Credit Suisse AG 6-K, filed Feb 1, 2023
Credit Suisse AG (GLDI)
About this 6-K
Credit Suisse AG filed this 6-K on February 1, 2023.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of February, 2023
Commission File Number 001-33434
CREDIT SUISSE AG
(Translation of Registrant’s Name Into English)
Paradeplatz 8, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Explanatory note
This report on Form 6-K contains the exhibits set forth below. This report on Form 6-K and such exhibits are hereby incorporated by reference into Registration Statement No. 333-238458-02 of Credit Suisse AG.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| CREDIT SUISSE AG | |||
| Date: February 1, 2023 | By: | /s/ Elaine Sam | |
| Name: | Elaine Sam | ||
| Title: | Authorized Officer | ||
| By: | /s/ Ashley MacLean | ||
| Name: | Ashley MacLean | ||
| Title: | Authorized Officer | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
| 1271 Avenue of the Americas | ||
| New York, New York 10020-1401 | ||
| Tel: +1.212.906.1200 Fax: +1.212.751.4864 | ||
| www.lw.com | ||
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| Frankfurt | Seoul | |
| Hamburg | Shanghai | |
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| Madrid | Washington, D.C. | |
February 1, 2023
Credit Suisse AG
Paradeplatz 8
CH 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
To the addressee set forth above:
Credit Suisse AG, a corporation organized under the laws of Switzerland (the “Company”), has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-238458-02) (the “Registration Statement”) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), among other securities, the Company’s Medium-Term Notes (the “Notes”) to be issued from time to time pursuant to the Senior Indenture dated as of March 29, 2007 (as amended and supplemented from time to time and in effect as of the date hereof, the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as trustee (the “Trustee”).
We, as your special United States counsel, have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion. In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (iv) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (v) all statements in certificates of public officials and all statements as to factual matters in certificates of officers of the Company that we reviewed were and are accurate and (vi) all representations made by the Company as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate.
February 1, 2023
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Based upon the foregoing, we advise you that, in our opinion, when the specific terms of particular Notes have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and such Notes have been duly authorized, executed, issued, delivered, and authenticated by the Trustee, in accordance with the Indenture and the distribution agreement against payment therefor, such Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors’ rights and (iii) concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that we express no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above.
In connection with the opinion expressed above, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such Notes, (i) the terms of such Notes shall have been duly established under the Indenture, and such Notes, and the offer, sale and issuance of such Notes shall have been duly authorized by the Company and such authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded; (ii) the Company is, and shall remain, validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Switzerland; (iii) the Trustee is, and shall remain, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; (iv) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act and the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, shall not have been terminated or rescinded; (v) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid, binding and enforceable agreement of, the Company and the Trustee; (vi) the execution and delivery of the Indenture and such Notes by each party thereto, and the performance by each such party of its obligations thereunder, are within its corporate powers, do not and will not contravene, or constitute a default under, its articles of association, articles of incorporation, bylaws or any other constitutive documents and require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official; and (vii) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of the Indenture or the Notes. We have also assumed that none of the terms of any Notes to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such Notes, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Notes, will violate any applicable law or public policy or will result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or of any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
We express no opinion as to (x) provisions in the Indenture that purport to waive objections to venue, claims that a particular jurisdiction is an inconvenient forum or the like, (y) whether a United States federal court would have subject-matter or personal jurisdiction over a controversy arising under the Notes or (z) the effectiveness of any service of process made other than in accordance with applicable law. In addition, we note that the enforceability in the United States of Section 10.08(c) of the Indenture is subject to the limitations set forth in the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976.
February 1, 2023
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We express no opinion as to (i) whether a New York State or United States federal court would render or enforce a judgment in a currency other than U.S. Dollars or (ii) the exchange rate that such a court would use in rendering a judgment in U.S. Dollars in respect of an obligation in any other currency.
We are members of the Bar of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as the foregoing opinion involves matters governed by Swiss law, we have relied, without independent inquiry or investigation, on the opinions of Homburger AG, Swiss legal counsel for the Company, dated February 1, 2023, to be filed by the Company with the Commission as exhibits to a Current Report on Form 6-K concurrently with this opinion, and our opinion is subject to the same assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth therein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K filed by the Company with the Commission on the date hereof and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement. In addition, if a pricing supplement relating to the offer and sale of any particular Notes is prepared and filed by the Company with the Commission on this date or a future date and the pricing supplement contains a reference to us and our opinion substantially in the form set forth below, this consent shall apply to the reference to us and our opinion in substantially such form:
“In the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, as United States special counsel to Credit Suisse AG, when the securities offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by Credit Suisse AG and authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture, and delivered against payment therefor, such securities will be valid and binding obligations of Credit Suisse AG, enforceable against Credit Suisse AG in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors’ rights and (iii) concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such special counsel expresses no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above. This opinion is given as of the date of this pricing supplement and is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as this opinion involves matters governed by Swiss law, Latham & Watkins LLP has relied, without independent inquiry or investigation, on the opinion of Homburger AG, dated February 1, 2023 and filed by the Company as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K on February 1, 2023. The opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP is subject to the same assumptions, qualifications and limitations with respect to such matters as are contained in the opinion of Homburger AG. In addition, the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP is subject to customary assumptions about the establishment of the terms of the securities, the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and its authentication of the securities, and the validity, binding nature and enforceability
February 1, 2023
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of the indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP dated February 1, 2023, which was filed by the Company as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K on February 1, 2023. [This opinion is also subject to the discussion, as stated in such opinion, of the enforcement of securities denominated in a foreign currency.] [Latham & Watkins LLP expresses no opinion as to waivers of objections to venue, the subject matter or personal jurisdiction of a United States federal court or the effectiveness of service of process other than in accordance with applicable law. In addition, such special counsel notes that the enforceability in the United States of Section 10.08(c) of the indenture is subject to the limitations set forth in the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976.]”
In giving our consent above, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
| Sincerely, | |
| /s/ Latham & Watkins LLP |
Exhibit 5.2
| To: | Homburger AG |
| Credit Suisse AG | Prime Tower |
| Paradeplatz 8 | Hardstrasse 201 |
| P.O. Box | CH–8005 Zurich |
| 8070 Zurich | |
| Switzerland | T +41 43 222 10 00 |
| F +41 43 222 15 00 | |
| lawyers@homburger.ch | |
| Zurich, February 1, 2023 |
| Credit Suisse AG, acting through its Nassau and London Branches |
| U.S. Medium-Term Note Program under the Credit Suisse Group AG and Credit Suisse AG U.S. Shelf |
Ladies and Gentlemen
We, Homburger AG, have acted as special Swiss counsel to Credit Suisse AG (Credit Suisse), a Swiss bank, in connection with senior medium-term notes (the Notes) to be issued from time to time on or after the date hereof by Credit Suisse, acting through either its Nassau Branch or its London Branch (each, an Issuing Branch), under the Senior Indenture dated as of March 29, 2007 (the Base Indenture), between Credit Suisse and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (in such capacity, the Trustee), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 25, 2009 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), and the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 9, 2020 (the Third Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), between Credit Suisse and the Trustee. As such counsel, we have been requested to give our opinion as to certain matters of Swiss law relating to the Notes.
| I. | Basis of Opinion |
This opinion is confined to and given on the basis of the laws of Switzerland in force at the date hereof. Such laws and the interpretation thereof are subject to change. In the absence of explicit statutory law, we base our opinion solely on our independent professional judgment. This opinion is also confined to the matters stated herein and the Documents (as defined below), and is not to be read as extending, by implication or otherwise, to any agreement or other document referred to in any of the Documents (including, in the case of the Prospectus (as defined below), any document incorporated by reference therein or exhibited thereto) or any other matter.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not conducted any due diligence or similar investigation as to factual circumstances that are or may be referred to in the Documents, and we express no opinion as to the accuracy of representations and warranties of facts set out in the Documents or the factual background assumed therein.
For purposes of this opinion, we have only reviewed the following documents (collectively, the Documents):
| (i) | an electronic copy of the executed Distribution Agreement dated May 7, 2007, between Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as distributor, and Credit Suisse (as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated January 11, 2008, the Distribution Agreement), as supplemented by (A) the Distributor Accession Letter and Confirmation dated June 18, 2008, pursuant to which JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and JPMorgan Securities LLC (formerly JPMorgan Securities, Inc.), each acting through JPMorgan Private Bank and JPMorgan Private Client Services, are appointed distributors, (B) the Distributor Accession Letters and Confirmations dated March 23, 2012, pursuant to which Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Incapital LLC are appointed distributors, (C) the Distributor Accession Letter and Confirmation dated May 8, 2012, pursuant to which BofA Securities, Inc. (formerly known as BofAML Securities, Inc.) is appointed distributor, (D) the Distributor Accession Letter and Confirmation dated May 18, 2012, pursuant to which Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is appointed distributor, (E) the Distributor Accession Letter and Confirmation dated March 12, 2014, pursuant to which UBS Financial Services Inc. is appointed distributor, and (F) the Distributor Accession Letter and Confirmation dated August 1, 2016, pursuant to which Wells Fargo Securities LLC is appointed distributor (collectively, the Accession Agreements); |
| (ii) | an electronic copy of the executed Base Indenture; |
| (iii) | an electronic copy of the executed Second Supplemental Indenture; |
| (iv) | an electronic copy of the executed Third Supplemental Indenture (together with the Distribution Agreement, the Accession Agreements, the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Transaction Agreements); |
| (v) | an electronic copy of the prospectus dated June 18, 2020 (the Base Prospectus); |
| (vi) | an electronic copy of the prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus dated June 18, 2020 (the Prospectus Supplement and, together with the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus); |
| (vii) | electronic copies of the pricing supplements (including any underlying supplement and product supplement incorporated therein by reference) (the Existing Representative Pricing Supplements) filed by Credit Suisse with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and listed on Annex A of the Agreement Regarding Exhibit 5 Opinions for Registered Medium-Term Notes of Credit Suisse AG entered into as of March 29, 2016, by and among Credit Suisse, Latham & Watkins LLP (Latham & Watkins) and Homburger AG (as amended from time to time, the Agreement About Opinions); |
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| (viii) | electronic copies of the underlying supplements filed by Credit Suisse with the SEC and listed on Annex B of the Agreement About Opinions (the Existing Representative Underlying Supplements); |
| (ix) | an electronic copy of the executed Officer's Certificate dated June 18, 2020, issued by Credit Suisse pursuant to Sections 2.02, 10.03 and 10.04 of the Indenture; |
| (x) | a certified excerpt from the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich (the Commercial Register) for Credit Suisse, dated January 30, 2023 (the Excerpt); |
| (xi) | a copy of the articles of association (Statuten) of Credit Suisse in their version as of (A) April 19, 2006 (the 2006 Articles), (B) August 26, 2008 (the 2008 Articles), and (C) September 4, 2014 (the 2014 Articles); |
| (xii) | an electronic copy of (A) the Organizational Guidelines and Regulations of Credit Suisse, valid as of January 1, 2006 (the 2006 Regulations), and (B) the Organizational Guidelines and Regulations of Credit Suisse Group AG and Credit Suisse, valid as of (t) March 24, 2009 (the 2009 Regulations), (u) April 25, 2019 (the April 2019 Regulations), (v) December 5, 2019 (the December 2019 Regulations), (w) August 20, 2020 (the 2020 Regulations), (x) April 1, 2021 (the 2021 Regulations), (y) March 8, 2022 (the 2022 Regulations), and (z) January 27, 2023 (the 2023 Regulations); |
| (xiii) | an electronic copy of (A) the GP-00200 Global Policy Funding Authority within Credit Suisse Group and Credit Suisse effective as of (x) January 1, 2007 (the 2007 Funding Authority), and (y) December 17, 2008 (the 2008 Funding Authority), and (B) the Global Policy (GP-00200) Funding Authority for Third Party transactions effective as of (x) June 4, 2019 (the 2019 Funding Authority), and (y) June 4, 2021 (the 2021 Funding Authority); |
| (xiv) | an electronic copy of (A) the memorandum of the Chief Financial Officer of Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse Group AG to the members of the Board of Directors of Credit Suisse and Credit Suisse Group AG, dated February 14, 2007 (the February 2007 CFO Approval), (B) the certificate of R. Fassbind, as CFO, dated May 2, 2007 (the May 2007 CFO Approval), (C) the certificate of R. Fassbind, as Chief Financial Officer of Credit Suisse (CFO), dated March 12, 2009 (the 2009 CFO Approval), and (D) the certificate of D. Mathers, as CFO, dated May 12, 2020 (the 2020 CFO Approval and, together with the February 2007 CFO Approval, the May 2007 CFO Approval, and the 2009 CFO Approval, the CFO Approvals); |
| (xv) | an electronic copy of (A) the power of attorney dated March 26, 2007, issued by R. Fassbind, as CFO, and R. Enderli, as Treasurer of Credit Suisse (Treasurer) (the March 2007 Power of Attorney), (B) the power of attorney dated May 2, 2007, issued by R. Fassbind, as CFO, and R. Enderli, as Treasurer (the May 2007 Power of Attorney), (C) the power of attorney dated March 20, 2008, issued by R. Fassbind, as CFO, and R. Enderli, as Treasurer (the 2008 Power of Attorney), (D) the power of attorney dated July 19, 2019, issued by D. Mathers, as CFO, and D. Wong, as Treasurer (the 2019 Power of Attorney), and (E) the power of attorney dated July 22, 2022, issued by D. Mathers, as CFO, and G.M. Martino, as Treasurer (the 2022 Power of Attorney); |
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| (xvi) | an electronic copy of the Structured Notes and Warrants – Business Division Authorizations (Version 21.0), finalized August 12, 2022, which is the list of Senior SN Business Personnel referred to in the 2021 Funding Authority (the Business Authorizations List); and |
| (xvii) | an electronic copy of the Secretary's Certificate dated February 1, 2023 (including the exhibits thereto, the Secretary's Certificate), executed by two Corporate Secretaries of Credit Suisse. |
No documents have been reviewed by us in connection with this opinion other than the Documents. Accordingly, we shall limit our opinion to the Documents and their legal implications under the laws of Switzerland.
In this opinion, Swiss legal concepts are expressed in English terms and not in their original language. These concepts may not be identical to the concepts described by the same English terms as they exist under the laws of other jurisdictions. With respect to Documents governed by laws other than the laws of Switzerland, for purposes of this opinion, we have relied on the plain meaning of the words and expressions contained therein without regard to any import they may have under the relevant governing law.
| II. | Assumptions |
In rendering the opinion below, we have assumed the following:
| (a) | all documents produced to us as originals are authentic and complete, and all documents produced to us as copies (including, without limitation, fax and electronic copies) conform to the original; |
| (b) | all documents produced to us as originals and the originals of all documents produced to us as copies were duly executed and certified, as applicable, by the individuals purported to have executed or certified, as the case may be, such documents, and any electronic signatures of Credit Suisse (whether or not acting through an Issuing Branch) on any such document have been affixed thereto by the individual to whom such electronic signature belongs and such individual has saved and submitted such document as so electronically signed in such a manner so as to prevent removal or other alteration of such signature; |
| (c) | except as expressly opined upon herein, all information contained in the Documents is, and all material statements made to us in connection with the Documents are, true and accurate as of the date hereof and as of the issue date for each tranche of Notes as if given or made on such issue date, including, without limitation, the statements set forth in the Secretary's Certificate, including as to the following facts: |
| (i) | the 2014 Articles continue in full force and effect and have not been amended; |
| (ii) | the 2008 Articles were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Second Supplemental Indenture; |
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| (iii) | the 2006 Articles were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the Base Indenture and the Distribution Agreement; |
| (iv) | the 2023 Regulations continue in full force and effect and have not been amended; |
| (v) | the 2022 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the 2022 Power of Attorney and the Business Authorizations List; |
| (vi) | the 2021 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the 2021 Funding Authority; |
| (vii) | the 2020 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Third Supplemental Indenture; |
| (viii) | the December 2019 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the 2020 CFO Approval; |
| (ix) | the April 2019 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the 2019 Funding Authority and the 2019 Power of Attorney; |
| (x) | the 2009 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Second Supplemental Indenture; |
| (xi) | the 2006 Regulations were in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the Base Indenture, the Distribution Agreement, the 2007 Funding Authority, the 2008 Funding Authority, the February 2007 CFO Approval, the March 2007 Power of Attorney, the May 2007 Power of Attorney, the May 2007 CFO Approval, the 2008 Power of Attorney, and the 2009 CFO Approval; |
| (xii) | the 2021 Funding Authority, the CFO Approvals, the 2022 Power of Attorney and the Business Authorizations List continue in full force and effect and have not been amended; |
| (xiii) | the 2019 Funding Authority was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the Third Supplemental Indenture, the 2020 CFO Approval and the 2019 Power of Attorney; |
| (xiv) | the 2008 Funding Authority was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the Second Supplemental Indenture and the 2009 CFO Approval; |
| (xv) | the 2007 Funding Authority was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the dates of the Base Indenture, the Distribution Agreement, the February 2007 CFO Approval, the March 2007 Power of Attorney, the May 2007 Power of Attorney, the May 2007 CFO Approval and the 2008 Power of Attorney; |
| (xvi) | the 2019 Power of Attorney was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Third Supplemental Indenture; |
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| (xvii) | the 2008 Power of Attorney was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Second Supplemental Indenture; |
| (xviii) | the May 2007 Power of Attorney was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Distribution Agreement; |
| (xix) | the March 2007 Power of Attorney was in full force and effect and had not been amended as of the date of the Base Indenture; |
| (xx) | the Distribution Agreement has not been amended (other than by the Accession Agreements) and continues in full force and effect; |
| (xxi) | the Excerpt is correct and complete other than with respect to any changes to the signatories registered with the Commercial Register (including, without limitation, the addition or removal of any such signatory) that have occurred since the date of the Excerpt; |
| (xxii) | the Base Indenture has not been amended (other than by the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the first supplemental indenture dated as of May 6, 2008, and any other supplements thereto relating to note issuances thereunder that do not constitute Notes) and the Indenture continues in full force and effect; and |
| (xxiii) | immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Notes, the aggregate issuance amount, as measured by the aggregate offering price, of (x) medium-term notes (including such Notes) issued pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement, including any supplement thereto, will not exceed USD 80 billion and (y) securities (including such Notes) issued pursuant to the U.S. registration statement on Form F-3 of which the Base Prospectus forms a part, will not exceed USD 80 billion, in each case in accordance with the 2020 CFO Approval; |
| (d) | all Notes constitute business-driven structured debt securities within the meaning of the 2021 Funding Authority; |
| (e) | the Notes will have terms substantially similar to those described in one or more of (x) the Existing Representative Pricing Supplements or (y) any pricing supplement (including the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and any underlying supplement and product supplement incorporated therein by reference) that may be listed on Annex A to the Agreement About Opinions from time to time pursuant to an amendment thereof executed by the parties thereto on or before the issue date of the relevant Notes (together with the Existing Representative Pricing Supplements, the Representative Pricing Supplements), except that any or all of the following terms may vary from Note to Note: |
| (i) | amounts payable on the Note, including the formula for determining such amounts; |
| (ii) | provisions relating to optional and automatic early redemption of the Note; |
| (iii) | the pricing date and any measurement, redemption or maturity date of the Note; |
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| (iv) | subject to clause (f) below, any security, rate, index and other market measure referenced by the Note; and |
| (v) | the principal amount and issue price of, and any commissions or fees on, the Note; and |
| (f) | the Notes will not reference any security, rate, index or other market measure unless it is: |
| (i) | described in one of (x) the Existing Representative Underlying Supplements or (y) to the extent such supplement is applicable to Notes, any underlying supplement that may be listed on Annex B to the Agreement About Opinions from time to time pursuant to an amendment thereof executed by the parties thereto on or before the issue date of the relevant Notes; or |
| (ii) | described in one of the Representative Pricing Supplements; or |
| (iii) | a security issued by an issuer that has a class of equity securities registered under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, so long as such issuer or such issuer's jurisdiction of incorporation does not appear on any of the United Nations Security Committee's targeted sanction lists or any sanction list issued by the Swiss or U.S. government (collectively, the Sanction Lists); or |
| (iv) | a security issued by an "Investment Company" registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (as such term is defined therein), so long as such Investment Company or such Investment Company's jurisdiction of organization does not appear on any Sanction List; or |
| (v) | an index tracking securities traded on established securities markets of any jurisdiction that does not appear on any Sanction List; or |
| (vi) | a commodity or index of commodities included in the universe of eligible components included in the Bloomberg Commodity Index and the S&P GSCI Commodity Indices; or |
| (vii) | a currency exchange rate or index of currency exchange rates; or |
| (viii) | a measure, such as an inflation measure, published by the government of a jurisdiction that does not appear on any Sanction List or an agency of any such government; or |
| (ix) | an interest or swap rate; or |
| (x) | futures or forwards contracts traded on any established futures exchange or over-the-counter market, other than the futures exchanges or over-the-counter markets of any jurisdiction that appears on any Sanction List; or |
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| (xi) | any "critical benchmark" or "significant benchmark" as such terms are defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016; or |
| (xii) | an index composed of one or more of the items listed in clauses (i) through (xi) above. |
| III. | Opinion |
Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | Credit Suisse is a corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Switzerland. |
| 2. | Credit Suisse has the necessary corporate power and authority to, acting through the relevant Issuing Branch, issue the Notes. |
| 3. | With respect to any tranche of Notes to be issued by Credit Suisse, acting through the relevant Issuing Branch, when the terms, issuance and sale of such Notes have been approved by (a) any two persons listed in the 2022 Power of Attorney in the required combination and (b) one of the persons listed in the Business Authorizations List having the authority to authorize such Notes on behalf of such Issuing Branch for retail or institutional issuances, as applicable, such Notes will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by Credit Suisse, provided that at the time of such approval (i) such persons are employees of Credit Suisse or one of its affiliates and (ii) the 2022 Power of Attorney and the Business Authorizations List are in full force and effect. |
| IV. | Qualifications |
The above opinions are subject to the following qualifications:
| (a) | The lawyers of our firm are members of the Zurich bar and do not hold themselves out to be experts in any laws other than the laws of Switzerland. Accordingly, we are opining herein as to Swiss law only and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability or the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction to or on the matters covered herein. |
| (b) | We express no opinion on the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the provisions of any Transaction Agreement or the Notes or the performance of the obligations assumed by Credit Suisse thereunder. |
| (c) | Further, we express no opinion as to tax matters, regulatory matters or as to any commercial, accounting, calculating, auditing or other non-legal matter. |
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We have issued this opinion as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in fact or in law that are made or brought to our attention after the date hereof. This opinion is addressed to you for your benefit, and is not to be relied upon by any other person without our express consent, except that it may be relied upon by initial purchasers of Notes issued during the four month-period commencing on the date of this opinion (such period, the Relevant Period), and by Latham & Watkins for purposes of issuing its opinions to you during the Relevant Period with respect to certain matters of the laws of the State of New York and U.S. federal law pertaining to the Notes.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K to be filed by Credit Suisse on the date hereof, and further consent to the reference of our name in (i) any pricing supplement relating to Notes or (ii) an opinion of Latham & Watkins relating to Notes exhibited to a report on Form 6-K, in each case, to be filed by Credit Suisse with the SEC, provided that (a) the terms of the relevant Notes meet the requirements described in clauses (e) and (f) of Section II, (b) the relevant Notes are issued within the Relevant Period, (c) in the case of a pricing supplement, such pricing supplement has been reviewed by Latham & Watkins as U.S. counsel to Credit Suisse, (d) Latham & Watkins has given its consent to be named in such pricing supplement or Form 6-K to which its opinion will be exhibited, as applicable, and (e) such reference is substantially in the form set out in the opinion of Latham & Watkins to Credit Suisse dated February 1, 2023. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Save as aforementioned, this opinion may not be transmitted by you to any other person, quoted or referred to in any public document or filed with anyone, in each case, without our express consent.
This opinion is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Switzerland. We confirm our understanding that all disputes arising out of or in connection with this opinion shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, venue being the City of Zurich.
Sincerely yours,
| /s/ HOMBURGER AG |
HOMBURGER AG
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