Credit Suisse’s Risk Department Every Bit As Weak, Bullied As Credit Suisse’s Actions Suggest
Credit Suisse’s Risk Department Every Bit As Weak, Bullied As Credit Suisse’s Actions SuggestDespite earlier reassurances to the contrary, where there’s this much smoke, there is a raging risk and compliance fire.- Author:Jon Shazar
- Publish date:May 11, 2022
Despite earlier reassurances to the contrary, where there’s this much smoke, there is a raging risk and compliance fire.
Reviewing the Conradian tale of horror and woe that has been Credit Suisse over the past couple of years, new Chairman Axel Lehmann—new because of one of those chapters, the COVID-rulebreaking-foreshortened tenure of his predecessor—has come to the conclusion that maybe its troubles run deeper than a few bad apples, like the banker ripping off the Georgian prime minister or the chief operating officer covertly running a global espionage agency. “It has become clear that the challenges of the past were not solely attributable to the isolated poor decisions or to individual decision maker,” he, presumably painfully, acknowledged.
To be sure, Credit Suisse has come dangerously close to this kind of self-knowledge amidst the nightmares, implicitly acknowledged in the hire of a counterparty market risk chief and somewhat more explicitly in its own internal review which found no one at the helm of the ship. And, with the benefit of hindsight and also not being there any more, Lehmann’s not alone in his painful moment of reckoning.
“We had historically weak compliance combined with high risk-taking businesses,” says a former executive who worked in the bank’s risk department. “The structure also made it very difficult to see total global risk — it was like playing hide and seek….”
Credit Suisse commissioned a similar report into its failings over the Greensill affair, which was conducted by Deloitte and Swiss law firm Walder Wyss…. [A] person who has seen the report says its findings are broadly similar to those uncovered by the Archegos report: commercially minded executives overriding concerns raised by weak risk managers. “We made mistakes, but without the front office caring about managing risk and compliance, something was bound to happen,” the former risk manager says.
Speaking of things that were bound to happen, when you lose investors about $6 billion in a spectacular hedge fund collapse, it’s probably eventually going to cost you about $6 billion. Which it now has for Allianz.
Allianz SE is setting aside an additional 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) to resolve lawsuits and regulatory probes tied to the collapse of a group of its hedge funds two years ago…. The charges bring the total cost from the implosion of the Florida-based Structured Alpha funds to 5.6 billion euros, after the insurer announced a 3.7 billion-euro hit earlier in a first round of settlements with investors.
Credit Suisse admits lax approach led to scandals [FT]
Allianz Hit From Hedge Fund Implosion Reaches $5.9 Billion [Bloomberg]
For more of the latest in litigation, regulation, deals and financial services trends, sign up for Finance Docket, a partnership between Breaking Media publications Above the Law and Dealbreaker.
Tagsterms:Greensill CapitalHedge FundsCredit SuisseWalder WyssRisk ManagementDeloitteAllianz Global InvestorsAxel LehmannArchegos Capital ManagementBanksBy Jon Shazar
BanksCredit Suisse Shareholders Open Door To Lawsuits, Simultaneously Begin Filing ThemA modicum of competence and attention to fiduciary duties may be necessary to get that legal liability discharge.
BanksCredit Suisse To Stop Doing Thing It Wasn’t Making Any Money On AnywayBut which was putting it a huge legal, regulatory and financial risk for nothing.
BanksYou Know, When Credit Suisse Really Thinks About It, Maybe It Should Have Someone Reviewing Counterparty RiskWhatever could have led it to this insight?
BanksBanks Seem Willing To Accept No Money In Exchange For Pretending Archegos Doesn’t Exist, Never HappenedAllianz also accepts that discretion is the better part of valor.
BanksZürich Man Gets Worst Job In WorldCongratulations would usually be in order for a promotion, but Rafael Lopez Lorenzo seems more in need of commiserations.
BanksAt Last Thomas Gottstein Has A Credit Suisse Fire Of His Own Making To FightThe rock of respectability has rolled back down the Alps.
BanksCredit Suisse Is Gonna Go Ahead And Cut Off Its Greensill Funds, Future Legal LiabilityYou mean to tell me that SoftBank and the Swiss joined forces to back a loser?
BanksCredit Suisse Investor Would Like To Know A Bit More About That $5.5 Billion Loss, Suspects Bank May Not Be Especially Well-RunIn fact, Norges Bank Investment Management would like a pretty thorough check before it forgoes its right to sue everyone.
© 2022 Breaking Media Inc.Introducing Jobbguru: Your Gateway to Career Success
The ultimate job platform is designed to connect job seekers with their dream career opportunities. Whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone seeking a career change, Jobbguru provides you with the tools and resources to navigate the job market with ease.
Take the next step in your career with Jobbguru:
Don't let the perfect job opportunity pass you by. Join Jobbguru today and unlock a world of career possibilities. Start your journey towards professional success and discover your dream job with Jobbguru.
Originally posted on: https://dealbreaker.com/2022/05/credit-suisse-yea-actually-we-pretty-much-just-ignored-compliance-and-risk-management