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Sustainability Report 2021
Sustainability Report 2021
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For the purposes of this document, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Credit Suisse Group,” “Credit Suisse,” the “Group,” the “firm” the “bank”, the “organization”, “we,” “us” and “our” mean Credit Suisse Group AG and its consolidated subsidiaries. The business of Credit Suisse AG, the direct bank subsidiary of the Group, is substantially similar to the Group, and these terms are used to refer to both when the subject is the same or substantially similar.

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 and that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic creates significantly greater uncertainty about forward-looking statements in addition to the factors that generally affect our business.

These factors include:

  • the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access capital markets;
  • market volatility, increases in inflation and interest rate fluctuations or developments affecting interest rate levels;
  • the ongoing significant negative consequences of the Archegos and supply chain finance funds matters and our ability to successfully resolve these matters;
  • our ability to improve our risk management procedures and policies and hedging strategies;
  • 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 negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets and the risk of continued slow economic recovery or downturn in the EU, the US or other developed countries or in emerging markets in 2022 and beyond;
  • the emergence of widespread health emergencies, infectious diseases or pandemics, such as COVID-19, and the actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain the outbreak or to counter its impact;
  • potential risks and uncertainties relating to the severity of impacts from COVID-19 and the duration of the pandemic, including potential material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
  • 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, ambitions and financial goals;
  • the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us and the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses;
  • the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, exchange rate, trade and tax policies;
  • the effects of currency fluctuations, including the related impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations due to moves in foreign exchange rates;
  • geopolitical and diplomatic tensions, instabilities and conflicts, including war, civil unrest, terrorist activity, sanctions or other geopolitical events or escalations of hostilities
  • political, social and environmental developments, including climate change;
  • the ability to appropriately address social, environmental and sustainability concerns that may arise from our business activities;
  • the effects of, and the uncertainty arising from, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU;
  • 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 reputation, business or operations, the risk of which is increased while large portions of our employees work remotely;
  • 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 discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank offered rates and the transition to alternative reference rates;
  • 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 protect our reputation and promote our brand;
  • the ability to increase market share and control expenses;
  • technological changes instituted by us, our counterparties or competitors;
  • 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 2021.

Important information about this publication

There is currently no universal definition or exhaustive list defining issues or factors that are covered by the concept of “ESG” (Environmental, Social and Governance). If not otherwise indicated, ESG is used interchangeably with the terms “sustainable” and “sustainability”. Unless indicated otherwise, the views expressed herein are based on Credit Suisse’s own assumptions and interpretation of ESG concepts at the time of writing. Credit Suisse’s views on ESG matters may evolve over time and are subject to change.

Information referenced in this document, whether via website links or otherwise, is not incorporated into this document. This document may provide the addresses of, or contain hyperlinks to, third-party websites. Credit Suisse has not reviewed such linked sites and takes no responsibility for the content contained therein. Any addresses or hyperlinks within this document (including addresses or hyperlinks to Credit Suisse’s own website material) is provided solely for your convenience and information and the content of the linked site does not in any way form part of this document. Accessing such website or following such link through this document or Credit Suisse’s website shall be at your own risk. Third parties mentioned in this document are not affiliated with Credit Suisse, unless otherwise disclosed. Any mention of the third parties should in no way be considered to be a solicitation or endorsement by Credit Suisse on behalf of the third parties named.

For more comprehensive information about our results and operations, including risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, please refer to our annual reports and quarterly reports available at www.credit-suisse.com.

We may not achieve all of the expected benefits of our strategic initiatives. Factors beyond our control, including but not limited to the market and economic conditions (including macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties, for example, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic), changes in laws, rules or regulations and other challenges discussed in our public filings, could limit our ability to achieve some or all of the expected benefits of these initiatives.

In particular, the terms “Estimate”, “Illustrative”, “Ambition”, “Objective”, “Outlook”, “Goal”, “Commitment” and “Aspiration” are not intended to be viewed as targets or projections, nor are they considered to be Key Performance Indicators. All such estimates, illustrations, ambitions, objectives, outlooks, goals, commitments and aspirations, as well as any other forward-looking statements described as targets or projections, are subject to a large number of inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are completely outside of our control. These risks, assumptions and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general market conditions, market volatility, increased inflation, interest rate volatility and levels, global and regional economic conditions, challenges and uncertainties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, political uncertainty, changes in tax policies, scientific or technological developments, evolving sustainability strategies, changes in the nature or scope of our operations, changes in carbon markets, regulatory changes, changes in levels of client activity as a result of any of the foregoing and other factors. Accordingly, these statements, which speak only as of the date made, are not guarantees of future performance and should not be relied on for any purpose. We do not intend to update these estimates, illustrations, ambitions, objectives, outlooks, goals, commitments, aspirations or any other forward-looking statements. For these reasons, we caution you not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements.

In preparing this document, management has made estimates and assumptions that affect the numbers presented. Actual results may differ. Annualized numbers do not take into account variations in operating results, seasonality and other factors and may not be indicative of actual, full-year results. Figures throughout this document may also be subject to rounding adjustments. All opinions and views constitute good faith judgments as of the date of writing without regard to the date on which the reader may receive or access the information. This information is subject to change at any time without notice and we do not intend to update this information.

Inclusion of information in this document is not an indication that the subject or information is material to our business or operating results or material to investors or that such information is required to be disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Materiality, as used in this document, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined for SEC reporting purposes and the information included in, and any issues identified as material for purposes of, this document may not be considered material for SEC reporting purposes.

This document has been prepared solely for purposes of illustration and discussion. Under no circumstances should the information contained herein be used or considered as an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, any security. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any security constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

Credit Suisse is subject to the Basel framework, as implemented in Switzerland, as well as Swiss legislation and regulations for systemically important banks, which include capital, liquidity, leverage and large exposure requirements and rules for emergency plans designed to maintain systemically relevant functions in the event of threatened insolvency.

Investors and others should note that we announce important company information (including quarterly earnings releases and financial reports as well as our annual sustainability report) to the investing public using press releases, SEC and Swiss ad hoc filings, our website and public conference calls and webcasts. We also routinely use our Twitter account @creditsuisse (https://twitter.com/creditsuisse), our LinkedIn account (https://www.linkedin.com/company/credit-suisse/), our Instagram accounts (https://www.instagram.com/creditsuisse_careers/ and https://www.instagram.com/creditsuisse_ch/), our Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/creditsuisse/) and other social media channels as additional means to disclose public information, including to excerpt key messages from our public disclosures. We may share or retweet such messages through certain of our regional accounts, including through Twitter at @csschweiz (https://twitter.com/csschweiz) and @csapac (https://twitter.com/csapac). Investors and others should take care to consider such abbreviated messages in the context of the disclosures from which they are excerpted. The information we post on these social media accounts is not a part of this document.

Certain material in this document has been prepared by Credit Suisse on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. Credit Suisse has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

The English language version of this document is the controlling version.

Inquiries

Credit Suisse Corporate Communications

Tel. +41 844 33 88 44

media.relations@credit-suisse.com

responsibility.corporate@credit-suisse.com

Concept & Design

SOURCE Associates AG, www.source.ch

Realization & Online Concept/Design

Management Digital Data AG, www.mdd.ch

Konoma GmbH, www.konoma.ch

Photography

Picture sources: Credit Suisse (6, 98, 152), Getty Images (34), Offset (1, 8, 83), Stocksy Images (47, 67), Shutterstock (6) Illustrations: Oculus Illustration GmbH, www.oculus-illustration.ch