UBS first-quarter adjusted¹ profit before tax CHF 1.9 billion; Basel III fully applied CET1² capital ratio 10.1%

Zurich/Basel, 30 April 2013 – UBS delivered a first-quarter adjusted¹ profit before tax of CHF 1.9 billion, with strong results across all its businesses, demonstrating its success in focusing on client needs. On a reported basis, profit before tax was CHF 1.4 billion. Wealth Management delivered the highest levels of quarterly net new money since 2007, and the highest quarterly profit since 2009. Wealth Management Americas achieved another record profit and strong net new money inflows. Combined inflows into UBS’s wealth management businesses increased to almost CHF 24 billion. The Investment Bank reported very strong results, demonstrating its focused business model works in improved but still challenging conditions. Retail & Corporate recorded a resilient performance with strong business growth in deposits and loans. Global Asset Management continued to deliver for its clients, with a solid investment performance and strong non-money market-related inflows.

UBS’s BIS Basel III fully applied common equity tier 1 ratio² rose 30 basis points to 10.1%, consolidating UBS’s position as the best-capitalized bank in its peer group. UBS has surpassed the minimum Swiss SRB Basel III common equity tier 1 ratio (CET1) for systemically relevant Swiss banks six years early³. The bank continued to make progress in its Non-core and Legacy Portfolio by reducing BIS Basel III risk-weighted assets and balance sheet.

Increased profitability; higher revenues and lower costs

  • Adjusted¹ Group profit before tax CHF 1.9 billion; net profit attributable to UBS shareholders  CHF 988 million, diluted earnings per share CHF 0.26
  • Adjusted¹ Group revenues up CHF 1.4 billion to CHF 8.0 billion, driven by higher client activity
  • Adjusted¹ Group costs down CHF 1.7 billion to CHF 6.1 billion on lower litigation/regulatory charges
  • Adjusted¹ Group cost/income ratio improved to 76.0%

Successful strategic execution; capital, liquidity and funding positions remain strong

•  Fully applied BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 ratio² up to 10.1% from 9.8%; phase-in BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 ratio stable at 15.3%
•  Group Basel III fully applied RWA stable at CHF 259 billion⁴
•  Successful deleveraging of Group balance sheet continued; down by CHF 46 billion to CHF 1,214 billion, mainly in Non-core
•  Basel III liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio above regulatory requirements
•  Invested assets up CHF 143 billion to CHF 2,373 billion

Commenting on UBS’s first-quarter results, Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti said, "While it is too early to declare victory, we have shown our business model works in practice. Although markets improved, we still saw challenges, so I am very pleased with our performance. Our clients continued to benefit from the safety, service and sound advice that we provide, and our Basel III CET1 capital ratio rose to 10.1%. We have surpassed the capital ratio threshold for systemically relevant Swiss banks six years early, and our leading capital position continues to be a competitive advantage for the bank.”

First-quarter 2013 net profit attributable to UBS shareholders was CHF 988 million

First-quarter 2013 net profit attributable to UBS shareholders was CHF 988 million compared with a loss of CHF 1,904 million in fourth quarter 2012. On an adjusted basis, the first quarter profit before tax was CHF 1,901 million compared with a loss before tax of CHF 1,165 million in the prior quarter. On a reported basis, profit before tax was CHF 1,447 million compared with a loss before tax of CHF 1,837 million in the prior quarter. Operating income increased by CHF 1,567 million, primarily due to higher net interest and trading income. Operating expenses declined by CHF 1,717 million, predominantly as a result of reduced net charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. In the first quarter, we recorded a tax expense of CHF 458 million compared with CHF 66 million in the prior quarter.

Wealth Management’s profit before tax in the first quarter was CHF 664 million compared with CHF 398 million. Adjusted profit before tax was CHF 690 million compared with CHF 415 million in the prior quarter. The gross margin on invested assets increased 6 basis points to 91 basis points, mainly reflecting an upturn in transaction-based income. Operating expenses decreased to CHF 1,250 million from CHF 1,350 million, mainly due to seasonally lower general and administrative expenses. Net new money inflows of CHF 15.0 billion represented the highest quarterly net inflows since 2007. The cost/income ratio decreased to 64.9% from 77.3%. On an adjusted basis excluding restructuring charges of CHF 26 million compared with CHF 17 million in the previous quarter, the cost/income ratio improved 12.7 percentage points to 63.6% from 76.3%, and was within our target range of 60% to 70%.

Wealth Management Americas profit before tax was USD 251 million compared with a profit before tax of USD 216 million in the prior quarter. It reported a record adjusted quarterly profit before tax of USD 262 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared with an adjusted profit before tax of USD 219 million in the prior quarter. The improvement reflected a 3% decrease in operating expenses, mainly due to lower charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. Net new money continued to be strong and improved to USD 9.2 billion. In US dollar terms, the gross margin on invested assets decreased 4 basis points to 80 basis points and remained within the target range of 75 to 85 basis points. The gross margin from recurring income decreased 4 basis points due to lower mutual fund and annuity fee income, while the gross margin from non-recurring income remained unchanged from the prior quarter. The cost/income ratio decreased to 85.5% from 86.8% in the prior quarter. On an adjusted basis excluding restructuring charges, the cost/income ratio decreased to 84.9% from 86.6% and remained within the target range of 80% to 90%.

The Investment Bank recorded a profit before tax of CHF 977 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared with a loss before tax of CHF 243 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Adjusted profit before tax was CHF 928 million compared with a loss before tax of CHF 70 million. Return on attributed equity was 49.5%. Both Corporate Client Solutions and Investor Client Services reported higher revenues. Total operating expenses decreased 2% to CHF 1,806 million from CHF 1,847 million. On an adjusted basis, operating expenses increased 8% to CHF 1,800 million from CHF 1,674 million, mainly due to higher variable compensation accruals. Fully applied BIS Basel III risk-weighted assets increased by CHF 5 billion to CHF 69 billion as of 31 March 2013, compared with pro-forma CHF 64 billion as of 31 December 2012, and were compliant with our target of CHF 70 billion or less. Funded assets were CHF 193 billion as of 31 March 2013, unchanged from 31 December 2012 and within our target range of less than CHF 200 billion. The cost/income ratio improved to 64.8% from 114.7%. On an adjusted basis, the cost/income ratio improved to 65.9% from 104.0%, within the target range of 65% to 85%.

Global Asset Management‘s profit before tax in the first quarter of 2013 was CHF 190 million compared with CHF 148 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Adjusted profit before tax was CHF 160 million compared with CHF 163 million. First quarter operating income included a gain of CHF 34 million from the disposal of our Canadian domestic business. Total operating expenses were CHF 327 million compared with CHF 343 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding money market flows, net new money inflows were CHF 5.1 billion compared with net outflows of CHF 3.8 billion in the prior quarter. The total gross margin was 35 basis points compared with 34 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2012. Excluding the abovementioned gain on disposal, the gross margin was 33 basis points and remained within our target range of 32 to 38 basis points. The cost/income ratio was 63.2% compared with 69.9% in the fourth quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges and the abovementioned gain on disposal, the cost/income ratio was 66.9%, compared with 66.8%, and remained within our target range of 60% to 70%.

Retail & Corporate‘s profit before tax was CHF 347 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared with CHF 361 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges, profit before tax was unchanged at CHF 362 million as lower income was offset by lower operating expenses and credit loss expenses. Net new business volume growth was 4.7%, compared with 4.4%, and remained above our target range. Net new business volume growth was positive for both retail and corporate businesses as well as for net new client assets and to a lesser extent for loans. The net interest margin decreased 8 basis points to 154 basis points, reflecting lower net interest income and a slightly higher average loan volume. The net interest margin was within the target range of 140 to 180 basis points. The cost/income ratio increased 2.2 percentage points to 62.2%, reflecting lower income. On an adjusted basis, excluding restructuring charges, the cost/income ratio increased to 60.6% from 59.9% and was slightly above the target range of 50% to 60%.

Corporate Center – Core Functions recorded a loss before tax of CHF 719 million compared with a loss before tax of CHF 1,886 million in the previous quarter. On an adjusted basis, the loss before tax was CHF 398 million compared with a loss before tax of CHF 1,472 million. The first quarter included lower charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters and an own credit loss of CHF 181 million compared with a loss of CHF 414 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Treasury income remaining in Corporate Center – Core Functions after allocations to the business divisions was negative CHF 255 million compared with positive CHF 94 million in the prior quarter.

Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio recorded a loss before tax of CHF 245 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared with a loss before tax of CHF 816 million in the previous quarter. On an adjusted basis, the loss before tax was CHF 84 million compared with an adjusted loss before tax of CHF 765 million. This was mainly due to a positive debit valuation adjustment on our derivatives portfolio, lower charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters, as well as a higher gain from the revaluation of our option to acquire the SNB StabFund’s equity.

Results by business division and Corporate Center

Balance sheet: As of 31 March 2013, our balance sheet stood at CHF 1,214 billion, a decrease of  CHF 46 billion from 31 December 2012. Funded assets, which represent total assets excluding positive replacement values, were reduced by CHF 9 billion to CHF 832 billion, primarily due to a reduction in trading portfolio assets, and to a lesser extent reduced financial investments available-for-sale and collateral trading activities, partially offset by an increase in lending assets. Excluding currency effects, funded assets were reduced by CHF 21 billion, mainly in Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio.

Capital management: The BIS Basel III framework came into effect in Switzerland on 1 January 2013. Our phase-in BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 15.3% as of 31 March 2013, unchanged from the end of the previous quarter. Our phase-in BIS Basel III CET1 capital increased slightly by CHF 0.2 billion to CHF 40.2 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2013. Our phase-in Basel III risk-weighted assets increased by CHF 0.7 billion to CHF 262.5 billion. On a fully applied basis, our BIS Basel III CET 1 ratio increased 0.3 percentage points to 10.1% and our fully applied risk-weighted assets were CHF 258.7 billion.

Invested assets: Groupinvested assets stood at CHF 2,373 billion at the end of the first quarter, an increase of CHF 143 billion on the prior quarter. Of these, invested assets in Wealth Management increased by CHF 49 billion to CHF 870 billion, supported by positive market performance of CHF 24 billion, strong net new money inflows of CHF 15 billionand positive currency translation effects of CHF 10 billion. In Wealth Management Americas, invested assets increased by CHF 73 billion to CHF 845 billion. In US dollar terms, invested assets increased by USD 48 billion to USD 891 billion, reflecting positive market performance of USD 39 billion and continued strong net new money inflows of USD 9 billion. Global Asset Management’s invested assets increased by CHF 18 billion to CHF 599 billion, mainly as a result of positive market movements of CHF 19 billion and positive currency translation effects of CHF 10 billion, partially offset by the disposal of our Canadian domestic business, which reduced invested assets by CHF 7 billion, and net new money outflows of CHF 3 billion.

Outlook – While market participants showed renewed interest early in the first quarter, events in Europe served as a reminder that many of the underlying challenges related to structural issues remain unsolved. The absence of further sustained and credible improvements to the eurozone sovereign debt situation, European banking system issues, ongoing geopolitical risks, and the outlook for growth in the global economy together with an increasing focus on unresolved US fiscal issues would continue to exert a strong influence on client confidence, and thus activity levels, in the second quarter of 2013. It would make further improvements in prevailing market conditions unlikely and would consequently generate headwinds for revenue growth, net interest margins and net new money. Nevertheless, we remain confident that our asset-gathering businesses as a whole will continue to attract net new money, reflecting our clients’ steadfast trust in the firm. We are confident that the actions we have taken will ensure the firm’s long-term success and will deliver sustainable returns for our shareholders going forward.

/content/sites/global/en/investor-relations/financial-information/quarterly-reporting/2013porting/2013porting/2013porting/2013ide presentation will be available from Tuesday, 30 April, 06.45 (CET) at www.ubs.com/quarterlyreporting.

 

UBS will hold the presentation of its first quarter 2013 results on Tuesday, 30 April. The results will be presented by Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer, Tom Naratil, Group Chief Financial Officer, Caroline Stewart, Global Head of Investor Relations, and Hubertus Kuelps, Group Head of Communications & Branding.

Time
• 09.00 CET
• 08.00 BST
• 03.00 US EDT

Please note: UBS’s results program will be slightly different this quarter. The presentation and Q&A session will be broadcast via audio (NOT video) webcast with a simultaneous slideshow at www.ubs.com/quarterlyreporting.

Webcast playbacks: An audio playback of the webcast will be available from 14.00 CET on
30 April 2013. An indexed, on-demand version of the webcast will be available from 18.00 (CET).

UBS AG

Investor contact
Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00

Media contact
Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00
UK: +44-207-567 47 14
Americas: +1-212-882 58 57
APAC: +852-297-1 82 00

www.ubs.com