ASR Nederland : a.s.r. acquires Generali’s Dutch operations

The acquisition ties in with a.s.r.'s strategy to grow organically and through targeted bolt-on acquisitions. In 2016, Generali Nederland generated a premium income of € 379 million, of which € 275 million from Non-Life and € 104 million from Life insurance policies.

Jos Baeten, CEO of a.s.r.: 'Generali Nederland is an attractive business with complementary products and services. Our combined businesses will be even stronger with a firm position in the intermediary channel. I look forward to welcoming the customers and new colleagues of Generali to a.s.r. This acquisition ties in perfectly with our strategy to grow through targeted bolt-on acquisitions and is consistent with our promise to our shareholders to use our capital for profitable growth and capital generation. The acquisition will strengthen our market position, both in the Life and the Non-Life segments. Our customers and those of Generali can rest assured that our service and solid business operation will continue as usual. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Generali management for the constructive dialogue we have engaged in over the past period, which has culminated in this acquisition.'

The transaction meets a.s.r.'s strict financial criteria regarding acquisitions. a.s.r. expects the acquisition to result in efficiencies of scale and capital gains.

The key elements of the transaction are as follows:

• The acquisition price amounts to € 143 million; a.s.r. will pay the acquisition price in cash. a.s.r. expects the total capital commitment (including acquisition price) to amount to approximately € 200 million. The difference represents the impact on a.s.r.'s capital position following the intended capital contribution in Generali Nederland.
• a.s.r.'s capital position is strong enough to absorb the acquisition of Generali Nederland and to maintain a robust solvency ratio.
• The contribution of Generali Nederland to the net operating result will amount to approximately € 30 million, taking synergy benefits into consideration.
• The acquisition meets the yield criteria a.s.r. applies to acquisitions; the expected return on investment on this transaction will be >12%.
• a.s.r. and Generali Nederland expect to complete the acquisition in the first quarter of 2018.
• The operations of Generali Nederland will be transferred to a.s.r. over the course of 2018. The offices of Generali Nederland in Diemen, the Netherlands, will be closed.
• The operations of Generali Nederland will be fully integrated into a.s.r. in a gradual process; this process is expected to be completed by 2020 at the latest. This may result in redundancies.
• Generali Nederland's insurance policies will be transferred to the a.s.r. labels as soon as possible.

The Works Councils of both a.s.r. and Generali Nederland have issued a positive advise on the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and the Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM).