Fitch: No Rating Impact From AEGON N.V.'s Purchase of Merrill Lynch's Life Subs

Business Wire, August 14, 2007

CHICAGO -- Fitch Ratings comments that AEGON N.V.'s announced agreement to purchase Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company and ML Life Insurance Company of New York (together, ML Life) from Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. will have no rating impact.

The acquisition is consistent with AEGON Group, U.S. Operations' (AEGON Group) goal to regain top-10 ranking in variable annuities in the U.S. (AEGON Group ranked 13th with variable annuity assets of $33.2 billion at March 31, 2007, according to VARDs). AEGON Group also anticipates benefits from the strategic distribution relationship with the Merrill Lynch financial advisor network.

The acquisition represents less than 5% of AEGON Americas $299 billion in revenue generating investments at June 30, 2007. The net purchase price of $875 million is expected to be paid out of excess capital and will not affect AEGON N.V.'s recently announced share repurchase program of EUR 1 billion.

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