Credit Suisse's response
Credit Suisse believes it is essential to pursue a responsible approach to business. As such, we value feedback from stakeholders and thank the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre for its invitation to respond to the highlighted publications.
Our risk processes enable us to take account of the potential wider implications of our business activities and products and services, for example for the environment and society. For transactions with potential sustainability risks, an internal specialist unit, Sustainability Risk, evaluates the nature of the transaction and our role in it, as well as the identity and activities of the client (existing or new); reviews the regulatory and political context in which the client operates; and assesses the environmental and social aspects of the client’s operations, including their commitment, capacity and track record for the management of sustainability risks. The team assesses whether the client’s activities are consistent with the relevant industry standards and whether the potential transaction is compatible with Credit Suisse’s policies and guidelines for sensitive sectors. As part of our due diligence, we may also directly engage with the companies and/or individuals in focus and, where practicable and warranted, use our leverage to encourage a satisfactory resolution of issues. Based on the outcome of this analysis, Sustainability Risk submits its assessment to the responsible business unit and/or enters it into the Reputational Risk Review system for evaluation.
Detailed information on our sustainability risk management processes can be found in our Sustainability Report (see https://www.credit-suisse.com/sustainability/en/reporting-disclosure.html)
We ask you for your understanding that, due to legal restrictions and as a matter of policy, Credit Suisse is not in a position to comment on any possible client relationships or securities holdings.
June 2023