AEGON posts higher earnings, sales

CEDAR RAPIDS - Higher second-quarter underlying earnings and sales were reported Thursday by AEGON n.v., corporate parent of Transamerica in Cedar Rapids.

The Netherlands-based life insurance and pension provider posted underlying earnings before taxes of $687.6 million for the quarter that ended on June 30, up from $643.5 million in the same quarter of 2013. Net income rose 43 percent to $458.9 million in the most recent quarter from $321.1 million in the second quarter of 2013.

Sales increased 5 percent to $2.8 billion in the second quarter of 2014 from $2.6 billion in the same quarter last year.

Life insurance sales slipped 2 percent in the second quarter to $683 million. Sales growth in Asia, the United States and Spain was offset by results in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Return on equity increased to 8.8 percent in the second quarter from 8 percent in the same period of 2013.

Alex Wynaendts, AEGON CEO, said the company's strong financial base is underlined by its healthy cash flows and capital position. Wynaendts said that will enable AEGON to pay shareholders an interim dividend of 15 cents per share.

Transamerica operates two campuses in northeast and southwest Cedar Rapids as well as a data center at Kirkwood Community College.