8 Own shares (directly and indirectly held by the Company)

As of 31 December 2015, Swiss Re Ltd and its subsidiaries held 32 967 226 (2014: 28 508 013) of Swiss Re Ltd’s own shares, of which Swiss Re Ltd owned directly 32 755 754 (2014: 28 395 225) shares.

In the year under report, 6 035 389 (2014: 4 348 768) own shares were purchased at an average price of CHF 92.91 (2014: CHF 74.66); thereof 4 420 000 own shares are related to the share buy-back programme which were purchased at an average price of CHF 97.27. In the same time period 1 575 654 (2014: 4 352 775) own shares were sold at an average price of CHF 93.31 (2014: CHF 79.99).