Credit Suisse seeks to reassure investors as shares hit record low

Credit Suisse Group again sought to reassure investors and clients about its financial position on Monday after its shares hit a fresh record low in Switzerland, as speculation swirls around the troubled Swiss bank. Its shares dropped as much as 12 per cent in Zurich trading on Monday before recovering some to trade 8.4 per cent lower at 3.64 Swiss francs at midday. The bank has lost about 60 per cent of its market value just this year alone and is on track for the biggest ever annual drop in its history. Credit Suisse has told clients and investors that it has a strong capital and liquidity position and balance sheet, according to a person familiar with the bank’s thinking. The bank’s common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio stood at 13.5 per cent at the end of the second quarter, and its total loss-absorbing capacity was 96.9 billion Swiss francs (US$97.9 billion). Chief executive Ulrich Koerner had sought to calm employees and the markets over the weekend after the stock touched an earlier record low and credit-default swaps climbed last week. While touting the bank’s capital levels and liquidity, he acknowledged that the firm was facing a “critical moment” as it worked towards its latest overhaul plans. He also told employees that he will be sending them a regular update until the firm announces the new strategic plan on October 27 because of the speculation surrounding the lender. At the same time, Credit Suisse again sent around talking points to executives dealing with clients who brought up the credit default swaps, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The cost of insuring the firm’s bonds against default climbed about 15 per cent last week to levels not seen since 2009. Some clients have used the rise in the bank’s CDS this year to ask questions, negotiate prices or use competitors, the people said, asking to remain anonymous discussing confidential conversations. Credit Suisse declined to comment via a company spokesman. Koerner, named CEO in late July, has had to deal with market speculation, banker exits and capital doubts as he seeks to set a path forward. The lender is currently finalising plans that is likely to see sweeping changes to its investment bank and may include cutting thousands of jobs over a number of years, Bloomberg has reported. Koerner’s memo was the second straight Friday missive as speculation over the beleaguered bank’s future increases. Analysts at KBW estimated that the firm may need to raise 4 billion Swiss francs (US$4 billion) of capital even after selling some assets to fund any restructuring, growth efforts and any unknowns. Credit Suisse’s market capitalisation has dropped to around 9.5 billion Swiss francs, meaning any share sale would be highly dilutive to long-time holders. The market value was above 30 billion francs as recently as March 2021. Bank executives have noted that the firm’s 13.5 per cent CET1 capital ratio at June 30 was in the middle of the planned range of 13 per cent to 14 per cent for 2022. The firm’s 2021 annual report said that its international regulatory minimum ratio was 8 per cent, while Swiss authorities required a higher level of about 10 per cent. The five-year credit default swaps price of about 250 basis points is up from about 55 basis points at the start of the year and is near their highest on record. While these levels are still far from distressed and are part of a broad market sell-off, they signify deteriorating perceptions of creditworthiness for the scandal-hit bank in the current environment. The KBW analysts were the latest to draw comparisons to the crisis of confidence that shook Deutsche Bank AG six years ago. Then, the German lender was facing broad questions about its strategy as well as near-term concerns about the cost of a settlement to end a US probe related to mortgage-backed securities. Deutsche Bank saw its credit-default swaps climb, its debt rating downgraded and some clients step back from working with it. The stress eased over several months as the German firm settled for a lower figure than many feared, raised about €8 billion (US$7.8 billion) of new capital and announced a strategy revamp. Still, what the bank called a “vicious circle” of declining revenue and rising funding costs took years to reverse. There are differences between the two situations. Credit Suisse does not face any one issue on the scale of Deutsche Bank’s US$7.2 billion settlement, and its key capital ratio of 13.5 per cent is higher than the 10.8 per cent that the German firm had six years ago. The stress Deutsche Bank faced in 2016 resulted in the unusual dynamic where the cost of insuring against losses on the lender’s debt for one year surpassed that of protection for five years. Credit Suisse’s one-year swaps are still significantly cheaper than five-year ones. Last week, Credit Suisse said it’s working on possible asset and business sales as part of its strategic plan which will be unveiled at the end of October. The bank is exploring deals to sell its securitised products trading unit, is weighing the sale of its Latin American wealth management operations excluding Brazil, and is considering reviving the First Boston brand name, Bloomberg has reported.