UBS second-quarter profit before tax CHF 1.2 billion

Net profit attributable to UBS shareholders CHF 792 million; diluted EPS CHF 0.21
Wealth Management net new money CHF 10.7 billion
Fully applied Basel III CET1 ratio at 13.5%
Fully applied Swiss SRB leverage ratio at 4.2%
Resolution of German cross-border tax matter with Bochum authorities

Zurich/Basel, 29 July 2014 – All UBS’s business divisions and regions delivered strong second-quarter operating performances enabling the firm to achieve an adjusted1 profit before tax of CHF 1.2 billion despite muted client activity. On a reported basis, profit before tax was also CHF 1.2 billion. The firm continued to build its industry-leading capital position with its fully applied Basel III common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio increasing to 13.5%. The bank’s fully applied Swiss SRB leverage ratio increased to 4.2%, meeting its expected fully applied requirement four years early. Results in UBS’s wealth management businesses, Retail & Corporate and Global Asset Management were affected by charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters, which totaled CHF 254 million for the Group.

Excluding the abovementioned provisions, and considering market conditions, all business divisions delivered resilient performances. Excluding these provisions, Wealth Management achieved an adjusted¹ profit of CHF 684 million on stronger recurring income driven by its strategic initiatives to grow mandate sales and lending. The business attracted very strong net new money at CHF 10.7 billion. Wealth Management Americas delivered record revenues, and invested assets passed USD 1 trillion for the first time. Excluding provisions, Retail & Corporate delivered a performance on par with the strong prior quarter with solid net new business volume growth. Global Asset Management’s net new money was again very strong at CHF 11.6 billion excluding money market flows. The Investment Bank delivered higher profits, with an adjusted1 return on attributed equity of 30%.

UBS overall demonstrated again that its strategy works in a variety of market conditions.

Resolution of German cross-border tax matter with Bochum authorities
UBS resolved its cross-border tax matter in Germany with the authorities in Bochum in July. The settlement, which includes a payment of approximately EUR 300 million, concludes the Bochum proceedings. The resolution of this matter is a significant step allowing UBS to move forward in this important market. As a result of significant efforts by the bank, over 95% of its German clients have either provided UBS with evidence of tax compliance or completed the voluntary compliance program. UBS continues to target 100% by year-end.

Group highlights

  • Adjusted1 profit before tax CHF 1.2 billion
  • Net profit attributable to UBS shareholders CHF 792 million; diluted earnings per share CHF 0.21
  • Adjusted1 operating income CHF 7.0 billion
  • Fully applied Basel III CET1 ratio at 13.5%
  • Fully applied Swiss SRB Basel III leverage ratio at 4.2%, in line with expected 2019 fully applied requirement

Business division highlights

  • Wealth Management’s adjusted1 profit before tax CHF 393 million; net new money strong at CHF 10.7 billion; net new money growth rate at upper end of target range; gross margin on invested assets 84 basis points; adjusted1 cost / income ratio above target range
  • Wealth Management Americas’ adjusted1 profit before tax USD 246 million; net new money outflows USD 2.5 billion mainly due to client withdrawals associated with seasonal income tax payments; adjusted1 cost / income ratio and gross margin on invested assets maintained within target ranges
  • Retail & Corporate’s adjusted1 profit before tax CHF 367 million; continued strong net new business volume growth; net interest margin within target range
  • Global Asset Management’s adjusted1 profit before tax CHF 107 million; very strong net new money of CHF 11.6 billion excluding money market flows; annualized net new money growth rate, excluding money markets, well ahead of target
  • Investment Bank achieved an increased adjusted1 profit before tax of CHF 563 million; fully applied RWA and funded assets within limits; adjusted1 cost / income ratio within target range; adjusted1 return on attributed equity 30%

External recognition of UBS’s success included:

  • Euromoney named UBS Best Global Bank, and Best Bank in Switzerland for the third year running
  • UBS recognized as the largest wealth manager in the world for the second year running by Scorpio Partnership’s influential Global Private Banking Benchmark²
  • UBS’s standing as a leading brokerage house and research provider again confirmed as it gained the top position in several categories in the annual pan-European Thomson Reuters Extel Survey, including Leading Pan-European Equity House for the eleventh consecutive year
  • UBS won the international Contactless & Mobile Customer Experience award for its mobile banking authentication systems, and its mobile banking apps placed in the top three overall of 40 leading retail banks by MyPrivateBanking Research.

Commenting on UBS’s second-quarter results, Group Chief Executive Officer Sergio P. Ermotti said, "We delivered strong underlying results in a market environment that remained challenging for our clients and the industry. We also continued to actively address litigation matters, reduce our non-core and legacy assets and execute on our strategic initiatives."

Group overview
For the second quarter of 2014, we reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of CHF 792 million and diluted earnings per share of CHF 0.21. We recorded an adjusted Group profit before tax of CHF 1.2 billion. The result included net charges of CHF 254 million related to provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters which affected the results of several businesses as well as Corporate Center. Despite this, and the muted client activity levels experienced in the quarter, we delivered a strong underlying performance that again demonstrated our discipline, client focus and the strength of our franchise.

We continued to build on our industry-leading capital position as we increased our fully applied Basel III common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio to 13.5%. Our fully applied total capital ratio was 18.1% at quarter-end, surpassing our expected 2019 regulatory requirement of around 17.5%. In May, we issued USD 2.5 billion of low-trigger, loss-absorbing, Basel III-compliant subordinated notes, bringing our total low-trigger tier 2 capital above the 2019 expected progressive buffer requirement of around CHF 9 billion. As a result, our fully applied Swiss SRB leverage ratio improved to 4.2%, in line with our expected fully applied requirement.

Wealth Management reported an adjusted1 profit before tax of CHF 393 million. The result included charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. Excluding these charges, and considering market conditions, Wealth Management’s performance was resilient at CHF 684 million. Lombard lending, mandate sales and invested assets all rose, but were offset by lower transaction-based income on low volatility and volumes. The gross margin on invested assets was down 3 basis points to 84 basis points. The adjusted¹ cost / income ratio was above our current target range. Net new money remained very strong at CHF 10.7 billion and we achieved an annualized net new money growth rate at the upper end of our target range.

Wealth Management Americas reported an adjusted1 profit before tax of USD 246 million while delivering record revenues, and invested assets that exceeded USD 1 trillion for the first time. Operating income increased reflecting continued growth in managed account fees and higher net interest income. Operating expenses included charges of USD 44 million related to provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. Net new money outflows of USD 2.5 billion were mainly due to client withdrawals associated with seasonal income tax payments. The business maintained both its adjusted1 cost / income ratio and its gross margin on invested assets within target ranges.

Retail & Corporate achieved an adjusted1 profit before tax of CHF 367 million. Excluding charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters of CHF 48 million, the business delivered a performance on par with the strong prior quarter. Operating income increased mainly on higher net interest and transaction-based income, partly offset by net credit loss expenses. Net new business volume growth remained solid and was comfortably within the target range. The business’s net interest margin was within the target range. Our investment in e-banking, mobile banking innovation and security continued to receive critical acclaim, as we won the international Contactless & Mobile Customer Experience award for our mobile banking authentication systems, and our mobile banking apps placed in the top three leading retail banks by MyPrivateBanking Research.

Global Asset Management’s adjusted1 profit before tax was CHF 107 million. Operating income rose on higher net management fees, mainly in traditional investments and global real estate. This was more than offset by a CHF 33 million charge related to provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters, resulting in an adjusted1 cost / income ratio above the target range. The gross margin on invested assets was in line with the prior quarter and was slightly below the target range. Net new money, excluding money market flows, remained very strong at CHF 11.6 billion and included significant net inflows from both third parties and UBS’s wealth management clients. The annualized net new money growth rate, excluding money markets, was well ahead of target.

The Investment Bank delivered on all its targets and recorded an increased adjusted1 profit before tax of CHF 563 million reflecting a strong performance from debt and equity capital markets. This was partly offset by lower revenues both in equities, and FX, rates and credit, mainly on lower client activity levels. Our expertise and focus on sustaining long-term client relationships and developing successful financing solutions is evident in the key roles we played in landmark deals in each region this quarter. At the same time as growing profits, the Investment Bank continued to operate within its limits for fully applied risk-weighted assets and funded assets. Cost control continued to be robust and the business’s adjusted1 cost / income ratio decreased and remained within the target range. Adjusted1 return on attributed equity was 30%. Our standing as a leading brokerage house and research provider was again confirmed as we gained the top position in several categories in the annual pan-European Thomson Reuters Extel Survey, including Leading Pan-European Equity House for the eleventh consecutive year.

Corporate Center – Core Functions recorded a profit before tax of CHF 25 million, which included a release of provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. The loss before tax in Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio was CHF 412 million. Operating income declined mainly due to a loss as we exited the majority of our correlation trading portfolio. Fully applied RWA decreased by CHF 8 billion to CHF 52 billion at the end of the quarter and balance sheet assets were CHF 6 billion lower. We expect to make further progress in exiting our Non-core and Legacy positions during the remainder of 2014.

Results by business division and Corporate Center 

Outlook – At the start of the third quarter of 2014, many of the underlying challenges and geopolitical issues that we have previously highlighted remain. The mixed outlook for global growth, the absence of sustained and credible improvements to unresolved issues in Europe, continuing US fiscal and monetary policy issues, increasing geopolitical instability and the seasonal decline in activity levels traditionally associated with the summer holiday season would make improvements in prevailing market conditions unlikely. Despite these ongoing challenges, we will continue to execute on our strategy in order to ensure the firm’s long-term success and to deliver sustainable returns for our shareholders.

UBS’s Second Quarter 2014 Report, letter to shareholders and slide presentation will be available from 06:45 CEST on Tuesday 29 July 2014 at www.ubs.com/investors.

UBS will hold a presentation of its second quarter 2014 results on Tuesday 29 July 2014. The results will be presented by Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer, Tom Naratil, Group Chief Financial Officer and Group Chief Operating Officer, Caroline Stewart, Global Head of Investor Relations, and Hubertus Kuelps, Group Head of Communications & Branding.

Time
09:00 (CEST)
08:00 (BST)
03:00 (US EDT)

Audio webcast
The presentation can be followed live on www.ubs.com/quarterlyreporting with a simultaneous slide show.

An audio playback of the results presentation will be available from 12:00 CEST on 29 July 2014 at www.ubs.com/investors.

UBS AG

 

Investor contact
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