🥇 First rule of investing? Know when to save! Up to 55% off Investing Pro before BLACK FRIDAYCLAIM SALE

New York probing legality of Capital One-Discover merger

Published 10/28/2024, 04:49 AM
Updated 10/28/2024, 04:50 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Screens display the logos and trading information for Capital One Financial and  Discover Financial as traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 20, 2024.  REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Ph
JPM
-
DFS
-
COF
-

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating whether Capital One's proposed $35.3 billion takeover of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) violates the state's antitrust law.

James asked a state judge in Manhattan in court filings on Wednesday to subpoena Capital One for documents needed for her probe, citing the bank's alleged lack of cooperation.

James said a merger could have a significant impact in New York because Capital One and Discover respectively have more than $9.5 billion and $6.5 billion of credit card loans there.

She also said the impact of a merger would be "particularly felt by the often vulnerable New Yorkers with subprime credit scores."

Capital One, based in McLean, Virginia, is one of the largest U.S. banks, with $480 billion of assets as of June 30. It expects to report third-quarter results on Thursday.

Discover, based in Riverwoods, Illinois, reported a $965 million third-quarter profit last week.

Capital One said in a statement that it would respond to James through appropriate legal channels, and was "well positioned" to win merger approval from federal banking regulators.

"We have made a strong case on the pro-competitive and pro-consumer benefits of this transaction," it said.

Discover did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The all-stock merger, announced in February, would create the largest U.S. credit card issuer with more than $250 billion of outstanding loans, surpassing JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), and access to more than 305 million cardholders.

James said the merger would extend Capital One's lead as the largest U.S. subprime card issuer, and give the combined company a market share of more than 30%.

A merger would also help Capital One, which issues Visa- and Mastercard-branded cards, expand its payment operations.

The merger also requires approval by shareholders, the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Capital One and Discover have said they hope to close by early 2025.

James said her office asked Capital One and Discover in May to waive confidentiality so it could review documents they submitted to the Justice Department's antitrust division.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Screens display the logos and trading information for Capital One Financial and  Discover Financial as traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 20, 2024.  REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

Discover agreed to a full waiver but Capital One did not, claiming it would give New York unlawful "visitorial power" over national banks, leading to the subpoena, James said.

Customers have also sued Capital One and Discover, saying the merger would reduce competition and boost consumer costs.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.