Brooks, Godlasky, Strome and Wittern Elected Directors of AmerUs Group.

Business Editors

DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2004

AmerUs Group Co. (NYSE:AMH), a leading producer of life insurance and annuity products, today announced that Roger K. Brooks, Thomas C. Godlasky, Stephen Strome and F.A. Wittern Jr. have each been elected to three-year terms on the company's board of directors. The announcement was made following the company's 2004 annual meeting of shareholders.

Also, the three additional proposals on the ballot to amend the company's articles of incorporation; issue shares in connection with the company's management incentive plan; and appoint Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the company for fiscal year 2004 were each approved or ratified. All proposals had been submitted for shareholder approval and were approved.

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, 2004, AmerUs Group's total assets were $22.2 billion and shareholders' equity totaled $1.5 billion, including accumulated other comprehensive income.