UBS AG, Switzerland’s largest bank, said Wednesday, that it will likely report a loss for the first quarter, and it is planning another 8,700 job cuts by 2010, as it seeks to reduce costs.

In a speech at the firm’s annual meeting in Zurich, Oswald Grübel, group CEO, said that it estimates that it will report a loss of almost 2 billion Swiss francs (US$1.75 billion) in the first quarter.

“The loss stems from a negative contribution totaling roughly CHF 3.9 billion due to losses on previously disclosed illiquid risk positions, credit loss expenses and valuation adjustments on the last positions transferred to a fund controlled by the Swiss National Bank,” he said, adding that “The outlook for remaining risk positions has not changed materially.” Despite this quarterly loss, UBS expects to have a tier 1 capital ratio of roughly 10%.

The firm will also close the first quarter with an overall outflow of net new money, as the wealth management & Swiss Bank division recorded a net outflow of approximately CHF 23 billion. “This outflow was mainly recorded after the announcement of the settlements with U.S. authorities in connection with their investigations into our cross-border services for U.S. private clients,” he said. However, Wealth Management Americas recorded a positive result, with net new money of around CHF 16 billion.

To adapt to the new market reality, and lower levels of business, UBS is planning cost savings by the end of 2010 of approximately CHF 3.5 billion to CHF 4 billion compared to 2008 levels. “Major job cuts are unfortunately unavoidable,” Grübel said. The firm expects to reduce the number of its employees to about 67,500 in 2010, from 76,200 currently.

“In the future UBS will maintain its core business — international wealth management and the Swiss banking business — alongside its global expertise in investment banking and asset management. UBS will continue to reduce risks. UBS will exit high-risk and unpromising businesses. The bank is currently conducting a review to make clear decisions about which businesses it will remain active in and grow, and which it will exit,” Grübel noted. Further details regarding the first-quarter results, cost-saving measures and strategy will be published on May 5.

IE