Credit Suisse Group AG announces completion of its 2019 share buyback program and start of its new 2020 share buyback program

Credit Suisse Group AG (“Credit Suisse”) announces that on December 30, 2019 it completed its 2019 share buyback program, which commenced on January 14, 2019 (the “2019 Share Repurchase Program”). Under the 2019 Share Repurchase Program, Credit Suisse repurchased 79,818,000 of its shares on a second trading line on SIX Swiss Exchange for a total of CHF 1,000,244,961 at an average purchase price per share of CHF 12.53.

Separately, Credit Suisse will commence a new share buyback program in January 2020 (the “2020 Share Repurchase Program”), following the announcement of the program at Investor Day on December 11, 2019. 

The Board of Directors of Credit Suisse approved a buyback of Credit Suisse shares of up to CHF 1.5 billion in 2020. Credit Suisse expects to buy back at least CHF 1.0 billion of shares until the end of 2020, subject to market and economic conditions.

Credit Suisse will acquire its own shares on a second trading line on SIX Swiss Exchange subject to deduction of applicable Swiss federal withholding tax. The repurchased shares are expected to be cancelled by means of a capital reduction to be proposed at future annual general meetings of shareholders.

Detailed information on the 2019 Share Repurchase Program and 2020 Share Repurchase Program can be found in the buyback notices that are available on the Share capital & statistics webpage. 

Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse is one of the world’s leading financial services providers. Our strategy builds on Credit Suisse’s core strengths: its position as a leading wealth manager, its specialist investment banking capabilities and its strong presence in our home market of Switzerland. We seek to follow a balanced approach to wealth management, aiming to capitalize on both the large pool of wealth within mature markets as well as the significant growth in wealth in Asia Pacific and other emerging markets, while also serving key developed markets with an emphasis on Switzerland. Credit Suisse employs approximately 47,440 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse Group AG are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This document contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, in the future we, and others on our behalf, may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the following:

• our plans, targets or goals;
• our future economic performance or prospects;
• the potential effect on our future performance of certain contingencies; and
• assumptions underlying any such statements.

Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends” and “plans” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other outcomes described or implied in forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause results to differ materially from the plans, targets, goals, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include:

• the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access capital markets;
• market volatility and interest rate fluctuations and developments affecting interest rate levels;
• the strength of the global economy in general and the strength of the economies of the countries in which we conduct our operations, in particular the risk of continued slow economic recovery or downturn in the EU, the US or other developed countries or in emerging markets in 2019 and beyond;
• the direct and indirect impacts of deterioration or slow recovery in residential and commercial real estate markets;
• adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies in respect of us, sovereign issuers, structured credit products or other credit-related exposures;the ability to achieve our strategic goals, including those related to our targets and financial goals;
• the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us;
• the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, exchange rate, trade and tax policies, as well as currency fluctuations;
• political and social developments, including war, civil unrest or terrorist activity;
• the possibility of foreign exchange controls, expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of assets in countries in which we conduct our operations;
• operational factors such as systems failure, human error, or the failure to implement procedures properly;
• the risk of cyber attacks, information or security breaches or technology failures on our business or operations;
• the adverse resolution of litigation, regulatory proceedings and other contingencies;
• actions taken by regulators with respect to our business and practices and possible resulting changes to our business
• organization, practices and policies in countries in which we conduct our operations;the effects of changes in laws, regulations or accounting or tax standards, policies or practices in countries in which we conduct our operations;
• the potential effects of changes in our legal entity structure;
• competition or changes in our competitive position in geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations;
• the ability to retain and recruit qualified personnel;
• the ability to maintain our reputation and promote our brand;
• the ability to increase market share and control expenses;
• technological changes;
• the timely development and acceptance of our new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users;
• acquisitions, including the ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully, and divestitures, including the ability to sell non-core assets; and
• other unforeseen or unexpected events and our success at managing these and the risks involved in the foregoing.

We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. When evaluating forward-looking statements, you should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events, including the information set forth in “Risk factors” in I – Information on the company in our Annual Report 2018.

Disclaimer

This information does not constitute an issue prospectus as defined in articles 652a and 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or in the Swiss Financial Services Act. No offer is being made in the United States of America or to U.S. persons. Any related offering materials must not be distributed in or sent to the United States and must not be used for the purpose of solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities in the United States.

This document was produced by and the opinions expressed are those of Credit Suisse as of the date of writing and are subject to change. It has been prepared solely for information purposes and for the use of the recipient. It does not constitute an offer or an invitation by or on behalf of Credit Suisse to any person to buy or sell any security. Any reference to past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future.