Zurich closes acquisition of majority stake in Companhia de Seguros Minas Brasil

Zurich, December 1, 2008 – Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) announced today that its Brazilian subsidiary Zurich Participações e Representações Ltda. (Zurich Participações) has completed the acquisition of common shares representing 87.35% in Companhia de Seguros Minas Brasil, a BOVESPA-listed company, from Banco Mercantil do Brasil S.A. (Banco Mercantil) and two private investors. In addition, Zurich Participações has completed the acquisition of 100% of Minas Brasil Seguradora Vida e Previdência S.A. from Banco Mercantil.
As part of this transaction, Zurich Brasil Seguros S.A. (Zurich Brasil), a subsidiary of Zurich Participações, entered into a long-term exclusive bancassurance agreement with Banco Mercantil for the distribution of Life and General Insurance products of Zurich Brasil and the acquired companies.
After having announced these acquisitions on July 17, 2008, all necessary regulatory approvals to close the transactions now have been obtained.