The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. This announcement is not an offering circular within the meaning of art. 652a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, nor is it a listing prospectus as defined in the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange AG or a prospectus under any other applicable law.

All financial information (excluding the pro forma consolidated tier 1 capital ratio) in this announcement is presented under US generally accepted accounting principles.

This announcement is not for publication, distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, Shares to any person in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. person, unless registered under the Securities Act, or offered in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The offer and sale of Shares has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada or Japan. Subject to certain exceptions, the Shares may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan. There will be no public offer of the Shares in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan.

This announcement does not constitute an offer document or an offer of transferable securities to the public in the UK to which section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (“FSMA”) applies and should not be considered as a recommendation that any person should subscribe for or purchase any of the Shares. The Shares will not be offered or sold to any person in the United Kingdom except in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom in contravention of section 85(1) of FSMA.

This announcement is not being distributed by, nor has it been approved for the purposes of section 21 of FSMA by, a person authorised under FSMA. This announcement is being communicated only to: (a) persons outside the United Kingdom; (b) persons who are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “FPO”); or (c) high net worth companies, unincorporated associations and other bodies within the categories described in Article 49(2) of the FPO (together \"relevant persons\"). The Shares are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. No part of this announcement should be published, reproduced, distributed or otherwise made available in whole or in part to any other person without the prior written consent of the Company.

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking” statements, beliefs or opinions. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forwardlooking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “target”, “may”, “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company’s business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Each of the Company, GE Capital, BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse AG, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, Bank Vontobel AG and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Any purchase of Shares should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Offering Memorandum issued by the Company in connection with the Offering. No reliance may or should be placed by any person for any purposes whatsoever on the information contained in this announcement or on its completeness, accuracy or fairness. The information in this announcement is subject to change.

Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing all of the amount invested. Persons considering making such investments should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on such investments. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Offering. The value of the Shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the Offering for the person concerned.

BofA Merrill Lynch, and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch each of which is authorised by the U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and the U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority, and Credit Suisse AG and Bank Vontobel AG, each of which is authorised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, are acting exclusively for the Company and noone else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

In connection with the Offering, BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse AG, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, Bank Vontobel AG and any of their affiliates, acting as investors for their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such Shares and other securities or related investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references in the Offering Memorandum to the Shares being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse AG, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, Bank Vontobel AG and any of their affiliates acting as investors for their own accounts. BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse AG, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, and Bank Vontobel AG do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

None of BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse AG, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, Bank Vontobel AG or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

In connection with the Offering, Credit Suisse AG, as stabilisation manager, or any of its agents, may (but will be under no obligation to), to the extent permitted by applicable law, over-allot Shares or effect other transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Shares for 30 calendar days after the first day of trading of the Shares on SIX Swiss Exchange at a higher level than that which might otherwise prevail during such period within the limitations of article 55e of the Ordinance on the Swiss Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading. Credit Suisse AG is not required to enter into such transactions and such transactions may be effected on any stock market, over-the-counter market, stock exchange or otherwise and may be undertaken at any time during the period commencing on the first day of trading of the Shares on SIX Swiss Exchange and ending no later than 30 calendar days thereafter. However, there will be no obligation on Credit Suisse AG or any of its agents to effect stabilising transactions and there is no assurance that stabilising transactions will be undertaken. Such stabilising measures, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without prior notice. In no event will measures be taken to stabilise the market price of the Shares above the offer price. Save as required by law or regulation, neither Credit Suisse AG nor any of its agents intends to disclose the extent of any over-allotments made and/or stabilisation transactions conducted in relation to the Offering.

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