CEO of Fortis Haitong, Tian Rencan, said "The capital injection and shareholding adjustment provide a solid foundation for expanding the company's already leading position in the Chinese fund management sector".

Managing Director of Fortis Investments, Stewart Edgar, stated that "The capital increase and re- balancing of the share holding fully reflects the commitment of Fortis Investments to Fortis Haitong and its partnership with Haitong Securities''.

Chairman of Haitong Securities, Wang Kai Guo, welcomed the capital increase and stated that "This action underlines the successful working relationship between Haitong Securities and Fortis Investments via Fortis Haitong"

Background information

Fortis Haitong Investment Management Co., Ltd. was one of the first sino-foreign joint venture fund management companies approved by the Chinese government and was incorporated in April 2003 following three years of extensive preparation by its shareholders. Its domestic shareholder is Haitong Securities Co., Ltd and its foreign counterpart is Fortis Investments.

On 22 August 2003, Fortis Haitong officially started up its asset management business by successfully launching its first product, Best Selection Fund. Currently, Fortis Haitong has four open-end funds under its management:, Fortis Haitong Best Selection Fund, Fortis Haitong Income Fund, Fortis Haitong Money Market Fund. And Fortis Haitong Equity Fund. Meanwhile, the company has been retained as investment advisor in China for Fortis Bank's QFII business which was started on December 17th, 2004 and currently holds a total quota of USD 400 million (EUR 336 million).

2005 is a year that has seen significant progress for Fortis Haitong, which is in its third successive year of growth. The company successfully launched two open-end funds and as of end November had total assets under management of RMB 14.9 billion (EUR 1.55 million). In August, the company was among the first to obtain an investment management licence for the corporate pension (enterprise annuity) business. In November, Fortis's QFII business was approved for a second tranche of USD 300 million (EUR 252 million) in new quota (see total quota of USD 400 million cited above).

For more information, please visit the company's official website: http://ww.hftfund.com/hftweb

Fortis is an integrated financial services provider engaged in banking and insurance. With a market capitalisation of EUR 32.8 billion (30/11/2005) and around 55,000 employees, Fortis ranks among the top 20 European financial institutions. In its home market, the Benelux countries, Fortis occupies a leading position that it aims to develop and bolster. Fortis is drawing on the expertise it has acquired in its home market to realise its European ambitions via growth platforms. Fortis also operates successfully worldwide in selected activities. In specific countries in Europe and Asia it effectively exploits its know-how and experience in bancassurance. Fortis is listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg and has a sponsored ADR programme in the United States. More information is available on www.fortis.com