Swiss Re Completes Capitalization of Brazilian Commercial Insurer UBF Seguros

Swiss Re today announced that it has completed its capitalization of UBF Seguros, S.A. (UBF Seguros), a Brazilian commercial insurer. The transaction was completed in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Swiss Re is now the majority shareholder of UBF Seguros and the IFC its sole minority investor.

Published on April 7, 2011

As a result of this transaction, UBF Seguros will become a member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, the commercial insurance unit of the Zurich-based company. São Paulo-based UBF Seguros is a leader in the surety and agricultural insurance sectors in Brazil. Swiss Re's and the IFC’s investment in UBF Seguros will further strengthen the company’s ability to compete in the nation's fast-growing specialty insurance market, where significant investments in infrastructure, energy and agriculture are driving demand for a wider variety of risk and insurance products.

"We are very pleased to see this transaction materialise," said Agostino Galvagni, CEO of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. "We are confident that UBF Seguros will fully deploy the financial strength of Swiss Re in the Brazilian market, along with our innovation capabilities and ability to offer large net capacities. Together – and in partnership with the IFC – we will develop an attractive value proposition to serve this market of strategic importance.”

"This equity investment in UBF strengthens the global strategic relationship between the IFC and Swiss Re," said Loy Pires, IFC Manager for Brazil. "By facilitating the expansion of the surety market, we expect to help alleviate infrastructure bottlenecks in Brazil, which will support agricultural producers and thereby help increase income in rural areas around the country."

In connection with the closing of this transaction, UBF Seguros announced that Filipe Bonetti will become its Chief Executive Officer as of 15 September 2011. Mr. Bonetti joined UBF Seguros in September 2010 after a successful 15-year career at Swiss Re. He will succeed current UBF Seguros CEO Luiz Foz, who has been leading UBF Seguros since its foundation. Mr. Foz will join the company’s Board of Directors with immediate effect and maintain his executive responsibilities until Mr. Bonetti becomes CEO.

"Mr. Foz has been a pioneer in the development of both the surety and agriculture insurance markets in Brazil and we look forward to his continued involvement in the development of UBF Seguros," Mr. Galvagni explained. "In Mr. Bonetti, he will have a solid successor with an international track record and an in-depth understanding of the Brazilian insurance market."

UBF Seguros also announced Iván González, Head of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Latin America, is expected to be appointed President of the Board of Directors and will relocate from New York to São Paulo.