At today's Annual General Meeting in the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Swiss Life Holding Ltd's shareholders approved by a large majority all the resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved a distribution of profit of CHF 5 per share and authorised a reduction of share capital by the Board of Directors to the amount of the completed share buyback programme. Frank Schnewlin and Carsten Maschmeyer were newly elected to the Board of Directors.
Around 1200 shareholders took part in the Annual General Meeting of Swiss Life Holding shareholders, corresponding to 12.6 million registered shares or 35.8% of the share capital. They approved by a large majority a distribution of profit of CHF 5 per share. This distribution of profit is to take the form of a repayment of par value, as in previous years, and is scheduled for 27 July 2009. As a result, the company's ordinary share capital will be reduced from CHF 17 to CHF 12 per share. The reduction of CHF 5 per share will be paid to all shareholders in possession of Swiss Life Holding shares on the day before the payment is made. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders also authorised the Board of Directors to cancel the shares (3 003 500; 8.6% of the shares outstanding) bought back through a second trading line in the context of the share buyback programme. The reduction of share capital enters into effect at the time the entry is made in the commercial register.
Frank Schnewlin and Carsten Maschmeyer newly elected to Board of Directors
Frank Schnewlin, former CEO of the Baloise Group and before that a member of the Group Executive Committee of the Zurich Financial Services Group, and Carsten Maschmeyer, founder of the AWD Group and for many years Chairman of its Board of Management, were elected for a three-year term to the Board of Directors by over 95% of the votes represented at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Henry Peter was re-elected to the Board of Directors for a further three-year term of office. Frank Schnewlin will become a Member of the Investment and Risk Committee and, in particular, will chair the newly created Nominations and Compensation Committee. This committee advises the Board of Directors on personnel decisions at the highest management level and on the establishment of compensation guidelines with regard to members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Board. Carsten Maschmeyer will take a seat on the Investment and Risk Committee.
Rolf Dörig to preside over Chairman's Committee
Bruno Gehrig and Pierfranco Riva did not stand for re-election and no longer serve on the Board of Directors. Gerold Bührer, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, praised the key contribution made by Bruno Gehrig: "Bruno Gehrig proved to be an ideal choice for Swiss Life. He joined in 2003 at a difficult time for the company. Thanks to his experience, his leadership qualities, his knowledge of the financial markets and his tight-knit network among the business community and political circles, he was instrumental in the company's successful turnaround. With great consistency and persistency he established corporate governance practices that meet today’s requirements." As announced some time ago, Rolf Dörig, who was newly elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in May 2008, will succeed Bruno Gehrig as Chairman of the Board.
Frank Schnewlin and Carsten Maschmeyer newly elected to Board of Directors
Frank Schnewlin, former CEO of the Baloise Group and before that a member of the Group Executive Committee of the Zurich Financial Services Group, and Carsten Maschmeyer, founder of the AWD Group and for many years Chairman of its Board of Management, were elected for a three-year term to the Board of Directors by over 95% of the votes represented at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Henry Peter was re-elected to the Board of Directors for a further three-year term of office. Frank Schnewlin will become a Member of the Investment and Risk Committee and, in particular, will chair the newly created Nominations and Compensation Committee. This committee advises the Board of Directors on personnel decisions at the highest management level and on the establishment of compensation guidelines with regard to members of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Executive Board. Carsten Maschmeyer will take a seat on the Investment and Risk Committee.
Rolf Dörig to preside over Chairman's Committee
Bruno Gehrig and Pierfranco Riva did not stand for re-election and no longer serve on the Board of Directors. Gerold Bührer, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, praised the key contribution made by Bruno Gehrig: "Bruno Gehrig proved to be an ideal choice for Swiss Life. He joined in 2003 at a difficult time for the company. Thanks to his experience, his leadership qualities, his knowledge of the financial markets and his tight-knit network among the business community and political circles, he was instrumental in the company's successful turnaround. With great consistency and persistency he established corporate governance practices that meet today’s requirements." As announced some time ago, Rolf Dörig, who was newly elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in May 2008, will succeed Bruno Gehrig as Chairman of the Board.
Swiss Life
The Swiss Life Group is one of Europe's leading providers of life insurance and pension solutions. In Switzerland, France and Germany, the Group offers individuals and corporations comprehensive advice and a broad range of products through its own sales force as well as brokers and banks. Swiss Life provides international corporations with employee benefits solutions from a single source, and is one of the global leaders in structured life and pension products for international high net worth individuals.
The AWD Group has been part of the Swiss Life Group since 2008. Hanover-based AWD is one of the leading European financial services providers in the medium- and high-income client segments and offers its clients independent financial advisory services in ten countries.
Swiss Life Holding Ltd, registered in Zurich, was founded in 1857 as Schweizerische Rentenanstalt. The shares of Swiss Life Holding Ltd are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SLHN). The Swiss Life Group employs a staff of around 9000.
The Swiss Life Group is one of Europe's leading providers of life insurance and pension solutions. In Switzerland, France and Germany, the Group offers individuals and corporations comprehensive advice and a broad range of products through its own sales force as well as brokers and banks. Swiss Life provides international corporations with employee benefits solutions from a single source, and is one of the global leaders in structured life and pension products for international high net worth individuals.
The AWD Group has been part of the Swiss Life Group since 2008. Hanover-based AWD is one of the leading European financial services providers in the medium- and high-income client segments and offers its clients independent financial advisory services in ten countries.
Swiss Life Holding Ltd, registered in Zurich, was founded in 1857 as Schweizerische Rentenanstalt. The shares of Swiss Life Holding Ltd are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SLHN). The Swiss Life Group employs a staff of around 9000.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information
This publication contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like “believe”, “assume”, “expect” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development, performance or expectations of Swiss Life and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that these statements are only projections and that no undue reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. Neither Swiss Life nor any of its directors, officers, employees or advisors nor any other person connected or otherwise associated with Swiss Life makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication. Neither Swiss Life nor any of the aforementioned persons shall have any liability whatsoever for loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this information. Furthermore, Swiss Life assumes no responsibility to publicly update or alter its forward-looking statements or to adapt them, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or any other reason.
This publication contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like “believe”, “assume”, “expect” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development, performance or expectations of Swiss Life and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that these statements are only projections and that no undue reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. Neither Swiss Life nor any of its directors, officers, employees or advisors nor any other person connected or otherwise associated with Swiss Life makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication. Neither Swiss Life nor any of the aforementioned persons shall have any liability whatsoever for loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this information. Furthermore, Swiss Life assumes no responsibility to publicly update or alter its forward-looking statements or to adapt them, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments or any other reason.