I.C.E.P.

Hold For Release 9:00a.m. Eastern Daylight Time June 9, 1998

Independent Committee of Eminent Persons PRESS RELEASE List of Audited Banks Released

In response to public media interest in Switzerland and abroad, the Independent Committee of Eminent Persons released the names of the Swiss banks where the four international audit firms mandated by the Committee are now conducting the Second Phase of the forensic accounting investigation of dormant accounts in Swiss banks from the World War II and pre-war period.   These four firms - Arthur Andersen, Coopers & Lybrand, KPMG and Price Waterhouse - are currently working at the three largest banks - Credit Swiss, Swiss Bank Corp., and Union Bank of Switzerland and their affiliates - as well as at twenty-four private and cantonal banks where the investigation has already begun or is about to begin.   (See attached list.)        The priorities for the selection of the banks are based on size, geographic location, and the desire for representation of different types of banks.   The purpose of the investigation is to identify any dormant accounts of victims of Nazi persecution and others that were deposited in Swiss banks before 1946 and unclaimed thereafter.        The Committee's target is to complete the major elements of its investigation by the end of this year.   The investigation is time consuming, especially at the largest three Swiss banks, because of the extensive but also widely disbursed and incomplete documentary record that remains from the war-time and pre-war period.        The forensic audit work now underway at these three banks is expected to continue for the remainder of the year.   However, the investigation at smaller banks should be completed more expeditiously, with new banks added as the first audits are completed.

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Second Phase Onsite Forensic Audit Investigation for Dormant Accounts in Swiss Banks Banks Selected for Audit (as of June 1, 1998)

Aargauische Kantonalbank Banca dello Stato del Cantone Ticino Bank Falck & Co. AG Bank Sarasin & Cie Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank Basler Kantonalbank Berner Kantonalbank Bordier & Cie Coutts Bank (Schweiz) AG Credit Suisse Dreyfus Söhne & Cie AG, Banquiers E. Gutzwiller & Cie Banquiers Gonet & Cie Graubündner Kantonalbank La Roche & Cie., Banquiers Landolt & Cie, Banquiers Mirabaud & Cie Rahn & Bodmer, Banquiers Schaffhauser Kantonalbank Schwyzer Kantonalbank St. Gallische Kantonalbank Swiss Bank Corporation Thurgauer Kantonalbank Union Bank of Switzerland Wegelin & Co. Gesellschafter Bruderer, Hummler & Co. Zuger Kantonalbank Zürcher Kantonalbank

The Independent Committee of Eminent Persons 20 rue de Candolle (3rd Floor), 1205 Geneva, Switzerland email: info@icep-iaep.org    &    icep-iaep.org :web

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