All resolutions approved at BCV’s Annual Meeting

BCV's Annual Shareholders’ Meeting was held today at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne, Switzerland. Shareholders approved all motions submitted by the Board of Directors, including the distribution of an ordinary dividend of CHF 14 per share and a par-value repayment of CHF 32.50 per share. The Group will thus return CHF 400m to shareholders, or CHF 46.50 per share. Shareholders also elected Pierre Lamunière to succeed André Pugin on the Board of Directors.

Lausanne, Switzerland, 24 April 2008 – The Annual Meeting of BCV Group was attended by 935 shareholders, representing 75.67% of the Group's capital . Shareholders adopted all items on the agenda. They approved the consolidated financial statements for 2007, which show a CHF 477m net profit, and granted discharge to the Board of Directors for the 2007 financial year. The Board's proposal to distribute an ordinary dividend of CHF 14 per share was accepted, as was its proposal to repay shareholders CHF 32.50 of each share's par value as part of BCV's strategy to optimize shareholders' equity. It was also decided to reduce the minimum shareholding necessary to have an item of business entered on the agenda. Finally, the term of office of the Bank's auditor KPMG S.A. was renewed.

Pierre Lamunière elected to BCV's Board of Directors

Acting on a recommendation by the Board of Directors and in accordance with the cantonal law governing BCV, the shareholders appointed Pierre Lamunière to the Board. Mr. Lamunière replaces André Pugin, who announced last year that he intended to step down before the expiration of his term of office, which began in 2002. Mr. Lamunière's arrival, together with the appointment of Stephan Bachmann to the Board in 2007 and that of Jean-Luc Strohm as Vice-Chairman from 1 January 2008, reflects the Board's declared intention to renew its membership.

Contact(s)

Christian Jacot-Descombes, Press Officer
Phone + 41 21 212 28 61
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