Environmental activists briefly disrupted Credit Suisse's shareholder meeting, drawing attention to a controversial oil pipeline in the U.S. The Swiss bank counts construction firms and operators of the pipeline among its clients.
Activists for environmental organization Greenpeace crashed Credit Suisse's shareholder meeting on Friday.
Two people rappelled from a catwalk above the stage, unfurling a banner with the slogan «Stop Dirty Pipeline Deals» as Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam delivered prepared remarks.
Thiam interrupted his remarks briefly, before remarking that he believed in free speech and would not have the protesters removed forcibly.
He apologized to shareholders for the disruption, saying «I regret the current situation but unfortunately I am not in a position to change it,» and continued with his remarks to scattered applause from a hall filled with 1,540 largely retail shareholders.
The protestors appeared to agree to end their protest roughly ten minutes later, and were helped down by security staff.
«When I moved here, I was told this is a quiet, mountainous country. This is more excitement than I expected,» Thiam quipped as the two were helped off stage.
Outside the hall, Greenpeace activists had set up a large piece of piping with Credit Suisse's logo superimposed on it (pictured above), and distributed leaflets outlining their opposition to the pipeline.
Credit Suisse has been targeted by demonstrators over the planned, highly controversial Dakota pipeline before. The Swiss bank has always denied that it funds firms involved in building the pipeline.
«Allegations that Credit Suisse is the biggest lender to Dakota access pipeline are false and are firmly rejected by the bank.» The bank said it does do business with firms building and operating the pipeline.
