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UBS AG

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FY1999 Annual Report · UBS AG
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UBS is a global,
integrated investment
services firm
and the leading bank
in Switzerland.
Financial Report 1999.

UBS Group 
Financial Highlights

UBS Group Financial Highlights

CHF million (except where indicated)
For the year ended

Income statement key figures
Operating income
Operating expenses (1997 before restructuring)
Operating profit before tax (1997 before restructuring)
Net profit / (loss)

Per share data (CHF)
Basic earnings per share 1
Basic earnings per share before goodwill 1, 2
Diluted earnings per share 1
Diluted earnings per share before goodwill 1, 2
Dividends proposed

Ratios (%)
Return on shareholders’ equity 3
Return on shareholders’ equity before goodwill 2,3
Cost / income ratio 4
Cost / income ratio before goodwill 2, 4

As of

Balance sheet key figures
Total assets
Shareholders’ equity
Market capitalization

BIS capital ratios (%)
Tier 1
Total BIS

Assets under management (CHF bn)
Total assets under management

Headcount 5
Total headcount
thereof: Switzerland
Rest of world

Long term ratings
Moody’s, New York
Fitch/IBCA, London
Standard & Poor’s, New York
BankWatch, New York

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

31.12.1997

28,621
20,452
8,169
6,300

30.28
31.91
30.12
31.75
11.00

20.1
21.2
69.1
68.0

22,328
18,258
4,070
3,030

14.31
15.92
14.23
15.84
10.00

10.3
11.4
78.4
77.0

24,880
18,636
6,244
(667)

(3.18)
(2.52)
(3.18)
(2.52)
n/a

14.5
14.9
71.2
70.7

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

31.12.1997

1,086,414
30,927
n/a

8.3
12.6

1,512

55,176
36,638
18,538

981,573
34,835
92,642

10.6
14.5

1,744

49,058
32,747
16,311

Aa1
AAA
AA+
AA

944,116
32,395
90,720

9.3
13.3

1,572

48,011
32,706
15,305

Aa1
AAA
AA+
AA

1 For EPS calculation, see Note 10 to the Financial Statements.    2 The amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangible assets are exclud-
ed from the calculation.    3 Net profit / average shareholders’ equity excluding dividends. 1997 loss and shareholders’ equity adjusted for impact
4 Operating expenses / operating income before credit loss expenses of CHF 956  million in 1999,
of restructuring including taxes thereon.
CHF 951 million in 1998 and CHF 1,278 million in 1997.    5 The Group headcount of 49,058 as of 31 December 1999 does not include the Klinik
Hirslanden headcount of 1,853.

Table of Contents

The 1999 Financial

Shareholders’ Letter

Report reflects the 

Group Review

1999 UBS Group

structure and 

the 2000 brand

architecture.

Group Results and Initiatives
The UBS Group
Merger Integration Update
Information Technology and Operations
Human Resources

Divisional Review

UBS Segment Reporting
UBS Private Banking
UBS Warburg
UBS Private and Corporate Clients
UBS Asset Management
UBS Capital
Corporate Center

Review of Risk Management and Control
Risk Management Framework
Analysis of Risks
Asset and Liability Management

UBS Group Financial Statements

Table of Contents
Group Financial Review
Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
Report of the Group Auditors

UBS AG (Parent Bank)

Table of Contents
Parent Bank Review
Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
Report of the Statutory Auditors

UBS Corporate Governance

Corporate and Executive Bodies
Corporate Information

Glossary

UBS Share Information
UBS Shares
Information for Shareholders

2

6
8
12
15
17

20
22
27
32
36
39
42

46
48
58

66
68
72
76
125

128
129
130
132
136

138
142

143

148
150

1

Shareholders’ Letter

Dear Shareholders,

merger now behind us, we see significant oppor-
tunity for our wealth management businesses in
the  years  ahead.  Our  new  structure,  announced
recently  and  which  we  explain  below,  is  specifi-
cally designed to unlock and maximize the poten-
tial of our distinct client-facing businesses.

UBS Warburg had a great year in 1999, with
record profits and volumes in many of its business
areas,  led  by  an  outstanding  Equities  perform-
ance. We are proud of our world-class investment
banking and securities division, and particularly
of the turnaround since the shocks of 1998.

Our  domestic  business  within  the  Private  and
Corporate Clients Division is consistently managed
for  enhanced  profitability.  Bottom  line  improve-
ments  are  starting  to  show  through,  and  we  are
confident that, with the delivery of merger-related
savings, a new level of profitability is attainable.

Investment performance was the principal fac-
tor behind the disappointing results of our Asset
Management Division. It also affected somewhat
the growth of Private Banking assets under man-
agement.  Diversification  and  a  more  “open”
product offering will be the key to unlinking these
performance risks, and, in that light, we are ex-
cited  by  the  opportunities  provided  to  private
banking clients by the acquisition of Global Asset
Management.

Our private equity business continues to prove
itself  highly  attractive,  with  strong 
link-
ages to private banking clients and to investment
banking, and a consistently excellent track record
of value creation, demonstrated again in 1999.

Overall, we are pleased that this year has marked
not only the integration of two banks, but also huge
progress towards our vision of an integrated busi-
ness with every UBS division interacting profitably,
and displaying true unity of purpose. As a result,
the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Our strategy
UBS  is  a  global,  integrated  investment  services
firm  and  the  leading  bank  in  Switzerland.  But,
more fundamentally, UBS exists to provide value
to its clients and shareholders. Our strategies are
designed around the overriding objective of creat-
ing sustainable growth in shareholder returns.

We are convinced that we have the ideal set of
businesses – each a leader in its own field – to take
advantage of the sweeping global trends increas-
ing personal wealth, and driving securities invest-
ment to the forefront of financial services.

We are pleased to report that, in 1999, UBS net
profit after tax reached CHF 6,300 million. This
represents basic earnings per share of CHF 31.91
and a return on equity of 21.2% before goodwill.
Our performance has strongly rebounded after a
difficult 1998 when net profit after tax stood at
CHF 3,030 million. That said, a number of sig-
nificant  one-off  events  in  both  1999  and  1998,
explained in detail elsewhere in this report, make
like-for-like  comparisons  complex.  However,
even taking these one-off events into considera-
tion, the year-on-year net profit increase is signif-
icant. Assets under management increased 11%
or CHF 172 billion, to CHF 1,744 billion.

The Board of Directors recommends to share-
holders  a  dividend  of  CHF  11  per  share,  com-
pared to CHF 10 last year.

What we accomplished in 1999
In 1999, we accomplished much of what we set
out to do at the end of 1998.

Notably, we achieved the integration of one of
the biggest and most complex banking mergers in
record time. A merger of this magnitude leaves no
area of business untouched, and it is a consider-
able tribute to the professionalism and commit-
ment of our employees that we have emerged so
rapidly as an integrated force.

While  the  successful  accomplishment  of  the
merger  positions  us  more  strongly  than  ever  at
the forefront of the financial services industry, it
has undoubtedly had a short term impact.

Private Banking, in particular, has not achieved
the  growth  we  anticipated  this  year.  With  the

2

Shareholders’ Letter

But our success will depend on far more than
careful  positioning.  UBS  will  represent  the  best
combination  of  old  and  new  banking  methods.
Our  commitment,  as  ever,  is  to  the  highest
standards of personalized service quality, delivered
with the ultimate in professionalism and integrity.
New technology provides an immense oppor-
tunity to deliver our services faster, cheaper, to a
much wider clientele and in a way that brings us
ever closer to our clients. In Switzerland our elec-
tronic banking service captures even higher mar-
ket  share  than  our  “traditional”  offering.  Proof
that our skills and services are only enhanced by
delivery through cutting edge channels.

Our new business structure
On  18  February  2000  we  announced  our  new
business  structure,  regrouping  our  wealth  man-
agement businesses with the aim of unlocking their
potential to generate superior growth.

The new organization reflects a different way
of  thinking  about  client  requirements.  As  new
technologies  transform  the  financial  industry
landscape, clients themselves increasingly decide
– through their choice of services and channels –
which  client  segment  they  belong  to.  Lifetime
relationships mean seamlessly offering a contin-
uously  evolving  service  to  match  each  client’s
financial aspirations as they develop.

Swiss banking has a special place in the world
of personal finance. By combining all Swiss-based
and international offshore banking, we will focus
and capitalize on this core asset.

Our asset management businesses are now under
one roof, allowing us to develop a variety of invest-
ment styles and selectively introduce more third-
party products to our clients. At the same time, we
will aggressively expand the marketing and distribu-
tion of our own mutual funds to clients outside UBS.
Investment services activities for international
private clients have significant growth potential, and
are now set to benefit additionally from proximity
to investment banking skills, services and image.
These changes are a thorough modernization,
allowing us to serve our clients in a way that re-
flects tomorrow’s world as well as today’s.

The way ahead
Our  commitment  to  new  technology  will  be
demonstrated in 2000 through the launch of our
new pan-European “e-services” personal invest-
ment  business,  expected  in  the  autumn.  We

manage this as a separate business unit with an
emphasis  on  “time  to  market”,  and  are  excited 
by its prospects. This new initiative complements
the already very successful e-commerce and mo-
bile  phone  services  offered  by  our  Private  and
Corporate Clients Division.

It  would  be  impossible  in  this  short  space 
to  reflect  the  diversity  of  the  initiatives  UBS  is
launching in 2000. Three programs have particu-
lar resonance for us at his time.

We intend 2000 to be the year in which UBS
stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange.
To us, a globally traded share is symbolic of our
belief in UBS as a global firm, as well as giving us
the flexibility to take advantage of potential ex-
pansion opportunities in the US.

Our brand is one of our most important assets.
In  2000,  all  our  brands  will  be  instantly  recog-
nizable as part of an integrated UBS.

And  finally,  our  share  buy-back  program
demonstrates our commitment to returning value to
our shareholders, alongside our core focus on grow-
ing “top-line” revenue and “bottom-line” earnings.

Conclusion
With our new business structure in place, we now
have  the  agility  to  respond  quickly  to  changing
client demands, allowing us to increase our mo-
mentum  significantly.  Our  mix  of  businesses  is
ideal for exploiting the changing financial servic-
es landscape. But success does not come easy in
today’s  ultra-competitive  world.  All  our  busi-
nesses will have to fight their hardest to secure the
rewards they are so well-positioned for.

We  assure  you  of  our  commitment  to  the
growth that you, our fellow shareholders, deserve
and we thank you – along with our staff and our
clients – for your support during the past year.

Alex Krauer 
Chairman of the Board of Directors

Marcel Ospel
Group Chief Executive Officer

3

A Worldwide Presence

4

3

2

1

6

5

Main locations
Main locations

1

2

3

4

5

6

Zurich/Basel
Zurich/Basel

London
London

New Yorkork
New Y

Chicago
Chicago

Singapore
Singapor

Tokyookyo

4

Group Review

Group Review 
Group Results and Initiatives

Group Results and Initiatives

UBS achieved solid

UBS Group financial results

financial results in 1999

while essentially com-

pleting its post-merger

integration. During 1999

UBS also launched a

dynamic set of Group-

wide initiatives focused

on shareholder value

creation, new technology

and growth.

6

Headline Group financial results
1999 was a strong rebound year for UBS. UBS Group
net profit after taxes and minority interests was CHF
6,300 million in 1999, while in 1998 it was CHF
3,030 million, an increase of 108%. Significant fi-
nancial  events  in  both  1999  and  1998,  explained
below, render like-for-like comparisons complex.

Compared  to  1998,  total  operating  income
after credit loss expenses increased 28% to CHF
28,621 million. This is partially attributable to a
higher level of gains on divestments during 1999
than in 1998, as UBS increased its focus on core
businesses. It was also due to significantly higher
trading income in the context of positive markets
and the strength of our global investment bank
and securities division, UBS Warburg.

Total  operating  expenses  increased  12%  to
CHF  20,452  million  as  compared  to  1998.  In
1999, personnel expenses increased as a result of
performance-related  compensation  associated
with  good  investment  banking  results.  In  con-
trast, in 1998 additional personnel expenses were
charged against the restructuring reserve as part
of our successful efforts to protect the investment
banking franchise in the face of anticipated merg-
er-related shortfalls in profits. In 1999, non-per-
sonnel expenses were below those of the previous
year period reflecting lower levels of provisions
and stringent cost reduction programs. 

UBS  Group  assets  under  management  in-
creased 11%, or CHF 172 billion, to CHF 1,744
billion. Acquisitions contributed CHF 38 billion
to Group assets under management, with the re-
maining increase largely performance-driven.

Significant financial events
1999 total operating income includes one-off pre-
tax gains of CHF 1,838 million mainly from di-
vestments. Total operating expenses were not im-
pacted by significant financial events as they net-
ted out to an immaterial amount. More detail on
significant  financial  events  can  be  found  in  the
Group Financial Review on page 68.

Group financial targets

Targets policy
Our targets policy no longer emphasizes absolute
numbers and focuses rather on those ratios that

best  measure  shareholder  return.  Financial  tar-
gets  also  relate  only  to  organic  growth  and  are
excluding  the  impact  of  goodwill  amortization.
Following  acquisitions,  we  will  disclose  any
expected impact on our targets and adjust them
accordingly.

Financial targets
UBS is confident in the ability of its existing busi-
nesses  to  provide  good  returns  for  our  share-
holders from organic earnings growth and value
creation. UBS therefore aims to achieve:
– a return on equity averaging 15–20%, across

periods of varying market conditions;

– double-digit  average  annual  earnings  per
share growth, across periods of varying mar-
ket conditions;

– active, continuous focus and downward pres-
sure on the Group cost/revenue ratio substan-
tiated by divisional initiatives;

– clear  demonstration  of  growth  in  net  new
money  in  the  Private  Banking  and  Affluent
segment.

1999 performance against financial targets
As  mentioned  above,  our  financial  targets  are
based on income statement figures excluding the
impact  of  goodwill  amortization.  Furthermore,
we believe that a proper discussion and analysis
of  our  current  core  ratios  against  our  financial
targets requires, in some cases, the adjustment of
our 1999 figures, to eliminate the effect of signif-
icant financial events.

– Return  on  equity:  Adjusting  1999  net  profit
after tax for the post-tax CHF 1,488 million
gain from significant financial events listed on
page 68 of the Group Financial Review, pre-
goodwill return on equity in 1999 amounted
to 16.4%. This is within our target range of
15–20%, but leaves us considerable scope for
further increases.

– Earnings  per  share:  In  1999  pre-goodwill
basic earnings per share was CHF 24.76, after
adjusting  for  significant  financial  events.  A
like-for-like  comparison  of  results  between
1999  and  1998  is  made  complex  by  these
events,  but  it  is  clear  that  our  earnings  re-
bound  comfortably  represents  underlying
double digit growth. 

– Cost/income: The adjusted, pre-goodwill cost/
income  ratio  was  72.5%  in  1999.  Compar-

Group Review 
Group Results and Initiatives

isons  to  the  exceptional  1998  cost/income
ratio are not meaningful. However we stress
that, as discussed on pages 13–14, UBS is im-
plementing a series of cost control measures in
UBS Private and Corporate Clients as well as
UBS Warburg which we expect to yield tangi-
ble results.

– Net  new  money:  In  1999,  net  new  money
growth of CHF 4.5 billion in Private Banking
fell below the high standards we strive for and
did not represent a strong growth trend. Our
reorganization  announced  on  18  February
2000  is  specifically  designed  to  unlock  the
growth  potential  in  all  our  wealth  manage-
ment businesses, hence re-establishing the pos-
itive trend.

Group initiatives

UBS  is  a  global,  integrated  investment  services
firm  and  the  leading  bank  in  Switzerland.  This
positioning  is  substantiated  by  our  strategic  vi-
sion, set out in the Shareholders’ Letter and UBS
Group Section, and is driven forward by a com-
plete  set  of  business  initiatives.  Many  of  these
initiatives  are  devolved  to  divisional  level  and
discussed in the relevant divisional chapter. How-
ever,  several  demand  mention  in  the  overall
Group context.

We view new technology as a tremendous op-
portunity.  Our  commitment  to  seizing  that  op-
portunity is evident in our planned launch in au-
tumn 2000 of a major new e-services initiative in
Europe.  Following  an  integrated  multi-channel
“clicks  and  mortar”  approach,  e-services  will
focus on providing financial products and servic-
es  to  affluent  European  clients.  More  detail  re-
garding this initiative can be found on page 15 in
the e-services, Information Technology and Op-
erations section.

UBS  is  in  the  process  of  registering  with  the 
US Securities and Exchange Commission and ap-

plying  to  list  its  shares  on  the  New  York  Stock
Exchange. Through this action, we will position
ourselves to take advantage of the changing US
financial  services  landscape  as  the  Gramm-
Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act liber-
alizes restrictions.

We  are  adjusting  our  brand  architecture  to
demonstrate more clearly our integrated business
model. Brand will continue to rise in importance
in  the  financial  services  sector  as  multiple
providers  and  channels  scramble  for  attention.
We  will  devote  significant  effort  to  establishing
UBS as a renowned and recognized global brand
with  all  the  advantages  conferred  by  the  Swiss
tradition of banking.

UBS is currently implementing a comprehen-
sive  value-based  management  approach.  This
means establishing shareholder value creation as
the  primary  yardstick  for  planning,  investment
decisions,  capital  allocation,  performance  ap-
praisal  and  compensation,  and  strategic  risk
management. 

In  line  with  our  commitment  to  shareholder
value, we commenced early in 2000 a Swiss-spe-
cific, tax-efficient stock buy-back program with
the intention of subsequent share cancellation. As
of  23  February  2000,  the  program  has  resulted 
in  the  repurchase  of  approximately  2.8  million
shares, or about 1.3% of our market capitaliza-
tion. This program is also discussed on page 63
of the Capital Management section of the Review
of Risk Management and Control chapter.

These  Group  initiatives,  together  with  our
broader set of devolved divisional initiatives, will
deliver sustainable growth in shareholder returns
in 2000 and thereafter.

Forward-looking statements
This  Financial  Report  includes  statements  that
constitute  “forward-looking  statements”.  We
refer you to our cautionary statement regarding
forward-looking  statements  on  page  150  for  a
discussion of such forward-looking statements.

7

Group Review 
The UBS Group 

The UBS Group

UBS is a global, integrat-

Mission

ed investment services

firm and the leading bank

in Switzerland. Our inte-

grated business model

We are committed to providing clients with supe-
rior value-added investment services, to provid-
ing shareholders with above average rewards, to
being an employer of choice, and to being a good
corporate citizen.

encompasses a uniquely

Overview

attractive combination of

profitable and growing

client and business seg-

ments allowing us to

benefit from numerous

synergies within the

Group. We expect the

regrouping of our busi-

nesses, announced in

February 2000, to add

new agility and momen-

tum to the Group.

The philosophy of our business model is that each
operating  division  holds  primary  responsibility
for  managing  relationships  with  well-defined
client  segments,  while  ensuring  appropriate  ac-
cess  to  the  products  and  services  of  the  entire
Group.  The  Corporate  Center  encompasses
Group level functions that cannot be devolved to
the operating divisions.

Integrated investment services firm

Being  an  integrated  investment  services  firm
means that our business divisions work together,
in a coordinated manner to achieve our common
goals. This allows UBS to provide our clients with
the full range of products and services that they
have come to expect from a premier financial in-
stitution, while UBS benefits from efficient value
capture  and  structurally  diversified  revenue
streams.

As one example of integration, the centralized
approach  to  asset  and  liability  management  un-
dertaken by the Group Treasury function fosters
cost-efficient Group funding, optimal internal al-
location  of  funds  and  global  liquidity  manage-

Investment services model – UBS

ment. Non-trading interest rate and currency risks
are captured and pooled with the trading books to
realize the Group’s entire netting potential. 

“Investment  services”  is  a  term  that  encom-
passes a uniquely attractive combination of prof-
itable and growing client and business segments.
It covers the full range of end-clients from high
net  worth  individuals  through  retail  clients  to
institutional and corporate clients. It covers the
business competencies of asset management, re-
search and advisory, and execution and risk man-
agement.  It  includes  asset  gathering  businesses
across all client types, in particular, the fast-grow-
ing high net worth, affluent and defined contri-
bution  segments.  It  further  includes  investment
banking, providing competitive product and risk
management expertise to the asset gathering busi-
nesses. The investment bank also serves its own
institutional and corporate client base, profiting
from access to the rapidly expanding global secu-
rities markets.

The leading bank in Switzerland

UBS  is  the  leading  bank  in  Switzerland,  by  size
and market penetration. More than four million
private  individuals  in  Switzerland,  or  over  half
the population, cite UBS as their primary or sec-
ondary bank. Some 180,000 small and medium
sized companies bank with UBS, and almost all
top-tier  Swiss  corporations  can  be  counted
among our clients. UBS is the largest provider of
investment  fund  services  and  the  leading  credit
bank  in  Switzerland.  With  more  than  30,000
staff in Switzerland, we are the third-largest pri-
vate employer in the country. 

High net 
worth clients

Retail 
clients

Wholesale 
clients

Market
participants

Asset Management

Research & Advisory

Execution & Risk Management

Retail/Corporate/Transaction Banking

UBS is a global, 
integrated investment 
services firm 
and the leading bank 
in Switzerland.

8

Group Review 
The UBS Group 

Integrated client service business model

Affluent 
clients

Swiss Retail & Corporate clients

Wholesale clients

Private Banking
Private and Corporate clients

FX/MM; Research; 
Securities; Derivatives; 
Asset Mgmt; Funds

Investment Banking and Securities
Asset Management
Private Equity

High net worth clients

Wholesale clients

Integrated client services model

The integrated model begins with our investment
banking and asset management divisions provid-
ing wholesale clients with products and services
through direct access to the capital markets and
institutional asset management capabilities.

The base that these divisions provide allows us
to offer the full range of value-added services to
clients  of  our  Private  Banking  and  Private  and
Corporate Clients divisions, including foreign ex-
change and money market products, research, se-
curities  trading  and  execution,  derivatives  and
risk management products and services, custody
services, asset and portfolio management servic-
es and investment fund (including private equity
funds).

Our  integrated  model  allows  us  to  benefit
from multiple synergies within the Group. Exam-
ples of interdivisional synergies include:
– UBS  Warburg  provides  research,  securities
brokerage,  OTC  trading,  derivatives,  foreign
exchange, and value-added structured products
to  clients  of  UBS  Private  Banking  and  UBS
Private and Corporate Clients.

the  allocation  of  margins  as  the  industry  trans-
forms. We cannot predict precisely how this value
will  be  divided  five  years  from  now.  However,
with our spectrum of leading businesses, we are
uniquely  positioned  to  capture  a  significant
share, whatever the future shape of the industry.

The new structure

In  February  2000,  we  announced  a  moderni-
zation  of  our  organizational  structure  and  a
regrouping of our wealth management business-
es.  We  took  this  step  to  align  ourselves  more
closely with evolving client needs. We expect this
new  grouping  of  our  wealth  management  busi-
nesses to unlock their immense growth potential.
We emphasize that the changed structure will not
impact  client  relationships,  and  that  business
initiatives and strategies will proceed as planned.
UBS Group now consists of three main busi-
ness  groups:  UBS  Switzerland,  UBS  Asset  Man-
agement and UBS Warburg.

– UBS Private Banking clients also have the op-

New business structure

portunity to invest in UBS Capital funds.

– UBS Capital works closelywith UBS Warburg
for companies that are considering initial pub-
lic offerings.

– Technology and premises infrastructure, oper-
ations and other support services are general-
ly shared between all divisions in a given coun-
try, especially in Switzerland.

This  model  allows  us  to  capture  in-house  the
profitability from the vast majority of the value
chain.  This  cushions  us  from  potential  shifts  in

UBS

UBS Switzerland

UBS Asset 
Management

UBS Warburg

Private Banking

Institutional Asset
Management

Corporate & 
Institutional Clients

Private & 
Corporate Clients

Mutual Funds

UBS Capital

(working titles only)

GAM

Int. Investment
Services & e-services

9

Group Review 
The UBS Group 

10

UBS Switzerland
UBS  Switzerland,  led  by  Stephan  Haeringer,  is
composed  of  two  business  units:  the  current
Private and Corporate Clients business and Swiss
Private  Banking  services,  offered  in  Switzerland
and  in  major  international  offshore  centers.
Georges Gagnebin is the CEO of Private Banking.
UBS  Switzerland  will  rely  strongly  on  the
product  capabilities  of  the  other  two  business
groups,  UBS  Asset  Management  and  UBS  War-
burg. In addition it will manage the products and
services  most  relevant  for  its  client  base,  for
example consumer banking products in Switzer-
land, lending for Swiss corporates, and portfolio
management and trust services for Private Bank-
ing clients. UBS Switzerland will manage its own
multi-channel  distribution  network  in  Switzer-
land and abroad.

The  new  business  group  will  re-emphasize 
the  strength  and  merit  of  Swiss-based  banking
through  the  management  of  all  Swiss-based
clients under one leadership team. The business
group will benefit from an integrated Swiss-based
infrastructure.  UBS  Switzerland  is  the  leading
Swiss  bank  for  individual  and  corporate  clients
and  the  premier  Swiss  private  banking  institu-
tion.

UBS Warburg
UBS  Warburg,  under  the  leadership  of  Markus
Granziol, retains the existing organization struc-
ture of the integrated investment banking and se-
curities businesses. Corporate Finance, Equities,
Fixed Income and Treasury Products are joined
by Private Equity (UBS Capital), headed by Pierre
de Weck, international onshore Private Banking
and  e-services  to  form  a  leading  global  in-
vestment  services  firm  under  the  UBS  Warburg
brand.

UBS Warburg will take advantage of the con-
siderable growth potential resulting from putting
investment  banking  and  investment  services  ac-
tivities for wholesale and private clients outside
Switzerland under one roof. Internationally, both
high net worth and affluent clients are more at-
tuned  to  the  investment  banking  style,  services
and brand.

UBS Asset Management
UBS  Asset  Management  concentrates  all  invest-
ment management businesses of the Group under
the leadership of Peter Wuffli. The mutual funds

business  of  the  Group  and  the  newly  acquired
Global  Asset  Management  (GAM)  have  been
regrouped  with  the  existing  Institutional  Asset
Management business.

UBS Asset Management will develop a variety
of  investment  styles  and  multi-manager  options
and  will  leverage  global  research  capability
through  combining  individual  and  institutional
asset management. UBS Asset Management will
adopt a client-centric approach, including strate-
gic asset allocation.

Group Executive Board
As  of  15  February  2000  the  Group  Executive
Board is composed as follows:

Group Chief Executive Officer

Marcel Ospel
Luqman Arnold Chief Financial Officer
Georges Gagnebin CEO Private Banking
Markus Granziol CEO UBS Warburg
Stephan Haeringer CEO UBS Switzerland
Pierre de Weck
Peter Wuffli

CEO UBS Capital
CEO UBS Asset Management

Clients, growth and efficiency
The new UBS reflects a radically different way of
thinking about client segmentation. As new tech-
nologies  transform  the  financial  industry  land-
scape,  clients  increasingly  drive  services,  seg-
menting themselves through their choice of serv-
ices and channels. The new UBS structure is de-
signed to support lifetime client relationships, of-
fering  a  continuously  evolving  service  to  match
each client’s financial sophistication and aspira-
tions as they develop. UBS Switzerland and UBS
Warburg will provide services to the entire range
of individual clients: on the one hand, Swiss and
offshore private clients, and on the other hand in-
ternational private clients.

UBS intends to unlock the growth potential of
its  wealth  management  business  through  focus-
ing on its distinct components:
– Swiss  and  offshore  private  banking,  with  its
special place in the world of personal finance,
will  be  focused  on  and  developed  by  UBS
Switzerland.

– The  enormous  growth  potential  of  interna-
tional onshore investment services for high net
worth  individuals  and  affluent  investors  will
be exploited.

– Mutual  funds  will  be  aggressively  marketed
and distributed outside the UBS Group, from

Group Review 
The UBS Group 

its  new  position  in  UBS  Asset  Management,
where  GAM  will  continue  to  provide  the
“screened”  architecture  access  to  third  party
managers  critical  for  the  Group’s  individual
client base.

The opportunity to bring together asset manage-
ment businesses under one roof, and to rational-
ize  logistics  infrastructure  for  the  Swiss-based
international  businesses,  positions  UBS
and 
strongly to continue to capture internal synergies
in the years ahead.

11

Group Review 
Merger Integration Update 

Merger Integration Update

Given the tremendous

Scope of merger integration

scope of the merger

between Swiss Bank

Corporation and Union

Bank of Switzerland, UBS

mastered the technical

and organizational

challenges of the merger

in record time. With the

completion of the infor-

mation technology

integration in one year

from the legal consum-

mation of the merger,

UBS set a new industry

benchmark.

12

When we announced the merger of Union Bank of
Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation in De-
cember 1997, we planned strict timelines in which
to manage a merger of such scope and complexi-
ty. Our ambitious total integration plan included
resolving the issues of product and service offer-
ings,  branding,  client  communication,  technical
and  operational  integration,  a  new  business
model, distribution network redesign, and the re-
tention of both clients and key employees. In ad-
dition, two quite different business cultures had to
be  brought  together.  The  integration  process
placed  extraordinary  demands  on  Information
Technology  (IT)  and  Operations,  and  our  client
representatives faced the daily challenge of main-
taining service quality and client satisfaction. 

We  announced  that  the  integration  timetable
would vary by division between three months and
four years. In particular, two divisional timelines
were  very  ambitious.  First,  at  UBS  Warburg  we
aimed for, and successfully achieved, the integra-
tion of information technology platforms on the
date of the legal consummation of the merger, 29
June 1998. At UBS Private and Corporate Clients,
we planned, and also succeeded in, the integration
of  the  information  technology  platforms  within
one year of the legal merger date, achieving a new
international  benchmark  in  the  industry.  In
Switzerland,  more  than  2.5  million  client  ac-
counts were migrated to a common IT platform
and 173 redundant branches, or 31% of the pre-
merger branch network, have been closed. 

Thanks  to  the  exemplary  efforts  of  our  em-
ployees, the merger integration of UBS has suc-
cessfully remained on track across all divisions in
Switzerland  and  around  the  globe.  All  business
divisions  except  UBS  Private  and  Corporate
Clients  have  essentially  completed  merger  inte-
gration.  Redundancy  programs  in  Switzerland
and  real  estate  disposal  plans  in  the  Corporate
Center will continue to gain momentum in 2000.

Integration by division

UBS Private Banking
The merger caused fundamental changes for the
UBS Private Banking Division. Not only did the
organizational structure change, but the informa-
tion technology platforms, supplied by UBS Pri-

vate and Corporate Clients, had to be integrated
at  the  same  time.  The  swiftness  with  which  we
completed the merger did have some negative ef-
fects, causing a loss of momentum in the acquisi-
tion of new clients as well as some client and em-
ployee  defections.  However,  we  remain  con-
vinced that our decision to complete the integra-
tion of this division as quickly as possible result-
ed in a much smaller disruption of the business
than if it had been carried out over several years.
The  transfer  of  client  data  to  a  common  IT
platform  was  completed  for  the  main  interna-
tional  centers  (New  York,  Singapore,  Hong
Kong,  London)  in  1998,  and  in  Switzerland  by
mid-1999. The resegmentation of the client base
between UBS Private and Corporate Clients and
UBS Private Banking was completed in 1999.

The completion of the integration process will
allow  our  wealth  management  businesses  to
move forward with the implementation of their
powerful  value  proposition,  thereby  leveraging
UBS’s position as the global leader in quality high
net worth financial services.

UBS Warburg
The  investment  banking  and  securities  business
has been built up over the last five years through
a series of successful mergers based on speed of
execution and the ability to capture complemen-
tary skills.

The  successful  completion  of  the  UBS  War-
burg  integration  by  year-end  1998  created  a
client platform with a strong business momentum
and a much enhanced franchise. The impressive
results are clearly reflected in the 1999 published
segment reports.

UBS Private and Corporate Clients
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the employ-
ees involved, the integration process in Switzer-
land  of  the  information  technology  platforms
was  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion  in  July
1999. Within one year, over 1,000 ATM’s were
converted and over 23,000 employees trained in
new products, processes and systems. Organiza-
tional  integration  and  rebranding  were  finished
in 1998.

A core component of the strategy of the Pri-
vate and Corporate Clients Division is to stream-
line  the  physical  distribution  network  while  si-
multaneously  enhancing  alternative  distribution
channels such as phone and internet banking so-

Group Review 
Merger Integration Update 

lutions. As mentioned above, by the end of 1999,
31%  of  the  pre-merger  branch  network  had 
been closed. The branch network will be further
rationalized and specialized over the course of the
next few years. 

Merger-related  headcount  reduction  plans,
branch  reductions  and  specialization,  re-engi-
neering  of  operations  and  logistics,  improve-
ments  in  information  technology,  and  the  final
decommissioning of Swiss Bank Corporation’s IT
platform  are  expected  to  result  in  headcount
being continually reduced during the 2000–2002
period.

UBS Asset Management
The integration of UBS Asset Management was
successfully  completed  during  1998.  Merger-
related  client  attrition,  notably  in  Europe,  was
pronounced but within corporate expectations. 

UBS Capital
The merger process was smoothly completed in
1998,  with  the  successful  integration  of  SBC
Equity Partners (which in 1999 became CapVis,
Switzerland’s  largest  private  equity  fund)  into
UBS Capital. In 1999, UBS Capital established a
new regional fund structure that will allow it to
continue  making  significant  direct  investments
within the important US market.

Corporate Center
The majority of real estate for the Group is man-
aged  by  the  Corporate  Center.  Merger-related
property divestments started in 1998 and 1999,
and real estate write-offs and sales will continue
into 2000 and 2001.

Merger cost savings

By  the  end  of  1999,  we  achieved  sustainable
merger-related cost savings of CHF 2 billion per
year.  Since 1997, headcount reductions will have
resulted  in  total  savings  of  CHF  1.6  billion  per
year.    We  estimate  non-headcount  savings  to  be
around CHF 400 million per year, including ap-
proximately CHF 75 million in eliminated depre-
ciation  expenses  and  other  costs  related  to  real
estate.

Since the merger announcement, UBS Warburg
has essentially completed its integration including
the reduction of personnel and the integration of

information technology platforms. As we expect-
ed,  most  of  the  cost  savings  over  the  past  two
years have been attributable to UBS Warburg.

UBS  Private  and  Corporate  Clients  has  been
rapidly integrating its business in line with a de-
tailed timetable and project schedule. As planned,
it still has additional milestones to reach. For ex-
ample,  now  that  the  integration  of  technology
platforms  has  been  completed  and  in  line  with
employee association agreements made in 1998,
redundancy  plans  will  gain  momentum  during
2000 and 2001. Furthermore, although the tech-
nology  platform  integration  was  completed  in
mid-1999,  one  platform  still  remains  to  be  de-
commissioned in 2000.

UBS Private Banking, UBS Asset Management
and  UBS  Capital  have  essentially  completed 
their integrations, while in the Corporate Center
we expect the write-off or sale of the remaining
redundant  real  estate  to  proceed  in  2000  and
2001.

As with any merger, cost savings attributable
directly to the merger become increasingly diffi-
cult to track over time. Across all divisions, nor-
mal  organic  business  growth,  new  investments
and initiatives, and at least three acquisitions and
six  divestments  cloud  underlying  developments
since the time of the merger.

For example, UBS Private Banking has invest-
ed heavily over the past two years in building up
its  domestic  private  banking  business  outside
Switzerland. Additionally, in 1999, UBS formed
the e-services business area which will experience
further significant investment. More information
on  divisional  initiatives  can  be  found  in  the  re-
spective divisional discussions.

We are also implementing general cost control
initiatives across all divisions, which extend well-
beyond merger-related savings. These initiatives
are already well-structured at UBS Warburg and
UBS  Private  and  Corporate  Clients.  UBS  War-
burg is continuing to focus on cost management
with  emphasis  on  improving  overall  efficiency
such that revenue growth exceeds any growth in
non-personnel costs.

In  addition,  the  UBS  Warburg  Investment
Committee  has  carried  out  a  rigorous  review
process to ensure that investments in infrastruc-
ture are fully aligned with the strategy of the busi-
ness.

Within the UBS Private and Corporate Clients
Division,  the  Strategic  Projects  Portfolio  is  ex-

13

pected to enhance revenues and reduce costs, in-
cluding the ongoing realization of the division’s
remaining merger-related cost savings. The proj-
ects portfolio is well on track and is expected to
yield a significant improvement in net profit by
2002. We will continue to track and communi-
cate the progress of this portfolio.

Restructuring provision

In the fourth quarter of 1999, we recorded an ad-
ditional pre-tax restructuring charge of CHF 300
million in respect of the merger between Union
Bank  of  Switzerland  and  Swiss  Bank  Corpora-
tion. This increase represents four percent of the
initial  CHF  7  billion  charge  made  in  1997  and
was due to revised estimates of the cost of lease
breaks and property disposals.

Of the CHF 7 billion merger-related restruc-
turing  provision  created  in  1997  and  the  addi-
tional restructuring provision of CHF 300 mil-
lion  created  in  1999,  CHF  1,844  million  was
utilized in 1999. This brings total utilization to
CHF 5,871 million and leaves CHF 1,429 mil-
lion  to  address  the  remaining  restructuring,
mostly in UBS Private and Corporate Clients.

In  UBS  Private  and  Corporate  Clients,  the
transition  to  one  common  IT  platform  and
the parallel  operation  of  the  systems  account
for the  major  part  of  IT  provision  utilization.
UBS Warburg  has  already  essentially  concluded
its  restructuring  activities.  Premises  costs  at
Corporate Center are primarily due to relocation
and  refurbishment  costs  from  the  move  into
common  bank  premises  and  vacancy  costs  re-
garding decommissioned bank premises pending
disposal.

Restructuring provision used

CHF million
For the year ended

UBS Private Banking
UBS Warburg
UBS Private and Corporate Clients
UBS Asset Management
UBS Capital
Corporate Center

Group total

Personnel

IT

Premises

Total used

Total used
Other 31.12.1999 31.12.1998

40
181
123
9
3
22

378

103
75
461
0
0
3

642

1
0
165
0
0
507

673

13
60
45
0
0
33

157
316
794
9
3
565

151

1,844

147
2,382
717
18
2
761

4,027

Restructuring provision as of 31.12.1997
Additional provision in 1999
Used in 1998
Used in 1999

Total used through 31.12.1999

Restructuring provision remaining

7,000
300
4,027
1,844

5,871

1,429

Additional information on the restructuring provision remaining is provided in Note 24.

Group Review 
Merger Integration Update 

14

e-services, Information
Technology and Operations

Group Review 
e-services, Information 
Technology 
and Operations

e-commerce is changing

UBS e-services initiatives

Definitions

the banking industry, and

in 1999 UBS responded

strongly to this trend with

the establishment of a

new “click and mortar”

business area. Informa-

tion Technology and

Operations are

increasingly important

differentiators in the

current competitive envi-

ronment, especially given

the advent of new tech-

nologies. UBS recognizes

this shift and will con-

tinue to invest in its

industry-leading skills and

infrastructure. 

As asset allocation shifts away from deposits, as
the penetration of the internet increases, and as
technology continues to enable more user-friend-
ly and broader solutions, we recognize the criti-
cal  importance  of  the  targeted  application  of 
e-commerce  as  a  distribution  channel  in  the
financial services industry. 

In  1999,  we  established  a  structure  to  coor-
dinate  Group-wide  internet  initiatives,  centered
on  the  Group  Internet  Business  Council.  All
our businesses are internet-enabling their services,
building new client franchises and creating specif-
ic new products. These initiatives are reported in
the  relevant  divisional  review  sections  of  this
report.  The  success  of  our  internet  offering  in
Switzerland,  where  our  share  of  the  electronic
banking  market  is  greater  than  our  share  of
the traditional  banking  market,  is  testament
to our commitment and expertise in this new field.

e-services business area
This business area, known for the time being as
“e-services”,  is  planning  to  launch  a  pan-Euro-
pean personal investment services business in au-
tumn 2000. Following an integrated multi-chan-
nel approach, e-services will focus on providing
financial products and services to affluent Euro-
pean  customers.  The  current  plan  foresees  a
phased launch of this business over the next two
years in Germany, the UK, France and Italy.

e-services infrastructure will be scaleable and
open to ensure ease of further expansion, either
by product, service, or geography. Target clients
are the “second generation” of internet users who
require  services  pitched  between  the  private
banking  and  retail  levels.  These  clients  are  fo-
cused  on  investment  advice  rather  than  trading
services alone.

e-services  will  develop  an  internet  website
as its  major  distribution  channel.  The  business
will  also  open  investment  centers  in  its  target
markets,  as  well  as  two  large  customer  service
centers in Edinburgh and Maastricht, to provide
financial and technical advice by telephone.

Increasingly  important  to  UBS,  especially  in  the
current  competitive  environment,  logistics  is  a
term  which  we  use  to  encompass  information
technology (IT) and Operations. IT today under-
pins almost everything that is delivered by a bank,
from Automatic Teller Machines (ATM’s) to net-
marketed  bond  issues.  Operations  covers  the
post-transaction  activities  of  the  firm  which  en-
sure that our services are delivered to our clients
on time and with top quality. Once, these activi-
ties were viewed as “back-office” functions. Now
they take their place at the heart of our business.

Trends

At UBS, we view low cost and effective logistics
as an increasingly important competitive advan-
tage.  As  products  and  services  in  the  financial
services industry are becoming increasingly com-
moditized, the traditional differentiators of prod-
uct  innovation  and  service  quality  are  being
joined in importance by logistics excellence.

e-commerce is placing new demands on logis-
tics. The impact of this new channel goes beyond
just the front-end interface, such as the web page.
Rather,  the  website  acts  as  a  clear  window
through which our clients can have a direct view
into our internal systems. “Straight-through pro-
cessing”  –  the  complete  automation  of  services
from point of sale through execution and settle-
ment – is critical to ensure quality service delivery
in a real-time world. We are seeing an industry-
wide re-evaluation of logistics functions and their
place in the investment services enterprise.

Financial services providers must be both willing
and sufficiently capitalized to make significant in-
vestments  in  logistics.  These  investments  are  not
just driven by a desire to use leading-edge technol-
ogy. They are simply necessary to keep up with the
fast-paced  changes  in  client  needs  and  market
structures.  For  example,  the  European  securities
market is in a period of unprecedented transforma-
tion of both trading and settlement platforms. At
UBS, we aim to be a thought leader in this trans-
formation, enabling us to be well-ahead in the race
to  adapt  our  infrastructure  and  drive  industry
change.  We  co-founded  and  chair  the  European
Security Industry Users’ Group (ESIUG), a forum
established to drive market change in Europe.

15

Group Review 
e-services, Information 
Technology 
and Operations

16

Competitive environment

Fundamentally,  financial  services  remains  the
same business. However, the delivery of financial
services is changing very rapidly. Through this pe-
riod of innovation and change, we believe that es-
tablished players have several distinct advantages. 
Logistics  underpins  the  delivery  of  financial
services. All the trends we have discussed above
point to a significant competitive advantage for
those  with  successful  in-house  provision  of  the
“logistics  chain”.  UBS  commands  both  the
financial resources and the intellectual expertise
to meet the challenges of this new environment
itself. This is in contrast to many smaller finan-
cial service providers and start-ups, which must
purchase such services, making them more cost-
ly  and  increasing  their  dependency  on  external
providers.

Our view is that the client bases of established
institutions with trusted brand names are “stick-
ier”  than  internet  hype  would  have  us  believe.
Start-ups  have  marketing  expertise  and  often
niche technology skills on their side, but they fre-
quently lack the resources and expertise to build
stable in-house infrastructure.

We believe that winners from this technologi-
cal revolution will predominantly be the big in-
cumbent players who understand the increasing
importance of the logistics function and grasp the
opportunities that new technologies offer.

UBS logistics strategy

UBS’s strategy is to build dominant expertise in fi-
nancial  services  logistics.  This  will  enable  us  to
extract  competitive  advantage  from  having  the
majority of the logistics chain in-house coupled
with the ability to manage the associated opera-
tional  risks.  In  particular,  this  includes  keeping
costs internal rather than outsourcing them at a
potentially  higher  cost.  Furthermore,  it  ensures
full flexibility in delivering solutions and services
without  excessive  dependency  on  external  ven-
dors.

Challenges
Logistics is facing significant challenges from the
industry trends mentioned above. Many of these
challenges  will  originate  from  demands  of  the
marketplace, for example the move to T+1 securi-

ties settlement in the US. In addition, UBS’s logis-
tics functions are faced with a tremendous expan-
sion  of  scope  as  we  continue  to  build  domestic
private client business outside Switzerland and as
“e-services” prepares to launch in autumn 2000. 
UBS Operations are already global in structure
and  organization.  But  cost-effective  delivery
means that Operations must also continue glob-
alizing in processes and systems. The continuing
implementation of global processes and systems
will  revolutionize  functions  previously  seen  as
“back office”, moving them from a clerical to an
analytical focus. As margins tighten, Operations
will  be  positioned  as  a  revenue  protector  and
service enhancer as well as a cost reducer. It is on
this  platform  that  our  global,  integrated  invest-
ment services firm is built.

Group operations program
At  UBS,  we  look  at  the  cost  of  logistics  in  two
categories,  “run-the-bank”  and  “change-the-
bank”.  “Run-the-bank”  expenses  ensure  that
logistics continues to perform the required day-
to-day work. Our cost control objective with run-
the-bank  expenses  is  to  ensure  that,  even  with
increasing revenues or volumes, associated costs
will decrease, or at least increase at a slower rate.
“Change-the-bank”  expenses  are  the  necessary
investments  we  are  continually  making  to  capi-
talize on our revenue growth opportunities and
to  achieve  our  cost  control  objectives.  Here  we
are  transforming our  business  processes  for  the
better.

To  extract  more  synergies  from  the  Group
structure,  we  set  up  in  1999  the  Group  Opera-
tions Program (GOP). The GOP has created a ro-
bust  governance  structure  for  change-the-bank
initiatives across the Group. While run-the-bank
operations are still situated at the divisional level,
the GOP seeks to ensure that, through prioritized
single investments, run-the-bank expenses move
downward in the future. Through the GOP lead-
ership, Group initiatives are coordinated to avoid
duplication  and  examined  to  ensure  they  will
achieve  returns  exceeding  the  required  hurdle
rate. In 1999, run-the-bank expenses accounted
for approximately 67% of total Operations and
IT costs with change-the-bank expenses account-
ing for 33%. Change-the-bank expenditures can
be  expected  to  account  for  a  much  higher  pro-
portion of our total Operations and IT expenses
in the future.

Human Resources

Group Review 
Human Resources 

When the merger of 

Fierce competition for talent

the Union Bank of

Switzerland and Swiss

Bank Corporation was

announced in December

1997, the new Group set

the ambitious goal of

completing the majority

of the integration by July

1999. Thanks to the com-

mitment of all our em-

ployees, we were able to

achieve this milestone.

During recent years, the international labor mar-
ket has become more and more competitive, par-
ticularly in the financial services sector. Through
new marketing initiatives, challenging opportuni-
ties and first-class development and training, UBS
has been very successful in recruiting experienced
professionals  and  new  graduates  in  this  tight
market situation.

Intellectual capital is the most important asset
in the financial services sector. We recognize this by
encouraging our employees to play an active role
in their own development. Each of our divisions
has  its  own  training  department  which  offers  a
wide range of courses, focusing on personal devel-
opment,  management  skills,  as  well  as  specific
business know-how. The expertise and integrity of
our staff creates value for our clients and, through
innovative and efficient processes, for the Group.
We always aim to attract and retain the best talent
in the market by providing a challenging climate of
teamwork and meritocracy which motivates staff
to achieve their full potential.

Organization of Human Resources at UBS

In  April  1999,  Group  Human  Resources  was
brought directly into the Group CEO area. This en-
ables  a  better  coordination  of  Human  Resource
processes and has led to substantial improvements
and synergies in the fields of compensation and ben-
efits, graduate and professional recruitment, train-
ing and development and performance evaluation.
Each division takes responsibility for its own
human  resources  by  having  divisional  Human
Resources organizations geared to specific busi-
ness needs. Under the lead of the Group CEO, the
Group  Human  Resources  Committee  ensures
that  all  Human  Resources  efforts  support  busi-
ness objectives. Group Human Resources policies
and standards are defined in all fields where con-
sistency and global applicability create synergies
and add value to the Group.

Group Human Resources policies

Recruitment and retention
UBS aims to be an employer of choice for talent-
ed individuals and therefore makes great efforts

to  identify  and  recruit  the  top  candidates  for
every role. Internal development is emphasized to
fill senior positions. We have successfully estab-
lished a working environment in which talented
employees  wish  to  remain  and  to  which  candi-
dates are attracted.

Appreciation of diversity
We  foster  a  diverse  workforce  of  varying  back-
grounds,  experiences  and  perspectives.  We  con-
centrate on increasing the awareness of the rele-
vance  of  national  and  organizational  “culture”
with the goal of developing each employee’s per-
sonal intercultural competence and consequently
the  aptitude  for  working  in  multi-cultural  envi-
ronments.

Performance culture and meritocracy
Common to all divisions is an environment that
values  performance  and  contribution.  Recogni-
tion,  reward  and  opportunity  for  increased  re-
sponsibility are always based on merit. To meas-
ure  this,  we  use  the  Group-wide  Performance
Measurement  and  Management  (PMM)  tool,
which is a web-based instrument.

Compensation
We manage our staff with a total remuneration
strategy that attracts, retains, motivates and re-
inforces  performance,  fairness,  integrity  and
teamwork.  We  provide  significant  equity-based
compensation to all levels of employees to ensure
continual  shareholder  alignment  and  value
creation.  Additionally,  UBS  has  a  number  of
equity-based  pay  programs  through  which  UBS
employees  can  choose  to  invest  in  shares  and
options.

Staff development
Professional and personal development is a criti-
cal management responsibility in order to ensure
continued  success.  To  be  competitive  as  an
employer, we must visibly add value to each indi-
vidual’s career and market profile. Staff, regard-
less of their function or title, may attend seminars
or  courses  which  focus  on  their  development.
UBS  offers  a  variety  of  programs  for  each  level
and job function. We are focusing on expanding
our  existing  on-line  training  programs,  which
will add flexibility and enable our employees to
invest in their further development at times which
are most convenient to them.

17

Group Review 
Human Resources 

UBS Group 
Employees by region 
31 December 1999

16%

7%

10%

Switzerland
Americas
Asia/Pacific
Europe

67%

UBS Group 
Employees by division
31 December 1999

0.2%
3.4% 1.9%

19.5%

Technology skills

New technology and globalization have a grow-
ing impact on the world of banking. In response
to  the  increasingly  technical  nature  of  banking
and changing client demands, UBS has expanded
its range of services. 24-hour Banking is now the
norm and our e-services businesses are develop-
ing rapidly.

The critical importance of managing and prof-
iting from these new media means it is imperative
that  we  build  up  strong  technology  resources.
Therefore, we are developing our critical mass of
people with high technology skills.

The global leadership experience

The Global Leadership Experience (GLE) is a new
development initiative that seeks to institutionalize
cross-divisional cooperation. The GLE is a bank-
wide network of personal contacts and intellectu-
al opportunities that extend beyond the immediate
workplace.  The  first  program  took  place  in  late
September 1999, bringing together key staff from
all five business divisions.

49.1%

25.9%

UBS Group personnel development

UBS Private Banking
UBS Warburg
UBS Private and Corporate Clients
UBS Asset Management
UBS Capital
Corporate Center

At the end of 1999, UBS had a total of 49,058
employees  worldwide  across  all  divisions.  This
figure  does  not  include  the  Klinik  Hirslanden
headcount of 1,853 employees. The graphs illus-

Personnel 1

(Full-time equivalents)

UBS Private Banking
UBS Warburg
UBS Private and Corporate Clients
UBS Asset Management
UBS Capital
Corporate Center

Group total
thereof: Switzerland

trate  the  geographical  and  divisional  split  be-
tween divisions.  Since  December  1998  UBS
Group’s headcount expanded by 2.2%, or 1,047
due  to  UBS  Private  Banking  expansion,  which
has  been  partly  mitigated  by  UBS  Warburg’s
non-core business reduction. Employee turnover
was  more  stable  during  the  second  half  of  the
year  than  during  the  first  six  months.  The  net
turnover  for  the  Group  in  1999  was  11.7%
worldwide  and  11%  in  Switzerland.  Towards
the end of the year the figures stabilized signifi-
cantly in all divisions.

In  1999,  UBS  Private  Banking’s  headcount
grew by 25.3%. This occurred primarily through
the expansion of domestic private banking out-
side Switzerland and the accompanying necessary
logistics support, as well as through the integra-
tion of Global Asset Management and the inter-
national private banking business acquired from
Bank of America.

Apart  from  the  transfer  of  the  Swiss-related
Global  Trade  Finance  business  to  UBS  Private
and  Corporate  Clients,  UBS  Warburg’s  head-
count decline in 1999 took place mainly in non-
core businesses, Treasury Products and Logistics. 
The  minimal  expansion  in  UBS  Private  Cor-
porate and Clients’ headcount in 1999 is a result
of the transfer of Swiss-related Global Trade Fi-
nance from UBS Warburg which was almost com-
pletely offset by the realization of planned head-
count  reductions.  For  example,  in  the  fourth
quarter of 1999, on a net basis, around 400 per-
sonnel left the UBS Private and Corporate Clients
Division.

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change in %

9,565
12,694
24,098
1,653
116
932

49,058
32,747

7,634
13,794
24,043
1,497
122
921

48,011
32,706

25
(8)
0
10
(5)
1

2
0

1 The Group headcount of 49,058 as of 31 December 1999 does not include the Klinik Hirslanden headcount of 1,853.

18

Divisional Review

Divisional Review 
UBS Segment Reporting 

UBS Segment Reporting

To allow a more meaning-

UBS Segment reporting by business

ful analysis of UBS’s

results, Group results are

CHF million
For the year ended

Revenues
Credit loss expenses 1

presented on a manage-

Total operating income

ment reporting basis.

Consequently, internal

charges and transfer

pricing adjustments have

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation 2
Goodwill amortization 3

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax
Tax expense

Net profit before minority interests
Minority interests

been reflected in the

Net profit

performance of each

business. The basis of

Cost/income ratios (%) 4

before goodwill amortization
after goodwill amortization

the reporting reflects the

Regulatory equity used (avg)

Assets under management (bn) 5

management of the

UBS Private Banking
31.12.98

31.12.99

31.12.99

UBS Warburg
31.12.98

6,011
(24)

5,987

1,694
1,467
138
36

3,335

2,652

55
55

1,800

731

7,223
(26 )

7,197

1,458
1,277
111
15

2,861

4,336

12,909
(330)

12,579

6,861
2,448
652
134

10,095

2,484

6,987
(500 )

6,487

4,333
2,483
535
157

7,508

(1,021 )

46
46

77
78

105
107

1,500

10,050

13,300

607

0

0

business within the UBS

Purpose

Management accounting principles

Group.

20

Based on UBS’s management accounting, segment
reporting  provides  accurate  performance  meas-
urement  of  the  UBS  divisions  to  increase  trans-
parency and accountability. Segment reports are
in line with the organizational structure of UBS. 

Accounting standards

Although segment reports are based on manage-
ment accounting, they comply with International
Accounting Standards (IAS), and they are also ex-
amined by UBS’s auditors, ATAG Ernst & Young
AG. Where a different approach has been applied
in order to increase the usefulness of the data, the
figures  are  fully  reconciled  to  our  financial  ac-
counting.

Segment  reports  disclose  additional  informa-
tion not required by IAS in order to measure the
performance of the business divisions in a more
accurate way. Examples of this supplementary in-
formation include assets under management and
headcount.

– Interest revenues are apportioned to the divi-
sions based on the opportunity costs of fund-
ing.  Accordingly,  all  assets  and  liabilities  are
refinanced  with  the  Treasury  Products  busi-
ness based on market rates. Revenues relating
to balance sheet products are calculated on a
fully-funded basis. Therefore, there is no free
capital. As a result, in the segment reports, the
divisions are credited with the risk-free return
on the average equity used. Commissions are
credited to the business division with the cor-
responding customer relationship.

– In addition to the direct costs of the divisions,
inter-divisional  costs  are  allocated  based  on
service level agreements and treated as a cost
reduction in the division providing the service. 
– The  allocation  of  Corporate  Center  costs  to
the business segments is based upon concepts
of benefit and controllability. Essentially, the
division  which  controls  the  process  or  is
responsible  for  a  logistics  service  bears  the
costs.

– In order to manage its exposure to credit risk
effectively, and in particular to encourage ap-
propriate  pricing  of  transactions  involving
credit,  UBS  measures  its  exposure  to  credit

Divisional Review 
UBS Segment Reporting 

1 In order to show the relevant divi-
sional performance over time, adjust-
ed expected loss figures rather than
the net credit loss expense are report-
ed for all business divisions. The
statistically derived adjusted expected
losses reflect the inherent counterpar-
ty and country risks in the respective
portfolios. The difference between
the statistically derived adjusted ex-
pected loss figures to the net credit
loss expenses for financial reporting
purposes is reported in the Corporate
Center. The divisional breakdown of
the net credit loss expense for finan-
cial reporting purposes of CHF 956
million as of 31 December 1999 is as
follows: UBS Private Banking CHF
11 million, UBS Warburg CHF (20)
million, UBS Private and Corporate
Clients CHF 974 million, Corporate
Center CHF (9) million.

2 The 1998 figures have been restated
due to a refinement of the allocation
methodology for depreciation.

3 The amortization of goodwill in-
cludes other purchased intangible
assets.  

4 Operating expenses / revenues
before credit loss expenses (UBS Pri-
vate Banking 1998 excluding gain
from divestment of Banca della
Svizzera Italiana).

5 UBS Asset Management Decem-
ber 1999: institutional assets 
CHF 376 bn, non-institutional assets
CHF 198 bn.

UBS Private & Corporate Clients
31.12.98

31.12.99

UBS Asset Management
31.12.98
31.12.99

31.12.99

UBS Capital
31.12.98

Corporate Center
31.12.98

31.12.99

31.12.99

UBS Group
31.12.98

7,193
(1,050)

7,025
(1,170 )

6,143

3,363
1,061
555
2

4,981

1,162

69
69

8,550

439

5,855

3,238
1,025
680
4

4,947

908

70
70

8,250

434

1,096
0

1,096

444
177
29
113

763

333

59
70

160

574

1,163
0

1,163

454
154
29
78

715

448

55
61

100

531

315
0

315

105
47
2
5

159

156

49
50

340

0

585
0

585

121
35
0
1

157

428

27
27

250

0

2,053
448

2,501

110
818
141
50

1,119

1,382

296
745

1,041

212
1,643
128
87

2,070

(1,029 )

n / a
n / a

n / a
n / a

29,577
(956)

23,279
(951 )

28,621

22,328

12,577
6,018
1,517
340

9,816
6,617
1,483
342

20,452

18,258

8,169
1,815

6,354
(54)

6,300

68
69

4,070
1,045

3,025
5

3,030

77
78

7,850

6,350

28,750

29,750

0

0

1,744

1,572

risk  using  a  forward  looking  statistical
estimate  of  the  expected  loss  based  on  the
estimated probability of default of its counter-
parties. The estimate of the “Expected Loss”
associated with the credit risk in the portfolio
which results from this process is then charged
to the divisions through the management ac-
counts in order to ensure that the anticipated
risk  cost  associated  with  credit  is  taken  into
account in the assessment of divisional results.
As each division is ultimately responsible for
its credit decisions, the difference between ac-
tual  credit  losses  and  annual  expected  losses
will be charged or credited back to the division
over time.
Since  the  International  Accounting  Standards
require  that  credit  losses  be  recognized  and
charged to the financial accounts on an ex post
basis as they arise rather than the forward look-
ing  statistical  basis  UBS  uses  for  performance
measurement, it is necessary to reconcile these
two different approaches to the measurement of
credit  risk.  This  reconciliation  is  achieved
through  an  offsetting  entry  in  the  Corporate
Center accounts which represents the difference
between the statistically estimated adjusted ex-
pected loss which is charged to the management
accounts of the divisions and the credit loss ex-

pense which is recorded in the financial accounts
in accordance with the requirements of Interna-
tional  Accounting  Standards.  Credit  loss  ex-
penses  according  to  the  financial  accounting
methodology are also footnoted by division in
the divisional management account tables. 
– Equity  is  allocated  to  the  divisions  based  on
the  average  regulatory  capital  requirement
during the period. Utilized equity only is taken
into account, and a mark-up of 10% as a se-
curity margin is added. The remaining equity,
mainly for real estate, as well as unallocated
equity remains in Corporate Center. 

– Assets under management are defined as third-
party  on-  and  off-balance  sheet  assets  for
which the bank has investment responsibility.
This includes both discretionary assets, where
the bank has a mandate to invest and manage
the  assets,  as  well  as  advisory  assets.  Where
two divisions share responsibility for manage-
ment of the funds (such as investment funds),
the assets under management are included in
both  business  segments.  Custody-only  assets
are  excluded.  UBS  is  currently  reviewing  its
definition of assets under management.

– Headcount  includes  trainees  and  staff  in
management development programs, but not
contractors.

Reorganization impact
Following  our  recent  reorgani-
zation,  we  are  committed  to
providing continuing compara-
bility  and  transparency  in  our
segment  reporting.  This  com-
mitment will result in substan-
tial  disclosure  at  a  level  below
the three main business groups.

21

Divisional Review 
UBS Private Banking 

UBS Private Banking

Despite solid growth in

Mission and business description

assets under manage-

ment in 1999, UBS

Private Banking’s financial

performance was nega-

tively affected by merger-

related disruption, certain

underperforming  port-

folios  and substantial

investments in new busi-

ness areas. In February

2000, the UBS Group an-

nounced a reorganization

which will focus on

reigniting growth in the

wealth management

businesses. 

22

UBS – The premier private bank
UBS  Private  Banking  is  an  integrated,  global
provider of a broad portfolio of financial prod-
ucts  and  services  to  wealthy  clients,  and  the  fi-
nancial  intermediaries  advising  them.  UBS  Pri-
vate Banking’s products and services are aimed at
encompassing the complete life cycle of the client,
including  succession  planning  and  the  genera-
tional change.

UBS  Private  Banking  had  CHF  731  billion
assets under management at year-end 1999, and
9,565 staff in 80 locations worldwide. Leverag-
ing its relationship with UBS Warburg and UBS
Capital, UBS Private Banking is able to provide
its  clientele  with  a  unique  palette  of  financial
services products. It also draws on other areas of
the Group, with UBS Asset Management provid-
ing  investment  fund  management  services,  and
UBS Private and Corporate Clients the use of its
information technology platform and investment
fund distribution capabilities in Switzerland.

Industry trends and strategic initiatives

Industry trends
Despite increasing competitive pressure from es-
tablished players and new market entrants, pri-
vate banking continues to remain a particularly
attractive business in the financial services sector.
According to industry forecasts, financial assets
of  high  net  worth  individuals  are  expected  to
grow  worldwide  at  nine  percent  annually  over
the  medium-term.  In  general,  growth  rates  for
domestic markets in Europe, North America and
in Asia are expected to show even higher increases
than the international cross-border business. 

At the same time, the private banking industry
is undergoing some fundamental changes. One of
the  most  important  challenges  is  the  changing
profile of private banking clients. New wealth is
growing  much  more  quickly  than  inherited
wealth. Clients – increasingly  globally oriented
and mobile – are becoming more active, less risk-
averse  and  more  comfortable  with  technology.
These new challenges are leading to the demand
for superior investment performance, innovative
and sophisticated products and services, and real-
time  information  coupled  with  strong  advisory
capabilities and multiple access points.

New technologies are another opportunity for
the industry. The internet will transform private
banking as it enables banks to compete globally,
outside traditional geographic barriers. Charac-
teristics of this development are an increase in in-
formation  breadth  and  depth,  new  distribution
channels with marginal costs of reaching clients
approaching zero, and new techniques that facil-
itate client segmentation and increase the level of
personalization and client intimacy. Banks must
view the internet as both a new channel for serv-
ing existing customers and a fundamentally new
way of doing business to attract customers. UBS
will  further  strengthen  its  presence  in  this  bor-
derless,  highly  customer-focused,  and  technolo-
gy-driven environment. 

In  this  context,  UBS  Private  Banking  sees  its
proven advisory strengths combined with its life-
cycle  view  and  its  attention  to  changing  client
profiles as key differentiating factors in providing
intimacy  and  customization  for  its  clients  and,
ultimately, success for the business and sustain-
able long term value creation for shareholders. 

Strategic initiatives
Aligned with industry trends, UBS Private Bank-
ing’s strategic initiatives in 1999 were character-
ized by four main pillars:

– Focus  on  wealthy  clients  with  individualized
requirements  across  a  broad  product  range
and through the entire life cycle.

In the private banking industry, the demand for
specific  and  targeted  professional  advice  is  in-
creasing. UBS Private Banking has addressed the
challenge by setting up special advisory teams for
the different needs of  certain client groups like
entrepreneurs or executives.  

New business initiatives during 1999 include
the  formation  of  the  Global  Executives  Group,
the  Sports  and  Entertainment  Advisory  Group,
the Corporate Advisory Group and the Real Es-
tate Advisory Group. This represents our contin-
uous efforts to harness UBS capabilities across all
divisions and business units to create tailor-made
solutions for clients’ entire wealth positions.

UBS Private Banking’s unique concept behind
the Global Executives Group, established to de-
liver customized solutions for executives around
the world, is to take a holistic approach to wealth
management that uses individualized sector and

Divisional Review 
UBS Private Banking 

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

change (%)

6,011
(24)

5,987

1,694
1,467
138
36

3,335

2,652

1,800

55
55

731

9,565
5,835
3,730

7,223
(26 )

7,197

1,458
1,277
111
15

2,861

4,336

1,500

46
46

607

7,634
5,092
2,542

(17)
(8)

(17)

16
15
24
140

17

(39)

20

20

25
15
47

UBS Private Banking
Assets under management
Development

CHF million

Revenues 1
Credit loss expenses

CHF billion

7
0
6

5
8
+

1
3
7

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

5
+

y
e
n
o
m
w
e
n

t
e
N

8
2
+

s
n
o
i
t
i
s
i
u
q
c
a

y
n
a
p
m
o
C

6
+

s
r
e
f
s
n
a
r
t

l

a
n
o
i
s
i
v
i
d
r
e
t
n

I

Total operating imcome

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 2

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax

Regulatory equity used (avg)

Cost / income in % 3
Cost / income in %, before goodwill amortization 3

Total 31.12.98

Total 31.12.99

Assets under management (bn)

Headcount
of which: Switzerland
of which: Rest of world

UBS Private Banking
Assets under management
Advisory vs. discretionary

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

25%

25%

75%

75%

31.12.99

31.12.98

1998 Total: CHF 607 billion
1999 Total: CHF 731 billion

Discretionary
Advisory

UBS Private Banking
Assets under management
By asset class 

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

  9%

29%

28%

18%

16%

  9%

26%

32%

16%

17%

31.12.99

31.12.98

1998 Total: CHF 607 billion
1999 Total: CHF 731 billion

Accounts
Equities
Bonds

UBS Investment 
Funds
Others

1 Includes sales profit and operating income from divested companies.    2 Includes amortization of other purchased intangible assets.    3 Before
credit loss expense, 1998 excluding gain from divestment of Banca della Svizzera Italiana.

product  expertise  to  manage  a  client’s  entire
wealth  position.  This  will  be  achieved  by  com-
bining  investment,  executive  compensation  and
private  banking  expertise,  and  leveraging  this
with  a  particular  strength  in  managing  concen-
trated  equity  positions.  This  business  is  also
an excellent  example  of  what  can  be  achieved
by drawing  on  the  full  spectrum  of  the  UBS
Group’s  resources.  The  experience  so  far  indi-
cates a strong positive response from the market-
place.

A new approach in communicating with exist-
ing and potential new clients was taken in May
1999  with  the  launch  of  Optimus,  a  dedicated
quarterly  magazine,  and  Optimus  online, the
complementary  web  site  with  updated  invest-
ment  information  daily.  These  communication
instruments  will  provide  more  interaction  be-
tween UBS Private Banking and its clients. 

– Strengthen  the  division’s  position  in  private
banking  in  Switzerland  and  in  international
offshore centers.

The  traditional  private  banking  business  –  pri-
vate banking in Switzerland for both Swiss and
international  cross-border  clients  –  remains  of
critical importance to the UBS Group. 1999 was
characterized by strategic developments such as
expansion  of  our  services  in  London,  Monaco,
Luxembourg,  New  York  and  Singapore  where
existing  capacities  were  increased  in  line  with

client demands and the potential to secure future
growth.

In March 1999, UBS acquired Bank of Amer-
ica’s  international  private  banking  activities  in
Europe and Asia  which added CHF 5 billion to
UBS Private Banking’s assets under management.
The business was completely integrated into ex-
isting UBS entities during 1999.

– Build onshore private banking businesses out-
side  Switzerland  organically  and  through
selective acquisitions.

Another key strategy is the expansion of onshore
private banking outside Switzerland, particularly
in Continental Europe. Thus, UBS Private Banking
opened  new  offices  during  1999 
in  Spain
(Barcelona,  Madrid,  Marbella),  Italy  (Bologna,
Rome), France (Paris) and its seventh office in Ger-
many  (Stuttgart).  At  the  same  time,  the  division
strengthened its existing onshore private banking
platforms in major financial centers, such as Lon-
don, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong.

UBS  Group  announced  a  reorganization  of
wealth  management  businesses 
in  February
2000. Onshore private banking outside Switzer-
land has been grouped with the “e-services” ini-
tiative and will be managed in the new investment
banking group under the UBS Warburg brand. e-
services  and  onshore  private  banking  outside
Switzerland are both high-potential growth busi-
nesses which will be driven forward under a com-

23

 
 
 
 
Divisional Review 
UBS Private Banking 

UBS Private Banking
Assets under management 
By currency 

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

22%

25%

  4%

43%

  6%

26%

25%

5%

38%

  6%

31.12.99

31.12.98

1998 Total: CHF 607 billion
1999 Total: CHF 731 billion

CHF
EUR
GBP

USD
Others

UBS Investment funds 
Development
Swiss-authorized funds only

CHF billion

5
1
0 +
1
+

1
0
2

y
c
n
e
r
r
u
C

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

5
7
1

1
+

y
e
n
o
m
w
e
n

t
e
N

31.12.98

31.12.99

24

mon  management  structure  to  maximize  joint
product offerings and delivery mechanisms while
managing  costs  aggressively.  The  new  private
banking and affluent clients targeted by e-servic-
es and onshore private banking outside Switzer-
land will be particularly attracted to the invest-
ment banking style, services and brand.

– Diversify available investment styles.

At  UBS,  the  investment  process  has  historically
been integrated. As a result, the detrimental im-
pact of 1999 investment performance in the in-
stitutional investment management franchise car-
ried over into Private Banking. In an effort to un-
link  this  concentration  of  investment  perform-
ance risk, UBS will diversify the investment styles
available to its private clients.

As  an  important  step  to  widen  the  product
range  available  to  private  banking  clients,  UBS
announced in September 1999 the acquisition of
Global  Asset  Management  (GAM).  GAM  is  a
leading  global  diversified  asset  management
group with operations in Europe, North Ameri-
ca, Asia and Middle East. It has brought assets
under management of CHF 23 billion invested in
170 mutual funds and unit trusts.

The acquisition is a cornerstone of the strate-
gic plans of the UBS Group, and it will be central
in developing a full range of wealth management
services  worldwide.  As  announced  in  February
2000,  GAM  will  be  moved  to  the  UBS  Asset
Management division where it will contribute di-
rectly  to  the  diversification  of  investment  styles
and help to develop “screened” access to third-
party funds. UBS Asset Management will lever-
age Global Asset Management’s range of mutual
funds and its multi-manager system, in which it
selects the top 90 out of 6,000 third-party fund
providers,  to  enhance  the  range  of  investment
styles and investment funds. With its well-estab-
lished and successful investment styles, GAM will
retain  its  approach  and  brand  identity  within
UBS Asset Management.

Investment funds business

In  1999,  UBS  strengthened  its  international  in-
vestment fund franchise amidst growing popular-
ity of investment funds, and retained its position
as the leading fund provider in Europe. By year-

end  1999,  assets  under  management  increased
15%  to  reach  CHF  201  billion.  Growth  was
mainly attributable to good performance. 

The merging of the two pre-merger banks’ fund
ranges and the amalgamations due to the  intro-
duction of the Euro were completed successfully
and led to a reduction in the number of investment
funds  from  214  to  148.  The  resulting  efficiency
and liquidity impact is shown in the 67% increase
of  the  average  size  of  our  fund  portfolios  from
CHF 815 million to CHF 1,358 million.

The  continuing  trend  towards  equity  invest-
ments helped grow our equity funds 51% to CHF
53.2 billion. Equities is now the largest asset cat-
egory of UBS Investment Funds and accounts for
26.5% of total UBS Investment Funds volume.

The UBS Investment Fund Account is a proven
investment service which combines the simplicity
of a bank account with the advantages of invest-
ing in a well diversified fund portfolio. It offers
six investment risk profiles as well as customized
investment  plans.  UBS  Investment  Fund  Ac-
counts have been well received, growing accounts
by 80% to 90,000 and assets by 39% to a total
amount of CHF 2.5 billion in 1999. The launch
of five new investment funds generated a net in-
flow of CHF 1.7 billion.

Assets under management from external dis-
tribution partners increased by 31% to CHF 8.8
billion, while assets of funds managed under the
brand of external distribution franchises grew by
74% to CHF 5.3 billion.

With the introduction of Fund Gate on the in-
ternet  in  autumn  1999,  UBS  started  providing
clients and other internet users with detailed first-
hand information on UBS Investment Funds, giv-
ing access to a unique set of price and perform-
ance data on a daily basis. In addition, substan-
tial  efforts  have  been  undertaken  to  further  en-
hance our product offering targeted at fast grow-
ing electronic sales channels.

UBS  Investment  Funds  continued  to  receive
awards  in  1999  for  first-class  performance.
Among  others,  UBS  has  been  named  “Switzer-
land’s  Best  Overall  Management  Group”  by
Standard  &  Poor’s  Fund  Services.  The  business
model for mutual fund distribution is changing.
Financial  institutions  selling  mutual  funds  are
moving from a proprietary product focus to an
open, “best of class”, sales architecture.

To  concentrate  all  investment  management
business of the UBS under one management team,

 
 
 
Divisional Review 
UBS Private Banking 

UBS Investment funds 
By fund category1

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

22%

23%

20%

26%

  6%
  3%

20%

26%

24%

20%
  7%
  3%

31.12.99

31.12.98

1998 Total: CHF 175 billion
1999 Total: CHF 201 billion

Asset allocation funds
Money market funds
Bond funds
Equity funds
Capital preservation funds
Real estate funds

1 Swiss-authorized funds only.

UBS  announced  as  part  of  its  reorganization  in
February  2000  that  the  mutual  funds  business
will  be  combined  with  the  UBS  Asset  Manage-
ment division. UBS will open its mutual fund ar-
chitecture,  leveraging  GAM’s  abilities  described
above, to create a “screened” open architecture
giving  clients  access  to  third-party  funds.  UBS
also plans to make its mutual funds increasingly
available to other third-party distributors.

Results discussion

In  1999,  UBS  Private  Banking  results  did  not
match the high standards expected. This is due to
lower  levels  of  client  transaction  activity,  sub-
stantial investments in the expansion of domestic
private  banking  activities  outside  Switzerland,
and a delay in establishing a positive trend in net
new money. 

The pause in re-establishing this trend in net
new money stems to a large extent from the inte-
gration  of  the  two  pre-merger  private  banking
franchises.  This  involved  fundamental  changes
throughout the organization. By the end of July,
UBS Private Banking completed one of the final
steps  of  the  merger:  the  complex  integration  in
Switzerland of the information technology plat-
forms  of  the  two  predecessor  banks.  This  task
was finalized in record time, and the associated
disruption is now behind us. 

Segment  performance  before  tax  was  CHF
2,652 million in 1999, while it was CHF 4,336
million in 1998. Adjusted for the gain on divest-
ments of BSI-Banca della Svizzera Italiana as well
as related operating revenues and expenses, seg-
ment  performance  before  tax  was  CHF  3,135
million in 1998.

Total operating income
Total operating income before credit loss expenses
was CHF 6,011 million in 1999 and CHF 7,223
million  in  1998.  Adjusting  the  1998  period  for
gains  and  operating  revenues  from  divestments,
total operating income after credit loss expenses
was up 2%, or CHF 116 million, to CHF 5,987
million in 1999. Besides lower transaction-related
volumes, revenue growth was negatively impact-
ed by the effect of internally hedging net income
in foreign currencies and higher intra-Group in-
centives  paid  for  the  distribution  of  investment
funds. 

Assets under management 
Assets  under  management  increased  20%,  or
CHF  124  billion,  to  CHF  731  billion  in  1999.
Strong markets, especially in Europe, the United
States and in the technology sector, as well as the
stronger US dollar led to a performance increase
of CHF 85 billion for the full year. In addition,
two  acquisitions  –  Global  Asset  Management
and the international private banking operations
of  Bank  of  America  –  accounted  for  a  further
CHF  28  billion  and  interdivisional  transfers
brought another CHF 6 billion. Net new money
contributed  CHF  5  billion,  which  was  lower
than expected due to merger disruption and the
effects  of  some  underperforming  investment
portfolios.

Total operating expenses
Total  operating  expenses,  adjusting  for  divest-
ment-related operating expenses  increased 22%,
or  CHF  599  million,  to  CHF  3,335  million  in
1999 and was to a large extent related to the ex-
pansion  of  front-line  staff  as  well  as  related  in-
frastructure investments. Cost growth is expect-
ed  to  flatten  out  during  2000,  and  UBS  Private
Banking expects these new investments to deliver
sustainable profits in the medium term.

Personnel expenses increased 23%, or CHF
312  million,  to  CHF  1,694  million  in  1999
mainly because of the headcount rise of 25% or
1,931 people. Growth was in line with our ex-
pansion strategy in onshore business outside of
Switzerland.  This  includes  the  recruitment  of
top industry professionals as well as graduates
and  post-graduates  trained  through  a  “best  in
class”  formal  Private  Banking  education  pro-
gram.  In  addition  to  growth  in  client-facing
staff, the division has increased its logistics sup-
port and added 501 people due to the GAM ac-
quisition.

General and administrative expenses increased
19%, or CHF 230 million, to CHF 1,467 million
in 1999 as the division supported expansion with
necessary infrastructure investments, for example
with new systems and offices.

Depreciation  and  non-goodwill  amortization
increased 35%, or CHF 36 million, to CHF 138
million in 1999. Goodwill amortization (not in-
cluding GAM) increased CHF 21 million to CHF
36 million in 1999 because of the acquisition of
the international banking operations of Bank of
America.

25

Outlook

In February 2000, UBS announced the reorgani-
zation  of  its  wealth  management  businesses  to
focus more on meeting clients’ needs. Swiss and
international  cross-border  private  banking  will
form a core part of the new business group UBS
Switzerland.

Private  banking  will  continue  to  follow  the
broad set of initiatives mentioned above. At the
same time, this new structure will re-emphasize
the strength and core values of traditional private
banking:  safety,  privacy  and  service.  Further-

more, it will enable the management of all Swiss-
based  clients  under  one  unified  team.  UBS
Switzerland will benefit from an integrated Swiss-
based infrastructure with the potential for shared
distribution for both affluent and private bank-
ing clients. 

UBS remains the global leader in private bank-
ing. With  the  broad  set  of  strategies  set  forth
above, we will leverage the fundamental strength
of  our  core  wealth  management  businesses  in
Switzerland  and  abroad  to  realize  their  full
potential  in  this  particularly  attractive  industry
segment.

Divisional Review 
UBS Private Banking 

26

UBS Warburg

Divisional Review 
UBS Warburg 

As the investment banking

Mission and business description

and securities division of

the Group, UBS Warburg

provides wholesale finan-

cial and investment prod-

ucts and advisory services

to institutional, corporate

and sovereign clients

world-wide. 1999 was a

year of strong financial

performance when the

division refocused on its

core clients and products,

made significant invest-

ments in talent and tech-

nology, and positioned

itself to respond quickly

and effectively to chang-

ing client demands and

market opportunities. 

Mission 
UBS Warburg is a leading global investment bank
and securities firm in terms of client franchise and
financial servicing capabilities. The division aims
to provide UBS shareholders with a return on eq-
uity consistent with the leaders in the industry. It
plans to make this position sustainable by selec-
tively investing in talent, taking advantage of new
market  opportunities  and  extending  its  client
reach. UBS Warburg’s profitability is based on a
solid institutional client franchise, a growing cor-
porate client franchise, and a clear strategic focus
for all business areas.

Business focus
As the investment banking and securities division
of  the  Group,  UBS  Warburg  provides  wholesale
financial  and  investment  products  and  advisory
services to institutional, corporate and sovereign
clients  world-wide.  It  focuses  on  core  businesses
that have attractive risk-return profiles and a solid
basis  for  growth,  and  is  organized  around  four
main global product areas:

– Equities
– Treasury Products
– Fixed Income – Corporate Finance

Its investment banking revenues place UBS Warburg
in the top group of equivalent global competitors.

Group reorganization
The  UBS  Group  announced  in  February  2000
that  these  activities  will  be  joined  by  private
equity,  international  on-shore  private  banking
and  e-services  to  form  a  leading  global  invest-
ment services firm under the UBS Warburg brand. 
The division will be strongly placed to take ad-
vantage of the considerable growth potential re-
sulting from putting investment banking and in-
vestment  services  activities  for  international
clients under one roof. Private, institutional and
corporate clients will be serviced via complemen-
tary distribution channels creating the potential
for considerable cost and revenue synergies. 

Strategy and initiatives

Institutional client franchise
UBS Warburg has a very large and profitable in-
stitutional  client  franchise.  The  institutional

client  business  in  equity  products  puts  the  divi-
sion in the top three globally with a significantly
improved market share in 1999 across cash and
derivative  products.  UBS  Warburg’s  strength  in
selling and servicing cash and derivative fixed in-
come products with institutional clients is widely
recognized. UBS Warburg believes that it is par-
ticularly well-positioned to leverage its research
capability  with  institutional  clients,  and  it  will
continue to strengthen its research capabilities in
targeted sectors and regions.

In  the  rapidly  changing  investment  banking
and securities industry, client connectivity and the
application  of  leading  technology  is  critical  for
the  future  success  of  the  institutional  business.
UBS  Warburg  is  focused  on  developing  and
delivering leading client connectivity capabilities.
It is also improving its existing infrastructure with
new  technologies  to  extract  additional  trading
value and cost efficiencies, and is leading the in-
dustry  in  transforming  our  business  to  an elec-
tronic basis. Central to this is the IBOL (Invest-
ment  Banking  On-Line)  website.  This  will  be
a true home page – the only place a client needs
to go to deal with UBS Warburg. From this page,
UBS Warburg’s clients can access all content elec-
tronically:  research,  prices,  analytic  tools,  and
trade  ideas.  They  can  also  link  to the  division’s
execution capabilities across all products.

By the end of 1999, UBS Warburg had made

some significant achievements in e-commerce:
– In Equities, 50 of the largest clients executed

15% of their volume electronically. 

– In Treasury Products, half of all client trans-
actions  were  electronically  priced,  captured,
settled  and  routed  to  the  division’s  risk  en-
gines. 

– In Euro Commercial Paper, 75% of the divi-
sion’s clients were accessing prices on-line at
UBS Warburg’s ground-breaking ECP website.
– To support clients in all new endeavors, UBS
Warburg  has  established  a  Global  Help  Ser-
vice Desk for clients 24 hours per day, 6 days
per week.

– UBS  Warburg  has  also  invested  heavily  in
securities  processing  power  and  is  currently
dealing  with  100,000  domestic  and  cross-
border  trades  per  day  processed  straight
through,  with  the  capacity  for  a  five-fold
increase.

Key  strategic  initiatives  to  develop  the  institu-
tional client franchise include: 

27

Divisional Review 
UBS Warburg 

28

CHF million

Corporate finance
Equities
Fixed income
Treasury products
Non-core Business

Total
Credit loss expense

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 1

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax

Regulatory equity used (avg)
Return on equity
Return on equity before goodwill amortization

Cost / income in % 2
Cost / income in % before goodwill 2

Headcount
of which: Switzerland
of which: Rest of world

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change (%)

2,050
5,916
2,460
1,801
682

12,909
(330)

12,579

6,861
2,448
652
134

10,095

2,484

10,050
25
26

78
77

12,694
1,768
10,926

1,665
2,572
399
2,351

6,987
(500 )

6,487

4,333
2,483
535
157

7,508

(1,021 )

13,300
(8 )
(6 )

107
105

13,794
2,502
11,292

23
130
517
(23)
0

85
(34)

94

58
(1)
22
(15)

34

(24)

(8)
(29)
(3)

1 Includes amortization of other purchased intangible assets.    2 Before credit loss expense.

– Strengthening  existing  client  relationships

using electronic tools.

– Enhancing cross-product marketing.
– Capturing value from increased client volume

flow.

– Improving processing efficiency.

Corporate client franchise
UBS Warburg is committed to building a stronger
position in its corporate client franchise, and in-
creasing its market share of the global fee pool,
particularly  in  its  ten  targeted  global  industry
sectors.  The  division  is  a  leading  player  in  the
Eurobond market and the top competitor in its
target  market  segments  in  international  bond
origination.  Its  position  in  international  equity
origination slipped slightly in 1999, but the divi-
sion  is  confident  that  it  has  the  necessary  re-
sources and client relationships in place to main-
tain a position in the top five on an ongoing basis.
UBS Warburg has an increasingly credible global
M&A franchise and is well positioned to grow. It
will continue to selectively invest in corporate ad-
visory talent over the next two years to strength-
en its position. UBS Warburg is not yet a major
provider of leveraged finance but has made sev-
eral key hires in 1999 to build the business, and
is  committed  to  strengthening  its advisory,  re-

search  and  distribution  capabilities  in  both  the
US and Europe.

Key  strategic  initiatives  to  develop  the  cor-

porate client franchise include:
– Investment  in  targeted  global  sector-based
coverage that is tightly aligned to Equity Re-
search and marketing initiatives.

– Expansion of corporate coverage and presence
in  the  major  growth  markets  of  Continental
Europe.

– Building  Leveraged  Finance  origination  and
distribution capabilities in US and Europe.
– Positioning the division to become the interna-
tional debt issuer of choice for US corporates.

Results discussion

In 1999, UBS Warburg generated gross revenues
of CHF 12,909 million, and segment results be-
fore tax of CHF 2,484 million. The division en-
joyed  exceptionally  strong  revenues  across  all
business  areas  with  the  exception  of  Treasury
Products, and our profitability was driven by the
division’s solid client franchise. 

Our Equities business, with gross revenues of
CHF  5,916  million,  continued  to  increase  its
overall market share and now ranks as one of the

Divisional Review 
UBS Warburg

Developments in UBS Warburg market VaR

Reductions in UBS Warburg 
international credit portfolio

350

300

250

200

150

100

  50

    0

335

303

260

CHF million

222

210

198

224

6.98

9.98

12.98

3.99

6.99

9.99

12.99

350

300

250

200

150

100

  50

    0

268

200

176

CHF billion

150

132

107

99

6.98

9.98

12.98

3.99

6.99

9.99

12.99

Market risk: VaR (10-day holding period 99% confidence level).

On-balance-sheet loans and off-balance-sheet committed facilities.

leading  global  equities  houses  in  both  cash  and
derivative markets. Compared to 1998, revenues
increased  130%,  reflecting  robust  client  flows
and  a  strengthening  of  the  UBS  Warburg  fran-
chise  with  institutional  and  corporate  clients.
1998’s results also included the loss of CHF 762
million in the pre-merger Global Equity Deriva-
tives (GED) portfolio.

UBS Warburg continued to reorient its Fixed
Income  business  in  1999  to  be  more  client  fo-
cused and this resulted in revenues of CHF 2,460
million, with strong client flows driving both in-
vestor and issuer activities. As prior year revenues
of  CHF  399  million  included  losses  from  Long
Term Capital Management of CHF 793 million
and  substantial  losses  in  emerging  markets,  a
comparison between 1999 and 1998 results is not
meaningful. However, allowing for these excep-
tional items, all parts of the business showed sig-
nificantly improved profitability.

The Treasury Products business produced rev-
enues of CHF 1,801 million, primarily from the
Foreign Exchange and Cash & Collateral Trad-
ing  businesses.  The  Foreign  Exchange  business,
while continuing to be profitable, experienced re-
duced  levels  of  activity  as  a  result  of  the  intro-
duction of the Euro, and narrowing margins from
increased competition in the global markets. The
division’s precious metals business was adversely
impacted  by  the  dramatic  volatility  in  the  gold
market in the fourth quarter of 1999.

Corporate Finance, which includes the Advi-
sory, Equity Capital Markets and Debt Capital
Markets  results,  delivered  revenues  of  CHF
2,050 million, with strong performance in M&A
revenues,  and  contributions  from  Equity  and
Debt Capital Markets in line with expectations.

Market risk
Market risk exposure, as measured by Value at
Risk (VaR) has decreased primarily as a result of
the  reduction  in  the  GED  portfolio  risk.  UBS
Warburg remains committed as an active player
in the markets. We will also continue to take ap-
propriate risk positions where it is required to fa-
cilitate our clients needs.

Non-core activities
Non-core businesses generated revenues of CHF
682  million,  which  includes  Global  Trade  Fi-
nance, the pre-merger Global Equity Derivatives
portfolio and lending to non-core clients.

UBS  Warburg’s  program  of  exiting  specific
non-core  businesses  has  yielded  positive  results
and is on track in terms of timing and reduction
in overall risk.

The  sale  of  the  international  Global  Trade
Finance  business  to  Standard  Chartered  was
completed  in  the  second  quarter  of  1999  and
generated a CHF 200 million gain for the divi-
sion. All inventory positions from the pre-merg-
er Global Equity Derivatives portfolio are now
on the divisional risk management platform. The
portfolio is closely monitored and the sensitivity
to  extreme  stress  events  has  been  significantly
reduced.

UBS Warburg is also reducing its credit expo-
sure  through  a  selective  reduction  in  lending  to
non-core  clients.  The  international  credit  port-
folio has been reduced as planned and at end of
December stood at CHF 98.8 billion. 

Completion of merger
With the integration of the investment bank now
completed, the benefits of the merger have been

29

Divisional Review 
UBS Warburg

30

significant  in  terms  of  increased  revenues,  re-
duced  headcount,  control  over  costs  and  lower
utilization of regulatory equity.

CHF million 1

1999

1997

Change
in %

Revenue
12,579 10,588
Total costs, including bonus
9,309
10,095
Profit before tax
1,279 
2,484
12,694 18,620
Permanent headcount
Average regulatory equity used  10,050 13,600 
Return on average reg. equity

24.7% 9.4%   

18.8 
8.4
94.2
(31.3 )
(26.1 )

1 Except headcount.

League tables and market rankings 
UBS Warburg’s overall performance in 1999 has
reconfirmed  its  position  as  one  of  the  top  five
global investment banking and securities firms in
primary and secondary markets across all corpo-
rate and institutional client activities, as well as
the leader in Europe.

UBS  Warburg  is  a  leading  player  in  the  Eu-
robond market and the top competitor in its target
market segments in international bond origination.
It is ranked 2nd in Eurobonds with a market share
of 10.5%. In the specific international bond mar-
ket segments that the division has chosen to pursue
aggressively,  UBS  Warburg  was  ranked  in  first
place with a 7.6% market share.

The division’s position in international equi-
ty origination slipped somewhat in 1999 to 6th,
due  in  part  to  a  small  number  of  large  trans-
actions  in  which  it  was  not  involved,  but  the
division  is  confident  that  it  has  the  necessary
resources  and  client  relationships  in  place  to
maintain a position in the top five on an ongoing
basis. 

In Mergers & Acquisitions, UBS Warburg has
an  increasingly  credible  global  franchise  and  is
well positioned to grow. It had a leading role in
the  largest  deals  announced  in  1999,  including
Sprint / MCI WorldCom (sole advisor to Sprint)
and Vodafone AirTouch / Mannesmann (joint ad-
visor  to  Vodafone  AirTouch).  The  division’s
ranking in 1999 on completed transactions was
10th globally with a market share of 6.6%, and
on  announced  transactions  6th with  a  market
share of 14.0%, the latter reflecting the increase
in market activity and its role as advisor in the
second half of the year, with many of these deals
scheduled for completion in early 2000. Togeth-
er with its global research and growing corporate
client  franchise,  UBS  Warburg  will  reinforce  its

position in ten targeted global sectors. It will con-
tinue  to  selectively  invest  in  corporate  advisory
talent  over  the  next  two  years  to  strengthen  its
position.

In the Institutional Investor Global Research
Team survey, UBS Warburg was ranked in 4th po-
sition and was lauded for its innovative approach
in the effective marketing of global research to US
investors, the result of investments in talent and
technology over the last few years in research and
corporate finance.

The Reuters / Tempest surveys rank securities
firms  on  the  quality  of  research  and  service  to
fund  managers  across  all  major  regions.  In  the
1999 surveys, UBS Warburg was ranked No. 1 in
European Large Cap Stocks, No. 1 in Hong Kong
and China, No. 2 in UK Large Cap Stocks and
No. 2 in Global Emerging Markets.

Cost controls
UBS Warburg’s personnel costs were significant-
ly higher in 1999 due primarily to performance-
related compensation directly tied to the strong
divisional results for the year.

The division remains committed to investment
in leading edge technology and top quality talent.
Cost control will emphasize improving overall ef-
ficiency  such  that  revenue  growth  exceeds  any
growth of non-personnel costs. The division will
focus on managing personnel and non-personnel
costs as a percentage of net revenues.

In  addition,  the  UBS  Warburg  Investment
Committee has carried out a rigorous review of
all change programs to ensure that investments in
the UBS Warburg infrastructure are fully aligned
with the strategy of the business. 

Outlook

The  most  important  trend  affecting  the  invest-
ment banking and securities industry is the con-
tinued  and  substantial  growth  of  the  industry.
Client  sophistication  and  increased  competitive
pressures  are  squeezing  industry  margins,  but
volume  growth  is  consistently  and  significantly
outpacing this trend, and overall market fee pools
are increasing steadily.

Other significant trends include globalization
and consolidation, the changing nature of com-
petition, technology, the internet, funds available
for  investment,  and  communications  and  pro-

Divisional Review 
UBS Warburg

cessing power. The European single market con-
tinues to drive explosive growth in issuance ac-
tivity. 

As a leading client-focused investment bank-
ing  and  securities  organization  with  a  unique
global  reach,  UBS  Warburg  is  very  well  posi-
tioned  to  take  advantage  of  all  of  these  trends.

With  revenues  of  over  CHF  12.5  billion,  UBS
Warburg  represents  a  business  of  size,  scale,
scope  and  franchise  value  that  compares  well
with other leading investment banks. UBS War-
burg  is  well  positioned  for  further  growth  and
has  the  financial  strength  to  fund  key  strategic
initiatives out of current profitability.

31

Divisional Review 
UBS Private and 
Corporate Clients 

UBS Private and 
Corporate Clients

1999 was a successful

Mission and business description

Strategy and initiatives

year for UBS Private and

Corporate Clients. Pre-tax

profits increased marked-

ly as growth in revenues

outpaced the rise in

costs. 1999 was also dis-

tinguished by the suc-

cessful, record-setting

integration of the pre-

merger technology plat-

forms as well as the

launch of several well-

received multi-channel

initiatives. As announced

in February 2000, UBS

Private and Corporate

Clients will be combined

with Swiss and interna-

tional offshore private

banking to form a new

business group, UBS

Switzerland, putting UBS

in a strong position for

future growth.

32

The overriding mission for the UBS Private and
Corporate Clients division is to further develop
the most profitable bank serving private and cor-
porate clients in Switzerland.

UBS  Private  and  Corporate  Clients’  leading
position  in  the  Swiss  market  and  its  access  to
other Group divisions enables it to offer a com-
prehensive  range  of  products  and  services  to  a
broad client base. As of year-end 1999, UBS Pri-
vate and Corporate Clients had more than four
million  individual  clients.  Its  client  base  is  seg-
mented  into  three  million  private  clients  with
assets up to CHF 50,000, and one million afflu-
ent clients with assets between CHF 50,000 and
CHF  1  million.  The  anticipated  growth  of  the
affluent  client  segment  is  a  tremendous  oppor-
tunity  and  a  particular  focus  of  the  division’s
energies and initiatives.

The corporate clients segment consists of some
180,000  small  and  medium  sized  businesses.  It
also includes more than 10,000 larger corporate
clients, with complex financial requirements. The
170 top-tier corporate clients are frequent users
of capital market services. UBS Private and Cor-
porate Clients provides corporate clients not only
the services of a credit bank, but also structured
finance, capital market and investment advisory
services. In addition, the division offers payment
and custodial services to some 1,800 banking insti-
tutions world wide.

UBS Private and Corporate Clients had CHF
439 billion in assets under management as well as
CHF 165 billion in loans at year-end1999. Further
detail on the credit portfolio can be found in the
Credit Risk section of the Review of Risk Manage-
ment and Control on pages 48–54.

On the logistics side, UBS Private and Corpo-
rate Clients provides a wide range of services to
all divisions in Switzerland. Besides information
technology and operations, UBS Private and Cor-
porate  Clients  also  supports  other  divisions  in
Switzerland as a major provider of settlement and
payment  services,  and  thus  contributes  signifi-
cantly to the realization of synergies.

Eighteen months after the legal consummation
of the merger, UBS Private and Corporate Clients
is especially pleased to have successfully aligned
its entire product offering, resegmented its client
base and migrated more than two million clients
to a single platform.

UBS Private and Corporate Clients’ strategy
UBS Private and Corporate Clients is committed
to providing its clients with innovative, personal-
ized  products  consistently  meeting  high  stan-
dards,  as  well  as  optimizing  customer-related
processes from front to back.

UBS  Private  and  Corporate  Clients’  focus  on
efficiency will result in further standardization of
services, leading to an increased implementation
of alternative distribution channels, such as the in-
ternet,  phone  centers  and  Automatic  Teller  Ma-
chines (ATM’s). The current branch network is di-
vided into three different zones: one for ATM’s,
one for the counter area and a third one dedicat-
ed  to  advisory  services.  The  division  intends  to
move forward to a two-zone concept, slowly elim-
inating the counter area. By doing this, it will cre-
ate a clear cash services oriented zone and a very
flexible and increasingly important advisory zone.
In  addition,  UBS  Private  and  Corporate
Clients will further optimize its logistics function
to realize additional synergies in the provision of
services to all divisions in Switzerland.

Organizational changes
In  October  1999,  a  new  organization  structure
was implemented in UBS Private and Corporate
Clients. Two dedicated business areas, individual
clients and corporate clients, concentrate on busi-
ness origination and allow the sales force to focus
exclusively on the recognition of customer needs,
market penetration and the exploitation of mar-
ket opportunities.

The  Risk  Transformation  and  Capital  Man-
agement business area was newly created to as-
sume responsibility for managing capital alloca-
tion  including  equity  and  equity  participations,
as well as asset and liability management of the
division in cooperation with the Group Treasury.
Risk Transformation and Capital Management is
the owner of the division’s loan portfolio, includ-
ing non-performing assets. One of its key respon-
sibilities is the active management of recovery po-
sitions.  By  implementing  leading-edge  portfolio
management  principles,  Risk  Transformation
and Capital Management is able to optimize risk-
adjusted  returns.  In  addition,  close  cooperation
with UBS Warburg facilitates the exploitation of
secondary market opportunities such as securiti-
zation.

Divisional Review 
UBS Private and 
Corporate Clients 

CHF million

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change (%)

Individual clients
Corporate clients
Risk transformation and capital management 1
Operations
Others

Total
Credit loss expense

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 2

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax

Regulatory equity used (avg)

Cost / income in % 3
Cost / income in % before goodwill amortization 3

Assets under management (bn)

Headcount
of which: Switzerland
of which: Rest of world

4,553
1,855
330
313
142

7,193
(1,050)

6,143

3,363
1,061
555
2

4,981

1,162

8,550

69
69

439

24,098
24,050
48

4,785
1,728

448
64

7,025
(1,170 )

5,855

3,238
1,025
680
4

4,947

908

8,250

70
70

434

24,043
23,989
54

(5)
7
0
(30)
122

2
(10)

5

4
4
(18)
(50)

1

28

4

1

0
0
(11)

1 Newly created business area in October 1999. Annualized income (1998 included in individual clients and corporate clients).    2 Includes amor-
tization of other purchased intangible assets.    3 Before credit loss expense.

To  ensure  the  complete  segregation  of  credit
risk management activities as well as a uniform
credit  policy,  the  function  of  an  independent
Chief Credit Officer was created. This allows for
increased efficiency by standardizing and central-
izing credit decisions and frees up the business to
concentrate on origination.

Strategic projects portfolio
Good progress has been made in the implemen-
tation of the Strategic Projects Portfolio. This has
resulted  in  a  considerable  contribution  to  net
profit. The majority is attributable to revenue en-
hancement initiatives. The continued implemen-
tation of effective risk-adjusted pricing had a bet-
ter  than  expected  impact.  The  unified  pricing
structure on securities accounts as well as the very
successful placement efforts of investment funds
further increased operating income.

Cost reductions have primarily been achieved
by re-engineering processes in the logistics and in-
frastructure areas as well as from positive effects
of  the  multi-channel  strategy.  In  the  upcoming
year, additional cost savings will be achieved by
realizing  IT-related  synergy  potential,  by  in-
creased momentum in the division’s redundancy
program  and  by  implementing  re-engineered
business and logistics processes. On the customer

side,  UBS  Private  and  Corporate  Clients  will
focus more on advisory and customized services,
both for individual clients and corporate clients.
The division will also further optimize its credit
product portfolio. 

Tight  control  and  periodic  reviews  by  top
management will help to achieve the timely realiza-
tion of these initiatives.

Distribution channels
In  line  with  announced  plans,  branch  closures
proceeded  during  1999,  and  by  year-end  some
173 branches have been closed, 31% of the pre-
merger  branch  network.  In  total,  the  physical
distribution network at year-end 1999 consisted
of 385 locations. The division intends to further
rationalize the network over the next two years.
Following general trends, alternative distribu-
tion channel usage increased significantly. During
the last quarter of 1999, UBS focused on pushing
forward  its  alternative  distribution,  launching
new telebanking products as well as new pricing
schemes  within  online  banking.  Overall  UBS
reached  more  than  450,000  UBS  24h-Banking
contracts  in  December.  On  the  Phonebanking
side,  calls  over  the  Interactive  Voice  Response
System  doubled  between  June  and  December.
Thirty  percent  of  all  payment  orders  are  now

33

Divisional Review 
UBS Private and 
Corporate Clients 

UBS Private & Corporate Clients
AuM by asset category

in CHF billion
Total 4351

125

310

Savings/Deposit accounts
Securities accounts

1 Banks AuM of CHF 4 billion are not included.

UBS Private & Corporate Clients
AuM by segment

in CHF billion
Total 4351

2

223

210

handled through electronic banking channels. At
the end of 1999, eleven percent of all UBS Private
and  Corporate  Clients’  stock  exchange  transac-
tions were made through UBS 24h-Banking.

In October, UBS launched significant and well-
received  electronic  banking  initiatives.  After  the
October launch of UBS’s exclusive personal finan-
cial  management  software  UBS  Quicken,  more
than 15,000 packages were sold by December.

Small and medium sized entreprises (SME’s)
Aventic AG, with  share  capital of CHF 30 mil-
lion, closed its first year successfully. This 100%
UBS owned company is designed to assist small
and medium sized businesses in financing inno-
vative products and services.

In 1999 more than 300 requests for capital and
finance were reviewed, and more than 100 were
passed on to Aventic itself or other venture capi-
tal companies, or are still in the review process.

Aventic holds shares in seven Venture Capital
Funds, mainly in the sectors of biotechnology, in-
ternet  and  medical  technology.  Besides  that,
Aventic manages a portfolio of direct capital en-
gagements in Swiss SME’s, mostly industrial and
technology  businesses.  The  book  value  of  the
portfolio by the end of 1999 exceeded CHF 60
million with a commitment to an additional CHF
35 million in funding.

Corporate clients
Individual clients
Recovery

1 Banks AuM of CHF 4 billion are not included.

Results discussion

The results of UBS Private and Corporate Clients
were  strong  in  1999.  Segment  performance  be-
fore tax increased 28%, or CHF 254 million, to
CHF  1,162  million.  Higher  operating  income,
lower credit loss expenses and rigorous cost con-
trol led to this favorable result.

Total operating income
Total operating income increased 5% or CHF 288
million, to CHF 6,143 million in 1999. This im-
provement  was  primarily  due  to  higher  margins
on interest-related business, such as mortgages, as
well as the first full-year impact of the amalgama-
tion and repricing of products from the two former
banks.Furthermore,the improved quality of the loan
portfolio resulted in lower credit loss expenses.

It  is  important  to  note  that  UBS  Private  and
Corporate  Clients’  results  are  dependent  on  in-
terest-related  business,  which  contribute  almost

60% of operating income. The increased propor-
tion of affluent clients will reduce dependency on
the interest-related business in the future.

Assets under management
Assets under management increased CHF 5 bil-
lion to CHF 439 billion from the prior year level
of CHF 434 billion. This figure includes assets of
the banks business area, which are held in trans-
action  accounts,  are  naturally  volatile,  and  are
not  a  core  focus  of  UBS  Private  and  Corporate
Clients. Excluding this particular asset category,
assets under management increased CHF 28 bil-
lion, or seven percent, to CHF 435 billion. This
is mainly due to positive performance of the Swiss
stock market and to currency effects.

Total operating expenses
Despite  tremendous  efforts  in  completing  tech-
nology  platform  integration,  UBS  Private  and
Corporate  Clients’  total  operating  expenses  re-
mained almost stable at CHF 4,981 million, an
increase of one percent, or CHF 34 million.

Personnel expenses and general and adminis-
trative expenses both increased by four percent.
These  increases  are  due  to  the  IT  integration
work, work related to the Year 2000 transition
and the costs associated with the shift of the Swiss
Trade  Finance  business  from  UBS  Warburg.  In
addition,  the  positive  development  of  the  per-
formance led to higher performance-related com-
pensation.

Depreciation  decreased  18%,  or  CHF  125

million, to CHF 555 million in 1999. 

Headcount
Headcount for the period increased 55, or 0.2%,
to a year-end level of 24,098 comparing to 24,043
for 1998. By mid-year 1999, the Swiss Trade Fi-
nance business was transferred from UBS Warburg
to UBS Private and Corporate Clients with some
405 employees. Taking this transfer into account,
headcount was reduced in 1999 by 350, the ma-
jority of which occurred in the fourth quarter of
1999 as employees leaving the bank were not re-
placed. This development is in line with expecta-
tions for the realization of merger-related savings.

Loan portfolio
The  loan  portfolio  remained  stable  at  a  level
of CHF 165 billion. Continued implementation of
risk-adjusted pricing has led to improved margins.

34

Divisional Review 
UBS Private and 
Corporate Clients 

UBS Private & Corporate Clients
Loan portfolio by segment

in CHF billion
Total 165

21

68

76

Corporate clients
Individual clients
Recovery

With regard to the recovery portfolio, major
emphasis has been placed on workout initiatives.
This  effort  has  proved  to  be  successful  and  re-
duced  the  overall  recovery  positions  by  20%,
from CHF 26 billion for 1998 to CHF 21 billion
for year-end 1999. As a result, the quality of the
loan portfolio continued to improve.

Mortgages account for 70% and commercial
loans 30% of the total loan portfolio. As 50% of
all  mortgages  relate  to  lower  risk  single  family
homes  and  68%  are  fixed-rate  mortgages,  the
structure of the mortgage portfolio has proved to
be very stable compared to 1998.

Outlook

With the IT integration complete, UBS Private and
Corporate  Clients  expects  its  cost  savings  pro-

gram  to  gain  further  momentum  in  the  coming
year.  Furthermore,  the  division’s  employees  are
now  able  to  concentrate  completely  on  business
growth. Together with its strong market position
in Switzerland and the initiatives from the Strate-
gic Project Portfolio, we remain confident that the
division can continue to enhance its profitability.
The  organizational  changes  announced  in
February are focused on re-establishing positive
momentum in the private banking business after
a pause in 1999. Combining Swiss-based onshore
and  offshore  private  banking  with  individual
and corporate client banking in Switzerland will
unlock revenue synergies and cost efficiencies for
the UBS Group. The strength and merit of tradi-
tional  Swiss  banking  expertise,  an  integrated
Swiss-based infrastructure and a shared distribu-
tion network will all contribute strongly to real-
izing these goals.

35

Divisional Review 
UBS Asset Management 

UBS Asset Management

UBS Asset Management

Mission and business description

Strategy and initiatives

is one of the world’s lead-

ing institutional asset

managers, and among

the most international.

During 1999, equity

markets were unfavorable

to some of the funda-

mental value-driven styles

which the division applies

to the majority of its

clients’ portfolio, having

a negative impact on

assets under manage-

ment development and

earnings. Strategically,

several initiatives were

started during the year to

diversify and broaden

global investment capa-

bilities and expand the

division’s presence in tar-

geted growth markets in

Europe and Asia-Pacific.

36

UBS Asset Management is a leading global insti-
tutional asset manager, with strong market posi-
tions in the US, UK and Switzerland. It is also one
of the largest active foreign managers in Japan.
The division has a well-diversified client base in-
cluding  public  and  corporate  pension  funds,
foundations and endowments as well as central
banks.  On  behalf  of  UBS  Switzerland,  it  also
manages UBS investment funds.

Investment capabilities are based on compre-
hensive  proprietary  research  in  major  equity,
fixed  income  and  currency  markets  around  the
world. The principal method of delivering value
is to identify periodic discrepancies between mar-
ket price and investment value and turn them to
clients’  advantage.  Investment  solutions  are
tailored  to  clients’  investment  needs  based  on
global  investment  capabilities.  Mandates  range
from  global  asset  allocation  portfolios  to  single
country  equity  or  fixed  income  portfolios  or
alternative  investments  such  as  private  equity
and real estate. 

Building  on  significant  shares  within  the  US,
UK and Swiss markets and the breadth and depth
of its investment capabilities, the division’s mission
is to become the premier global institutional asset
management firm. “Premier” means being among
at least the top five companies in terms of market
share position in core markets, in the top third in
the industry in investment performance, and being
a recognized thought leader and trend setter.

While  financial  performance  this  past  year
was  disappointing,  UBS  Asset  Management  ex-
pects  to  fulfill  its  mission,  the  return  of  profit
growth in line with the industry by protecting and
strengthening  the  client  franchise,  pursuing  tar-
geted  growth  initiatives  and  expanding  invest-
ment capabilities.

A  reorganization  of  the  UBS  Group  was  an-
nounced in February 2000. With the transfer of
the Investment Funds and Global Asset Manage-
ment areas of UBS Private Banking, all asset man-
agement capabilities of the Group are now under
UBS Asset Management’s responsibility which will
enable  a  more  aggressive  exploitation  of  global
mutual fund and defined contribution opportuni-
ties  and  the  implementation  of  an  open,  but
screened,  architectural  platform  for  UBS  private
clients. 

During 1999, the management structure was re-
aligned upon the arrival of Peter Wuffli as Chief
Executive  Officer.  Subsequently,  the  UBS  Brin-
son  Division  was  renamed  UBS  Asset  Manage-
ment  and  a  new,  more  client-centric  business
model was developed and implemented to meet
the  increasingly  differentiated  needs  of  our
clients.

A core element of the division’s strategy is to
pursue growth by increasing market shares in the
growth areas of Europe and Asia-Pacific, and in
attractive  segments  globally.  It  will  also  pursue
style diversification opportunities, organically or
through  acquisition,  when  economically  attrac-
tive.

Initiatives
Regional  business  areas  provide  the  leadership
and flexibility to pursue local growth initiatives
in the context of the global strategy. In Europe,
outsourcing  solutions  for  banks  and  life  in-
surance companies, including third-party mutu-
funds  and  sub-advisory  assignments  are
al
being developed.  Also,  focusing  on  Germany,
France  and  Italy,  the  division  is  developing
onshore  fund  products.  Similarly,  in  Japan,  the
platforms  are  being  strengthened  in  order  to
capture  attractive  institutional  growth  oppor-
tunities  and  distribute  Japanese 
investment
funds.  Defined  contribution  opportunities  are
being pursued in the US and globally within the
context  of  the  Group’s  overall  asset  gathering
strategy.

In  1999,  the  commitment  to  the  broadening
of
investment  capabilities  was  demonstrated
through  the  acquisition  of  Allegis  Realty  In-
vestors  LLC.  Allegis,  a  firm  with  top-quartile
industry  performance,  has  more  than  20  years
experience managing real estate investments for
institutional  investors.  Renamed  UBS  Brinson
Realty Investors LLC, it will provide integrated
real estate investment services to clients.

Tailored plans are being developed to address
UBS  Asset  Management’s  largest  clients’  local
and global investment needs. With the expansion
and refinement of global investment capabilities
and local delivery platforms, the division’s abili-
ty  to  deliver  value-added  solutions  to  these
clients should be unprecedented.

Divisional Review 
UBS Asset Management 

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change (%)

903
193

1,096
0

1,096

444
177
29
113

763

333

160

70
59

574
376
198

1,653
277
1,376

968
195

1,163
0

1,163

454
154
29
78

715

448

100

61
55

531
360
171

1,497
266
1,231

(7)
(1)

(6)
–

(6)

(2)
15
0
45

7

(26)

60

8
4
16

10
4
12

Employees by region (1999)

Total: 1,653 employees

12%

CHF million

Institutional
Non-institutional

Total
Credit loss expense

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 1

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax

Regulatory equity used (avg)

Cost / income in %
Cost / income in % before goodwill amortization

Assets under management (bn)
Institutional
Non-institutional

Headcount
of which: Switzerland
of which: Rest of world

1 Includes amortization of other purchased intangible assets.

36%

52%

Europe, Middle East & Africa
Americas
Asia Pacific

Institutional assets 
under management 
Development

CHF billion

6
7
3

0
1
+

s
n
o
i
t
i
s
i
u
q
c
A

8
5
+

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

0
6
3

2
5
–

y
e
n
o
m
w
e
n

t
e
N

Total 31.12.98

Total 31.12.99

Institutional assets 
under management 
By client mandate

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

9%

34%

23%

34%

4%

41%

23%

32%

31.12.99

31.12.98

1998 Total: CHF 360 billion
1999 Total: CHF 376 billion

Private markets
Asset allocation
Fixed income
Equity

Results discussion

The  division’s  pre-tax  performance  year-on-year
declined  by  26%,  or  CHF  115  million,  to  CHF
333 million. Results were impacted by an increase
in non-cash charges related to the buyout of the
former joint venture with the Long-Term Credit
Bank  of  Japan  (LTCB).  Excluding  non-cash  de-
preciation and amortization, the division’s oper-
ating profits before tax showed a decline of 14%. 

Total operating income
Overall, total operating income declined by 6%,
or CHF 67 million, to CHF 1,096 million in 1999.
Institutional revenues decreased 7%, or CHF 65
million, to CHF 903 million, primarily attributa-
ble to the UK business. The institutional revenue
development reflects a slight decline in average in-
stitutional assets between 1998 and 1999, as gains
from  performance  and  currency  were  offset  by
client attrition related to the merger and perform-
ance issues in certain mandate types, with the ma-
jority of the attrition concentrated in Europe.

While  average  non-institutional  assets  in-
creased  by  18%,  non-institutional  revenues  de-
clined slightly to CHF 193 million as a result of
new  interdivisional  fee  arrangements  with  UBS
Private Banking.

Assets under management
Total  assets  under  management  increased  by
8.1%,  or  CHF  43  billion,  to  CHF  574  billion
during  1999.  Institutional  assets  increased  by
4.4% year-on-year, or CHF 16 billion, to CHF
376 billion, driven by investment performance,
the acquisition of Allegis and growth in private
markets  mandates.  Partially  offsetting  these
effects,  net  new  money  fell  CHF  52  billion
reflecting  client  attrition  related  principally  to
performance  issues  in  certain  equity-related
mandate types.

Total operating expenses 
Total operating expenses versus the prior year in-
creased by 7%, or CHF 48 million, to CHF 763
million.  Personnel  expenses  declined  by  2%, to
CHF 444 million, reflecting decreased incentive
compensation. Year-end headcount increased from
1,497 to 1,653, due to the acquisition of Allegis
in  December.  Increases  in  general  and  adminis-
trative  expenses  year-on-year  relate  to  revisions
in cost-sharing arrangements between UBS Asset
Management  and  other  divisions  in the  Group.
Depreciation and amortization charges went up
versus the prior year primarily due to charges re-
lated to the acquisition of the LTCB joint venture
in 1998.

37

 
 
 
Divisional Review 
UBS Asset Management 

Institutional assets 
under management 
By client location

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

49%

37%

14%

56%

34%

10%

31.12.99

31.12.98

1998 Total: CHF 360 billion
1999 Total: CHF 376 billion

Europe, Middle East & Africa
Americas
Asia Pacific

Investment capabilities and investment
performance development 
Investment performance for 1999 was mixed for
both the UBS Brinson and Phillips & Drew invest-
ment areas. Led by the US market, world equity
markets  became  increasingly  driven  by  momen-
tum during 1999, with market returns dominated
by a narrow segment of technology and e-business
stocks. The fundamental price / value philosophies
at the core of the Brinson and Phillips & Drew in-
vestment processes have led to an underweight of
these  stocks  thereby  negatively  affecting  invest-
ment performance versus benchmarks. 

In the UBS Brinson investment area, while eq-
uity and multi-asset portfolios lagged their bench-
marks, strong returns were delivered within both
fixed income and private markets, relative to fi-
nancial indices and peers. Growth equity strate-
gies also performed well in comparison to bench-
marks.  Within  the  Phillips  &  Drew  investment
area, returns were strong through the end of the

third quarter. However, these gains were reversed
in the final quarter of 1999 due to the strong share
price appreciation of technology stocks in which
Phillips & Drew was underweight. 

Outlook

Recent  equity  investment  performance  in  both
UBS  Brinson  and  Phillips  &  Drew  investment
areas  has  suffered  under  the  momentum-driven
markets of the past year. 2000 is also expected to
be  challenging  given  the  uncertainty  of  future
market developments and recent investment per-
formance  in  certain  areas.  However,  strategic
growth initiatives in key markets and expansion
of investment capabilities are expected to lay the
groundwork for a return of profit growth to in-
dustry  levels  and  ensure  the  attainment  of  the
mission of becoming the premier global institu-
tional asset management firm.

38

UBS Capital

Divisional Review 
UBS Capital

UBS Capital’s aim is to

Business profile

Strategy and initiatives

establish itself as the

industry role model for

an integrated global

private equity group.

During 1999, UBS Capital

expanded substantially

and successfully, making

an important contribution

to the overall success of

the UBS Group.

UBS Capital expanded substantially and success-
fully  during  1999  and  will  continue  to  make
an important  and  growing  value  contribution
to the overall success of UBS AG. Following the
Group’s reorganization, UBS Capital is operating
with  the  UBS  Warburg  business  group.  This  is
expected  to  further  strengthen  the  synergies
between the two businesses while maintaining the
synergy links with Private Banking. 

During the course of last year, the private equi-
ty group achieved many important objectives: the
business  comfortably  surpassed  investment  tar-
gets, it established new international offices, and
it significantly developed its global funds strategy. 
Private equity offers the opportunity for above
average investment returns with a typical invest-
ment  duration  of  several  years.  Strong  capital
flows into the industry have increased competi-
tive pressures on market participants seeking at-
tractive investment opportunities. However, UBS
Capital  is  well  positioned  to  take  advantage  of
the favorable economic climate and stock market
conditions  to  augment  its  position  as  a  strong
force in the industry. 

UBS Capital has important advantages to ensure
success and is able to boast a local presence in every
major  industrialized  region  in  Europe,  North
America,  Latin  America  and  Asia  Pacific,  with
about 120 professionals in 13 offices worldwide.
Last year, two new offices were established in Seoul
and Sydney, reflecting the division’s long-held com-
mitment to maintaining comprehensive local pres-
ence and expertise. When coupled with the opera-
tion’s global reach, the teams’ specialist knowledge
allows the early identification of opportunities and
their timely and effective development.

UBS Capital makes medium term majority or
minority investments in established or emerging
unlisted  companies  to  maximize  shareholder
value. By working in close partnership with man-
agement,  UBS  Capital  develops  the  businesses
and manages these investments to optimize their
performance, unlock their value and exit the in-
vestment in a manner that will maximize the cap-
ital  gain.  Although  the  main  focus  of  the  busi-
ness’s investments is late-stage financing such as
management buyouts, expansion or replacement
capital, UBS Capital also targets a quarter of the
portfolio  toward  early-stage  investments  in  the
technology and telecommunications sectors.

The growing awareness of private equity as an at-
tractive  asset  class  for  fund  managers,  coupled
with widespread European industrial consolida-
tion  and  moves  to  embrace  shareholder  value,
have improved the opportunities for investment
and increased the volume of funds available. The
rivalry  among  industry  professionals  for  poten-
tial investment transactions is fierce. But despite
increased  competition,  UBS  Capital  is  able  to
leverage its unique strategic advantages and cap-
italize on business synergies available throughout
the UBS Group. 

Strategic advantages
Using  the  Group’s  own  funds  along  with  third-
party  investors  allows  UBS  Capital  to  pursue  a
value strategy that differentiates it from its com-
petitors. The business is not forced to invest sole-
ly to meet target spend rates but considers trans-
actions only if they offer fair value over the peri-
od of an investment cycle.

With  its  successful  and  highly  qualified  net-
work of teams, UBS Capital is poised to become
a  key  player  in  this  rapidly  expanding  business
worldwide. The main thrust of the division’s ex-
pansion  has  focused  on  Western  Europe  and
North America and is already seizing select value
opportunities in Latin America and Asia Pacific.
UBS Capital combines its global presence with
local  expertise  and  resources  as  required.  In
doing so, it aims to provide tailor-made solutions
for cross-regional and cross-border transactions,
which represent an increasingly important part of
our business worldwide.

To  augment  its  competitive  strengths,  UBS
Capital plans to gradually increase its annual in-
vestment rate, targeting a portfolio book value of
CHF 5 billion committed capital from UBS and
CHF 5 billion from third-parties, while achieving
maximum diversification in the timing and geog-
raphy of earnings streams.

Funds
In view of the growing attention given by the in-
dustry to larger transactions, UBS Capital has de-
veloped plans for the formation of four regional
funds – Europe, North America, Latin America
and  Asia.  In  the  United  States,  the  business  re-
cently launched a USD 1 billion investment fund
targeting North America and Canada and a USD

39

Divisional Review 
UBS Capital 

Portfolio summary
31 December 1999

CHF billion

4.5

n
b

2
1

.

n
b

2

.

4

4

3

2

1

0

n
b

0

.

3

n
b

8
1

.

8
9
.
2
1
.
1
3

e
u
a
v

l

k
o
o
B

9
9
.
2
1
.
1
3

e
u
a
v

l

k
o
o
B

9
9
.
2
1
.
1
3

9
9
.
2
1
.
1
3

e
u
a
v

l

t
e
k
r
a
M

i

n
a
g

d
e
z
i
l

a
e
r
n
U

Book value by country
31 December 1999

34%

48%

3%

7%

8%

European Union
Switzerland
Latin America
Asia
North America

40

CHF million

Revenues
Credit loss expenses

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 1

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax

Regulatory equity used (avg)

Cost/income in % 2
Cost/income in %, before goodwill amortization 2

Headcount
of which: Switzerland
of which: Rest of world

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change (%)

315
0

315

105
47
2
5

159

156

340

50
49

116
21
95

585
0

585

121
35
0
1

157

428

250

27
27

122
36
86

(46)
–

(46)

(13)
34
–
400

1

(64)

36

(5)
(42)
10

1 Includes amortization of other purchased intangible assets.    2 Before credit loss expense.

500 million fund targeting Latin America. Addi-
tionally,  two  new  funds  have  been  launched
in Europe.  The  first  is  Phildrew  Ventures  V,  a
GBP 330 million United Kingdom private equi-
ty fund.  The  second  is  the  CHF  307  million
CapVis equity partners fund run by UBS Capital’s
vehicle for investing in Switzerland. A European
and  Asian  fund  are  expected  to  be  launched  in
2000.

Group synergies
UBS Capital’s strong relationship with UBS War-
burg has cemented links between related business
units. Deal origination, funding and optional exit
strategies are just a few of the benefits. 

UBS Capital will also continue to work close-
ly with the Group’s Private Banking unit to offer
innovative solutions to company owners, partic-
ularly European family businesses facing succes-
sion  problems.  UBS  Capital  also  offers  its  fund
products  to  Private  Banking  clients  and  institu-
tional investors.

Portfolio
UBS Capital is rapidly expanding and has a firm
focus on building a globally diversified portfolio
from  its  current  book  value  of  approximately
CHF 2,993 million (compared to CHF 1,784 mil-
lion  at  year-end  1998)  to  its  target  size  of  ap-
proximately  CHF  5  billion  from  the  balance
sheet.  The  1999  investment  rate  target  of  CHF
800 million was easily exceeded with an impres-
sive CHF 1,394 million of investment additions
to the portfolio. 

The portfolio review and valuation resulted in
an  approximate  market  value  of  around  CHF
4,155 million, compared to CHF 2,651 million at
year-end 1998. This impressive growth equates to
current  unrealized  gains  of  approximately  CHF
1,162 million as compared to CHF 867 million at
year-end  1998.  The  value  creation  for  the  year
ended  1999,  including  1999  realized  gains  and
the increase in the portfolio’s unrealized gains, is
estimated to be CHF 610 million. 

Risk control
UBS Capital has established an innovative portfolio
construction to protect its value and reduce the risk
exposure by adopting the following methodology:
– Geographic diversification with minimal con-
centration of investments in specific locations
– Diversification by industry sector to obtain a
good spread between manufacturing and serv-
ice sectors

– Investment of a quarter of the portfolio in ear-
lier-stage growth opportunities, such as tech-
nology and telecommunications

– Emphasis  on  later-stage  investments,  such  as
management buy-outs of existing businesses.

Results discussion

In  1999,  segment  performance  before  tax  de-
creased 64%, or CHF 272 million, to CHF 156
million. This reflects lower levels of realized gains
and  fewer  divestments  in  full-year  1999  com-
pared to full-year 1998. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Divisional Review 
UBS Capital

Total operating income
Total  operating  income  decreased  46%,  or
CHF 270 million, to CHF 315 million in 1999.
This  is  within  expectations  and  is  due  to  the
lower  rate  of  optimal  divestment  opportunities
and is in line with the current portfolio’s aging
profile.

Total operating expenses
Although  1999  total  operating  expenses  have
increased  by  1%  from  1998,  the  CHF  159
million figure is still comfortably low. Operating
expenses remained stable despite expansion into
new regions and sectors, recruitment of new pro-
fessionals,  the  high  level  of  investment activity
and the associated investment costs. 

Personnel expenses were reduced by 13%, or
CHF 16 million, to CHF 105 million in 1999. As
part  of  the  restructuring  related  to  the  merger,
one team from UBS Capital moved to another di-
vision effective 1 January 1999. This resulted in

a  lower  headcount  during  most  of  1999  when
compared to 1998.

General and administrative expenses amount-
ed  to  CHF  47  million  and  although  this  repre-
sents a 34% increase over last year’s figure, this
was mainly due to deal-related expenses.

Outlook

In the year 2000, UBS Capital will continue to build
upon the considerable achievements made in recent
years. We expect higher divestment activity in 2000
when compared to 1999. Also the private equity
business will be strengthened through a portfolio
diversified both by region and sector. By exploiting
our unique strategic advantages, capitalizing on ex-
isting synergies throughout the bank and leveraging
our international presence, UBS Capital will con-
tinue to be a strongly contributing franchise with-
in the global integrated investment services firm.

Book value by sector, 
including funds
31 December 1999

13%

6%

11%

20%

11%

20%

19%

Energy
Computer related
Communications
Diversified industrials
Transportation
Consumer related
Other

Book value by stage
31 December 1999

3%

15%

17%

6%

59%

Expansion capital, first stage
Expansion capital, second stage
Management buy-out
Replacement capital
Other

41

Divisional Review 
Corporate Center 

Corporate Center

In the context of a global,

Business description

integrated investment

services firm, Corporate

Center focuses on the

long term maximization

of shareholder value. It

does this by helping to

ensure UBS is competi-

tively positioned in grow-

ing market places with an

optimal business model

and adequate resources;

by maintaining an appro-

priate balance between

risk and profit to provide

financial stability on a

Group-wide basis; and 

by ensuring that the

divisions, while being

accountable for their

results, operate as a

coherent and effective

Group with a common

set of values and

principles.

42

To perform its role, Corporate Center establishes
standards and principles to be applied by the di-
visions, thereby minimizing staffing levels within
Corporate  Center  itself.  Corporate  Center  en-
compasses the following Group level governance
functions that cannot be devolved to the operat-
ing divisions:
– Group internal audit, which reports directly to
the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  in
order to ensure its operational independence.
– Functions reporting to the Chief Executive Of-
ficer, including human resources policies and
standards; communications with staff, public
and  media;  marketing  and  brand  manage-
ment; and the Group’s general counsel.

– Functions reporting to the Chief Financial Of-
ficer,  including  risk  control;  credit  risk  man-
agement;  financial  control  and  management;
Group treasury; Group strategy, and commu-
nications with regulators, rating agencies, in-
vestors and analysts. 

During  1999,  the  Corporate  Center  housed  the
start-up  of  the  e-services  business,  which  will
now be brought to market by UBS Warburg. 

Review of 1999

During the year, the Corporate Center was reor-
ganized  following  the  decision  taken  by  the
Group Executive Board and the Board of Direc-
tors  to  combine  all  risk  and  control  functions
under the leadership of the Group Chief Financial
Officer. UBS was one of the first banks to recog-
nize  the  opportunities  presented  by  combining
the controlling, risk, credit, treasury and strategic
functions into a single area. These activities are
all  closely  interrelated  and  are  instrumental  in
maintaining an appropriate balance between risk
and profit and allocating equity efficiently with-
in the Group and among the divisions.

The success of this reorganization is reflected
in a number of major projects such as the refine-
ment  of  our  risk  control  and  risk  management
processes,  and  the  preparations  for  registering
UBS with the US Securities and Exchange Com-
mission and listing on the New York Stock Ex-
change. 

In the second quarter of 1999, we formed the
multi-discipline Group Strategic Analysis team to

act  as  an  objective  and  neutral  adviser  to  the
CEO,  CFO  and  Group  Executive  Board.  The
team is built around three main centers of com-
petence:  the  strategic  analysis  group  covering
business  and  logistics  strategy  and  competitor
analysis; the quantitative group covering risk-ad-
justed  performance  measurement  and  business
valuation; and the M&A group which analyzes
potential acquisitions and divestments.

In a market where products and services are be-
coming increasingly global and commoditized, a
strong brand is an important differentiator and a
major competitive asset. To strengthen our mar-
ket  impact  as  an  integrated  investment  services
firm across all target groups, a review was under-
taken during the year culminating in the decision
to streamline and unify our brand architecture.

Results discussion

During 1999 the Corporate Center posted a pre-
tax profit of CHF 1,382 million, versus a pre-tax
loss of CHF 1,029 million in 1998. The 1998 re-
sults were negatively impacted by the CHF 842
million  provision  for  the  settlement  relating  to
the  role  of  Swiss  banks  during  and  after  World
War II and CHF 367 million relating to the write-
off  regarding  Long  Term  Capital  Management.
During  1999,  a  number  of  significant  financial
events  have  impacted  the  results  of  Corporate
Center as follows:
– Pre-tax gains of CHF 1,490 million and CHF
110 million relating to the divestment of our
stakes in Swiss Life / Rentenanstalt and Julius
Baer registered shares, respectively.

– An additional pre-tax restructuring charge of
CHF 300 million in respect of the merger be-
tween  Union  Bank  of  Switzerland  and  Swiss
Bank  Corporation,  representing  about  four
percent  of  the  original  CHF  7  billion  provi-
sion.  The  majority  of  this  extra  provision  is
due  to  revised  estimates  of  the  cost  of  lease
breaks and disposals.

– Additional pre-tax provisions of CHF 154 mil-
lion relating to the settlement reached regarding
dormant  accounts  and  World  War  II  related
claims.  When  we  created  the  corresponding
provisions in 1998, we expected a certain level
of  contributions  from  Swiss  industry.  In  the
fourth quarter, it became clear that this level of
contributions was not forthcoming as expected. 

Divisional Review 
Corporate Center

CHF million

Revenues
Credit loss expense

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 1

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax

Regulatory equity used (avg)

Headcount
of which: Switzerland

Rest of world

1 Includes amortization of other purchased intangible assets.

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change (%)

2,053
448

2,501

110
818
141
50

1,119

1,382

7,850

932
796
136

296
745

1,041

212
1,643
128
87

2,070

(1,029 )

6,350

921
821
100

594
(40)

140

(48)
(50)
10
(43)

(46)

24

1
(3)
36

– The  booking  of  pre-paid  employer  pension
contributions of CHF 456 million. This repre-
sents  the  recognition,  in  accordance  with  in-
ternational  accounting  standards,  of  the  dif-
ference between previously recorded and actu-
arially determined pension expenses. This pre-
payment has been recognized in 1999 after the
resolution  of  certain  legal  and  regulatory  is-
sues related to the utilization of these contri-
butions  subsequent  to  the  integration  of  the
pre-merger banks’ pension plans.

Revenues attributable to Corporate Center arise
from the funding, capital and balance sheet man-
agement,  and  management  of  foreign  currency
earnings activities undertaken by Group Treasury.
The  results  of  our  91.2%  holding  in  Klinik
Hirslanden AG have been fully consolidated for

the first time, resulting in an increase in operating
income and expenses of approximately CHF 380
million. There is no material impact on net profit.
The credit loss expense booked in Corporate
Center reconciles the difference between manage-
ment accounting and financial accounting, that is
between the adjusted expected losses charged to
the  divisions  and  the  credit  loss  expense  recog-
nized in the Group financial accounts. For more
detail on credit loss methodology please see pages
20–21. 

The  underlying  operational  costs  booked  in
Corporate  Center  have  reduced  compared  to
1999  mainly  due  to  the  further  refinement  of
service level agreements with the divisions. This
reduction has been partially offset by costs relat-
ed  to  the  build-up  of  the  “e-services”  business
area.

43

44

Review of 
Risk Management 
and Control

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Introduction 

Risk Management Framework

Our risk processes seek

The risk process at UBS

to limit the scope for

adverse variations in the

Group’s earnings and in

particular to protect the

Group from the risk of

loss in the event of

unlikely, but possible,

stress scenarios.

46

The risk process is an integral part of UBS’s com-
mitment to providing consistent high quality re-
turns for its shareholders. UBS believes that the
delivery of superior shareholder returns depends
on achieving an appropriate balance between risk
and return. This requires a management process
that gives appropriate focus to risk as well as re-
turns and which integrates this approach with the
management of the bank’s balance sheet and cap-
ital. For this reason, UBS restructured the Corpo-
rate Center in the course of 1999 to establish an
integrated Group-wide function under the Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) to address all aspects of
finance, strategic planning, risk control and bal-
ance sheet and capital management. 

The approach to risk management and control
at UBS recognizes that risk is integral to its busi-
ness. Our risk processes, which have evolved over
a number of years, seek to limit the scope for ad-
verse variations in the bank’s earnings and in par-
ticular to protect the Group from the risk of loss
in  the  event  of  unlikely,  but  possible,  stress  sce-
narios arising from any of the material risks which
the bank faces. The Group’s Risk Policy Frame-
work focuses on the procedures for managing and
controlling the risks which can affect the volatili-
ty of earnings from period to period, and distin-
guishes between the following three types of risk:

– Primary risks: risks inherent in the businesses
which UBS undertakes. The principal primary
risks are credit risk and market risk.

– Group  risks:  risks  which  UBS  faces  at  the
Group level in managing its business and bal-
ance sheet. Principal group risks are tax risk,
liquidity and funding risk and residual balance
sheet related interest rate risk.

– Consequential risks: risks which UBS faces as
a consequence of the operational activities it
undertakes  to  provide  services  to  customers.
This is sometimes referred to as “operational
risk”. Principal consequential risks are trans-
action processing risk, legal risk, compliance
risk, liability risk and security risk. 

UBS’s risk framework recognizes that an effec-
tive  risk  management  and  control  process  de-
pends on sound processes to identify risks, and to

establish and maintain limits and procedures to
control these risks. The Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
has  overall  responsibility  for  ensuring  that  the
limits and procedures are appropriate and are ad-
hered to for risks other than credit risk. The Chief
Credit  Officer  (CCO)  has  overall  responsibility
for  ensuring  that  the  limits  and  procedures  are
appropriate  and  are  adhered  to  for  credit  risk.
Credit risk remains the single largest risk which
UBS  faces.  The  limits  and  procedures  are  de-
signed  to  keep  UBS’s  risk  exposures  within  the
parameters determined by the Board of Directors
(BoD). These limits and procedures take into ac-
count  not  only  the  external  environment  that
UBS  faces,  but  also  its  internal  capabilities  to
manage  the  risk,  including  issues  such  as  the
availability  of  appropriate  information  process-
ing systems and the availability of suitably quali-
fied staff to manage and control the risk.

The BoD establishes the risk parameters with-
in which the bank operates – and reviews on at
least  a  quarterly  basis  the  risk  which  UBS  as-
sumes. For this purpose, the BoD sets limits both
on normal earnings volatility as well as on poten-
tial  losses  under  a  stress  scenario.  UBS’s  risk
appetite defines the amount of earnings volatility
which the BoD deems to be acceptable in normal
market conditions in order to achieve divisional
growth targets. This potential volatility is meas-
ured by the risk control organization using meas-
ures  that  estimate  statistically  possible  losses.
Value at risk (VaR) methodology is the principal
quantitative measure for evaluating this risk.

UBS’s risk bearing capacity seeks to establish a
limit to the potential scale of the loss which UBS
might face in unlikely, but possible, stress situa-
tions. Stress loss limits are set by the BoD taking
into  account  UBS’s  overall  earnings  capacity.
They are set in order to protect the Group against
unacceptable  damage  to  annual  earnings,  divi-
dend  paying  capability,  business  viability  and
reputation. In addition, the BoD approves the key
risk policies and, through the Chairman’s Office
to which Group Internal Audit reports, maintains
ongoing oversight of the integrity of the risk man-
agement and control processes.

The  responsibility  for  implementing  the  risk
framework on a day-to-day basis is delegated by
the BoD to the GEB. The GEB allocates risk lim-
its  to  the  divisions  and  monitors  the  aggregate
risk profile on an ongoing basis. It constitutes it-
self as the Risk Council and usually meets twice

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Introduction 

a month with the CRO and the CCO to review
outstanding risk issues, large exposures and sig-
nificant transactions. In addition, the GEB has es-
tablished a Group Risk Committee and a Group
Governance  Committee.  These  Committees,
which  meet  quarterly,  consist  of  representatives
from the risk control organization at the Corpo-
rate Center and from the divisions and consider
issues relating to the implementation and devel-
opment of the risk framework.

Each division also has a risk management and
control structure in place which is appropriate to
its  particular  business  profile.  The  CRO  and
CCO have risk control staff located in each divi-
sion who are responsible for seeing that the divi-

sion implements the Group-wide risk policies and
procedures  appropriately.  They  ensure  that  all
risks are adequately taken into account in assess-
ing the risk profile of the divisions’ business ac-
tivities.  The  focus  is  on  identifying  those  infre-
quent events with a potentially severe impact. In
addition,  each  division  has  its  own  structure  of
risk and governance committees. This is designed
to maintain an ongoing review of the risk profile
which  the  division  faces  in  new  business  initia-
tives and in large and complex transactions. It is
also designed to provide that any requirement for
amendments to risk policies or limits is identified
and  where  appropriate,  is  escalated  in  a  timely
manner to the GEB.

UBS Risk Management and Control Framework

y
c
i
l

o
P

k
s
i
R

l

o
r
t
n
o
C
k
s
i
R
t
n
e
d
n
e
p
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d
n
I

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i
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e
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I
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G

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s
i
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Board of Directors

Group Internal Audit

Group Executive Board

• Group Governance Committee

• Group Risk Committee

Corporate Center

CRO & CCO
Corporate Risk Control

UBS Warburg

Divisional CCO

Divisional CRO

UBS Private & Corporate Clients

UBS Private Banking

UBS Asset Management

UBS Capital

• Divisional Risk 
Committees

• Divisional Logistics 

Functions

47

 
 
 
 
 
 
Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks

Analysis of Risks

Credit loss expenses are a

known component of 

the banking business and

This section summarizes the main trends and de-
velopments in the course of 1999 in the key risks
which UBS faces.

to a certain extent pre-

Credit risk

dictable. Our approach to

credit risk management is

to estimate the expected

loss as accurately as pos-

sible and to limit extraor-

dinary stress losses. Only

an accurate quantifica-

tion of future credit loss

expenses (expected and

unexpected) allows for an

optimal balance between

risk and return in our

credit business.

Credit risk is the risk of loss resulting from the de-
fault of an obligor or counterparty. UBS’s defini-
tion  of  credit  risk  includes  counterparty  and
country transfer risk, as well as settlement risk.
Credit  risk  is  inherent  in  traditional  banking
products, such as loans and commitments to lend
money or letters of credit. Credit risk is also in-
herent  in  derivative  contracts  and  other  traded
products, such as bonds and equity investments.
In view of the significance of credit risk for UBS,
the approval and monitoring of new transactions
giving rise to credit risk plays a central part in the
risk control process. Credit approval authorities
are  exercised  independently  from  the  business
units.  Credit  authority  is  dependent  on  the
amount involved, quality, security and tenor of a
transaction as well as on the experience and com-
petence of the credit professionals entrusted with
this function.

Credit loss expenses are a known component
of  the  banking  business  and  to  a  certain  extent
predictable.  In  order  to  manage  its  exposure  to
credit  risk  effectively,  and  in  particular  to  en-
courage  appropriate  pricing  of  transactions  in-
volving  credit,  UBS  measures  its  exposure  to
credit risk using a forward looking statistical es-
timate of the expected loss based on the estimat-
ed  probability  of  default  of  its  counterparties.
Such estimates are based on the volume and type
of exposure, the value of potential collateral or
support,  and  the  quality  of  each  counterparty.
The quality of the counterparty is expressed in a
rating with a specific default probability. For this

Summary of banking products exposure and credit risk results

purpose,  the  bank  classifies  all  counterparties
into a 14 point rating scale and the transfer risk
into a 15 point country rating scale. The forward-
looking  expected  loss  from  credit  exposures  is
charged to the divisions through the management
accounts. This ensures that the anticipated credit
risk  cost  is  adequately  taken  into  account  and
allows for a risk-neutral assessment of divisional
results.

Analysis of credit results
The following table provides a divisional break-
down of UBS’s credit exposure together with the
associated  annual  expected  loss  for  the  periods
ended 31 December 1998 and 31 December 1999
and the credit loss expense which is recorded in
the  financial  accounts.  The  fact  that  credit  loss
expenses as per financial accounting were below
the “Expected Loss” is evidenced in the balanc-
ing item in the Corporate Center account (see ex-
planation below).

Since International Accounting Standards re-
quire  that  credit  losses  are  recognized  and
charged to the financial accounts on an ex-post
basis  as  they  arise  rather  than  on  the  forward
looking statistical basis UBS uses for performance
measurement,  it  is  necessary  to  reconcile  these
two different approaches to the measurement of
is  achieved
credit  risk.  This  reconciliation 
through an offsetting entry in the Corporate Cen-
ter accounts which represents the difference be-
tween the statistically estimated adjusted expect-
ed loss which is charged to the management ac-
counts of the divisions and the credit loss expense
which is recorded in the financial accounts in ac-
cordance with the requirements of International
Accounting Standards. 

The  development  of  the  total  credit  loss  ex-
pense  in  1998  and  1999  includes  the  effect  of
allocations from the special reserve pools which

CHF million
For the year ending

Loans (gross)
Contingent claims
Unutilized committed lines

Total banking products exposure
Annual expected loss

Total credit loss expense

Corporate Center balancing items

UBS Private Banking
UBS Group
31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98

Corporate Center

UBS Warburg

UBS Private &
Corporate Clients

30,532
3,427
0

33,959
24

31,1221
4,052
0

82,265
14,986
60,412

134,6971 164,743
6,187
3,444

24,749
73,839

35,174
26

157,663
330

233,285
500

174,374
1,050

164,840
3,458
8,472

176,770
1,170

474
0
0

474

305
0
0

305

278,014
24,600
63,856

366,470
1,404

330,964
32,259
82,311

445,534
1,696

956

(448)

951

(745)

1 1998 allocation between UBS Private Banking and UBS Warburg restated (transfer of 6,989 million from UBS Warburg to UBS Private Banking).

48

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks

Movements in the Special Reserve Pool (SRP) during 1998 and 1999 to date

CHF million

SRP balance at the beginning of the year
Utilized in the first quarter 1999
Utilized in the second quarter 1999
Utilized in the third quarter 1999
Utilized in the forth quarter 1999

SRP balance at the end of the year

31.12.1999

300
0
(40)
(130)
(130)

SRP balance at the beginning of the year

Utilized in the first half 1998
Utilized in the third quarter 1998
Utilized in the forth quarter 1998

0

SRP balance at the end of the year

31.12.1998

3,609

(1,629)
(303)
(1,377)

300

had been established in 1996, prior to the merg-
er, by both Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss
Bank  Corporation.  These  reserves  were  estab-
lished to absorb probable losses not specifically
identified at that time but which experience in-
dicated were present in the portfolio. These to-
talled CHF 3.6 billion at the beginning of 1998.
CHF 3.3 billion was applied against specific loan
exposures during 1998 and the balance of CHF
300  million  was  applied  to  such  exposures  in
1999.  UBS  does  not  believe  there  is  a  current
need for such allowances. Following these allo-
cations the credit loss expense incurred in 1998
was CHF 951 million and in 1999 CHF 956 mil-
lion.

Composition of credit risk
Credit risk is assumed, as an integral part of their
business, by UBS Warburg, UBS Private and Cor-
porate Clients, and to a lesser extent by UBS Pri-
vate Banking. 

The composition of UBS’s credit exposure dif-
fers appreciably between these three divisions. As
the  charts  below  show,  a  vast  majority  of  UBS
Warburg’s  counterparties  fall  into  the  internal
rating  categories  C1–C5  both  with  respect  to
banking products (83%) and the traded products
(94%) portfolio. Our internal rating classes C1–
C5 compare to Moody’s Investor Services ratings

Aaa  to  Baa3  and  are  considered  Investment
Grade.  UBS  Warburg’s  exposure  to  lower  rated
customers is generally collateralized or otherwise
structurally  supported.  UBS  Warburg’s  counter-
parties  are  primarily  sovereigns,  insurance  com-
panies, financial institutions, multi-national cor-
porate  clients  and  investment  funds.  The  aggre-
gate unsecured exposure to hedge funds measured
in  terms  of  net  replacement  value  amounted  to
CHF 55 million at 31 December 1999 compared
to CHF 81 million at 31 December 1998.

The  charts  on  the  next  page  provide  an
overview  of  the  distribution  of  UBS  Warburg’s
banking  and  traded  products  exposure  across
counterparty rating categories.

By contrast, the largest single component of the
loan portfolio within UBS Private and Corporate
Clients consists of residential mortgage lending in
Switzerland, over half of which is classified within
rating class C5. The chart “PCC mortgage port-
folio by type of property” shows the breakdown
of UBS’s mortgage lending by the type of proper-
ty involved. The remainder of the Swiss portfolio,
excluding mortgages, is fairly widely spread with
the  largest  concentration  being  in  rating  classes
C4 to C6 (comparable to Moody’s rating of Baa1
to Ba1). The chart “PCC banking products expo-
sure by rating” evidences the overall improvement
in the quality of the portfolio following the con-

Status of total credit risk exposure

CHF million
For the year ending

Loans utilization, net of allowances
Contingent claims
Unutilized committed lines
Derivatives (positive replacement values)
Tradable assets 
(net long, maximum default exposure)

UBS Private Banking
UBS Group
31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98

Corporate Center

UBS Warburg

UBS Private &
Corporate Clients

30,437
3,427
–
3,457

31,0561
4,052
–
2,505

79,493
14,986
60,412
127,042

132,0691 154,370
6,187
3,444
–

24,749
73,839
167,395

152,996
3,458
8,472
–

19

37

219,019

82,194

2,766

3,768

465
–
–
–

471

936

945

300
–
–
–

264,765
24,600
63,856
130,499

316,421
32,259
82,311
169,900

289

222,275

86,288

589

705,995

687,179

594

719,244

701,722

Total credit risk exposure, net of allowances

37,340

37,650

500,952

480,246

166,767

168,694

Total credit risk exposure, gross

37,435

37,716

503,724

482,874

177,140

180,538

1 1998 allocation between UBS Private Banking and UBS Warburg restated (transfer of CHF 6,989 millions from UBS Warburg to UBS Private Banking).

49

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

UBS Warburg banking products 
exposure by industries

4%

3%

7%

24%

8%

10%

17%

11%

Finance Sector
Manufacturing
Consumer 
Goods/Retail
Commodities

16%

Services
Energy
Other
Supranationals
Real Estate

UBS Private & Corporate Clients 
Mortgage exposure by
type of property

19%

30%

51%

Residential (single-family homes)
Residential (multi-family homes)
Commercial

UBS Private & Corporate Clients 
Credit risk exposure 
by industries 

5%

6%

7%

18%

15%

Private households
Construction and real estate
Other*
Manufacturing
Wholesale and retail
Public administration

50

UBS Warburg banking products exposure by counterparty rating

in % of UBS Warburg Banking Products Exposure

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

  5%

  0%

C1

Aaa

C2

C3
“Investment Grade” Categories
A2

Baa1

Aa2

C4

C5

C6

Baa3

Ba1

C8

D0
C7
“Sub-investment Grade” Categories
Ba2

Ba3

C9

B1

B2

December 1998

December 1999

UBS Warburg traded products exposure by counterparty rating

in % of UBS Warburg Traded Products Exposure

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

  0%

C1

Aaa

C2

C3
“Investment Grade” Categories
A2

Baa1

Aa2

C4

C5

C6

Baa3

Ba1

C8

D0
C7
“Sub-investment Grade” Categories
Ba2

Ba3

C9

B2

B1

D1

B3

D4

D2

Caa

D3
Classified
D

D1

B3

D4

D2

Caa

D3
Classified
D

December 1998

December 1999

UBS Private & Corporate Clients banking products exposure by counterparty rating (excluding mortgages)

in % of Private & Corporate Clients banking products exposure excluding mortgages

16%

14%

12%

10%

  8%

  6%

  4%

  2%

  0%

C1

Aaa

C2

C3
“Investment Grade” categories
A2

Baa1

Aa2

C4

C5

C6

Baa3

Ba1

C9

C8

D0
C7
“Sub-investment Grade” categories
Ba2
B2

Ba3

B1

D1

B3

D4

D2

Caa

D3
Classified
D

49%

December 1998

December 1999

tinued  improvement  in  the  Swiss  economy  and
property markets.

PCC’s  largest  sectoral  exposure  is  to  private
households in Switzerland. Other significant ex-
include  construction  &  real  estate
posures 
(15%),  manufacturing  (7%),  distribution  &  re-
tailing (6%) and public administration (5%).

UBS Private Banking extends credit predomi-
nantly  against  pledge  of  marketable  securities
and against single-family real estate property.

Loan portfolio
The most significant development in UBS’s loan
portfolio in 1999 has been the reduction in the

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

Total loan portfolio exposure by division

CHF million
For the year ending

Loans to banks (gross)
Loans to customers (gross)

Loans, gross

Counterparty allowance
Country allowance

Allowances for loan losses 2

UBS Private Banking
UBS Group
31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98

Corporate Center

UBS Warburg

UBS Private &
Corporate Clients

4,456
26,076

6,9891
24,133

25,891
56,374

62,2721
72,425

–
164,743

–
164,840

30,532

31,122

82,265

134,697

164,743

164,840

95
–

95

66
–

66

1,526
1,246

2,772

1,178
1,450

10,373
–

11,844
–

2,628

10,373

11,844

438
36

474

9
–

9

282
23

30,785
247,229

69,543
261,421

305

278,014

330,964

5
–

5

12,003
1,246

13,093
1,450

13,249

14,543

Loans, net of allowances

30,437

31,056

79,493

132,069

154,370

152,996

465

300

264,765

316,421

Counterparty provision for contingent claims
Country provision for contingent claims

Total provisions 3

Summary
Allowances and provisions for counterparty risk
Allowances and provisions for country risk

Total allowances and provisions

–
–

–

95
–

95

–
–

–

66
–

66

13
130

143

1,539
1,376

2,915

435
–

435

–
–

–

–
–

–

1,613
1,450

10,373
–

11,844
–

3,063

10,373

11,844

6
–

6

15
–

15

–
–

–

5
–

5

19
130

149

435
0

435

0
12,022
1,376

0
13,528
1,450

13,398

14,978

11998 allocation between UBS Private Banking and UBS Warburg restated (transfer of CHF 6,989 million from UBS Warburg to UBS Private Banking.    2 Deducted from assets.    3 Booked as
liabilities.

UBS Warburg portfolio. This is a continuation of
the  strategy  that  began  immediately  after  the
merger in 1998 with the objective to improve the
risk/reward  profile  of  the  international  lending
business. This initiative included the shift in focus
away from Emerging Markets and into high qual-
ity credits in the major OECD countries and the
sale of the non-Swiss portion of the Global Trade
Finance business.

The overall impact of this shift has been a re-
duction in the international credit portfolio (con-
sisting  of  loans  and  unfunded  commitments  to
clients, excluding banks) from over CHF 250 bil-
lion at the time of the merger to CHF 99 billion
by  31  December  1999.  The  loan  component  of
this international lending book was reduced from
CHF 148 billion in June 1998 to CHF 56.4 bil-
lion as of 31 December 1999. 

On the other hand, the UBS Private and Cor-
porate Clients loan portfolio remained virtually
flat  as  accelerated  write-offs  and  a  transfer  of
clients  to  UBS  Private  Banking  were  replaced
with new business at attractive pricing.

Over-the-counter derivative contracts
A significant proportion of UBS Warburg’s cred-
it risk arises from its trading activities, including
its trading of derivative products. The provision
of risk management solutions, which involve the
use of derivative products, is a core service which
we  offer  to  our  clients.  Derivative  products  by
their nature are particularly sensitive to changes

in market prices and consequently we pay close
attention to the management and control of these
risks. Our credit standards for entering into un-
secured derivative contracts are very high as high-
lighted in the chart “UBS Warburg traded prod-
ucts exposure by counterparty rating” and par-
ticular emphasis is paid to the maturity profile.
Transactions with counterparties of lower quali-
ty  are  generally  only  conducted  on  a  secured
basis.  Consistent  with  this  approach,  the  expo-
sure shown in the C9 class is for the most part
fully secured and represents a good risk despite
the low rating. We measure our credit risk expo-
sure  to  derivative  contracts  on  the  basis  of  re-
placement value plus an add-on which reflects the
residual term of the contract. A new system has
been introduced in February 2000 to monitor this
risk on the basis of a statistically calculated po-
tential exposure, which will allow an even more
precise valuation of the credit equivalent (Poten-
tial Credit Exposure, PCE).

The  chart  to  the  left  shows  the  distribution
of over-the-counter  derivative  credit  exposure
measured in gross replacement value plus add-on
across products and maturities.

Settlement risk
Due to its international business, UBS is also ex-
posed to settlement risk. Settlement risk arises in
transactions  involving  the  exchange  of  values
where a counterparty fails to honor its obligation
to deliver cash or securities. This risk is particu-

51

UBS Group OTC derivative 
exposure by product type 
and maturity1 

in % of UBS Group total OTC derivative exposure

40%

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

  5%

  0%

0–1
year

1–5
years

>5
years

Interest rates
Foreign exchange
Precious metals
Equity/Index
Commodities

1 Measured in positive replacement value.

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

52

UBS Warburg and UBS Private & Corporate Clients 
Settlement risk analysis

M
P
&
X
F

)
d
e
z
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l

a
u
n
n
a
(

s
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o

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F
H
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160

140

120

100

  80

  60

  40

  20

    0

110
100
  90
  80
  70
  60
  50
  40
  30
  20
  10
    0

M
P
&
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F

s
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u
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9
9
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1

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9
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t
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v
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e
D

Settlement risk residual expected losses
Settlement risk reduction achieved
Average daily settlement volume

UBS transfer risk exposure by 
country rating classes and product

All countries

Emerging Markets

100% = CHF 905 billion

100% = CHF 25 billion

17%

24%

3%

68%

22%
10%

56%

Banking products
Traded products
Tradable assets

UBS Group Emerging Markets 
transfer risk exposure by region

CHF billion

16

14

12

10

  8

  6

  4

  2

  0

14.4

10.0

11.5

9.6

98/99

Emerging
Asia

98/99

Emerging
Americas

98 99

Banking products
Traded products
Tradable assets

4.7

3.3

98/99

Emerging
Africa/
Middle East

1.8 1.6

98/99

Emerging
Europe

larly  significant  in  relation  to  foreign  exchange
and  precious  metals  transactions.  UBS  limits  its
exposure to settlement risk by tolerance levels as-
signed  to  each  counterparty  in  relation  to  its
standing (rating). In addition, UBS monitors this
risk on a permanent basis and seeks to shorten as
much as practicable the period during which it is
exposed and to reduce the exposure by way of net-
ting agreements. Netting receives a high priority
within UBS. UBS has also been an active partici-
pant in an industry initiative to create a new or-
ganization,  called  CLS  Bank,  which  is  being  es-
tablished  to  reduce  substantially  settlement  risk
between  major  international  financial  institu-
tions. The participation in regulated payment and
securities clearing systems also reduces settlement
exposure. As the chart to the left shows, UBS took
particular care to limit its exposure to settlement
risk over year end 1999 in order to minimize its
exposure to Year 2000 related counterparty risk.

Country risk exposure
UBS’s  definition  of  country  risk  comprises  all
cross-border  exposures  from  loans,  derivative
products and tradable assets. This definition in-
cludes UBS’s own intracompany cross-border po-
sitions,  which  amounted  to  CHF  416  billion  at
31  December  1999,  about  44.6%  of  the  total
non-emerging  market  country  risk  exposure  of
CHF  880  billion.  As  at  31  December  1999,
97.3% of UBS’s country risk exposure was with
highly  rated  OECD  countries  where  the  risk  of
default is judged to be negligible. 

The chart in the middle summarizes UBS’s ag-
gregate country risk exposure as of 31 December
1999 compared to 31 December 1998.

The remaining 2.7% (CHF 24.6 billion) of our
country  risk  exposure  is  to  emerging  markets
which are classified in rating classes S3 to S14. This
exposure has decreased as a result of the restruc-
turing of the international loan portfolio and the
exit from the GTF business during 1999. Total ex-
posure to the emerging market group of countries
fell by CHF 7.8 billion during 1999 – a reduction
of 24%. In view of the higher risk associated with
emerging markets, UBS closely monitors this ex-
posure on an ongoing basis within the country lim-
its approved by the Board of Directors.

The  chart  to  the  left  analyzes  the  Emerging
Markets  exposures  by  the  major  geographical
areas  as  of  31  December  1999  compared  to 
31 December 1998.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

Allowances and provisions for credit risk

CHF million
For the year ending

Loans (gross)

Impaired loans 2
Allowances for impaired loans

Non-performing loans
Allowances for non-performing loans

Total allowances for impaired 
and non-performing loans

Other allowances and provisions
for credit and country risk

Total allowances and provisions

of which country allowances and provisions

Ratios
Impaired loans in % of gross loans

Non-performing loans in % of gross loans

Allowances and provisions for credit loss in %
of gross loans

Allocated allowances in % of impaired loans

UBS Private Banking
UBS Group
31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98 31.12.99 31.12.98

Corporate Center

UBS Warburg

UBS Private &
Corporate Clients

30,532

31,1221

82,265

134,6971 164,743

164,840

474

305

278,014

330,964

140
95

71
56

95

95

–

0.5

0.2

0.3

67.9

175
66

68
66

66

66

–

0.6

0.2

0.2

37.7

97.1

3,202
1,994

1,586
1,336

3,319
1,667

2,042
1,289

19,050
10,373

11,353
7,264

22,953
11,844

14,003
8,646

1,994

1,667

10,373

11,844

921

1,396

2,915

1,376

3,063

10,373

11,844

1,450

–

–

3.9

1.9

3.5

62.3

84.2

2.5

1.5

2.3

50.2

63.1

11.6

6.9

6.3

54.5

64.0

13.9

8.5

7.2

51.6

61.7

64
9

63
5

9

6

15

–

13.5

13.3

3.2

14.1

7.9

–
5

–
5

5

5

–

0.0

–

1.6

na

na

22,456
12,471

13,073
8,661

26,447
13,582

16,113
10,006

12,471

13,582

927

1,396

13,398

14,978

1,376

1,450

8.1

4.7

4.8

55.5

66.3

8.0

4.9

4.5

51.4

62.1

Allocated allowances in % of non-performing loans 78.9

1 1998 allocation between UBS Private Banking and UBS Warburg restated (transfer of CHF 6,989 million from UBS Warburg to UBS Private Banking.    2 Includes non-performing loans.

Impaired and non-performing loans
UBS classifies a loan as impaired when it judges
that there is a high probability that it will suffer
a  partial  or  full  loss.  A  provision  is  then  made
with respect to the loan in question. Within this
category,  non-performing  loans  are  defined  as
loans where payment of interest, principal or fees
is  overdue  for  90  days.  Non-performing  loans
have decreased to CHF 13,073 million at 31 De-
cember 1999 from CHF 16,113 million at 31 De-
cember 1998. The reduction reflects an accelerat-
ed write-down in the Swiss domestic portfolio, a
substantial  reduction  in  our  emerging  markets
exposure,  a  significant  improvement  in  the
macroeconomic  situation  in  Switzerland  and  a
faster  than  expected  recovery  in  key  Asian
economies.

The  above  table  provides  a  breakdown  by
divisions of impaired and non-performing loans
as of the dates indicated.

Allowances and provisions
The adequacy of the allowances and provisions
for impaired loans is assessed by the Credit Risk
Management and Control function which is in-
dependent  from  the  divisions.  Allowances  and
provisions  are  determined  based  upon  an  indi-

vidual assessment of counterparties and countries
and their creditworthiness as well as the amount
of collateral available to us to offset against the
potential  loss.  As  the  table  above  shows,  al-
lowances  and  provisions  for  credit  losses  de-
creased by CHF 1,580 million, or 10.5%, from
CHF  14,978  million  at  31  December  1998  to
CHF  13,398  million  at  31  December  1999
caused by net write-offs and recoveries and par-
tially  offset  by  the  establishment  of  additional
credit loss provisions. As impaired loans were re-
duced  by  close  to  CHF  4  billion  and  non-per-
forming loans by more than CHF 3 billion, the
coverage  ratio  could  be  significantly  increased.
We  are  convinced  that  the  inherent  risk  in  our
portfolio  is  adequately  covered  by  allowances
and provisions.

The  allowances  and  provisions  for  credit
losses  include  a  component  for  country  risk.
UBS’s approach to country risk provisioning fol-
lows the guidelines of the Swiss Bankers’ Associa-
tion, which allows banks to establish provisions
based  on  their  own  portfolio  scenarios.  UBS
establishes  country-specific  scenarios  which  are
reviewed and used on an ongoing basis to eval-
uate the current and future probability of default
due to country risk incidents or country-specific

53

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

54

Swiss bankruptcy rates (1985–1999)

in % of total registered companies

1.4%

1.2%

1.0%

0.8%

0.6%

0.4%

0.2%

0.0%

5
8
9
1

6
8
9
1

7
8
9
1

8
8
9
1

9
8
9
1

0
9
9
1

1
9
9
1

2
9
9
1

3
9
9
1

4
9
9
1

5
9
9
1

6
9
9
1

7
9
9
1

8
9
9
1

9
9
9
1

Source: Creditreform, SHAB

systemic  risks.  The  appropriate  allowances  and
provisions are then determined by evaluating the
type of credit exposure and the loss severities that
have been attributed to each exposure type. Total
provisions  and  allowances  for  emerging  market
related exposures stood at CHF 1,376 million at
31 December 1999 and CHF 1,450 million at 31
December 1998, reflecting on the one hand the
reduction in the overall size of our emerging mar-
ket exposure but on the other hand also the need
for a reallocation of provisions from Asia to Latin
America.

In  view  of  its  overall  credit  exposure  to  the
Swiss  market,  UBS’s  provisions  and  allowances
are highly dependent on economic developments
in Switzerland. As the following chart shows, the
better  performance  of  the  Swiss  economy  since
1997 has translated into a continued reduction of
the bankruptcy rate. Given the broadly support-
ed  upswing  now  embracing  all  sectors  of  the
economy, the present growth rate of 2% is set to
continue throughout this year. The resulting im-
provement  in  companies’  financial  condition
should  result  in  a  further  reduction  in  default
rates into the current year. 

Market risk

Market risk is the risk UBS faces as a result of ad-
verse movements in the value of foreign exchange,
commodities, equity market and interest rates po-
sitions. UBS incurs market risk mainly through its
trading activities, which are centered in UBS War-
burg, although market risk also arises – to a sub-
stantially lesser extent – in relation to other activ-
ities, notably in the context of balance sheet man-

agement activities. UBS Warburg’s primary mar-
ket risk exposure relates to its business activities
in equities, fixed income products and foreign ex-
change. The risk which UBS Warburg assumes is
primarily related to the need to facilitate its cus-
tomers activities in the major OECD markets. 

UBS  measures  its  exposure  to  market  risk
using the framework of expected loss, statistical
loss and stress loss, as follows:
– In the context of market risk, expected losses
are the value adjustments made to the portfolio
to adjust for price uncertainties resulting from
a lack of market liquidity or the absence of a re-
liable market price for a particular instrument
– Statistical loss is measured based on a value at
risk, or VaR, methodology. VaR is a forward
looking estimate of potential loss. 1-day VaR
looks forward one trading day, while 10-day
VaR  looks  forward  ten  days.  UBS  calculates
VaR  using  a  99%  confidence  level.  In  other
words,  under  normal  market  conditions,  we
would expect over the course of a day a loss
more than our 1-day VaR to occur with a 1 in
100 chance

– Stress scenario loss is defined as the risk of an
extreme market move affecting particular pre-
defined market variables.

In  order  to  keep  our  exposure  to  market  risk
within  acceptable  boundaries,  the  Board  of  Di-
rectors has set limits on our exposure to both sta-
tistical loss by reference to the VaR exposures as
well as to stress scenario loss by placing limits in
relation to particular stress scenarios.

UBS calculates the VaR associated with its ex-
posure to market risk and consequently also its
regulatory capital requirement using the histori-
cal simulation technique, based on five years of
data. VaR is calculated both on a 1-day 99% con-
fidence interval and a 10-day 99% confidence in-
terval, and the latter is used both for internal lim-
its setting and for calculating regulatory capital.
The calculation incorporates both the risk from
general market moves such as moves in foreign
exchange rates, equity indices and market inter-
est rates as well as the risk from price movements
that  are  specific  to  an  individual  issuer.  During
1999 UBS Warburg operated within a CHF 450
million 10-day VaR limit.

During  the  course  of  1999  UBS  received  ap-
proval from the Swiss Federal Banking Commis-
sion (FBC) to use its VaR model to compute reg-
ulatory capital requirements for market risks. 

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

While a VaR measure is the principal measure
of  UBS’s  exposure  to  day-to-day  movements  in
market  prices,  UBS’s  risk  control  process  is
specifically focused on tail risks (or the risk of a
loss significantly larger than the VaR number as
a  result  of  large  movements  in  the  risk  factors,
such as equity indices, foreign exchange rates and
interest rates, on our portfolios). UBS has a con-
sistent set of predefined large price movements,
or shocks, and risk limits, which apply to all the
major risk factors to which the bank is exposed
as a basis to prevent risk concentration. This is
the  primary  protection  against  any  form  of  ex-
treme event. In addition to this first level protec-
tion, a stress loss limit has been introduced as a
portfolio  control  for  all  the  trading  activities
which  are  concentrated  within  UBS  Warburg.
The potential stress loss is calculated with respect
to eight base scenarios which are supplemented
by ad hoc analyses depending on external devel-
opments or specific portfolio concentrations such
as Year 2000 which we added to our stress test
analysis in the third quarter of 1999. This ensures
that both historical crises as well as forward look-
ing  extreme  scenarios  are  incorporated  in  the
analysis.  Implementing  this  stress  loss  limit  is  a
way of protecting our earnings during periods of
extreme market stress. 

UBS Warburg market risk developments
Since the merger, UBS Warburg has taken a num-
ber  of  steps  to  improve  its  overall  risk  profile.
These  include  adjusting  its  market  risk  profile,
including  its  exposure  to  emerging  market  risk
and equity market volatility. As the table below
shows, VaR utilization within UBS Warburg has
dropped  across  all  major  product  lines  in  the
course of 1999. This does not reflect a rationing
of risk but a choice taken by UBS Warburg man-
agement based on the risk-return opportunities in

UBS Warburg backtesting results 

CHF million

200

100

0

–100

–200

–300

10-day VaR
  1-day VaR

Revenue

the  market.  This  reduction  has  in  fact  been
achieved at a time when UBS Warburg has gener-
ated some of its strongest earnings, which reflects
a significant improvement in the risk-return pro-
file of the businesses.

All  VaR  models,  while  forward  looking,  are
based on past events and are dependent upon the
quality of available market data. In order to eval-
uate  the  VaR  model  actual  revenues  are  com-
pared  with  the  1-day  VaR  on  a  daily  basis,  a
process  known  as  “backtesting”,  with  losses
greater  than  the  VaR  estimate  being  known  as
“exceptions”.  As  the  chart  above  shows,  UBS
Warburg’s backtesting results showed no excep-
tions in the course of 1999.

Market risk in the other divisions
Although  UBS  assumes  almost  all  of  its  active
market risk in UBS Warburg, the Group-wide VaR
for trading book market risk exposure includes all
sources  of  market  risk.  This  includes  a  small
amount of risk which is assumed in order to facil-
itate customer business by UBS Private Banking in
Switzerland as well as the risk associated with the
structural foreign exchange hedge positions man-
aged  by  Corporate  Center,  which  are  discussed

Summary of 10-day 99% confidence value at risk

UBS Warburg

CHF million

Risk type
Equities
Interest rates
Foreign exchange
Precious metals
Diversification effect

Total UBS Warburg

12 months ending 31.12.1999

6 months ending 31.12.1998

Min.

Max.

Average

31.12.1999

Min.

Max.

Average

31.12.1998

122
88
10
5
–1

177

208
188
145
36
–1

276

163
140
58
21
(168 )

213

173
140
76
28
(193 )

224

152
129
21
16
–1

210

304
279
84
48
–1

400

216
181
47
32
(181 )

295

215
170
73
19
(217)

260

55

1 As the minimum and maximum occur on different days for different risk types, it is not meaningful to calculate a portfolio diversification effect.

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

56

UBS Warburg revenue distribution

Frequency in number of days

30

25

20

15

10

  5

  0

–200

–170

–140

–110

–80

–50

–20

10

40

70

100

130

160

190

Revenue in CHF million, including commissions

Summary of 10-day 99% confidence value at risk for UBS Group

UBS Group VaR
CHF million

UBS Warburg
Corporate Center
Other 1
Diversification effect

UBS Group

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

223.6
59.8
4.3
(55.5)

232.2

259.9
79.2
5.4
(62.0)

282.5

1 The above table includes interest rate exposures in the banking books of the Private Label Banks.

below under “Asset and Liability Management”.
As the table on the previous page shows, however,
the overall impact of these additional risks is to a
significant degree offset by positions in the UBS
Warburg portfolio. This is shown by the measure
of  the  diversification  effect  which  arises  when
total  VaR  for  market  risk  is  calculated  at  the
Group level.

Consequential risks

In addition to credit and market risks which UBS
assumes as an integral part of its business activi-
ties, UBS also assumes a number of consequential
risks – often referred to as “operational risk” –
which arise as a consequence of its business ac-
tivities. These risks include:
– Operations or transactions processing risk
– Legal risk
– Compliance risk
– Liability risk
– Security risk.
UBS is addressing the measurement of its conse-
quential  risks  through  the  introduction  of  a
generic  operational  risk-modeling  framework.
This framework groups risks into predetermined

risk  categories  and  identifies  the  factors  behind
the risk exposure. Operational risk scenarios are
developed to stress the processes and procedures
underlying  the  exposure.  This  helps  to  measure
the risk of loss from the identified exposures in a
similar  manner  to  the  statistical  loss  measure-
ments of our credit and/or market risk exposures.
UBS is reviewing whether this framework, which
contains  varied  and  sophisticated  techniques,
provides the potential to assess more accurately
risk exposures to help ensure they are in accor-
dance with UBS’s risk appetite and risk-bearing
capacity.

The  primary  focus  of  UBS’s  operational  risk
monitoring during 1999 was on the need to man-
age  and  control  the  risks  associated  with  the
transfer of customer accounts in UBS Private and
Corporate  Clients  from  the  former  Swiss  Bank
Corporation mainframe operating system (RTB)
to the UBS system (Abacus) as well as the need to
ensure a smooth transition to the Year 2000. The
account migration from RTB to Abacus was com-
pleted by mid-year 1999, which was the quickest
integration following any major bank merger in
recent years.

Similarly, UBS’s Year 2000 transition ran very
smoothly. Following a period of two years during

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Analysis of Risks 

which  the  Year  2000  project  had  received  the
highest  management  priority  in  all  divisions  as
well as at the Group level, UBS year end process-
ing progressed with no material interruptions and
all the bank’s business critical systems operated
satisfactorily. The total cost of UBS’s Year 2000
project in 1999 was CHF 279 million. 

A further focus of UBS’s risk control process for
consequential  risk  is  the  reliability  of  the  data
which supports its risk reporting systems. As rec-

ommended in the 1998 risk review, a data integri-
ty review of the UBS Warburg credit risk control
systems was completed during 1999. This included
the establishment of a comprehensive data quality
monitoring process, a revision of the inter-system
reconciliation  procedures  and  continuing  regular,
independent tests of data quality. The review has re-
sulted in a high degree of confidence in risk control
data and concluded that no additional provisioning
was required specifically relating to the review.

57

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Asset and Liability 
Management

Asset and Liability
Management

UBS asset and liability

management processes

are designed to manage

all balance sheet related

risks on a coordinated

Group-wide basis. The

procedures and policies

cover Group liquidity,

Group funding and capi-

tal management, and the

management of non-

trading foreign exchange

UBS  recognizes  that  the  market  and  credit  risk
framework which is set out above cannot be fully
applied to its asset and liability management ac-
tivities  which  include  Group  liquidity,  Group
funding  and  capital  management  as  well  as  the
management  of  non-trading  foreign  exchange
risk  and  non-trading  interest  rate  risk.  Conse-
quently, specific processes and policies have been
established for managing these risks. UBS’s asset
and liability management function is undertaken
at the Corporate Center by the Group Treasury
department  which  reports  directly  to  the  CFO.
Group  Treasury  is  responsible  for  establishing
and effectively managing the processes in relation
to these risks in accordance with policies which
have been approved by the Board of Directors.

The  overriding  goals  of  all  processes  within
the asset and liability management activities are:
– Efficient management of the bank’s non trad-
ing  interest  rate  and  foreign  exchange  expo-
sures.

– Sustainable  and  cost-efficient  funding  of  the

and interest rate risk.

bank’s balance sheet.

– Optimal  liquidity  management  in  order  to

generate cash when required.

– Compliance with legal and regulatory require-

ments.

Interest rate management
Interest rate risk is inherent to most of UBS’s busi-
nesses. Interest rate risks arise from a variety of
factors,  including  differences  in  the  timing  be-
tween the contractual maturity or repricing of as-
sets, liabilities and derivative instruments. Net in-
terest income is affected by changes in market in-
terest rates, given that the repricing characteris-
tics of loans and other interest earning assets do
not  necessarily  match  those  of  deposits,  other
borrowings  and  capital.  In  the  case  of  floating
rate assets and liabilities, UBS is also exposed to
basis  risk,  which  is  the  difference  in  repricing
characteristics of two floating rate indices, such
as the savings rate and six months LIBOR. In ad-
dition, certain products have embedded options
that affect their pricing and principal.

UBS adopts a comprehensive Group-wide ap-
proach to managing interest rate risk, and allo-
cates the responsibility for managing this risk to
a limited number of business areas. Under this ap-
proach, interest rate risk is clearly segregated into
trading  and  non-trading  risk.  All  interest  rate
risks arising from non-trading business activities

are captured at the point of business origination
and  transferred  either  to  UBS  Warburg’s  Cash
and Collateral Trading book – “CCT” – or to the
Corporate Center’s Bank Book through a Group-
wide transfer pricing mechanism. The risk is then
managed  centrally  in  accordance  with  the  rele-
vant risk policy.

In the case of transactions with a fixed matu-
rity, the interest rate risk is transferred from the
relevant business area to CCT on a transaction by
transaction basis. This means that products with
fixed maturities immediately become part of the
trading book in UBS Warburg and the business
locks in an interest-rate-risk-free margin on such
products  thereby  relieving  them  of  any  residual
interest rate risk. As a result of this process, UBS
benefits fully from the netting potential between
its balance sheet and trading products.

In the case of client business, such as savings
accounts or current accounts, which have no con-
tractual maturity date or directly market-linked
customer rate the interest rate risk is transferred
from the business areas by pooled transactions to
the  Bank  Book.  Since  these  products  effectively
contain various embedded options in respect of
withdrawal/pre-payment  and  rate  setting,  they
cannot be hedged by single back-to-back transac-
tions.  Consequently,  Group  Treasury  manages
the inherent interest rate risk in these products in
the  Bank  Book  through  the  establishment  of
replicating  portfolios  of  revolving  fixed-rate
transactions  of  predefined  maturities  which  ap-
proximate  the  average  cash  flow  behaviour  of
these positions. Group Treasury then hedges the
overall risk in the Bank Book by means of inter-
nal  transactions  with  CCT.  As  a  result  of  this
process, all interest rate risks arising from client
business  are  transferred  either  directly  or  indi-
rectly via the Bank Book, to CCT.

In addition to the interest rate risk associated
with client business, a significant amount of in-
terest rate risk arises in relation to non-business
balance sheet items, such as in the refinancing of
the  bank’s  real  estate  portfolio,  equity  invest-
ments  in  associated  companies  and  the  invest-
ment of the bank’s own equity. The refinancing of
real estate and equity investments and the invest-
ment  of  equity  are  all  strategic  decisions  which
implicitly  create  non-trading  interest  rate  expo-
sures. The interest rate risks inherent in these bal-
ance sheet items are managed in the Bank Book
by representing them as replicating portfolios, on

58

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Asset and Liability 
Management 

the basis of decisions taken by the Group Execu-
tive Board as to the appropriate effective maturi-
ties. Here, too, the risk is hedged by means of in-
ternal transactions with CCT.

All  the  replicating  portfolios  which  are  con-
tained in the Bank Book are updated monthly by
replacing maturing tranches with new aggregate
tranches which reflect the changes in the balance
sheet over the period. By their nature, the stag-
gered tranches which constitute each replicating
portfolio reduce the volume that must be hedged
by  the  Bank  Book  at  each  monthly  rollover.
However,  due  to  the  extent  of  the  underlying
portfolio  volumes,  the  new  aggregate  tranches
are nevertheless of such a size that they cannot be
hedged  instantly.  The  Bank  Book  therefore  as-
sumes intramonth interest rate exposure until it
can  execute  all  the  necessary  offsetting  hedges
with CCT. The exposure of the Bank Book, which
thus tends to fluctuate between monthly rollovers
and the profits or losses arising out of the Bank
Book are reported on an accrual basis in the fi-
nancial statements and constitute an integral part
of the Group’s net interest income.

The  Board  of  Directors  has  approved  risk
management policies, risk limits and the control
framework for the entire interest rate risk man-
agement process including the establishment of a
value-at-risk limit for the interest rate exposure
of the Bank Book. Market Risk Control monitors
the risk in both CCT and in the Bank Book on a
daily basis as part of UBS’s overall market risk in
order to ensure the integrity of the interest rate

Interest rate sensitivity of the Bank Book

risk  management  process  and  its  compliance
within the defined risk limits.

UBS’s approach to managing the interest rate
risks inherent in the Bank Book complies with the
regulatory  framework  recently  introduced  by
Swiss Federal Banking Commission – the “FBC”.
In  the  course  of  the  year  2000,  it  will  become
mandatory  for  all  Swiss  banks  to  report  to  the
Swiss National Bank the interest rate sensitivity
of the Bank Book on a quarterly basis. Addition-
ally,  the  specific  composition  of  the  underlying
replicating portfolios used to manage individual
balance  sheet  items  must  also  be  disclosed  in
order  to  assist  the  regulators  to  identify  “out-
liers” in terms of their interest rate risk profiles.
The table below shows the interest rate sensi-
tivity of the Bank Book as at 31 December 1999
measured  in  terms  of  the  potential  impact  of  a
one  basis  point  (0.01%)  parallel  rise  in  interest
rates on the market value of each balance sheet
item.

The most significant component of the Bank
Book sensitivity stems from the investment of the
Group’s equity. At 31 December 1999, this was
invested in a portfolio of fixed-rate CHF deposits
with an average duration of 2.2 years and a sen-
sitivity  of  CHF  –8.1  million  per  basis  point,  in
line  with  the  strategic  investment  targets  set  by
the  Group  Executive  Board.  In  order  to  ensure
that  these  GEB  targets  are  met,  the  Group’s
equity is represented as a liability position by a
replication portfolio reflecting this target bench-
mark. The Group’s equity is thus automatically

CHF thousand
per basis point

CHF

USD

EUR

GBP

JPY

Others

Total

1 to 3
months

3 to 12
months

Within 1
month

(11 )

3

0

0

0

0

11

(33 )

(3 )

5

0

0

(8)

(20)

1 to 5
years

850

83

30

77

(1 )

0

Over 5
years

(610 )

1,207

210

815

(4 )

0

Total

279

1,250

240

858

(5)

0

1,039

1,618

2,622

39

(10 )

3

(39 )

0

0

(7)

of which replicated equity

CHF

19

19

437

7,054

610

8,139

Bank Book without replicated equity

Total

(27)

(39)

(444)

(6,015)

1,008

(5,517)

59

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Asset and Liability 
Management 

60

invested according to the GEB strategic targets so
as to offset the interest rate risk associated with
this equity replication portfolio. The interest rate
sensitivity of these investments indicates the ex-
tent  to  which  their  marked-to-market  value
would be affected by an upward move in interest
rates. This in turn is directly related to the invest-
ment  duration  chosen  by  the  GEB.  However,
when  measured  against  the  equity  replication
portfolio  itself,  the  residual  interest  rate  risk  is
negligible. Moreover, any reduction in this meas-
ure of the interest rate sensitivity relating to the
investment of the bank’s equity would inevitably
require investing at significantly shorter maturi-
ties, which would lead to a higher volatility of the
bank’s interest earnings.

In addition to the above standard sensitivity to
a one basis point rise in rates, UBS uses the fol-
lowing two measures to help to monitor the risk
inherent in the Bank Book:
– Net interest income at risk, which is defined
as the  exposure  of  the  net  interest  income
arising in the Bank Book to an adverse move-
ment  in  interest  rates  over  the  next  twelve
months. Given the fact that all client business
with fixed maturities is “match funded” with
UBS  Warburg,  these  transactions  are  not
affected by changes in interest rates. Therefore
only  net  interest  income  positions  resulting
out of replicating portfolios may be exposed
to  market  changes.  This  measure  estimates
the impact  of  different  changes  in  the  level
of interest  rates  using  shock  scenarios  as
well as gradual changes in interest rates over
a period of time. All of the scenarios are com-
pared  with  a  scenario  where  current  market
rates  are  held  constant  for  the  next  twelve
months. 

– The  economic  value  sensitivity,  which  is  de-
fined as the potential change in market value
of the Bank Book resulting from changes in in-
terest rates. This estimates the effect of an im-
mediate interest rate shock on the net position
in the Bank Book.

The  net  interest  income  at  risk  measure  on  the
Bank Book considers such variables as:
– Repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities.
– Rate barrier effects, such as caps and floors,

on assets and liabilities.

– Maturity effects of replicating portfolios.
– Behaviour of competitors.

Both measures are based on the Bank Book’s in-
terest rate position excluding the liability position
relating to the “equity replication portfolio”. The
methodology is designed to highlight the effects of
market  changes  in  interest  rates  on  existing  bal-
ance sheet positions; it ignores future changes in
the asset and liability mix and therefore it is not by
itself a measure of future net interest income. 

The  two  methodologies  provide  different
measures of the level of interest rate risk. The eco-
nomic value sensitivity measure provides a longer
term view, since this considers the present value
of all future cash flows generated from the exist-
ing  balance  sheet  positions.  The  net  interest  in-
come  at  risk  measure  provides  a  shorter  term
view, as it considers the repricing effect of all ma-
turing positions over the next twelve months. The
table below shows the change in risk under both
measures  between  the  end  of  1998  and  31  De-
cember 1999.

CHF million

31.12.99

31.12.98

Net interest income at risk
Economic value sensitivity

(355)
(555)

(265 )
(493 )

Among various scenarios that have been ana-
lyzed, the net interest income at risk figure shown
is  the  worst  case  and  relates  to  an  interest  rate
shock  (parallel  shift)  of  – 200  basis  points.  At 
31 December 1998, the difference to the constant
market rate scenario represents – 4.0% of 1998s
total  net  interest  income  and  – 5.6%  at  31  De-
cember 1999. In this extreme scenario the largest
part  of  the  decrease  would  occur  due  to  lower
margins  on  deposit  accounts  and  lower  returns
on the investment of the Group’s equity. 

The economic value sensitivity shows the effect
of a 100 basis point adverse interest rate shock,
implying that the bank had an exposure of CHF
– 493 million to rising rates at 31 December 1998
and CHF – 555 million at 31 December 1999.

The increase in the economic value sensitivity
in the course of 1999 was primarily due to the de-
creased  USD  and  GBP  sensitivities.  Since  these
exposures act as a counterweight to the dominant
CHF position, this resulted in an increased over-
all CHF exposure to rising rates.

Liquidity and funding management
UBS’s approach to liquidity management seeks to
ensure that the Group will always have sufficient
liquidity to meet its liabilities in a timely manner

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Asset and Liability 
Management 

while preserving the option of exploiting potential
strategic market opportunities. UBS’s centralized
approach  to  liquidity  management  encompasses
the entire network of branches and all subsidiaries
and  ensures  that  the  liquidity  position  is  more
than adequate to cover short term liabilities at all
times. UBS’s liquidity management is based on an
integrated framework that incorporates an assess-
ment of all known cash flows within the Group as
well  as  the  availability  of  high  grade  collateral
which could be used to secure additional funding
if  required.  The  liquidity  position  is  prudently
managed under different potential scenarios tak-
ing stress factors into due consideration (as sug-
gested by the BIS in its 1992 working paper).

The Board of Directors has approved a policy
which establishes the core principles for liquidity
management and has defined an appropriate con-
tingency plan. A first set of principles relates to
the establishment of liquidity risk limits (e.g. a net
overnight funding limit). The risk limits are set by
the Group Executive Board and monitored by the
Financial  Management  Committee  (“FMC”)
which  is  chaired  by  the  CFO  and  meets  on  a
monthly  basis  in  order  to  assess  the  bank’s  liq-
uidity exposure. A second set of principles con-
centrates  on  liquidity  crisis  management  for
which  detailed  contingency  plans  have  been
worked  out.  Regional  committees  constantly
monitor the markets in which we operate for po-
tential threats and regularly report their findings
to the FMC. In the event of a liquidity crisis re-
gional crisis task forces will perform all necessary
contingency actions under the command of sen-
ior management.

The  liquidity  management  process  is  under-
taken jointly by Group Treasury and CCT. Group
Treasury’s function is to establish a comprehen-
sive framework of directives and risk limits, while
CCT undertakes the operational cash and collat-
eral  management  transactions  within  the  estab-
lished parameters. UBS’s centralized cash and col-
lateral business management structure facilitates
a tight control on both the global cash position
and the stock of highly liquid and rediscountable
securities.

UBS’s  funding  strategy  seeks  to  ensure  that
business activities are funded at the lowest possi-
ble cost. With a broad diversification (by market,
product  and  currency)  of  funding  sources  UBS
maintains a well balanced portfolio of liabilities
which generate a stable flow of financing and ad-

ditionally  provides  protection  in  the  event  of
market disruptions. In this context UBS’s strong
domestic  retail  business  is  a  very  valuable,  cost
efficient and reliable source of funding. Through
the  establishment  of  short,  medium  and  long
term funding programs in Europe, in the US and
in Asia, UBS can raise funds globally in a very ef-
ficient  manner  and  minimize  its  dependence  on
any particular source of funding.

In  the  course  of  1999,  UBS’s  long  term  debt
portfolio has increased from CHF 50.8 billion as
of 31 December 1998 to CHF 56.3 billion as of 31
December 1999. During this period CHF 12.6 bil-
lion of new long term securities were issued while
at the same time CHF 7.1 billion have matured.
The maturity profile of the long term debt port-
folio  is  well  balanced  with  a  slight  bias  towards
shorter term maturities due to the maturity profile
of the bank’s assets. See the Notes to the Consoli-
dated Financial Statements for further information
concerning long term debt.

Currency management
UBS’s  corporate  currency  management  activities
are designed to protect the bank’s equity and the
expected future foreign currency cash flows from
adverse  currency  movements  against  the  Swiss
franc while preserving the option of exploiting any
market opportunities which may arise.

The  following  principles  guide  the  approach

to managing this risk:
– Equity must be invested in Swiss francs (trans-

lation risk management).

– Recognized  foreign  currency  exposures  must
be hedged proactively for the whole financial
year, which represents the cycle of financial ac-
counting (transaction risk management).

Translation (balance sheet) currency risk:
UBS aims to maintain the flexibility to allow for-
eign assets (a business unit or a non-financial asset)
to be divested at any time without adverse curren-
cy  impacts.  To  eliminate  these  undesired  foreign
exchange impacts on investments and divestments
of these assets, foreign currency assets are match
funded in the relevant currency. The match-fund-
ing principle is also applied to the financing of for-
eign investments, including foreign equity invest-
ments. This strategy, together with the repatriation
into Swiss francs of foreign currency dividends and
capital,  ensures  that  the  bank’s  equity  is  always
fully invested in Swiss francs.

61

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Asset and Liability 
Management 

62

The following table summarizes the VaR usage in the course of 1999:

Value at risk

CHF million

Minimum

Maximum

Average

1 July 1998 – 31 December 1998

1 January 1999 – 31 December 1999

37.2

1.4

133.7

77.8

77.5

37.1

Last value
of period

79.2

59.7

Transaction (revenues/costs) currency risk: 
UBS’s  transaction  currency  risk  management
process is designed to protect the budgeted annu-
al  foreign  currency  net  profits  against  adverse
currency movements during the relevant report-
ing  period.  Foreign  currency  net  profits  are  ac-
tively managed by Group Treasury on behalf of
the Group in accordance with the instructions of
the  Group  Executive  Board  and  subject  to  the
VaR limit which has been established for this risk.
The budgeted net profits are treated as long for-
ward foreign exchange exposures in the local re-
porting currency against the Swiss franc.

The  non-trading  foreign  currency  exposures
are  mainly  hedged  with  foreign  exchange  for-
ward  contracts,  although  foreign  exchange  op-
tions are also used particularly where there is a
measure  of  uncertainty  about  the  magnitude  of
the  underlying  income.  The  net  position  of  the
budgeted  net  profits  and  the  corresponding
hedges,  is  the  basis  for  the  VaR  calculation  on
Group Treasury’s non-trading currency position.
During  the  year,  actual  results  are  continuously
monitored.  Major  budget  deviations  must  be
communicated  to  Group  Treasury  for  potential
additional hedge transactions. The VaR analysis,
which is performed daily, is based on the same 10
day 99% confidence level as applies in UBS War-
burg.  The  validity  of  the  VaR  measurement  is
evaluated  by  conducting  backtests,  which  com-
pare the estimated VaR amount with the actual
shift  of  the  positions’  profit  or  loss  due  to  ex-
change rate movements.

The principal contributors to our non-trading
currency exposure are the operations in the UK
and the US. In general, the VaR position is high-
est at the beginning of the year when the budget-
ed net profits are transferred to Group Treasury
and is gradually reduced during the year depend-
ing on the exact hedge strategy being used. The
underlying policy is to keep the VaR of the non-
trading currency position as low as practicable.

Capital management
Capital  management  is  undertaken  at  UBS  by
Group Treasury as an integral part of the Group’s
asset  and  liability  management  function.  UBS’s
overall capital needs are continually reviewed to
ensure  that  our  capital  base  can  appropriately
support the anticipated needs of the divisions as
well as the regulatory capital requirements.

As the table on the next page shows, UBS is
very well capitalized. In the course of 1999, UBS’s
BIS Tier 1 Ratio increased from 9.3% at 31 De-
cember  1998  to  10.6  %  at  31  December  1999
primarily resulting from a significant increase in
retained earnings coupled with a reduction in risk
weighted assets. The decrease in risk weighted as-
sets is principally a result of reduced positive re-
placement values, off-balance sheet contingent li-
abilities and the reduction in the size of the inter-
national loan book. See Note 33c in the consoli-
dated  financial  statements  for  additional  infor-
mation on capital adequacy.

The ratios measure capital adequacy by com-
paring UBS’s eligible capital with the risk-weight-

The  following  table  shows  the  key  capital  figures  and  ratios  as  of  31  December  1999  and  31
December 1998:

CHF million

Balance sheet assets
Off-balance sheet and other positions
Market risk positions

Total risk-weighted assets

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

219,383
48,282
10,813

278,478

238,024
50,659
16,018

304,701

Review of Risk Management 
and Control
Asset and Liability 
Management 

The following table sets forth BIS risk-weighted assets as of 31 December 1999 and 31 December 1998:

CHF million

BIS Tier 1 capital
BIS Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital

in %

BIS Tier 1 ratio
BIS Tier 1 and Tier 2

Capital ratio

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

29,529
40,259

28,299
40,385

10.6

14.5

9.3

13.3

ed  asset  positions,  which  include  balance  sheet
assets, the net positions in securities not held in
the  trading  portfolio,  off-balance  sheet  transac-
tions converted into their credit equivalents and
market risk positions at a weighted amount to re-
flect their relative risk. 

UBS is committed to maintaining a strong cap-
italization and rating as a distinguishing charac-
teristic of UBS for both clients and shareholders.
On 12 March 1999, UBS introduced a treasury
stock  buy-back  program,  planned  to  run  for  a
period of two years. As of 31 December 1999, a
total of 7.3 million shares had been acquired, rep-
resenting about 3.4% of the total of outstanding
shares.  The  objective  of  the  buy-back  program
was to utilize the shares for acquisitions and the
employee  stock  ownership  program.  UBS  has
subsequently concluded that this program is too
limited for its purposes because of the continuous
increase  in  capital  which  is  projected  to  arise
from ongoing retained earnings and the selective
reduction in the risk profile as well as increasing
capital efficiency.

For this reason, UBS announced in December
1999  that  it  would  replace  the  treasury  stock
buy-back  program  by  a  Swiss-specific  program
targeted  at  Swiss  institutional  shareholders,
which  is  the  only  tax-efficient  means  that  has
been  identified  to  achieve  cancellation.  This  is
called a second trading line program. The second
trading line program was implemented in Janu-
ary  2000.  The  subsequent  cancellation  of  the

shares bought back through the second trading
line requires shareholders’ approval. In addition
to this initiative, UBS recognizes and will address
over  time  the  potential  for  introducing  a  more
active management of the composition of its cap-
ital. As of 23 February 2000, the program has re-
sulted  in  the  repurchase  of  about  2.8  million
shares, or about 1.3% of our market capitaliza-
tion. Through this program we plan to buy back
a  maximum  value  of  CHF  4  billion  which  will
then  be  earmarked  for  cancellation  on  share-
holders’  approval.  This  program  may  last  at  a
maximum until March 2001.

Performance measurement
UBS is in the process of implementing a compre-
hensive  value  based  management  approach  to
support management in key tasks like planning,
investments, capital allocation, performance ap-
praisal and compensation, strategic risk manage-
ment and communication to investors and ana-
lysts.

Divisional  business  plans,  planned  acquisi-
tions, investments and divestments are evaluated
and approved on the basis of their expected con-
tribution  to  shareholder  value.  Actual  perform-
ance  is  appraised  using  division  specific  hurdle
rates and according to the contribution to value
creation.  The  implicit  costs  of  risk  tolerance  as
well as the consumption of regulatory equity and
risk control efforts are therefore considered in an
appropriate way.

63

64

UBS Group
Financial Statements

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Table of Contents

Financial Statements
Table of Contents

Group Financial Review

Financial Statements

Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Statement of Changes in Equity
Statement of Cash Flows

Notes to the Financial Statements

1
2
3

Summary of significant accounting policies
Segment reporting by business division
Segment reporting by geographic location

Income statement

4
5
6
7

8
9
10

Net interest income
Net fee and commission income
Net trading income
Gains / (Losses) from disposal of 
associates and subsidiaries
Other income
Operating expenses
Earnings per share

Balance sheet: assets
11 Money market paper
12a Due from banks and loans to customers
12b Allowance and provision for credit losses
12c Non-performing loans
13

Cash collateral on securities 
borrowed and lent
Repurchase and reverse repurchase 
agreements
Trading portfolio
Financial investments
Investments in associates
Property and equipment
Intangible assets and goodwill
Other assets

14

15
16
17
18
19
20

66

68

72

72
73
74
75

76

76
81
83

84
84
84
85

85
85
86
87

88
88
88
89
90

90

91
91
92
92
93
93
93

Balance sheet: liabilities
Due to banks and customers
21
Long term debt
22
Other liabilities
23
Provisions, including restructuring provision
24
25
Income taxes
26 Minority interests

Off balance sheet and other information
27
28
29
30
31
32
33

Derivative instruments
Pledged assets
Fiduciary transactions
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Operating lease commitments
Litigation
Financial instruments risk position
a) Interest rate risk
b) Credit risk
c) Currency risk
d) Liquidity risk
e) Capital adequacy
Fair value of financial instruments
Retirement benefit plans and 
other employee benefits
Equity participation plans
Related parties
Post-balance sheet events
Significant subsidiaries and associates
Significant currency translation rates
Swiss banking law requirements

34
35

36
37
38
39
40
41

Report of the Group Auditors

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Table of Contents

93
93
94
98
98
99
100

101
101
104
104
104
106
106
107
107
109
111
112
113
114

116
119
120
120
121
123
124

125

67

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Group Financial Review

Group Financial Review

Overview

– Net profit was CHF 6,300 million in 1999, up

from CHF 3,030 million in 1998. 

– Both years contain several significant financial
events and thus direct comparisons are com-
plex. 

– For  1999,  return  on  equity  stood  at  21.2%
before goodwill amortization and 20.1% after
goodwill amortization, with comparable num-
bers  for  1998  of  11.4%  and  10.3%  respec-
tively.

– The  cost/income  ratio  was  68.0%  before
goodwill amortization and 69.1% after good-
will amortization in 1999, versus 77.0% and
78.4% in 1998, respectively.

– In 1999 basic earnings per share reached CHF
31.91 before goodwill amortization, and CHF
30.28  after  goodwill  amortization  against
CHF 15.92 and CHF 14.31 in 1998, respec-
tively.

– Since 31 December 1998, Group assets under
management  have  increased  10.9%  to  CHF
1,744 billion.

Significant financial events

1999 total operating income includes:
– CHF 1,490 million pre-tax gain relating to the
sale of our 25% stake in Swiss Life / Renten-
anstalt.

– An additional pre-tax restructuring charge of
CHF  300  million  in  respect  of  the  merger
between Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss
Bank  Corporation,  representing  about  four
percent  of  the  original  CHF  7  billion  provi-
sion.  The  majority  of  this  extra  provision  is
due  to  revised  estimates  of  the  cost  of  lease
breaks and property disposals.

– Additional  pre-tax  provisions  of  CHF  154
million  relating  to  the  settlement  reached
regarding dormant accounts and World War II
related  claims.  When  we  created  the  corre-
sponding  provisions  in  1998,  we  expected  a
certain  level  of  contributions  from  Swiss
industry. In the fourth quarter, it became clear
that this level of contributions was not forth-
coming as expected.

1999 impact on net profit:
– In  sum,  the  significant  financial  items  listed
above  represent  pre-tax  gains  of  CHF  1,840
million (CHF 1,488 million post-tax).

– The  acquisition  of  the  international  private
banking business of Bank of America has had no
material impact on Group or divisional results.
– The  Global  Asset  Management  and  Allegis
acquisitions were completed in the final days
of December 1999. Both are consolidated and
have no material impact on the 1999 income
statement.

– CHF  110  million  pre-tax  gain  from  the  dis-

Income statement 

posal of Julius Baer registered shares.

– CHF 200 million pre-tax gain from the inter-

national Global Trade Finance disposal.

– CHF  38  million  pre-tax  gain  from  the  Long

Total  operating  income  increased  28%  to  CHF
28,621  million,  while  total  operating  expenses
increased 12% to CHF 20,452 million. 

Term Capital Management rescue fund.

1999 total operating expenses include:
– The  booking  of  pre-paid  employer  pension
contributions  of  CHF  456  million.  This  re-
presents the recognition, in accordance with
International  Accounting  Standards,  of  the
difference  between  previously  recorded  and
actuarially  determined  pension  expenses.
This  pre-payment  has  been  recognized  in
1999 after the resolution of certain legal and
regulatory issues related to the utilization of
these  contributions  subsequent  to  the  inte-
gration  of  the  pre-merger  banks’  pension
plans.

Net interest income
Net  interest  income  before  credit  loss  expenses
decreased 4.6% compared to 1998, to 6,356 mil-
lion. Higher margins in the domestic loan portfo-
lio which resulted from more consistently applied
risk-adjusted pricing were more than offset by the
reduction of the international loan portfolio, the
impact of the sale of activities (BSI, Adler) which
contributed to the 1998 result, and lower returns
on invested equity.

Credit loss expense 
The  credit  loss  expense  for  1999  amounted  to
CHF 956 million. During 1998 a significant por-

68

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Group Financial Review

tion  of  credit  losses  was  charged  against  previ-
ously  established  provisions,  thus  reducing  the
credit  loss  expense  at  December  1998  to  CHF
951 million.

Domestically  we  clearly  benefited  from  our
efforts on the recovery portfolio and the improv-
ing macro-economic climate. Internationally, the
absence  of  a  major  emerging  market  crisis  and
recoveries  of  previously  provisioned  exposures
have impacted the results significantly and led to
a release of country provisions.

Net fee and commission income
At CHF 12,607 million in 1999, net fee and com-
mission  income  remained  stable  compared  with
CHF 12,626 million in 1998. Excluding the effect
of divestments no longer reflected in 1999 figures,
there was an increase of roughly one percent.

The increase in investment fund fees of CHF
137 million is attributable to higher volumes and
to  pricing  adjustments  from  the  integration  of 
the  two  pre-merger  product  platforms.  Strong
increases in custodian fees reflect higher custodi-
an assets and a new pricing model.

Brokerage  fees  are  higher  period-on-period
mainly due to strong volumes in the UK, US and
Asia.

Underwriting  and  corporate  finance  fees  are
up  8%  thanks  to  strong  results  in  mergers  and
acquisitions. 

Credit-related fees and commissions decreased
in line with reduced emerging market exposures
and  the  sale  of  the  international  Global  Trade
Finance operations.

Net trading income 
Net  trading  income  was  CHF  7,468  million  in
1999, up from CHF 1,750 million in 1998. Dur-
ing  1998,  net  trading  income  was  negatively
impacted  by  the  pre-tax  CHF  793  million  and
CHF 762 million write-downs on LTCM and pre-
merger  Global  Equities  Derivatives  positions
respectively, as well as mark-to-market losses in
emerging markets.

Net trading income comprises predominantly
the net trading result of UBS Warburg and certain
activities  related  to  Group  asset  and  liability
management  in  the  Corporate  Center.  The  UBS
Warburg trading result includes largely customer-
related activities (market making, derivatives and
foreign  exchange),  as  well  as  some  proprietary
trading.

During 1999, Group net trading income ben-
efited from very strong customer volumes in equi-
ty  products  globally.  Fixed  income  trading  rev-
enues were strong across all major products, led
by  swaps  and  options,  and  investment  grade
debt.  Income  from  foreign  exchange  and  bank-
notes  trading  was  down  period-on-period,  as  a
result of Group asset and liability management,
as well as lower volumes, and volatility in foreign
exchange markets.

Income from disposal of associates and
subsidiaries
Income  from  disposal  of  associates  and  sub-
sidiaries was CHF 1,821 million during full-year
1999. Major items driving this line include – as
mentioned  above  –  the  pre-tax  gains  of  CHF
1,490 million from the sale of our stake in Swiss
Life / Rentenanstalt and CHF 110 million from the
disposal of Julius Baer registered shares. In 1998,
disposal-related pre-tax gains of CHF 1,119 mil-
lion resulted mainly from the sale of BSI.

Other income
Other income increased by CHF 203 million to
CHF  1,325  million  in  1999.  Main  contributors
were the pre-tax CHF 200 million gain from the
disposal  of  international  Global  Trade  Finance
and  CHF  395  million  from  the  first-time  con-
solidation  of  Klinik  Hirslanden.  This  was  par-
tially  offset  by  less  income  from  investment  in
associates  as  a  result  of  divestments  and  lower
income  from  other  properties.  1998  was  nega-
tively impacted by the CHF 367 million portion
of the LTCM write-down.

Personnel expenses 
Personnel  expenses  amounted  to  CHF  12,577
million  in  1999.  In  1998,  this  amount  stood  at
CHF 9,816 million. 

At the end of 1997, UBS foresaw the proba-
bility  of  a  shortfall  in  profit  in  its  investment
banking  business  as  a  result  of  the  merger.  In
order to protect its investment banking franchise,
UBS  realized  it  would  probably  need  to  make
payments  to  personnel  in  excess  of  amounts
determined by normal compensation methodolo-
gies. An amount of approximately CHF 1 billion
was  recorded  as  part  of  the  merger-related
restructuring reserve for this purpose. 

By the end of 1998, this shortfall had materi-
alized,  and  CHF  1,007  million  of  accrued  pay-

69

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Group Financial Review

70

ments  to  personnel  were  charged  against  the
restructuring reserve as planned. The shortfall in
profits  noted  above  was  aggravated  by  losses
associated  with  LTCM  and  the  Global  Equity
Derivatives portfolio. Adjusting the prior year for
the  CHF  1,007  million,  personnel  expenses  in
1999 increased by 16%. This is chiefly attributa-
ble to higher performance-related compensation
based on the good investment banking result in
1999.

As discussed above, UBS recognized CHF 456
million  as  an  asset  and  a  credit  in  personnel
expense.

General and administrative expenses 
General  and  administrative  expenses  decreased
9%, or CHF 599 million, to CHF 6,018 million.
Excluding the impact of the provision for the set-
tlement related to the role of Swiss banks during
and  after  World  War  II,  representing  CHF  154
million in 1999 and CHF 842 million in 1998, as
well as the additional restructuring provision of
CHF 300 million in 1999 and the CHF 130 mil-
lion impact from the first-time full consolidation
of Klinik Hirslanden, general and administrative
expenses fell 6%, reflecting stringent cost reduc-
tion programs throughout the Group.

Depreciation and amortization 
Depreciation  and  amortization  increased  two
percent  to  CHF  1,857  million.  Excluding  the
impact  of  Klinik  Hirslanden,  depreciation  and
amortization remained flat.

Tax expense
UBS Group incurred a tax expense of CHF 1,815
million. The effective tax rate of 22.2% is lower
than  in  1998  principally  because  some  income
was sheltered by tax losses carried forward.

Balance sheet

Total balance sheet
Total assets increased four percent to CHF 982
billion.  Excluding  currency-related  effects,  total
assets declined four percent. Risk-weighted assets
declined 8.6% over the year to CHF 278 billion
reflecting  mainly  the  reduction  of  the  interna-
tional credit portfolio and the decrease in positive
replacement values.

Loan book
The reduction in our customers’ loan exposures
from  CHF  261  billion  to  CHF  247  billion  is
almost entirely attributable to UBS Warburg. The
Private  and  Corporate  Clients  Division’s  gross
loans  outstanding  remained  stable  at  CHF  165
billion as new business was offset by a transfer of
exposure  to  UBS  Private  Banking  during  the
process of integration as well as write-offs.

The improved economic environment both in
Switzerland and in Asia caused the quality of our
loan book to further improve. With the continued
positive economic outlook in mind, management
believes that current provisioning levels adequate-
ly cover the risks inherent in the portfolio.

Treasury shares
On 12 March 1999, UBS announced its intention
to invest unallocated capital in its own stock. At 
31  December  1998,  UBS  held  4,150,150  shares, 
or 2% of outstanding shares, in treasury stocks. At
31  December  1999,  UBS  held  7,830,110  shares, 
or 3.6% of its own shares in treasury stocks. This
amount  includes  526,541  shares  that  are  at  the
disposal of our Board of Directors.

On 14 December 1999 UBS announced a stra-
tegic change to its share buy-back program and the
opening of a second trading line. This trading line
has  been  open  since  17  January  2000.  As  of 
23  February  2000,  the  program  has  resulted  in 
the  repurchase  of  about  2.8  million  shares,  or
about 1.3% of our market capitalization.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

71

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Financial Statements

Financial Statements

UBS Group Income Statement

CHF million, except per share data
For the year ended

Operating income
Interest income
Interest expense

Net interest income
Credit loss expense

Net interest income after credit loss expense

Net fee and commission income
Net trading income
Net gains from disposal of associates and subsidiaries
Other income

Total operating income

Operating expenses
Personnel
General and administrative
Depreciation and amortization

Total operating expenses

Operating profit before tax and minority interests

Tax expense

Net profit before minority interests

Minority interests

Net profit

Basic earnings per share (CHF)
Basic earnings per share (CHF) before goodwill 1
Diluted earnings per share (CHF)
Diluted earnings per share (CHF) before goodwill 1

Note

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change

%

4
4

12b

5
6
7
8

9
9
9

25

26

10
10
10
10

18,323
(11,967)

22,835
(16,173 )

6,356
(956)

5,400

12,607
7,468
1,821
1,325

28,621

12,577
6,018
1,857

20,452

8,169

1,815

6,354

(54)

6,300

30.28
31.91
30.12
31.75

6,662
(951 )

5,711

12,626
1,750
1,119
1,122

22,328

9,816
6,617
1,825

18,258

4,070

1,045

3,025

5

3,030

14.31
15.92
14.23
15.84

(4,512 )
4,206

(306 )
(5 )

(311 )

(19 )
5,718
702
203

6,293

2,761
(599 )
32

2,194

4,099

770

3,329

(59 )

3,270

15.97
15.99
15.89
15.91

(20)
(26)

(5)
1

(5)

0
327
63
18

28

28
(9)
2

12

101

74

110

–

108

112
100
112
100

1 The amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangible assets are excluded from this calculation.

72

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Financial Statements

UBS Group Balance Sheet

CHF million

Note

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change

%

Assets
Cash and balances with central banks
Money market paper
Due from banks
Cash collateral on securities borrowed
Reverse repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio assets
Positive replacement values
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses
Financial investments
Accrued income and prepaid expenses
Investments in associates
Property and equipment
Intangible assets and goodwill
Other assets

Total assets

Total subordinated assets

Liabilities
Money market paper issued
Due to banks
Cash collateral on securities lent
Repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio liabilities
Negative replacement values
Due to customers
Accrued expenses and deferred income
Long term debt
Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Minority interests

Shareholders’ equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Foreign currency translation
Retained earnings
Treasury shares

Total shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities, minority interests 
and shareholders’ equity

Total subordinated liabilities

11
12
13
14
15
27
12
16

17
18
19
20

21
13
14
15
27
21

22
23, 24, 25

5,073
69,717
29,907
113,162
144,796
217,001
130,500
234,858
7,039
5,167
1,102
8,701
3,543
11,007

3,267
18,390
68,495
91,695
141,285
162,588
169,936
247,926
6,914
6,627
2,805
9,886
2,210
12,092

1,806
51,327
(38,588 )
21,467
3,511
54,413
(39,436 )
(13,068 )
125
(1,460 )
(1,703 )
(1,185 )
1,333
(1,085 )

981,573

944,116

37,457

600

496

104

64,655
76,365
12,832
209,236
54,586
161,922
279,960
12,040
56,332
18,376

51,527
85,716
19,171
137,617
47,033
205,080
274,850
11,232
50,783
27,722

13,128
(9,351 )
(6,339 )
71,619
7,553
(43,158 )
5,110
808
5,549
(9,346 )

946,304

910,731

35,573

26

434

990

(556 )

4,309
13,929
(442)
20,501
(3,462)

34,835

4,300
13,740
(456 )
16,293
(1,482 )

32,395

9
189
14
4,208
(1,980 )

2,440

981,573

944,116

14,801

13,652

37,457

1,149

55
279
(56)
23
2
33
(23)
(5)
2
(22)
(61)
(12)
60
(9)

4

21

25
(11)
(33)
52
16
(21)
2
7
11
(34)

4

(56)

0
1
(3)
26
134

8

4

8

73

UBS Group statement of Changes in Equity

CHF million
For the year ended

Issued and paid up share capital
Balance at the beginning of the year
Issue of share capital

Balance at the end of the year 1

Share premium
Balance at the beginning of the year
Premium on shares issued, warrants exercised
Premium on disposal of Treasury shares

Balance at the end of the year

Foreign currency translation
Balance at the beginning of the year
Movements during the year

Balance at the end of the year

Retained earnings
Balance at the beginning of the year
Net profit for the year
Dividends paid

Balance at the end of the year

Treasury shares, at cost
Balance at the beginning of the year
Acquisitions
Disposals

Balance at the end of the year 2

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

4,300
9

4,309

13,740
45
144

13,929

(456)
14

(442)

16,293
6,300
(2,092)

20,501

(1,482)
(3,595)
1,615

(3,462)

4,296
4

4,300

13,260
111
369

13,740

(111)
(345)

(456)

15,464
3,030
(2,201)

16,293

(1,982)
(2,796)
3,296

(1,482)

Total shareholders’ equity

34,835

32,395

1 Comprising 215,446,581 ordinary shares at 31 December 1999 and 214,976,306 ordinary shares at 31 December 1998, at CHF 20 each, fully
paid.    2 Comprising 7,830,110 ordinary shares at 31 December 1999 and 4,150,150 shares at 31 December 1998.

In addition to Treasury shares, a maximum of 528,954 unissued shares (conditional capital) (999,229
at 31 December 1998) can be issued without the approval of the shareholders. This amount consists
of unissued and reserved shares for the former Swiss Bank Corporation employee share ownership
plan and optional dividend warrants. The optional dividend warrants were granted in lieu of a cash
dividend by the former Swiss Bank Corporation in February 1996 (at the option of the shareholder).

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Financial Statements

74

UBS Group statement of Cash Flows

CHF million
For the year ended

Cash flow from / (used in) operating activities
Net profit
Adjustments to reconcile to cash flow from / (used in) operating activities

Non cash items included in net profit / (loss) and other adjustments:

Depreciation and amortization
Provision for credit losses
Income from associates
Deferred tax expense / (benefit)
Net gain from investing activities

Net increase / (decrease) in operating assets:

Net due from / to banks
Reverse repurchase agreements, cash collateral on securities borrowed
Trading portfolio including net replacement values
Loans due to / from customers
Accrued income, prepaid expenses and other assets

Net increase / (decrease) in operating liabilities:

Repurchase agreements, cash collateral on securities lent
Accrued expenses and other liabilities

Income taxes paid

Net cash flow from / (used in) operating activities

Cash flow from / (used in) investing activities
Investments in subsidiaries and associates
Disposal of subsidiaries and associates
Purchase of property and equipment
Disposal of property and equipment
Net (investment) / divestment in financial investments

Net cash flow from / (used in) investing activities

Cash flow from / (used in) financing activities
Money market paper issued
Net movements in Treasury shares
Capital issuance
Dividends paid
Issuance of long term debt
Repayment of long term debt
Repayment of minority interests

Net cash flow from / (used in) financing activities
Effects of exchange rate differences

Net increase / (decrease) in cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

Cash and cash equivalents comprise:
Cash and balances with central banks
Money market paper
Bank deposits maturing in less than 3 months

Total

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Financial Statements

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

6,300

3,030

1,857
956
(211)
479
(2,282)

(5,298)
(24,978)
(50,582)
17,222
2,545

65,280
(7,366)
(1,063)

2,859

(1,720)
3,782
(2,820)
1,880
356

1,478

13,128
(1,836)
54
(2,092)
12,661
(7,112)
(689)

14,114
147

18,598
83,679

102,277

5,073
69,717
27,487

102,277

1,825
951
(377)
491
(1,803)

(65,172)
66,031
41,488
(5,626)
2,107

(49,145)
1,686
(733)

(5,247)

(1,563)
1,858
(1,813)
1,134
6,134

5,750

(4,073)
869
115
(2,201)
5,566
(9,068)
0

(8,792)
(386)

(8,675)
92,354

83,679

3,267
18,390
62,022

83,679

75

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

76

Notes to the 
Financial Statements

Note 1 Summary of significant accounting policies

a) Basis of accounting
UBS AG and subsidiaries (the “Group”) provides
a broad range of financial services such as advi-
sory,  underwriting,  financing,  market  making,
asset management, brokerage, and retail banking
on  a  global  level.  The  Group  was  formed  on 
29 June 1998 when Swiss Bank Corporation and
Union Bank of Switzerland merged. The merger
was accounted for using the pooling of interests
method  of  accounting.  Due  to  the  merger,  the
Group harmonized its accounting policies which
have been retrospectively applied for the presen-
tation of comparative information.

The consolidated financial statements are stat-
ed in Swiss francs, the currency of the country in
which  UBS  AG  is  incorporated.  They  are  pre-
pared in accordance with International Account-
ing  Standards.  In  preparing  the  consolidated
financial statements, management is required to
make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the
amounts  reported.  Actual  results  could  differ
from such estimates and the differences may be
material to the consolidated financial statements.

b) Consolidation
The  consolidated  financial  statements  comprise
those of the parent company (UBS AG), its sub-
sidiaries and its special purpose entities, present-
ed  as  a  single  economic  entity.  Subsidiaries  and
special purpose entities which are directly or indi-
rectly controlled by the Group are consolidated.
Subsidiaries  acquired  are  consolidated  from  the
date  control  passes.  Companies  which  are  ac-
quired and held with a view to their subsequent
disposal are recorded as financial investments.

The effects of intra-group transactions are elim-
inated in preparing the Group financial statements.
Equity and net income attributable to minori-
ty interests are shown separately in the balance
sheet and income statement respectively.

c) Offsetting
Assets  and  liabilities  are  offset  only  when  the
Group has a legal right to offset amounts with the
same counterparty and transactions are expected
to be settled on a net basis.

d) Trade date/settlement date accounting
When the Group becomes party to a contract in
its trading activities it recognizes from that date

(“trade date”) any unrealized profits and losses
arising from revaluing that contract to fair value.
These unrealized profits and losses are recognized
in the income statement.

On  a  date  subsequent  to  the  trade  date,  the
terms  of  spot  and  forward  trading  transactions
are  fulfilled  (“settlement  date”)  and  a  resulting
financial asset or liability is recognized on the bal-
ance sheet at the fair value of the consideration
given or received.

e) Foreign currency translation
Foreign currency transactions are recorded at the
rate of exchange on the date of the transaction.
At  the  balance  sheet  date,  monetary  assets  and
liabilities  denominated  in  foreign  currencies  are
reported  using 
the  closing  exchange  rate.
Exchange differences arising on the settlement of
transactions at rates different from those at the
date  of  the  transaction,  and  unrealized  foreign
exchange differences on unsettled foreign curren-
cy monetary assets and liabilities, are recognized
in the income statement.

Assets  and  liabilities  of  foreign  entities  are
translated  at  the  exchange  rates  at  the  balance
sheet  date,  while  income  statement  items  and
cash flows are translated at average rates over the
year. Differences resulting from the use of these
different exchange rates are recognized directly in
foreign currency translation within shareholders’
equity.

f) Business and geographical segments
The  Group  is  organized  on  a  worldwide  basis
into five major operating divisions and Corporate
Center. These divisions are the basis upon which
the Group reports its primary segment informa-
tion.

Segment  revenue,  segment  expenses  and  seg-
ment  performance  include  transfers  between
business segments and between geographical seg-
ments. Such transfers are accounted for at com-
petitive prices charged to unaffiliated customers
for similar services.

g) Securities borrowing and lending
Securities  borrowed  and  lent  that  are  collater-
alized by cash are included in the balance sheet at
amounts  equal  to  the  collateral  advanced  or
received.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Income arising from the securities lending and
borrowing  business  is  recognized  in  the  income
statement on an accrual basis.

h) Repurchase and reverse repurchase
transactions
The  Group  enters  into  purchases  of  securities
under agreements to resell and sales of securities
under agreements to repurchase substantially iden-
tical  securities.  Securities  which  have  been  sold
subject  to  repurchase  agreements  continue  to  be
recognized in the balance sheet and are measured
in accordance with the accounting policy for trad-
ing balances or financial assets as appropriate. The
proceeds from sale of these securities are treated as
liabilities and included in repurchase agreements.
Securities  purchased  subject  to  commitments
to resell at a future date are treated as loans col-
lateralized  by  the  security  and  are  included  in
reverse repurchase agreements.

Interest  earned  on  reverse  repurchase  agree-
ments and interest incurred on repurchase agree-
ments is recognized as interest income and inter-
est  expense  respectively  over  the  life  of  each
agreement.

i) Trading portfolio
The trading portfolio consists of debt and equity
securities  as  well  as  of  precious  metals  held  to
meet the financial needs of our customers and to
take  advantage  of  market  opportunities.  The
trading  portfolio  is  carried  at  fair  value.  Short
positions  in  securities  are  reported  as  trading
portfolio liabilities. Realized and unrealized gains
and  losses,  net  of  related  transaction  expenses,
are recognized as net trading income. Net trading
income  also  includes  interest  and  dividend
income on trading assets as well as the funding
costs for holding these positions.

j) Loans and allowance for credit losses
Loans  are  initially  recorded  at  cost.  For  loans
originated by the Group, the cost is the amount
lent to the borrower. For loans acquired from a
third party the cost is the fair value at the time of
acquisition.

Interest income on an unimpaired loan is rec-
ognized on an accrual basis. Interest includes the
amount of amortization of any discount or pre-
mium between the cost of a loan and its amount
at maturity and the amortization of any loan fees
and costs.

The  allowance  for  credit  losses  provides  for
risks  of  losses  inherent  in  the  credit  extension
process, including loans and lending-related com-
mitments.  Such  commitments  include  letters  of
credit,  guarantees  and  commitments  to  extend
credit.  Counterparties  are  individually  rated 
and  periodically  reviewed  and  analyzed.  The
allowance is adjusted for impairments identified
on a loan-by-loan basis.

Impairments in loans are recognized when it
becomes probable that the Bank will not be able
to collect all amounts due according to the con-
tractual terms of the loans. The carrying amounts
of the loans are reduced to their estimated realiz-
able  value  through  a  specific  allowance.  The
impairment  is  recognized  as  an  expense  for  the
period. Loans are stated at their principal amount
net of any allowance for credit losses.

This management process has resulted in the
following components of the overall allowance:
Counterparty-specific: Individual credit expo-
sures  are  evaluated  based  upon  the  borrower’s
character,  overall  financial  condition,  resources
and  payment  record;  the  prospects  for  support
from any financially responsible guarantors; and,
if appropriate, the realizable value of any collat-
eral. Impairment is measured and allowances are
established  based  on  discounted  expected  cash
flows.

Country-specific:  Probable  losses  resulting
from exposures in countries experiencing politi-
cal and transfer risk, countrywide economic dis-
tress,  or  problems  regarding  the  legal  enforce-
ability  of  contracts  are  assessed  using  country
specific  scenarios  and  taking  into  consideration
the nature of the individual exposures and their
importance  for  the  economy.  Specific  country
allowances exclude exposures addressed in coun-
terparty-specific allowances.

Specific  reserve  pools:  Specific  risk  reserve
pools were established in 1996 to absorb proba-
ble losses not specifically identified at that time,
but  which  experience  indicated  were  present  in
the  portfolio.  These  pools  subsequently  have
been applied to specific loans based on the analy-
sis  of  individual  credit  exposures.  The  Group
does not believe there is a current need for such
allowances.

A  loan  is  classified  as  non-performing  when
the  contractual  payments  of  principal  and/or
interest are in arrears for 90 days or more. After
the  90  day  period  the  recognition  of  interest

77

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

income ceases and a charge is recognized for the
unpaid and accrued interest receivable.

A write-off is made when all or part of a loan
is deemed uncollectible or in the case of debt for-
giveness.  Write-offs  are  charged  against  previ-
ously established allowances and reduce the prin-
cipal amount of a loan.

k) Financial investments
Financial investments are debt and equity securi-
ties held for the accretion of wealth through dis-
tributions, such as interest and dividends, and for
capital  appreciation.  Financial  investments  also
include real estate held for sale.

Debt securities held to maturity are carried at
amortized cost. If necessary, the carrying amount
is reduced to its estimated realizable value. Interest
income on debt securities, including amortization
of  premiums  and  discounts,  is  recognized  on  an
accrual basis and reported as net interest income.
Financial investments held for sale are carried
at the lower of cost or market value. Reductions
to market value and reversals of such reductions
as well as gains and losses on disposal are includ-
ed in other income. Interest earned and dividends
received are included in net interest income.

Private equity investments are carried at cost
less  write-downs  for  impairments  in  value.
Reductions of the carrying amount and reversals
of such reductions as well as gains and losses on
disposal are included in other income.

l) Investments in associates
Investments in associates in which the Group has
a  significant  influence  are  accounted  for  by  the
equity method. Investments in which the Group
has  a  significant  influence,  but  which  are  ac-
quired and held with a view to their subsequent
disposal are included in financial investments (see
private equity above).

Investments  in  companies  where  the  parent
company does not hold a significant influence are
recorded  at  cost  less  value  adjustments  for  less
than temporary declines in value.

m) Property and equipment
Property and equipment includes land, buildings,
furnishings,  fixtures,  leasehold  improvements,
computer, telecommunications and other equip-
ment. Property and equipment is carried at cost
less accumulated depreciation and is periodically
reviewed for impairment.

Property  and  equipment  is  depreciated  on  a
straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives
as follows:

Buildings 

Not exceeding 50 years

Furnishings and fixtures 

Not exceeding 10 years

Leasehold improvements

Not exceeding 10 years

Equipment

Not exceeding  5 years

n) Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an
acquisition  over  the  fair  value  of  the  Group’s
share of the net assets of the acquired subsidiary
or associate at the date of acquisition. Goodwill
and intangibles resulting from the acquisition of
client  franchises  are  recognized  as  an  asset  and
are  amortized  using  the  straight-line  basis  over
their estimated useful economic life, not exceed-
ing 20 years. At each balance sheet date, goodwill
is reviewed for indications of impairment. If such
indications exist an analysis is performed includ-
ing an assessment of future cash flows to deter-
mine if a write-down is necessary. 

Goodwill  and  fair  value  adjustments  arising
on  the  acquisition  of  foreign  subsidiaries  are
treated as local currency balances and are trans-
lated into Swiss francs at the closing rate at sub-
sequent balance sheet dates.

o) Income taxes
Income tax payable on profits, based on the appli-
cable tax laws in each jurisdiction, is recognized
as an expense in the period in which profits arise.
The tax effects on income tax losses available for
carry-forward are recognized as an asset when it
is probable that future taxable profit will be avail-
able against which those losses can be utilized.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for tem-
porary differences between the carrying amounts
of assets and liabilities in the Group balance sheet
and their amounts as measured for tax purposes,
which  will  result  in  taxable  amounts  in  future
periods.  Deferred  tax  assets  are  recognized  for
temporary  differences  which  will  result 
in
deductible amounts in future periods, but only to
the  extent  it  is  probable  that  sufficient  taxable
profits will be available against which these dif-
ferences can be utilized.

Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  meas-
ured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to
the period in which the asset will be realized or
the liability will be settled.

78

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Current and deferred tax assets and liabilities
are  offset  when  they  arise  from  the  same  tax
reporting  group  and  relate  to  the  same  tax
authority and when the legal right to offset exists.
Current and deferred taxes are recognized as
tax income or expense except for deferred taxes
recognized  or  disposed  of  on  the  acquisition  or
disposal of a subsidiary.

p) Own shares, own bonds and 
derivatives on own shares
In  the  normal  course  of  its  trading  and  market
making activities, the Group buys and sells own
shares,  own  bonds  and  derivatives  on  own
shares. These instruments are held in the trading
portfolio  similar  to  other  trading  instruments,
and are carried at fair value. Changes in fair value
and  dividends  received  on  UBS  AG  shares  and
interest on own bonds in the trading portfolio are
recognized as net trading income.

The Group also holds its own shares for non-
trading purposes for instance employee compen-
sation  schemes  and  other  strategic  purposes.
These shares are recorded within treasury shares
and are deducted from shareholders’ equity. The
difference  between  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of
treasury shares and their cost basis is recognized
in share premium. Dividends relating to treasury
shares are not recognized.

q) Retirement benefits
The Group sponsors a number of retirement ben-
efit  plans  for  its  employees  worldwide.  These
plans  include  both  defined  benefit  and  defined
contribution plans and various other retirement
benefits such as post-employment medical bene-
fit. As of 1 January 1999, the Group adopted IAS
19 (revised 1998) (“IAS 19”) to account for such
plans.  Under  IAS  19,  Group  contributions  to
defined  contribution  plans  are  expensed  when
employees have rendered services in exchange for
such contributions, generally in the year of con-
tribution.

In accordance with IAS 19, the Group uses the
projected  unit  credit  actuarial  method  to  deter-
mine the present value of its defined benefit obli-
gations and the related current service cost and,
where applicable, past service cost.

The principal actuarial assumptions made by

the actuary are set out in note 35.

The Group recognizes a portion of its actuar-
ial gains and losses as income or expenses if the

net cumulative unrecognized actuarial gains and
losses at the end of the previous reporting period
exceeded the greater of:
a) 10%  of  present  value  of  the  defined  benefit
obligation at that date (before deducting plan
assets); and

b) 10% of the fair value of any plan assets at that

date.
The  unrecognized  actuarial  gains  and  losses
exceeding the greater of the two values are rec-
ognized in the income statement over the expect-
ed  average  remaining  working  lives  of  the
employees participating in the plans.

r) Derivative instruments
Derivative instruments are carried at fair value.
Fair  values  are  obtained  from  quoted  market
prices, discounted cash flow models and option
pricing models as appropriate. The fair values of
derivative instruments are shown in the balance
sheet as positive and negative replacement values.
Realized and unrealized gains and losses are rec-
ognized in net trading income. Valuation adjust-
ments to cover credit and market liquidity risks
have been made.

Transactions in derivative instruments entered
into for hedging of non-trading positions are rec-
ognized  in  the  income  statement  on  the  same
basis as to the underlying item being hedged.

s) Comparability
Certain amounts have been reclassified from pre-
vious years to conform to the 1999 presentation. 
The prior year financial statements reflect the
requirements  of  the  following  revised  or  new
International  Accounting  Standards,  which  the
Group implemented in 1999:
IAS 1
IAS 14 Segment Reporting
IAS 17 Accounting for Leases
IAS 19 Employee Benefits
IAS 36 Impairment of Assets.

Presentation of Financial Statements

The  implementation  of  the  above  standards

had no material impact for the Group.

t) Recent accounting standards 
not yet adopted
IAS 37, Provisions, contingent liabilities and
contingent assets
In July 1998, the IASC issued IAS 37, Provisions,
Contingent  Liabilities  and  Contingent  Assets,
which is required to be adopted for the Group’s

79

financial  statements  as  of  1  January  2000.  The
Standard  provides  accounting  and  disclosure
requirements  for  contingent  liabilities  and  con-
tingent  assets.  IAS  37  also  provides  recognition
and  measurement  requirements  for  provisions.
The  Group  is  currently  assessing  the  impact  of
adoption on its financial statements.

IAS 38, Intangible assets
In July 1998, the IASC issued IAS 38, Intangible
Assets,  which  is  required  to  be  adopted  for  the
Group’s  financial  statements  as  of  1  January
2000.  The  Standard  requires  the  capitalization
and  amortization  of  intangible  assets,  if  it  is
probable  that  the  future  economic  benefits  that
are  attributable  to  the  assets  will  flow  to  the
enterprise and the cost of the asset can be meas-
ured  reliably.  The  amortization  period  for  rec-
ognized  intangible  assets  should  not  exceed  20
years.  If  adopted  in  1999  this  standard  would
have increased operating profit by approximate-
ly CHF 300 million.

IAS 39, Recognition and measurement 
of financial instruments
In  December  1998,  the  IASC  issued  IAS  39,
Recognition  and  Measurement  of  Financial
Instruments,  which  is  required  to  be  adopted 
for the Group’s financial statements as of 1 Janu-
ary  2001  on  a  prospective  basis.  The  Standard
provides comprehensive guidance on accounting
for  financial  instruments.  Financial  instruments
include conventional financial assets and liabili-
ties and derivatives. IAS 39 requires that all finan-
cial instruments should be recognized on the bal-
ance sheet. Most financial instruments should be
carried at fair value. IAS 39 also establishes hedge
accounting criteria and guidelines. While the spe-
cific impact on earnings and financial position of
IAS  39  has  not  been  determined,  the  activities

that  will  be  most  affected  by  the  new  Standard
have been identified. Specifically, the use of deriv-
atives  to  hedge  loans,  deposits,  and  issuance  of
debt, primarily hedge of interest rate risk, will be
affected  by  IAS  39.  Management  is  currently
evaluating  the  impact  of  IAS  39.  The  actual
assessment of the impact of IAS 39 on the Group’s
earnings and financial position will be based on
the  1  January  2001  financial  position,  among
other things, in accordance with the Standard.

IAS 10 (revised), Events after the balance sheet
date
In May 1999, the IASC issued IAS 10 (revised),
Events  After  the  Balance  Sheet  Date,  which  is
required to be adopted for the Group’s financial
statements as of 1 January 2000. IAS 10 (revised)
establishes requirements for the recognition and
disclosure of events after the balance sheet date. 

Interpretation SIC 16, Share capital – reacquired
own equity instruments (Treasury shares)
In May 1999, the IASC issued Interpretation SIC
16,  Share  Capital  –  Reacquired  Own  Equity
Instruments (Treasury Shares), which is required
to  be  adopted  for  the  Group’s  financial  state-
ments as of 1 January 2000. The Interpretation
provides guidance for the recognition, presenta-
tion,  and  disclosure  of  Treasury  shares.  SIC  16
applies  to  own  shares  and  derivatives  on  own
shares held for trading and non-trading purpos-
es. SIC 16 requires own shares and derivatives on
own  shares  to  be  presented  as  Treasury  shares
and  deducted  from  Shareholders’  equity.  Gains
and losses relating to the sale of own shares are
not recognized in the income statement but rather
as a change in Shareholders’ equity. The specific
impact on the Group’s financial statements of SIC
16  will  be  determined  and  based  on  levels  of
activity upon adoption.

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

80

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 2 Segment reporting by business division

To enable a more meaningful analysis of UBS’s results, these business group results have been pre-
sented on a management reporting basis. Consequently, internal charges and transfer pricing adjust-
ments have been reflected in the performance of each business. The basis of the reporting reflects the
management  of  the  business  within  UBS  Group.  Total  revenue  includes  income,  which  is  directly
attributable to a segment whether from sales to external customers or from transactions with other
segments. Revenue sharing agreements are used to allocate external customer revenues to a segment
on a reasonable basis. Transactions between business segments are conducted at arms length.

For the year ended 31 December 1999

UBS
Private

UBS
Private &

UBS
Asset 
UBS Corporate Manage-
ment

Clients

Banking Warburg

CHF million

Revenues
Credit loss expense 1

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation
Goodwill amortization 3

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax
Tax expense

Net profit before minority interests
Minority interests

Net profit

6,011
(24 )

5,987

1,694
1,467
138
36

3,335

2,652

12,909
(330 )

12,579

6,861
2,448
652
134

10,095

2,484

7,193
(1,050 )

6,143

3,363
1,061
555
2

4,981

1,162

1,096
0

1,096

444
177
29
113

763

333

UBS Corporate
Center2

Capital

315
0

315

105
47
2
5

159

156

2,053
448

2,501

110
818
141
50

1,119

1,382

UBS
Group

29,577
(956)

28,621

12,577
6,018
1,517
340

20,452

8,169
1,815

6,354
(54)

6,300

Other information as of 31.12.1999
Total assets 4
Total liabilities 4

133,562
131,553

730,575
721,636

199,817
191,205

2,438
1,983

3,222
2,796

(88,041 )
(102,435 )

981,573
946,738

1 In  order  to  show  the  relevant  divisional  performance  over  time,  adjusted  expected  loss  figures  rather  than  the  net  credit  loss  expense  are 
reported for all business divisions. The statistically derived adjusted expected losses reflect the inherent counterparty and country risks in the respec-
tive portfolios. The difference between the statistically derived adjusted expected loss figures to the net credit loss expenses for financial report-
ing purposes is reported in the Corporate Center. The divisional breakdown of the net credit loss expense for financial reporting purposes of 
CHF 956 million as of 31 December 1999 is as follows: UBS Private Banking CHF 11 million, UBS Warburg CHF (20) million, UBS Private and Cor-
porate Clients CHF 974 million, Corporate Center CHF (9) million.    2 Corporate Center operating income includes gains on the divestments of
Swiss Life/Rentenanstalt for CHF 1,490 million and Julius Baer registered shares for CHF 110 million.    3 The amortization of goodwill includes
other purchased intangible assets.    4 The funding surplus / requirement is reflected in each division and adjusted in Corporate Center.

81

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 1998

UBS
Private

UBS
Private &

UBS
Asset 
UBS Corporate Manage-
ment

Clients

Banking Warburg

7,223
(26 )

6,987
(500 )

7,025
(1,170 )

7,197

1,458
1,277
111
15

2,861

4,336

6,487

4,333
2,483
535
157

7,508

(1,021)

5,855

3,238
1,025
680
4

4,947

908

1,163
0

1,163

454
154
29
78

715

448

CHF million

Revenues
Credit loss expense 1

Total operating income

Personnel expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation 2
Goodwill amortization 3

Total operating expenses

Segment performance before tax
Tax expense

Net profit before minority interests
Minority interests

Net profit

UBS Corporate
Center

Capital

585
0

585

121
35
0
1

157

428

296
745

1,041

212
1,643
128
87

2,070

(1,029)

UBS
Group

23,279
(951)

22,328

9,816
6,617
1,483
342

18,258

4,070
1,045

3,025
5

3,030

Other information as of 31.12.1998
Total assets 4
Total liabilities 4

107,772
106,197

685,921
675,041

173,028
164,865

800
724

1,800
1,513

(25,205 )
(36,619 )

944,116
911,721

1 In  order  to  show  the  relevant  divisional  performance  over  time,  adjusted  expected  loss  figures  rather  than  the  net  credit  loss  expense  are 
reported for all business divisions. The statistically derived adjusted expected losses reflect the inherent counterparty and country risks in the respec-
tive portfolios. The difference between the statistically derived adjusted expected loss figures to the net credit loss expenses for financial report-
ing purposes is reported in the Corporate Center. The divisional breakdown of the net credit loss expense for financial reporting purposes of 
CHF 951 million as of 31 December 1998 is as follows: UBS Private Banking CHF 48 million, UBS Warburg CHF 506 million, UBS Private and
Corporate Clients CHF 397 million.    2 The 1998 figures have been restated due to a refinement of the allocation methodology for depreciation.
3 The amortization of goodwill includes other purchased intangible assets.    4 The funding surplus / requirement is reflected in each division and
adjusted in Corporate Center.

82

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 3 Segment reporting by geographic location

The geographic analysis of total assets is based on customer domicile whereas operating income and
capital investment is based on the location of the office in which the transactions and assets are record-
ed. Because of the global nature of financial markets the Group’s business is managed on an integrated
basis worldwide, with a view to profitability by product line. The geographical analysis of operating
income,  total  assets,  and  capital  investment  is  provided  in  order  to  comply  with  International
Accounting Standards, and does not reflect the way the Group is managed. Management believes that
analysis by business division, as shown in Note 2 to these financial statements, is a more meaningful
representation of the way in which the Group is managed.

For the year ended 31 December 1999

Switzerland
Europe
Americas
Asia / Pacific
Africa / Middle East

Total

Total operating income

Total assets

Capital investment

CHF million

Share % CHF million

Share % CHF million

Share %

15,172
7,626
3,861
1,945
17

28,621

53
27
13
7
0

227,821
326,112
316,363
103,703
7,574

100

981,573

23
33
32
11
1

100

1,990
356
386
87
1

2,820

70
13
14
3
0

100

For the year ended 31 December 1998

Switzerland
Europe
Americas
Asia / Pacific
Africa / Middle East

Total

Total operating income

Total assets

Capital investment

CHF million

Share % CHF million

Share % CHF million

Share %

16,838
1,655
2,548
1,251
36

22,328

75
8
11
6
0

221,945
405,675
216,989
95,402
4,105

24
43
23
10
0

234
765
513
304
2

100

944,116

100

1,818

13
42
28
17
0

100

83

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

84

Income statement

Note 4 Net interest income

CHF million
For the year ended

Interest income
Interest earned on loans and advances to banks
Interest earned on loans and advances to customers
Interest from finance leasing
Interest income from financial investments
Dividend income from financial investments
Other

Total

Interest expense
Interest on amounts due to banks
Interest on amounts due to customers
Interest on medium and long term debt
Funding costs for trading positions

Total

Net interest income

Note 5 Net fee and commission income

CHF million
For the year ended

Credit-related fees and commissions

Security trading and investment activity fees
Underwriting and corporate finance fees
Brokerage fees
Fiduciary fees
Custodian fees
Portfolio and other management and advisory fees
Investment fund fees
Other

Total

Commission income from other services

Total fee and commission income

Fee and commission expense
Brokerage fees paid
Other

Total

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

7,116
10,792
49
117
41
208

18,323

5,762
7,680
5,476
(6,951)

11,967

7,361
14,111
60
293
79
931

22,835

7,879
9,890
5,045
(6,641)

16,173

6,356

6,662

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

372

559

1,831
3,934
317
1,583
2,984
1,915
57

12,621

765

13,758

795
356

1,151

1,694
3,670
349
1,386
3,335
1,778
110

12,322

776

13,657

704
327

1,031

Net fee and commission income

12,607

12,626

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 6 Net trading income

CHF million
For the year ended

Foreign exchange 1
Fixed income
Equities

Net trading income

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

841
2,178
4,449

7,468

1,793
(762)
719

1,750

1 Includes other trading income such as banknotes, precious metals and commodities.

Interest and dividends derived from the securities and derivative product portfolios held for trading
are included within net trading income. The funding costs of holding these assets are charged to net
trading income and credited to interest expense.

Note 7 Gains / (Losses) from disposal of associates and subsidiaries

CHF million
For the year ended

Net income from disposal of consolidated subsidiaries
Net gains / (losses) from the disposal of investments in associates

Net gains from disposal of associates and subsidiaries

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

8
1,813

1,821

1,149
(30)

1,119

While  the  1999  figure  represents  mainly  the  disposal  gains  from  our  investments  in  Swiss  Life  /
Rentenanstalt and Julius Baer registered shares, the 1998 number is mainly attributable to the dis-
posal of the BSI – Banca della Svizzera Italiana.

Note 8 Other income

CHF million
For the year ended

Investments in financial assets (debt and equity)
Net income from disposal of private equity investments
Net income from disposal of other financial assets
Net gains / (losses) from revaluation of financial assets

Total

Investments in property
Net income from disposal of properties held for resale
Net gains / (losses) from revaluation of properties held for resale
Net income from other properties

Total

Equity income from investments in associates

Other

Total other income

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

374
180
(102)

452

78
(49)
(20)

9

211

653

587
398
(556)

429

33
(106)
328

255

377

61

1,325

1,122

85

Note 9 Operating expenses

CHF million
For the year ended

Personnel expenses
Salaries and bonuses
Contractors
Insurance and social contributions
Contributions to retirement benefit plans
Employee share plans
Other personnel expenses

Total

General and administrative expenses
Occupancy
Rent and maintenance of machines and equipment
Telecommunications and postage
Administration
Marketing and public relations
Travel and entertainment
Professional fees, including IT outsourcing
Other

Total

Depreciation and amortization
Property and equipment
Goodwill and other intangible assets

Total

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

9,872
886
717
82
151
943

12,577

847
410
756
784
335
552
1,815
519

6,018

1,517
340

1,857

7,0821
535
5421
614
201
842

9,816

822
390
820
759
262
537
1,792
1,235

6,617

1,483
342

1,825

Total operating expenses

20,452

18,258

1 CHF 121 million of bonus related social contribution costs have been reclassed from Salaries and bonuses to Insurance and social contributions.
2 Includes CHF 456 million prepaid employer contributions (see Group Financial Review).

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

86

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 10 Earnings per share

For the year ended

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Basic earnings per share calculation
Net profit for the year (CHF million)
Net profit for the year (CHF million) before goodwill amortization 1
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Registered ordinary shares
Treasury shares

6,300
6,640

3,030
3,372

215,248,513
(7,191,412)

214,855,064
(3,057,586)

Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share

208,057,101

211,797,478

Basic earnings per share (CHF)
Basic earnings per share (CHF) before goodwill amortization 1

30.28
31.91

14.31
15.92

Diluted earnings per share calculation
Net profit for the year (CHF million)
Net profit for the year (CHF million) before goodwill amortization 1
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share
Potential dilutive ordinary shares resulting from outstanding options, 
warrants and convertible debt securities

6,300
6,640
208,057,101

3,030
3,372
211,797,478

1,109,278

1,143,412

Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share

209,166,379

212,940,890

Diluted earnings per share (CHF)
Diluted earnings per share (CHF) before goodwill amortization 1

30.12
31.75

14.23
15.84

1 See Note 9 for reconciliation of goodwill included in other expenses. The amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangible assets is exclud-
ed from this calculation.

The weighted average number of shares is calculated based upon the average outstanding shares at
the end of each month. All share amounts are restated in terms of new UBS AG shares.

87

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

88

Balance sheet: assets

Note 11 Money market paper

CHF million

Government treasury notes and bills
Money market placements
Other bills and cheques

Total money market paper

thereof eligible for discount at central banks

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

32,724
36,540
453

69,717

64,671

9,568
8,262
560

18,390

16,512

Note 12a Due from banks and loans to customers

The composition of due from banks, the loan portfolio and the allowance for credit losses by type of
exposure at the end of the year was as follows:

CHF million

Banks
Allowance for credit losses

Net due from banks

Loans to customers

Mortgages
Other loans

Subtotal
Allowance for credit losses

Net loans to customers

Net due from banks and loans to customers

thereof subordinated

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

30,785
(878)

29,907

127,987
119,242

247,229
(12,371)

234,858

264,765

86

69,543
(1,048)

68,495

140,785
120,636

261,421
(13,495)

247,926

316,421

133

The  composition  of  due  from  banks  and  loans  to  customers  by  geographical  region  based  on  the
location of the borrower at the end of the year was as follows:

CHF million

Switzerland
Europe
Americas
Asia / Pacific
Africa / Middle East

Subtotal
Allowance for credit losses

Net due from banks and loans to customers

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

183,944
44,796
31,285
13,451
4,538

278,014
(13,249)

264,765

187,223
53,013
44,556
43,142
3,030

330,964
(14,543)

316,421

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 12a Due from banks and loans to customers (continued)

The composition of due from banks and loans to customers by type of collateral at the end of the year
was as follows:

CHF million

Secured by mortgages
Collateralized by securities
Guarantees and other collateral
Unsecured

Subtotal
Allowance for credit losses

Net due from banks and loans to customers

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

130,835
19,061
28,725
99,393

278,014
(13,249)

264,765

145,247
13,185
27,953
144,579

330,964
(14,543)

316,421

Note 12b Allowance and provision for credit losses

The allowance and provision for credit losses developed as follows:

CHF million

Balance at the beginning of the year
Write-offs
Recoveries
Increase / (decrease) in credit loss allowance and provision
Net foreign exchange and other adjustments 1

Balance at the end of the year

Specific Country risk
provision

allowance

Total
31.12.1999

Total
31.12.1998

13,528
(3,271)
65
1,122
578

12,022

1,450
(4)
0
(166)
96

1,376

14,978
(3,275)
65
956
674

13,398

16,213
(2,324)
59
951
79

14,978

1 Includes allowance for doubtful interest of CHF 409 million at 31.12.1999 and CHF 423 million at 31.12.1998.

At the end of the year the aggregate allowances and provisions were apportioned and displayed as
follows:

CHF million

As a reduction of due from banks
As a reduction of loans to customers

Subtotal
Included in other liabilities related to commitments and contingent liabilities

Total allowance and provision for credit losses

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

878
12,371

13,249
149

13,398

1,048
13,495

14,543
435

14,978

89

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 12c Non-performing loans

The non-performing loans by type of exposure were as follows:

CHF million

Banks

Loans to customers

Mortgages
Other

Subtotal

Total non-performing loans 1

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

499

7,105
5,469

12,574

13,073

477

9,280
6,356

15,636

16,113

1 Includes non-performing loans of CHF 423 million at 31.12.1999 and CHF 397 million at 31.12.1998 that defaulted based on transfer risk pre-
viously not aggregated.

The non-performing loans by geographical region based on the location of the borrower were as fol-
lows:

CHF million

Switzerland
Europe
Americas
Asia / Pacific
Africa / Middle East

Total non-performing loans 1

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

11,435
223
697
373
345

13,073

14,022
405
1,156
281
249

16,113

1 Includes non-performing loans of CHF 423 million at 31.12.1999 and CHF 397 million at 31.12.1998 that defaulted based on transfer risk pre-
viously not aggregated.

When principal and interest are overdue by 90 days, loans are classified as non-performing, the recog-
nition of interest income ceases and a charge is recognized against income for the unpaid interest
receivable. Allowances are provided for non-performing loans to reflect their net estimated recover-
able amount. Unrecognized interest related to such loans totaled CHF 409 million for the year ended
31.12.1999 and CHF 423 million for the year ended 31.12.1998.

Note 13 Cash collateral on securities borrowed and lent

CHF million

Cash collateral by counterparties
Banks
Customers

Securities
borrowed
31.12.1999

Securities
lent
31.12.1999

Securities
borrowed
31.12.1998

Securities
lent
31.12.1998

99,810
13,352

8,926
3,906

68,186
23,509

91,695

5,337
13,834

19,171

Total cash collateral on securities borrowed and lent

113,162

12,832

90

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 14 Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements

CHF million

Agreements by counterparties
Banks
Customers

Reverse

repurchase Repurchase
agreements agreements
31.12.1999

31.12.1999

Reverse
repurchase
agreements
31.12.1998

Repurchase
agreements
31.12.1998

100,077
44,719

131,970
77,266

107,565
33,720

77,942
59,675

Total repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements

144,796

209,236

141,285

137,617

Note 15 Trading portfolio

Trading assets and liabilities are carried at fair value. The following table presents the carrying value
of trading assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period.

CHF million

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Trading portfolio assets
Debt instruments
Swiss government and government agencies
US Treasury and government agency
Other government
Corporate listed instruments
Other unlisted instruments

Total

Equity instruments
Listed instruments (excluding own shares)
Own shares
Unlisted instruments

Total

Precious metals

7,391
21,821
65,821
13,646
8,439

13,448
9,969
62,639
8,519
8,100

117,118

102,675

87,227
4,561
2,968

94,756

5,127

49,848
3,409
841

54,098

5,815

Total trading portfolio assets

217,001

162,588

Trading portfolio liabilities
Debt instruments
Swiss government and government agencies
US Treasury and government agency
Other government
Corporate listed instruments

Total

Listed equity instruments

Total trading portfolio liabilities

0
24,535
11,917
6,459

42,911

11,675

54,586

96
4,455
34,979
3,154

42,684

4,349

47,033

The Group trades debt, equity, precious metals, foreign currency and derivatives to meet the financial
needs  of  its  customers  and  to  generate  revenue  through  its  trading  activities.  Note  27  provides  a
description of the various classes of derivatives together with the related volumes used in the Group’s
trading activities, whereas Notes 13 and 14 provide further details about cash collateral on securities
borrowed and lent and repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements.

91

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

92

Note 16 Financial investments

CHF million

Debt instruments
Listed
Unlisted

Total

Equity investments
Listed
Unlisted

Total

Private equity investments
Properties held for resale

Total financial investments

thereof eligible for discount at central banks

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

1,357
609

1,966

356
557

913

3,001
1,159

7,039

563

1,880
547

2,427

400
1,048

1,448

1,759
1,280

6,914

544

The following table gives additional disclosure in respect of the valuation methods used.

CHF million

Valued at amortized cost
Debt instruments

Valued at the lower of cost or market value
Debt instruments
Equity instruments
Properties held for resale

Total

Valued at cost less adjustments for impairments
Private equity investments

Total financial investments

Book value
31.12.1999

Fair value
31.12.1999

Book value
31.12.1998

Fair value
31.12.1998

677

687

1,530

1,551

1,289
913
1,159

3,361

3,001

7,039

1,314
939
1,194

3,447

4,146

8,280

897
1,448
1,280

3,625

1,759

6,914

907
1,552
1,369

3,828

2,574

7,953

Note 17 Investments in associates

CHF million

Carrying
amount
as of
31.12.1998

Income

Additions

Disposals

Carrying
amount
as of
31.12.1999

Total investments in associates

2,805

211

47

(1,961)

1,102

The figure of CHF 1,961 million for disposals for the year ended 31 December 1999 primarily con-
sists of the sale of Swiss Life / Rentenanstalt.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 18 Property and equipment

CHF million

Bank premises
Other properties
Equipment and furniture

Total property and equipment1

Historical
cost

10,668
1,802
6,035

18,505

Accumulated
depreciation
as of
31.12.1998

Carrying
amount
as of
31.12.1998

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation,
write-offs

Carrying Accumulated3
amount depreciation
as of
31.12.1999

as of
31.12.1999

(4,096 )
(656 )
(3,867 )

(8,619 )

6,572
1,146
2,168

9,886

292
705
1,823

2,820

(1,050)
(325)
(525)

(1,900)

(354)
(59)
(1,692)

(2,105)2

5,460
1,467
1,774

8,701

(3,625)
(539)
(4,345)

(8,509)

1 Fire insurance value of property and equipment is CHF 15,004 million (1998: CHF 14,941 million).    2 Depreciation, write-offs of CHF 2,105 million include a charge of CHF 588 million that was
charged against the restructuring provision.    3 After elimination of CHF 2,215 million accumulated depreciation relating to disposals.

Note 19 Intangible assets and goodwill

Accu-
mulated
amorti-
zation
as of

Accu-
mulated
amorti-
zation2
as of
cost 31.12.1998 31.12.1998 Additions1 write-offs 31.12.1999 31.12.1999

Carrying
amount
as of

Carrying
amount
as of

Amorti-
zation,

Historical

553
2,447

(301 )
(489 )

252
1,958

55
1,618

(42)
(298)

265
3,278

(40)
(951)

3,000

(790 )

2,210

1,673

(340)

3,543

(991)

2 After elimination of CHF 139 million accumulated amortization relating to intangible assets fully

CHF million

Intangible assets
Goodwill

Total intangible assets 
and goodwill

1 Including currency translation differences.
written off and no longer used.

Note 20 Other assets

CHF million

Deferred tax assets 1
Settlement and clearing accounts
VAT and other tax receivables
Other receivables

Total other assets

1 Additional tax information is provided in note 25.

Balance sheet: liabilities

Note 21 Due to banks and customers

CHF million

Due to banks

Due to customers in savings and investment accounts
Amounts due to customers on demand and time

Total due to customers

Total due to banks and customers

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

742
4,911
702
4,652

11,007

1,205
5,543
839
4,505

12,092

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

76,365

78,640
201,320

279,960

356,325

85,716

79,723
195,127

274,850

360,566

93

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

94

Note 22 Long term debt

CHF million

Total bond issues
Shares in bond issues of the Swiss Regional or Cantonal Banks’ Central Bond Institutions
Medium term notes

Total long term debt

48,305
2,055
5,972

56,332

Contractual maturity date

UBS AG (parent)

CHF million

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005–2009
Thereafter

Total

Fixed
rate

13,395
7,866
5,313
3,093
2,316
9,795
3,476

45,254

Floating
rate

524
121
270
147
47
208
32

1,349

Fixed
rate

818
1,354
2,158
129
286
581
921

6,247

Subsidiaries
Floating
rate

Total
31.12.1999

Total
31.12.1998

0
0
399
0
1,705
1,378
0

3,482

14,737
9,341
8,140
3,369
4,354
11,962
4,429

56,332

8,208
7,803
8,368
6,534
3,772
12,562
3,536

50,783

The  Group  issues  both  CHF  and  non-CHF
denominated  fixed  and  floating  rate  debt.  Pub-
licly placed fixed rate debt pays interest at rates
up to 16%. Floating rate debt pays interest based
on the three-month or six-month London Inter-
bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).

Subordinated  debt  securities  are  unsecured
obligations of the Group and are subordinated in
right of payment to all present and future senior
indebtedness  and  certain  other  obligations  of 
the Group. At 31 December 1999 and 31 Decem-
ber  1998,  the  Group  had  CHF  13,106  million
and CHF 12,071 million, respectively, in subor-
dinated  debt  excluding  convertible  and  ex-
changeable debt and notes with warrants which
have  been  included  in  the  following  paragraph.
Subordinated debt usually pays interest annually
and provides for single principal payments upon
maturity. At 31 December 1999 and 31 Decem-
ber  1998,  the  Group  had  CHF  41,093  million
and CHF 36,379 million, respectively, in unsub-
ordinated debt.

The Group issues convertible obligations that
can be exchanged for common stock of UBS AG
and  notes  with  warrants  attached  on  UBS  AG
shares.  Furthermore,  the  Group  issues  notes
exchangeable  into  common  stock  or  preferred
stock of other companies, or repaid based on the
performance of an index or group of securities.

At  31  December  1999  and  31  December  1998,
the  Group  had  CHF  2,133  million  and  CHF
2,333  million,  respectively,  in  convertible  and
exchangeable  debt  and  notes  with  warrants
attached outstanding.

The  Group,  as  part  of  its  interest-rate  risk
management  process,  utilizes  derivative  instru-
ments to modify the repricing and maturity char-
acteristics of the notes/bonds issued. The Group
also utilizes other derivative instruments to man-
age the foreign exchange impact of certain long
term  debt  obligations.  Interest  rate  swaps  are
utilized to convert the economic characteristics of
fixed rate debt to those of floating rate debt.

The Group issues credit-linked notes generally
through  private  placements.  The  credit-linked
notes are usually senior unsecured obligations of
UBS AG, acting through one of its branches, and
can be subject to early redemption at the option
of the Group or in the event of a defined credit
event.  Payment  of  interest  and/or  principal  is
dependent upon the performance of a reference
entity  or  security.  The  rate  of  interest  on  each
credit-linked  note  is  either  floating  and  deter-
mined  by  reference  to  LIBOR  plus  a  spread  or
fixed. Medium term and credit-linked notes have
been included in the amounts disclosed above as
unsubordinated debt.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 22 Long term debt (continued)

Publicly placed bond issues of UBS AG (parent company) outstanding as of 31.12.1999

Year of
issue

Interest
rate in %

Remarks

Maturity

Premature
redemption
possible

Currency

Amount
in millions

1995
1996
1990
1997
1990
1998
1998
1994
1997
1990
1999
1999
1998
1998
1980
1999
1999
1998
1999
1999
1999
1999
1999
1993
1999
1999
1999
1999
1999
1999
1996
1995
1998
1999
1999
1996
1999
1999
1999
1999
1999
1996
1991
1998
1998
1999
1999
1999
1999
1998
1993
1997
1998
1998
1991
1994
1999

7.000
3.500
7.000
6.750
7.250
9.150
9.700
5.000
6.000
6.750
11.500
14.000
10.250
9.000
3.750
15.250
15.300
11.500
16.000
9.000
8.250
9.000
11.000
2.750
12.000
14.500
15.250
13.000
11.000
13.000
2.500
4.500
10.000
10.000
10.250
3.000
10.000
12.250
14.130
12.000
11.000
3.625
5.000
7.500
7.000
12.500
5.250
10.750
11.000
7.500
5.125
1.750
8.000
8.000
7.000
5.375
8.500

Subordinated

Subordinated

Subordinated

05.01.2000
18.01.2000
15.02.2000
25.02.2000
15.03.2000
27.03.2000
27.04.2000
20.06.2000
24.07.2000
31.07.2000
15.08.2000
25.08.2000
08.09.2000
14.09.2000
25.09.2000
25.09.2000
02.10.2000
09.10.2000
20.10.2000
27.10.2000
14.11.2000
20.11.2000
20.11.2000
01.12.2000
04.12.2000
06.12.2000
06.12.2000
11.12.2000
14.12.2000
18.12.2000
20.12.2000
21.12.2000
21.12.2000
29.12.2000
12.01.2001
07.02.2001
12.02.2001
15.02.2001
27.03.2001
29.03.2001
30.03.2001
10.04.2001
15.04.2001
11.05.2001
18.05.2001
06.06.2001
14.06.2001
15.06.2001
06.07.2001
10.07.2001
15.07.2001
25.07.2001
03.08.2001
17.08.2001
04.09.2001
07.09.2001
05.10.2001

Footnotes
11 Floating rate.
16 Issued by UBS Jersey Branch.
15 Convertible into Nikkei 225 Index.
17 Issued by former SBC.
18 Issued by former UBS.
21 Formerly Regiobank beider Basel.
22 Convertible into shares of ENI.
23 Convertible into shares of Pirelli.
24 GOAL on Daimler shares.
25 GOAL on Rück shares.
26 GOAL on CSG shares.
27 GOAL on Pepsico shares.
29 GOAL on Novartis shares.
30 GOAL on Roche GS.
31 GOAL on UBS shares.
32 GOAL on Zurich shares.
36 GOAL on Nokia.
38 GOAL on Compaq Computer.
39 GOAL on Pfizer.
40 GOAL on America Online.
41 GOAL on Swisscom.
42 GOAL on Bank Austria.
43 GOAL on Royal Dutch.
44 GOAL on Telefonica.
45 GOAL on Lloyds TSB.
47 GOAL on S&P.
48 Goal on British Telecom.
49 GOAL on ABB.
51 GOAL on Banco Bilbao Vizcaya.
52 Omvand Konvertible Svensk Basportfolj.
53 GOAL on Total Fina.
54 Convertible into Bank of Tokyo.
55 Convertible into DDI Corp.
56 Convertible into Sumitomo.
57 GOAL on SAP.
58 GOAL on Tesco.
62 GOAL on BP Amoco.
63 GOAL on BG plc.
64 GOAL on Deutsche Telekom.

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

DEM
CHF
CHF
GBP
CHF
ITL
ITL
CHF
USD
CHF
EUR
EUR
DEM
CHF
CHF
USD
SEK
CHF
USD
JPY
CHF
JPY
EUR
CHF
EUR
GBP
GBP
USD
JPY
EUR
CHF
CHF
USD
CHF
EUR
USD
CHF
GBP
SEK
GBP
USD
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
GBP
CHF
EUR
EUR
CHF
CHF
USD
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF

370 6,17
200 6,17
300 17
100 6,17
300 17

224,000 6,22
150,000 6,23

300 18
200 6,17
300 18

75 6,44
100 6,36
600 6,24
255 6,25
100 1,17
150 6,38
40 6,52
315 6,26
65 6,40
9,001 6,54
200 6,29
6,387 6,55
100 6,64
200 18

30 6,51
10 6,58
10 6,63
90 6,39
10,000 6,56
12 6,53

300 18
300 6,17
65 6,27
250 6,31
125 6,43
100 6,17
300 6,41
20 6,45
193 6,52
25 6,48
50 6,47

400 18
60 17
852 6,26
738 6,29
10 6,62
410 6,30
20 6,57
30 6,42
412 6,30
30 18,21
125 6,15,17
920 6,31
500 6,32
250 17
200 18

50 6,49

95

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 22 Long term debt (continued)

Publicly placed bond issues of UBS AG (parent company) outstanding as of 31.12.1999

Year of
issue

Interest
rate in %

Remarks

Maturity

1999
1992
1998
1996
1999
1990
1992
1997
1997
1996
1997
1992
1996
1997
1995
1996
1991
1998
1993
1997
1998
1993
1993
1999
1998
1991
1995
1996
1993
1994
1992
1991
1999
1999
1997
1993
1995
1995
1995
1995
1995
1995
1995
1995
1999
1999
1996
1996
1999
1999
1996
1996
1995
1996
1997
1997
1998

11.625
7.000
5.750
4.000
11.000
7.500
7.500
6.500
1.000
2.000
1.000
7.000
6.750
1.250
4.375
3.250
7.500
1.000
4.875
1.500
1.000
4.000
3.500
1.000
1.625
7.000
5.250
1.500
3.000
6.250
7.250
4.250
3.500
0
7.375
4.750
4.000
5.500
5.625
8.750
6.750
5.250
5.000
4.500
0
3.500
4.250
4.000
2.500
1.500
7.250
7.250
5.000
6.250
8.000
5.750
3.500

Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated

Subordinated

Subordinated

Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated

PEP

Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated

06.12.2001
06.02.2002
18.03.2002
18.04.2002
06.06.2002
07.06.2002
10.07.2002
18.07.2002
07.08.2002
23.08.2002
17.09.2002
16.10.2002
18.10.2002
05.11.2002
07.11.2002
20.12.2002
15.02.2003
25.02.2003
03.03.2003
14.03.2003
20.03.2003
31.03.2003
31.03.2003
05.05.2003
14.05.2003
16.05.2003
20.06.2003
20.11.2003
26.11.2003
06.01.2004
10.01.2004
25.06.2004
01.07.2004
07.10.2004
26.11.2004
08.01.2005
07.02.2005
15.02.2005
13.04.2005
20.06.2005
15.07.2005
18.07.2005
24.08.2005
21.11.2005
08.12.2005
26.01.2006
06.02.2006
14.02.2006
29.03.2006
12.07.2006
15.07.2006
03.09.2006
07.11.2006
06.12.2006
08.01.2007
12.03.2007
27.08.2008

Premature
redemption
possible

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15.02.2001
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
16.05.2001
–
–
–
–
10.01.2002

–
–
–
08.01.2003
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
08.12.2000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Currency

Amount
in millions

GBP
CHF
USD
CHF
GBP
CHF
CHF
USD
DEM
CHF
DEM
CHF
USD
DEM
CHF
CHF
CHF
EUR
CHF
DEM
NLG
CHF
CHF
USD
USD
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
USD
CHF
CHF
EUR
USD
GBP
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
GBP
USD
CHF
CHF
CHF
USD
EUR
CHF
CHF
CHF
USD
USD
USD
CHF
DEM
GBP
DEM
CHF

10 6,59

200 18
250 6
200 17

10 6,60

300 17
200 18
300 6,17

45 6,12,17
301 6,9,17
75 6,10,17

200 18
250 6,17
260 6,11,17
250 18
350 17
300 17
110 6,33
200 18

80 6,16,17

200 6,34
200 18
200 18
150 6,65
100 6,28
200 18
200 6,17

45 6,8,17

200 18
300 6,17
150 17
300 18
250 6

46 6,50
250 18,19
200 18
150 18
150 17
150 18
250 6,17
200 7,17
200 18
250 18
300 17

50 6,61

650 6
250 18
200 17
250 6
100 20,46
500 7,18
150 7,17
250 18
500 6,17
450 18,19
350 18,19
300

Footnotes
16 Issued by UBS Jersey Branch.
17 Issued by UBS New York Branch.
18 Convertible into SMI Index.
19 With options on Nikkei 225 Index.
10 Convertible into UBS Industrial Basket.
11 Convertible into European Bank Basket.
12 Convertible into European Insurance

shares Basket.

16 Indexed to UBS Currency Portfolio.
17 Issued by former SBC.
18 Issued by former UBS.
19 Issued by UBS London Branch.
20 Issued by UBS Stamford Branch.
28 Convertible into UBS Oil Basket.
33 Convertible into FTSE shares.
34 Convertible into UBS Dutch Corporate

Basket.

46 Convertible into AT&T.
50 GROI on Chesapeake.
59 GOAL on Granada Group.
60 GOAL on Glaxo.
61 PEP on Internet Pref. Basket /1st call at

120% thereafter annual step-ups of 20%.

65 Quanto style exchangeable bonds into

Sony.

PEP

Protected Equity Participation

96

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 22 Long term debt (continued)

Publicly placed bond issues of UBS AG (parent company) outstanding as of 31.12.1999

Year of
issue

Interest
rate in %

Remarks

Maturity

1997
1986
1995
1995
1997
1990
1990
1995
1995
1996

5.875
5.000
7.375
7.000
7.375
0
0
7.500
8.750
7.750

Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated

Subordinated
Subordinated
Subordinated

18.08.2009
10.02.2011
15.07.2015
15.10.2015
15.06.2017
31.12.2019
31.03.2020
15.07.2025
18.12.2025
03.09.2026

Premature
redemption
possible

–
10.02.2001
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

UBS Finance (Cayman Islands) Ltd., Grand Cayman
1997
1994 66
1991 66

0.000 GROI on Russian Basket
5.000
0.000

08.06.2000
01.07.2000
28.02.2001

Footnotes
62 At 1021⁄2%.
63 Private placement.
64 Issue price 17.45%.
65 Issue price 19.27%.
66 Issued by UBS Jersey Branch.
67 Issued by UBS New York Branch.
17 Issued by former SBC.
18 Issued by former UBS.
19 Issued by UBS London Branch.
66 Guaranteed by UBS.
67 Zero coupon, issue price 36.55%.
68 Guaranteed by S.G. Warburg Group plc.
69 Convertible into shares of 

Gillette Company.

70 Convertible into shares of UBS.
71 Zero coupon, issue price 15.68285%.
72 Zero coupon, issue price 12.41%.

Protected Index Participation

PIP
GROI Guaranteed Return on Investment
PEP
GRIP

Protected Equity Participation
Guaranteed Return on Investment 
Participation

UBS Australia Limited, Sydney 66
1997
1999
1999

3.250
5.000
5.000

6.500
9.250
2.500
2.500
9.125
2.750

UBS Finance (Curaçao) N.V. Netherlands Antilles 66
1995
1993
1996
1996
1990
1997
1992
1997
1998

FRN 70
0
0

S.G.W. Finance plc. 3
13.250
1991

S.G. Warburg Group plc.
1994
1986

9.000
7.625

02.10.2001
25.02.2002
25.02.2004

02.05.2000
23.08.2000
01.03.2001
30.10.2001
08.02.2002
16.06.2002
13.11.2002
29.01.2027
03.03.2028

21.03.2001

perpetual
preference
share GBP 1.–

–
–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–

Currency

Amount
in millions

FRF
CHF
USD
USD
USD
CHF
CHF
USD
GBP
USD

USD
CHF
GBP

USD
AUD
AUD

DEM
ITL
USD
DEM
USD
USD
USD
ITL
DEM

AUD

GBP
GBP

2,000 18,19
250 2,17
150 7,17
300 7,17
300 7,17
351 3,5,17
59 3,4,17

350 7,17
150 6,17
300 7,17

19
150
200 67

100
100
100

250
250,000

5 69

350
225
325 70
250

2,500,000 72
880 71

60

113
11

97

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 23 Other liabilities

CHF million

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Provisions, including restructuring provision 1
Provision for commitments and contingent liabilities
Current tax liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
VAT and other tax payables 2
Settlement and clearing accounts
Other payables

5,995
149
1,876
994
759
4,789
3,814

7,094
435
1,016
1,012
869
9,502
7,794

Total other liabilities

18,376

27,722

1 Further details to business risk and restructuring provisions are provided in note 24.    2 Additional information regarding income tax is provided
in Note 25.

Note 24 Provisions, including restructuring provision

Business risk provision
CHF million

Balance at the beginning of the year
New provisions charged to income
Provisions applied
Recoveries and adjustments

Balance at the end of the year

Restructuring provision
CHF million

Balance at the beginning of the year
Addition
Applied 1

Personnel
IT
Premises
Other

Total utilized during the year

Balance at the end of the year

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

4,121
539
(705)
611

4,566

1,142
3,133
(484)
330

4,121

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

2,973
300

(378)
(642)
(673)
(151)

(1,844)

1,429

5,995

7,000

(2,024)
(797)
(267)
(939)

(4,027)

2,973

7,094

Total provisions, including restructuring provision

1 The expense categories refer to the nature of the expense rather than the income statement expense line.

Provision for restructuring costs
At the time of the merger, it was announced that
the merged banks’ operations in various locations
would be combined, resulting in vacant proper-
ties,  reductions  in  personnel,  elimination  of
redundancies in the information technology plat-
forms, exit costs and other costs. As a result, the
individual  banks  estimated  that  the  cost  of  the
post-merger  restructuring  would  be  approxi-
mately  CHF  7  billion,  to  be  expended  over  a

period  of  four  years.  By  the  end  of  December
1999, the Group had utilized CHF 6 billion of the
provision.

As of today, many of the actions under these
plans  are  completed  or  near  completion.  As  a
result of the real estate lease breaks or disposals
which have been identified, the Group recognized
an additional restructuring provision of CHF 300
million.

98

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 25 Income taxes

CHF million
For the year ended

Federal and Cantonal
Current payable
Deferred

Foreign

Current payable
Deferred

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

978
511

359
(33)

354
463

200
28

Total income tax expense

1,815

1,045

The Group made net tax payments, including domestic federal, cantonal and foreign taxes, of CHF
1,063 million and CHF 733 million for the full year of 1999 and 1998, respectively.

The  components  of  operating  profit  before  tax,  and  the  differences  between  income  tax  expense
reflected in the financial statements and the amounts calculated at the statutory rate of 25% are as
follows:

CHF million
for the year ended

Operating profit before tax

Domestic
Foreign

Income taxes at statutory rate of 25%

Increase / (decrease) resulting from:
Applicable tax rates differing from statutory rate
Tax losses not recognized
Previously unrecorded tax losses now recognized
Lower taxed income
Non-deductible expenses
Adjustments related to prior years
Capital taxes
Change in deferred tax valuation allowance

Income tax expense

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

8,169
7,233
936

2,042

16
39
(215)
(278)
132
(112)
99
92

1,815

4,070
10,486
(6,416)

1,018

86
1,436
(142)
(1,849)
172
7
93
224

1,045

As of 31 December 1999 the Group had accumulated unremitted earnings from foreign subsidiaries
on which deferred taxes had not been provided as the undistributed earnings of these foreign sub-
sidiaries are indefinitely reinvested. In the event these earnings were distributed it is estimated that
Swiss taxes of approximately CHF 35 million would be due.

99

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

100

Note 25 Income taxes (continued)

Significant components of the Group’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities (gross) are as follows:

CHF million

Deferred tax assets
Compensation and benefits
Restructuring provision
Allowance for credit losses
Net operating loss carryforwards
Others

Total
Valuation allowance

Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities
Property and equipment
Investments in associates
Other provisions
Unrealized gains on investment securities
Others

Total

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

316
316
138
2,194
237

3,201
(2,459)

742

342
153
142
93
264

994

114
718
370
1,610
170

2,982
(1,777)

1,205

484
299
109
103
17

1,012

The change in the balance of the net deferred tax asset (liability) at 31 December 1999 and 31 Decem-
ber 1998 does not equal the deferred tax expense (benefit) in those years. This is due to the effect of
foreign currency rate changes on tax assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than CHF.
Certain foreign branches and subsidiaries of the Group have deferred tax assets related to net oper-
ating loss carryforwards and other items. Because recognition of these assets is uncertain, the Group
has established valuation allowances of  CHF 2,459 million and CHF 1,777 million at 31 December
1999 and 31 December 1998, respectively.

Net operating loss carryforwards totalling CHF 9,149 million at 31 December 1999 are available

to reduce future taxable income of certain branches and subsidiaries.

The carryforwards have lives as follows:

One year
2 to 4 years
More than 4 years

Total

Note 26 Minority interests

CHF million

Minority interests in profit / (loss)
Preferred stock 1
Minority interests in equity

Total minority interests

31.12.1999

15
215
8,919

9,149

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

54

380

434

(5)
689
306

990

1 Represents Auction Market Preferred Stock, issued by UBS Inc., New York, a subsidiary whose ordinary share capital is completely owned by UBS.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Off balance sheet and other information

Note 27 Derivative instruments

Derivatives held or issued 
for trading purposes
Most of the Group’s derivative transactions relate
to  sales  and  trading  activities.  Sales  activities
include the structuring and marketing of deriva-
tive products to customers at competitive prices
to  enable  them  to  transfer,  modify  or  reduce
current or expected risks. Trading involves mar-
ket making, positioning and arbitrage activities. 
Market making involves quoting bid and offer
prices  to  other  market  participants  with  the
intention of generating revenues based on spread
and volume. Positioning involves managing mar-
ket risk positions with the expectation of profit-
ing from favorable movements in prices, rates or
indices.  Arbitrage  activities  involve  identifying
and  profiting  from  price  differentials  between
markets and products.

Derivatives held or issued 
for non-trading purposes
The  Group  also  uses  derivatives  as  part  of  its
asset / liability management activities.

The  majority  of  derivative  positions  used  in
UBS’s  asset  and  liability  management  activities
are  established  via  intercompany  transactions
with  independently  managed  UBS  dealer  units
within  the  Group.  When  the  Group  purchases
assets and issues liabilities at fixed interest rates
it subjects itself to fair value fluctuations as mar-
ket  interest  rates  change.  These  fluctuations  in
fair value are managed by entering into interest
rate contracts, mainly interest rate swaps which
change the fixed rate instrument into a variable
rate instrument.

When  the  Group  purchases  foreign  currency
issues  foreign  currency
denominated  assets, 
denominated debt or has foreign net investments,

it subjects itself to changes in value as exchange
rates  move.  These  fluctuations  are  managed  by
entering into currency swaps and forwards.

Type of derivatives
The Group uses the following derivative financial
instruments  for  both  trading  and  non-trading
purposes:
Swaps

Swaps are transactions in which two
parties  exchange  cash  flows  on  a  specified
notional amount for a predetermined period.

Interest  rate  swap  contracts  generally  repre-
sent the contractual exchange of fixed and float-
ing rate payments of a single currency, based on
a notional amount and an interest reference rate.
Cross  currency  interest  rate  swaps  generally
involve  the  exchange  of  payments  which  are
based on the interest reference rates available at
the inception of the contract on two different cur-
rency principal balances that are exchanged. The
principal balances are re-exchanged at an agreed
upon rate at a specified future date.

Forwards and futures Forwards and futures
are contractual obligations to buy or sell a finan-
cial  instrument  on  a  future  date  at  a  specified
price.  Forward  contracts  are  effectively  tailor-
made  agreements  that  are  transacted  between
counterparties  in  the  over-the-counter  market
(OTC),  whereas  futures  are  standardized  con-
tracts that are transacted on regulated exchanges.
Options Options  are  contractual  agree-
ments under which the seller (writer) grants the
purchaser the right, but not the obligation, either
to buy (call option) or sell (put option) by or at a
set date, a specified amount of a financial instru-
ment at a predetermined price. The seller receives
a premium from the purchaser for this right.

101

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 27 Derivative instruments (continued)

Notional amounts and replacement values
The  following  table  provides  the  notional
amounts  and  the  positive  and  negative  replace-
ment  values  of  the  Group’s  derivative  trans-
actions.

The  notional  amount  is  the  amount  of  a
derivative’s  underlying  asset,  reference  rate  or
index and is the basis upon which changes in the
value of derivatives are measured. It provides an
indication  of  the  volume  of  business  transacted
by the Group but does not provide any measure
of risk.

Some derivatives are standardized in terms of
their nominal amounts and settlement dates, and
these are designed to be bought and sold in active
markets (exchange traded). Others are packaged

specifically for individual customers and are not
exchange  traded  although  they  may  be  bought
and  sold  between  counterparties  at  negotiated
prices (OTC instruments).

Positive replacement value represents the cost
to the Group of replacing all transactions with a
receivable amount if all the Group’s counterpar-
ties were to default. This measure is the industry
standard  for  the  calculation  of  current  credit
exposure. Negative replacement value is the cost
to the Group’s counterparties of replacing all the
Group’s  transactions  with  a  commitment  if  the
Group  were  to  default.  The  total  positive  and
negative  replacement  values  are  included  in  the
balance sheet separately.

102

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 27 Derivative instruments (continued)

Term to maturity

Within 3 months
NRV2

PRV1

3 to 12 months
NRV
PRV

1 to 5 years
NRV

PRV

Over 5 years
NRV

PRV

Total
PRV

Total
NRV

Total
notional
amount
CHF bn

CHF million

Interest rate contracts
Over-the-counter (OTC) contracts

Forward contracts
Swaps
Options

Exchange-traded contracts 3

Futures
Options

Total

Foreign exchange contracts
Over-the-counter (OTC) contracts

Forward contracts
Interest and currency swaps
Options

Exchange-traded contracts 3

Futures
Options

Total

Precious metals contracts
Over-the-counter (OTC) contracts

Forward contracts
Options

Exchange-traded contracts 3

Futures
Options

Total

Equity / Index contracts
Over-the-counter (OTC) contracts

Forward contracts
Options

Exchange-traded contracts 3

Futures
Options

Total

Commodity contracts
Over-the-counter (OTC) contracts

Forward contracts
Options

Total

34
5,386
108

55
2,100
27

68
3,163
47

19
2,871
742

6
22,843
268

1
24,168
12

0
35,942
4

0
30,301
2,018

108
67,334
427

75
59,440
2,799

554.0
2,650.9
1,877.0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

774.1
54.4

5,528

2,182

3,278

3,632

23,117

24,181

35,946

32,319

67,869

62,314

5,910.4

9,669
622
3,344

14,264
520
2,708

3,661
2,036
3,934

7,008
1,826
3,138

445
529
8,883

851
6,076
411

25
2,567
30

37
1,518
10

13,800
5,754
16,191

22,160
9,940
6,267

1,077.1
252.3
813.5

0
0

1
1

0
4

0
1

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
4

1
2

3.5
3.7

13,635

17,494

9,635

11,973

9,857

7,338

2,622

1,565

35,749

38,370

2,150.1

1,112
277

1,047
215

0
0

0
5

53
594

0
5

62
466

80
1,168

60
1,059

0
8

0
0

0
10

0
117

0
0

0
130

1,245
2,156

1,169
1,870

0
0

0
5

0
23

30.0
82.9

0.8
4.9

1,389

1,267

652

536

1,248

1,129

117

130

3,406

3,062

118.6

526
1,941

1,721
1,611

1,148
4,013

2,044
10,021

503
10,146

5,325
27,182

1,762
439

2,787
2,985

3,939
16,539

11,877
41,799

149.4
264.7

74
1,061

3,602

46
304

0
1,744

0
4,047

0
72

0
63

0
0

0
0

74
2,877

46
4,414

25.1
79.8

3,682

6,905

16,112

10,721

32,570

2,201

5,772

23,429

58,136

519.0

32
15

47

25
15

40

0
0

0

0
0

0

0
0

0

0
0

0

0
0

0

0
0

0

32
15

47

25
15

40

Total derivative instruments 31.12.1999

24,201

24,665

20,470

32,253

44,943

65,218

40,886

39,786 130,500 161,922

Total derivative instruments 31.12.1998

31,614

50,150

32,251

29,404

57,023

75,261

49,048

50,265 169,936 205,080

1 PRV: Positive replacement value.    2 NRV: Negative replacement value.    3 Exchange-traded products include proprietary trades only.

167.9
79.7

247.6

–

–

103

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

104

Note 28 Pledged assets

Assets pledged or assigned as security for liabilities and assets subject to reservation of title

CHF million

Money market paper
Mortgage loans
Securities 1
Property and equipment
Other

Total pledged assets

Carrying
amount
31.12.1999

Related
liability
31.12.1999

Carrying
amount
31.12.1998

Related
liability
31.12.1998

35,578
2,536
23,837
170
2,110

64,231

707
1,736
585
91
0

3,119

6,981
2,955
13,902
147
0

23,985

5
2,047
5,636
71
0

7,759

1 Excluding securities pledged in respect of securities borrowing and repurchase agreements.

Assets are pledged as collateral for collateralized credit lines with central banks, loans from central
mortgage  institutions,  deposit  guarantees  for  savings  banks,  security  deposits  relating  to  stock
exchange membership and mortgages on the Group’s property. These assets are also segregated per-
suant to certain regulatory requirements.

Note 29 Fiduciary transactions

CHF million

Placements with third parties
Fiduciary credits and other fiduciary financial transactions

Total fiduciary transactions

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

60,221
1,438

61,659

60,612
652

61,264

Fiduciary placement represents funds which customers have instructed the Group to place in foreign
banks. The Group is not liable to the customer for any default by the foreign bank nor do creditors
of the Group have a claim on the assets placed.

Note 30 Commitments and contingent liabilities

Commitments  and  Contingencies  represent  po-
tential  future  liabilities  of  the  Group  resulting
from credit facilities available to clients, but not
yet  drawn  upon  by  them.  They  are  subject  to
expiration at fixed dates. The Group engages in
providing  open  credit  facilities  to  allow  clients
quick access to funds required to meet their short
term obligations as well as their long term financ-
ing needs. The credit facilities can take the form
of guarantees, whereby the Group might guaran-
tee repayment of a loan taken out by a client with
a third party; standby letters of credit, which are
credit  enhancement  facilities  enabling  the  client
to  engage  in  trade  finance  at  lower  cost;  docu-
mentary letters of credit, which are trade finance-

related payments made on behalf of a client; com-
mitments  to  enter  into  repurchase  agreements;
note issuance facilities and revolving underwrit-
ing facilities, which allow clients to issue money
market paper or medium term notes when need-
ed without engaging in the normal underwriting
process each time.

The  figures  disclosed  in  the  accompanying
tables represent the amounts at risk should clients
draw fully on all facilities and then default, and
there is no collateral. Determination of the cred-
itworthiness of the clients is part of the normal
credit  risk  management  process,  and  the  fees
charged  for  maintenance  of  the  facilities  reflect
the various credit risks.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 30 Commitments and contingent liabilities (continued)

CHF million

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Contingent liabilities
Credit guarantees and similar instruments 1
Sub-participations

Total

Performance guarantees and similar instruments 2
Sub-participations

Total

Irrevocable commitments under documentary credits
Sub-participations

Total

Gross contingent liabilities
Sub-participations

Net contingent liabilities

Irrevocable commitments
Undrawn irrevocable credit facilities
Sub-participations

Total

Liabilities for calls on shares and other equities

Gross irrevocable commitments
Sub-participations

Net irrevocable commitments

Gross commitments and contingent liabilities
Sub-participations

Net commitments and contingent liabilities

18,822
(3,665)

15,157

6,782
(42)

6,740

2,704
0

2,704

28,308
(3,707)

24,601

65,693
(1,836)

63,857

57

65,750
(1,836)

63,914

94,058
(5,543)

88,515

22,697
(5,217)

17,480

12,092
(216)

11,876

2,942
(39)

2,903

37,731
(5,472)

32,259

82,337
(26)

82,311

109

82,446
(26)

82,420

120,177
(5,498)

114,679

1 Credit guarantees in the form of bill of exchange and other guarantees, including guarantees in the form of irrevocable letters of credit, endorse-
ment liabilities from bills rediscounted, advance payment guarantees and similar facilities.    2 Bid bonds, performance bonds, builders’ guaran-
tees, letters of indemnity, other performance guarantees in the form of irrevocable letters of credit and similar facilities.

CHF million

Overview of collateral
Gross contingent liabilities
Gross irrevocable commitments
Liabilities for calls on shares and other equities

Total 31.12.1999

Total 31.12.1998

Mortgage 
collateral

Other 
collateral

Unsecured

Total

191
386
0

577

389

11,356
8,774
0

20,130

33,363

16,761
56,533
57

73,351

86,425

28,308
65,693
57

94,058

120,177

105

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

106

Note 31 Operating lease commitments

Our minimum commitments for non-cancellable leases of premises and equipment are presented as
follows:

CHF million

Operating leases due
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005 and thereafter

Total commitments for minimum payments under operating leases

31.12.1999

247
202
184
187
153
1,919

2,892

Operating  expenses  include  CHF  742  million  and  CHF  797  million  in  respect  of  operating  lease
rentals for the year ended 31.12.1999 and for the year ended 31.12.1998 respectively.

Note 32 Litigation

In the United States, several class actions, in rela-
tion  to  what  is  known  as  the  Holocaust  affair,
have been brought against the bank (as legal suc-
cessor  to  Swiss  Bank  Corporation  and  Union
Bank of Switzerland) in the United States District
Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of  New  York
(Brooklyn). These lawsuits were initially filed in
October  1996.  Another  Swiss  bank  has  been
designated  as  a  defendant  alongside  us.  On 
12  August  1998,  however,  a  settlement  was
reached between the parties. This settlement pro-
vides for a payment by the defendant banks to the
plaintiffs, under certain terms and conditions, of
an  aggregate  amount  of  USD  1.25  billion.  UBS
agreed  to  contribute  up  to  two-thirds  of  this
amount.  To  the  extent  that  other  Swiss  compa-
nies agreed to participate in this fund, and to the
extent of applicable payments to beneficiaries of
eligible  dormant  accounts,  our  share  was  to  be
reduced. Based on our estimate of such expected
contributions, we provided a reserve of USD 610
million in 1998 and an additional USD 95 million
in 1999. A number of persons have elected to opt
out  of  the  settlement  and  not  participate  in  the

class action. It is expected that a decision approv-
ing the settlement will be issued in 2000, which
will be followed by hearings on the allocation of
the settlement amount.

In  addition,  the  bank  and  other  companies
within  the  UBS  Group  are  subject  to  various
claims, disputes and legal proceedings, as part of
the normal course of business. The Group makes
provision for such matters when, in the opinion
of management and its professional advisors, it is
probable  that  a  payment  will  be  made  by  the
Group, and the amount can be reasonably esti-
mated.  All  litigation  provisions  are  included
within Other Business Risks in the accompanying
Group balance sheet.

In  respect  of  the  further  claims  asserted
against the Group of which management is aware
(which,  according  to  the  principles  outlined
above, have not been provided for), it is the opin-
ion  of  management  that  such  claims  are  either
without  merit,  can  be  successfully  defended  or
will  result  in  exposure  to  the  Group  which  is
immaterial to both financial position and results
of operations.

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position

Overall risk position
The  Group  manages  risk  in  a  number  of  ways,
including the use of a value-at-risk model com-
bined with a system of trading limits.

This  section  presents  information  about  the
results  of  the  Group’s  management  of  the  risks
associated with the use of financial instruments.

a) Interest rate risk

Interest  rate  risk  is  the  potential  impact  of
changes in market interest rates on the fair values
of assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and
on the annual interest income and expense in the
income statement.

Interest rate sensitivity
One  commonly  used  method  to  present  the
potential impact of the market movements is to
show  the  effect  of  a  one  basis  point  (0.01%)
change in interest rates on the fair values of assets
and  liabilities,  analyzed  by  time  bands  within
which the Group is committed. This type of pres-
entation, described as a sensitivity analysis, is set
out  below.  Interest  rate  sensitivity  is  one  of  the
inputs  to  the  value-at-risk  model  used  by  the
Group  to  manage  its  overall  market  risk,  of
which interest rate risk is a part.

The following sets out the extent to which the
Group was exposed to interest rate risk at 31 De-
cember 1999. The table shows the potential im-
pact of a one basis point (0.01%) increase in mar-
ket interest rates which would influence the fair
values of both assets and liabilities that are sub-
ject to fixed interest rates. The impact of such an
increase in rates depends on the net asset or net
liability position of the Group in each category,
currency and time band in the table. A negative
amount in the table reflects a potential loss to the
Group due to the changes in fair values as a result
of an increase in interest rates. A positive amount
reflects a potential gain as a result of an increase
in  interest  rates.  Both  primary  and  derivative
instruments in trading and non-trading activities,
as  well  as  off-balance-sheet  commitments  are
included in the table.

107

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
a) Interest rate risk (continued)

Interest rate sensitivity position

CHF thousand
per basis point

Within 1
month

Interest sensitivity by time bands as of 31.12.1999
3 to 12
months

1 to 3
months

1 to 5
years

Over 5
years

CHF

USD

EUR

GBP

JPY

Others

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

171
(30 )

(411 )
3

(39 )
0

1
0

484
0

(34 )
0

(902 )
(8 )

1,018
(33 )

(239 )
(3 )

43
5

(1,708 )
0

46
0

466
(398 )

386
(10 )

113
3

10
(39 )

927
0

50
0

506
(6,204 )

(109 )
83

600
30

(34 )
77

(101 )
(1 )

(195 )
0

(417 )
(1,220 )

(908 )
1,207

(1,406 )
210

(77 )
815

135
(4 )

24
0

CHF thousand
per basis point

Within 1
month

Interest sensitivity by time bands as of 31.12.1998
3 to 12
months

1 to 3
months

1 to 5
years

Over 5
years

CHF

USD

EUR

GBP

JPY

Others

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

Trading
Non-trading

189
(23 )

(28 )
1

(34 )
0

10
0

(32 )
0

11
0

(672 )
6

93
(21 )

(22 )
(8 )

(214 )
2

(698 )
3

(98 )
0

450
(350 )

8
7

(158 )
0

560
(18 )

(402 )
(5 )

47
0

(322 )
(7,522 )

(575 )
72

(559 )
48

(919 )
130

1,002
6

(158 )
0

(464 )
(546 )

1,254
1,502

339
256

491
876

263
146

(152 )
0

Total

(176)
(7,860)

(24)
1,250

(971)
240

(57)
858

(263)
(5)

(109)
0

Total

(819)
(8,435)

752
1,561

(434)
296

(72)
990

133
150

(350)
0

Trading
The major part of the trading related interest rate
risk is generated in fixed income securities trad-
ing, fixed income derivatives trading, trading in
currency  forward  contracts  and  money  market
trading and is being managed within the value-at-
risk model. Interest rate sensitivity arising from
trading activities is quite sizable in USD and Euro

as  these  are  still  the  predominantly  traded  cur-
rencies  in  the  global  interest  rate  markets.  It
should be noted that it is management’s view that
an  interest  sensitivity  analysis  at  a  particular
point in time has limited relevance with respect to
trading positions, which can vary significantly on
a daily basis.

108

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
a) Interest rate risk (continued)

Non-trading
The  interest  rate  risk  related  to  client  business
with undefined maturities and non-interest bear-
ing business including the strategic management
of overall balance sheet interest rate exposure is
managed  by  the  Corporate  Center.  Significant
contributors to the overall USD and GBP interest
rate  sensitivity  were  strategic  long  term  subor-
dinated  notes  issues  which  are  intentionally
unswapped since they are regarded as constituting
a part of the Group’s equity for asset and liability
management  purposes.  At  31  December  1999, 

the Group’s equity was invested in a portfolio of
fixed rate CHF deposits with an average duration
of  2.16  years.  As  this  equity  investment  is  the
most significant component of the CHF book, this
results in the entire book having an interest rate
sensitivity of CHF (7.9) million, which is reflect-
ed in the table above. This is in line with the dura-
tion and sensitivity targets set by the Group Exec-
utive Board. Investing in shorter term or variable
rate instruments would mean exposing the earn-
ings  stream  (interest  income)  to  higher  fluctua-
tions.

b) Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of loss from the default by
an obligor or counterparty. This risk is managed
primarily based on reviews of the financial status
of  each  specific  counterparty.  Credit  risk  is
greater when counterparties are concentrated in
a single industry or geographical region. This is
because a group of otherwise unrelated counter-
parties could be adversely affected in their ability
to  repay  their  obligations  because  of  economic
developments affecting their common industry or
region.

Concentrations of credit risk exist if a number
of clients are engaged in similar activities, or are
located  in  the  same  geographic  region  or  have
comparable  economic  characteristics  such  that
their  ability  to  meet  contractual  obligations
would  be  similarly  affected  by  changes  in  eco-
nomic, political or other conditions. Concentra-
tions of credit risk indicate the relative sensitivity
of  the  bank’s  performance  to  developments  af-
fecting a particular industry or geographic loca-
tion.

(b)(i) On-balance sheet assets
As  of  31  December  1999,  due  from  banks  and
loans to customers amounted to CHF 278 billion.
66.2% of the loans were with clients domiciled in
Switzerland. Please refer to Note 12 for a break-
down by region.

(b)(ii) Off-balance sheet financial instruments

Credit commitments and contingent
liabilities
Of the CHF 94 billion in credit commitment and
contingent  liabilities  as  at  31  December  1999,
11% related to clients domiciled in Switzerland,
36% in Europe (excluding Switzerland) and 42%
in North America.

Derivatives
Credit  risk  represents  the  current  replacement
value of all outstanding derivative contracts in a
gain position without factoring in the impact of
master netting agreements or the value of any col-

109

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
b) Credit risk (continued)

lateral. Positive replacement values amounted to
CHF 130 billion as at 31 December 1999, before
applying  any  master  netting  agreements.  Based
on the location of the ultimate counterparty, 4%
of this credit risk amount related to Switzerland,
49% to Europe (excluding Switzerland) and 37%
to North America. 71% of the positive replace-
ment values are with other banks.

(b)(iii) Credit risk mitigation techniques
Credit risk associated with derivative instruments
is  mitigated  by  the  use  of  master  netting  agree-
ments. A further method of reducing credit expo-
sure arising from derivative transactions is to use
collateralization arrangements.

Master  netting  agreements  eliminate  risk  to
the  extent  that  only  the  net  claim  is  due  to  be
settled in the case of a default of the counterparty.

The  impact  of  master  netting  agreements  as  at 
31  December  1999  is  to  mitigate  credit  risk  on
derivative  instruments  by  approximately  CHF 
66 billion. The impact can change substantially
over short periods of time, because the exposure
is affected by each transaction subject to the ar-
rangement.

The  Group  subjects  its  derivative-related
credit risks to the same credit approval, limit and
monitoring  standards  that  it  uses  for  managing
other  transactions  that  create  credit  exposure.
This includes evaluation of counterparties as to
creditworthiness, and managing the size, diversi-
fication and maturity structure of the portfolio.
Credit  utilization  for  all  products  is  compared
with established limits on a continual basis and 
is  subject  to  a  standard  exception  reporting
process.

110

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
c) Currency risk

The Group views itself as a Swiss entity, with the Swiss franc as its reporting currency. Hedging trans-
actions are used to manage risks in other currencies.

Breakdown of assets and liabilities by currencies

31.12.1999

CHF billion

CHF

USD

EUR

Other

31.12.1998
USD

CHF

Assets
Cash and balances with central banks
Money market paper
Due from banks
Cash collateral on securities borrowed
Reverse repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio assets
Positive replacement values
Loans, net of allowance 
for credit losses
Financial investments
Accrued income and prepaid expenses
Investments in associates
Property and equipment
Intangible assets and goodwill
Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities
Money market paper issued
Due to banks
Cash collateral on securities lent
Repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio liabilities
Negative replacement values
Due to customers
Accrued expenses and deferred income
Long term debt
Other liabilities
Minority interests
Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities, minority interests 
and shareholders’ equity

3.4
1.5
7.5
0.1
2.0
34.1
16.7

166.4
2.5
1.7
0.9
7.4
1.2
3.1

248.5

1.0
8.1
0.1
16.5
0.0
21.7
127.5
3.1
23.7
9.1
0.3
34.8

0.2
38.6
7.7
106.4
54.8
77.4
11.5

35.0
2.9
1.8
0.1
0.5
2.2
1.9

0.5
0.7
5.3
1.1
37.9
26.9
1.3

5.3
0.7
0.5
0.0
0.1
0.0
2.5

1.0
28.9
9.4
5.6
50.1
78.6
101.0

28.2
0.9
1.2
0.1
0.7
0.1
3.5

341.0

82.8

309.3

55.7
36.3
6.5
103.6
38.2
11.7
93.8
4.9
17.6
4.0
0.0
0.0

0.3
14.5
1.0
27.8
5.4
3.4
23.7
0.5
3.1
0.8
0.0
0.0

7.7
17.5
5.2
61.3
11.0
125.1
35.0
3.6
11.9
4.5
0.1
0.0

2.4
2.2
12.7
0.2
0.2
24.8
17.8

173.5
2.6
1.2
2.6
8.5
0.3
4.9

253.9

1.0
25.4
0.1
10.7
0.2
27.3
138.0
3.3
23.4
14.6
1.0
32.4

Other

0.6
5.9
42.5
17.0
102.8
97.8
131.2

34.4
1.8
3.6
0.2
0.8
0.2
4.1

0.3
10.3
13.3
74.5
38.3
40.0
20.9

40.0
2.5
1.8
0.0
0.6
1.7
3.1

247.3

442.9

38.5
33.6
5.9
74.3
8.1
19.8
80.2
2.6
16.9
6.1
0.0
0.0

12.0
26.7
13.2
52.6
38.7
158.0
56.7
5.3
10.5
7.0
0.0
0.0

245.9

372.3

80.5

282.9

277.4

286.0

380.7

111

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
d) Liquidity risk

Maturity analysis of assets and liabilities

CHF billion

On
demand

Subject
to notice1

Due
between
3 and
12 mths

Due
between
1 and
5 years

Due
after
5 years

Assets
Cash and balances with central banks
Money market papers
Due from banks
Cash collateral on securities borrowed
Reverse repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio assets
Positive replacement values
Loans, net of allowance 
for credit losses
Financial investments
Accrued income and prepaid expenses
Investments in associates
Property and equipment
Intangible assets and goodwill
Other assets

Total 31.12.1999

Total 31.12.1998

5.1

8.4

217.0
130.5

5.0
5.2
–
–
–
11.0

382.2

376.6

10.1

Liabilities
Money market paper issued
Due to banks
Cash collateral on securities lent
Repurchase agreements
54.6
Trading portfolio liabilities
161.9
Negative replacement values
58.6
Due to customers
Accrued expenses and deferred income 12.0
–
Long term debt
18.4
Other liabilities

Total 31.12.1999

Total 31.12.1998

315.6

367.9

Due
within
3 mths

–
67.8
19.1
112.7
142.9
–

–
–
–

407.5

375.8

24.3
60.2
12.8
197.9

–
–

–

53.4

–
–
–

53.4

59.9

1.1

82.1

127.0

0.4
–

83.6

83.5

6.3

428.5

371.1

–
1.9
1.6

1.9
–

–

0.5
0.5

–

64.9
0.1

39.2
0.2

70.8
0.9

–
–
0.3

–

6.6
0.8

1.1
8.7
3.5

21.0

22.3

–
–
–

72.7

66.0

0.3

0.3

1.7

2.5

28.0

13.2

30.0

29.7

16.0

16.3

Total

5.1
69.7
29.9
113.2
144.8
217.0
130.5

234.9
7.0
5.2
1.1
8.7
3.5
11.0

981.6

944.1

64.7
76.4
12.8
209.2
54.6
161.9
280.0
12.0
56.3
18.4

946.3

910.7

–
–
–

44.8

43.5

40.4
4.4

11.3

8.1

8.4

72.6

42.2

1 Deposits without a fixed term, on which notice of withdrawal or termination has not been given. (Such funds may be withdrawn by the depos-
itor or repaid by the borrower subject to an agreed period of notice.)

112

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
e) Capital adequacy

Risk-weighted assets (BIS)

CHF million

Balance sheet assets
Due from banks and other collateralized lendings
Net positions in securities 1
Positive replacement values
Loans, net of allowances for credit losses 
and other collateralized lendings
Accrued income and prepaid expenses
Property and equipment 2
Other assets

Off-balance sheet and other positions
Contingent liabilities
Irrevocable commitments
Forward and swap contracts 3
Purchased options 3

Market risk positions 4

Total risk-weighted assets

Balance
sheet /
notional
amount
31.12.1999

229,794
77,858
130,500

292,928
5,167
8,701
11,007

28,308
65,693
4,881,483
406,208

–

–

Risk-
weighted
amount
31.12.1999

9,486
11,177
18,175

159,835
3,164
9,860
7,686

14,459
17,787
13,213
2,823

10,813

278,478

Balance
sheet /
notional
amount
31.12.1998

244,246
28,109
169,936

305,155
6,627
9,886
12,092

37,731
82,337
5,177,912
489,005

–

–

Risk-
weighted
amount
31.12.1998

13,845
8,316
29,494

164,113
3,190
11,166
7,900

19,471
18,197
7,130
5,861

16,018

304,701

1 Excluding positions in the trading book, these are included in market risk positions.    2 Including CHF 1,159 million (1998: CHF 1,280 million)
foreclosed properties and properties held for disposal, which are recorded in the balance sheet under financial investments.    3 The risk-weight-
ed amount corresponds to the security margin (add-on) of the contracts.    4 Value at risk according to the internal model multiplied by a factor
of 12.5 to create the risk weighted amount of the market risk positions in the trading book.

BIS capital ratios

Tier 1
Tier 2

Total BIS

Capital
CHF million
31.12.1999

Ratio
%
31.12.1999

Capital
CHF million
31.12.1998

Ratio
%
31.12.1998

29,529
10,730

40,259

10.6
–

14.5

28,299
12,086

40,385

9.3
–

13.3

Among other measures UBS monitors the adequa-
cy  of  its  capital  using  ratios  established  by  the
Bank  for  International  Settlements  (BIS).  The
Group  has  maintained  all  BIS  and  Swiss  capital
adequacy  rules  for  all  periods  presented.  These
ratios measure capital adequacy by comparing the
Group’s  eligible  capital  with  its  risk-weighted
positions which include balance sheet assets, net
positions in securities not held in the trading book,
off balance sheet transactions converted into their
credit equivalents and market risk positions at a
weighted amount to reflect their relative risk.

The capital adequacy rules require a minimum
amount of capital to cover credit and market risk
exposures.  For  the  calculation  of  the  capital
required  for  credit  risk  the  balance  sheet  assets
are  weighted  according  to  broad  categories  of

notional credit risk, being assigned a risk weight-
ing  according  to  the  amount  of  capital  deemed 
to be necessary to support them. Four categories
of  risk  weights  (0%,  20%,  50%,  100%)  are
applied;  for  example  cash,  claims  collateralized
by  cash  or  claims  collateralized  by  OECD  cen-
tral-government  securities  have  a  zero  risk
weighting which means that no capital is required
to be held in respect of these assets. Uncollateral-
ized  loans  granted  to  corporate  or  private  cus-
tomers  carry  a  100%  risk  weighting,  meaning
that they must be supported by capital equal to
8%  of  the  carrying  amount.  Other  asset  cate-
gories  have  weightings  of  20%  or  50%  which
require 1.6% or 4% capital.

The net positions in securities not held in the
trading  book  reflect  the  Group’s  exposure  to 

113

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

114

Note 33 Financial instruments risk position (continued)
e) Capital adequacy (continued)

an  issuer  of  securities  arising  from  its  physical
holdings  and  other  related  transactions  in  that
security. 

For contingent liabilities and irrevocable facil-
ities granted, the credit equivalent is calculated by
multiplying the nominal value of each transaction
by its corresponding credit conversion factor. The
resulting  amounts  are  then  weighted  for  credit
risk  using  the  same  percentage  as  for  balance
sheet  assets.  In  the  case  of  OTC  forward  con-
tracts and purchased options, the credit equiva-
lent  is  computed  on  the  basis  of  the  current
replacement value of the respective contract plus
a  security  margin  (add-on)  to  cover  the  future
potential credit risk during the remaining dura-
tion of the contract.

UBS  calculates  its  capital  requirement  for
market  risk  positions,  which  includes  interest-
rate instruments and equity securities in the trad-

ing book as well as positions in foreign exchange
and  commodities  throughout  the  Group,  using 
an  internal  value-at-risk  (VaR)  model.  This
approach was introduced in the BIS 1996 market
risk amendment to the Basel Accord of July 1988
and  incorporated  in  the  Swiss  capital  adequacy
rules of the Banking Ordinance. 

The BIS proposal requires that the regulators
perform tests of the bank internal models before
giving permission for these models to be used to
calculate the market risk capital. Based on exten-
sive checks, the use of the Group internal models
was accepted by the Swiss Federal Banking Com-
mission in July 1999.

Tier  1  capital  consists  of  permanent  share-
holders’ equity and retained earnings less good-
will  and  investments  in  unconsolidated  sub-
sidiaries. Tier 2 capital includes the Group’s sub-
ordinated long term debt.

Note 34 Fair value of financial instruments

The following table presents the fair value of on-
and off-balance sheet financial instruments based
on the following valuation methods and assump-
tions.  It  is  presented  because  not  all  financial
instruments  are  reflected  in  the  financial  state-
ments at fair value.

Fair  value  is  the  amount  for  which  an  asset
could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between
knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s-length
transaction. A market price, where an active mar-
ket (such as a recognized stock exchange) exists,
is the best evidence of the fair value of a financial
instrument. However, market prices are not avail-
able  for  a  significant  number  of  the  financial
assets  and  liabilities  held  and  issued  by  the
Group.  Therefore,  for  financial  instruments
where no market price is available, the fair values
presented  in  the  following  table  have  been  esti-
mated  using  present  value  or  other  estimation
and valuation techniques based on market condi-
tions existing at balance sheet date.

The values derived using these techniques are
significantly affected by underlying assumptions
concerning both the amounts and timing of future
cash flows and the discount rates used. The fol-
lowing methods and assumptions have been used:
(a) trading assets, derivatives and other transac-
tions  undertaken  for  trading  purposes  are
measured at fair value by reference to quoted
market prices when available. If quoted mar-
ket prices are not available, then fair values
are estimated on the basis of pricing models,
or discounted cash flows. Fair value is equal
to the carrying amount for these items;
(b) the fair value of liquid assets and other assets
maturing  within  12  months  is  assumed  to
approximate  their  carrying  amount.  This
assumption is applied to liquid assets and the
short  term  elements  of  all  other  financial
assets and financial liabilities;
the fair value of demand deposits and savings
is
accounts  with  no  specific  maturity 

(c)

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 34 Fair value of financial instruments (continued)

assumed  to  be  the  amount  payable  on
demand at the balance sheet date;

(d) the fair value of variable rate financial instru-
ments is assumed to approximate their carry-
ing amounts;

(e) the  fair  value  of  fixed  rate  loans  and  mort-
gages  is  estimated  by  comparing  market
interest  rates  when  the  loans  were  granted
with current market rates offered on similar
loans. Changes in the credit quality of loans
within  the  portfolio  are  not  taken  into
account  in  determining  gross  fair  values  as

the impact of credit risk is recognized sepa-
rately  by  deducting  the  amount  of  the
allowance  for  credit  losses  from  both  book
and fair values.
The  assumptions  and  techniques  have  been
developed  to  provide  a  consistent  measurement
of fair value for the Group’s assets and liabilities.
However, because other institutions may use dif-
ferent methods and assumptions, such fair value
disclosures cannot necessarily be compared from
one financial institution to another.

CHF billion

Assets
Cash and balances with central banks
Money market paper
Due from banks
Cash collateral on securities borrowed
Reverse repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio assets
Positive replacement values
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses
Financial investments

Liabilities
Money market paper issued
Due to banks
Cash collateral on securities lent
Repurchase agreements
Trading portfolio liabilities
Negative replacement values
Due to customers
Long term debt

Fair value effect on income 
of hedging derivatives recorded 
on the accrual basis

Net difference between 
carrying value and fair value

Carrying
value

Fair Unrealized
gain/(loss)
31.12.1999 31.12.1999 31.12.1999 31.12.1998 31.12.1998 31.12.1998

Fair Unrealized
value gain/(loss)

Carrying
value

value

5.0
69.7
30.0
113.2
144.8
217.0
130.5
235.1
5.9

64.7
76.9
12.8
209.2
54.6
161.9
280.1
56.4

5.0
69.7
30.0
113.2
144.8
217.0
130.5
235.3
7.1

64.7
76.9
12.8
209.2
54.6
161.9
280.1
57.6

3.3
18.4
68.6
91.7
141.3
162.6
169.9
248.3
5.7

51.5
86.1
19.2
137.6
47.0
205.1
275.3
51.0

3.3
18.4
68.7
91.7
141.3
162.6
169.9
250.7
6.5

51.5
86.1
19.2
137.6
47.0
205.1
275.6
53.3

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.2
1.2

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(1.2)

0.5

0.7

0
0
0.1
0
0
0
0
2.4
0.8

0
0
0
0
0
0
(0.3)
(2.3)

1.0

1.7

The  table  does  not  reflect  the  fair  values  of
non-financial assets and liabilities such as prop-
erty (including those properties carried as finan-
cial  investments),  equipment,  prepayments  and
non-interest  accruals.  The  interest  amounts  ac-
crued to date for respective financial instruments
are included, for purposes of the above fair value
disclosure, in the carrying value of the financial
instruments.

Substantially all of the Group’s commitments
to extend credit are at variable rates. Accordingly,
the  Group  has  no  significant  exposure  to  fair
value fluctuations related to these commitments.
Changes in the fair value of the Group’s fixed
rate  loans,  long  and  medium  term  notes  and
bonds  issued  are  hedged  by  derivative  instru-
ments,  mainly  interest  rate  swaps.  The  interest
rate risk inherent in the balance sheet positions

115

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 34 Fair value of financial instruments (continued)

with  no  specific  maturity  is  also  hedged  with
derivative instruments based on the management
view on the economic maturity of the products.
The hedging derivative instruments are carried
at fair value on the balance sheet and are part of
the  replacement  values  in  the  above  table.  The
difference between the total amount of valuation
gains  and  losses  and  the  amortized  amount  is
deferred and shown net in the table as fair value
effect on income of hedging derivatives recorded
on accruals basis.

During 1999, the interest rate level of leading
economies  increased  substantially.  The  biggest
move in rates was noted in Switzerland, where in
particular  mid  and  long  term  rates  increased.
These moves in rates had direct impact on the fair
value calculation of fixed term transactions. 

As the bank has an excess volume of fixed rate
long term assets over fixed rate long term liabili-
ties, the net fair value unrealized gain is reduced

substantially.  In  addition  to  fixed  rate  balance
sheet positions, the bank has a number of retail
products  traditionally  offered  in  Switzerland
such  as  variable  mortgage  loans  and  customer
savings and deposits. These instruments have no
maturity or have a contractual repricing maturi-
ty of less than one year. Based on the assumptions
and  the  guidance  under  IAS,  they  are  excluded
from  the  fair  value  calculations  of  the  table
above. 

The exclusion of the above traditional bank-
ing products from the fair value calculation leads
to  certain  fair  value  swings.  By  calculating  the 
fair  value  differences  based  on  the  economic
maturity of the non maturity liabilities, such as
savings and deposits, in an environment of rais-
ing interest rates, they would generate fair value
gains which may offset most of the fair value loss
reported for fixed term transactions.

Note 35 Retirement benefit plans and other employee benefits

The Group has established various pension plans
inside  and  outside  of  Switzerland.  The  major
plans are located in Switzerland, the UK, the US
and  Germany.  Independent  actuarial  valuations
are performed for the plans in those locations.

Swiss pension plans until 30 June 1999
The  pension  funds  of  the  Group  are  set  up  as
trusts, domiciled in Basel and Zurich. All domes-
tic employees are covered. The pension funds are
defined benefit plans. The pension plan benefits
exceed the minimum benefits required under the
Swiss law.

Contributions are paid for by the Group and
the  employees.  The  employee  contributions  are
calculated as a percentage of the insured annual
salary and are deducted monthly. The percentages
deducted  from  the  salary  are  depending  on  age
and vary between 8% and 12%. The Group con-
tributions are variable and amount from 125% to
250% of the employees contributions depending
on the financial situation of the pension fund.

fits covered include retirement benefits, disabili-
ty, death and survivor pension.

Swiss pension plans starting 1 July 1999
The  pension  plans  of  both  former  banks  in
Switzerland are in the process of being liquidated
and  a  new  foundation  with  domicile  in  Zurich
has  been  created  as  of  21  January  1999.  The 
new  pension  scheme  became  operational  as  of 
1 July 1999. 

As a result of the merger of the plans of the
former  banks  in  Switzerland,  on  1  July  1999
there was a one-time increase of vested plan ben-
efits for the beneficiaries of such plans. This had
the effect of increasing the Defined Benefit Obli-
gation  at  this  date  by  CHF  3,525  million.  In
accordance  with  IAS  19  (revised  1998)  this
resulted  in  a  one-time  charge  to  income  which
was offset by the recognition of assets (previously
unrecognized due to the paragraph 58 (b) limita-
tion of IAS 19) (revised 1998) used to fund this
increase in benefits.

The pension plan formula is based on years of
contributions and final covered salary. The bene-

The  pension  plan,  covers  practically  all
employees in Switzerland and exceeds the mini-

116

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 35 Retirement benefit plans and other employee benefits
(continued)

mum benefits requirements under the Swiss law.
Contributions for the pension plan are paid for
by the employees and the Group. The employee
contributions  are  calculated  as  a  percentage  of
the  insured  annual  salary  and  are  deducted
monthly.  The  percentages  deducted  from  the
salary for the full benefit coverage (including risk
benefits) are depending on age and vary between
7% and 10%. The Group pays a variable contri-
bution that ranges between 150% and 220% of
the sum of the employees’ contributions.

The pension plan formula is based on years of
contributions and final covered salary. The bene-
fits covered include retirement benefits, disabili-
ty, death and survivor pension.

The  Group  booked  an  amount  of  CHF  456
million  in  1999  related  to  the  recognition  of
“Excess  Employer  Contributions”.  These  assets
were recognized in the fourth quarter as certain
legal and regulatory issues related to the Group’s
ability  to  utilize  these  assets  for  future  funding
purposes were resolved.

CHF million

Swiss pension plans
Defined benefit obligation
Plan assets at fair value

Plan assets in excess of benefit obligation
Unrecognized net actuarial (gains) / losses
Unrecognized assets

(Unfunded accrued) / prepaid pension cost

Additional details to fair value of plan assets
Own financial instruments and securities lent to UBS included in plan assets
Any assets used by the bank included in plan assets

Retirement benefits expense
Current service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Adjustment to limit prepaid pension cost
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs
Employee contributions

Actuarially determined net periodic pension cost

Actual return on plan assets (%)

Principal actuarial assumptions used (%)

Discount rate
Expected rate of return on assets p.a.
Expected rate of salary increase
Rate of pension increase

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

(17,011)
18,565

1,554
(724)
(374)

456

6,785
187

464
636
(883)
(150)
172
(180)

59

11.9

4.0
5.0
2.0–3.0
1.5

(14,944)
17,885

2,941
(385)
(2,556)

0

2,761
176

535
726
(856)
148
6
(185)

374

6.7

5.0
5.0
3.5–5.5
2.0

Foreign pension plans
The  foreign  locations  of  UBS  operate  various
pension schemes in accordance with the local reg-
ulations and practices. Among these schemes are
defined contribution plans as well as defined ben-
efit  plans.  The  locations  with  defined  benefit
plans of a material nature are in the UK, the US
and  Germany.  These  locations  together  with
Switzerland cover nearly 90% of the active work-
force. Certain of these schemes permit employees

to  make  contributions  and  earn  matching  or
other contributions from the Group.

The  retirement  plans  provide  benefits  in  the
event of retirement, death, disability or employ-
ment termination. The plans’ retirement benefits
depend on age, contributions and level of com-
pensation. The principal plans are financed in full
by the Group. The funding policy for these plans
is  consistent  with  local  government  and  tax
requirements. 

117

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

118

Note 35 Retirement benefit plans and other employee benefits
(continued)

The  assumptions  used  in  foreign  plans  take

into account local economic conditions. 

The amounts shown for foreign plans reflect
the  net  funded  positions  of  the  major  foreign
plans.

Postretirement medical and life plans
The  Group  in  the  US  and  the  UK  offers 
retiree  medical  benefits  that  contribute  to  the
health care coverage of the employees and bene-
ficiaries  after  retirement.  In  addition  to  retiree

medical,  the  US  also  provides  retiree  life  insur-
ance benefits.

The benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
for those plans amounts to CHF 113 million as of
31 December 1999 (1998 CHF 93 million, 1997
CHF 100 million) and the total unfunded accrued
postretirement  liabilities  to  CHF  83  million
(1998  CHF  62  million,  1997  CHF  50  million).
The  actuarially  determined  net  postretirement
cost amounts to CHF 17 million for 1999 (1998
CHF 17 million, 1997 CHF 14 million).

CHF million

Pension plans abroad
Defined benefit obligation
Plan assets at fair value

Plan assets in excess of benefit obligation
Unrecognized net actuarial (gains) / losses
Unrecognized transition amount
Unrecognized past service cost
Unrecognized assets

(Unfunded accrued) / prepaid pension cost

Movement of net (liability) or asset
Prepaid pension cost at the beginning of the period
Net periodic pension cost
Employer contributions
Currency adjustment

(Unfunded accrued) / prepaid pension cost at the end of the year

Retirement benefits expense
Current service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of net transition liability
Adjustment to limit prepaid pension cost
Immediate recognition of transition assets under IAS 8
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs
Amortization of unrecognized net (gain) / losses
Effect of any curtailment or settlement
Employee contributions

Actuarially determined net periodic pension cost

Actual return on plan assets (%)

Principal actuarial assumptions used (%)

Discount rate
Expected rates of return on assets p.a.
Expected rate of salary increase
Rate of pension increase

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

(2,444)
2,880

(2,009)
2,173

436
(474)
1
2
(28)

(63)

43
(123)
22
(5)

(63)

118
123
(195)
0
21
0
77
(6)
0
(15)

123

15.3

164
(63)
2
0
(60)

43

36
(33)
43
(3)

43

116
140
(191)
2
2
(23)
7
(3)
(8)
(9)

33

5.2

5.75–7.5
8.0–8.5
3.5–5.6
0.0–2.5

6.5–7.5
8.5–8.75
3.5–9.0
0.0–3.75

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 36 Equity participation plans

UBS AG has established various equity participa-
tion plans in the form of stock plans and stock
option plans to further align the long term inter-
ests of managers, staff and shareholders.

Key personnel are awarded a portion of their
performance-related  compensation  in  UBS  AG
shares or options, which are restricted for a spec-
ified  number  of  years.  Long-term  stock  options
are granted to key employees under another plan.
A number of awards under these plans are made
in notional shares or options, which generally are
settled in cash and are treated as liabilities. Par-
ticipation in both plans is mandatory. Long term
stock options are blocked for three or five years,
during  which  they  cannot  be  exercised.  For  the
1997  options  and  certain  of  the  1998  options,
one half of each award is subject to an accelera-
tion  clause  after  which  certain  forfeiture  provi-
sions  lapse.  One  option  gives  the  right  to  pur-
chase one registered UBS AG share at the option’s
strike price. Neither the fair value nor the intrin-
sic value of the options granted is recognized as
an expense in the financial statements.

Other employees have the choice to invest part
of  their  annual  bonus  in  UBS  AG  shares  or  in
options or derivatives on UBS AG shares, which
may be exercised or settled in cash. A number of
awards  under  these  plans  are  made  in  notional
shares or instruments, which generally are settled
in cash. A holding period, generally three years,
applies during which the instruments cannot be
sold or exercised. In addition, participants in the
plan receive a restricted matching contribution of
additional UBS AG shares or derivatives. Shares
awarded under the plan are purchased or hedged
in the market. Under another plan, employees in
Switzerland  are  entitled  to  purchase  a  specified
number of UBS AG shares at a predetermined dis-
counted price each year (the discount is recorded
as compensation expense). The number of shares
that can be purchased depends primarily on years
of service and rank. Any such shares purchased
must be held for a specified period of time. Infor-
mation  on  shares  available  for  issuance  under
these plans is included in the Group Statement of
Changes in Equity.

Number of
options
31.12.1999

Weighted-average
exercise price
(in CHF)
31.12.1999

Number of
options
31.12.1998

Weighted-average
exercise price
(in CHF)
31.12.1998

Outstanding, at the beginning  
of the year
Granted during the year
Exercised during the year
Forfeited during the year

3,601,393
1,719,571
(35,883)
(215,850)

Outstanding, at the end of the year

5,069,231

Exercisable, at the end of the year

325,320

353
474
357
380

393

371

949,962
2,905,889
(11,485 )
(242,973 )

3,601,393

0

371
363
355
535

353

0

Of the total options outstanding at 31 December
1999: 4,987,385 options (325,320 of which were
exercisable)  had  exercise  prices  ranging  from
CHF 340 to CHF 474, or CHF 391 on average,
and had a weighted-average remaining contrac-

tual life of 4.58 years; and 81,846 options (none
of  which  were  exercisable)  had  exercise  prices
ranging from CHF 510 to CHF 540, or CHF 521
on average, and had a weighted-average remain-
ing contractual life of 4.45 years.

119

Note 37 Related parties

Related  parties  include  the  Board  of  Directors,  the  Group  Executive  Board,  the  Group  Managing
Board, close family members and enterprises which are controlled by these individuals.
Total remuneration of related parties recognized in the income statement during the year amounted
to CHF 193.1 million and CHF 102.8 million for the year ended 1998. The number of long term stock
options outstanding from equity plans was 137,308 at 31 December 1999 and 127,500 at 31 Decem-
ber 1998. This scheme is further explained in note 36 Equity Participation Plans.
Total amount of shares and warrants held by members of the Board of Directors, Group Executive
Board and Group Managing Board were 1,228,046 and 11,424,514 as of 31 December 1999 and
2,317,902 and 3,089,374 as of 31 December 1998.

Total loans and advances receivable (mortgages only) from related parties were as follows:

CHF million

Mortgages at the beginning of the year
Additions
Reductions

Mortgages at the end of the year

1999

27
6
(5)

28

Members of the Board of Directors, Group Executive Board and Group Managing Board are grant-
ed mortgages at the same terms and conditions as other employees. Terms and conditions are based
on third party conditions excluding credit margin.

Loans and advances to significant associated companies were as follows:

CHF million

Loans and advances at the beginning of the year
Additions
Reductions

Loans and advances at the end of the year

Note 39 provides a list of significant associates.

1999

165
42
(145)

62

Note 38 Post-balance sheet events

There have been no material post-balance sheet events which would require disclosure or adjustment
to the December 1999 financial statements.

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

120

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 39 Significant subsidiaries and associates

Significant subsidiaries

Company

Registered
office

Division

Share
capital
in millions

Equity
interest 
accumul-
ated in %

Bern
Zurich
Basel
Lugano
Chicago
Georgetown
Zurich
St Helier
Zurich
Zurich
Zurich
Geneva
Hamilton

Armand von Ernst & Cie AG
Aventic AG
Bank Ehinger & Cie AG
BDL Banco di Lugano
Brinson Partners Inc.
Brunswick Warburg Limited
Cantrade Privatbank AG
Cantrade Private Bank Switzerland (CI) Ltd
Crédit Industriel SA
EIBA “Eidgenössische Bank”
Factors AG
Ferrier Lullin & Cie SA
Global Asset Management Ltd
HYPOSWISS, Schweizerische Hypotheken- und Handelsbank Zurich
IL Immobilien-Leasing AG
Indelec Holding AG
Intrag
Klinik Hirslanden AG
NYRE Holding Corp
Phillips & Drew Fund Management Limited
Phillips & Drew Limited
PT Warburg Dillon Read Indonesia
SBC Equity Partners AG
Schröder Münchmeyer Hengst AG
SG Warburg & Co International BV
SG Warburg Securities SA
Solothurner Bank SoBa
Systor AG
Thesaurus Continentale Effekten-Gesellschaft Zürich
UBS  Investment Management Pte Ltd
UBS (Bahamas) Ltd
UBS (Cayman Islands) Ltd
UBS (France) SA
UBS (Italia) SpA
UBS (Luxembourg) SA
UBS (Monaco) SA
UBS (Panama) SA
UBS (Sydney) Limited
UBS (Trust and Banking) Ltd
UBS (USA), Inc.
UBS Australia Holdings Ltd
UBS Australia Ltd
UBS Bank (Canada)
UBS Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co KG
UBS Brinson Asset Management Co. Ltd
UBS Brinson Inc.
UBS Brinson Investment GmbH
UBS Brinson Limited
UBS Brinson Ltd
UBS Brinson Pte Ltd
UBS Brinson SA
UBS Capital AG
UBS Capital Asia Pacific Ltd
UBS Capital BV
UBS Capital GmbH
UBS Capital II LLC
UBS Capital LLC

Opfikon
Basel
Zurich
Zurich
Wilmington
London
London
Jakarta
Opfikon
Hamburg
Amsterdam
Geneva
Solothurn
Zurich
Zurich
Singapore
Nassau
Georgetown
Paris
Milan
Luxembourg
Monte Carlo
Panama
Sydney
Tokyo
Delaware
Sydney
Sydney
Toronto
Frankfurt
Tokyo
New York
Frankfurt
London
Sydney
Singapore
Paris
Zurich
Georgetown
The Hague
Frankfurt
Delaware
New York

PB 1
PCC 2
PB
PB
AM 3
WA 4
PB
PB
CAP 5
CAP
PCC
PB
AM
PB
PCC
CAP
PB
CC 6
WA
AM
AM
WA
CAP
PB
WA
WA
PCC
PCC
CAP
WA
PB
PB
WA
PB
PB
PB
PB
WA
PB
WA
WA
WA
PB
WA
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
AM
CAP
CAP
CAP
CAP
CAP
CAP

CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
USD
USD
CHF
GBP
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
USD
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
USD
GBP
GBP
IDR
CHF
DEM
GBP
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF
SGD
USD
USD
EUR
ITL
CHF
EUR
USD
AUD
JPY
USD
AUD
AUD
CAD
EUR
JPY
USD
DEM
GBP
AUD
SGD
EUR
CHF
USD
EUR
EUR
USD
USD

5.0
30.0
6.0
50.0
–
50.0
10.0
0.7
10.0
14.0
5.0
30.0
2.0
26.0
5.0
10.0
10.0
22.5
102.97
–
8.0
11,000.0
71.7
100.0
148.07
14.5
50.0
5.0
30.0
0.5
4.0
5.6
10.0
43,000.0
150.0
9.2
6.0
12.7
10,500.0
763.37
11.7
15.0
90.47
398.8
800.0
72.77
10.0
8.8
8.0
4.0
0.8
0.5
5.0
104.17
–
2.77
18.67

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
50.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
91.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
85.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
90.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

121

Footnotes
1 PB: UBS Private Banking.
2 PCC: UBS Private and Corporate Clients.
3 AM: UBS Asset Management.
4 WA: UBS Warburg.
5 CAP: UBS Capital.
6 CC: Corporate Center.
7 Share capital + share premium.

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

Footnotes
1 PB: UBS Private Banking.
2 PCC: UBS Private and Corporate Clients.
3 AM: UBS Asset Management.
4 WA: UBS Warburg.
5 CAP: UBS Capital.
6 CC: Corporate Center.
7 Share capital + share premium.

122

Note 39 Significant subsidiaries and associates (continued)

Significant subsidiaries (continued)

Company

UBS Capital Partners Ltd
UBS Capital S.p.A.
UBS Card Center AG
UBS España SA
UBS Finance (Cayman Islands) Limited
UBS Finance (Curaçao) NV
UBS Finance (Delaware) LLC
UBS Finanzholding AG
UBS Fund Holding (Luxembourg) SA
UBS Fund Holding (Switzerland) AG
UBS Fund Management (Japan) Co. Ltd
UBS Fund Management (Switzerland) AG
UBS Fund Services (Luxembourg) S.A.
UBS Futures & Options Limited
UBS Immoleasing AG
UBS Inc.
UBS International Holdings BV
UBS Invest Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH
UBS Lease Finance LLC
UBS Leasing AG
UBS Limited
UBS Overseas Holding BV
UBS Securities (Hong Kong) Ltd
UBS Securities Limited
UBS (International) Limited
UBS Services (Japan) Ltd
UBS Services Limited
UBS Trust (Canada)
UBS UK Holding Ltd
UBS UK Limited
Warburg Dillon Read (Asia) Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read (Australia) Corporation Pty Limited
Warburg Dillon Read (España) SA
Warburg Dillon Read (France) SA
Warburg Dillon Read (Hong Kong) Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read (Italia) S.I.M. SpA
Warburg Dillon Read (Japan) Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
Warburg Dillon Read (Nederland) BV
Warburg Dillon Read AG
Warburg Dillon Read Australia Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read Derivatives Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read Futures Inc.
Warburg Dillon Read International Limited
Warburg Dillon Read LLC
Warburg Dillon Read Pte Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read Securities (España) SVB SA
Warburg Dillon Read Securities (India) Private Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read Securities (Philippines) Inc
Warburg Dillon Read Securities (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read Securities Co. Ltd
Warburg Dillon Read Securities Ltd

Registered
office

Division

Share
capital
in millions

Equity
interest 
accumul-
ated in %

CAP
London
CAP
Milan
PCC
Glattbrugg
PB
Madrid
CC
Georgetown
CC
Curaçao
WA
Wilmington
CC
Zurich
PB
Luxembourg
PB
Basel
PB
Tokyo
PB
Basel
PB
Luxembourg
WA
London
PCC
Zurich
WA
New York
CC
Amsterdam
PB
Frankfurt
WA
New York
PCC
Brugg
WA
London
CAP
Amsterdam
WA
Hong Kong
WA
London
WA
London
WA
London
WA
London
PB
Toronto
WA
London
WA
London
WA
Hong Kong
WA
Sydney
WA
Madrid
WA
Paris
WA
Hong Kong
WA
Milan
Georgetown
WA
Kuala Lumpur WA
WA
Amsterdam
WA
Frankfurt
WA
Sydney
WA
Hong Kong
WA
Chicago
WA
London
WA
New York
WA
Singapore
WA
Madrid
WA
Mumbai
WA
Makati
WA
Sandton
WA
Bangkok
WA
London

GBP
ITL
CHF
EUR
USD
USD
USD
CHF
CHF
CHF
JPY
CHF
CHF
GBP
CHF
USD
CHF
DEM
USD
CHF
GBP
EUR
HKD
GBP
GBP
JPY
GBP
CAD
GBP
GBP
HKD
AUD
EUR
EUR
HKD
EUR
JPY
MYR
EUR
EUR
AUD
HKD
USD
GBP
USD
SGD
EUR
INR
PHP
ZAR
THB
GBP

6.7
50,000.0
40.0
35.3
0.5
0.1
37.37
10.0
42.0
18.0
1,000.0
1.0
2.5
2.0
3.0
308.77
5.5
5.0
16.7
10.0
10.0
18.17
20.0
10.0
10.0
41,353.5
–
10.0
5.0
609.0
20.0
50.47
1.2
22.9
30.0
1.8
30,000.0
0.5
10.9
155.7
571.57
20.0
14.37
18.0
535.07
3.0
13.4
0.4
120.0
22.0
400.0
140.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
64.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
50.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
75.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

UBS Group Financial Statements  

Notes to the Financial Statements

Note 39 Significant subsidiaries and associates (continued)

Significant associates
Company

Giubergia Warburg SIM SpA, Milan
Motor Columbus AG, Baden
National Versicherung AG, Basel
Telekurs Holding AG, Zurich
Swiss Financial Services Group AG, Zurich

Equity interest in %

Share capital in millions

50.0
35.6
28.4
33.3
30.7

ITL
CHF
CHF
CHF
CHF

29,000
253
35
45
26

None of the above investments carry voting rights that are significantly different from the proportion
of shares held.

Consolidated companies: changes in 1999
New companies

Global Asset Management Ltd., Hamilton
Klinik Hirslanden AG, Zurich
UBS Brinson Realty Investors LLC, Hartford (formerly Allegis Realty Investors LLC)
UBS Capital AG, Zurich
UBS España SA, Madrid
UBS (France) SA, Paris
UBS Trustees (Channel Island) Ltd., Jersey (formerly Bankamerica Trust Company)

Deconsolidated companies
Name

UBS (East Asia) Ltd, Singapore
UBS Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Singapore

Reason for deconsolidation

Deregistered
Deregistered

Note 40 Significant currency translation rates

The following table shows the significant rates used to translate the financial statements of foreign
entities into Swiss francs.

1 USD
1 EUR
1 GBP
100 JPY
100 DEM

Spot rate

Average rate

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

1.59
1.61
2.58
1.56
82.07

1.38
–
2.29
1.22
82.19

1.50
1.60
2.43
1.33
81.88

1.45
–
2.41
1.11
82.38

123

UBS Group Financial Statements 
Notes to the Financial Statements

124

Note 41 Swiss banking law requirements

The significant differences between International
Accounting Standards (IAS), which are the prin-
ciples followed by the Group, and the accounting
requirements  for  banks  under  Swiss  laws  and
regulations, are as follows:

Securities borrowing and lending
Under  IAS  only  the  cash  collateral  delivered  or
received is recognized in the balance sheet.  There
is no recognition or derecognition for the securi-
ties received or delivered. The Swiss requirement
is to recognize the securities received or delivered
in the balance sheet along with any collateral in
respect  of  those  securities  for  which  control  is
transferred.

Treasury shares
Treasury shares is the term used to describe the
holding by an enterprise, of its own equity instru-
ments.  In  accordance  with  IAS  treasury  shares
not held for trading are presented in the balance

sheet as a deduction from equity. No gain or loss
is recognized in the income statement on the sale,
issuance,  or  cancellation  of  those  shares.  Con-
sideration  received  is  presented  in  the  financial
statement as a change in equity.

Under  Swiss  requirements,  treasury  shares
would be carried in the balance sheet as financial
investments  with  gains  and  losses  on  the  sale,
issuance,  or  cancellation  of  treasury  shares
reflected in the income statement.

Extraordinary income and expense
Under  IAS  most  items  of  income  and  expense
arise  in  the  course  of  ordinary  business,  and
extraordinary  items  are  expected  to  be  rare.
Under  the  Swiss  requirements,  income  and
expense items not directly related with the core
business  activities  of  the  enterprise  (e.g.  sale  of
fixed  assets  or  bank  premises)  are  recorded  as
extraordinary income or expense. 

CHF million

Differences in the balance sheet
Securities borrowing and lending

Assets

Trading portfolio / Money market paper
Due from banks / customers

Liabilities

Due to banks / customers
Trading portfolio liabilities

Treasury shares

Assets

Financial investments

Differences in the income statement
Treasury shares

Reclassification of extraordinary income and expense
Other income, including income from associates

General administrative expenses

Differences in the shareholders’ equity
Treasury shares

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

47,401
273,093

375,080
(54,586)

3,136

(182)

(1,726)

(519)

97,907
40,915

185,855
(47,033)

1,482

369

(1,350)

(1,235)

3,462

1,482

UBS Group Financial Statements  
Report of the Group Auditors

125

UBS AG
(Parent Bank)

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Table of Contents

Parent Bank Review

Financial Statements

Income Statement
Balance Sheet
Statement of appropriation of retained earnings

Notes to the Financial Statements

Additional income statement information
Net trading income
Extraordinary income and expenses

Additional balance sheet information
Value adjustments and provisions
Statement of shareholders’ equity
Share capital

129

130

130
131
131

132

133
133
133

133
133
134
134

Off balance sheet and other information
Assets pledged or assigned as security for 
own obligations, assets subject to reservation of title 135
135
Fiduciary transactions
Due to UBS pension plans, 
loans to corporate bodies / related parties

135

135

Report of the Statutory Auditors

136

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Table of Contents

128

Parent Bank Review

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Parent Bank Review

Income statement

Balance sheet

Due to the merger of Union Bank of Switzerland
and Swiss Bank Corporation, the financial year
of the parent bank UBS AG in 1998 covered a 15-
month period from 1 October 1997 to 31 Decem-
ber  1998.  This  should  be  borne  in  mind  when
comparing the two income statements where the
profit of CHF 6,788 million for 1999 relates to
CHF 650 million for the 15 months in 1998.
– Income 

in  associates
investments 
decreased  to  CHF  1,669  million  from  CHF
2,974 million in 1998 due to the reduction of
repatriation of capital to the parent bank.

from 

income 

– Sundry 

from  ordinary  activities
amounted to CHF 894 million in 1999, down
from CHF 1,162 million in 1998. It includes a
CHF 200 million gain from the disposal of the
international Global Trade Finance business.
– Allowances, provisions and losses were CHF
1,815 million. In 1998 they were CHF 4,849
million.  This  variance  is  discussed  in  more
detail in the Group Financial Statements.
– Extraordinary  income  amounted  to  CHF
2,518 million, while in 1998 it stood at CHF
3,940 million, reflecting the disposal of asso-
ciated companies and the sale of bank premis-
es. Further  information  regarding  extraordi-
nary income and expenses can be found in the
Additional Income Statement Information.

Total  assets  grew  by  CHF  58  billion  to  CHF
1,099  billion  by  31  December  1999.  Excluding
currency related effects total assets declined 1%.
The growing volume of reverse repurchase agree-
ments and securities lending and borrowing led
to  an  increase  in  assets  and  liabilities  due  from
and  to  banks.  Note  that  these  transactions  are
presented differently in the Group balance sheet.
These increases were offset by declining replace-
ment values.

129

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Financial Statements

Financial Statements

Income Statement

CHF million

Interest and discount income
Interest and dividend income from financial assets
Interest expense

Net interest income

Credit-related fees and commissions
Fee and commission income from securities and investment business
Other fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense

Net fee and commission income

Net trading income

Net income from disposal of financial assets
Income from investments in associated companies
Income from real estate holdings
Sundry income from ordinary activities
Sundry ordinary expenses

Other income from ordinary activities

Operating income

Personnel
General administrative

Operating expenses

Operating profit

Depreciation and write-offs on fixed assets
Allowances, provisions and losses

Profit before extraordinary items and taxes

Extraordinary income
Extraordinary expenses
Tax expense / (benefit)

Profit for the period

01.01.1999–
31.12.1999

01.10.1997–
31.12.1998

24,172
41
(18,148)

6,065

361
7,758
534
(763)

7,890

5,593

440
1,669
30
894
(21)

3,012

22,560

9,178
5,154

14,332

8,228

423
1,815

5,990

2,518
411
1,309

6,788

33,205
240
(25,412)

8,033

766
9,229
687
(781)

9,901

383

756
2,974
38
1,162
(185)

4,745

23,062

7,977
6,290

14,267

8,795

815
4,849

3,131

3,940
7,046
(625)

650

130

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Financial Statements

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change

%

Balance Sheet

CHF million

Assets
Liquid assets
Money market paper
Due from banks
Due from customers
Mortgage loans
Trading balances in securities and precious metals
Financial assets
Investments in associated companies
Tangible fixed assets
Accrued income and prepaid expenses
Positive replacement values
Other assets

Total

Total subordinated assets
Total amounts receivable from Group companies

Liabilities
Money market paper issued
Due to banks
Due to customers on savings and deposit accounts
Other amounts due to customers
Medium term note issues
Bond issues and loans from central mortgage institutions
Accruals and deferred income
Negative replacement values
Other liabilities
Value adjustments and provisions
Share capital
General statutory reserve
Reserve for own shares
Other reserves
Profit brought forward
Profit for the period

3,975
62,154
356,858
195,464
123,151
196,782
5,067
6,727
5,709
3,555
131,730
7,923

2,876
14,610
303,032
192,429
131,788
191,578
3,010
6,153
6,840
5,293
173,020
10,318

1,099,095

1,040,947

939
197,211

1,236
115,140

47,931
352,775
76,414
341,509
5,918
44,254
8,746
159,713
7,835
18,554
4,309
14,528
3,462
6,356
3
6,788

30,963
314,258
77,964
295,381
8,303
36,180
9,853
207,410
14,915
15,176
4,300
14,295
490
10,806
3
650

Total

Total subordinated liabilities
Total liabilities to Group companies

1,099,095

1,040,947

13,362
160,055

12,528
108,666

Statement of appropriation of retained earnings

The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting the following appropriation:

Profit for the financial year 1999 as per the Parent Bank’s Income Statement
Retained earnings from prior years

Available for appropriation

Appropriation to general statutory reserve
Appropriation to other reserves
Proposed dividends

Retained earnings carried forward

1,099
47,544
53,826
3,035
(8,637 )
5,204
2,057
574
(1,131 )
(1,738 )
(41,290 )
(2,395 )

58,148

(297 )
82,071

16,968
38,517
(1,550 )
46,128
(2,385 )
8,074
(1,107 )
(47,697 )
(7,080 )
3,378
9
233
2,972
(4,450 )
0
6,138

58,148

834
51,389

38
325
18
2
(7)
3
68
9
(17)
(33)
(24)
(23)

6

(24)
71

55
12
(2)
16
(29)
22
(11)
(23)
(47)
22
0
2
607
(41)
0
944

6

7
47

CHF million

6,788
3

6,791

(215)
(4,200)
(2,364)

12

Dividend distribution
Upon acceptance of this proposal, the dividend for 1999 will amount to CHF 11.– gross per share of CHF 20.– par value.
The dividend will be paid on 26 April 2000, to shareholders or to their depository bank, after deduction of 35% Swiss
withholding tax.

131

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Notes to the Financial Statements

Notes to the
Financial Statements

Accounting and valuation principles
The parent company’s accounting and valuation
policies  are  in  compliance  with  Swiss  federal
banking law. The accounting and valuation poli-
cies are principally the same as outlined for the
Group  Financial  Statements  in  Note  1:  Signifi-
cant Accounting Policies of the Group Financial
Statements. Major differences between the Swiss
federal  banking  law  requirements  and  Interna-
tional  Accounting  Standards  are  described  in
Note  41  to  the  Group  Financial  Statements.  In
addition, the following principles are applied for
the parent bank:

Investments in associated companies
Investments  in  associated  companies  are  equity
interests which are held on a long term basis for
the  purpose  of  the  parent  company’s  business
activities. They are carried at a value no higher
than their cost price.

Property and equipment
Bank buildings and other real estate are carried at
cost  less  depreciation  at  a  rate  which  takes
account  of  the  economic  and  business  situation
and which is permissible for tax purposes. Depre-

ciation  of  computer  and  telecommunication
equipment, as well as other equipment, fixtures
and fittings is recognized on a straight-line basis
over  the  estimated  useful  lives  of  the  related
assets.  The  useful  lives  of  Property  and  Equip-
ment  are  summarized  in  Note  1,  Significant
Accounting  Policies,  of  the  Group  Financial
Statements.

Extraordinary income and expenses
Certain items of income and expense appear as
extraordinary  within  the  Parent  Bank  Financial
Statements,  whereas  in  the  Group  Financial
Statements  they  are  considered  to  be  operating
income or expenses and appear within the appro-
priate income or expense category.  These are sep-
arately identified below. 

Taxation
Deferred  Tax  Assets,  except  those  relating  to
Restructuring Provisions, and Deferred Tax Lia-
bilities, except for a few immaterial exceptions,
are not recognized in the Parent Bank Financial
Statements as it is not required by Swiss federal
banking law to do so.  

132

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Notes to the Financial Statements

Additional income statement information

Net trading income

CHF million

Foreign exchange and banknotes
Bonds and other interest rate instruments
Equities
Precious metals and commodities

Total

01.01.1999–
31.12.1999

01.10.1997–
31.12.1998

717
1,816
3,089
(29)

5,593

2,156
(1,440)
(421)
88

383

Extraordinary income and expenses

Extraordinary income contains CHF 2,100 mil-
lion (1998: CHF 1,532 million) from the sale of
former  subsidiaries,  CHF  417  million  (1998:
CHF 33 million) from the sale of tangible fixed
assets and CHF 0 million (1998: CHF 2,183 mil-
lion)  from  a  release  of  provisions  no  longer
required.

Extraordinary  expenses  consist  mainly  of
losses of CHF 157 million (1998: CHF 38 mil-
lion) from the disposal of investments in associ-
ated  companies  and  CHF  254  million  (1998:
CHF  8  million)  from  the  sale  of  tangible  fixed
assets.

Additional balance sheet information

Value adjustments and provisions

Provisions Recoveries,
doubtful
applied in
interest,
accordance
currency
with their
translation
specified
differences
purpose

Balance at
31.12.1998

provisions

New Provisions
released
charged and credited
to income

to income

Balance at
31.12.1999

14,027
2,943
394
3,895

(2,980)
(358)
(146)
(2,097)

705
510
28
(223)

1,601
1,356
964
1,287

(424)
(1,184)
(87)
(482)

12,929
3,267
1,153
2,380

21,259

(5,581)

1,020

5,208

(2,177)

19,729

CHF million

Default risks
(credit and country risk)
Other business risks 1
Capital and income taxes
Other provisions

Total allowance for 
general credit losses 
and other provisions

Allowances deducted from assets

(6,083 )

Total provisions as 
per balance sheet

15,176

–

–

1 Provisions for litigation, settlement and other business risks.

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,175)

18,554

133

Additional balance sheet information (continued)

Statement of shareholders’ equity

CHF million

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change

%

Shareholders’ equity
Share capital at the beginning of the period
General statutory reserves
Reserves for own shares
Other reserves
Reserves for general banking risks
Retained earnings

Total shareholders’ equity at the beginning 
of the period (before distribution of profit)

– Reduction of nominal capital
+ Increase in General statutory reserves
+ Capital increase / (decrease)
+ Premium
+ Other allocations
– Allocation / (release) of Reserves for general banking risks
– Prior-year dividend
+ Profit for the period

Total shareholders’ equity at the end of the period 
(before distribution of profit)
of which:

Share capital
General statutory reserves
Reserves for own shares
Other reserves
Retained earnings

Share capital

4,300
14,295
490
10,806
0
653

5,755
12,515
964
9,266
667
3,501

30,544

32,668

190
9
45
(38)
0
(2,092)
6,788

(1,467 )
1,467
12
82
35
(667 )
(2,236 )
650

(1,455 )
1,780
(474 )
1,540
(667 )
(2,848 )

(2,124 )

1,467
(1,277 )
(3 )
(37 )
(73 )
667
144
6,138

35,446

30,544

4,902

4,309
14,528
3,462
6,356
6,791

4,300
14,295
490
10,806
653

9
233
2,972
(4,450 )
6,138

(25)
14
(49)
17
(100)
(81)

(7)

–
(87)
(25)
(45)
(209)
–
(6)
944

16

0
2
607
(41)
940

Par value

Ranking for dividends

No. of shares

Capital in CHF

No. of shares

Capital in CHF

Issued and paid up

215,446,581

4,308,931,620

214,920,040

4,298,400,800

Conditional share capital

528,954

10,579,080

–

–

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Notes to the Financial Statements

134

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Notes to the Financial Statements

Off-balance sheet and other information

Assets pledged or assigned as security for own obligations, 
assets subject to reservation of title

CHF million

Money market paper
Mortgage loans
Securities

Total

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change in %

Book
value

35,475
1,869
3,722

41,066

Effective
liability

702
1,325
188

2,215

Book
value

6,956
2,410
14,852

24,218

Effective
liability

0
1,602
8,883

10,485

Book
value

410
(22 )
(75 )

70

Effective
liability

–
(17)
(98)

(79)

Assets  are  pledged  as  collateral  for  securities  borrowing  and  repo  transactions,  for  collateralized 
credit  lines  with  central  banks,  loans  from  mortgage  institutions  and  security  deposits  relating  to 
stock exchange membership.

Fiduciary transactions

CHF million

Deposits
with other banks
with Group banks

Loans and other financial transactions

Total

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change

47,802
759

415

46,180
1,543

479

48,976

48,202

1,622
(784 )

(64 )

774

Due to UBS pension plans, loans to corporate bodies / 
related parties

CHF million

31.12.1999

31.12.1998

Change

Due to UBS pension plans (including securities borrowed) 
and UBS securities held by pension plans
Loans to directors, senior executives and auditing bodies 1

6,785
61

1,250
70

5,535
(9 )

%

4
(51)

(13)

2

%

443
(13)

1 Loans to directors, senior executives and auditing bodies are loans to members of the Board of Directors, the Group Executive Board, the Group
Managing Board and the Group’s official auditors under Swiss company law. This also includes loans to companies which are controlled by these
natural or legal persons.

135

UBS AG (Parent Bank)
Report of the Statutory Auditors

136

UBS Corporate
Governance

UBS Corporate Governance 
Corporate and Executive Bodies 

Corporate and 
Executive Bodies

UBS is committed to

meet the highest interna-

tional standards of corpo-

rate governance in its

organizational structure

and its system of checks

and balances. Corporate

and executive bodies are

organized in line with the

leading codes of best

practice as well as with

Swiss legal requirements.

138

The Board of Directors 
As  of  31  December  1999,  the  Board  of  Direc-
tors  (BoD)  consisted  of  eight  non-executive 
Directors, while the Articles of Association pro-
vide flexibility to elect between eight and twelve
members.  The  BoD  has  ultimate  responsibility
for  the  strategic  direction  of  the  UBS Group,
developed  and  proposed  by  the  Group  Execu-
tive Board (GEB). The BoD is also responsible
for  the  supervision  and control  of  the  Group’s
executive  management.  At  the  1999  Annual
General  Meeting  (AGM),  two  BoD  members
resigned:  Georges  Schorderet  and  Manfred
Zobl.  Eric  Honegger,  Chairman  designate  of
SAirGroup, was newly elected.

The BoD is organized as follows: the Chairman
and the two Vice-Chairmen form the Chairman’s
Office, which assumes a special level of authority
within the organization, mainly in credit approval
and compensation issues. The Chairman’s Office
also acts as the Remuneration Committee. It fixes
the remuneration of the BoD’s full-time members,
the members of the Group Executive Board and
of the Group Managing Board, and it proposes to
the BoD the individual remuneration for its part-
time members. 

In its capacity as the Audit Supervisory Board,
the Chairman’s Office also assumes responsibili-
ty for the supervision of internal audit. The Audit
Supervisory Board and the head of Group Inter-
nal Audit meet four times per year to discuss is-
sues raised by both internal and external audit,
and decide subsequently if any special measures
need to be taken. The Audit Supervisory Board
also reviews the annual objectives and activity re-
ports of Group Internal Audit.

The Audit Committee monitors the function-
al  adequacy  of  the  auditing  work  and  the  co-
operation between internal and external audit. It
is  chaired  by  Peter  Böckli  with  Rolf  A.  Meyer 
as  Vice-Chairman  and  Andreas  Reinhart  as  an
additional member. The Audit Committee meets
two  to  three  times  per  year  together  with  the
head  of  Group  Internal  Audit  and  the  external
auditors,  and  –  specifically  for  the  review  of 
the annual accounts – with the Chief Financial
Officer.

With this structure in place, UBS observes the
principles  of  best  practice  in  corporate  gover-
nance. The world is, however, moving forward,
and new principles are being discussed and intro-
duced, primarily in the US. UBS carefully watch-

es these developments and aims to remain at the
forefront of organizational excellence.

During  1999,  the  Board  of  Directors  met
eleven times for ordinary meetings, which are at-
tended by the members of the Group Executive
Board  in  an  advisory  capacity.  The  common
meetings  serve  to  provide  a  platform  for  high-
level interaction between the two boards which
have both clearly defined mandates, but share ul-
timate responsibility for the success of the com-
pany.  In  addition  the  BoD  attended  a  full-day
meeting  to  review  the  Group  strategy  proposed
by the GEB, and it was informed in detail about
the Group’s communication activities and the tar-
gets of the Human Resources departments during
a  one-day  offsite  together  with  the  GEB.  The
further development of the Group, its organiza-
tional and capital structure and the plans to reg-
ister with the US Securities and Exchange Com-
mission (SEC) were major issues addressed. The
review  of  the  quarterly  and  year-end  financial
statements,  the  regular  risk  reports  and  the  ap-
proval of the annual budgets are among the core
authorities of the BoD.

The Group Executive Board 
The seven members of the Group Executive Board
(GEB) assume ultimate responsibility for the de-
velopment of the Group’s strategy, its implemen-
tation and the financial results. As of 1 May 1999,
Hans de Gier, CEO of the investment banking di-
vision,  retired.  He  was  replaced  by  Markus
Granziol, head of the Equity business area of UBS
Warburg. Peter Wuffli, UBS Group CFO until the
end  of  April,  took  over  from  Gary  Brinson  as
CEO of the Asset Management Division on 1 Sep-
tember. The position of the Group’s Chief Finan-
cial Officer was assigned to Luqman Arnold, pre-
viously Chief Operating Officer of UBS Warburg.
These personnel changes were followed by some
fundamental  organizational  alterations:  all  risk
and  control  functions  were  combined  and  put
under the leadership of the CFO, with the Group
Chief  Risk  Officer  and  the  Group  Chief  Credit
Officer now reporting to the CFO. Pierre de Weck
was named CEO of UBS Capital.

As of 15 February 2000, Rudi Bogni, CEO of
the  Private  Banking  Division,  left  the  Bank  in
connection  with  the  reorganization  of  the
Group’s  asset  management  businesses.  Georges
Gagnebin,  head  of  the  business  area  “Interna-
tional Clients”, became CEO of Private Banking

UBS Corporate Governance 
Corporate and Executive Bodies 

and was appointed Member of the Group Execu-
tive Board.

At its biweekly meetings, the Group Executive
Board discussed business issues of major impor-
tance. In a two-day seminar at the beginning of
the year, the GEB evaluated the Group’s strategy.
During the year under review, it redefined inter-
nal medium-term planning targets, elaborated a
new  policy  of  disclosing  financial  results  and
forecasts, and informed the financial community
about  these  decisions  during  Investors’  Day  on
December 14. The growing importance of e-serv-
ices in the financial industry was another focus of
numerous  GEB  meetings.  A  new  business  area 
“e-services” was created as a result of these dis-
cussions. An important concern for the GEB re-
mained,  of  course,  the  integration  of  the  two
merged banks. Major initiatives were defined to
take advantage of the possible synergies resulting
from an integrated approach to the Group’s ac-
tivities. It is one of the dominant functions of the
GEB  to  enhance  synergies  through  cross-divi-
sional cooperation.

The Group Managing Board
The 32 members of the Group Managing Board
(GMB) – 7 GEB members, 16 members of Divi-
sional Management Boards and 9 members with
key roles at the top level of the organization – met
in  London  at  the  beginning  of  May  to  discuss
strategic issues and to initiate the 1999 planning
cycle.

Group Internal Audit
To  guarantee  full  independence  from  the  busi-
ness,  the  head  of  Group  Internal  Audit,  Walter
Stürzinger,  reports  directly  to  the  Chairman  of
the Board of Directors.

With  around  200  professionals  worldwide,
Group  Internal  Audit  provides  an  independent
review of the effectiveness of the system of inter-
nal controls and compliance with key rules and
regulations.

All key issues raised by Group Internal Audit
are  communicated  to  the  management  respon-
sible,  the  CEO  and  the  Chairman’s  Office  via
formal  Audit  Reports.  The  Audit  Supervisory
Board and the Audit Committee are regularly in-
formed about the major findings. State-of-the-art
systems technology helps ensure that all signifi-
cant  audit  issues  raised  are  globally  monitored
and  subsequently  resolved.  The  efficiency  of
audit work is increased by extensive cooperation
between Group Internal Audit and our external
auditors.

External auditors
After an intensive selection process ATAG Ernst
& Young Ltd. have been assigned the global audit
mandate for the UBS Group. In the past, different
firms assumed audit functions on behalf of UBS.

139

Corporate and Executive Bodies

Board of Directors 

Group Executive Board

Marcel Ospel
Group Chief Executive Officer

Luqman Arnold
Chief Financial Officer

Rodolfo Bogni
CEO Private Banking Division (until 15 February 2000)

Georges Gagnebin
CEO Private Banking Division (since 15 February 2000)

Markus Granziol
CEO Investment Banking and Securities Division

Stephan Haeringer
CEO Private and Corporate Clients Division

Pierre de Weck
CEO Private Equity Division

Peter A. Wuffli
CEO Asset Management Division

Alex Krauer (AGM 2002)1
Chairman
Member of the Audit Supervisory Board

Alberto Togni (AGM 2001)
Vice Chairman
Chairman of the Audit Supervisory Board 

Markus Kündig (AGM 2002)
Zug, Vice Chairman 
Member of the Audit Supervisory Board

Peter Böckli (AGM 2003)
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Partner in the law firm Böckli, Bodmer & Partner, Basel

Eric Honegger (AGM 2003)
Chairman designate of SAirGroup, Zurich-Airport

Rolf A. Meyer (AGM 2003)
Member of the Audit Committee
Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Ciba Specialty
Chemicals Inc., Basel

Hans Peter Ming (AGM 2000)
Chairman of Sika Finanz AG, Baar

Andreas Reinhart (AGM 2000)
Member of the Audit Committee
Chairman of Volkart Brothers Holding Ltd., Winterthur

Secretary to the Board of Directors:
Gertrud Erismann-Peyer

1 Term of office until AGM of the year indicated.

UBS Corporate Governance 
Corporate and Executive Bodies 

140

UBS Corporate Governance 
Corporate and Executive Bodies 

Group Managing Board

In addition to the members of the Group Executive Board
the following gentlemen belong to the Group Managing
Board:

Gary Brinson
Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, 
UBS Asset Management Division

Colin Buchan
Global Head of Equity, UBS Warburg Division

Richard C. Capone
Regional Manager for UBS AG’s operations in the Americas,
CEO Warburg Dillon Read LLC

Crispian Collins
CEO Phillips & Drew London, 
UBS Asset Management Division

John Costas
Chief Operating Officer and Global Head Fixed Income
and Treasury Products, UBS Warburg Division

Arthur Decurtins
Deputy CEO and Head Products, Services and Logistics,
UBS Private Banking Division

Jeffrey J. Diermeier
Deputy Chief Investment Officer UBS Brinson / Brinson
Partners, UBS Asset Management Division

Thomas K. Escher
Business Area Head IT, UBS Private and Corporate Clients
Division

Carlo A. Grigioni
Business Area Head The Americas, 
UBS Private Banking Division

William (Bill) Johnson
Business Area Head E-Services, Corporate Center

Benjamin F. Lenhardt, Jr.
CEO UBS Brinson/Brinson Partners, 
UBS Asset Management Division

Franz Menotti
Business Area Head Individual Clients, 
UBS Private and Corporate Clients Division

Urs B. Rinderknecht
Group Mandates, Corporate Center

Marcel Rohner
Group Chief Risk Officer, Corporate Center

Gian Pietro Rossetti
Business Area Head Swiss Clients, 
UBS Private Banking Division

Hugo Schaub
Group Controller, Corporate Center

Jean Francis Sierro
Business Area Head Resources, 
UBS Private and Corporate Clients Division

Clive Standish
CEO Warburg Dillon Read Asia/Pacific, 
UBS Warburg Division

Marco Suter
Group Chief Credit Officer, Corporate Center

Rory Tapner
Joint Global Head Corporate Finance, 
UBS Warburg Division

Jürg Haller
Business Area Head Risk Transformatioin and Capital
Management, UBS Private and Corporate Clients Division

Markus Weiss
Business Area Head Private Banks, 
UBS Private Banking Division

Eugen Haltiner
Business Area Head Corporate Clients, 
UBS Private and Corporate Clients Division

Stephan Zimmermann
Business Area Head Operations, 
UBS Private and Corporate Clients Division

Auditors 

External Auditor
ATAG Ernst & Young Ltd., Basel 
Auditors for the Parent Bank and for the Group as 
prescribed by Company Law and Swiss Banking Law
(term expires AGM 2000)

Internal Audit
Walter H. Stürzinger, 
Head of Group Internal Audit 

141

UBS Corporate Governance 
Corporate Information 

Corporate Information

UBS adopts best practice

in its relationship with

shareholders, rating

agencies and regulators,

and it has made trans-

parency vis-à-vis regula-

tors, the financial com-

munity and the media

one of its strategic

targets. 

Relationship with regulators
As UBS is a Swiss registered company, our main
regulator is the Swiss Federal Banking Commis-
sion.  Major  regulatory  contacts,  however,  also
exist  with  the  Federal  Reserve  Board  (US  Fed)
and  the  UK  Financial  Services  Authority  (FSA),
the two countries where we have the most signif-
icant  non-Swiss  business  units.  UBS  also  main-
tains  extensive  contacts  with  other  regulatory
bodies. It is our aim to comply with all local and
regional provisions, and we work closely togeth-
er with the respective regulators. In an attempt to
provide comprehensive, transparent, timely and
up-to-date  information,  we  are  in  a  process  of
developing  a  web-based  corporate  information
tool which will be accessible to selected regula-
tory  users.  The  Group  Governance  Committee,
chaired  by  the  CEO,  coordinates  the  Group’s
public policy interface with governments, central
banks  and  regulators.  It  ensures  that  adequate
policies and procedures exist and are enforced in
order to minimize the bank’s reputational risks.
The Group CFO, the Group Controller, the Chief
Risk  and  Chief  Credit  Officers,  the  head  of
Group Internal Audit, the Group General Coun-
sel and the divisional heads of Corporate Gover-
nance and Legal and Compliance are the perma-
nent members of the Committee.

Relationship with shareholders
More than 200,000 shareholders are entered in
our share register. We are committed to providing
quality information and keeping them regularly
informed  about  the  important  developments  of
their company. For institutional shareholders and
for all individual shareholders with an interest in
in-depth information, we produce the annual and

quarterly “Financial Reports”. These documents
provide all information required by International
Accounting Standards and the Swiss accounting
regulations as well as analyses of, and comments
on,  the  financial  situation  of  the  Group,  its
strengths  and  weaknesses,  and  its  challenges 
and achievements. A more concise, easy-to-read
“Letter to Shareholders” is sent to all sharehold-
ers each quarter and explains the major factors
driving  the  Group’s  development.  The  “Annual
Review” is a condensed report, centering on the
annual  results,  the  achievements  of  the  Group
and the divisions, and selected additional issues.
The  Annual  General  Meeting  offers  the  op-
portunity to our shareholders to raise any ques-
tions regarding the development of the company
and  the  achievements  of  the  year  under  review.
The members of the BoD and of the GEB as well
as the internal and external auditors are present
to answer these questions. Proxy voting offers all
shareholders the option to express their views on
each agenda point.

UBS  is  committed  to  transparency  and  open-
ness in its communication with shareholders, in-
stitutional  investors  and  equity  analysts.  We  are
continually  improving  our  disclosure  policies,
making our information more transparent, consis-
tent and reliable over time. We are committed to
reporting our results on an absolute rather than on
a cumulative quarterly basis starting with the first
quarter of 2000, and publishing and explaining a
detailed set of value drivers every quarter.

For  information  about  the  distribution  of 
UBS  shares  (size  of  individual  holdings,  geo-
graphic origin of shareholders, individual/corpo-
rate shareholders) see page 149.

142

Glossary

Glossary

144

A

C

D

accrual basis of accounting
The effects of transactions and other
events are recognized when they
occur, not as cash or its equivalent is
received or paid, and they are record-
ed in the accounting records and re-
ported in the financial statements of
the periods to which they relate.

allowance for credit losses
An allowance, which in manage-
ment’s estimate is adequate to pro-
vide for the credit losses inherent in
the loan portfolio. The allowance for
credit losses is deducted from the re-
lated asset category on the balance
sheet.

associate
An enterprise in which the investor
has significant influence and which is
neither a subsidiary nor a joint ven-
ture of the investor. Significant influ-
ence is the power to participate in
(but not control) the financial and
operating policy decisions of the
investee.

B

basic earnings per share
The per share net profit or loss that is
attributable to ordinary shareholders.
It is calculated by dividing the net
profit or loss for the period by the
weighted average number of ordinary
shares outstanding during the period.

BIS capital ratio
A measure of the capital resources
underpinning the operations of banks
(capital adequacy), as set by the Basel
Committee on Banking Supervision
which meets at the Bank for Interna-
tional Settlements (BIS). Eligible capi-
tal is broken down into core capital
(or Tier 1 capital) and supplementary
capital (Tier 2 capital). The bank’s as-
sets are weighted from 0% to 100%.
The ratio of the capital to the bank’s
risk-weighted positions is the BIS
capital ratio.

business segment
A distinguishable component of an
enterprise that is engaged in provid-
ing a group of related services which
are subject to risks and returns that
are different from those of other
business segments.

commitment
Future obligation to enter into a
transaction, backed by an agreement.

compliance risk
The risk that the conduct of business
does not comply or appears not to
comply with the applicable laws, in-
ternal or external regulations, industry
directives, restrictions or professional
standards and practice, which may
lead in particular to regulatory or
criminal sanctions, costs and fees or
reputational damages. 

concentration risk 
The risk of loss resulting from exces-
sive exposure to a particular risk or a
group of risks or to a particular coun-
try, industry, currency or counterparty
group.

contingency
A condition or situation, the ultimate
outcome of which, gain or loss, will
be confirmed only on the occurrence,
or non-occurrence, of one or more
uncertain future events.

contract volume
Corresponds to the receivable side of
the underlying value or notional/
nominal amount underlying derivative
instruments. 

country risk
Comprises transfer and other country
risks. Transfer risk is the risk of losses
on foreign creditors’ and investors’
claims that would arise from sover-
eign default or other restrictions on
cross-border transfers of funds. Other
country risk includes the potential for
losses by foreign creditors and in-
vestors arising from systemic country
developments such as exchange rate
or asset price reductions.

credit risk 
The risk of loss to the bank due to a
counterparty unable or not willing to
perform payment obligations or other
terms of contract. (Note that credit
risk includes e.g. transfer risk.)

currency risk
The risk of loss or gain due to
changes in the exchange rates.

deferred tax asset 
The amount of income taxes recover-
able in future periods in respect of (1)
deductible temporary differences; (2)
the carry forward of unused tax losses
and unused tax credits. Deductible
temporary differences are those
differences between the carrying
amount of an asset or liability and its
tax base that will result in amounts
deductible in determining taxable
profit (tax loss) of future periods.

deferred tax liability
The amount of income taxes payable
in future periods in respect of taxable
temporary differences. Taxable tem-
porary differences are those differ-
ences between the carrying amount
of an asset or liability and its tax base
that will result in taxable amounts in
determining taxable profit (tax loss) of
future periods.

defined benefit plan
A post-employment benefit plan
where the enterprise’s obligation is to
provide the defined benefits to cur-
rent and former employees. Actuarial
risks (that benefits will cost more than
expected) and investment risks (that
the assets invested will be insufficient)
fall in substance on the enterprise.

defined contribution plan
A post-employment benefit plan
under which an enterprise pays de-
fined contributions. The enterprise’s
obligation is limited to the amount
that it agrees to contribute. 

derivative financial instrument
Financial instrument (1) whose value
changes in response to the change in
a specified interest rate, security
price, commodity price, foreign ex-
change rate, index of prices or rates,
a credit rating or credit index or simi-
lar variable (often called the ‘underly-
ing’); (2) that requires no initial net
investment or little initial net invest-
ment relative to other types of con-
tracts that have a similar response to
changes in market conditions; and (3)
that is settled at a future date. 

diluted earnings per share
The basic earnings per share adjusted
by the potential after tax dilutive ef-
fect of financial instruments or other
contracts that entitle their holders to
ordinary shares. Dilutive means that
only the effect that results in a de-
crease from the basic earnings per
share are taken into consideration.

Glossary

E

G

L

N

employee benefits
All forms of consideration given by an
enterprise in exchange for services
rendered by employees.

equity method
The method used to account for asso-
ciates. The investment in the associ-
ate is initially recorded at cost and ad-
justed thereafter for the post acquisi-
tion change in the investors’ share of
net assets of the associate.

F

fair value
The amount for which an asset could
be exchanged, or a liability settled,
between knowledgeable, willing par-
ties in an arm’s length transaction.

finance lease
A lease that transfers substantially all
the risks and rewards incident to
ownership of an asset. Title may or
may not eventually be transferred. 

financial instrument
A contract that gives rise to both a fi-
nancial asset of one enterprise and a
financial liability or equity instrument
of another enterprise.

financial intermediaries
Companies such as banks, securities
or brokerage firms, investment com-
panies, pension and mutual funds
and insurance companies which facili-
tate the flow of funds between bor-
rowers and lenders in the economy.

financial investments
Equity and debt securities held for the
accretion of wealth through distribu-
tion, such as interest and dividends,
and for capital appreciation.

forwards and futures
Contractual obligations to buy or sell
a financial instrument on a future
date at a specified price. Forward
contracts are effectively tailor-made
agreements that are transacted
between counterparties in the over-
the-counter market, whereas futures
are standardized contracts that are
transacted on regulated exchanges.

funding risk
The risk of being unable to obtain
funding for a portfolio of assets at
appropriate market rates.

goodwill
Any excess of the cost of an acquisi-
tion over the acquirer’s interest in the
fair value of the identifiable assets
and liabilities acquired as at the date
of the exchange transaction.

the Group
UBS AG (parent) and all its sub-
sidiaries.

H

hedging
An action which reduces risk, usually
at the expense of potential reward, by
use of one or more financial instru-
ments (hedging instruments) so that
their change in fair value is an offset,
in whole or in part, to the change in
fair value or cash flows of a hedged
item.

historical simulation
A methodology for calculating value
at risk which revalues the reference
portfolio using historically observed
market prices over a predefined time
period.

I

interest rate risk
The risk of gain or loss as a result of
movements in interest rates.

International Accounting
Standards (IAS)
Accounting standards issued by the
International Accounting Standards
Committee (IASC), with the objective
of achieving uniformity in the ac-
counting principles which are used by
businesses and other organizations
for financial reporting around the
world.

investment fund
A fund operated by an investment
company that raises money from
shareholders and invests it in stocks,
bonds, options, commodities, or
money market securities. It offers in-
vestors the advantages of diversifica-
tion and professional management
and charges a management fee for
these services. Product owners in the
UBS Group are Private Banking, UBS
Brinson and Warburg Dillon Read.

legal risk
The risk of loss because a contract
cannot be enforced. This includes
risks arising from inadequate docu-
mentation, insufficient capacity or au-
thority of a counterparty (ultra vires)
or uncertain legality.

liability risk
The risk of loss due to an entity being
held responsible for a contractual or
legal claim, debt or action based,
e.g., on the breach or default of a
contract, commitment of a tort, viola-
tion of criminal law, infringement of
trade marks or antitrust action.

liquidity risk
Risk that an entity will have to sell as-
sets at a loss to meet cash demands.
It is generally explained as a ratio
comparing available liquidity to the
demand for funds.

loss severity
Also referred to as loss given default –
the amount that the bank would lose
in the event that a counterparty de-
faults on its obligations.

M

market risk
Uncertainty to which future earnings
are exposed as a result of changes of
the market prices of financial instru-
ments. This risk is primarily a conse-
quence of trading and investing
activities in the interest rate, foreign
exchange, equity and commodity
markets.

master netting agreement
An arrangement providing for an en-
terprise that undertakes a number of
financial instrument transactions with
a single counterparty to make a single
net settlement of all financial instru-
ments covered by the agreement in
the event of default on, or termina-
tion of, any one contract.

minority interest
That part of the net profit or loss and
of net assets of a subsidiary attributa-
ble to interests which are not owned,
directly or indirectly through sub-
sidiaries, by the parent.

mutual fund
See investment fund.

negative replacement value
Amount representing the fair value of
a derivative financial instrument in a
payable position.

netting
Setting off between counterparties,
on the basis of bilateral or multilateral
contracts, of mutual payment obliga-
tions on expiry date, or in the case of
default of a counterparty of unreal-
ized profits and unrealized losses.

notional amount
Amount of the underlying asset, ref-
erence rate or index which is used as
the basis for calculating the value of
derivative contracts. Notional/nominal
values provide an indication of the
volume of derivatives business trans-
acted by UBS but do not provide any
measure of risk.

O

operating lease
In an operating lease, the lessor con-
veys to the lessee in return for a pay-
ment or series of payments the right
to use an asset for an agreed period
of time.

operational risk
The risk that deficiencies in informa-
tion systems or internal controls will
result in unexpected loss. This risk is
associated with human error or
human misbehaviour, system failures
and inadequate procedures and con-
trols. Particular elements of opera-
tional risk are legal risk, compliance
risk, liability risk or physical and crime
risk.

options
Options are contractual agreements
under which the seller (writer) grants
the purchaser the right, but not the
obligation, either to buy (call option)
or sell (put option) by or at a set date,
a specified amount of a financial
instrument at a predetermined price.
The seller receives a premium from
the purchaser for this right.

over-the-counter (OTC)
Refers to financial instruments that
are not traded on an organized ex-
change or are traded on a market
that is not part of an organized ex-
change. OTC instruments can be cre-
ated with any provisions allowed by
law and acceptable to counterparties.

145

Glossary

146

P

S

T

trading
Entering into positions which are ac-
tively managed and intended to be
held in order to profit in the short
term from fluctuations in the market
price.

V

value at risk
A measure of the maximum loss
which would be expected to occur in
a given portfolio with a given level of
statistical probability. Value at risk
(VaR) does not provide an estimate of
the size of loss that could occur in the
remaining cases which fall outside the
predefined probability.

securities borrowing / lending
The loan of securities, on an unse-
cured or secured basis, for which the
borrower pays a fee to the lender.
The lender retains the beneficial own-
ership, and is therefore entitled to
receive all coupons or dividends from
the borrower during the term of the
trade.

settlement risk
The risk of loss to the bank in making
a payment or delivery on «exchange-
for-value» transactions without
receiving the associated payment or
delivery from the counterparty.

statistical loss 
The loss which can be predicted with
a given statistical probability.

stress scenario loss
The possible – although improbable
and unusual – extreme scenarios
which the bank should be able to
absorb in the normal course of its
business.

subsidiary
An enterprise that is controlled by
another enterprise (known as the par-
ent). Control is the power to govern
the financial and operating policies of
an enterprise so as to obtain benefits
from its activities.

swaps
Transactions in which two parties ex-
change cash flows on a specified no-
tional amount for a predetermined
period.
Interest rate swap contracts generally
represent the contractual exchange of
fixed and floating rate payments of a
single currency, based on a notional
amount and an interest reference
rate.
Cross-currency interest rate swaps
generally involve the exchange of
payments which are based on the in-
terest reference rates available at the
inception of the contract on two dif-
ferent currency principal balances that
are exchanged. The principal balances
are re-exchanged at an agreed upon
rate at a specified future date.

parent
An enterprise that has one or more
subsidiaries.

physical and crime risk
The risk of loss or damage to the
bank due to natural forces, environ-
mental dangers, fire and explosion,
war or civil unrest, criminal or any
other activity, which may cause a vio-
lation of the bank’s standards or of
laws and regulations.

positive replacement value
Amount representing the fair value of
a derivative financial instrument in a
receivable position.

private equity
Equity financing provided to, typically,
unquoted companies, in order to
actively increase their value and resell
them after 3 to 6 years. This is the
business of UBS Capital.

R

repurchase agreement
An agreement whereby the holder of
a security sells the security to a buyer,
with a simultaneous agreement to re-
purchase the security at a fixed future
date at a stipulated price.

reverse repurchase agreement
The purchase of a security at a speci-
fied price with an agreement to resell
the same security at a specified price
on a specified future date. From the
buyer’s viewpoint it is a repurchase
agreement.

risk-bearing capacity 
Potential of the bank to absorb stress
losses taking into account UBS’s over-
all earnings capacity. It is set to pro-
tect the Group from unacceptable
damage to annual earnings, dividend-
paying ability, business viability and
the reputation of the bank.

risk policy framework
Organizational principles, methods
and measures (policies, structures,
processes) to manage and control
risks.

ROE (return on equity)
Net result of the reporting period di-
vided by the average equity during
the same period.

UBS Share 
Information

UBS Share Information 
UBS Shares

UBS Shares

UBS share price perform-

UBS share data

ance in 1999 was disap-

pointing. After a good

performance in the first

six months of the year,

UBS’s share price declined

on the basis of results

lower than market expec-

tations and pressure on

financial stocks generally

to close the year at

CHF 430.

Year-end registered shares in 1000 units

Total shares outstanding
Total shares ranking for dividend
Treasury shares (average) 
Weighted average shares (for basic EPS calculation)
Weighted average shares (for diluted EPS calculation)

Per share data (basic) (CHF)
Gross operating profit
Group profit before taxes
Net profit
Dividend
Book value

Per share data (diluted) (CHF)
Gross operating profit
Group profit before taxes
Net profit
Book value

Stock exchange prices 
Year-end 1999 (CHF)
High / low 1999 (CHF)

Price / net earnings (P / E) (basic)
Price / book value (P / BV) (basic)

Dividend yield, gross (high / low) (in percent)
Total return
Total return Swiss Market Index (SMI)
Total return Swiss Performance Index (SPI)

Market capitalization (CHF billion)
Year-end
% change year-on-year
In % of the Swiss Market Index (SMI)
In % of the Swiss Performance Index (SPI)
High (3 May)
Low (10 August and 25 October)

Trading volumes (SWX only) (CHF million)
Total
Daily average

Trading volumes (SWX only) (1000 units)
Total
Daily average

31.12.1999

31.12.19981

215,447
214,9202
7,191
208,057
209,166

137.56
39.26
30.28
11.00
167.43

136.83
39.06
30.12
166.54

430
528 / 405

14.2
2.6

2.7 / 2.1
4.33
5.7
11.7

92.6
2.09
10.6
8.5
113.5
87.2

214,976
214,450
3,058
211,797
212,941

105.43
19.22
14.31
10.00
152.95

104.86
19.12
14.23
152.13

422
657 / 270

29.5
2.8

3.7 / 1.5
2.63
15.7
16.8

90.7
n / a
11.8
9.6
140.0
57.9

97,584
3844

67,198
5175

214,695
8454

153,078
1,1785

1 In 1998, trading period of UBS registered shares was 29 June until 31 December.    2 Difference between shares outstanding and shares
ranking for dividend are reserved shares.    3 Return from dividend and price changes.    4 In 1999 there were a total of 254 trading days.    
5 Trading period 29 June until 31 December 1998 equals 130 trading days. 

Our  disappointing  share-price  performance
has two main causes. First, UBS Private Banking
and  UBS  Asset  Management  reported  weaker
than expected asset growth. The negative devel-
opment  of  net  new  money  in  the  third  quarter
had a particularly strong adverse effect. Second,
rising interest rates held back the share price de-
velopment of financial institutions in the second
half of the year.

In 1999, the world economy recovered from
the Asian, Russian and Brazilian crises. Most de-

veloping  economies  stabilized  and  regained  ac-
cess  to  the  capital  markets.    While  Europe  em-
barked on a modest cyclical recovery, the US re-
mained the driver of global growth. 

Despite the worldwide shifts towards a tighter
monetary policy, global equity markets performed
well last year. However, the performance among
different sectors and regions diverged substantial-
ly. In particular, the financial services industry was
not able to match the performance of technology
and telecommunications stocks. In the second half

148

UBS Share Information 
UBS Shares 

of the year, rising interest rates concerns and Year
2000 concerns affected bank stock valuations. 

In line with overall market trends, UBS shares
moved  to  a  high  of  CHF  528  on  3  May.  In
the second  half  of  the  year,  this  trend  reversed.

UBS shares  reached  their  low  of  CHF  405  on
10 August. Although the share price recovered to
CHF  479.50  during  the  third  quarter,  it  closed
the  year  at  CHF  430  reflecting  an  annual  per-
formance of 1.9%.

UBS share price chart
100% = 1 December 1998

UBS market capitalization

130%

125%

120%

115%

110%

105%

100%

  95%

  90%

Recovery of 
market environment

Rising interest rates
and Y2K concerns

Start of 
repurchasing program

Announcement 1Q 99 results

Announcement
3Q 99 results

Announcement
1H 99 results

Announcement 24h Banking

120

115

110

105

100

  95

  90

  85

  80

12.98

2.99

4.99

6.99

8.99

10.99

12.99

9
9
.
1

9
9
.
2

9
9
.
3

9
9
.
4

9
9
.
5

9
9
.
6

9
9
.
7

9
9
.
8

9
9
.
9

9
9
.
0
1

9
9
.
1
1

9
9
.
2
1

UBS registered
SPI Swiss Performance Index

Market capitalization in CHF billion 

Distribution of UBS shares registered as of 31 December 1999

Number of shares registered 
(1% = 1,099,263 shares)

1–100
101–1,000
1,001–5,000
5,001–10,000
10,001–50,000
50,001–100,000
>100,000

Total

0–1%
1–2%
2–3%
3–4%
4–5%
over 5%

Total

Number of
shareholders
registered

% of 
shareholders
registered

Number of
shares

% of 
shares
registered registered

133,741
62,645
5,050
521
462
71
116

202,606

202,603
2
0
0
1
0

202,606

66.010
30.920
2.493
0.257
0.228
0.035
0.057

5,643,487
17,109,278
10,069,612
3,647,688
9,518,063
5,066,789
58,871,390

5.134
15.564
9.160
3.319
8.659
4.609
53.555

100 109,926,307

100

99.999
0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

94,469,146
7,112,118
0
0
8,345,043
0

85.939
6.470
0.000
0.000
7.591
0.000

100 109,926,307

100

As of 31 December 1999 no identified investor was holding 5% or more of the total 215 million UBS shares outstanding.
UBS employees were holding 3.8% of the shares registered.

Individual shareholders
Legal entities
Nominees, fiduciaries

Total

Switzerland
Europe
North America
Other countries

Total

193,583
8,578
445

202,606

189,906
9,230
1,043
2,427

202,606

95.546
4.234
0.220

32,370,006
55,356,193
22,200,108

29.447
50.358
20.195

100 109,926,307

100

93.731
4.556
0.515
1.198

72,266,335
26,435,883
3,081,205
8,142,884

65.740
24.049
2.803
7.408

100 109,926,307

100

28,718,415 shares registered do not carry voting rights. 105,363,086 shares are classified as “non registered”, 
i.e. not entered in the share register as of 31 December 1999.

149

UBS Share Information 
Information for Shareholders

Information for Shareholders

UBS registered shares (par value CHF 20), ISIN number CH0008470921

Ticker symbols

Stock exchange listings

SWX (Swiss exchange)

Tokyo

London (Stock exchange automatic quotation SEAQ)

Bloomberg

UBSN SW

1264Z JP

Reuters

UBSZn.S

UBS.T

UBSZq.L

Telekurs

UBSN, 004

N16631, 106

847092, 182

Sponsored American Depository Receipt 
(ADR) program in the USA

Financial calendar

Annual General Meeting

Thuesday, 18 April 2000

Ratio

Exchange

Symbol

CUSIP

20 ADR = 1 UBS Share

Dividend payment date

Wednesday, 26 April 2000

OTC (over the counter)

Publication first-quarter results 

Thursday, 25 May 2000

UBBSY

Publication first-half results 

Tuesday, 22 August 2000

# 90261R105

Publication third-quarter results 

Tuesday, 28 Nov. 2000

For information contact

Change of address

UBS AG
Investor Relations G41B
P.O. Box
CH-8098 Zurich
Phone +41-1-234 41 00
Fax +41-1-234 34 15

UBS AG
Shareholder Services FNNB
P.O. Box
CH-8098 Zurich 
Phone +41-1-235 62 02
Fax +41-1-235 31 54

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This Financial Report contains statements that constitute “forward-
looking statements”. In addition, other written or oral statements
which constitute forward-looking statements have been made and
may in the future be made on our behalf. In this Financial Report,
such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, state-
ments relating to:
– the implementation of strategic initiatives
– the development of revenues overall and within specific business

materially from those described by these forward-looking statements
and as a result, financial results could differ from those set forth
and those differences may be material to our financial statements.

Many factors may influence our actual results and cause them to
differ materially from expected results as described in the forward-
looking statements. These factors include:
– general market trends affecting demand for our products and

areas

services

– the development of operating expenses
– the anticipated level of capital expenditures and associated depre-

– developments in the competitive environment in Switzerland and

around the world

ciation expense

– the expected impact of the risks that affect our business, includ-
ing the risk of loss resulting from the default of an obligor or
counterparty

– expected credit losses based upon our credit review
– other statements relating to our future business development and

– developments in technology
– changes in our expenses associated with acquisitions and disposi-

tions

– our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel
– credit ratings and the financial position of obligors and counter-

parties

economic performance

– our ability to control risk in our businesses, including our ability to

The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”,
“plan” and other similar expressions identify some of these forward-
looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance
on forward-looking statements because actual events may differ

– macroeconomic trends and government and regulatory policies

affecting business in Switzerland and around the world, including
changes in the level of interest or tax rates and movements in for-
eign currency exchange rates.

improve our overall risk profile

150

Imprint
Publisher / Editing: UBS AG, Investor Relations Department 
Concept / Production: UBS AG, Group Management Support 
Languages: English, German; Copyright: UBS AG, Switzerland 
SAP-R / 3 80531E-0001; CIF-Pub-No. 012.

ab

UBS AG
P.O. Box, CH-8098 Zurich
P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel

www.ubs.com