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☆ 'Lose-lose situation': New Swiss bank laws could derail UBS' challenge to Wall Street giants
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sergio Ermotti, CEO of Swiss banking giant UBS, during the group's annual shareholders meeting in Zurich on May 2, 2013. Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty ImagesSwitzerland's tough new banking regulations create a "lose-lose situation" for UBS and may limit its potential to challenge Wall Street giants, according to Beat Wittmann, partner at Zurich-based Porta Advisors. The government-backed takeover was the biggest merger of two systemically important banks since the Global Financial Crisis. At $1.7 trillion, the UBS balance sheet is now double the country's annual GDP, prompting enhanced scrutiny of the protections surrounding the Swiss banking sector and the broader economy in the wake of the Credit Suisse collapse. The Wednesday report floated giving additional powers to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, applying capital surcharges and fortifying the financial position of subsidiaries — but stopped short of recommending a "blanket increase" in capital requirements.

Persons: Sergio Ermotti, Fabrice Coffrini, Beat Wittmann, Wittmann, Wittman, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley — Organizations: UBS, Afp, Getty, Wall, Porta Advisors, Swiss, Credit Suisse, Suisse, Swiss Financial Market, Authority, JPMorgan, Citigroup Locations: Zurich, Switzerland

The logo of Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA is seen outside their headquarters in Bern, Switzerland April 5, 2016. We want reform so that we don't end up in the same mess again as we had with Credit Suisse." Earlier this year, Switzerland's financial regulator deflected blame for the collapse of the country's second-biggest bank saying it had been quick to respond, calling instead for more powers to take lenders to task. The regulator, however, has enjoyed little support among Swiss politicians, many of whom long sought to keep it weak. In the run up to the collapse of Credit Suisse, FINMA saw a string of key departures.

Persons: Ruben Sprich, Eva Herzog, Herzog, FINMA, Noele Illien, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Swiss Financial Market, Authority, REUTERS, UBS Group, Credit Suisse, Swiss, UBS, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Bern, Switzerland, Europe, Swiss

☆ Swiss financial watchdog to lose more staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA is seen outside their headquarters in Bern, Switzerland April 5, 2016. Preisig, who said she wants to take on a new role outside of FINMA, has headed the Strategic Services division since 2020. FINMA, the Swiss government and the Swiss National Bank have come under fire for their perceived late intervention following the collapse of Credit Suisse and its subsequent rescue by larger rival UBS (UBSG.S) in March. The regulator's secretary general, the head of international affairs and the head of communications have also recently resigned. Reporting by Oliver Hirt, Writing by Noele Illien; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ruben Sprich, Johanna Preisig, Urban, Preisig, Angehrn, Oliver Hirt, Noele Illien, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Swiss Financial Market, Authority, REUTERS, UBS Group, Strategic Services, FINMA, Swiss National Bank, Credit Suisse, UBS, Thomson Locations: Bern, Switzerland, FINMA, Swiss

☆ Swiss takeover board rules NewGAMe's partial offer for GAM shares complies with rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 31 (Reuters) - Switzerland's takeover board has ruled that a partial offer for up to 28 million shares of GAM Holding (GAMH.S) by an investor group comprising NewGAMe SA and Bruellan SA is in line with Swiss takeover rules, NewGAMe said on Thursday. The arrangement would be also that the investor group would propose new GAM board members at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM), where the fund manager's current board is expected to stand down. The regulator on Thursday also challenged the validity of the condition making NewGAME's offer conditional to Rock's candidates being elected to GAM's board, NewGAMe said. Last week, a takeover offer from Liontrust won the backing of just 33.64% of GAM's shareholders. ($1 = 0.8830 Swiss francs)Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Arnd, NewGAMe, Xavier Niel's NewGAMe, Liontrust, Kanjyik Ghosh, Maju Samuel Organizations: REUTERS, GAM, NewGAMe SA, Bruellan SA, Swiss, Rock Investment, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, Thomson Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Bengaluru

☆ Swiss, Italian financial authorities sign cooperation agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA is seen outside their headquarters in Bern, Switzerland April 5, 2016. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsZURICH, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Switzerland's financial market supervisory authority FINMA on Wednesday said it had signed a cooperation agreement with Italian supervisory authority CONSOB and Italian national bank, Banca d'Italia, to intensify their cooperation. "Thanks to this agreement, the authorities involved can carry out their supervisory activities even more effectively across borders. This increases legal certainty for supervised institutions operating in Italy and Switzerland," FINMA head Urban Angehrn said in a statement. The agreement would help financial groups gain clearer legal certainty concerning their access to the Italian market, FINMA said.

Persons: Ruben Sprich, Urban Angehrn, FINMA, Brenna Hughes, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Swiss Financial Market, Authority, REUTERS, Rights, Banca d'Italia, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Bern, Switzerland, Italy

☆ UBS faces big penalty over Credit Suisse's Archegos failings -FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UBS has asked the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority and UK's Prudential Regulation Authority to publish their findings and announce any penalties jointly at the end of July, FT reported. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority does not have the power to fine financial institutions, president Marlene Amstad said in May. The New York-based firm's demise caused billions of dollars in losses for Credit Suisse. UBS completed its emergency takeover of embattled rival Credit Suisse last week, forging a Swiss banking and wealth management giant with a $1.6 trillion balance sheet. It set aside $4 billion for potential lawsuits on the Credit Suisse deal in May, according to a presentation.

Persons: Marlene Amstad, Archegos, Chandni Shah, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UBS Group AG, Archegos, Swiss, Financial, UBS, U.S . Federal Reserve, Swiss Financial Market, Authority, Prudential, U.S . Federal, Suisse, Credit Suisse, U.S, Fed, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Credit Suisse mess leaves scattered Swiss debris
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

ZURICH, April 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Swiss government intervention to save Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) from collapse last month may have avoided a financial market storm. SWISS “TRINITY” QUESTIONThe rescue of Credit Suisse has other consequences. The Swiss Bankers Association has called for an independent inquiry, and lawmakers gave a symbolic thumbs-down to the rescue of Credit Suisse on April 12. A Senate Finance Committee report found last month Credit Suisse had violated a 2014 deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. authorities by continuing to help rich Americans dodge taxes. Switzerland’s parliament on April 12 rejected a Credit Suisse rescue package that included 109 billion Swiss francs in financial guarantees.

☆ Credit Suisse bondholders sue Swiss authorities
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Investors representing more than 4.5 billion Swiss francs ($5 billion) of Credit Suisse bonds have sued the Swiss financial regulator over its decision to wipe out their investments during last month’s emergency government-orchestrated takeover. Law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, which is representing the bondholders, said Friday the move was the first in a series of steps to seek redress for clients it said had been unlawfully deprived of their property rights during the takeover of Credit Suisse (CS) by bigger rival UBS (UBS). The appeal against FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, which ordered the writedown, was filed on April 18 in the Federal Administrative Court in St Gallen, north-east Switzerland. “FINMA’s decision undermines international confidence in the legal certainty and reliability of the Swiss financial center,” said Thomas Werlen, Quinn Emanuel’s Swiss managing partner. The Federal Administrative Court said it was still receiving complaints but declined to name claimants or comment on how many had been lodged by bondholders or their lawyers.

It is the first major lawsuit in the public domain to be filed over the Swiss decision to wipe out around $18 billion of Credit Suisse's Additional Tier 1 (AT1) debt during the 3 billion Swiss franc all-share rescue deal last month, which stunned markets and alerted litigators. The appeal against FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority that ordered the writedown, was filed on April 18 in the Federal Administrative Court in St Gallen, north east Switzerland. "FINMA's decision undermines international confidence in the legal certainty and reliability of the Swiss financial center," said Thomas Werlen, Quinn Emanuel's Swiss managing partner. FINMA declined to comment and Credit Suisse did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. ($1 = 0.8941 Swiss francs)Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Switzerland faced a full-scale bank run if Credit Suisse went bankrupt, Swiss regulator argues
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

It would have erased the holding company Credit Suisse Group, along with the parent bank Credit Suisse AG and its branches, while retaining the Credit Suisse (Schewiz) AG entity because of its "systemic importance." "The parent bank Credit Suisse AG would have gone under – a Swiss bank with total assets of over CHF 350 billion and ongoing business also running into many billions," Angehrn warned. Many other Swiss banks would probably have faced a run on deposits, as Credit Suisse itself did in the fourth quarter of 2022." Angehrn said the regulator has been in recent dialogue with the U.S., but did not experience international pressure in its supervision of Credit Suisse. The authorities would have risked not stopping a looming financial crisis by using the tool of resolution, but rather triggering such a financial crisis."

☆ The Swiss claim the U.S. banking crisis ultimately toppled Credit Suisse. But are they right?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pascal Mora | Bloomberg | Getty Imageswatch nowHowever, the downward spiral of Credit Suisse's share price and mounting asset outflows were underway long before the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank earlier this month. Swiss regulator FINMA has come under fire for allowing the situation to deteriorate as the bank spent years mired in losses and scandal. Mark Yallop, chairman of the U.K.'s Financial Markets Standards Board and former U.K. CEO at UBS, told CNBC on Tuesday that he agreed with the broad assessment that Credit Suisse's downfall was "idiosyncratic." "It's unfortunate that the problems with some of the smaller U.S. banks in the last two or three weeks happened at the same time as this issue with Credit Suisse but the two are completely different and very largely unrelated," he said. By contrast, the Swiss banking and regulatory system has come under fire.

☆ Swiss CoCo litigation may have a broader payoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Neil Unmack | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Credit Suisse’s (CSGN.S) CoCos are shaping up to be the bondholder litigation case of the century. Investors are in uproar over the government’s decision to wipe out Credit Suisse’s Additional Tier 1 securities over the weekend, while preserving 3 billion Swiss francs for shareholders. They can argue that state support for Credit Suisse did not represent a viability event because the authorities injected liquidity but not capital. Credit Suisse’s AT1 bonds are currently trading at around 6% of par value, rather than the zero the Swiss authorities declared them to be worth. Some Credit Suisse AT1 bondholders are seeking legal advice.

☆ Swiss regulator says central bank loan to Credit Suisse justified AT1 bond writedown
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Swiss regulator FINMA on Thursday defended its decision to instruct Credit Suisse to write down its AT1 bonds — a controversial part of the lender's emergency sale to UBS — saying it was a "viability event." The regulator said the loan Credit Suisse received from the Swiss National Bank last week, backed by the federal government, meant the conditions for a writedown had been met. The regulator instructed Credit Suisse to write down 16 billion Swiss francs of AT1 bonds, widely regarded as relatively risky investments, to zero, while equity shareholders will receive payouts at the stock's takeover value. "As Credit Suisse received extraordinary liquidity assistance loans secured by a federal default guarantee on 19 March 2023, these contractual conditions were met for the AT1 instruments issued by the bank." The Swiss federal government enacted an emergency ordinance to guarantee the additional liquidity assistance from the SNB to Credit Suisse, in order to ensure the successful implementation of the UBS takeover.

[1/2] The logo of the Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen in Zurich, Switzerland March 20, 2023. While the nation's central bank and financial regulator publicly declared that Credit Suisse was sound, behind closed doors the race was on to rescue the nation's second-biggest bank. The Swiss National Bank declined to comment while the finance ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Battered by years of scandals and losses, Credit Suisse for months had been battling a crisis of confidence of its own making. By Wednesday, two days later, Credit Suisse was swept up in a full-blown crisis.

☆ Switzerland puts up 260 billion francs for Credit Suisse rescue, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( John Revill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The total of 259 billion francs of support is equivalent to a third of Switzerland's entire economic output, which stood at 771 billion francs last year. Credit Suisse said last Wednesday it would take 50 billion francs from the scheme, which provides funding secured against collateral such as mortgages and securities. On top of this, the Swiss National Bank offered the combined bank an emergency liquidity loan of up to 100 billion Swiss francs. UBS and Credit Suisse were both in a group of the 30 global systemically important banks watched closely by regulators. A failure by Credit Suisse failure would ripple throughout the entire financial system, the Swiss government said late on Sunday.

☆ UBS CEO says bank can handle risks of Credit Suisse takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ZURICH, March 20 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) can handle the risks from taking over Swiss rival bank Credit Suisse (CSGN.S), UBS Chief Executive Ralph Hamers told broadcaster SRF. In a package orchestrated by Swiss regulators on Sunday, UBS will pay 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) for 167-year-old Credit Suisse and assume up to $5.4 billion in losses. "The second step for us is to transform CS's investment bank into an investment bank like UBS has. He said he did not currently have any figures regarding lay-offs at Credit Suisse, although there would always be cost savings. The intended takeover would bring security and stability to the Swiss financial market and also for Credit Suisse clients, he added.

☆ UBS acquiring Credit Suisse is 'no bailout' says Swiss finance minister — but top economist Mohamed El-Erian disagrees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Switzerland's finance minister said UBS' $3.25 billion acquisition of Credit Suisse is not a bailout. The UBS and Credit Suisse deal — worth 3 billion Swiss francs, or $3.25 billion — comes with government guarantees and liquidity provisions. In particular, the Swiss government is guaranteeing UBS will get up to 9 billion Swiss francs if they incur losses from certain assets. The Swiss National Bank is also providing 100 billion Swiss francs in liquidity support to both banks. "The bankruptcy of Credit Suisse would have had a huge collateral damage - on the Swiss financial market also internationally," she said.

☆ UBS' dramatic takeover of Credit Suisse was the deal neither bank wanted. Here's some of the passive-aggressive digs from both sides.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

UBS acquired Credit Suisse in a rescue takeover over the weekend. But Credit Suisse didn't want to be rescued, and UBS didn't want to have to be the rescuer. For example, the first official word of the deal came from the Swiss National Bank, which announced: "UBS today announced the takeover of Credit Suisse." Next, Credit Suisse announced: "Credit Suisse and UBS to Merge." In 2019, after UBS announced Khan's hire, the chief operating officer at Credit Suisse ordered a colleague to spy on him.

☆ Treasury yields decline as investors weigh UBS’ takeover of Credit Suisse
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by over six basis points to 3.3319%. U.S. Treasury yields fell on Monday as investors considered the stability of the banking sector after Swiss bank UBS agreed to buy its rival Credit Suisse. Over the weekend, the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority and the Swiss government worked on the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS, the two largest Swiss banks. As part of the deal, the Swiss National Bank and Swiss government also announced they would take measures to support the deal, including a loan of up to 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion). Last week, Credit Suisse's biggest investor, the Saudi National Bank, said it could no longer support the Swiss bank financially.

☆ What are AT1 bonds and why are Credit Suisse’s now worthless?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But it is the owners of Credit Suisse’s $17 billion worth of “additional tier one” (AT1) bonds who have been left fully in the cold. David Benamou, chief investment officer at Axiom Alternative Investments, a French wealth management firm with exposure to AT1 bonds, called the decision “quite surprising, not to say … shocking.”What are AT1 bonds? AT1 bonds are also known as “contingent convertibles,” or “CoCos”. It is not the write-down of Credit Suisse’s AT1 bonds that has rocked investors, but the fact that the bank’s shareholders will receive some compensation when bondholders will not. But because Credit Suisse’s demise has not followed a traditional bankruptcy, analysts told CNN, the same rules don’t apply.

☆ UBS's Credit Suisse deal was the best solution says Swiss gov't
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Keller-Sutter, who said she held a Credit Suisse bank account, said the worst case had been avoided. This is a commercial solution because UBS is taking over Credit Suisse," she told a press conference in Bern. "The bankruptcy of Credit Suisse would have had a huge collateral damage - on the Swiss financial market also internationally," she said. He said it was far too early to discuss job cuts at Credit Suisse, but he was very positive about Credit Suisse's Swiss business. His upbeat tone contrasted with Credit Suisse Chairman Axel Lehmann, who was emotional when he spoke about the demise of 167-year-old Credit Suisse as an independent bank.

☆ UBS is buying Credit Suisse in bid to halt banking crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Mark Thompson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“UBS today announced the takeover of Credit Suisse,” the Swiss National Bank said in a statement. Credit Suisse shareholders will be largely wiped out, receiving just 1 UBS share for 22.5 Credit Suisse shares they own. UBS (UBS) and Credit Suisse rank among the 30 most important banks in the global financial system, and together they have almost $1.7 trillion in assets. “Given recent extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances, the announced merger represents the best available outcome,” Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann said in a statement. The Swiss National Bank said it would provide a loan of 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion) to UBS and Credit Suisse to boost liquidity.

The terms of the deal will see Credit Suisse shareholders receive 1 UBS share for every 22.48 Credit Suisse shares they hold. "This acquisition is attractive for UBS shareholders but, let us be clear, as far as Credit Suisse is concerned, this is an emergency rescue. The Swiss National Bank pledged a loan of up to 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion) to support the takeover. UBS initially offered to buy Credit Suisse for around $1 billion Sunday, according to multiple media reports. It reported a full-year net loss of 7.3 billion Swiss francs for 2022 and expects a further "substantial" loss in 2023.

☆ 'The weakest links are cracking': Investors consider possible Credit Suisse contagion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"But I would very strongly recommend sticking to high-quality companies — that means strong management, strong balance sheets, strong value proposition. Even before the shock collapse of two U.S. banks last week, Credit Suisse has been beset with problems in recent years, including money laundering charges and spying allegations. Credit Suisse management said Wednesday, however, that its latest step to secure a sizable funding deal showed "decisive action" to strengthen the business. Analysts at UBS, meanwhile, said market participants were "grappling with three interrelated but different issues: bank solvency, bank liquidity, and bank profitability." "In short, we think bank solvency fears are overdone, and most banks retain strong liquidity positions," they added.

☆ Credit Suisse shares soar over 20% on Swiss National Bank loan announcement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A branch of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse behind a window under the rain, in Basel. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)Credit Suisse shares soared over 30% at Thursday's market open after the bank said it will borrow up to 50 billion Swiss francs ($54 billion) from the Swiss National Bank. The Swiss National Bank and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority said in a statement Wednesday that Credit Suisse "meets the capital and liquidity requirements imposed on systemically important banks." "These measures demonstrate decisive action to strengthen Credit Suisse as we continue our strategic transformation to deliver value to our clients and other stakeholders," Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner said in the release Wednesday. "We thank the [Swiss National Bank] and FINMA as we execute our strategic transformation.

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