AmerUs Group Elects Three Independent Directors At Its Annual Shareholder Meeting.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- AmerUs Group Co. (NYSE:AMH), a leading producer of life insurance and annuity products, today announced the reelection of three independent directors to positions on the company's board. Elected were: David A. Arledge, John W. Norris, Jr. and John A. Wing. The announcement was made following the company's 2006 annual meeting of shareholders.

Also, two additional proposals on the proxy were approved. The proposals were: to approve the Company's amended and restated 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, which, among other things, increases the number of authorized shares reserved for issuance from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 shares and ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the company for fiscal year 2006.

AmerUs Group Co. is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and is engaged through its subsidiaries in the business of marketing individual life insurance and annuity products in the United States. Its major subsidiaries include: AmerUs Life Insurance Company, American Investors Life Insurance Company, Inc., Bankers Life Insurance Company of New York and Indianapolis Life Insurance Company.

As of March 31, 2006, AmerUs Group's total assets were $24.7 billion and shareholders' equity totaled $1.7 billion, including accumulated other comprehensive income.