The Qatar Investment Authority has doubled its stake in the ailing Swiss bank, becoming its secondbiggest
shareholder after the Saudi National Bank.The Qatar Investment Authority has doubled its stake in Credit Suisse, becoming the second-biggest shareholder after the Saudi National Bank and underlining the growing importance of Middle Eastern investors to the ailing Swiss bank.
Together with the SNB’s 10 per cent stake and 3 per cent held by the Olayan family of Saudi Arabia, the three Middle Eastern investors control more than a fifth of Credit Suisse stock.
Buffeted by a succession of crises, the Swiss bank launched a capital raise in October aimed at drawing in an additional SFr4bn from new and existing shareholders to pay for a radical restructuring of the group.
The Credit Suisse leadership has been courting Middle Eastern investors and wealthy clients in recent years, having identified the region for growth.
Chair Axel Lehmann was a guest of the Qatari government during the football World Cup final in December, which was held in Doha.
Harris Associates is not the only US investor to sell down its Credit Suisse stake.
Not a fan of Qatar because of the many problems they have but this could be good for Credit Suisse. I only wish the Swiss government would have done more for them and not allow outside companies/banks to get such a big share.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the idea of shady people/companies owning a big share of such a big bank for Switzerland. It doesn't sit well with me.
DeleteI don’t like it any more than you do but unfortunately they have the money to throw at these kinds of failing banks/companies.
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