Credit Suisse Launches Emerging Market Corporate Bond Index

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2007

New Benchmark Tracks Emerging Market Credit Quality and Trading Performance

NEW YORK -- Credit Suisse is pleased to announce the introduction of the Credit Suisse Emerging Market Corporate Bond Index (CS-EMCI), a performance benchmark exclusively devoted to USD denominated fixed income issues from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. The new Index currently includes the US denominated corporate bonds of 366 issuers with a market value of nearly US$275 billion.

Complementing the Bank's CS-LACI (Latin America Corporate Index) and CS-ABI (Asian Bond Index), the CS-EMCI is designed to meet the increasing demand among institutional investors globally for emerging market corporate bonds as long-term credit quality and trading performance have continued to strengthen.

"The growth of corporate bond issuance in emerging markets creates the need to expand performance monitoring beyond the sovereign bond market," said Damien Wood, the head of Credit Suisse's Asia credit research team.

The CS-EMCI provides an accurate reflection of market volatility, industry trends and risk perception. Prices are updated daily based on current transactions and market-making activities. The Index's technology platform allows users to easily compare the performance of different asset classes, maturity buckets and corporate sectors. Investors can also customize benchmark portfolios and construct various sub-indices by industry sector, region and rating.

"The CS-EMCI is a powerful investment tool that allows clients to leverage Credit Suisse's market leading Emerging Market franchise and market knowledge, as well as our technology and analytic capabilities," said Baldwin Smith, the head of Credit Suisse's Fixed Income Index team.

"Our clients are increasingly pursuing opportunities in Emerging Markets worldwide. Based on discussions with our clients, we expect to see great interest in a global index that enables investors to compare regions to one another," said Jamie Nicholson-Leener, head of Latin America corporate credit research at Credit Suisse.

Bond rating categories include High Grade, High Yield, and Distressed asset classes. Bonds with an investment grade rating from one or more agencies are categorized High Grade. Bonds designated as High Yield are based on an average of ratings above CCC and below BBB-. Bonds with an average rating of CCC and below are considered Distressed. About 79% of the securities in the Index are classified as pure "corporate." Others from companies that are majority owned, or implicitly backed, by their government are classified as "quasi-sovereign."

About Credit Suisse

As one of the world's leading banks, Credit Suisse provides its clients with investment banking, private banking and asset management services worldwide. Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is active in over 50 countries and employs approximately 45,000 people. Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group, is a leading global financial services company headquartered in Zurich. Credit Suisse Group's registered shares (CSGN) are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.

In its Investment Banking business, Credit Suisse offers securities products and financial advisory services to users and suppliers of capital around the world. Operating in 57 locations across 26 countries, Credit Suisse is active across the full spectrum of financial services products including debt and equity underwriting, sales and trading, mergers and acquisitions, investment research, and correspondent and prime brokerage services.