## Overview of France 

Aegon is present in the French insurance market, the second largest in Europe, through a partnership agreement with AG2R La Mondiale. 

## History 

In 2002, Aegon began a partnership with mutual insurer La Mondiale through the acquisition of a 20% interest in La Mondiale Participations, La Mondiale’s subsidiary company. La Mondiale Participations offers a wide range of life insurance, pensions, savings, investment and asset management services to corporate and individual retail customers through three subsidiaries, Arial Assurance, La Mondiale Partenaire and La Mondiale Europartenaire. In 2004, Aegon increased its stake in La Mondiale Participations from 20% to 35%. In 2005, the Aegon Pension Network was launched in collaboration with La Mondiale. In July 2007, La Mondiale and fellow insurer AG2R announced a merger. The merger, which has not affected Aegon’s partnership with La Mondiale, created a significant insurer in France serving some 8 million customers (including retirees). The new group became operational at the start of 2008. In 2009, La Mondiale Partenaire started to distribute "Terre d’Avenir", Aegon’s variable annuities product. 

## Overview of sales and distribution channels 

Arial Assurance specializes in collective pensions for large corporates. La Mondiale Partenaire focuses on high-net-worth individuals in France. La Mondiale Europartenaire serves high-net-worth individuals in Luxembourg. Arial Assurance distributes its corporate solutions through agents and brokers, while La Mondiale Partenaire and La Mondiale Europartenaire distribute their individual solutions predominantly through banks and independent financial advisers. 

## Market position 

In 2012, AG2R La Mondiale is ranked tenth by premiums in the life insurance sector and first by premiums in corporate pensions. The Association of Insurers of Luxembourg ranked La Mondiale Europartenaire fourth by premiums in 2013 with a 9% market share. 

