Investment Banking

Damning Archegos report slams ‘lackadaisical’ attitude to risk at Credit Suisse

Swiss bank turned a blind eye to risk and sought quick profits, according to a major new review

The collapse of Archegos has prompted Credit Suisse to oust senior managers and reassess the strategy for its investment bank
The collapse of Archegos has prompted Credit Suisse to oust senior managers and reassess the strategy for its investment bank Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Getty Images

Credit Suisse's $5.5bn loss from the collapse of family office Archegos Capital was down to a "fundamental failure of management" and a "lackadaisical attitude towards risk and risk discipline", according to a damning 172-page report into the crisis.

The bank did not heed numerous warning signs and hollowed out talent within its prime services risk team, the report published on 29 July said. The Swiss lender was "focused on maximising short-term profits" and failed to rein in — or even enabled — Archegos' "voracious risk-taking", it added.

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