28.07.2006 – 06:54

Valartis Group AG

euro adhoc: OZ Bankers AG
quarterly or semiannual financial statement
CHF 14.2 million net profit in the first six months - positive trend in commissions, difficult environment for securities trading

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  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.

28.07.2006

CHF 14.2 million net profit in the first six months - positive trend
in commissions, difficult environment for securities trading

For the first six months of 2006 OZ Group reports a consolidated net
profit of CHF 14.2 million (incl. performance fees). While
commissions income continued to rise, a negative result of CHF 8.9
million from securities trading was a drag on the Group’s overall
interim result. After a dividend payment of CHF 13.75 million
Shareholders’ equity stood at CHF 177.5 million at the end of June.
Assets under management reached CHF 3.63 billion.

Trading result weighed down by volatilities After a very good first
quarter 2006 the partly strong corrections in the second quarter
resulted in a significant increase in volatilities on the equity
markets. This also affected some of the shares in which OZ Group is
active. The volatilities negatively impacted the valuations of the
corresponding derivatives positions as at the end of June which, in
turn, resulted in a negative securities trading result of CHF 8.9
million. OZ reckons that the trading result will improve markedly
with the normalization of volatilities in the second half of the
year.

Dynamic commissions business The commissions business continued its
very favourable trend. Investment consulting, corporate finance and
asset management generated income of CHF 38.9 million in the first
six months of the year. Thereof, CHF 7.6 million were
performancerelated fees.

OZ Group will continue to focus on expanding its commissions
business. For instance, in the first six months, the product range
was extended by an investment instrument which specifically invests
in opportunities in the fast growing Eastern European markets. During
the same period OZ Bankers AG launched 29 (listed) warrants on
selected Swiss small & mid caps and added four innovative new
certificates to its themeoriented product range: the Global Energy
Basket, the Nestlé Food Share Basket and two Discount certificates on
Hiestand and Swisslog Holding. In corporate finance two mandates came
to a successful completion: In the merger of the large building
construction company Marazzi Group with Losinger Construction AG, a
subsidiary of the French construction group Bouygues, OZ Group acted
as advisor to  Marazzi Group, and at StarragHeckert Holding AG OZ
structured and placed the capital increase of CHF 20 million.

Another step in the expansion of the commissions business was made
with the recently announced employment of a specialist energy trading
team. In the coming months OZ will make new investment opportunities
in the European energy trading market available to professional
investors. Furthermore OZ Bankers AG informed the public about its
new participation of 27.5% in Jelmoli Bonus Card AG. This is related
to the launch of a new, globally usable credit card, the Visa Bonus
Card, which is likely to be available from autumn.

Assets under management which stood at CHF 3.47 billion at the end of
2005 rose to CHF 3.63 billion by the end of the first half of 2006.

Net profit at CHF 14.2 million While the Group’s total income reached
CHF 32.8 million in the first half of the year, administrative,
personnel and income-related expenses amounted to CHF 15.3 million.
After depreciation of CHF 0.5 million, the cost/income ratio is
computed at 41.4%.

After taxes of CHF 2.8 million, net income reached CHF 14.2 million
or CHF 2.84 per outstanding bearer share in the first six months of
2006. This includes performance-related fees of CHF 7.6 million.
After the dividend payment of CHF 13.75 million in April, the Group’s
equity stood at CHF 177.5 million at the end of June (end of 2005:
CHF 165.1 million) or CHF 35.50 (CHF 33.00) per bearer share. Return
on equity reached 16.0%.

Next reporting date for company results:

2006 Annual report:     February 2007

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 28.07.2006 06:45:00

Further inquiry note:

Lorenzo Trezzini, CFO
Phone +41 44 215 63 00

Branche: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: CH0001840450
WKN: 184045
Börsen: SWX Swiss Exchange / official market