AmerUs Group Co. Announces Extension of Cash Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation for Its 6.583% Senior Notes Due 2011.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- AmerUs Group Co. ("Company") announced today that it has extended the offer expiration date with respect to its previously announced cash tender offer and consent solicitation for any and all of its outstanding 6.583% Senior Notes due 2011 (CUSIP Number 03072M504) (the "2011 Notes") to 5 p.m., New York City time, on January 3, 2007 ("Offer Expiration Date"), unless terminated or further extended. The tender offer was previously scheduled to expire at 5 p.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, and has been extended because of the closing of the Securities and Exchange Commission and all other government departments and agencies on January 2, 2007 out of respect for former President Gerald Ford.

Pursuant to the terms of the Company's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement and related Consent and Letter of Transmittal, each dated November 28, 2006 (as modified to the date hereof, the "Offer to Purchase"), holders of 2011 Notes who tender on or prior to the Offer Expiration Date are entitled to receive $1,048.93 for each $1,000 of 2011 Notes tendered if such notes are accepted for purchase by the Company. In addition, payments for 2011 Notes purchased by the Company will include accrued interest from and including the last interest payment date to but excluding the settlement date for such notes. The settlement date with respect to those 2011 Notes tendered on or prior to the Offer Expiration Date is expected to be one business day following the Offer Expiration Date (January 4, 2007).

The tender offer and consent solicitation with respect to the 2011 Notes are being made upon the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Offer to Purchase, which more fully sets forth the terms of the tender offer and consent solicitation. Except for the extension of the expiration date, all other terms, conditions and provisions of the tender offer remain effective.

For additional information regarding the terms of the tender offer and consent solicitation, please contact: Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. at [phone] (toll free). Requests for documents and questions regarding the tendering of notes may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at [phone] (toll free) or [phone] (collect).

AmerUs Group Co.'s obligations to accept any 2011 Notes tendered and to pay the applicable consideration for them are set forth solely in the Offer to Purchase. This press release is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of acceptance of the tender offer. The Company may amend, extend or, subject to certain conditions, terminate the tender offer.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements that are not historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include information about possible or assumed future events and usually contain words such as: believes, may, anticipates, intends, expects, estimates, and other similar expressions. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may change at any time. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from expected results due to a variety of factors, some of which are set forth in Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as updated by Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in the Company's Forms 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006. In the light of these risks and uncertainties you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About AmerUs Group Co.

The Company is a holding company whose subsidiaries are primarily engaged in the business of marketing, underwriting and distributing a broad range of individual life, annuity and insurance deposit products to individuals and businesses in 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On November 15, 2006, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 12, 2006, by and among Aviva plc ("Aviva"), a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales, Libra Acquisition Corporation ("Merger Sub"), an Iowa corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva, and the Company, Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, and the Company continued after the Merger as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Aviva.

The Company's principal executive offices are located at 699 Walnut Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3948, and its telephone number is [phone]. For more information on AmerUs Group Co., visit the website: www.amerus.com.