UBS CEO Ermotti warns against strict capital rules ahead of vote
Summary
UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti has expressed strong concerns regarding proposed strict capital requirements ahead of a significant parliamentary vote in Switzerland that could affect the bank's financial future. With the Swiss upper house set to vote on capital rules shaped by the collapse of Credit Suisse and UBS's subsequent emergency takeover of the bank, Ermotti warned that the government's plan for UBS to back its foreign units exclusively with Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital is excessive. This follows the government's rationale for tougher regulations to protect taxpayers, which includes a proposal that UBS must hold an additional $20 billion in capital. Ermotti suggested that while some adjustments to the rules could be manageable, demands for 90% or 100% capital backing could severely hinder UBS’s competitiveness and its operational decisions in Switzerland.