Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited is renamed Zurich Insurance plc

Zurich, December 16, 2008 – Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) announced today that Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited (ZIIL), the Group’s Ireland-based European general insurance risk carrier, will be changing its name and incorporation status to Zurich Insurance Public Limited Company (ZIP) with effect from January 1, 2009.

As already announced on May 27, 2008, Markus Hongler, currently CEO of Zurich Switzerland, has been appointed CEO of ZIP, effective January 1, 2009. “Markus has achieved tremendous results in his current function. With his immense knowledge of the European insurance market he will help to drive our European efforts to the next level”, remarks Annette Court, CEO, Europe General Insurance (EGI) and Chair of ZIP’s board of Directors.

“This name change will better reflect the increasingly European nature of the entity”, says Thomas Hürlimann, CEO, Global Corporate in Europe.

The change of status to ZIP will not change any business relationships, credit ratings or mode of operations. Documentation for all ZIP branches will be updated to reflect this change of name.