FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement contains or incorporates by reference statements that constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein and include statements regarding our current intent, belief or expectations with respect to our business and operations, macro and micro economic and market conditions, results of operations and financial condition and performance, capital adequacy and liquidity and risk management, including, without limitation, future loan loss provisions and financial support to certain borrowers, forecasted economic indicators and performance metric outcomes, indicative drivers, climate- and other sustainability-related statements, commitments, targets, projections and metrics, and other estimated and proxy data.
Words such as “will”, “may”, “expect”, “intend”, “seek”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “continue”, “plan”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “probability”, “indicative”, “risk”, “aim”, “outlook”, “forecast” , “assumption”, “projection”, “target”, “goal”, “guidance”, “objective”, “ambition” or other similar words are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views on future events and are subject to change, certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and other factors which are, in many instances, beyond our control (and the control of our officers, employees, agents and advisors), and have been made based on management’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon us.
Forward-looking statements may also be made, verbally or in writing, by members of our management or Board in connection with this prospectus supplement. Such statements are subject to the same limitations, uncertainties, assumptions and disclaimers set out in this document.
There can be no assurance that future developments or performance will align with our expectations or that the effect of future developments on us will be those anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those we expect or which are expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, depending on various factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth in this prospectus supplement, our 2024 Form 20-F and the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Those factors include, but are not limited to:
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information security breaches, including cyber attack events;
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the effect of, and changes in, laws, regulations, regulatory policy, taxation or accounting standards or practices, and government and central bank monetary policies, including changes to liquidity, leverage and capital requirements;
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regulatory investigations, reviews (including industry reviews) and other actions, inquiries, litigation, fines, penalties, restrictions or other regulator-imposed conditions, including from our actual or alleged failure to comply with laws, regulations or regulatory policy;
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the effectiveness of our risk management practices, including our framework, policies, processes, systems and employees;
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the reliability and security of our technology and risks associated with changes to technology systems;
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geopolitical events or other changes in countries in which we or our customers or counterparties operate;
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climate-related risks (including physical, transition and liability risks) that may arise from changing climate patterns, and risks associated with the transition to a lower carbon economy (including our ambition to become a net-zero, climate resilient bank) or risks from legal and regulatory action, or risks from other sustainability factors such as human rights and natural capital;