Transaction is not completed, we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets and from our customers and employees. For example, our business may have been affected adversely by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the Transaction, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the Transaction. Further, we have incurred and will incur substantial expenses in connection with the negotiation and completion of the Transaction and those expenses must be paid even if the Transaction is not completed and we do not realize the expected benefits of the Transaction.
This offering is expected to occur prior to, and is not conditioned upon, the consummation of the Transaction. The notes will not be subject to a special mandatory redemption and, if the Transaction is not consummated, Capital One will be the continued obligor of the notes offered herein.
This offering is expected to occur in advance of the consummation of the Transaction and is not conditioned upon the consummation of the Transaction. If the Transaction is completed, the resulting combined company will be the obligor of the notes. We can provide no assurances that the Transaction will occur or that we will realize the expected benefits of the Transaction even if the Transaction is completed. Moreover, there will be no special mandatory redemption for the notes and Capital One will not be required to redeem the notes if the Transaction is not consummated. Further, if the Transaction is not consummated, Capital One will be the continued obligor of any and all of its own debt, including the notes offered herein.
Legal and Regulatory Risk
Our businesses are subject to the risk of increased litigation, government investigations and regulatory enforcement.
Our businesses are subject to increased litigation, government investigations and other regulatory enforcement risks as a result of a number of factors and from various sources, including the highly regulated nature of the financial services industry, the focus of state and federal prosecutors on banks and the financial services industry and the structure of the credit card industry.
Given the inherent uncertainties involved in litigation, government investigations and regulatory enforcement decisions, and the very large or indeterminate damages sought in some matters asserted against us, there can be significant uncertainty as to the ultimate liability we may incur from these kinds of matters. The finding, or even the assertion, of substantial legal liability against us could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and could cause significant reputational harm to us, which could seriously harm our business. For example, on July 29, 2019, we announced that on March 22 and 23, 2019 an outside individual gained unauthorized access to our systems (the “2019 Cybersecurity Incident”). The 2019 Cybersecurity Incident has resulted in litigation, consent orders, settlements, government investigations and other regulatory enforcement inquiries.
In addition, financial institutions, such as ourselves, face significant regulatory scrutiny, which can lead to public enforcement actions or nonpublic supervisory actions. We and our subsidiaries are subject to comprehensive regulation and periodic examination by, among other regulatory bodies, the Federal Banking Agencies, SEC, CFTC and CFPB. We have been subject to enforcement actions by many of these and other regulators and may continue to be involved in such actions, including governmental inquiries, investigations and enforcement proceedings, including by the OCC, CFPB, Department of Justice, FinCEN and state Attorneys General. For example, on January 14, 2025, the CFPB brought an action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia making claims similar to the ongoing previously disclosed savings account litigation. Because the litigation is ongoing, we cannot anticipate the timing, outcome or possible impact of the matter, although it could lead to civil sanctions, including monetary penalties, and reputational damage.
Over the last several years, federal and state regulators have focused on risk management, compliance with anti-money laundering (“AML”) and sanctions laws, privacy, data protection and data security, use of service
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