In accordance with the new transparency rules, Fortis holding gives notice that the number of Fortis holding shares held by Fortis Bank exceeds the official threshold of 3%.

This notice is given because Fortis Bank ceased to be part of the Fortis group on 10 October 2008. The 125,313,283 shares linked to CASHES that are included in the holding of Fortis Bank will not be entitled to voting and dividend rights until the CASHES are exchanged for the underlying instruments.

More information is available on www.fortis.com/shareholders/transparency_requirements.asp.

Fortis holding (Fortis SA/NV and Fortis N.V.) will, after the conclusion of the deal with BNP Paribas, include only (1) international insurance activities, (2) a 66% stake in a structured credit portfolio entity and (3) financial assets and liabilities of various financing vehicles.

The international insurance activities (Fortis Insurance International) are located in UK, France, Hong Kong, Luxembourg (Non-Life), Germany, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine, and in joint ventures in Luxembourg (Life), Portugal, China, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

Fortis holding is therefore no longer involved in any banking activities, and once the deal with BNP Paribas is concluded, will concern only international insurance activities.