Press Release: Changes to the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse

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   November 19, 2014 12:02 ET (17:02 GMT)- - 12 02 PM EST 11-19-14

-2 of 2- 19 Nov 2014 17:02:00 UTC  Press Release: Changes to the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse

Nationale Suisse / Changes to the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq OMX Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

As part of the merger of Nationale Suisse and Helvetia, there will be a number of changes to the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse. As already announced, Hans Künzle is stepping down as CEO of Nationale Suisse at the end of the year. The new CEO will be Ernst Koller, the current Head of Operations. Armin Suter, Head of Finance, will be leaving Nationale Suisse's Executive Board on 30 April 2015 to take up a new role at Helvetia Switzerland, while Andreas Bolzern and Markus Gemperle are to join the Executive Board.

Due to the merger of Nationale Suisse and Helvetia, there will be a number of changes to the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse. When the takeover offer was published, it was announced that Hans Künzle is to relinquish his post as CEO of Nationale Suisse on 31 December 2014 to become the second Vice President of Helvetia's Board of Directors. It was also announced that Armin Suter, Head of Finance (CFO), is leaving Nationale Suisse at the end of April 2015 to join the Executive Board of Helvetia Switzerland as the new Head of IT. In addition to his role at Nationale Suisse, Ralph Jeitziner has been appointed Head of Sales Switzerland at Helvetia Switzerland, whose Executive Board he will also join. From 1 January 2015, David Ribeaud will combine his activities at Nationale Suisse with a role in the management of the Helvetia Group, where he will head up the Specialty Markets division.

As a result of these changes, the Board of Directors of Nationale Suisse has made the following appointments to the company's Executive Board for the period leading up to its full integration in the Helvetia Group:

-- Ernst Koller, Head of Operations, will now also become CEO of Nationale Suisse

-- Markus Gemperle will join the Executive Board on 1 January 2015 and take on responsibility for activities in foreign countries

-- Andreas Bolzern will join the Executive Board on 1 January 2015 and take over leadership of the Finance division from Armin Suter as of 1 May 2015

In addition, Armin Suter, Head of Finance (CFO) (to 30 April 2015), Benno Flury, Head of Investment (CIO) and Life, Markus Deplazes, Head of Customer Service & Non-Life Switzerland, Ralph Jeitziner, Head of Multi-Channel Sales Switzerland, David Ribeaud, Head of Specialty Lines, and Birgit Rutishauser Hernandez, Head of Underwriting & Risk Management, will continue to serve as members of Nationale Suisse's Executive Board.

The Board of Directors has met for the first time in its new composition following the completion of Helvetia's offer. The new Board of Directors is made up of Dr Andreas von Planta (Chairman, as previously), Erich Walser (Vice Chairman, new), Dr Philipp Gmür (new), Dr Balz Hösly (as previously) and Stefan Loacker (new). Nationale Suisse's Nomination and Compensation Committee has also been assembled and Dr Andreas von Planta elected as its Chairman.

Brief portraits

Ernst Koller

Lic oec HSG

Born 1953, Swiss citizen

Chairman of the Executive Board (CEO) (with effect from 1 January 2015)

Ernst Koller joined IBM in 1978 even before completing his studies in business management at the University of St. Gallen. His most important functions there were as CEO of IBM Switzerland, General Manager Global Services Central Region, General Manager of IBM Germany and IBM Corporation's Managing Director for Zurich Financial Services.

Ernst Koller joined the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse on 1 September 2008 and has been responsible for the Operations division since then. On 1 January 2015, he will also become Chairman of the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse. In addition, Ernst Koller is joint manager of the project to integrate Nationale Suisse into Helvetia.

Markus Gemperle

Dr iur HSG

Born 1961, Swiss citizen

Head of Foreign Countries (with effect from 1 January 2015)

Markus Gemperle joined Helvetia in 1990 after writing his PhD thesis at the Institute of Insurance Economics at the University of St. Gallen. In 2004, he became a member of the Executive Board of Helvetia Switzerland as CIO. He took over responsibility for the Operation & Partner division in Switzerland in 2006. Since September 2008, Markus Gemperle has been Head of Strategy & Operations for the Helvetia Group and a member of the Group's Executive Board.

In addition to his duties at Helvetia, Markus Gemperle will head up Nationale Suisse's activities in foreign countries and join its Executive Board on 1 January 2015.

Andreas Bolzern

NDS Financial Consultant, University of Applied Sciences St. Gallen

Born 1963, Swiss citizen

Head of Finance (CFO) (with effect from 1 May 2015)

After completing his commercial training at Winterthur Leben, Andreas Bolzern joined Helvetia in 1990, holding various positions, including Head of Accounting for the Helvetia Group and Helvetia Switzerland. Since 2007, he has been CFO for the Swiss market and a member of the Executive Board for Switzerland.

In addition to his duties at Helvetia, Andreas Bolzern will become a member of the Executive Board of Nationale Suisse on 1 January 2015 and will take on leadership of the Finance division on 1 May 2015.

Further information

Photos can be downloaded from:

www.nationalesuisse.com/press-photos

Short portraits of all members of the Executive Board are available on:

www.nationalesuisse.com/executive-board

Brief profile

Nationale Suisse is an innovative and international Swiss insurance group providing attractive risk and pension solutions in the non-life and life segments, as well as customized speciality lines products. Nationale Suisse has been part of the Helvetia Group since October 2014. The plan is to integrate Nationale Suisse fully into Helvetia. The consolidated gross premiums of Nationale Suisse came to CHF 1.5 billion in 2013. The head office of Swiss National Insurance Company Ltd is in Basel. The company's stock is listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (NATN). The stock will be delisted as part of the integration of Nationale Suisse into the Helvetia Group. On 30 June 2014, the Nationale Suisse Group employed 1,903 staff (full-time equivalents).

Information Remo Meier Nationale Suisse Investor Relations Steinengraben 41 Phone +41 61 275 22 45 4003 Basel Fax +41 61 275 22 21 Switzerland investor.relations@nationalesuisse.com www.nationalesuisse.com/investor-relat ions

Jonas Grossniklaus Nationale Suisse Media Relations Steinengraben 41 Phone +41 61 275 28 11 4003 Basel Fax +41 61 275 22 21 Switzerland media.relations@nationalesuisse.com www.nationalesuisse.com/media-relation s

Key dates Publication of the annual report 2014 18.03.2015

Disclaimer and exclusion of liability

The purpose of this press release is to inform the public about certain events or developments arising from the company's business. The information published in this article is not an advertisement, offer or recommendation to engage in transactions involving securities or other products of Nationale Suisse or any other type of transaction. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Even if these forward-looking statements reflect the opinion and expectations of Nationale Suisse, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors may lead to actual developments and results differing strongly from the expectations of Nationale Suisse. It is pointed out expressly that the statements and projections contained in this press release are selective in nature. Nationale Suisse provides no guarantee, either explicitly or implicitly, regarding the accuracy and completeness of the statements and forecasts published in this press release. Neither Nationale Suisse nor its executive bodies or senior managers accept any liability for any damage or losses arising directly or indirectly from the use of this press release. Unless otherwise provided by applicable binding law Nationale Suisse is under no obligation to update or amend the statements contained in this press release, be it in response to new information, future events or any other reasons.

Updated post-publication information is available on our website www.nationalesuisse.com. You may find further details and forecasts about the business of Nationale Suisse there.

Press release: http://hugin.info/100296/R/1872794/659401.pdf

This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Nationale Suisse via Globenewswire

HUG#1872794

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Nationale Suisse

Steinengraben 41 Basel Switzerland

WKN: 1081197;ISIN: CH0010811971;

http://www.nationalesuisse.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires

   November 19, 2014 12:02 ET (17:02 GMT)- - 12 02 PM EST 11-19-14