- UBS (NYSE: UBS) (SWX: UBSN) announced it is buying Credit Suisse. These are the details.
UBS (NYSE: UBS) (SWX: UBSN) plans to acquire Credit Suisse. This combination is expected to create a business with more than $5 trillion in total invested assets and sustainable value opportunities. And it will further strengthen UBS’s position as the leading Swiss-based global wealth manager with over $3.4 trillion in invested assets on a combined basis, operating in the most attractive growth markets.
The deal reinforces UBS’s position as the leading universal bank in Switzerland. And the combined businesses will be a leading asset manager in Europe with invested assets of more than $1.5 trillion.
The discussions were initiated jointly by the Swiss Federal Department of Finance, FINMA, and the Swiss National Bank and the acquisition has their full support.
Under the terms of the all-share transaction, Credit Suisse shareholders are going to receive 1 UBS share for every 22.48 Credit Suisse shares held, equivalent to CHF 0.76/share for a total consideration of CHF 3 billion ($3.2 billion). And UBS benefits from CHF 25 billion of downside protection from the transaction to support marks, purchase price adjustments, and restructuring costs, and additional 50% downside protection on non-core assets. Both of the banks have unrestricted access to the Swiss National Bank existing facilities, through which they can obtain liquidity from the SNB in accordance with the guidelines on monetary policy instruments.
The combination of the two businesses is expected to generate an annual run-rate of cost reductions of more than $8 billion by 2027.
UBS Investment Bank is planning to reinforce its global competitive position with institutional, corporate, and wealth management clients through the acceleration of strategic goals in Global Banking while managing down the rest of Credit Suisse’s Investment Bank. And the combined investment banking businesses account for approximately 25% of the Group risk weighted assets.
UBS anticipates that the transaction is EPS accretive by 2027 and the bank remains capitalized well above its target of 13%.
Colm Kelleher is going to be Chairman and Ralph Hamers will be the Group CEO of the combined entity.
This transaction is not subject to shareholder approval. And UBS has obtained pre-agreement from FINMA, Swiss National Bank, Swiss Federal Department of Finance, and other core regulators on the timely approval of the transaction.
KEY QUOTES:
“This acquisition is attractive for UBS shareholders but, let us be clear, as far as Credit Suisse is concerned, this is an emergency rescue. We have structured a transaction which will preserve the value left in the business while limiting our downside exposure. Acquiring Credit Suisse’s capabilities in wealth, asset management and Swiss universal banking will augment UBS’s strategy of growing its capital-light businesses. The transaction will bring benefits to clients and create long-term sustainable value for our investors.”
— UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher
“Bringing UBS and Credit Suisse together will build on UBS’s strengths and further enhance our ability to serve our clients globally and deepen our best-in-class capabilities. The combination supports our growth ambitions in the Americas and Asia while adding scale to our business in Europe, and we look forward to welcoming our new clients and colleagues across the world in the coming weeks.”
— UBS Chief Executive Officer Ralph Hamers
