(28/01/2005) KBC - news release : KBC expects a good 55% increase in profit for 2004

press release 28 January 2005 KBC expects a good 55% increase in profit for 2004 Earnings expectations revised upwards Strong profit growth in 2004: Based on preliminary figures, KBC expects to see earnings growth of a good 55% in 2004. This surpasses its earlier forecast for profit growth of minimum 35%. Expectations are now being revised upwards on account of the better-than-expected results turned in for the fourth quarter (particularly in December). The operating results generally ended up being higher than anticipated, while loan losses remained minor. Moreover, substantial gains were realized on investments (including 53 million euros on the shareholding in the Belgian airport operator BIAC). In the insurance business, in particular, the negative impact on results of equity portfolio impairments for the first nine months of 2004 were more or less offset by additional gains recorded on equity investments at the end of the year. New financial calendar for 2005: As a result of the planned merger with Almanij NV on 2 March 2005, the financial calendar for 2005 has been changed slightly: - Extraordinary General Meeting (merger meeting) : 2 March 2005-01-27 - 2004 earnings release (Belgian GAAP and pro forma IFRS) : 23 March 2005 (changed) - Publication of 2004 Annual Report : 13 April 2005 - Annual General Meeting : 28 April 2005 - Dividend payment for financial year 2004 : 2 May 2005 - Q1 2005 earnings release (IFRS) and pro forma quarterly figures 2004 (IFRS) : 9 June 2005 (changed) - Embedded value disclosure, life assurance business : 16 June 2005 (new - KBC Group London Investor Day : 23 June 2005 (new) - Earnings release for first half of 2005 (IFRS) : 1 September 2005 (new) - Q3 2005 earnings release (IFRS) : 24 November 2005 Investor Relations: tel.: + 32 2 429 40 51 or + 32 2 429 49 16 Press Contacts: tel.: + 32 2 429 85 45 or + 32 2 429 65 01 Web site: www.kbc.com © CompanynewsGroup