UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Form 6-K
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REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
February 21, 2014
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)
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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)
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
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Form 20-F
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Form 40-F
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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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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Yes
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No
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If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-.
This report 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. 333-180300) and the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (file no. 333-101259).
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CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG
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Paradeplatz 8
P.O. Box
CH-8070 Zurich
Switzerland
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Telephone +41 844 33 88 44
Fax +41 44 333 88 77
media.relations@credit-suisse.com
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Media Release
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Credit Suisse Group announces settlement with SEC in US cross-border matter; US Department of Justice matter remains ongoing
Under the SEC settlement, Credit Suisse has agreed to pay CHF 174 million (USD 196 million) which was recorded in 4Q13 results as a litigation provision
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Zurich, February 21, 2014 Credit Suisse Group announces that it has reached a settlement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of the SEC’s investigation of unregistered broker-dealer and investment advisor services to US clients. The administrative order filed today resolves the SEC’s investigation regarding Credit Suisse’s Private Banking cross-border brokerage and investment advisory services to US clients.
Under the SEC settlement, Credit Suisse has agreed to pay USD 196 million (CHF 174 million), which includes USD 82 million in disgorgement, USD 64 million in interest and a USD 50 million penalty. This full amount was covered by the increase in litigation provisions we took in the fourth quarter of 2013.
We are pleased to have resolved this issue with the SEC. The Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation into tax-related issues remains outstanding, and while we continue to work to resolve this matter, the timing and outcome remain uncertain.
Information
Media Relations Credit Suisse AG, telephone +41 844 33 88 44, media.relations@credit-suisse.com
Investor Relations Credit Suisse AG, telephone +41 44 333 71 49, investor.relations@credit-suisse.com
Credit Suisse AG
Credit Suisse AG is one of the world's leading financial services providers and is part of the Credit Suisse group of companies (referred to here as 'Credit Suisse'). As an integrated bank, Credit Suisse offers clients its combined expertise in the areas of private banking, investment banking and asset management. Credit Suisse provides advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as to retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is headquartered in Zurich and operates in over 50 countries worldwide. The group employs approximately 46,000 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse's parent company, 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.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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, objectives or goals;
– our future economic performance or prospects;
– the potential effect on our future performance of certain contingencies; and
– assumptions underlying any such statements.
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 except as may be required by applicable securities laws. 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,
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Media Release
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February 21, 2014
Page 2/2
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objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include:
– the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access capital markets;
– market and interest rate fluctuations and interest rate levels;
– 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 continued slow economic recovery or downturn in the US or other developed countries in 2014 and beyond;
– the direct and indirect impacts of continuing deterioration or slow recovery in residential and commercial real estate markets;
– adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies in respect of sovereign issuers, structured credit products or other credit-related exposures;
– the ability to achieve our strategic objectives, including improved performance, reduced risks, lower costs, and more efficient use of capital;
– the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us;
– the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, trade and tax policies, and currency fluctuations;
– political and social developments, including war, civil unrest or terrorist activity;
– 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;
– actions taken by regulators with respect to our business and practices in one or more of the countries in which we conduct our operations;
– the effects of changes in laws, regulations or accounting policies or practices;
– competition 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;
– 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;
– the adverse resolution of litigation and other contingencies;
– the ability to achieve our cost efficiency goals and cost targets; and
– our success at managing 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 2012.
Additional Information
In the now-settled administrative and cease-and-desist proceeding referenced in the press release reproduced above, the SEC had charged Credit Suisse AG with violating Section 15(a) of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Section 203(a) of the US Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). Specifically, the settlement order finds that from at least 2002 through its exit from the US cross-border securities business which Credit Suisse AG began in 2008, Credit Suisse AG, through actions of certain of its relationship managers, violated the federal securities laws by providing certain cross-border brokerage and investment advisory services to US clients at a time when Credit Suisse AG was not registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. As part of the settlement of the investigation, Credit Suisse AG agreed, among other things, to cease-and-desist from committing or causing any future violations of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act or Section 203(a) of the Advisers Act and to pay the amounts referenced in the press release. Credit Suisse AG also agreed to the appointment of an independent consultant who will review its cross-border compliance policies with respect to the US securities laws and will verify that Credit Suisse AG has exited the US cross-border business.
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.
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CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and CREDIT SUISSE AG
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(Registrants)
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By:
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/s/ Christian Schmid
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Christian Schmid
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Managing Director
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| /s/ Stephan Flückiger | ||
| Stephan Flückiger | ||
| Date: February 21, 2014 | Director |