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Corporate Responsibility

Investment Products and Services

Credit Suisse was one of the first banks to build bridges between the issue of sustainability and investment opportunities, and offers a wide range of products and services focusing on environmental and social aspects.

We have continuously expanded our range of products and services that focus on environmental and social themes across our divisions in the last 10 years. Our investments target sustainable companies and technologies and, at the same time, accommodate the growing client interest in this area. When developing products and services in this field, Credit Suisse works with experts from research institutes, non-governmental organizations and leading think-tanks. These partnerships enable us to meet our clients’ need for the latest information on promising, future-oriented business opportunities.

Credit Suisse Sustainability and Thematic Indices

Index name

Description

Credit Suisse
Social Awareness Index

60 businesses that adhere to the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact

Credit Suisse
Global Resource Efficiency Index

30 businesses that distinguish themselves through the efficient utilization and recycling of environmentally relevant resources

Credit Suisse
Global Warming Index

40 businesses that are active in renewable fuels or electricity, emissions limitation or demand management

Credit Suisse
Water Index

30 businesses in the fields of water generation, preservation, infrastructure, treatment and desalination

Credit Suisse
Global Alternative Energy Index

30 businesses in the fields of wind energy, solar energy, bioenergy, natural gas, geothermal energy, hydroelectricity, fuel cells and batteries

Credit Suisse
Global Nanotechnology Index

25 businesses in the fields of nano materials, nano information technology, nano health, nano energy and nano instruments

Renewable Energy Index
Switzerland

Economic indicator for turnover, order backlogs, delivery periods, inventories and employment in the sustainable energies market

Sustainable Equity Funds

In addition, the Credit Suisse Fund (Lux) Global Responsible Equities and the Credit Suisse Real Estate Fund Green Property were introduced in 2009.

  • Credit Suisse’s Global Responsible Equities Fund:In 2009, we launched the Credit Suisse Fund (Lux) Global Responsible Equities. The underlying securities are selected on the basis of international standards in the field of environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Both positive and negative criteria are applied to the selection of securities. The analysis of the investment universe and compliance with the criteria for responsible investment are monitored and certified by the research provider Global Ethical Standard Investment ™.
  • Credit Suisse Real Estate Fund Green Property: established in May 2009, this sustainable real estate fund recorded CHF 300 million of asset inflows in 2011. The fund invests exclusively in real estate in Switzerland that meets the strict criteria of the “greenproperty” quality seal of approval − an initiative launched by Credit Suisse.  Since 2010, all new buildings in our Real Estate Asset Management business’ portfolio of investment products and mandates must apply for the greenproperty ® seal. The seal not only covers ecological criteria but also includes economic and social aspects.

Further sustainable products and services

Minergie-Mortgage

In 2008 we launched a mortgage for residential properties that meet the Swiss Minergie standard for low-energy buildings. With this offering, we not only take account of the enhanced market value and lower ancillary costs of Minergie buildings but also give our clients an incentive to construct energy-efficient homes.

Direct Net E-Documents

Since October 2010 we have been offering our private and corporate clients the possibility to receive their bank statements electronically via Direct Net. For each client and employee who switched to E-Documents by the end of 2010 Credit Suisse made a donation to the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation – an independent Swiss-based non-profit organization that works with landscape conservation and planning.

Advisory Services for institutional clients, governments and major clients

We have continued to develop our advisory services in areas such as climate change and renewable energies for the benefit of institutional clients, governments and major clients. In November 2009, for example, we played a major role in the flotation of STR Holding, a US specialist in modular solar systems, on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Credit Suisse also acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Solel Solar Systems during its sale to Siemens AG.

To ensure we can continue to address the needs of our clients effectively in the future, we founded the Credit Suisse Green Business Initiativein 2009. This internal forum brings together managers from different areas of the bank (e.g. Renewable Energy, Private Equity, Asset Management and Research) and thus shares knowledge and ideas in order to drive the development of new sustainable products and services.

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