Credit Suisse working on possible asset sales

Lender mulls number of strategic initiatives

“The gilt market is adjusting to a seismic shift in the fiscal landscape and a mammoth supplydemand outlook.” HSBC analysts

ZURICH: Credit Suisse Group AG says it’s working on possible asset and business sales as it seeks ways to drive down costs and restore profitability under a strategic plan to be announced next month.

While Credit Suisse didn’t give details on divestments, Bloomberg reported that executives are weighing the sale of its Latin

American wealth management operations, excluding Brazil.

The firm is also exploring deals to sell its securitised products group and considering reviving the First Boston brand name as it

cuts back the investment bank, people familiar with the matter have said.

New chief executive officer Ulrich Koerner and chairman Axel Lehmann are seeking to shore up confidence in the lender and return it to profitability after a string of losses and missteps.

Shares of the lender have fallen to a record low amid intense speculation about its future and a report that it may seek to raise new capital.

Executives last week sought to reassure employees in a memo, without providing much detail.

“The bank is currently executing a number of strategic initiatives, including potential divestitures and asset sales,” Credit Suisse said in its statement yesterday.

The Zurich-based lender said it’s on track with its review and will update the market when it reports third-quarter results on Oct 27.

The Latin America region accounts for about Us$100bil (Rm460bil) of client assets and loans, Credit Suisse said in June.

That includes its business in Brazil, where it also has significant investment banking activities.

The changes are being considered against a broader push to scale back activities and regions deemed non-core, people familiar with the matter have said.

While the new strategy may bring changes to the wealth business, bigger structural changes are expected at the investment bank.

The firm has been talking to potential buyers for its securitised products group, a trading business with Us$75bil (Rm345bil) in assets by one measure.

The unit buys and sells securities that are backed by pools of mortgages and other assets, such as car loans and credit-card debts.

Apollo Global Management Inc and BNP Paribas SA are among investors showing interest in acquiring at least part of it, people with knowledge of the matter have said.

Credit Suisse previously said that it’s looking for third-party funds for the unit, which is profitable but uses a lot of capital.

Executives have indicated they would like to keep a stake in the business.

The bank has also floated the idea of giving dealmakers an equity stake in their unit, auguring a possible spinout, Bloomberg reported previously.

Executives recently floated the idea internally of bringing back the storied First Boston brand, which it retired about 17 years ago.

Under one proposal, the Swiss lender would rename the US investment banking operations.

If pursued, a rebranding would heighten speculation that Credit Suisse could eventually spin off or separate the investment banking unit, though people familiar with the matter said there were no immediate plans to split off the division.

Credit Suisse has denied a report that it was seeking a full-scale exit from the US. — Bloomberg