The information in this Preliminary Pricing Supplement is not
complete and may be changed. We may not sell these notes until the
Pricing Supplement is delivered in final form. We are not selling
these notes, nor are we soliciting offers to buy these notes, in
any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion. Dated June 29, 2022
|
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-261476
|
The Bank
of Nova Scotia
$
Digital Notes
Linked to
the S&P 500®
Index Due [●]
The notes will not bear
interest. The amount that you will be paid on your notes at
maturity (expected to be the 2nd
business day after the valuation date) is based on the performance
of the S&P 500®
Index (the reference asset) as measured from the trade date to and
including the valuation date (expected to be between 16 and 19
months after the trade date). If the final level on the valuation
date is equal to or greater than 85.00% of the initial level (set
on the trade date), you will receive the maximum payment amount
(expected to be between $1,129.60 and $1,152.50 for each $1,000
principal amount of your notes). If the final level on the valuation date is
less than 85.00% of the initial level, the return on your notes
will be negative and you may lose up to your entire principal
amount. Specifically, you will lose approximately 1.1765% for every
1% negative percentage change in the level of the reference asset below
85.00% of the initial level. Any payment on your notes is subject
to the creditworthiness of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
To
determine your payment at maturity, we will first calculate the
reference asset return, which is the percentage increase or
decrease in the final level from the initial level. At maturity,
for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes:
● |
if the final level is equal to or greater than 85.00% of the initial
level (the reference asset return is equal to or greater than -15.00%), you will
receive the maximum payment amount; or
|
● |
if the final level is less than the initial level by more
than 15.00% (the reference asset return is negative and is
less than -15.00%), you
will receive an amount in cash equal to the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the buffer rate of
approximately 117.65% times (c) the sum of the reference asset return
plus 15.00%.
|
Following
the determination of the initial level, the amount you will be paid
on your notes at maturity will not be affected by the closing level
of the reference asset on any day other than the valuation date.
In addition, no payments on your
notes will be made prior to maturity.
Investment in the notes involves certain risks. You should refer to
“Additional Risks” beginning on page P-15 of this pricing
supplement and “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes”
beginning on page PS-6 of the accompanying product supplement and
“Risk Factors” beginning on page S-2 of the accompanying prospectus
supplement and on page 7 of the accompanying prospectus.
The initial estimated value of
your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade
date is expected to be between $956.40 and $986.40 per $1,000
principal amount, which will be less than the original issue price
of your notes listed below. See “Additional Information
Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes” on the following page and
“Additional Risks” beginning on page P-15 of this document for
additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time
will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with
accuracy.
|
Per Note
|
Total1
|
Original Issue Price
|
100.00%
|
$
|
Underwriting commissions
|
0.00%
|
$
|
Proceeds to The Bank of Nova
Scotia
|
100.00%
|
$
|
1
For additional information, see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution
(Conflicts of Interest)” herein.
|
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or
disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the
adequacy of this pricing supplement, the accompanying prospectus,
prospectus supplement, underlier supplement or product supplement.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance
Corporation (the “CDIC”) pursuant to the Canada Deposit Insurance
Corporation Act (the “CDIC Act”) or the U.S. Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other government agency of Canada, the
United States or any other jurisdiction.
Scotia
Capital (USA) Inc.
|
Pricing Supplement dated July , 2022
The
Digital Notes Linked to the S&P 500®
Index Due [●] (the “notes”) offered hereunder are unsubordinated
and unsecured obligations of The Bank of Nova Scotia (the “Bank”)
and are subject to investment risks including possible loss of the
principal amount invested due to the negative performance of the
reference asset and the credit risk of the Bank. As used in this
pricing supplement, the “Bank,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to The
Bank of Nova Scotia. The notes will not be listed on any U.S.
securities exchange or automated quotation system.
The
return on your notes will relate to the price return of the
reference asset and will not include a total return or dividend
component. The notes are derivative products based on the
performance of the reference asset. The notes do not constitute a
direct investment in any of the shares, units or other securities
represented by the reference asset. By acquiring the notes, you
will not have a direct economic or other interest in, claim or
entitlement to, or any legal or beneficial ownership of any such
share, unit or security and will not have any rights as a
shareholder, unitholder or other security holder of any of the
issuers including, without limitation, any voting rights or rights
to receive dividends or other distributions.
Scotia
Capital (USA) Inc. (“SCUSA”), our affiliate, will purchase the
notes from us for distribution to one or more registered broker
dealers. SCUSA or any of its affiliates or agents may use this
pricing supplement in market-making transactions in notes after
their initial sale. Unless we, SCUSA or another of our affiliates
or agents selling such notes to you informs you otherwise in the
confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a
market-making transaction. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution
(Conflicts of Interest)” in this pricing supplement and
“Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” of the
accompanying product supplement.
The
original issue price, commissions and proceeds to the Bank listed
above relate to the notes we issue initially. We may decide to sell
additional notes after the date of the final pricing supplement, at
original issue prices and with commissions and proceeds to the Bank
that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether
positive or negative) on your investment in the notes will depend
in part on the original issue price you pay for such notes.
Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes
On the
cover page of this pricing supplement, the Bank has provided the
initial estimated value range for the notes. This range of
estimated values was determined by reference to the Bank’s internal
pricing models, which take into consideration certain factors, such
as the Bank’s internal funding rate on the trade date and the
Bank’s assumptions about market parameters. For more information
about the initial estimated value, see “Additional Risks” beginning
on page P-15.
The
economic terms of the notes (including the maximum payment amount)
are based on the Bank’s internal funding rate, which is the rate
the Bank would pay to borrow funds through the issuance of similar
market-linked notes, any underwriting discount and the economic
terms of certain related hedging arrangements. Due to these
factors, the original issue price you pay to purchase the notes
will be greater than the initial estimated value of the notes. The
Bank’s internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate the
Bank would pay when it issues conventional fixed rate debt
securities as discussed further under “Additional Risks — Risks
Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity — Neither the Bank’s nor
SCUSA’s estimated value of the notes at any time is determined by
reference to credit spreads or the borrowing rate the Bank would
pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities”. The Bank’s
use of its internal funding rate reduces the economic terms of the
notes to you.
The value
of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be
predicted; however, the price (not including SCUSA’s customary bid
and ask spreads) at which SCUSA would initially buy or sell notes
in the secondary market (if SCUSA makes a market, which it is not
obligated to do) is equal to approximately SCUSA’s estimate of the
market value of your notes on the trade date, based on its pricing
models and taking into account the Bank’s internal funding rate,
plus an additional amount (initially equal to $ per
$1,000 principal amount).
Prior
to , the price (not including
SCUSA’s customary bid and ask spreads) at which SCUSA would buy or
sell your notes (if it makes a market, which it is not obligated to
do) will equal approximately the sum of (a) the then-current
estimated value of your notes (as determined by reference to
SCUSA’s pricing models) plus (b) any remaining additional amount
(the additional amount will decline to zero on a straight-line
basis from the time of pricing through approximately 3 months). On
and after , the price (not including
SCUSA’s customary bid and ask spreads) at which SCUSA would buy or
sell your notes (if it makes a market) will equal approximately the
then-current estimated value of your notes determined by reference
to such pricing models. For additional information regarding the
price at which SCUSA would buy or sell your notes (if SCUSA makes a
market, which it is not obligated to do), each based on SCUSA’s
pricing models; see “Additional Risks — Risks Relating to Estimated
Value and Liquidity — The price at which SCUSA would buy or sell
your notes (if SCUSA makes a market, which it is not obligated to
do) will be based on SCUSA’s estimated value of your notes”
herein.
We urge you to read the “Additional
Risks” beginning on page P-15 of this pricing
supplement.
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more
detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the
accompanying prospectus, prospectus supplement, and product
supplement, each filed with the SEC. See “Additional Terms of Your
Notes” in this pricing supplement.
Issuer:
|
The
Bank of Nova Scotia (the “Bank”)
|
Issue:
|
Senior
Note Program, Series A
|
CUSIP / ISIN:
|
06416DBL9 / US06416DBL91
|
Type of Notes:
|
Digital Notes
|
Reference Asset:
|
The
S&P 500®
Index (Bloomberg Ticker: SPX)
|
Minimum Investment
and
Denominations:
|
$1,000
and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
|
Principal Amount:
|
$1,000
per note; $[●] in the aggregate for all the notes; the aggregate
principal amount of the notes may be increased if the Bank, at its
sole option, decides to sell an additional amount of the notes on a
date subsequent to the date of the final pricing supplement
|
Original Issue Price:
|
100%
of the principal amount of each note
|
Currency:
|
U.S.
dollars
|
Trade Date:
|
[●]
|
Original Issue Date:
|
[●]
(to be determined on the trade date and expected to be the
5th
business day after the trade date)
We
expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment
therefor on or about the 5th
business day following the date of pricing of the notes (this
settlement cycle being referred to as “T+5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the
secondary market generally are required to settle in two business
days (“T+2”), unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree
otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes
prior to the second business day before delivery of the notes will
be required, by virtue of the fact that each note initially will
settle in five business days (T+5), to specify alternative
settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
|
Valuation Date:
|
[●] (to
be determined on the trade date and expected to be approximately 16
to 19 months after the trade date)
The
valuation date could be delayed by the occurrence of a market
disruption event. See “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption
Events” in the accompanying product supplement. Further, if the
valuation date is not a trading day, the valuation date will be
postponed in the same manner as if a market disruption event has
occurred.
|
Maturity
Date:
|
[●] (to be
determined on the trade date and expected to be the 2nd
business day after the valuation date), subject to adjustment due
to a market disruption event, a non-trading day or a non-business
day as described in more detail under “General Terms of the
Notes—Maturity Date” in the accompanying product supplement
|
Principal at Risk:
|
You
may lose all or a substantial portion of your investment at
maturity if there is a percentage decrease from the initial level
to the final level of more than 15.00%
|
Purchase
at amount other than
principal amount:
|
The
amount we will pay you on the maturity date for your notes will not
be adjusted based on the original issue price you pay for your
notes, so if you acquire notes at a premium (or discount) to the
principal amount and hold them to the maturity date, it could
affect your investment in a number of ways. The return on your
investment in such notes will be lower (or higher) than it would
have been had you purchased the notes at the principal amount.
Also, if you purchased the notes at a premium to the principal
amount and if the final level is less than the threshold level, you
will incur a greater percentage decrease in your investment in the
notes than would have been the case if you had purchased the notes
at the principal amount. Additionally, the threshold settlement
amount and maximum payment amount will permit a lower (or higher)
positive return than indicated below, relative to your initial
investment. See “Additional Risks — Risks Relating to Estimated
Value and Liquidity — If you purchase your notes at a premium to
the principal amount, the return on your investment will be lower
than the return on notes purchased at the principal amount and the
impact of certain key terms of the notes will be negatively
affected” in this pricing supplement.
|
Fees and Expenses:
|
As part of the
distribution of the notes, SCUSA or one of our other affiliates
will sell the notes to certain unaffiliated securities dealers at
the original issue price per note specified on the cover hereof.
See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in
this pricing supplement.
The
price at which you purchase the notes includes costs that the Bank
or its affiliates expect to incur and profits that the Bank or its
affiliates expect to realize in connection with hedging activities
related to the notes, as set forth below under “Supplemental Plan
of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)”. We or one of our
affiliates will also pay a fee to SIMON Markets LLC, a
broker-dealer affiliated with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
(“GS&Co.”), who is acting as a dealer in connection with the
distribution of the notes. These costs and profits will likely
reduce the secondary market price, if any secondary market
develops, for the notes. As a result, you may experience an
immediate and substantial decline in the market value of your notes
on the trade date. See “Additional Risks— Risks Relating to Hedging
Activities and Conflicts of Interest — Hedging activities by the
Bank and SCUSA may negatively impact investors in the notes and
cause our respective interests and those of our clients and
counterparties to be contrary to those of investors in the notes”
in this pricing supplement.
|
Payment at Maturity:
|
The
payment at maturity, for each $1,000 principal amount of notes,
will be based on the performance of the reference asset and will be
calculated as follows:
|
|
o
If the final level is equal to or
greater than the threshold level, then the threshold settlement
amount; or
|
|
o If the final level is less than the threshold
level, then $1,000 + [$1,000 × buffer rate × (reference asset
return + threshold amount)]
In this case you will suffer a percentage loss on your principal
amount equal to the buffer rate multiplied by the negative
reference asset return in excess of the threshold amount.
Accordingly, you could lose up to 100% of your investment in the
notes.
|
Closing Level:
|
As
used herein, the “closing level” of the reference asset on any date
will be determined based upon the closing level published on the
Bloomberg Professional®
service (“Bloomberg”) page “SPX<Index>” or any successor page
on Bloomberg or any successor service, as applicable, on such
date
|
Initial Level:
|
The closing
level of the reference asset on the trade date
|
Final Level:
|
The
closing level of the reference asset on the valuation date. In
certain special circumstances, the final level will be determined
by the calculation agent, in its discretion. See “General Terms of
the Notes—Unavailability of the Closing Value of a Reference Asset;
Adjustments to a Reference Asset — Unavailability of the Closing
Value of a Reference Index; Alternative Calculation Methodology”
and “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” in the
accompanying product supplement.
|
Reference asset return:
|
The
reference asset return, expressed as a percentage, with respect to
the payment at maturity, is calculated as follows:
final level –
initial level
initial
level
For
the avoidance of doubt, the reference asset return may be a
negative value.
|
Threshold Level:
|
85.00%
of the initial level
|
Threshold Settlement Amount:
|
Expected to be between $1,129.60 and $1,152.50 (to be determined on
the trade date) for each $1,000 principal amount of your
notes
|
Cap Level:
|
Expected to be between 112.96% and 115.25% of the initial level (to
be determined on the trade date)
|
Maximum Payment Amount:
|
The
Threshold Settlement Amount (to be determined on the trade
date)
|
Threshold Amount:
|
15.00%
|
Buffer Rate:
|
The quotient of the initial level
divided by the threshold
level, expressed as a percentage, which equals approximately
117.65%
|
Form of Notes:
|
Book-entry
|
Calculation Agent:
|
Scotia
Capital Inc., an affiliate of the Bank
|
Status:
|
The notes will
constitute direct, unsubordinated and unsecured obligations of the
Bank ranking pari passu
with all other direct, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of
the Bank from time to time outstanding (except as otherwise
prescribed by law). Holders will not have the benefit of any
insurance under the provisions of the CDIC Act, the U.S. Federal
Deposit Insurance Act or under any other deposit insurance regime
of any jurisdiction.
|
Tax Redemption:
|
The
Bank (or its successor) may redeem the notes, in whole but not in
part, at a redemption price determined by the calculation agent in
a manner reasonably calculated to preserve your and our relative
economic position, if it is determined that changes in tax laws or
their interpretation will result in the Bank (or its successor)
becoming obligated to pay additional amounts with respect to the
notes. See “Tax Redemption” in the accompanying product
supplement.
|
Listing:
|
The
notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quotation
system
|
Use of Proceeds:
|
General corporate purposes
|
Clearance and Settlement:
|
Depository Trust Company
|
Trading Day:
|
A day
on which the respective principal securities markets for all of the
stocks comprising the reference asset (the “reference asset
constituent stocks”) are scheduled to be open for trading, the
sponsor of the reference asset (the “sponsor”) is scheduled to be
open for business and the reference asset is expected to be
calculated and published by the sponsor.
|
Business Day:
|
A day
other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law to
close
|
Terms Incorporated:
|
All of the terms appearing above the
item under the caption “General Terms of the Notes” in the
accompanying product supplement, as modified by this pricing
supplement
|
Canadian Bail-in:
|
The notes are not bail-inable debt securities under the CDIC
Act
|
Investing in the notes involves significant risks. You may lose all
or a substantial portion of your investment. Any payment on the
notes, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the
creditworthiness of the Bank. If the Bank were to default on its
payment obligations you may not receive any amounts owed to you
under the notes and you could lose up to your entire
investment.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF YOUR NOTES
You should
read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated
December 29, 2021, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement
dated December 29, 2021, the underlier supplement dated December
29, 2021 and the product supplement (Market-Linked Notes, Series A)
dated December 29, 2021, relating to our Senior Note Program,
Series A, of which these notes are a part. Capitalized terms used
but not defined in this pricing supplement will have the meanings
given to them in the product supplement. In the event of any
conflict between this pricing supplement and any of the foregoing,
the following hierarchy will govern: first, this pricing
supplement; second, the accompanying product supplement; third, the
underlier supplement; fourth, the prospectus supplement; and last,
the prospectus. The notes may vary from
the terms described in the accompanying prospectus, prospectus
supplement, underlier supplement and product supplement in several
important ways. You should read this pricing supplement carefully,
including the documents incorporated by reference
herein.
This
pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below,
contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all prior or
contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written
materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms,
correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample
structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You
should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set
forth in “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the
accompanying product supplement, as the notes involve risks not
associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to
consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors
concerning an investment in the notes. You may access these
documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if that
address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date
on the SEC website).
Product Supplement (Market-Linked Notes, Series A) dated December
29, 2021:
Underlier Supplement dated December 29, 2021:
Prospectus Supplement dated December 29, 2021:
Prospectus dated December 29, 2021:
The notes
may be suitable for you if:
• |
You fully understand and are willing
to accept the risks inherent in an investment in the notes,
including the risk of losing all or a substantial portion of your
investment
|
• |
You can tolerate a loss of up to 100%
of your investment
|
• |
You are willing to make an investment
that, if the final level of the reference asset is less than the
threshold level, has an accelerated downside risk greater than the
downside market risk of a hypothetical investment in the reference
asset or in the reference asset constituent stocks
|
• |
You believe that the final level of
the reference asset will be equal to or greater than the threshold
level and that the appreciation of the level of the reference asset
is unlikely to exceed the cap on appreciation within the maximum
payment amount (the actual maximum payment amount will be
determined on the trade date)
|
• |
You are willing to hold the notes to
maturity, a term of approximately 16 to 19 months, and accept that
there may be little or no secondary market for the notes
|
• |
You understand and accept that your
potential payment at maturity is limited to the maximum payment
amount and you would be willing to invest in the notes if the
maximum payment amount was set equal to the bottom of the range
indicated on the cover hereof (the actual maximum payment amount
will be determined on the trade date)
|
• |
You can tolerate fluctuations in the
price of the notes prior to maturity that may be similar to or
exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the reference
asset or in the price of the reference asset constituent
stocks
|
• |
You do not seek current income from
your investment and are willing to forgo dividends paid on the
reference asset constituent stocks
|
• |
You are willing to assume the credit
risk of the Bank for all payments under the notes, and understand
that if the Bank defaults on its obligations you may not receive
any amounts due to you including any repayment of principal
|
The notes
may not be suitable for you if:
• |
You do not fully understand or are
unwilling to accept the risks inherent in an investment in the
notes, including the risk of losing all or a substantial portion of
your investment
|
• |
You require an investment designed to
guarantee a full return of principal at maturity
|
• |
You cannot tolerate a loss of all or
a substantial portion of your investment
|
• |
You are not willing to make an
investment that, if the final level of the reference asset is less
than the threshold level, has an accelerated downside risk greater
than the downside market risk of a hypothetical investment in the
reference asset or in the reference asset constituent stocks
|
• |
You believe that the final level of
the reference asset will be less than the threshold level, or you
believe that the level of the reference asset will appreciate over
the term of the notes and that the appreciation is likely to equal
or exceed the cap on appreciation within the maximum payment amount
(the actual maximum payment amount will be determined on the trade
date)
|
• |
You seek an investment that has
unlimited return potential without a cap on appreciation or you
would be unwilling to invest in the notes if the maximum payment
amount was set equal to the bottom of the range indicated on the
cover hereof (the actual maximum payment amount will be determined
on the trade date)
|
• |
You cannot tolerate fluctuations in
the price of the notes prior to maturity that may be similar to or
exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the reference
asset or in the price of the reference asset constituent
stocks
|
• |
You seek current income from your
investment or prefer to receive dividends paid on the reference
asset constituent stocks
|
• |
You are unable or unwilling to hold
the notes to maturity, a term of approximately 16 to 19 months, or
you seek an investment for which there will be a secondary
market
|
• |
You are not willing to assume the
credit risk of the Bank for all payments under the notes
|
The investor suitability considerations identified above are not
exhaustive. Whether or not the notes are a suitable investment for
you will depend on your individual circumstances and you should
reach an investment decision only after you and your investment,
legal, tax, accounting and other advisors have carefully considered
the suitability of an investment in the notes in light of your
particular circumstances. You should also review “Additional Risks”
in this pricing supplement and the “Additional Risk Factors
Specific to the Notes” beginning on page PS-6 of the accompanying
product supplement and “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-2 of the
accompanying prospectus supplement and on page 7 of the
accompanying prospectus for risks related to an investment in the
notes.
HYPOTHETICAL PAYMENTS AT MATURITY ON THE NOTES
The
examples set out below are included for illustration purposes only.
They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future
investment results and are intended merely to illustrate the impact
that the various hypothetical reference asset levels on the
valuation date could have on the payment at maturity assuming all
other variables remain constant.
The
examples below are based on a range of final levels that are
entirely hypothetical; the level of the reference asset on any day
throughout the term of the notes, including the final level on the
valuation date, cannot be predicted. The reference asset has been
highly volatile in the past, meaning that the level of the
reference asset has changed considerably in relatively short
periods, and its performance cannot be predicted for any future
period.
The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical
rates of return on the notes assuming that they are purchased on
the original issue date at the principal amount and held to the
maturity date. If you sell your notes in a secondary market prior
to the maturity date, your return will depend upon the market value
of your notes at the time of sale, which may be affected by a
number of factors that are not reflected in the examples below,
such as interest rates, the volatility of the reference asset and
our creditworthiness. In addition, the estimated value of your
notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date
(as determined by reference to pricing models used by us) will be
less than the original issue price of your notes. For more
information on the estimated value of your notes, see “Additional
Risks — Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity — The
Bank’s initial estimated value of the notes at the time of pricing
(when the terms of your notes are set on the trade date) will be
lower than the original issue price of the notes” in this pricing
supplement. The information in the examples also reflect the key
terms and assumptions in the box below.
Key Terms and
Assumptions
|
Principal amount
|
$1,000
|
Threshold settlement amount
|
$1,129.60 for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes*
|
Threshold level
|
85.00%
of the initial level
|
Cap level
|
112.96%
of the initial level*
|
Threshold amount
|
15.00%
|
Buffer rate
|
Approximately 117.65%
|
*The bottom of
the threshold settlement amount and cap level ranges of $1,129.60 -
$1,152.50 and 112.96% - 115.25%, respectively, set forth herein
under “Summary”. The actual threshold settlement amount and cap
level will be determined on the trade date
Neither a market
disruption event nor a non-trading day occurs on the originally
scheduled valuation date
|
No change in or affecting any of the
reference asset constituent stocks or the method by which the
sponsor calculates the reference asset
|
Notes purchased on the original issue
date at the principal amount and held to the maturity date
|
Moreover,
we have not yet set the initial level that will serve as the
baseline for determining the reference asset return or the
threshold settlement amount or cap level, each of which will affect
the amount that we will pay on your notes, if any, at maturity. We
will not do so until the trade date. As a result, the actual
initial level may differ substantially from the level of the
reference asset prior to the trade date.
For these
reasons, the actual performance of the reference asset over the
term of your notes, as well as the amount payable at maturity, if
any, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown
below or to the historical levels of the reference asset shown
elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the
historical levels of the reference asset, see “Information
Regarding the Reference Asset—Historical Information” herein.
Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly
available information to determine the levels of the reference
asset between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of
your purchase of the notes.
Also, the
hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the
effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment
applicable to your notes, tax liabilities could affect the
after-tax rate of return on your notes to a comparatively greater
extent than the after-tax return on the reference asset constituent
stocks.
The levels in the left column of the table below represent
hypothetical final levels and are expressed as percentages of the
initial level. The amounts in the right column represent the
hypothetical payment at maturity, based on the corresponding
hypothetical final level, and are expressed as percentages of the
principal amount of a note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth
of a percent). Thus, a hypothetical payment at maturity of 100.000%
means that the value of the cash payment that we would pay for each
$1,000 of the outstanding principal amount of the notes on the
maturity date would equal 100.000% of the principal amount of a
note, based on the corresponding hypothetical final level and the
assumptions noted above.
Hypothetical Final Level
(as Percentage of Initial Level)
|
Hypothetical Payment at Maturity
(as Percentage of Principal Amount)
|
150.000%
|
112.960%
|
140.000%
|
112.960%
|
130.000%
|
112.960%
|
120.000%
|
112.960%
|
112.960%
|
112.960%
|
110.000%
|
112.960%
|
105.000%
|
112.960%
|
100.000%
|
112.960%
|
95.000%
|
112.960%
|
90.000%
|
112.960%
|
85.000%
|
112.960%
|
80.000%
|
94.118%
|
70.000%
|
82.353%
|
60.000%
|
70.588%
|
50.000%
|
58.824%
|
25.000%
|
29.412%
|
0.000%
|
0.000%
|
If, for
example, the final level were determined to be 25.000% of the
initial level, the payment at maturity that we would pay on your
notes at maturity would be approximately 29.412% of the principal
amount of your notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if
you purchased your notes on the original issue date at the
principal amount and held them to the maturity date, you would lose
approximately 70.588% of your investment (if you purchased your
notes at a premium to the principal amount you would lose a
correspondingly higher percentage of your investment). If the final
level were determined to be 0.000% of the initial level, you would
lose 100.000% of your investment in the notes. In addition, if the
final level were determined to be 150.000% of the initial level,
the payment at maturity that we would pay on your notes would be
limited to the maximum payment amount, or 112.960% of each $1,000 principal amount
of your notes, as shown in the table above. If you hold your notes
to maturity, you will not benefit from any increase in the level of
the reference asset to a final level that is greater than the cap
level.
The following chart shows a graphical illustration of the
hypothetical payment at maturity that we would pay on your notes on
the maturity date, if the final level were any of the hypothetical
levels shown on the horizontal axis. The hypothetical payments at maturity in the
chart are expressed as percentages of the principal amount of your
notes and the hypothetical final levels are expressed as
percentages of the initial level. The chart shows that any
hypothetical final level of less than 85.000% (the section left of
the 85.000% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a
hypothetical payment at maturity of less than 100.000% of the
principal amount of your notes (the section below the 100.000%
marker on the vertical axis) and, accordingly, in a loss of
principal to the holder of the notes. The chart also shows that any
hypothetical final level of greater than or equal to
85.000%
(the section right of the
85.000%
marker on the horizontal axis)
would result in a capped return on your investment.
The following
examples illustrate the calculation of the payment at maturity
based on the key terms and assumptions above. The amounts below
have been rounded for ease of analysis.
Example 1—
|
Calculation of
the payment at maturity where the reference asset return is
positive (and the final level is greater than the cap level).
|
|
|
|
Reference asset
return:
|
50.00%
|
|
|
|
|
Payment at
Maturity:
|
$1,000.00 +
($1,000.00 × 12.96%) = $1,000.00 + $129.60 = $1,129.60
|
|
|
|
|
On a
$1,000.00 investment, a 50.00% reference asset return results in a
payment at maturity of the threshold settlement amount, equal to
$1,129.60.
|
Example 2—
|
Calculation of
the payment at maturity where the reference asset return is
positive (and the final level is less than the cap level).
|
|
|
|
Reference asset
return:
|
5.00%
|
|
|
|
|
Payment at
Maturity:
|
$1,000.00 +
($1,000.00 × 12.96%) = $1,000.00 + $129.60 = $1,129.60
|
|
|
|
|
On a
$1,000.00 investment, a 5.00% reference asset return results in a
payment at maturity of the threshold settlement amount, equal to
$1,129.60.
|
Example 3—
|
Calculation of
the payment at maturity where the reference asset return is
negative but is equal to or greater than -15.00%.
|
|
|
|
Reference asset
return:
|
-5.00%
|
|
|
|
|
Payment at
Maturity:
|
$1,000.00 +
($1,000.00 × 12.96%) = $1,000.00 + $129.60 = $1,129.60
|
|
|
|
|
On a
$1,000.00 investment, a -5.00% reference asset return results in a
payment at maturity of the threshold settlement amount, equal to
$1,129.60.
|
Example 4—
|
Calculation of
the payment at maturity where the reference asset return is
negative and is less than -15.00%.
|
|
|
|
Reference asset
return:
|
-50.00%
|
|
|
|
|
Payment at
Maturity:
|
$1,000.00 +
[$1,000.00 × 117.65% × (-50.00% + 15.00%)] = $1,000.00 - $411.76 =
$588.24
|
|
|
|
|
On a $1,000.00
investment, a -50.00% reference asset return results in a payment
at maturity of $588.24.
Accordingly, if the reference asset return is less than -15.00%,
the Bank will pay you less than the full principal amount,
resulting in a percentage loss on your investment that is equal to
the buffer rate multiplied
by the negative reference asset return in excess of the threshold
amount. You may lose up to 100% of your principal amount.
|
Any payment on the notes, including any repayment of principal, is
subject to the creditworthiness of the Bank. If the Bank were to
default on its payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts
owed to you under the notes and you could lose up to your entire
investment.
The
payments at maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they
are based on a hypothetical threshold settlement amount,
hypothetical levels of the reference asset that may not be achieved
on the valuation date and on assumptions that may prove to be
erroneous. The actual market value of your notes on the maturity
date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell
your notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical payments
at maturity shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as
an indication of the financial return on an investment in the
notes. The hypothetical payments at maturity on the notes held to
the maturity date in the examples above assume you purchased your
notes at their principal amount and have not been adjusted to
reflect the actual original issue price you pay for your notes. The
return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your
notes will be affected by the amount you pay for your notes. If you
purchase your notes for a price other than the principal amount,
the return on your investment will differ from, and may be
significantly lower than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the
above examples. Please read “Additional Risks — Risks Relating to
Estimated Value and Liquidity — The price at which the notes may be
sold prior to maturity will depend on a number of factors and may
be substantially less than the amount for which they were
originally purchased” in this pricing supplement.
Payments on the notes are economically equivalent to the amounts
that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For
example, payments on the notes are economically equivalent to a
combination of a non- interest-bearing bond bought by the holder
and one or more options entered into between the holder and us
(with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The
discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of
the notes or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes, as
described elsewhere in this pricing supplement.
We cannot predict the actual final level or what the market value
of your notes will be on any particular trading day, nor can we
predict the relationship between the level of the reference asset
and the market value of your notes at any time prior to the
maturity date. The actual amount that you will receive, if any, at
maturity and the rate of return on the notes will depend on the
actual initial level, threshold settlement amount, maximum payment
amount and cap level, each of which we will set on the trade date,
and the actual final level to be determined by the calculation
agent as described above. Moreover, the assumptions on which the
hypothetical returns are based may turn out to be inaccurate.
Consequently, the amount of cash to be paid in respect of your
notes, if any, on the maturity date may be very different from the
information reflected in the examples above.
|
An
investment in the notes involves significant risks. In addition to
the following risks included in this pricing supplement, we urge
you to read “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes”
beginning on page PS-6 of the accompanying product supplement and
“Risk Factors” beginning on page S-2 of the accompanying prospectus
supplement and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus.
You should
understand the risks of investing in the notes and should reach an
investment decision only after careful consideration, with your
advisors, of the suitability of the notes in light of your
particular financial circumstances and the information set forth in
this pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus, prospectus
supplement, underlier supplement and product supplement.
Risks Relating to Return Characteristics
Risk of loss at maturity
You may
lose up to your entire investment in the notes. Any payment on the
notes at maturity depends on the reference asset return. The Bank
will only repay you the full principal amount of your notes if the
reference asset return is equal to or greater than -15.00%. If the
reference asset return is less than -15.00%, you will have a loss
for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes equal to the
product of (i) the buffer
rate times (ii) the
sum of the reference asset
return plus the threshold
amount times (iii) $1,000.
Accordingly, you may lose up to
your entire investment in the notes if the percentage decline from
the initial level to the final level is greater than
15.00%.
The downside market exposure to the reference asset is buffered
only at maturity
You should
be willing to hold your notes to maturity. If you are able to sell
your notes prior to maturity in the secondary market, you may have
to sell them at a loss relative to your initial investment even if
the level of the reference asset at such time is equal to or
greater than the threshold level.
Your potential payment at maturity is limited to the maximum
payment amount
The
payment at maturity will not exceed the maximum payment amount.
Therefore, if the appreciation of the level of the reference asset
exceeds the cap on appreciation in the maximum payment amount, the
notes will provide less opportunity to participate in the
appreciation of the reference asset than an investment in a
security linked to the level of the reference asset providing full
participation in the appreciation. Accordingly, the return on the
notes may be less than the return would be if you made an
investment in a security directly linked to the positive
performance of the reference asset.
The notes differ from conventional debt instruments
The notes
are not conventional notes or debt instruments. The notes do not
provide you with interest payments prior to maturity as a
conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security with the
same maturity would. The return that you will receive on the notes,
which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn
on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return
may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a
conventional senior interest bearing debt security of the
Bank.
No interest
The notes
will not bear interest and, accordingly, you will not receive any
interest payments on the notes.
The threshold settlement amount applies only at maturity
You should
be willing to hold your notes to maturity. If you are able to sell
your notes prior to maturity in the secondary market, the price you
receive per $1,000 principal amount will likely not reflect the
full economic value of the threshold settlement amount or the notes
themselves, and the return you realize may be less than that
provided by the threshold settlement amount, even if such return is
positive. You may receive the full benefit of the threshold
settlement amount only if you hold your notes to maturity.
The payment at maturity is not linked to the level of the reference
asset at any time other than the valuation date (except in the case
of tax redemptions)
The
payment at maturity will be based on the final level. Therefore,
for example, if the closing level of the reference asset declined
substantially as of the valuation date compared to the trade date,
the payment at maturity may be significantly less than it would
otherwise have been had the payment at maturity been linked to the
closing levels of the reference asset prior to the valuation date.
Although the actual level of the reference asset at maturity or at
other times during the term of the notes may be higher than the
final level, you will not benefit from the closing levels of the
reference asset at any time other than the valuation date (except
in the case of tax redemptions as described further under “Tax
Redemption” in the accompanying product supplement).
Holding the notes is not the same as holding the reference asset
constituent stocks
Holding
the notes is not the same as holding the reference asset
constituent stocks. As a holder of the notes, you will not be
entitled to the voting rights or rights to receive dividends or
other distributions or other rights that holders of the reference
asset constituent stocks would enjoy. Further, the return on your notes may not
reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the
reference asset constituent stocks. For instance, your potential
payment at maturity is limited to the maximum payment amount and
you will not participate in the appreciation of the reference asset
or the reference asset constituent stocks.
If you purchase your notes at a premium to the principal amount,
the return on your investment will be lower than the return on
notes purchased at the principal amount and the impact of certain
key terms of the notes will be negatively affected
The
payment at maturity will not be adjusted based on the original
issue price you pay for the notes. If you purchase notes at a price
that differs from the principal amount of the notes, then the
return on your investment in such notes held to the maturity date
will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on
notes purchased at the principal amount. If you purchase your notes
at a premium to the principal amount and hold them to the maturity
date, the return on your investment in the notes will be lower than
it would have been had you purchased the notes at the principal
amount or at a discount to the principal amount. In addition, the
impact of the threshold level, the threshold settlement amount and
the maximum payment amount on the return on your investment will
depend upon the price you pay for your notes relative to the
principal amount. For example, if you purchase your notes at a
premium to the principal amount, the threshold settlement amount
and maximum payment amount will permit a lower positive return on
your investment in the notes than would have been the case for
notes purchased at the principal amount or a discount to the
principal amount. Similarly, if the final level is less than the
threshold level, you will incur a greater percentage decrease in
your investment in the notes than would have been the case for
notes purchased at the principal amount or a discount to the
principal amount.
Risks Relating to Characteristics of the Reference Asset
The notes are subject to market risk
The return
on the notes is directly linked to the performance of the reference
asset and indirectly linked to the performance of the reference
asset constituent stocks, and the extent to which the reference
asset return is positive or negative. The level of the reference
asset can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to the
reference asset constituent stocks, as well as general market
factors, such as general market volatility and levels, interest
rates and economic and political conditions. In recent years, the
COVID-19 pandemic has caused volatility in the global financial
markets and a slowdown in the global economy. COVID-19 or any other
communicable disease or infection may adversely affect the issuers
of the reference asset constituent stocks and, therefore, the
reference asset.
There is no assurance that the investment view implicit in the
notes will be successful
It is
impossible to predict with certainty whether and the extent to
which the level of the reference asset will rise or fall. There can
be no assurance that the level of the reference asset will rise
above the initial level or that the percentage decline from the
initial level to the final level will not be greater than the
threshold amount. The final level may be influenced by complex and
interrelated political, economic, financial and other factors that
affect the level of the reference asset constituent stocks. You
should be willing to accept the risks of the price performance of
equity securities in general and the reference asset constituent
stocks in particular and the risk of losing some or all of your
investment in the notes.
Furthermore, we cannot give you any assurance that the future
performance of the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks will result in your receiving an amount greater
than or equal to the principal amount of your notes. Certain
periods of historical performance of the reference asset or the
reference asset constituent stocks would have resulted in you
receiving less than the principal amount of your notes if you had
owned notes with terms similar to these notes in the past. See
“Information Regarding the Reference Asset” in this pricing
supplement for further information regarding the historical
performance of the reference asset.
The reference asset reflects price return only and not total
return
The return
on your notes is based on the performance of the reference asset,
which reflects the changes in the market prices of the reference
asset constituent stocks. It is not, however, linked to a “total
return” index or strategy, which, in addition to reflecting those
price returns, would also reflect dividends paid on the reference
asset constituent stocks. The return on your notes will not include
such a total return feature or dividend component.
Investors should investigate the reference asset and the reference
asset constituent stocks as if making a hypothetical direct
investment in the reference asset constituent stocks
Investors
should conduct their own diligence of the reference asset and
reference asset constituent stocks as an investor would if it were
making a hypothetical direct investment in the reference asset
constituent stocks. Neither we nor any of our affiliates have
participated in the preparation of any publicly available
information or made any “due diligence” investigation or inquiry
with respect to the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks. Furthermore, we cannot give any assurance that
all events occurring prior to the original issue date have been
properly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any such events or the
disclosure or failure to disclose material future events concerning
the reference asset or the reference asset constituent stocks could
affect any payment at maturity. Investors should not conclude that
the sale by the Bank of the notes is any form of investment
recommendation by the Bank or any of its affiliates to invest in
securities linked to the performance of the reference asset or the
reference asset constituent stocks.
There is no assurance as to the performance of the reference asset
or the reference asset constituent stocks; past performance of the
reference asset or the reference asset constituent stocks should
not be taken as an indication of the future performance of the
reference asset or the reference asset constituent stocks
The notes
are linked directly to the level of the reference asset and
indirectly to the levels of the reference asset constituent stocks,
which are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. None of the Bank, the calculation
agent, SCUSA or any other affiliate of the Bank gives any assurance
as to the performance of the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks.
Investors should not conclude that the sale by the Bank of the
notes is an investment recommendation by it or by any of the other
entities mentioned above to invest in securities linked to the
performance of the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks.
Investors should consult with their own financial advisors as to
whether an investment in the notes is appropriate for
them. Past performance of
the reference asset and the reference asset constituent stocks
should not be taken as a guarantee or assurance of the future
performance of the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks, and it is impossible to predict whether the
level of the reference asset or the reference asset constituent
stocks will rise or fall during the term of the notes.
Changes affecting the reference asset could have an adverse effect
on the value of, and any amount payable on, the notes
The
policies of the sponsor (as defined under “Information Regarding
the Reference Asset”) concerning additions, deletions and
substitutions of the reference asset constituent stocks and the
manner in which the sponsor takes account of certain changes
affecting those reference asset constituent stocks may adversely
affect the level of the reference asset. The policies of the
sponsor with respect to the calculation of the reference asset
could also adversely affect the level of the reference asset. The
sponsor may discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of
the reference asset. Any such actions could have a material adverse
effect on the value of, and any amount payable on, the notes.
The Bank cannot control actions by the sponsor and the sponsor has
no obligation to consider your interests
The Bank
and its affiliates are not affiliated with the sponsor and have no
ability to control or predict its actions, including any errors in or
discontinuation of public disclosure regarding methods or policies
relating to the calculation of the reference asset. The sponsor is
not involved in the notes offering in any way and has no obligation
to consider your interest as an owner of the notes
in taking any actions that might negatively affect the value of,
and any amount payable on, your notes.
Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity
The Bank’s initial estimated value of the notes at the time of
pricing (when the terms of your notes are set on the trade date)
will be lower than the original issue price of the notes
The Bank’s
initial estimated value of the notes is only an estimate. The
original issue price of the notes will exceed the Bank’s initial
estimated value. The difference between the original issue price of
the notes and the Bank’s initial estimated value reflects costs
associated with selling and structuring the notes, as well as
hedging its obligations under the notes with a third party.
Therefore, the economic terms of the notes are less favorable to
you than they would have been had these expenses not been paid or
been lower.
Neither the Bank’s nor SCUSA’s estimated value of the notes at any
time is determined by reference to credit spreads or the borrowing
rate the Bank would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt
securities
The Bank’s
initial estimated value of the notes and SCUSA’s estimated value of
the notes at any time are determined by reference to the Bank’s
internal funding rate. The internal funding rate used in the
determination of the estimated value of the notes generally
represents a discount from the credit spreads for the Bank’s
conventional fixed-rate debt securities and the borrowing rate the
Bank would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities.
This discount is based on, among other things, the Bank’s view of
the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance,
operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes in
comparison to those costs for the Bank’s conventional fixed-rate
debt. If the interest rate implied by the credit spreads for the
Bank’s conventional fixed-rate debt securities, or the borrowing
rate the Bank would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt
securities were to be used, the Bank would expect the economic
terms of the notes to be more favorable to you. Consequently, the
use of an internal funding rate for the notes increases the
estimated value of the notes at any time and has an adverse effect
on the economic terms of the notes.
The Bank’s initial estimated value of the notes does not represent
future values of the notes and may differ from others’ (including
SCUSA’s) estimates
The Bank’s
initial estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to
its internal pricing models when the terms of the notes are set.
These pricing models consider certain factors, such as the Bank’s
internal funding rate on the trade date, the expected term of the
notes, market conditions and other relevant factors existing at
that time, and the Bank’s assumptions about market parameters,
which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and
other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions (including
the pricing models and assumptions used by SCUSA) could provide
valuations for the notes that are different, and perhaps materially
lower, from the Bank’s initial estimated value. Therefore, the
price at which SCUSA would buy or sell your notes (if SCUSA makes a
market, which it is not obligated to do) may be materially lower
than the Bank’s initial estimated value. In addition, market
conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and
any assumptions may prove to be incorrect.
If the levels of the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks change, the market value of your notes may not
change in the same manner
Your notes
may trade quite differently from the performance of the reference
asset or the reference asset constituent stocks. Changes in the
levels of the reference asset or the reference asset constituent
stocks may not result in a comparable change in the market value of
your notes. We discuss some of the reasons for this disparity under
“— Risks Relating to Estimated Value and Liquidity — The price at
which the notes may be sold prior to maturity will depend on a
number of factors and may be substantially less than the amount for
which they were originally purchased” herein.
The price at which SCUSA would buy or sell your notes (if SCUSA
makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) will be based on
SCUSA’s estimated value of your notes
SCUSA’s
estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to its
pricing models and takes into account the Bank’s internal funding
rate. The price at which SCUSA would initially buy or sell your
notes in the secondary market (if SCUSA makes a market, which it is
not obligated to do) exceeds SCUSA’s estimated value of your notes
at the time of pricing. As agreed by SCUSA and the distribution
participants, this excess (i.e., the additional amount described
under “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the
Notes” herein) will decline to zero on a straight line basis over
the period from the trade date through the applicable date set
forth under “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of
the Notes” herein. Thereafter, if SCUSA buys or sells your notes it
will do so at prices that reflect the estimated value determined
by
reference
to SCUSA’s pricing models at that time. The price at which SCUSA
will buy or sell your notes at any time also will reflect its then
current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured
notes. If SCUSA calculated its estimated value of your notes by
reference to the Bank’s credit spreads or the borrowing rate the
Bank would pay for its conventional fixed-rate debt securities (as
opposed to the Bank’s internal funding rate), the price at which
SCUSA would buy or sell your notes (if SCUSA makes a market, which
it is not obligated to do) could be significantly lower.
SCUSA’s
pricing models consider certain variables, including principally
the Bank’s internal funding rate, interest rates (forecasted,
current and historical rates), volatility, price-sensitivity
analysis and the time to maturity of the notes. These pricing
models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions
about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result,
the actual value you would receive if you sold your notes in the
secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially,
from the estimated value of your notes determined by reference to
SCUSA’s models, taking into account the Bank’s internal funding
rate, due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models
or assumptions used by others. See “— Risks Relating to Estimated
Value and Liquidity —The price at which the notes may be sold prior
to maturity will depend on a number of factors and may be
substantially less than the amount for which they were originally
purchased” herein.
In
addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price
of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be
predicted. If SCUSA makes a market in the notes, the price quoted
by SCUSA would reflect any changes in market conditions and other
relevant factors, including any deterioration in the Bank’s
creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness. These changes may
adversely affect the value of your notes, including the price you
may receive for your notes in any market making transaction. To the
extent that SCUSA makes a market in the notes, the quoted price
will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to SCUSA’s
pricing models at that time, plus or minus SCUSA’s then current bid
and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and
subject to the declining excess amount described above).
Furthermore, if you sell your notes, you will likely be charged a
commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will
likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will
further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your notes in a
secondary market sale.
There is
no assurance that SCUSA or any other party will be willing to
purchase your notes at any price and, in this regard, SCUSA is not
obligated to make a market in the notes. See “— The notes lack
liquidity” herein.
The market value of the notes may be influenced by many
unpredictable factors
When we
refer to the market value of your notes, we mean the value that you
could receive for your notes if you chose to sell them in the open
market before the stated maturity date. A number of factors, many
of which are beyond our control, will influence the market value of
your notes, including:
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the level of the reference
asset;
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the volatility – i.e., the frequency
and magnitude of changes – in the closing level of the reference
asset;
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• |
the dividend rates of the reference
asset constituent stocks;
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economic, financial, political,
military, regulatory, legal, public health and other events that
affect the applicable securities markets generally and which may
affect the levels of the reference asset constituent stocks and the
closing level of the reference asset;
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interest rate and yield rates in the
market;
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the time remaining until your notes
mature; and
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our creditworthiness, whether actual
or perceived, and including actual or anticipated upgrades or
downgrades in our credit ratings or changes in other credit
measures.
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These
factors may influence the market value of your notes if you sell
your notes before maturity, including the price you may receive for
your notes in any market making transaction. If you sell your notes
prior to maturity, you may receive less than the principal amount
of your notes. You cannot predict the future performance of the
reference asset based on its historical performance.
The price at which the notes may be sold prior to maturity will
depend on a number of factors and may be substantially less than
the amount for which they were originally purchased
The price
at which the notes may be sold prior to maturity will depend on a
number of factors. Some of these factors include, but are not
limited to: (i) actual or anticipated changes in the level of the
reference asset over the full term of the notes, (ii) volatility of
the level of the reference asset and the market’s perception of
future volatility of the level of the reference asset, (iii)
changes in interest rates generally, (iv) any actual or anticipated
changes in our credit ratings or credit spreads and (v) time
remaining to maturity. In particular, because the provisions of the
notes relating to the payment at maturity behave like options, the
value of the notes will vary in ways which are non-linear and may
not be intuitive.
Depending
on the actual or anticipated level of the reference asset and other
relevant factors, the market value of the notes may decrease and
you may receive substantially less than 100% of the issue price if
you sell your notes prior to maturity.
See “— The
market value of the notes may be influenced by many unpredictable
factors” herein.
The notes lack liquidity
The notes
will not be listed on any securities exchange or automated
quotation system. Therefore, there may be little or no secondary
market for the notes. SCUSA and any other affiliates of the Bank
may, but are not obligated to, make a market in the notes. Even if
there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to
allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because we do not
expect that other broker-dealers will participate significantly in
the secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be
able to trade your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any,
at which SCUSA is willing to purchase the notes from you. If at any
time SCUSA does not make a market in the notes, it is likely that
there would be no secondary market for the notes. Accordingly, you
should be willing to hold your notes to maturity.
Risks Relating to Hedging Activities and Conflicts of
Interest
Hedging activities by the Bank and SCUSA may negatively impact
investors in the notes and cause our respective interests and those
of our clients and counterparties to be contrary to those of
investors in the notes
The Bank,
SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates has hedged or expects
to hedge the obligations under the notes by purchasing futures
and/or other instruments linked to the reference asset. The Bank,
SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates also expects to adjust
the hedge by, among other things, purchasing or selling any of the
foregoing, and perhaps other instruments linked to the reference
asset and/or one or more of the reference asset constituent stocks,
at any time and from time to time, and to unwind the hedge by
selling any of the foregoing on or before the valuation date.
The Bank,
SCUSA or one or more of our other affiliates may also enter into,
adjust and unwind hedging transactions relating to other index- or
equity- linked notes whose returns are linked to changes in the
level or price of the reference asset or the reference asset
constituent stocks. Any of these hedging activities may adversely
affect the level of the reference asset—directly or indirectly by
affecting the price of the reference asset constituent stocks—and
therefore the market value of the notes and the amount you will
receive, if any, on the notes. Furthermore, if the dealer from
which you purchase notes is to conduct hedging activities for us in
connection with the notes, that dealer may profit in connection
with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in
addition to any compensation that the dealer receives for the sale
of the notes to you. You should be aware that the potential to earn
fees in connection with hedging activities may create a further
incentive for the dealer to sell the notes to you in addition to
any compensation they would receive for the sale of the notes. In
addition, you should expect that these transactions will cause the
Bank, SCUSA or any of our other affiliates, or our respective
clients or counterparties, to have economic interests and
incentives that do not align with, and that may be directly
contrary to, those of an investor in the notes. None of the Bank,
SCUSA or any of our other affiliates will have any obligation to
take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect
to these transactions based on the potential effect on an investor
in the notes, and the Bank, SCUSA or any of our other affiliates
may receive substantial returns with respect to these hedging
activities while the value of, and any amount you will receive at
maturity on, the notes may decline.
The Bank, SCUSA and our other
affiliates regularly provide services to, or otherwise have
business relationships with, a broad client base, which has
included and may include us and the issuers of the reference asset
constituent stocks and the market activities by the Bank,
SCUSA or our other
affiliates for our own account or for our clients could negatively
impact investors in the notes
We, SCUSA
and our other affiliates regularly provide a wide range of
financial services, including financial advisory, investment
advisory and transactional services to a substantial and
diversified client base. As such, we each may act as an investor,
investment banker, research provider, investment manager,
investment advisor, market maker, trader, prime
broker or
lender. In those and other capacities, we, SCUSA and/or our other
affiliates purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments,
actively trade securities (including the notes or other securities
that we have issued), the reference asset constituent stocks,
derivatives, loans, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and
other financial instruments and products for our own accounts or
for the accounts of our customers, and we will have other direct or
indirect interests, in those securities and in other markets that
may not be consistent with your interests and may adversely affect
the level of the reference asset and/or the value of the notes. You
should assume that we or they will, at present or in the future,
provide such services or otherwise engage in transactions with,
among others, us and the issuers of the reference asset constituent
stocks, or transact in securities or instruments or with parties
that are directly or indirectly related to these entities. These
services could include making loans to or equity investments in
those companies, providing financial advisory or other investment
banking services, or issuing research reports. Any of these
financial market activities may, individually or in the aggregate,
have an adverse effect on the level of the reference asset and the
market for your notes, and you should expect that our interests and
those of SCUSA and/or our other affiliates, clients or
counterparties, will at times be adverse to those of investors in
the notes.
You should
expect that we, SCUSA and our other affiliates, in providing these
services, engaging in such transactions, or acting for our or their
own respective accounts, may take actions that have direct or
indirect effects on the notes or other securities that we may
issue, the reference asset constituent stocks or other securities
or instruments similar to or linked to the foregoing, and that such
actions could be adverse to the interests of investors in the
notes. In addition, in connection with these activities, certain
personnel within the Bank, SCUSA or our other affiliates may have
access to confidential material non-public information about these
parties that would not be disclosed to investors in the
notes.
We, SCUSA
and our other affiliates regularly offer a wide array of
securities, financial instruments and other products into the
marketplace, including existing or new products that are similar to
the notes or other securities that we may issue, the reference
asset constituent stocks or other securities or instruments similar
to or linked to the foregoing. Investors in the notes should expect
that the Bank, SCUSA and our other affiliates offer securities,
financial instruments, and other products that may compete with the
notes for liquidity or otherwise.
Other investors in the notes may not have the same interests as
you
The
interests of other investors may, in some circumstances, be adverse
to your interests. Other investors may make requests or
recommendations to us, SCUSA or our other affiliates regarding the
establishment of transactions on terms that are adverse to your
interests, and investors in the notes are not required to take into
account the interests of any other investor in exercising remedies,
voting or other rights in their capacity as noteholders. Further,
other investors may enter into market transactions with respect to
the notes, assets that are the same or similar to the notes, assets
referenced by the notes (such as stocks or stock indices) or other
similar assets or securities which may adversely impact the market
for or value of your notes. For example, an investor could take a
short position (directly or indirectly through derivative
transactions) in respect of securities similar to your notes or in
respect of the reference asset.
There is no affiliation between the issuers of any reference asset
constituent stock or the sponsor and us or SCUSA
The Bank,
SCUSA and our other affiliates may currently, or from time to time
in the future, engage in business with the issuers of the reference
asset constituent stocks or the sponsor. None of the Bank, SCUSA or
any of our other affiliates have participated in the preparation of
any publicly available information or made any “due diligence”
investigation or inquiry with respect to the reference asset or the
reference asset constituent stocks. You should make your own
investigation into the reference asset and the issuers of the
reference asset constituent stocks. See the section below entitled
“Information Regarding the Reference Asset” in this pricing
supplement for additional information about the reference
asset.
There are potential conflicts of interest between you and the
calculation agent
Scotia
Capital Inc., the calculation agent, is one of our affiliates. In
performing its duties, the economic interests of the calculation
agent are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in
the notes. The calculation agent is under no obligation to consider
your interests as a holder of the notes in taking any actions that
might affect the level of the reference asset and the value of, and
amount payable on, the notes.
The calculation agent can postpone the valuation date for the notes
if a market disruption event with respect to the reference asset
occurs
If the
calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, that, on a
day that would otherwise be the valuation date, a market disruption
event with respect to the reference asset has occurred or is
continuing for the reference asset, the valuation date will be
postponed until the first following trading day on which no market
disruption event occurs or is continuing, although the valuation
date will not be postponed by more than eight trading days.
Moreover, if the valuation date is postponed to the last possible
day, but a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that
day, that day will nevertheless be the valuation date, and the
calculation agent will determine the applicable final level that
must be used to determine the payment at maturity. See “General
Terms of the Notes—Unavailability of the Closing Value of a
Reference Asset; Adjustments to a Reference Asset — Unavailability
of the Closing Value of a Reference Index; Alternative Calculation
Methodology” and “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption
Events” in the accompanying product supplement.
Risks Relating to General Credit Characteristics
Your investment is subject to the credit risk of the Bank
The notes
are senior unsecured debt obligations of the Bank, and are not,
either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. As
further described in the accompanying prospectus, prospectus
supplement and product supplement, the notes will rank on par with
all of the other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of
the Bank, except such obligations as may be preferred by operation
of law. Any payment to be made on the notes, including the payment
at maturity, depends on the ability of the Bank to satisfy its
obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived
creditworthiness of the Bank may affect the market value of the
notes and, in the event the Bank were to default on its
obligations, you may not receive the amounts owed to you under the
terms of the notes. If you sell the notes prior to maturity, you
may receive substantially less than the principal amount of your
notes.
The COVID-19 virus may have an adverse impact on the Bank
On March
11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a
strain of novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, a global pandemic.
Governments in affected areas have imposed a number of measures
designed to contain the outbreak, including business closures,
travel restrictions, quarantines and cancellations of gatherings
and events. The spread of COVID-19 has had disruptive effects in
countries in which the Bank operates and the global economy more
widely, as well as causing increased volatility and declines in
financial markets. COVID-19 has materially impacted and continues
to materially impact the markets in which the Bank operates. If the
pandemic is prolonged, or further diseases emerge that give rise to
similar effects, the adverse impact on the global economy could
deepen and result in further declines in financial markets. A
substantial amount of the Bank’s business involves making loans or
otherwise committing resources to specific companies, industries or
countries. The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on such borrowers,
industries and countries could have a material adverse effect on
the Bank’s financial results, businesses, financial condition or
liquidity. The COVID-19 pandemic may also result in disruption to
the Bank’s key suppliers of goods and services and result in
increased unavailability of staff adversely impacting the quality
and continuity of service to customers and the reputation of the
Bank. As a result, the business, results of operations, corporate
reputation and financial condition of the Bank could be adversely
impacted for a substantial period of time.
Risks Relating to Canadian and U.S. Federal Income Taxation
Uncertain tax treatment
Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are
uncertain. You should consult your tax advisor about your tax
situation. See “Material Canadian Income Tax Consequences” and
“Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in this pricing
supplement.
General Risk Factors
We may sell an additional aggregate principal amount of the notes
at a different issue price
We may
decide to sell an additional aggregate principal amount of the
notes subsequent to the date of the final pricing supplement. The
issue price of the notes in the subsequent sale may differ
substantially (higher or lower) from the original issue price you
paid as provided on the cover of this pricing supplement.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REFERENCE ASSET
The S&P 500®
Index
We have derived all information
contained herein regarding the reference asset, including without limitation, its make-up,
method of calculation and changes in its components from publicly
available information. Such information reflects the policies of,
and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC
(“S&P”), and/or its affiliates.
The reference asset includes a representative sample of 500
companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy and is intended
to provide a performance benchmark for the large-cap U.S. equity
markets. Please see “Indices—The S&P 500®
Index” in the accompanying underlier supplement for additional
information regarding the reference asset, S&P and our license
agreement with respect to the reference asset. Additional
information regarding the reference asset, including its sectors,
sector weightings and top constituents, may be available on
S&P’s website.
Historical Information
We
obtained the information regarding the historical performance of
the reference asset in the graph below from Bloomberg, without
independent review or verification. The graph below
illustrates the performance of the reference asset from January 1,
2012 through June 28, 2022. The closing level of the reference
asset on June 28, 2022 was 3,821.55.
Past
performance of the reference asset is not indicative of the future
performance of the reference asset. No assurance can be
given as to the final level of the reference asset, and we cannot
give you any assurance that the performance of the reference asset
will result in a positive return on your investment.
Historical Performance of the S&P 500®
Index
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
SCUSA, our
affiliate, will purchase the notes at the principal amount and, as
part of the distribution of the notes, will sell the notes to
certain unaffiliated securities dealers at the original issue price
specified on the cover hereof. In addition, SCUSA and our other
affiliates or agents may use the accompanying product supplement to
which this pricing supplement relates in market-making transactions
after the initial sale of the notes. While SCUSA may make markets
in the notes, they are under no obligation to do so and may
discontinue any market-making activities at any time without
notice. See the sections titled “Supplemental Plan of Distribution
(Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement
and accompanying product supplement.
The price
at which you purchase the notes includes costs that the Bank, SCUSA
or our other affiliates expect to incur and profits that the Bank,
SCUSA and our other affiliates expect to realize in connection with
hedging activities related to the notes, as set forth above. We or
one of our affiliates will also pay a fee to SIMON Markets LLC, a
broker-dealer affiliated with GS&Co., who is acting as a dealer
in connection with the distribution of the notes. These costs and
profits will likely reduce the secondary market price, if any
secondary market develops, for the notes. As a result, you may
experience an immediate and substantial decline in the market value
of your notes on the original issue date.
Conflicts of interest
SCUSA is
an affiliate of the Bank and, as such, has a “conflict of interest”
in this offering within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. In
addition, the Bank will receive the gross proceeds from the initial
public offering of the notes, thus creating an additional conflict
of interest within the meaning of Rule 5121. Consequently, the
offering is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of
Rule 5121. SCUSA is not permitted to sell notes in this offering to
an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without
the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
SCUSA and
our other affiliates are full service financial institutions
engaged in various activities, which may include securities
trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory,
investment management, investment research, principal investment,
hedging, financing and brokerage activities. SCUSA and our other
affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the
future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking
services for the Bank, for which they received or will receive
customary fees and expenses.
In the
ordinary course of their various business activities, SCUSA and our
other affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and
actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative
securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for
their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such
investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or
instruments of the Bank. SCUSA and our other affiliates may also
make investment recommendations and/or publish or express
independent research views in respect of such securities or
instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that
they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and
instruments.
Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors
The notes
are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to
and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any
retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these
purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of:
(i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of
Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); (ii) a customer
within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended, where
that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined
in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified
investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended.
Consequently no key information document required by Regulation
(EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”), for
offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to
retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore
offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to
any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs
Regulation.
Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom Retail Investors
The only
categories of person in the United Kingdom to whom this pricing
supplement may be distributed are those persons who (i) have
professional experience in matters relating to investments falling
within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in
Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
(Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial
Promotion Order”)), (ii) are persons falling within Article
49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated
associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iii) are
persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment
activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”)) in connection with the
issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be
communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons in
(i)-(iii) above together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”).
This pricing supplement is directed only at Relevant Persons and
must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant
Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this
pricing supplement relates is available only to Relevant Persons
and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. This pricing
supplement may only be provided to persons in the United Kingdom in
circumstances where section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to the
Bank. The notes are not being offered to “retail investors” within
the meaning of the Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment
Products Regulations 2017 and accordingly no Key Information
Document has been produced under these regulations.
MATERIAL CANADIAN INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
See
“Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences” in the
accompanying product supplement. In addition to the assumptions,
limitations and conditions described therein, such discussion
assumes that a Non-Resident Holder is not an entity in respect of
which the Bank is a “specified entity” as defined in proposals to
amend the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Act”) released by the
Minister of Finance (Canada) on April 29, 2022 with respect to
“hybrid mismatch arrangements”, as defined (the “Hybrid Mismatch
Proposals”). In general terms, the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals
provide that two entities will be treated as specified entities in
respect of one another if one entity, directly or indirectly, holds
a 25% equity interest in the other entity, or a third entity,
directly or indirectly, holds a 25% equity interest in both
entities.
Such
discussion further assumes that no amount paid or payable to a
Non-Resident Holder will be the deduction component of a “hybrid
mismatch arrangement” under which the payment arises within the
meaning of proposed paragraph 18.4(3)(b) of the Act contained in
the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals.
Investors should note that the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals are in
consultation form, are highly complex, and there remains
significant uncertainty as to their interpretation and application.
There can be no assurance that the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals will
be enacted in their current form, or at all.
MATERIAL
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the
notes are uncertain. There are no statutory provisions,
regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing the
characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities
with terms that are substantially the same as the notes. No ruling
from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been sought
as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment
in the notes, and the following discussion is not binding on the
IRS. Some of these tax consequences are summarized below, but we
urge you to read the more detailed discussion under “Material U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the product supplement and to
discuss the tax consequences of your particular situation with your
tax advisor. This discussion is based upon the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final, temporary and
proposed U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”)
regulations, rulings and decisions, in each case, as available and
in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to
change, possibly with retroactive effect. Tax consequences under
state, local and non-U.S. laws are not addressed herein.
U.S. Tax Treatment.
Pursuant to the terms of the notes, the Bank and you agree, in the
absence of a statutory or regulatory change or an administrative
determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize
your notes as prepaid derivative contracts with respect to the
reference asset. If your notes are so treated, you should generally
recognize long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your notes for
more than one year (and, otherwise, short-term capital gain or
loss) upon the taxable disposition of your notes in an amount equal
to the difference between the amount you receive at such time and
the amount you paid for your notes. The deductibility of capital
losses is subject to limitations.
Based on certain factual representations received from us, our
special U.S. tax counsel, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver &
Jacobson LLP, is of the opinion that it would be reasonable to
treat your notes in the manner described above. However, because
there is no authority that specifically addresses the tax treatment
of the notes, it is possible that your notes could alternatively be
treated for tax purposes as a single contingent payment debt
instrument, or pursuant to some other characterization, such that
the timing and character of your income from the notes could differ
materially and adversely from the treatment described above.
Notice 2008-2. In 2007,
the IRS released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders
of the notes. According to Notice 2008-2, the IRS and the Treasury
are actively considering whether a holder of an instrument such as
the notes should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current
basis. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will
ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such
guidance, holders of the notes will ultimately be required to
accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive
basis. The IRS and the Treasury are also considering other relevant
issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such
instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether
non-U.S. holders of such instruments should be subject to
withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, and whether the
special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code
should be applied to such instruments. Both U.S. holders and
non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding
the possible consequences to them of the above
considerations.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment
Income. U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or
certain trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on all or a
portion of their “net investment income,” or “undistributed net
investment income” in the case of an estate or trust, which may
include any income or gain realized with respect to the notes, to
the extent of their net investment income or undistributed net
investment income (as the case may be) that, when added to their
other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an
unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a
joint return (or a surviving spouse), $125,000 for a married
individual filing a separate return or the dollar amount at which
the highest tax bracket begins for an estate or trust. The 3.8%
Medicare tax is determined in a different manner than the regular
income tax. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors as to
the consequences of the 3.8% Medicare tax.
Specified Foreign Financial
Assets. U.S. holders may be subject to reporting obligations
with respect to their notes if they do not hold their notes in an
account maintained by a financial institution and the aggregate
value of their notes and certain other “specified foreign financial
assets” (applying certain attribution rules) exceeds an applicable
threshold. Significant penalties can apply if a U.S. holder is
required to disclose its notes and fails to do so.
Backup Withholding and
Information Reporting. The proceeds received from a taxable
disposition of the notes will be subject to information reporting
unless you are an “exempt recipient” and may also be subject to
backup withholding at the rate specified in the Code if you fail to
provide certain identifying information (such as an accurate
taxpayer number, if you are a U.S. holder) or meet certain other
conditions.
Amounts
withheld under the backup withholding rules are not additional
taxes and may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal
income tax liability, provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders. If you
are a non-U.S. holder, subject to Section 871(m) of the Code and
FATCA, discussed below, you should generally not be subject to U.S.
withholding tax with respect to payments on your notes or to
generally applicable information reporting and backup withholding
requirements with respect to payments on your notes if you comply
with certain certification and identification requirements as to
your non-U.S. status including providing us (and/or the applicable
withholding agent) a properly executed and fully completed
applicable IRS Form W-8. Subject to Section 897 of the Code and
Section 871(m) of the Code, as discussed below, gain realized from
the taxable disposition of the notes generally will not be subject
to U.S. tax unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with a
trade or business conducted by you in the U.S., (ii) you are a
non-resident alien individual and are present in the U.S. for 183
days or more during the taxable year of such taxable disposition
and certain other conditions are satisfied or (iii) you have
certain other present or former connections with the U.S.
Section 897. We will not
attempt to ascertain whether the issuer of any reference asset
constituent stock would be treated as a “United States real
property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) within the meaning of
Section 897 of the Code. We also have not attempted to determine
whether the notes should be treated as “United States real property
interests” (“USRPI”) as defined in Section 897 of the Code. If any
such entity and/or the notes were so treated, certain adverse U.S.
federal income tax consequences could possibly apply, including
subjecting any gain realized by a non-U.S. holder in respect of the
notes upon a taxable disposition (including cash settlement) of the
notes to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis, and the proceeds
from such a taxable disposition to a withholding tax. Non-U.S.
holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential
treatment of any such entity as a USRPHC and/or the notes as
USRPI.
Section 871(m). A 30%
withholding tax (which may be reduced by an applicable income tax
treaty) is imposed under Section 871(m) of the Code on certain
“dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to a non-U.S. holder
with respect to a “specified equity-linked instrument” that
references one or more dividend-paying U.S. equity securities or
indices containing U.S. equity securities. The withholding tax can
apply even if the instrument does not provide for payments that
reference dividends. Treasury regulations provide that the
withholding tax applies to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed
paid on specified equity-linked instruments that have a delta of
one (“delta-one specified equity-linked instruments”) issued after
2016 and to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on all
other specified equity-linked instruments issued after 2017.
However, the IRS has issued guidance that states that the Treasury
and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the Treasury
regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalents
paid or deemed paid will not apply to specified equity-linked
instruments that are not delta-one specified equity-linked
instruments and are issued before January 1, 2023.
Based on
our determination that the notes are not “delta-one” with respect
to the reference asset or any reference asset constituent stocks,
our special U.S. tax counsel is of the opinion that the notes
should not be delta-one specified equity-linked instruments and
thus should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalents.
Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may
disagree with this determination. Furthermore, the application of
Section 871(m) of the Code will depend on our determinations on the
date the terms of the notes are set. If withholding is required, we
will not make payments of any additional amounts.
Nevertheless, after the date the terms are set, it is possible that
your notes could be deemed to be reissued for tax purposes upon the
occurrence of certain events affecting the reference asset, any
reference asset constituent stocks or your notes, and following
such occurrence your notes could be treated as delta-one specified
equity-linked instruments that are subject to withholding on
dividend equivalents. It is also possible that withholding tax or
other tax under Section 871(m) of the Code could apply to the notes
under these rules if you enter, or have entered, into certain other
transactions in respect of the reference asset, any reference asset
constituent stocks or the notes. If you enter, or have entered,
into other transactions in respect of the reference asset, any
reference asset constituent stocks or the notes, you should consult
your tax advisor regarding the application of Section 871(m) of the
Code to your notes in the context of your other transactions.
Because of the uncertainty regarding the application of the 30%
withholding tax on dividend equivalents to the notes, you are urged
to consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of
Section 871(m) of the Code and the 30% withholding tax to an
investment in the notes.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax Treatment
of Non-U.S. Holders. A note may be subject to U.S. federal
estate tax if an individual non-U.S. holder holds the note at the
time of his or her death. The gross estate of a non-U.S. holder
domiciled outside the U.S. includes only property situated in the
U.S. Individual non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors
regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of holding the
notes at death.
FATCA. The Foreign Account
Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) was enacted on March 18, 2010, and
imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on “withholdable payments”
(i.e., certain U.S.-source payments, including interest (and
original issue discount), dividends, other fixed or determinable
annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross
proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce
U.S.-source interest or dividends) and “passthru payments” (i.e.,
certain payments attributable to withholdable payments) made to
certain foreign financial institutions (and certain of their
affiliates) unless the payee foreign financial institution agrees
(or is required), among other things, to disclose the identity of
any U.S. individual with an account at the institution (or the
relevant affiliate) and to annually report certain information
about such account. FATCA also requires withholding agents making
withholdable payments to certain foreign entities that do not
disclose the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of
any substantial U.S. owners (or do not certify that they do not
have any substantial U.S. owners) to withhold tax at a rate of 30%.
Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds
or credits of such taxes.
Pursuant
to final and temporary Treasury regulations and other IRS guidance,
the withholding and reporting requirements under FATCA will
generally apply to certain “withholdable payments”, will not apply
to gross proceeds on a sale or disposition and will apply to
certain foreign passthru payments only to the extent that such
payments are made after the date that is two years after final
regulations defining the term “foreign passthru payment” are
published. If withholding is required, we (or the applicable paying
agent) will not be required to pay additional amounts with respect
to the amounts so withheld. Foreign financial institutions and
non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have
an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. governing FATCA may be
subject to different rules.
Investors
should consult their own advisors about the application of FATCA,
in particular if they may be classified as financial institutions
(or if they hold their notes through a foreign entity) under the
FATCA rules.
Proposed Legislation. In
2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if it had been
enacted, would have required holders of notes purchased after the
bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of the
notes despite the fact that there will be no interest payments over
the term of the notes.
Furthermore, in 2013, the House Ways and Means Committee released
in draft form certain proposed legislation relating to financial
instruments. If it had been enacted, the effect of this legislation
generally would have been to require instruments such as the notes
to be marked to market on an annual basis with all gains and losses
to be treated as ordinary, subject to certain exceptions.
It is
impossible to predict whether any similar or identical bills will
be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the
tax treatment of your notes. You are urged to consult your tax
advisor regarding the possible changes in law and their possible
impact on the tax treatment of your notes.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors
regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment
in the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the
laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction (including
that of the Bank).
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