The Hague May 12, 2021
Operating result
The operating result from the United Kingdom decreased by 10% compared with the first quarter of 2020 to GBP 34 million, driven by lower results from non-platform businesses. Fee revenues were broadly stable, as the favorable impact from higher equity markets was offset by net outflows in recent quarters.
The protection business was negatively impacted by adverse claims experience related to COVID-19. In the distribution
business, fee revenues declined as a result of reduced demand for financial advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic and market uncertainty. Furthermore, the result from Stonebridge reduced as a result of the
divestment of the business, which was closed at the end of February 2021.
The platform business benefited from the favorable impact of higher equity
markets and growth in the Workplace channel, which compensated for lower fee revenues from net outflows in the Retail channel in recent quarters. Furthermore, fee revenues from the traditional pension and unit-linked business declined, resulting
from net outflows due to the gradual run-off of these books.
Net result
Aegon UK reported a net loss of GBP 10 million in the first quarter of 2021, as the operating result was more than offset by a loss from non-operating items of GBP 42 million. This reflects fair value losses on hedges to protect the solvency position, and were mainly driven by higher interest rates.
Other charges amounted to GBP 2 million and included GBP 11 million of one-time investments related to the
operational improvement plan. This was partly offset by one-time gains, including on the sale of Stonebridge. Furthermore, GBP 2 million of Other income related to policyholder taxes, which were fully
offset by higher income taxes.
Expenses
In the
first quarter of 2021, addressable expenses decreased by 1% compared with the same period last year to GBP 84 million. This was driven by expense initiatives, including lower external advisory costs, as well as lower amortization following the
write-down of Cofunds intangibles in 2020. This was partly offset by higher personnel expenses to support business growth and projects.
Operating
expenses decreased by 7% to GBP 99 million. This was mainly driven by lower restructuring charges related to the conversion of the traditional business to Atos administration platform and the completion of the Cofunds integration in 2020.
Sales
Net deposits amounted to GBP
599 million, compared with GBP 187 million net outflows in the first quarter of 2020.
Net deposits in Workplace remained positive at GBP
295 million, which was a slight decrease of GBP 115 million compared with the first quarter of last year. This was due to the termination of a low-margin investment-only scheme.
For Retail, net deposits improved to net outflows of GBP 42 million, whereas the first quarter of 2020 showed net outflows of GBP 262 million. This
improvement is the result of platform proposition enhancements and strong investor sentiment.
Net deposits for the Institutional business amounted to GBP
583 million in the first quarter of 2021, which is an improvement of GBP 691 million compared to the same period last year. The institutional business is low-margin and deposits can be lumpy.
For Traditional products, net outflows amounted to GBP 238 million, which was in line with the first quarter of 2020 and with expectations as a result of
the gradual run-off of this book.
1Q 2021 Results - 22