Investment Bank

2005

The pre-goodwill cost/income ratio rose to 70.5% in 2005 from 69.6% a year earlier. Revenue growth, driven by strong performances in investment banking and equities, was offset by higher personnel expenses.

The full-year compensation ratio, at 53%, rose two percentage points between 2004 and 2005. This reflects higher performance-related compensation and increased staff levels. In particular, client-facing business areas, which are more service intensive but use less capital, saw faster growth this year. Share-based compensation was also higher, since awards made in 2005 for the 2004 financial year contained an increased proportion of stock.

Market risk for the Investment Bank, as measured by the 10-day 99% Value at Risk (VaR), ended the year at CHF 355 million and averaged CHF 346 million for 2005, a slight increase on the 2004 year-end value of CHF 332 million but below the 2004 average of CHF 358 million.

Total loans were CHF 87 billion on 31 December 2005 compared with CHF 68 billion on 31 December 2004, reflecting our expanding prime brokerage and equity finance businesses as well as increased underwriting activity. The impaired loans to total loans ratio fell to 0.2% at the end of 2005 from 0.6% on 31 December 2004. The non-performing loans to total loans ratio fell to 0.2% from 0.4% in the same period.

The return on adjusted regulatory capital in 2005 was 28.6%, down 3.8 percentage points from the pre-goodwill return of 32.4% a year earlier, despite the growth in pre-tax profit. This reflects the 30% increase in risk-weighted assets which rose due to currency movements and in line with increased lending activity to the Investment Bank’s growing client base.

Results

2005 was our most profitable year since 2000. Pre-tax profit was CHF 5,181 million, up 12% from 2004. Before goodwill, pre-tax profit was up 6%. The result was driven by strong revenues in investment banking (up 31%) and in equities (up 18%), reflecting our successful expansion in significant growth areas such as M&A, in particular in Asia Pacific, equity derivatives and prime brokerage. Results in the fixed income, rates and currencies business were slightly lower than last year’s all-time high. Lower revenues in structured credit – mainly driven by lower volumes and following the turmoil in the automotive sector in second quarter 2005 – were offset by an increase in the rates business. At the same time, costs increased as our business continued to expand.

Operating income

Total operating income in 2005 was CHF 17,484 million, up 9% from CHF 16,083 million a year earlier, as revenues rose strongly in the equities business and in investment banking.

Equities revenues, at CHF 6,980 million in 2005, were up 18% from CHF 5,906 million in 2004. Significant drivers of the increase were the derivatives business in the Asia Pacific region and Europe as well as prime brokerage where we saw an impressive revenue gain in the US, reflecting the growth of our client base in the last 12 months. Our proprietary and our equity-linked businesses contributed slightly lower returns than the previous year.

Fixed income, rates and currencies revenues were CHF 7,962 million, down 4% from CHF 8,269 million a year earlier. Revenues in the rates business were up against the prior year as a result of rising revenues in energy trading and derivatives. Credit fixed income saw lower revenues in structured credit, notably in the US and in credit trading as well as in the high-yield sector. Credit default swaps hedging loan exposures recorded gains of CHF 103 million compared with losses of CHF 62 million a year earlier.

The foreign exchange business decreased as derivatives trading was negatively impacted by historically low volatility levels. This was partially offset by rising cash and collateral trading revenues due to higher market share and volumes.

Investment banking revenues, at CHF 2,506 million in 2005, increased 31% from CHF 1,915 million a year earlier. This reflected growth in each region. Advisory revenues grew significantly, in line with the strong momentum in the M&A business and our increased presence in important transactions. During 2005, our Investment Bank advised on a total of 343 transactions with a deal volume of USD 496 billion, more than double from 2004. Its pace last year exceeded market growth and included some of the largest deals announced during the year – among them advising Gillette on its sale to Procter & Gamble. Revenues in the capital markets business rose as well, mainly in debt underwriting and in global syndicated finance, reflecting improved market conditions and our strengthened competitive position.

Operating expenses

Higher personnel costs and increased allocated costs prompted total operating expenses in 2005 to rise to CHF 12,303 million, a 7% increase from CHF 11,473 million a year earlier.

Personnel expenses, at CHF 9,259 million in 2005, increased 14% from a year earlier, reflecting an increase in the bonus accrual and additional increased salaries due to higher staff levels. Share-based compensation rose 17% from prior year due to an increase in share-based awards and the higher UBS share price in 2005 compared with 2004.

General and administrative expenses were CHF 2,215 million in 2005, down 13% from 2004’s CHF 2,538 million. Provisions were lower than in 2004, when we recorded a civil penalty levied by the Federal Reserve Board relating to our banknote trading business. This was partially offset by an increase in IT and other outsourcing costs. Services from other business units increased to CHF 640 million in 2005 from CHF 226 million in 2004. Depreciation eased 44% to CHF 136 million in 2005 from CHF 243 million in 2004 due to the transfer of further IT infrastructure functions into our central ITI unit in Corporate Center. Amortization of goodwill ceased in 2005, while the amortization of other intangible assets, at CHF 53 million in 2005, was up 47% from CHF 36 million a year earlier due to the inclusion of the rest of Brunswick and the capital markets division of Charles Schwab, acquired in third quarter 2004, and the purchase of our remaining stake in Prediction, which became part of UBS in 2005.

2004

The pre-goodwill cost / income ratio improved to 69.6% in 2004 from 70.7% a year earlier. It reflected a strong revenue performance in all businesses.

Our compensation ratio in 2004 was 51%, down from 53% in 2003, reflecting the completion of the aggressive investment banking hiring program. Payout levels were driven by the revenue mix across business areas and managed in line with market levels.

Total loans were CHF 68 billion on 31 December 2004, up 24% from CHF 55 billion a year earlier, reflecting the strengthened business franchise. Continued successful recovery efforts led the ratio of impaired loans to total loans to fall to 0.6% at the end of 2004 from 1.1% on 31 December 2003. The non-performing loans to total loans ratio fell to 0.4% from 0.6% in the same period.

From the beginning of 2005, private equity investments were reported as part of the Industrial Holding segment. Figures were restated for 2003 and 2004 to reflect the change.

Results

Pre-tax profit was CHF 4,610 million in 2004, up 18% from a year earlier and at its highest level since 2000. Our result was achieved despite the significant weakening of the US dollar against the Swiss franc and reflected revenue growth across all our businesses. In particular, our fixed income, rates and currencies business posted a record result, up 4% from 2003, while the equities business reported a 21% increase in revenues on the strong improvement in market conditions. Investment banking also contributed to our result, recording revenues of CHF 1,915 million, a 12% improvement compared to 2003. At the same time, costs increased as our businesses continued to expand, with specific operational provisions also a factor.

Operating income

Total operating income in 2004 was CHF 16,083 million, up 11% from CHF 14,455 million a year earlier, reflecting strong improvements in all businesses.

Equities revenues, at CHF 5,906 million in 2004, were up 21% from CHF 4,875 million in 2003. Growth in revenues occurred around the globe, but was particularly strong in the US and Europe. Significant increases were seen in secondary cash commissions and proprietary trading revenues. Prime brokerage saw an impressive revenue gain following the acquisition of ABN Amro’s prime brokerage business in the US.

Fixed income, rates and currencies revenues were CHF 8,269 million, up 4% from CHF 7,932 million a year earlier. Strong gains were seen in the rates business, mainly due to the structured LIBOR and mortgage businesses. Fixed income was driven by credit derivatives, emerging markets and global syndicated finance businesses, foreign exchange and cash and collateral trading. The positive result was slightly offset by lower revenues in our municipal securities business due to lower transaction and underwriting volumes and reduced derivative activity. Losses of CHF 62 million relating to Credit Default Swaps (CDSs) hedging existing credit exposure in the loan book had a negative impact on the fixed income, rates and currencies result. But they were significantly lower than the losses of CHF 678 million in 2003.

Investment banking revenues, at CHF 1,915 million in 2004, increased 12% from CHF 1,703 million a year earlier. Excluding currency fluctuations and hedging costs, revenues were up 32%, reflecting improving corporate activity levels. It was a record year for our global advisory business, with double-digit growth seen in Europe, the US and Asia. According to a Dealogic survey 1, we ranked fifth for investment banking fees in 2004 with a market share of 5.3%, up from sixth and a market share of 5.0% a year earlier.

Operating expenses

Higher personnel costs and general and administrative expenses prompted total operating expenses in 2004 to rise to CHF 11,473 million, a 9% increase from CHF 10,534 million a year earlier. Personnel expenses, at CHF 8,152 million in 2004, increased 5% from a year earlier, reflecting higher performance-related compensation, which rose due to higher revenues, as well as an increase in salaries reflecting the 9% rise in employees. General and administrative expenses were CHF 2,538 million in 2004, up 23% from 2003’s CHF 2,068 million. The increase reflected higher operational provisions, climbing professional fees and raised IT spending. This was partially offset by a drop in administration and occupancy expenses. Services from other business units increased to CHF 226 million in 2004 from CHF 175 million in 2003. Depreciation fell 2% to CHF 243 million in 2004 from CHF 248 million in 2003 on declining writeoffs. Amortization of goodwill, at CHF 278 million, was slighty down from a year earlier. Amortization of other intangible assets was CHF 36 million, up 33% from a year earlier, reflecting the ABN Amro acquisition.