Fortis First Half 2005 Net Profit Before Results on

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Aug. 25, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Fortis:



   --  First half 2005 net profit before results on divestments:
   -- Total net profit before results on divestments up 34% from EUR
      1,571 million to EUR 2,100 million; up 33% per share to EUR 1.64
   -- Banking net profit before results on divestments up 37%, from
      EUR 1,082 million to EUR 1,482 million
   -- Total revenues up 9%
   -- Costs remained flat
   -- Lower impairments on loans
   -- Insurance net profit before results on divestments up 21% from
      EUR 564 million to EUR 684 million
   -- Total gross inflow Life +34% to EUR 5,359 million
   -- Gross written premiums Non-life (excluding Assurant) up 2% to
      EUR 2,688 million
   -- Non-life combined ratio improved substantially, from 98% to 94%

   -- First half 2005 net profit up 18% to EUR 2,543 million
      compared with the very strong first half of 2004; earnings per
      share up 17% to EUR 1.98

   -- Second quarter net profit before results on divestments
      amounted to EUR 1,056 million, up 1% compared to the exceptionally
      strong first quarter

   -- Interim dividend per share amounts to EUR 0.52 in cash

Consolidated Quarterly Report http://hugin.info/134212/R/1008344/155821.pdf

Fortis First Half 2005 Net Profit Before Results on Divestments up 34 Percent to EUR 2.1 Billion

Continued Strong Performance of Banking and Insurance in the Second Quarter

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