Athora and NN Group Provide Long-Term Solution for VIVAT

7 jun 2019

Michele Bareggi, CEO of Athora, states: “Today marks our entrance in the Dutch market following our acquisitions and integration of the insurance businesses of Generali in Belgium, Aegon in Ireland and Delta Lloyd in Germany. We are building a specialised insurance group in Europe and VIVAT’s strong presence, including its compelling brand portfolio, will become a significant part of our European operations. We aim to invest in the life business in the Netherlands and deliver value not only to VIVAT’s existing customers, but also to Dutch consumers overall. New product introductions, competitive pricing and a renewed focus on a broad spectrum of customer services will be part of our offering. We kindly welcome the VIVAT employees to the Athora family and look forward to working together in the future to build on the already strong reputation of the VIVAT brands.”

Ron van Oijen, Chairman of VIVAT’s Executive Board, states: “Since 2016 VIVAT has made an extensive transformation which helped us to create a leading, customer focused, efficient and innovative insurer. We are confident that the acquisition by Athora and NN Group will further build upon the knowhow of the VIVAT employees to become even stronger players within the Dutch insurance market. Our customers can expect that the high service level will be continued going forward.”

Lard Friese, CEO of NN Group, states: “We are pleased that together with Athora, we can offer VIVAT stakeholders a clear path for the future. For us, this acquisition represents a next step in strengthening our non-life business. After the acquisition of Delta Lloyd in 2017, we gained valuable experience in successfully integrating business operations. In today’s competitive markets, scale is essential to deliver attractive and sustainable customer propositions in the long-term. Moreover, it increases our ability to invest in digital capabilities and innovation, which are key to anticipating customer trends and drive the customer experience forward. VIVAT policyholders will benefit from the quality of our service and broad product offering. The expertise of the VIVAT non-life employees is important for the future success of the new combined non-life business.”

Strategic Rationale

Given Anbang’s decision to divest VIVAT, the acquisition by Athora, and subsequently NN Group, offers the best long-term solution for VIVAT. Athora and NN Group offer the knowledge, ambition and financial strength to provide VIVAT’s policyholders with long-term certainty and attractive, stable returns, while also maximising the benefits for other key stakeholders.

The new shareholders offer a strong and solid financial ‘base’ – for the deal and for the future entity. The existing strong capitalisation of NN Group and Athora combined with Athora’s fresh capital coming into the Dutch market, results in a more competitive and stable insurance industry. This is a “best of both worlds” solution for VIVAT, combining an established and renowned Dutch insurance brand with a specialised and focused European insurance player. Given the joint strength of both parties, NN Group and Athora are able to provide a natural and logical home to all involved with VIVAT.

The Dutch market is attractive for Athora because of its strong economic fundamentals, positive outlook and robust regulatory environment that recognises an economic view of insurers’ balance sheets. VIVAT provides a strong platform for future growth due to its scale in the Dutch market, strong brands, deep distribution and underwriting capabilities in life & pensions, and a recently modernised and scalable IT platform. In addition, there is significant growth potential in life & pensions, especially guaranteed products, that Athora intends to develop further.

Athora will continue to run VIVAT as a standalone company with the objective to become the leading player in life & pension guaranteed products in the Netherlands, with a sustainable and value generative business model delivering better outcomes to all stakeholders. The improved capital position and capital generation capabilities at VIVAT following the transaction will increase certainty of policyholder benefit payments and further secure the future for the VIVAT organisation.

Transfer of the Non-Life Business

Ownership of VIVAT Schade will transfer to NN Group as part of the overall transaction. A transitional services agreement (“TSA”) will be entered into between VIVAT and NN Group at closing and will set forth the services to be performed by VIVAT during the migration period of two years. The focus of the TSA is to ensure business continuity, service standards and adequate support to achieve a smooth transfer of the non-life business.

Employees

Athora sees many opportunities for employees in the future VIVAT franchise. Athora needs experienced and motivated staff to grow the business through organic means and to position the VIVAT platform as a leading contender to consolidate life businesses in the Netherlands. Athora also desires to continue to grow its businesses in the markets in which it operates today. These exciting growth prospects present VIVAT colleagues with opportunities for growth and development. At the same time, Athora will continue working with the VIVAT Executive Board in the execution of its transformation programme.

Governance

VIVAT’s Supervisory Board and Executive Board are fully supportive of this transaction and the new chapter into which VIVAT and its life brand portfolio will be entering. Both boards are encouraged that this brand portfolio will continue its presence in the Netherlands. Working with VIVAT, one of Athora’s key priorities will be to provide continuity for VIVAT’s customers. VIVAT will remain a Dutch- regulated entity and its insurance policies will stay in the Netherlands. The headquarters of VIVAT will remain in Amstelveen.

Conditions and Process

Completion of both transactions is subject to customary closing conditions such as regulatory approvals, including (i) declarations of no-objection from the Dutch Central Bank; (ii) approval from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets; and (iii) antitrust clearance. Furthermore both the acquisition of VIVAT by Athora and the acquisition of VIVAT Non-life by NN Group are subject to consultation of the works council of VIVAT.

NN Group and Athora will seek to obtain all necessary approvals and antitrust clearances as soon as possible. The required advice of the VIVAT works council and consultation with the unions will commence immediately. Both transactions are anticipated to be completed in Q1 2020.

Deutsche Bank and Aperghis & Co acted as financial advisers to Athora, Stibbe and Slaughter and May served as legal advisers and KPMG acted as diligence advisors to Athora on the transaction.

In connection with the transaction, Anbang’s sole financial advisor was J.P. Morgan and its legal counsel was Allen & Overy.