o acts of God, acts of terrorism and acts of war;
o changes in the policies of central banks and/or foreign governments;
o customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;
o competitive, legal, regulatory or tax changes that affect the distribution
cost of or demand for our products; and
o our failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational
efficiencies as well as other cost saving initiatives.
The Hague/Shanghai, 6 May 2003
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Inquiries:
AEGON N.V.
Group Communications Investor Relations
+ 31 70 344 83 44 + 31 70 344 83 05
+ 1 410 576 45 77