The Hague, march 2011 AEGON POLICY FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS. life insurance pensions investments

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1 The Hague, march 2011 AEGON POLICY FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS life insurance pensions investments

2 ABOUT AEGON Throughout their working lives and into retirement, millions of people around the world rely on AEGON to help them secure their long-term financial futures. As an international life insurance, pension and asset management company, AEGON has businesses in over twenty markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. AEGON companies employ approximately 27,500 people and serve some 40 million customers across the globe. AEGON uses its strength and expertise to create added value for customers, shareholders, employees and the wider community. AEGON does this by encouraging innovation and by growing its businesses profitably and sustainably. AEGON s ambition is to be a leader in all its chosen markets by 2015.

3 1 /10 table of CONTENT Preamble 2 Scope 3 Mission 3 Definition 3 AEGON s pledge 3 Priority areas 4 International and local management 4 Selection criteria and restrictions 5 AEGON Humanitarian Appeals 6 Return benefits and transparency 6 Governance and approval process 7 Payment terms and contracts 8 Process for evaluation, communication and renewal 8 Budget 9 Reviewing and updating this Policy 10 Contact 10

4 2 /10 Preamble AEGON and its employees in the Americas, Europe and Asia support a wide range of good causes and charitable organizations. In 2010, AEGON s Management Board adopted a new, more integrated approach to charitable donations. This approach has a number of objectives, including: Bringing greater focus by concentrating the majority of the company s donations on three priority areas: Health, Welfare and Literacy. Creating a clearer governance structure by establishing a company-wide policy and an AEGON Donations Advisory Committee to oversee the approval process. Creating a better quality of life for the beneficiaries of the company s donations programs and ensuring long-term, sustainable support for chosen beneficiaries. Where possible, encouraging employee involvement in both community and international donation projects. Supporting AEGON s overall business strategy, and efforts to manage AEGON as a single, international company. This Policy took effect on January 1, 2011, and will remain in force until further notice. AEGON will review the terms of this Policy again on January 1, 2012.

5 3 /10 Scope 1.1. This Policy applies to all AEGON donations and community programs worldwide, and to all operating units and subsidiaries in which AEGON has a majority interest or over which AEGON exercises management control. Mission 2.1. AEGON s donations programs are aimed at serving and strengthening the wider community, and creating a better quality of life for their beneficiaries. Definition 3.1. AEGON s donations programs support charities and other non-profit organizations that improve the quality of life of their beneficiaries Charitable donations are not made for commercial, name recognition or brand purposes, and should not be in exchange for any product or service Charitable donations may be made either in money or in kind. In kind may include time, personal or company expertise, advice or other company resources This Policy is reviewed at least once a year, and may be found on AEGON s corporate website (www. aegon.com). AEGON s pledge 4.1. To support organizations that help create a better quality of life for their beneficiaries To act according to AEGON s business principles and Code of Conduct To support charities and other non-profit organizations in a sustainable, long-term way To act as a responsible company and to lead by example, encouraging employee and other stakeholder engagement in supporting good causes.

6 4 /10 Priority areas 5.1. Most of AEGON s donations are managed by individual country and operating units. However, these units operate within a broader approach to charitable donations that applies across the company. As part of this approach, AEGON s aim is to ensure that a majority of the company s donations are focused on three priority areas: Health, Welfare and Literacy. Please see below for further details of AEGON s selection and approval processes. International and local management 6.1. AEGON operates both international donations and community programs The international donations program is managed by AEGON s Corporate Center in The Hague, the Netherlands. Community programs are the responsibility of the company s individual country and operating units around the world AEGON s community programs are aimed at strengthening relations between AEGON and the communities in which the company operates AEGON encourages employee involvement in local charities and good causes, and will often support employee efforts by complementing existing employee fund-raising and contributions AEGON also encourages employees to give time and expertise to good causes and other organizations the company supports AEGON s international donations program provides a clear focus for the company s overall strategy in this area AEGON believes that local charities should be supported at a local level. Consequently, wherever possible, country and operating units have responsibility for local causes, organizations and charities within their territories. Selection criteria and restrictions 7.1. All recipients of AEGON donations must be designated or registered as a charity or non-profit organization Their selection must comply with the terms and objectives of AEGON s Policy for Charitable Donations.

7 5 / Given the objectives of this Policy, the majority of recipients will be involved in the company s three priority areas: Health, Welfare and Literacy AEGON will only support charities and other non-profit organizations that: Are not involved in the abuse of human rights. Do not have employment policies or practices that discriminate on grounds of race, creed, sexual orientation, religion, gender, disability or age. Do not discriminate unfairly in the allocation of their support according to race, creed, sexual orientation, religion, gender, disability or age. Are not directly involved in gambling, recreational or illegal drugs, tobacco, armaments or alcohol (with the exception of those charities and organizations specifically dedicated to tackling addiction or drug abuse). Do not cause harm to animals for the purposes of either sport or entertainment. Do not have, as their main purpose, the dissemination of political or religious information and do not otherwise use their charitable work to encourage support for political or religious causes. Do not have activities which involve significant damage to the environment. Fully disclose all relevant corporate and personal conflicts of interest AEGON s preference is for charities and other non-profit organizations that: Have long-term goals and objectives Operate in a sustainable manner Encourage stakeholder involvement and the participation of individual communities Take an innovative approach to their projects and initiatives AEGON may also support individual employee-sponsored good causes and charities, in some cases by complementing existing employee fund-raising up to a pre-determined amount: Support must have the approval of local management and must conform both to this Policy and to any other local policies or practices in force. Payments must be made either to a charitable organization or, where possible, to individual employees, providing local management is satisfied the money will not be misspent. All such payments under this section must be made from individual country or operating units discretionary spending, even in the case of health, welfare and literacy projects.

8 6 / As part of the company s overall strategy, AEGON has the following targets for the Corporate Center and individual country and operating units with regard to donations: Country and operating units will allocate at least 60%, and the AEGON Corporate Center at least 80%, of their annual donations to the company s three priority areas: Health, Welfare and Literacy. All other amounts are allocated at the discretion of the individual country or operating unit. These targets will be introduced progressively, and take effect from January 1, This allows AEGON and its operating units to respect existing, long-term commitments. AEGON Humanitarian Appeals 8.1. AEGON s Policy for Charitable Donations allows for the launch of an AEGON Appeal, usually in response to an international humanitarian crisis AEGON Appeals are launched by the company s Executive and /or Management Board, with the support of the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee Under such an Appeal, AEGON would seek to raise contributions from employees and match these contributions with company funds up to a pre-determined ceiling, equivalent to no more than 20% of that year s total budget If circumstances warrant, the Management Board may however order an increase in the overall budget AEGON Appeals are implemented by the company s individual country and operating units but coordinated by the Corporate Center in The Hague All Appeals must conform to the terms of this Policy and AEGON s Code of Conduct and, unless there are exceptional circumstances, may run for no longer than two months. Return benefits and transparency 9.1. AEGON does not seek direct commercial benefits through its charitable donations. The company recognizes, however, that certain ancillary benefits may accrue, including: A strengthening of AEGON s brand and reputation among employees, customers, shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders.

9 7 / Every year, AEGON will publish the following details of its donations program both on the company s website and in its annual Sustainability - Report to Stakeholders: Any changes or modifications made to AEGON s overall Donations strategy during the calendar year. The total amount donated, the leading recipients and a breakdown of donations by country, geographical area and sector. The number of donation requests received, approved and rejected during the year by the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee. AEGON may also make further information available on request. Governance and approval process Approval process All donations below a certain threshold are made at the discretion of individual country and operating units and in accordance with governance systems in place at those units Until further notice, this threshold has been set at the following: For donations in the Americas: USD 100,000 For donations in the Netherlands, Central & Eastern Europe, Asia and Spain: EUR 50,000 For donations in the United Kingdom: GBP 50,000 These amounts represent AEGON s total commitment to a particular cause or organization. They may refer to payments made in one or several instalments during the course of either a single year or multiple years These thresholds apply to both community and AEGON s international donations programs For amounts above these thresholds, donation requests must be submitted to the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee This Committee reviews all such donations and recommends either approval or rejection to the Management Board For donations made outside the United States, AEGON s Management Board makes the final decision on whether to approve or reject requests For donations made in the United States, AEGON s Management Board and Donations Advisory Committee work closely with the board of the AEGON Transamerica Foundation, which oversees and is responsible for AEGON s US donations program.

10 8 /10 AEGON Donations Advisory Committee The AEGON Donations Advisory Committee comprises five members: AEGON s Global head of Sustainability (chairman) A representative of the company s Group Corporate Communications department A representative from AEGON s US business A representative from AEGON s other country unit operations (appointed on a twelve-month rotational basis) An external member (on an advisory basis) Where possible, recommendations to the Management Board are made on a consensual basis. In case of disagreement, the chairman may request a vote In addition to overseeing the approval process, the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee also provides the company s Management Board with an annual evaluation of AEGON s charitable donations and the implementation of its donations strategy. The Committee also helps manage AEGON s annual donations budget, which is the responsibility of the company s Management Board. Approval and rejection guidelines All individuals and organizations requesting support will receive notification either approving or rejecting their request. Wherever possible, AEGON will provide an explanation for its decision. The company s aim is to answer requests within six weeks of receiving them. Those requests submitted to the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee may take longer. An organization which has a request for support rejected by the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee may not submit a new request for at least twelve months from the initial date of application. Payment terms and contracts AEGON operates standard terms for all payments, including those made to charities and non-profit organizations All partnerships involving a financial commitment of EUR 50,000 or more should be supported by written documentation. This documentation should detail amounts payable, payment periods, objectives and purposes of the donation, as well as any other relevant information, and is subject to review and approval by AEGON s legal staff in the country unit or at the Corporate Center. Process for evaluation, communication and renewal AEGON is committed to evaluating the efficiency and impact of its charitable donations. This evaluation focuses on four main areas:

11 9 /10 Ensuring recipients comply and continue to comply with the terms and objectives of AEGON s overall Policy for Charitable Donations. Ensuring regular feedback from recipients on projects and initiatives supported by AEGON and the impact on individual communities and other beneficiaries. Regular measurement of employee engagement and the impact of AEGON s donations programs on overall levels of employee engagement. Ensuring efficiency by measuring, where possible, the proportion of donations above a certain threshold spent on administrative and other costs AEGON s Global Sustainability department also regularly reviews the company s donations to ensure compliance with this Policy and the Code of Conduct AEGON maintains a regular dialogue with those charities and organizations it supports both to improve management of existing projects and to identify future opportunities. In addition, charitable, non-profit and non-government organizations are regularly invited to take part in AEGON s annual Stakeholder Review, which helps assess and determine the content and relevance of the company s sustainability strategy and Sustainability - Report to Stakeholders AEGON is also committed to communicating the details of its charitable donations program to employees, via the company s main internal communication channels, as part of broader efforts to encourage employee participation in supporting charities and good causes. Budget AEGON s annual charitable donations budget is submitted by the Global head of Sustainability to the Management Board for approval The budget is based on existing commitments and new spending estimates from individual country and operating units, including the Corporate Center The budget covers the calendar year and is approved in December or January Overall execution of the budget is overseen by the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee, though local spending decisions remain the responsibility of individual country and operating units The AEGON Donations Advisory Committee regularly updates the Management Board and is required to inform members of the Management Board of any significant under or overspend for the year.

12 10 /10 Reviewing and updating this Policy This Policy is reviewed at least once a year by AEGON s Global Sustainability department and, if necessary, changes are recommended to the AEGON Donations Advisory Committee The Policy may be updated at any time to reflect changes either in AEGON s internal organization or changes to the company s brand positioning or strategy All changes will be communicated via AEGON s corporate website ( and the company s annual Sustainability - Report to Stakeholders. Contact information For all information concerning AEGON donations and the company s policies in this area, please contact: Marc van Weede Global head of Sustainability AEGON N.V. AEGONplein TV The Hague The Netherlands marc.vanweede@aegon.com To submit a request for funding, please click on the following link: