Credit Suisse 6-K Current report (foreign)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________

Form 6-K

______________

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

March 16, 2021

Commission File Number 001-15244

CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Paradeplatz 8, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland

(Address of principal executive office)

______________

Commission File Number 001-33434

CREDIT SUISSE AG

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

Paradeplatz 8, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland

(Address of principal executive office)

______________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

This report on Form 6-K is being filed by Credit Suisse Group AG and Credit Suisse AG and is hereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (file no. 333-238458) and the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (file nos. 333-101259, 333-208152 and 333-217856), except for the sentence “Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.” Information contained on our website or referenced in this report via website links is not incorporated by reference into this report.

Media Release Zurich, March 16, 2021

Trading Update

Zurich, March 16, 2021 – Thomas Gottstein, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse, is due to present at the annual Morgan Stanley European Financials Conference today.

Ahead of that, Credit Suisse issues the following update prior to entering the close of the period for its first quarter results on March 31, 2021, which are scheduled to be announced on April 22, 2021.

At our 4Q20 results announcement on February 18, 2021, we noted in our outlook statement that Credit Suisse has seen a strong start to 2021. This has continued over the last month, with the Group achieving the highest level of income before taxes in both January and February in a decade. Our Investment Bank division is benefitting from a particularly strong performance in capital markets issuance activity and from a continued good performance across sales & trading, with overall Investment Bank year-to-date revenues up over 50% compared to the same period last year. Increased YoY client activity is also benefitting all three of our Wealth Management-related businesses, led by growth in Global Trading Solutions (GTS), and with particular strength in the Asia Pacific division, while sequentially net interest income is stabilizing and recurring commissions and fees continue to trend up. Notwithstanding the continued COVID-19 pandemic, our credit loss experience remains benign, with signs of improvement in the global economy beginning to benefit allowance for credit losses under the current expected credit loss (CECL) accounting methodology.

With regard to the suspension and liquidation of the supply chain finance funds (with an aggregate net asset value of approximately USD 10 billion as published in late February 2021) managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM) with assets originated and structured by Greensill Capital, Credit Suisse’s priority remains the recovery of funds for CSAM’s investors. CSAM are working closely with the administrators of Greensill Capital, Grant Thornton, and with other parties to facilitate this process. Initial redemption repayments totalling USD 3.1 billion across the four funds have been made beginning on March 8, 2021. The funds’ management companies intend to announce further cash distributions over the coming months, and we will update fund investors accordingly. With respect to the collateralized USD 140 million bridge loan made by Credit Suisse to Greensill Capital last year, USD 50 million has been recently repaid by the administrators of Greensill Capital, reducing the outstanding collateralized loan to USD 90 million. While these issues are still at an early stage, we would note that it is possible that Credit Suisse will incur a charge in respect of these matters.

Contact details

Investor Relations, Credit Suisse

Tel: +41 44 333 71 49

Email: investor.relations@credit-suisse.com

Corporate Communications, Credit Suisse

Tel: +41 844 33 88 44

E-mail: media.relations@credit-suisse.com

Page 1/3

Media Release Zurich, March 16, 2021

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 48,770 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.

Important information

This document contains certain unaudited interim financial information for the first quarter of 2021. This information has been derived from management accounts, is preliminary in nature, does not reflect the complete results of the first quarter of 2021 and is subject to change, including as a result of any normal quarterly adjustments in relation to the financial statements for the first quarter of 2021. This information has not been subject to any review by our independent registered public accounting firm. There can be no assurance that the final results for these periods will not differ from these preliminary results, and any such differences could be material. Quarterly financial results for the first quarter of 2021 will be included in our 1Q21 Financial Report. These interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved for the remainder of the first quarter of 2021 or the full first quarter of 2021.

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” and “Goal” 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 and goals 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, 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, regulatory changes, changes in levels of client activity as a result of any of the foregoing and other factors. Accordingly, this information should not be relied on for any purpose. We do not intend to update these estimates, illustrations, ambitions, objectives, outlooks or goals.

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 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.

References to Wealth Management-related mean the Swiss Universal Bank, International Wealth Management and Asia Pacific divisions or their combined results.

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.

Information referenced in this document, whether via website links or otherwise, is not incorporated into this document.

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

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.

Page 2/3

Media Release Zurich, March 16, 2021

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 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 and interest rate fluctuations and developments affecting interest rate levels, including the persistence of a low or negative interest rate environment;

 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 2021 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;

 political, social and environmental developments, including war, civil unrest or terrorist activity and 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 expected 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 maintain 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 2019 and in “Risk factor” in I – Credit Suisse in our 1Q20 Financial Report.

Copyright © 2021 CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Page 3/3

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

		CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and CREDIT SUISSE AG
		(Registrants)
	By:	/s/ Flavio Lardelli
		Flavio Lardelli
		Director
		/s/ Annina Müller
		Annina Müller
Date: March 16, 2021		Vice President