129 Notes to the consolidated financial statements 1 General information Aegon N.V., incorporated and domiciled in the Netherlands, is a public limited liability company organized under Dutch law and recorded  in the Commercial Register of The Hague under its registered address at Aegonplein 50, 2591 TV, The Hague, the Netherlands.  Aegon N.V. serves as the holding company for the Aegon Group and has listings of its common shares in Amsterdam and New York. Aegon N.V. (or 'The company') and its subsidiaries ('Aegon' or 'The Group') have life insurance and pensions operations in over twenty  countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia and are also active in savings and asset management operations, accident and health  insurance, general insurance and to a limited extent banking operations. Headquarters are located in The Hague, the Netherlands.  The Group employs nearly 27,000 people worldwide (2012: 26,500). The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted  by the European Union (IFRS) and with Part 9 of Book 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention as modified by the  revaluation of investment properties and those financial instruments (including derivatives) and financial liabilities that have been  measured at fair value. Information on the standards and interpretations that were adopted in 2013 is provided below in note 2.1.1.  The consolidated financial statements are presented in euro and all values are rounded to the nearest million unless otherwise stated.  The consequence is that the rounded amounts may not add up to the rounded total in all cases. All ratios and variances are calculated  using the underlying amount rather than the rounded amount. Certain amounts in prior years have been reclassified to conform to the  current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income, shareholders’ equity or earnings per share. With regard to the income statements of Aegon N.V., article 402, Part 9 of Book 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code has been applied,  allowing a simplified format. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting  the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and  expenses for the reporting period. Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those  estimates. Included among the material (or potentially material) reported amounts and disclosures that require extensive use of  estimates are: fair value of certain invested assets and derivatives, deferred policy acquisition costs, value of business acquired and  other purchased intangible assets, goodwill, policyholder claims and benefits, insurance guarantees, pension plans, income taxes and  the potential effects of resolving litigation matters. Aegon applies fair value hedge accounting for portfolio hedges of interest rate risk  (macro hedging) under the EU ‘carve out’ of IFRS. Details are provided in note 2.9 and note 24. The consolidated financial statements of Aegon N.V. were approved by the Executive Board and by the Supervisory Board on March 19,  2014. The financial statements are put to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 21, 2014 for adoption.  The shareholders’ meeting can decide not to adopt the financial statements but cannot amend them. 2 Summary of significant accounting policies 2.1 Basis of presentation