The report released by the Parliamentary Investigation Committee (PUK) provides a comprehensive account of the circumstances surrounding the collapse of Credit Suisse (CS).
The collapse of CS was largely self-inflicted, driven by poor business results and a loss of market confidence. The investigation focused on the actions of federal authorities rather than the management of CS itself. The report highlights years of mismanagement, strategic failures, and scandals that led to the near-liquidation of the bank.
The report emphasizes the role of regulatory concessions that CS relied upon, which masked the bank's deteriorating financial health. As a result, UBS is now the sole globally systemically important bank in Switzerland, raising concerns about the concentration of financial power in the country.
The PUK will present twenty recommendations to the Federal Council, which has until the spring session of 2025 to respond. UBS supports most of the proposals aimed at strengthening the resilience of the financial center but cautions that regulatory adjustments must be targeted, proportional, and internationally coordinated. UBS also highlights the financial implications of the UBS-CS merger, stating that it would need to hold approximately $20 billion in additional capital.
The investigation revealed a pattern of mismanagement within CS, characterized by a reluctance to comply with the supervisory activities of the Financial Market Authority (FINMA). The report criticizes CS's leadership for resisting FINMA's instructions despite the bank's precarious situation. The report also raises questions about the significant bonuses awarded to CS management during a time of substantial losses, highlighting issues with incentives and leadership accountability.
The report examines the capital relief granted to CS by FINMA through a "regulatory filter," which masked the bank's true financial condition. The PUK argues that without this relief, CS's reported equity ratio would have fallen below regulatory minimums. The report also criticizes the "too big to fail" legislation, suggesting that authorities were overly accommodating to the banking sector's concerns, compromising the stability of the financial system.
The PUK questions whether FINMA should have taken more decisive action against CS and highlights a gap in the tools available to Swiss authorities during the crisis. The report emphasizes the need for effective regulatory frameworks to fortify the financial system against future crises.