Decisions taken by the General Meetings of Shareholders of 31 May 2006

The meeting declared a gross dividend of EUR 1.16 per Fortis Share for the financial year 2005.  As an interim dividend of EUR 0.52 per Fortis Share was paid in September 2005, the final dividend will amount to EUR 0.64 and will be payable from 22 June 2006.

 

The Fortis Share represents one share in each of the two parent companies, Fortis S.A./N.V. and Fortis N.V.  Shareholders can opt to receive dividend from Fortis S.A./N.V., thus from the Belgian source, or from Fortis N.V., the Dutch source. They need to make their preference known during the dividend election period.

 

The schedule is as follows:

 

2 June 2006 Ex-dividend quotation

2 June 2006 Start of the dividend election period

16 June 2006 End of the dividend election period

22 June 2006 Payment of the 2005 final dividend (coupon no. 36)

 

Final gross dividend paid out by Fortis N.V. in the Netherlands will amount to EUR 0.64 per Fortis Share. Final net dividend will amount to EUR 0.48, being gross dividend less Dutch dividend withholding tax of 25% in principle.

 

Final gross dividend paid out by Fortis S.A./N.V. in Belgium will amount to EUR 0.64 per Fortis Share. Final net dividend will amount to EUR 0.48, being gross dividend less Belgian withholding tax of 25% in principle. Any shares accompanied by coupon no. 36 from the VVPR strip will be subject to Belgian withholding tax of only 15%, so net dividend of EUR 0.554 per share will be paid on those shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Jan Slechte has been re-elected non-executive director for a period of one year, namely until the end of the Annual General Meeting of 2007.

 

Mr. Richard Delbridge and Mr. Klaas Westdijk have been re-elected non-executive directors for a period of three years, namely until the end of the Annual General Meeting of 2009.

 

Mrs. Clara Furse, Mr. Reiner Hagemann and Mr. Aloïs Michielsen have been appointed non-executive directors for a period of three years, namely until the end of the Annual General Meeting of 2009.

 

As regards item 5.2 on the agenda of Fortis S.A./N.V. (authorized capital) the required quorum of 75% was not met in Belgium. The item will be put to the shareholders again in an Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting to be held in Belgium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fortis is an international financial services provider engaged in banking and insurance. We offer our personal, business and institutional customers a comprehensive package of products and services through our own channels, in collaboration with intermediaries and through other distribution partners.

With a market capitalisation of EUR 38.7 billion (30/04/2006), Fortis ranks among the twenty largest financial institutions in Europe. Our sound solvency position, our presence in 50 countries and our dedicated, professional workforce of 57,000 enable us to combine global strength with local flexibility and provide our clients with optimum support. More information on Fortis, its financial statements and additional financial information is available on www.fortis.com.