Credit Suisse Group update on Russia
Credit Suisse Group today published details on its business exposure in Russia as part of its Annual Report disclosures and outlined its stance with respect to the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Zurich
10.03.2022

Contact details

Kinner Lakhani, Investor Relations, Credit Suisse
Phone: +41 44 333 71 49
E-mail: investor.relations@credit-suisse.com

Dominik von Arx, Corporate Communications, Credit Suisse
Phone: +44 207 883 06 69
E-mail: media.relations@credit-suisse.com

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Credit Suisse stands united with the international community in supporting those impacted by this humanitarian crisis.

Thomas Gottstein, CEO of Credit Suisse Group, stated: "I speak for the whole Executive Board of Credit Suisse when saying we are deeply saddened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We condemn this invasion and the serious breaches of international law. The instability that these events are creating for societies and countries across the globe will have far-reaching consequences, and our thoughts go out to all those impacted. While we do not have a physical presence in Ukraine, we are committed to providing support to our colleagues and their families within the region. In addition, we have launched a bank-wide appeal in aid of select Red Cross organizations in which Credit Suisse will match the charitable contributions that our employees are making on a one-for-one basis."

"In purely financial terms, we have reviewed our positions and believe that the bank's exposure in relation to Russia is well-managed, with appropriate systems in place to address associated risks. The current environment means making difficult decisions and managing through challenging situations, but always with a clear sense of perspective and the desire to do the right thing. As a matter of principle and policy, Credit Suisse applies all sanctions, in particular those issued by the EU, the United States and by Switzerland."

Our key exposures are as follows:

  • Russia net credit exposure was CHF 848 million as of December 31, 2021. This includes derivatives and financing exposures in the Investment Bank, trade finance exposures in the Swiss Universal Bank and Lombard and other loans in International Wealth Management. These net exposures have been reduced since the end of 2021.
  • Net assets held in our Russian subsidiaries, JSC "Bank Credit Suisse (Moscow)" and LLC "Credit Suisse Securities (Moscow)", totaled CHF 195 million as of December 31, 2021.
  • Country credit risk exposures to Ukraine or to Belarus were not material as of December 31, 2021.
  • As of March 7, 2022, we had minimal total credit exposures towards specifically sanctioned individuals managed by our Wealth Management division.

Our market risk exposure to Russia as of March 9, 2022 is not significant. Credit Suisse is monitoring settlement risks related to certain open transactions with Russian banks and non-bank counterparties or Russian underlyings as market closures, the imposition of exchange controls, sanctions or other factors may limit our ability to settle existing transactions or realize collateral which may result in changes in our exposure. It is premature to estimate the potential impact of the war in Ukraine on the global economy and markets and on our clients' risk appetite. However, in the short term, the resultant increase in trading and hedging business activity is expected to be offset by a reduction in capital market issuances due to the rise in volatility as well as by higher credit provisions.

In terms of our physical presence in Russia, Credit Suisse has an office in Moscow with approximately 125 colleagues working across Wealth Management and the Investment Bank, in both front office and corporate function roles. Their ongoing safety and security is a top priority; we monitor the situation daily and have planned for a number of potential scenarios.

Important information

This document contains certain unaudited interim financial information for the first quarter of 2022. This information has been derived from management accounts, is preliminary in nature, does not reflect the complete results of the first quarter of 2022 and is subject to change, including as a result of any normal quarterly adjustments in relation to the financial statements for the first quarter of 2022. This information has not been subject to any review by our independent registered public accounting firm. There can be no assurance that the final results for these periods will not differ from these preliminary results, and any such differences could be material. Quarterly financial results for the first quarter of 2022 will be included in our 1Q22 Financial Report. These interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved for the remainder of the first quarter of 2022.

The basis for presentation of the country exposure is based on our internal risk domicile view, where credit exposures are assigned to countries based on an assessment performed by our Risk function. Internal risk domicile may therefore reflect an alternative view than the strictly legal domicile of a counterparty, for example a UK subsidiary of a Russian corporate would have a UK legal domicile, but may be assigned an internal risk domicile of Russia.

In preparing this document, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the numbers presented. Actual results may differ. Figures throughout this document may also be subject to rounding adjustments. All opinions and views constitute good faith judgments as of the date of writing without regard to the date on which the reader may receive or access the information. This information is subject to change at any time without notice and we do not intend to update this information.

Investors and others should note that we announce important company information (including quarterly earnings releases and financial reports as well as our annual sustainability report) to the investing public using press releases, SEC and Swiss ad hoc filings, our website and public conference calls and webcasts. We also routinely use our Twitter account @creditsuisse (https://twitter.com/creditsuisse), our LinkedIn account (https://www.linkedin.com/company/credit-suisse/), our Instagram accounts (https://www.instagram.com/creditsuisse_careers/ and https://www.instagram.com/creditsuisse_ch/), our Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/creditsuisse/) and other social media channels as additional means to disclose public information, including to excerpt key messages from our public disclosures. We may share or retweet such messages through certain of our regional accounts, including through Twitter at @csschweiz (https://twitter.com/csschweiz) and @csapac (https://twitter.com/csapac). Investors and others should take care to consider such abbreviated messages in the context of the disclosures from which they are excerpted. The information we post on these social media accounts is not a part of this document.

Information referenced in this document, whether via website links or otherwise, is not incorporated into this document.

The English language version of this document is the controlling version.

Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse is one of the world's leading financial services providers. Our strategy builds on Credit Suisse's core strengths: its position as a leading wealth manager, its specialist investment banking capabilities and its strong presence in our home market of Switzerland. We seek to follow a balanced approach to wealth management, aiming to capitalize on both the large pool of wealth within mature markets as well as the significant growth in wealth in Asia Pacific and other emerging markets, while also serving key developed markets with an emphasis on Switzerland. Credit Suisse employs approximately 50,110 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This document contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, in the future we, and others on our behalf, may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the following:

  • our plans, targets or goals;
  • our future economic performance or prospects;
  • the potential effect on our future performance of certain contingencies; and
  • assumptions underlying any such statements.

Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends" and "plans" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other outcomes described or implied in forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause results to differ materially from the plans, targets, goals, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements and that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic creates significantly greater uncertainty about forward-looking statements in addition to the factors that generally affect our business. These factors include:

  • the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access capital markets;
  • market volatility, increases in inflation and interest rate fluctuations or developments affecting interest rate levels;
  • the ongoing significant negative consequences of the Archegos and supply chain finance funds matters and our ability to successfully resolve these matters;
  • our ability to improve our risk management procedures and policies and hedging strategies;
  • the strength of the global economy in general and the strength of the economies of the countries in which we conduct our operations, in particular the risk of negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets and the risk of continued slow economic recovery or downturn in the EU, the US or other developed countries or in emerging markets in 2022 and beyond;
  • the emergence of widespread health emergencies, infectious diseases or pandemics, such as COVID-19, and the actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain the outbreak or to counter its impact;
  • potential risks and uncertainties relating to the severity of impacts from COVID-19 and the duration of the pandemic, including potential material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
  • the direct and indirect impacts of deterioration or slow recovery in residential and commercial real estate markets;
  • adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies in respect of us, sovereign issuers, structured credit products or other credit-related exposures;
  • the ability to achieve our strategic goals, including those related to our targets, ambitions and financial goals;
  • the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us and the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses;
  • the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, exchange rate, trade and tax policies;
  • the effects of currency fluctuations, including the related impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations due to moves in foreign exchange rates;
  • geopolitical and diplomatic tensions, instabilities and conflicts, including war, civil unrest, terrorist activity, sanctions or other geopolitical events or escalations of hostilities;
  • political, social and environmental developments, including climate change;
  • the ability to appropriately address social, environmental and sustainability concerns that may arise from our business activities;
  • the effects of, and the uncertainty arising from, the UK's withdrawal from the EU;
  • the possibility of foreign exchange controls, expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of assets in countries in which we conduct our operations;
  • operational factors such as systems failure, human error, or the failure to implement procedures properly;
  • the risk of cyber attacks, information or security breaches or technology failures on our reputation, business or operations, the risk of which is increased while large portions of our employees work remotely;
  • the adverse resolution of litigation, regulatory proceedings and other contingencies;
  • actions taken by regulators with respect to our business and practices and possible resulting changes to our business organization, practices and policies in countries in which we conduct our operations;
  • the effects of changes in laws, regulations or accounting or tax standards, policies or practices in countries in which we conduct our operations;
  • the discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank offered rates and the transition to alternative reference rates;
  • the potential effects of changes in our legal entity structure;
  • competition or changes in our competitive position in geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations;
  • the ability to retain and recruit qualified personnel;
  • the ability to protect our reputation and promote our brand;
  • the ability to increase market share and control expenses;
  • technological changes instituted by us, our counterparties or competitors;
  • the timely development and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users;
  • acquisitions, including the ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully, and divestitures, including the ability to sell non-core assets; and
  • other unforeseen or unexpected events and our success at managing these and the risks involved in the foregoing.

We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. When evaluating forward-looking statements, you should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events, including the information set forth in "Risk factors" in I - Information on the company in our Annual Report 2021.

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Credit Suisse Group AG published this content on 10 March 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 10 March 2022 05:52:01 UTC.