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The Credit Suisse Group (SWX:CSGN, ) is a financial services company, headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. It is the second-largest Swiss bank, behind UBS AG. Credit Suisse was founded in 1856 under the name Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (SKA, Swiss Credit Institution). The bank has recently been reorganized into three divisions, Investment Banking, Private Banking, and Asset Management. In 1940, it opened its first branch outside of Switzerland, in New York City. In 1988, it gained a controlling stake in The First Boston Corporation, hence the name of its investment banking unit Credit Suisse First Boston. In 1993, Credit Suisse Group bought Schweizerische Volksbank (People's Bank of Switzerland). In 1996 the two retail banks were merged and renamed to Credit Suisse. During the dot-com boom in 2000 Credit Suisse acquired the investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) and its e-commerce software portfolio. DLJ Direct, the software was later sold off to the Bank of Canada.
Two divisions (Credit Suisse, and Credit Suisse First Boston) are integrating under the "One Bank" programme. Credit Suisse has reorganized into three key divisions: investment banking, private banking, and asset management.
Structure
The Credit Suisse Group is structured in three divisions, Investment Banking, Private Banking, and Asset Management. On January 16, 2006, Credit Suisse First Boston, now the Investment Banking division, re-branded, becoming simply Credit Suisse.
Credit Suisse
The Credit Suisse business unit is a leading provider of comprehensive financial services in Europe and other selected markets. Credit Suisse offers investment products, private banking and financial advisory services for private and corporate clients.- Private Banking - Private Banking is one of the world’s largest private banking organizations with branches in Switzerland and numerous international markets. Private Banking specializes in providing personal investment counseling and professional asset management to affluent and high-net-worth individuals.
- Corporate & Retail Banking - In Corporate & Retail Banking, Credit Suisse occupies a leading position in the Swiss market. It provides a wide range of high-quality banking services for private and corporate clients in Switzerland. In addition, it offers clients user-friendly and innovative online banking services.
- Financial Institutions - Expert to expert banking. Professional advice and tailor-made solutions for banks and financial institutions all around the world.
Credit Suisse First Boston (Renamed Credit Suisse, Investment Banking Division)
Credit Suisse First Boston (Renamed Credit Suisse) is a proven leader across the spectrum of investment banking, capital markets and financial services, ranking in the top tier in virtually all major business segments. Credit Suisse (First Boston)'s organizational structure focuses on providing the highest quality of client-centric services.- Institutional Securities - Securities serves the broad needs of institutional clients with expertise in Equities, Fixed Income, Prime Services and Research. Investment Banking serves corporate clients' needs through Mergers and Acquisitions, Equity Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Private Placements and Leveraged Finance services.
Asset Management
In its asset management business, Credit Suisse offers products across the full spectrum of investment classes, ranging from equities, fixed income and multiple-asset class products, to alternative investments such as real estate, hedge funds, private equity and volatility management. Credit Suisse’s asset management business manages portfolios, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles for a broad spectrum of clients ranging from governments, institutions and corporations to private individuals. With offices focused on asset management in 18 countries, Credit Suisse’s asset management business is operated as a globally integrated network to deliver the bank’s best investment ideas and capabilities to clients around the world.Winterthur was divested from Credit Suisse on 06/14/2006. AXA aquired the leading Swiss insurance company from Credit Suisse Group for about 8 billion Euros.
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Units
The company has three operating units as of 2004.
- Credit Suisse, private bank
- Credit Suisse First Boston, investment bank (renamed Credit Suisse 1/16/2006)
- Credit Suisse Asset Management, asset management.
History
- 1856 - Credit Suisse founded
- 1905 - First branch (in Basel)
- 1940 - First branch outside Switzerland (in New York)
- 1978 - Start of co-operation with The First Boston Corporation
- 1988 - Controlling stake in The First Boston Corporation
- 1989 - CS Holding became parent company of the Group
- 1990 - Acquisition of Bank Leu
- 1993 - Acquisition of Swiss Volksbank
- 1994 - Strategic alliance with Swiss Re
- 1995 - Strategic alliance with Winterthur Group
- 1996 - CS Holding becomes Credit Suisse Group
- 1997 - Merger with Winterthur Group
- 2000 - Acquisition of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ)
- 2002 - Streamlining of the Group's organizational structure into two business units: Credit Suisse Financial Services and Credit Suisse First Boston
- 2004 - Focussing the Group's organizational structure on three business units:Credit Suisse, Credit Suisse First Boston and Winterthur
- 2006 - Credit Suisse divests Winterthur to AXA
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Mergers & Acquisitions
CSFB USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Credit Suisse First Boston Inc., which is, in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of CS. CS is a wholly owned subsidiary of CSG. CSFB USA was created through the merger with DLJ, which was closed on Nov. 3, 2000. CSFB LLC, CSFB's principal U.S. registered broker-dealer subsidiary, became a subsidiary of DLJ, and DLJ changed its name to CSFB USA.Prior to the DLJ Merger, the Credit Suisse Group (CS) purchased First Boston in 1988 creating CS First Boston. The Firms bulge bracket status came after the merger with Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette (DLJ).
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Quick facts
- Frank Quattrone, was poached from Deutsche Bank and helped CS jump to the top of the tech and Internet advisory league tables in the late 90's.
- CS was ranked #2 in the total volume of high-yield bond issuance and #1 in high-yield transactions in 2004, it also held the #3 position in global IPO underwriting in 2004.
- CS was awarded the Best Foreign Investment Bank in Indonesia in 2005.
- Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) and Morgan Stanley were principal underwriters of the 2004 Google IPO.
- First Boston along with Salomon Brothers were the original creators of the collateralized mortgage obligation, it was invented in June 1983. Along with junk bonds, the CMO is considered one of the most important financial innovation of the 1980s.
- Winterthur was divested to AXA, the French insurance company for approximately $10B on July 14th, 2006.
External links
Company sites
Company data
Competitors
Banks of Switzerland | Companies listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange
"Credit Suisse"