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Swiss National Insurance Company held its Ordinary General Meeting
today in Basel, which was chaired by Dr René Theler, Chairman of the
Board of Directors. The shareholders approved the 2008 annual report
and the annual financial statements. The General Meeting agreed to
the Board of Directors' proposal to carry out a share split and to
issue a stock dividend. Current members Dr Andreas von Planta,
Dr Walter Grüebler and Peter E. Merian were re-elected to the Board
of Directors for another four-year term and Dr Bruno H. Letsch was
newly elected to the Board of Directors.



The 257 shareholders present represented 381,206 registered shares.
Including proxy shares, a total of 462,367 shares were represented.
This corresponds to 44.03% of shareholder votes.

Share split
The General  Meeting approved  the split  of registered  shares at  a
ratio of 1:20 as  proposed by the Board  of Directors. The par  value
per share is now  CHF 0.40 (previously CHF  8). Trading of the  split
shares is planned  to begin  on the SIX  Swiss Exchange  from 26  May
2009. By making the shares more tradable, the share split will enable
increased liquidity on  the exchange  and improve  the situation  for
small shareholders due to the stock dividend that was also approved.

Ordinary capital increase for the distribution of a stock dividend
After the split, the company's share capital will remain unchanged at
CHF 8,400,000. This  will be  increased by  CHF 420,000  (5%) to  CHF
8,820,000 through  an  ordinary capital  increase  via the  issue  of
1,050,000 registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.40 a share. The
General Meeting approved this  proposal today in  order to allow  for
the distribution of  a stock dividend.  The additional share  capital
will be  created  through a  transfer  of free  reserves  into  share
capital - that is, without an inflow of funds from shareholders.
Issuing shares without charge in the form of a stock dividend aims to
support Nationale  Suisse's  strong  capital  base.  Thus  the  stock
dividend will increase Nationale Suisse's  risk capacity and room  to
manoeuvre in the current challenging economic environment.
After close of trading on 25 May 2009 shareholders will be given  one
subscription right for each outstanding share (at a par value of  CHF
0.40). 20 subscription  rights entitle the  shareholder to  subscribe
for one new share (with a par value of CHF 0.40) free of charge. This
means that  a  shareholder who  has  previously held  one  share  can
subscribe for a new share without purchasing additional  subscription
rights. In principle, shareholders  have the option of  automatically
subscribing for  the new  shares  at a  ratio  of 20:1,  selling  the
distributed subscription rights and realising the corresponding  cash
proceeds, or  buying additional  subscription rights  to acquire  new
shares. The subscription rights are planned  to be traded on the  SIX
Swiss Exchange from 26 May to 4 June 2009.
The new shares  from the  stock dividend  issue are  scheduled to  be
delivered and booked into custody accounts on 10 June 2009.

Change of the company name: Swiss National Insurance Company Ltd

Because of statutory requirements, the legal form of the company must
be included in the  company name by  the end of  2009 at the  latest.
Therefore, through a change to the Articles of Association, the  name
has been changed to "Swiss National Insurance Company Ltd".

Board of Directors: continuity and new strength through the  election
of Dr Bruno H. Letsch

Current members Dr Andreas von  Planta, Dr Walter Grüebler and  Peter
E. Merian were re-elected to the Board of Directors for an additional
term of four years.

Dr. Bruno H.  Letsch was  elected as  a new  member of  the Board  of
Directors. Until 2005, Dr  Letsch spent many years  at Swiss Re in  a
number of asset management roles. He  is regarded as a proven  expert
in investment, and with  his knowledge and experience  he will be  an
effective addition  and  support  to the  National  Suisse  Board  of
Directors.




Brief profile
Nationale Suisse is an innovative,     The headquarters of Swiss
international Swiss insurer providing  National Insurance Company Ltd
first-rate risk and pension solutions  is in Basel. Nationale Suisse
and tailored niche products. The Group is listed on the SIX Swiss
has gross premiums of CHF 1.67         Exchange (NATN). On 31
billion, about 30% of which come from  December 2008 the Group
their subsidiaries in Germany,         employed 1,775 persons (FTEs).
Belgium, Italy and Spain.

Downloads                              Disclaimer
You can access this media release on   Swiss National Insurance
our website www.nationalesuisse.ch     Company wishes to point out
under Medien/Medienmitteilung.         that any forward-looking
                                       statements in this report are
                                       based on projections,
                                       estimates and assumptions. The
                                       influence of uncertain and
                                       unforeseeable circumstances
                                       and certain risks may mean
                                       that actual performance
                                       deviates significantly from
                                       our expectations.

Information
Sophia Schor                           Nationale Suisse
Media relations                        Steinengraben 41
Tel.           +41 61 275 23 86        4003 Basel
Fax           +41 61 275 22 21         www.nationalesuisse.ch
sophia.schor@nationalesuisse.ch

Important dates
Annual General Meeting                 18.05.2009
Publication of Semi-Annual Report      16.09.2009
Media conference to announce financial 16.09.2009
results at Hotel Park Hyatt, Zurich
Financial analysts' conference at      16.09.2009
Hotel Park Hyatt, Zurich


 
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Nationale Suisse
Steinengraben 41 Basel 

WKN: 1081197; ISIN: 
CH0010811971; Index: SMCI, SPI, SPIEX;
Listed: Main Market in SIX Swiss Exchange;
http://hugin.info/100296/R/1316042/306535.pdf


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