Dutch Corporate Governance

Aviva PLC 26 April 2006 News release 26 April 2006 DELTA LLOYD: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE In October 2004 a change was made to Dutch law which ensured that supervisory board directors in Dutch companies are elected by a company's shareholders, who vote on nominations made by the supervisory board and the works council. Under the previous system supervisory board directors appointed their own successors. Unless shareholders vote to 'disapply' it, this law applies to all Dutch companies with supervisory boards. It was enacted by the Dutch parliament as a part of the developing agenda for changing corporate governance in the Netherlands, which Aviva supports. Delta Lloyd, Aviva's Dutch subsidiary, takes the view that this change should not be applied. It has begun proceedings against Aviva in Amsterdam to persuade the court to allow Delta Lloyd to retain its previous structure, which Delta Lloyd says was originally agreed in 1973, when Commercial Union plc first acquired Delta Lloyd, and which it claims was subsequently restated by Aviva. Delta Lloyd claims that the agreement can never be unilaterally terminated and that Aviva is legally bound to support Delta Lloyd's position. Aviva disputes these claims. The Amsterdam court will rule on this in due course. This matter relates to a difference of opinion between Aviva and Delta Lloyd about the corporate structure of Delta Lloyd. Aviva does not expect this issue to have any adverse impact on the financial or operational performance of Delta Lloyd. - ends - Enquiries: Analysts: Charles Barrows, investor relations director +44 (0)20 7662 8115 Nicole Marques, investor relations manager +44 (0)20 7662 8302 Media: Sue Winston, head of group media relations +44 (0)20 7662 8221 Vanessa Booth, group media relations manager +44 (0)207 662 2482 Rob Bailhache, Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7269 7200 Notes to editors: • Dutch companies of Delta Lloyd's size are obliged to have an independent supervisory board whose role is to supervise and advise the executive board. Under the structure applicable to Delta Lloyd, the supervisory board is also the body responsible for appointing and dismissing the executive board. • Aviva is the world's sixth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums and market capitalisation (at 31 December 2004), and is one of the leading providers of life and pensions to Europe, with substantial positions in other markets around the world. • Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £35 billion and assets under management of £317 billion at 31 December 2005. • The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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