Minefa Holdings B.V. new major shareholder KAS BANK

With effect from 8 August 2008, Minefa Holdings B.V. has acquired an interest of 5.2% in KAS BANK. The interest has been reported to the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) today within the scope of the Notification of Control in Listed Organisations.

Minefa Holdings is an international investment company which forms part of the Wedge Group. Wedge and Minefa are managed by I.M. Fares, former vice-premier of Lebanon and international investor.

With effect of the same date, the major shareholder ING Group has announced that it has reduced its interest in KAS BANK to 8.3%. With the last notification of ING in 2006 the interest amounted to 13%.

Michiel Janssen
Secretary to the Managing Board