Fortis's first half year net profit of EUR 1,638 millionNet profit up 3% in second quarter 2008 to EUR 830 million, butenvironment is becoming more difficult

*          Fortis first half year 2008 net profit of EUR 1,638  million, down 41% compared to a very strong first half of 2007.  Excluding EUR 591 million net of tax impact of credit market  turmoil, net profit decreased by 21%*          First half year 2008 Fortis Banking-        Net  profit of  EUR 1,185  million. This  is after  EUR  409million net of tax impact of credit market turmoil-        Net profit, excluding impact  of credit market turmoil,  was24% lower  year-on-year mainly  due  to lower  capital gains  and  anincrease in impairments on loans-         Reported  total  income  6%  up.  Excluding  treasury   andfinancial markets results and  capital gains, total income  increasedby 4%-        Total expenses  4% higher. Excluding  integration costs  andconsolidation of  ABN  AMRO  Asset Management,  total  expenses  wereslightly down*          First half year 2008 Fortis Insurance-        First half year net profit of EUR 642 million. This is afterEUR 182 million net of tax impact of credit market turmoil-        Net  profit,  excluding  net of  tax  impact  credit  marketturmoil, 8% higher year-on-year. Windstorm Kyrill and floods impactedresults in 2007-        Stable  inflow  at  Life, Non-Life  gross  written  premiumsincreased by 5%-        Operating costs up 3%,  mainly driven by growth  initiativesand inclusion of acquired Fortis Insurance Company Asia*          First half year 2008 Acquired ABN AMRO businesses-        Pro-forma net  profit of  the acquired  ABN AMRO  businessesamounted to EUR 614 million-        ABN AMRO  Asset Management transferred  and consolidated  byFortis*          Second quarter net profit of EUR 830 million, up 3% on  first quarter. This is after EUR 362 million net of tax impact of  credit market turmoil. Excluding the net of tax impact of credit  market turmoil:-        Net profit Fortis up 15% compared to first quarter-        Net profit of the Bank largely unchanged-        Net  profit  of Insurance  higher  due to  better  technicalresults

Fortis core equity stood at EUR 24.6 billion, well above Fortistarget capital level of EUR 20.6 billion. Fortis Bank Core tier 1ratio of 7.4% after consolidation of ABN AMRO Asset Managementcompared to a target of 6.0%. Fortis Insurance's core solvency ratioof 196.1% clearly exceeded the target of 175% of minimum regulatoryrequirement.

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