No market manipulation by BCV: the SFBC closes its investigation into the trading of OC Oerlikon shares

Lausanne, 10 October 2008 – In its editions of 6 and 13 July 2008, the Sonntagszeitung newspaper published articles alleging that BCV was suspected of manipulating the OC Oerlikon share price on 27 June.

On 14 July, BCV issued a press release in which it categorically denied the allegations of share price manipulation.

The Swiss Federal Banking Commission (SFBC) opened an investigation following suspected market manipulation in connection with the OC Oerlikon Corporation AG registered share as an underlying security in BCV's structured product "LEMAN DEFENSIF Worst-Of 18.00% on ABB, Richemont, OC Oerlikon."

The SFBC found no grounds to support the allegations that BCV manipulated the market on 27 June 2008, and has ended its investigation.

Contact(s)

Paul Coudret, Press Relations
Phone +41 21 212 22 51
E-mail

Wilhelm Blaeuer, Investor relations
Phone + 41 21 212 20 71
E-mail

This press release is being issued outside the trading hours of the SIX, Swiss Exchange in order to comply with the principles of ad hoc disclosure pursuant to the SIX listing rules.

The above text is a translation of the original French document; only the French version is authoritative.