Zurich: Credit Suisse has postponed publication of its annual report after a last-minute call from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which raised questions about its earlier financial statements.
The unusual intervention by the US regulator is the latest blow for Credit Suisse as the lender reels from a series of scandals and setbacks that have sent its share price plunging and led clients to withdraw billions.
Credit Suisse shares were down around 6 per cent and close to their all-time low in early afternoon trading in Zurich on Thursday.
The bank said the SEC had called it late on Wednesday regarding “certain open SEC comments about the technical assessment of previously disclosed revisions to the consolidated cash flow statements in the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, as well as related controls.” The bank had revised how it booked a series of cash flows, including share-based compensation and foreign exchange hedges.
Credit Suisse said that following the call it decided to postpone publication of the annual report.
“Management believes it is prudent to briefly delay the publication of its accounts in order to understand more thoroughly the comments received,” it said, adding that the 2022 financial results “are not impacted”.
The SEC did not immediately respond to a call and an email request for comment made by Reuters outside of business hours.
Other regulatory authorities besides the SEC were not involved, a person familiar with the matter said.
