Hamers, who will lead the newly merged business together with UBS Chair Colm Kelleher, tried to quell any nervousness about the deal struck over the weekend to buy the ailing Credit Suisse for CHF3 billion ($3.2 billion).
“The takeover means that we are bringing back stability and security for CS clients,” he said in an interviewExternal link with Swiss public television SRF on Monday. “We have a very good capital ratio at UBS and a very good liquidity position. So we have contained the risks in the markets.”
“We can now be a globally managed bank with assets under management of up to CHF5 trillion [$5.4 trillion],” he added. “And with that, we bring something to the world and to Switzerland that we can be proud of.”
No information on layoffs
Hamers, however, could not say how many staff members may potentially face layoffs.
“There are certainly opportunities and chances for growth,” he said. “The many employees – CS has 50,000 worldwide – also have a new future together with us. And together we can build an even more beautiful bank.”
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How a bad bank saved the Swiss economy
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When the 2008 financial crisis arrived, Switzerland’s major bank UBS was threatened with bankruptcy. Thousands of people could lose their homes.
“It’s a historic day in Switzerland and a day, frankly, we hoped would not come,” Kelleher said in a conference call with analysts. “I would like to make it clear that while we did not initiate discussions, we believe that this transaction is financially attractive for UBS shareholders.”
UBS shares took a tumble of roughly 8.6% in price on Monday morning to reach CHF15.625. Credit Suisse shares, meanwhile, fell by nearly two-thirds and were trading at around CHF0.73.
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A world without Credit Suisse
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The ailing Swiss bank and its image look set to slowly fade from our collective memory after the shock announcement of a UBS takeover.
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The Ethos Foundation recommends that shareholders vote against all compensation-related items at the Annual General Meeting on March 7.
Top Swiss firms close to reaching gender quota in boards
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The proportion of women on the boards of directors of the fifty largest listed companies in Switzerland currently stands at 28%.
Swiss committee wants to end government resignations during legislative term
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Members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to leave office before the end of their term, according to a House of Representatives committee.
Swiss government seat: Ritter and Pfister nominated to succeed Amherd
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Markus Ritter from St Gallen and Martin Pfister from Zug were officially nominated by the Centre Party on Friday to succeed Defence Minister Viola Amherd.
Top Swiss court rejects Russian request for administrative tax assistance
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There is currently no reason to transmit banking information to the Russian Federation, the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.
After strike by radiologists, doctors demonstrate in Bern
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Following a strike by radiology technicians in Fribourg, doctors, vets, dentists and chiropractors expressed their frustration on Friday outside parliament in the Swiss capital.
Credit Suisse to borrow up to CHF50 billion from Swiss National Bank
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Switzerland’s second largest bank said it plans to borrow up to CHF50 billion from the Swiss central bank after a day of market turmoil.
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