Press Release: Nationale Suisse buys insurance portfolio in Spain

   (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

   June 09, 2014 14:01 ET (18:01 GMT)- - 02 01 PM EDT 06-09-14

-2 of 2- 09 Jun 2014 18:01:00 UTC  Press Release: Nationale Suisse buys insurance portfolio in Spain

Nationale Suisse / Nationale Suisse buys insurance portfolio in Spain . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq OMX Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The internationally active insurance group Nationale Suisse is buying an insurance portfolio in Spain comprising property insurance and combined property insurance contracts from Asefa. In the last financial year, the portfolio generated a premium volume of some EUR 21 million. With this purchase, Nationale Suisse is strengthening its market position in Spain and substantially increasing its existing broker network.

Nationale Suisse has purchased from Asefa S.A. Seguros y Reaseguros (Asefa) in Spain an insurance portfolio comprising primarily property insurance and combined property insurance contracts. The portfolio generated a premium volume of some EUR 21 million in the financial year 2013. The acquired portfolio will be integrated into the existing portfolio of Nationale Suisse Spain and further developed according to Nationale Suisse's differentiation strategy. Subject to the approval of the authorities, the transaction will be closed as part of a portfolio transfer in the second half of 2014. It has been agreed that the purchase price shall remain confidential.

Further strengthen presence in Spain

With a currently very challenging market environment, harsh circumstances and premium growth tending slightly to decline in Spain, the takeover of the Asefa portfolio offers Nationale Suisse an ideal opportunity to improve its market positioning and to better exploit future market potential thanks to the additional insurance volume. In addition, Nationale Suisse will obtain improved access to a large broker network, which also opens up new prospects to the specialty line business in Spain. It is anticipated that this access will be used to generate further growth. "The takeover shows that Nationale Suisse believes in the Spanish market, despite the generally difficult market situation," says Hans Künzle, CEO of Nationale Suisse Group.

Nationale Suisse Spain employs 89 FTEs (as at: 31.12.2013) and reported a premium volume of CHF 59.3 million last year.

Brief profile

Nationale Suisse is an innovative, international and independent Swiss insurance group providing first-rate risk and pension solutions in non-life and life business as well as a growing number of tailored specialty lines products. Consolidated gross premiums came to CHF 1.5 billion in 2013. The Group comprises the parent company and about 20 subsidiaries and branch offices for focused product lines in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Asia and Latin America. The headquarters of Swiss National Insurance Company Ltd are in Basel. Nationale Suisse is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (NATN). On 31 December 2013, the Group employed 1 918 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.co m/investor-relations

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.co m/media-relations

Key dates Publication of the Interim Report 03.09.2014 Media conference to announce interim financial results 03.09.2014 at Widder Hotel, Zurich Financial analysts' conference at Widder Hotel, Zurich 03.09.2014

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/1791274/616327.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#1791274

--- End of Message ---

Nationale Suisse

Steinengraben 41 Basel Switzerland

WKN: 1081197;ISIN: CH0010811971;

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

   June 09, 2014 14:01 ET (18:01 GMT)- - 02 01 PM EDT 06-09-14