Sergio Ermotti returns as UBS CEO to steer Credit Suisse takeover

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Swiss bank UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti addresses a news conference in Zurich, Switzerland February 20, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

By John Revill

ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS Group AG (SIX:UBSG) has rehired Sergio Ermotti as CEO to steer its massive takeover of neighbour Credit Suisse - a surprise move to take advantage of the Swiss banker's experience rebuilding the bank after the global financial crisis.

The trader turned corporate problem fixer faces the tough challenge of laying off thousands of staff, cutting back Credit Suisse's investment bank and reassuring the world's wealthy that UBS remains a safe harbour for their cash.

"We felt we had a better horse," said UBS chairman Colm Kelleher of the decision to replace current CEO Ralph Hamers after less than three years in charge.

Kelleher said he brought back Ermotti because he was best equipped to see through the biggest deal in finance since the global banking crash more than a decade ago.

"This is not a Swiss solution," he said, seeking to play down any role of Ermotti's nationality in getting the job, and instead emphasised his focus was on the large risks of making the merger work for UBS.

    "Being Swiss helps," Kelleher said. "But the majority of our business is global."

Ermotti, who was chief executive of UBS from 2011 to 2020 and is now chairman of Swiss Re (OTC:SSREY), will take the helm from April 5. The 62-year old is credited with executing UBS's turnaround after a series of scandals and losses nearly caused the bank's implosion.

He made a plea on Wednesday for "a little bit of patience" over a "couple of months" to allow the bank to forge its strategic plan. "We cannot rush into decisions which are regrettable," he told journalists.

He said he had returned to UBS after feeling what he termed "a call of duty" and added he had always wanted to be involved in a massive transaction like the takeover of Credit Suisse.

He takes charge weeks after UBS bought its Swiss rival in a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities to stem turmoil after Credit Suisse ran aground.

That deal makes UBS Switzerland's one and only global bank, underpinned by roughly 260 billion francs ($283 billion) in state loans and guarantees, a risky bet that makes the Swiss economy more dependent on a single lender.

In a reminder of how UBS will be inheriting some of Credit Suisse's troubles, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee found on Wednesday the bank had violated a 2014 tax evasion deal and said its new owners or the Swiss government should assume responsibility for any future fines.

Still, UBS shares rose 3.6% on Wednesday, beating the Swiss blue chip index's 1.2% gain.

HAMERS HANDS OVER REINS

Analysts said Ermotti's experience paring back UBS's investment bank after the 2008 financial crash made him well equipped for the job.

"The decision to bring back Sergio Ermotti is very positive as it reduces integration and execution risk by 80%," said Davide Serra, CEO of Algebris Investments.

"Sergio has already reduced risk and made the investment bank serve its clients and not its investment bankers as Credit Suisse did. As a shareholder and bondholder I am very happy," he added.

(Graphic: UBS Group's valuation - https://www.reuters.com/graphics/UBSGROUP-CEO/byvrlmdgqve/chart.png)

Ermotti had earlier described the task of integrating UBS and Credit Suisse as "urgent and challenging".

Outgoing CEO Hamers, who had succeeded Ermotti in November 2020, "has agreed to step down to serve the interests of the new combination ... and the country," UBS said.

Hamers, who will stay on as an adviser, had no big-ticket M&A experience under his belt and faced the task of combining two banks with $1.6 trillion in assets, more than 120,000 staff and a complex balance sheet.

The Dutch executive was a notable absentee from the announcement of UBS's takeover of Credit Suisse on March 19. The next day, Hamers looked bleary eyed as he described the end of Credit Suisse as a "sad day" that nobody wanted.

A nearly 30-year veteran of Dutch lender ING, Hamers was a surprise choice when he was appointed to lead UBS, as he had little experience in investment banking or wealth management.

($1 = 0.9202 Swiss francs)