Credit Suisse

ABOUT THIS COMPANY:

International player

Credit Suisse Group is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, operating in more than 50 countries and employing more than 48,000 people. Its three primary business divisions are investment banking, private banking, and asset management. Credit Suisse’s investment banking business encompasses equities, fixed income, prime services, the advisory services, and research. The advisory services department delivers a full range of corporate finance solutions, including M&A, leverage finance, equity and debt financings, IPOs, and financial restructuring. Credit Suisse’s history dates back to 1856; nearly a century later, as World War II raged in Europe, the bank opened its first international branch (outside of Switzerland) in New York City in 1942. In 1978, the bank began a partnership with The First Boston Corporation in the U.S., acquiring a controlling stake in the firm 10 years later (after which the bank was renamed Credit Suisse First Boston). In 2006, Credit Suisse Group rebranded to create an “integrated bank,” and its investment bank dropped the First Boston affiliation and became known as simply Credit Suisse. Unlike many of its competitors, Credit Suisse managed to stay out of (negative) headlines during the worldwide credit crisis and did not need to rely on government funding to stay afloat. In fact, the firm emerged as one of the handful of big banks relatively unscathed by the crisis and, in 2010, was named the "Best Global Bank" by Euromoney magazine. Come 2011, like many of its competitors, it was also forced to reduce headcount in the face of souring markets worldwide. Today, Credit Suisse is led by CEO Brady Dougan; its investment bank is overseen by Eric Varvel.