BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov. 23, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Fortis:
-- First nine-month 2005 net profit before results on divestments:
-- Total net profit before results on divestments up 48% from EUR 2,042
million to EUR 3,013 million; up 47% per share to EUR 2.35
-- Banking net profit before results on divestments up 45%, from EUR
1,444 million to EUR 2,092 million
-- Total revenues up 14% due to continued strong underlying
performance
-- Operating leverage 10.4% due to strong revenue growth and tight
cost management
-- Lower impairments on loans, credit loss ratio down from 15 to
10 basis points
-- Solid profit contribution from Disbank, which was consolidated
from 1 July 2005
-- Insurance net profit before results on divestments up 30% from EUR
802 million to EUR 1,043 million
-- Total gross inflow Life +39% to EUR 7,802 million
-- Gross written premiums Non-life (excluding Assurant) up 2% to
EUR 3,774 million
-- Operating leverage 21.0% due to increased revenues and sound
cost management
-- Non-life combined ratio improved substantially, from 99% to 95%
-- The inclusion of Millenniumbcp Fortis, consolidated from 1
January 2005, positively contributed to both the top and the
bottom line
-- First nine-month 2005 net profit up 32% to EUR 3,456 million compared
with the first nine months of 2004; earnings per share up 31% to EUR
2.69
-- Third-quarter net profit before results on divestments amounted to
EUR 913 million, up 94% compared with the third quarter of 2004,
also partly due to higher capital gains
-- Fourth-quarter net profit before results on divestments is expected
to be lower than the figure for the third quarter. Most important
drivers are lower capital gains and an exceptional charge, mainly
for investments in upgrading the quality of management, which is
currently estimated at some EUR 200 million
Consolidated quarterly report