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Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods 

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are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

In our opinion, Aegon N.V. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on the COSO criteria. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of Aegon N.V., which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the related consolidated income statements, statements of comprehensive income, statements of changes in equity, and cash flow statements for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013 of Aegon N.V., and our report dated March 19, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

The Hague, the Netherlands, March 19, 2014 

## Ernst & Young Accountants LLP 

## D. Changes in internal controls over financial reporting 

There have been no changes in internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this Annual Report that have materially affected, or reasonably likely to affect, Aegon’s internal controls over financial reporting. 

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