The UBS-Credit Suisse merger: Helvetia’s gift

Prof. Dr. Pascal Böni from Swiss Nexia member firm Remaco Group, in association with Tilburg School of Economics and Management, Université de Neuchâtel and London Business School, has co-authored an insightful research paper on the Credit Suisse – UBS merger which took place in March 2023.

Research Abstract:

“The UBS- Credit Suisse (CS) merger in March 2023, one of the biggest banking unions in history, was an emergency rescue deal engineered by Swiss authorities to avoid more market-shaking turmoil in global banking. The merger resulted in a significant increase in the combined stakeholder net wealth, totalling 22.8 billion US dollars.

This increase was distributed around the merger announcement through abnormal returns to UBS stockholders (7.95%) and CS bondholders (34.74%), equivalent to approximately 5.1 billion and 18.8 billion US dollars, respectively. In contrast, CS stockholders experienced negative abnormal stockholder returns of -55% (-1.1 billion USD) while the UBS bonds’ value was not impacted by the merger.

We infer that UBS stockholders received a wealth transfer from CS stockholders and that this transfer is likely explained by unusual restrictions on the number of bidders for CS. The observed effects on bondholders’ wealth align with previous research on coinsurance and the implications of “too-big-to-fail” research findings.

We conclude that the combined wealth effect, which cannot be attributed to the short-term abnormal returns on securities of the two banks, is externally driven. It appears to come at the expense of taxpayers: the merger-bailout has increased Switzerland’s sovereign credit risk, resulting in an expected 6 to 7 billion US dollars in additional debt costs for the country.”

  • Click this link to read the full paper: here
  • Find an adapted blog-style version of the research here: here

*First published on SSRN.com on 26 June 2023

If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in this article, please contact:

Prof. Dr. Pascal Böni
CEO / Partner
Remaco Advisory Services AG
Switzerland
Epascal.boeni@remaco.com
T : +41 61 319 51 51
Wwww.remaco.com

Share:

Tax Insights

Case Studies

Poland-Polish VAT advice for UK-based industrial oven and furnace manufacturer

Poland-Polish VAT advice for UK-based industrial oven and furnace manufacturer

Global Insight — October 2024

France: Draft finance bill released for 2025

France: Draft finance bill released for 2025

Global Insight — September 2024

India: Foreign Companies may be required to file tax returns in India

India: Foreign Companies may be required to file tax returns in India

Case Studies

Expert advice for an Argentinian entertainment and event production company

Expert advice for an Argentinian entertainment and event production company

Global Insight — June 2024

Switzerland: Landmark Federal Supreme Court Decision on Disposal of Treasury Shares

Switzerland: Landmark Federal Supreme Court Decision on Disposal of Treasury Shares

Case Studies

U.S.-Incorporated International Golf Equipment Manufacturer

U.S.-Incorporated International Golf Equipment Manufacturer

Global Insight — June 2024

Doing Business and Investing in Albania – 2024 Edition

Doing Business and Investing in Albania – 2024 Edition

Case Studies

Tax due diligence for an acquisition of a Spanish company in the food...

Tax due diligence for an acquisition of a Spanish company in the food...

Global Insight — June 2024

Switzerland: Platform taxation – New challenges in online business

Switzerland: Platform taxation – New challenges in online business

Global Insight — May 2024

The Global Shift to E-Invoicing: Key takeaways from Mexico, Hungary and Poland

The Global Shift to E-Invoicing: Key takeaways from Mexico, Hungary and Poland

Global Insight — March 2024

Singapore budget highlights 2024

Singapore budget highlights 2024

Press releases — March 2024

AGN International and Nexia launch pathfinding collaborative alliance

AGN International and Nexia launch pathfinding collaborative alliance

Global Insight — March 2024

Sleepless in the C-suite: What matters keep CFOs / CEOs up at night?

Sleepless in the C-suite: What matters keep CFOs / CEOs up at night?

Global Insight — March 2024

TP Fact Sheet – Perspectives on the proposed transfer pricing legislative changes for...

TP Fact Sheet – Perspectives on the proposed transfer pricing legislative changes for...

Press releases — February 2024

Nexia announces appointment of new Global Director of Strategic Projects & Business Services

Nexia announces appointment of new Global Director of Strategic Projects & Business Services

Global Insight — February 2024

Tax Guide for Ukraine 2024

Tax Guide for Ukraine 2024

Press releases — November 2023

Nexia welcomes tax and consulting services specialist Chastang & Partners as a new...

Nexia welcomes tax and consulting services specialist Chastang & Partners as a new...

Global Insight — November 2023

France is implementing an attractive tax credit for investments in favour of green...

France is implementing an attractive tax credit for investments in favour of green...

Case Studies

US-based mid-size construction and engineering contractor

US-based mid-size construction and engineering contractor

Global Insight — August 2023

Do you have a webshop with Hungarian customers? – you may have these...

Do you have a webshop with Hungarian customers? – you may have these...

Global Insight — August 2023

Navigating UK PAYE obligations for overseas companies

Navigating UK PAYE obligations for overseas companies

Global Insight — August 2023

Investing in a French holiday property via an entity – be careful with...

Investing in a French holiday property via an entity – be careful with...

Global Insight — August 2023

Unlocking the Hungarian market: A must for foreign financial and credit institutions

Unlocking the Hungarian market: A must for foreign financial and credit institutions

Global Insight — July 2023

Brazil update: Impacts of Provisional Measure 1,171/2023 – taxation of earnings accrued abroad

Brazil update: Impacts of Provisional Measure 1,171/2023 – taxation of earnings accrued abroad

Global Insight — July 2023

Tax Guide for Ukraine 2023

Tax Guide for Ukraine 2023

Global Insight — June 2023

New financial and legal perspectives for restructuring in the EU

New financial and legal perspectives for restructuring in the EU

Press releases — June 2023

Nexia firms collaborate in the nascent global cannabis market

Nexia firms collaborate in the nascent global cannabis market

Global Insight — June 2023

Canadian underused housing tax targets foreign investors and addresses real estate market challenges

Canadian underused housing tax targets foreign investors and addresses real estate market challenges

Global Insight — May 2023

Tax reform and AHV financing (STAF) relief measures under the OECD minimum tax...

Tax reform and AHV financing (STAF) relief measures under the OECD minimum tax...

Global Insight — April 2023

The role of the accounting expert in fiscal optimisation in the construction field

The role of the accounting expert in fiscal optimisation in the construction field

Global Insight — February 2023

Foreign online shops will be required to appoint a tax representative in Hungary...

Foreign online shops will be required to appoint a tax representative in Hungary...

Global Insight — February 2023

The resource crunch in accountancy – How firms can cope

The resource crunch in accountancy – How firms can cope

Global Insight — January 2023

New list of medium taxpayers: SAF-T reporting in Romania

New list of medium taxpayers: SAF-T reporting in Romania