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☆ Countdown to mega merger - how Credit Suisse wobbled and UBS rushed to rescue
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

March 19: An emergency rescue of Credit Suisse, brokered by the Swiss government, central bank and financial regulator, is announced. March 23: Switzerland's financial market regulator FINMA defends its decision to impose steep losses on Credit Suisse bondholders, calling the decision legally watertight. Separately, some holders of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds wiped out by the merger instruct lawyers to represent them for possible litigation to recover losses. April 6 - UBS CEO Ermotti tells Credit Suisse staff to stay focussed on the business, but warns of "change and hard decisions" ahead. April 15 - The Federal Reserve approves UBS's acquisition of the U.S. subsidiaries of Credit Suisse.

Persons: Greensill, FINMA, Sergio Ermotti, Axel Lehmann, Ulrich Koerner, Ermotti, John Revill, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Suisse, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Silicon Valley Bank, Swiss National Bank, Saudi National Bank, Credit, Swiss Bank Employees Association, Federal Reserve, Court, Switzerland's Social Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: ZURICH, Silicon, Swiss, Switzerland

☆ UBS tells investors 'Herculean' Credit Suisse takeover will pay off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Noele Illien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Buildings of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen on the Paradeplatz in Zurich, Switzerland, March 20, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File PhotoBASEL, April 5 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) executives sought to assure investors on Wednesday that Switzerland's largest bank can make its unexpected takeover of Swiss rival Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) work and pay off for its shareholders. "We believe the transaction is financially attractive for UBS shareholders," he said. Looking at how to navigate the mammoth task of integrating Credit Suisse, the success of which Switzerland depends on, UBS has already taken the first steps. "The acquisition of Credit Suisse will be a major challenge," Hamers said, while echoing the bank's chairman in highlighting new opportunities.

☆ UBS seeks to assure investors shotgun Credit Suisse takeover can pay off
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Noele Illien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Buildings of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen on the Paradeplatz in Zurich, Switzerland, March 20, 2023. "We believe the transaction is financially attractive for UBS shareholders," he said. The hastily arranged rescue, not only angered and unsettled both banks' shareholders, but also many in Switzerland. Looking at how to navigate the mammoth task of integrating Credit Suisse, the success of which Switzerland depends on, UBS has already taken the first steps. "The acquisition of Credit Suisse will be a major challenge," Hamers said, while echoing the bank's chairman in highlighting new opportunities.

☆ UBS faces investors after shotgun Credit Suisse takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Noele Illien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last month, Swiss authorities announced that UBS would buy Credit Suisse in a shotgun merger to stem further banking turmoil after the smaller lender had come to the brink of collapse. After a run on deposits, the Swiss government had turned to UBS, which agreed to buy Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.3 billion), while the Alpine state put up more than 200 billion francs of support and guarantees. Now, the bank is looking at how to navigate the mammoth task of integrating Credit Suisse, the success of which Switzerland depends on, without undermining its strengths. On Tuesday, Reuters also reported that the Bank of England had approved UBS' takeover of Credit Suisse in Britain, a key market for the Swiss lenders racing to close the rescue deal. UBS also secured a temporary green light from European Union antitrust regulators to complete its acquisition of Credit Suisse, but will still have to request clearance under EU merger rules, the European Commission said.

☆ UBS faces investors after shotgun Credit Suisse merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Noele Illien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ZURICH, April 5 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) will seek to reassure shareholders on Wednesday that its unexpected takeover of rival Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) in the biggest bank rescue since the great financial crash can work. Last month, Swiss authorities announced that UBS would buy Credit Suisse in a shotgun merger to stem further banking turmoil after the smaller lender had come to the brink of collapse. After a run on deposits, the Swiss government had turned to UBS, which agreed to buy Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.3 billion), while the Alpine state put up more than 200 billion francs of support and guarantees. Now, the bank is looking at how to navigate the mammoth task of integrating Credit Suisse, the success of which Switzerland depends on, without undermining its strengths. The bank's annual general meeting comes a day after executives at Credit Suisse faced their own shareholders and Chairman Axel Lehmann apologised for leading the bank to the verge of bankruptcy.

Some Credit Suisse shareholders had angry words for the board at its final annual general meeting. Credit Suisse was acquired by rival UBS after the 167-year-old Swiss bank's stock crashed last month. The anger inside the meeting was shared by investors and climate protestors outside Zurich's hockey arena where the meeting was held. A spokesperson for Credit Suisse declined to comment. How much is enough for a golden parachute that is on his crashing plane that is the Credit Suisse?"

☆ Premarket stocks: These are the only stocks that matter right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Leading the way in growth are tech stocks like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Tesla (TSLA) and Meta (FB). That’s been a boon to large cap tech stocks that are more sensitive to interest rates because they tend to borrow more than established companies and rely more on the prospect of future earnings. But it also means that the current market rally is thin, as the major indexes outperform the average stock. Strong outperformance from the largest stocks often power indexes to rise, said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Schwab, in a note Tuesday. But healthy markets should be characterized by greater participation of the “soldiers” — the rest of the stocks, she said.

☆ Credit Suisse shareholders re-elect chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ZURICH, April 4 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) shareholders voted to re-elect Chairman Axel Lehmann at the company's annual general meeting in Zurich on Tuesday. Of the votes cast, 55.67% were in favour of keeping Lehmann chairman for the remainder of the time until the Swiss bank is officially merged with rival UBS (UBSG.S) as part of a forced takeover orchestrated by Swiss authorities. Lehmann said earlier that five board members would not stand for re-election. The remaining board members were all narrowly re-elected by shareholders. Reporting by Noele Illien Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Credit Suisse chairman: "I am truly sorry"
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Climate activists wearing masks of chairman of the Swiss National Bank Thomas Jordan, and chairman of Credit Suisse, Axel Lehmann, gather in front of Hallenstadion where Credit Suisse holds its Annual General Meeting, two weeks after being bought by rival UBS in a government-brokered rescue, in Zurich, Switzerland, April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Pierre AlbouyZURICH, April 4 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse's chairman told a room full of shareholders that he was "truly sorry" the Swiss bank was not able to get back on track at its final annual general meeting on Tuesday, according to a manuscript of his speech. "I apologise that we were no longer able to stem the loss of trust that had accumulated over the years, and for disappointing you," Axel Lehmann said. The hastily arranged takeover by UBS, for which Switzerland invoked emergency legislation, bypassed Credit Suisse shareholders, who would otherwise have had a say, and largely wiped out the value of their holdings. Reporting by Noele Illien, Editing by Rachel More and John O'DonnellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'I am truly sorry': Credit Suisse chair pleads with angry shareholders at annual meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

ZURICH, Switzerland - Climate activists raise a boat during a protest ahead of the annual general meeting of Credit Suisse, following the bank's hastily brokered takeover by UBS to prevent a financial meltdown. Credit Suisse Chairman Axel Lehmann on Tuesday told shareholders he was "truly sorry" for the collapse that led to the bank's controversial takeover by UBS . Neither UBS nor Credit Suisse shareholders were allowed a vote on the deal. "Until the end, we fought hard to find a solution, but ultimately there were only two options: deal or bankruptcy," Lehmann told shareholders. In a statement Sunday, the office of the attorney general confirmed that Switzerland's Federal Prosecutor is investigating potential breaches of Swiss federal law by government officials, regulators and top executives at Credit Suisse and UBS.

ZURICH, April 4 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) will face shareholder anger on Tuesday at what will be its final annual general meeting after the bank was rescued last month by Swiss rival UBS (UBSG.S). Tuesday's shareholder meeting marks an ignominious end for the 167-year-old flagship bank founded by Alfred Escher, a Swiss magnate affectionately dubbed King Alfred I, who helped build the country's railways and then Credit Suisse. After a run on deposits, the Swiss government turned to UBS, which agreed to buy Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.3 billion), a fraction of its earlier market value. In the lead up to Tuesday, Credit Suisse said it had withdrawn certain proposals from the meeting's agenda. Meanwhile, the office of the attorney general on Sunday said Switzerland's Federal Prosecutor has opened an investigation into the Credit Suisse takeover.

☆ Credit Suisse braces for stormy shareholder meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Credit Suisse is set for a turbulent annual shareholder meeting Tuesday, after its emergency rescue by UBS two weeks ago left investors nursing heavy losses. Credit Suisse (CS) shareholders are expected to vent their anger over the forced takeover of the ailing Swiss lender by its larger rival. Norges Bank Investment Management, a top 10 shareholder in Credit Suisse, said it would vote against the re-election of Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann and six other directors. Last week Credit Suisse withdrew two proposals up for a shareholder vote from its AGM agenda, saying they were no longer necessary following the planned merger with UBS. He is seen as a safe pair of hands capable of integrating Credit Suisse and salvaging core parts of its business.

☆ Norwegian wealth fund seeks Credit Suisse boardroom shake-up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Chairman of the Board of Directors of Credit Suisse, Axel Lehmann, attends a news conference after UBS's takeover offer, in Bern, Switzerland, March 19, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File PhotoApril 2 (Reuters) - Norges Bank Investment Management will vote against the re-election of Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) Chair Axel Lehmann and six other directors at the Swiss lender's annual general meeting on Tuesday, the Norwegian wealth fund said on its website. "Shareholders should have the right to seek changes to the board when it does not act in their best interest," the Norges wealth fund said ahead of the April 4 meeting. In addition to Lehmann, Norges is also opposing re-election of Credit Suisse directors Iris Bohnet, Christian Gellerstad, Shan Li, Seraina Macia, Richard Meddings and Ana Pessoa. Credit Suisse declined to comment and UBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ 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 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.

☆ UBS to take over Credit Suisse, assume up to 5 billion Swiss francs in losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BERN, March 19 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) agreed to buy rival Swiss bank Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) in stock and agreed to assume up to 5 billion francs ($5.4 billion) in losses, in a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more market-shaking turmoil in global banking. The deal includes 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion) in liquidity assistance for UBS and Credit Suisse from the Swiss central bank. In that eventuality, UBS would assume the first 5 billion francs, the federal government the next 9 billion francs, and UBS would assume any further losses, the government said. Credit Suisse Additional Tier 1 shares with a nominal value of around 16 billion francs ($17.2 billion) will be written down completely after the Swiss government provided support for UBS' takeover of Credit Suisse, FINMA said. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe Swiss government said that it was also giving UBS a guarantee of 9 billion Swiss francs "assume potential losses" from assets as part of the transaction.

It will change the landscape of banking in Switzerland, where branches of Credit Suisse and UBS are dotted everywhere, sometimes just metres apart. The Credit Suisse rescue, orchestrated with public money, shows banks' continued vulnerability and how their problems can quickly rebound on their home country. But it also removes a competitor to Wall Street, with UBS planning to pare back much of Credit Suisse’s investment bank. During the great financial crash, it was UBS and not Credit Suisse that needed state support. UBS earned $7.6 billion in profit in 2022, while Credit Suisse lost $7.9 billion.

☆ 'Shotgun wedding': What the UBS rescue of Credit Suisse means for global markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Axel Lehmann, chairman of Credit Suisse Group AG, left, and Colm Kelleher, chairman of UBS Group AG, during a news conference in Bern, Switzerland, on Sunday, March 19, 2023. "The accelerating loss of confidence and the escalation over the last few days have made it clear that Credit Suisse can no longer exist in its current form," Lehmann said. In equal parts "shotgun wedding" and arranged marriage, UBS agreed to buy stricken domestic rival Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.25 billion) on Sunday. The government will offer a loss guarantee of up to 9 billion Swiss francs, with UBS assuming the first 5 billion of potential losses. Shares of both UBS and Credit Suisse plunged on Monday morning, however.

☆ 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.

☆ Credit Suisse tells staff to keep working and that salary and bonus will be paid 'as previously communicated' after UBS takeover deal: reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

UBS sealed a deal to acquire Credit Suisse for $3.25 billion on Sunday after a crisis of confidence. "There are no changes to payroll arrangements," Credit Suisse wrote in a Q&A addressing concerns staff may have, per Bloomberg. Credit Suisse also assured staff they will still be paid bonuses for their work in 2023, according to the memo. This put pressure on Credit Suisse, whose outflows have already been accelerating over the past few months. Credit Suisse did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The ECB vowed to support euro zone banks with loans if needed, adding the Swiss rescue of Credit Suisse was "instrumental" for restoring calm. [1/6] Chairman of the Board of Directors of UBS, Colm Kelleher and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Credit Suisse, Axel Lehmann attend a news conference on Credit Suisse after UBS takeover offer, in Bern, Switzerland, March 19, 2023. The Swiss central bank said Sunday's deal includes 100 billion Swiss francs ($108 billion) in liquidity assistance for UBS and Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse shareholders will receive 1 UBS share for every 22.48 Credit Suisse shares held, equivalent to 0.76 Swiss francs per share for a total consideration of 3 billion francs, UBS said. Under the deal with UBS, some Credit Suisse bondholders are major losers.

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.

☆ 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.

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