BMO Bank of Montreal

 

The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement and the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject To Completion, dated July 12, 2024 PRICING SUPPLEMENT dated July __, 2024 (To Product Supplement No. WF1 dated July 20, 2022, Prospectus Supplement dated May 26, 2022 and Prospectus dated May 26, 2022)

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 Registration Statement No. 333-264388

	Bank of Montreal Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series I Equity Index Linked Securities
	Market Linked Securities—Auto-Callable with Leveraged Upside Participation and Contingent Downside Principal at Risk Securities Linked to the Nasdaq-100 Index® due August 5, 2027

On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, the estimated initial value of the securities is $963.10 per security. The estimated initial value of the securities on the pricing date may differ from this value but will not be less than $913.00 per security. However, as discussed in more detail in this pricing supplement, the actual value of the securities at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy. See “Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.

The securities have complex features and investing in the securities involves risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. See "Selected Risk Considerations" beginning on page PRS-8 herein and "Risk Factors" beginning on page PS-5 of the accompanying product supplement.

The securities are the unsecured obligations of Bank of Montreal, and, accordingly, all payments on the securities are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. If Bank of Montreal defaults on its obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. The securities are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

	Original Offering Price	Agent Discount(1)(2)	Proceeds to Bank of Montreal
Per Security	$1,000.00	Up to $25.75	$974.25
Total

(1)

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is the agent for the distribution of the securities and is acting as principal. See “Terms of the Securities—Agent” and “Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement for further information.

(2)

In respect of certain securities sold in this offering, our affiliate, BMO Capital Markets Corp., may pay a fee of up to $2.50 per security to selected securities dealers in consideration for marketing and other services in connection with the distribution of the securities to other securities dealers.

Wells Fargo Securities

 

 

Terms of the Securities

 

Issuer:	Bank of Montreal.
Market Measure:	Nasdaq-100 Index® (the "Index").
Pricing Date*:	July 31, 2024.
Issue Date*:	August 5, 2024.
Original Offering Price:	$1,000 per security.
Face Amount:	$1,000 per security. References in this pricing supplement to a "security" are to a security with a face amount of $1,000.
Automatic Call:	If the closing level of the Index on the call date is greater than or equal to the starting level, the securities will be automatically called, and on the call settlement date, you will receive the face amount per security plus the call premium.   If the securities are automatically called, the positive return on the securities will be limited to the call premium, and you will not participate in any appreciation of the Index beyond the call premium, which may be significant. If the securities are automatically called, you will no longer have the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the Index at the upside participation rate.   If the securities are automatically called, they will cease to be outstanding on the related call settlement date and you will have no further rights under the securities after such call settlement date. You will not receive any notice from us if the securities are automatically called.
Call Date*:	August 5, 2025, subject to postponement.
Call Premium:	At least 9.35% of the face amount, or at least $93.50 per $1,000 face amount of the securities (the actual call premium will be determined on the pricing date)
Call Settlement Date:	Three business days after the call date (as the call date may be postponed pursuant to “—Market Disruption Events and Postponement Provisions” below, if applicable).
Maturity Payment Amount:	If the securities are not automatically called on the call date, then on the stated maturity date, you will be entitled to receive a cash payment per security in U.S. dollars equal to the maturity payment amount. The "maturity payment amount" per security will equal:   •    if the ending level is greater than the starting level: $1,000 plus:   $1,000 × index return × upside participation rate   •    if the ending level is less than or equal to the starting level, but greater than or equal to the threshold level: $1,000; or   •    if the ending level is less than the threshold level:   $1,000 + ($1,000 × index return)   If the securities are not automatically called, and the ending level is less than the threshold level, you will have full downside exposure to the decrease in the level of the Index from the starting level and will lose more than 25%, and possibly all, of the face amount of your securities at maturity.

Stated Maturity Date*:	August 5, 2027, subject to postponement. The securities are not subject to repayment at the option of any holder of the securities prior to the stated maturity date.
Starting Level:	[ ], the closing level of the Index on the pricing date.
Closing Level:	Closing level has the meaning set forth under "General Terms of the Securities—Certain Terms for Securities Linked to an Index—Certain Definitions" in the accompanying product supplement.
Ending Level:	The "ending level" will be the closing level of the Index on the final calculation day.
Threshold Level:	[ ], which is equal to 75% of the starting level.

 

 

Upside Participation Rate:	150%.
Index Return:	The "index return" is the percentage change from the starting level to the ending level, measured as follows: ending level – starting level starting level
Final Calculation Day*:	August 2, 2027, subject to postponement.
Market Disruption Events and Postponement Provisions:	The call date and the final calculation day are subject to postponement due to non-trading days and the occurrence of a market disruption event. In addition, the call payment date and the stated maturity date will be postponed if the call date or the final calculation day, as applicable, is postponed, and will be adjusted for non-business days.   For more information regarding adjustments to the call date, the final calculation day, the call settlement date, and the stated maturity date, see "General Terms of the Securities—Consequences of a Market Disruption Event; Postponement of a Calculation Day—Securities Linked to a Single Market Measure" and "—Payment Dates" in the accompanying product supplement. For purposes of the product supplement, each of the call date and the final calculation day is a "calculation day," and the call settlement date and the stated maturity date is a "payment date." In addition, for information regarding the circumstances that may result in a market disruption event, see "General Terms of the Securities—Certain Terms for Securities Linked to an Index—Market Disruption Events" in the accompanying product supplement.
Calculation Agent:	BMO Capital Markets Corp. ("BMOCM").
Material Tax Consequences:	For a discussion of the material U.S. federal income and certain estate tax consequences and the Canadian federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities, see “United States Federal Tax Considerations" below, and the sections of the product supplement entitled "United States Federal Tax Considerations" and "Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences."
Agent:	Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“WFS”) is the agent for the distribution of the securities. The agent will receive an agent discount of up to $25.75 per security. The agent may resell the securities to other securities dealers at the original offering price of the securities less a concession not in excess of $20.00 per security. Such securities dealers may include Wells Fargo Advisors (“WFA”) (the trade name of the retail brokerage business of WFS’s affiliates, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC). In addition to the concession allowed to WFA, WFS will pay $0.75 per security of the agent discount that it receives to WFA as a distribution expense fee for each security sold by WFA.   In addition, in respect of certain securities sold in this offering, BMOCM may pay a fee of up to $2.50 per security to selected securities dealers in consideration for marketing and other services in connection with the distribution of the securities to other securities dealers.   WFS, BMOCM and/or one or more of their respective affiliates expects to realize hedging profits projected by their proprietary pricing models to the extent they assume the risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the securities. If WFS or any other dealer participating in the distribution of the securities or any of their affiliates conduct hedging activities for us in connection with the securities, that dealer or its affiliates will expect to realize a profit projected by its proprietary pricing models from those hedging activities. Any such projected profit will be in addition to any discount, concession or fee received in connection with the sale of the securities to you.
Denominations:	$1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000.

CUSIP:

06376B3Q9

________________________

*

To the extent that we make any change to the expected pricing date or expected issue date, the call date, the final calculation day and stated maturity date may also be changed in our discretion to ensure that the term of the securities remains the same.

 

 

Additional Information About the Issuer and the Securities

 

You should read this pricing supplement together with product supplement No. WF1 dated July 20, 2022, the prospectus supplement dated May 26, 2022 and the prospectus dated May 26, 2022 for additional information about the securities. Information included in this pricing supplement supersedes information in the product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus to the extent it is different from that information. Certain defined terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the product supplement, prospectus supplement or prospectus.

 

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. When we refer to “we,” “us” or “our” in this pricing supplement, we refer only to Bank of Montreal.

 

You may access the product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus on the SEC website www.sec.gov as follows (or if that address has changed, by reviewing our filing for the relevant date on the SEC website):

 

•

Product Supplement No. WF1 dated July 20, 2022:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465922009020/r715220424b5.htm

 

•

Prospectus Supplement and prospectus dated May 26, 2022:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312522160519/d269549d424b5.htm

 

We have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this document relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we will arrange to send to you the prospectus (as supplemented by the prospectus supplement if you request it by calling BMOCM toll-free at 1-877-369-5412.

 

 

Estimated Value of the Securities

 

Our estimated initial value of the securities on the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, and that will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement relating to the securities, equals the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components:

 

·

a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the securities, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and

 

·

one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the securities.

 

The internal funding rate used in the determination of the initial estimated value generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The value of these derivative transactions is derived from our internal pricing models. These models are based on factors such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on other inputs, which include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. As a result, the estimated initial value of the securities on the pricing date will be determined based on market conditions at that time.

 

For more information about the estimated initial value of the securities, see “Selected Risk Considerations” below.

 

 

Investor Considerations

 

The securities are not appropriate for all investors. The securities may be an appropriate investment for investors who:

 

§

seek a fixed return equal to the call premium if the securities are automatically called on the call date;

 

§

understand that the securities may be automatically called prior to the stated maturity and that the term of the securities may be as short as approximately one year;

 

§

seek 150% leveraged exposure to the upside performance of the Index if the securities are not automatically called and the ending level is greater than the starting level;

 

§

desire payment of the face amount at maturity if the securities are not automatically called so long as the ending level is not less than the starting level by more than 25%;

 

§

are willing to accept the risk that, if the securities are not automatically called and the ending level is less than the starting level by more than 25%, they will be fully exposed to the decrease in the level of the Index from the starting level, and will lose more than 25%, and possibly all, of the face amount per security at maturity;

 

§

are willing to forgo interest payments on the securities and dividends on the securities included in the Index; and

 

§

are willing to hold the securities until maturity or automatic call.

 

The securities may not be an appropriate investment for investors who:

 

§

seek a liquid investment or are unable or unwilling to hold the securities to maturity or automatic call;

 

§

seek a security with a fixed term;

 

§

are unwilling to accept the risk that the securities will not be automatically called and the ending level of the Index may decrease from the starting level by more than 25%;

 

§

seek full return of the face amount of the securities at stated maturity;

 

§

are unwilling to purchase securities with an estimated value as of the pricing date that is lower than the original offering price and that may be as low as the lower estimated value set forth on the cover page;

 

§

seek current income over the term of the securities;

 

§

are unwilling to accept the risk of exposure to the Index;

 

§

seek exposure to the Index but are unwilling to accept the risk/return trade-offs inherent in the maturity payment amount for the securities;

 

§

are unwilling to accept the credit risk of Bank of Montreal to obtain exposure to the Index generally, or to the exposure to the Index that the securities provide specifically; or

 

§

prefer the lower risk of fixed income investments with comparable maturities issued by companies with comparable credit ratings.

 

The considerations identified above are not exhaustive. Whether or not the securities are an appropriate 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 appropriateness of an investment in the securities in light of your particular circumstances. You should also review carefully the "Selected Risk Considerations" herein and the "Risk Factors" in the accompanying product supplement for risks related to an investment in the securities. For more information about the Index, please see the section titled "Nasdaq-100 Index^®" below.

 

 

Determining Timing and Amount of Payment on the Securities

 

Whether the securities are automatically called on the call date for the call premium will each be determined based on the closing level of the Index on the call date as follows:

 

 

 

If the securities have not been automatically called, then on the stated maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per security (the maturity payment amount) calculated as follows:

 

 

 

 

Selected Risk Considerations

 

The securities have complex features and investing in the securities will involve risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. Some of the risks that apply to an investment in the securities are summarized below, but we urge you to read the more detailed explanation of the risks relating to the securities generally in the "Risk Factors" section of the accompanying product supplement. You should reach an investment decision only after you have carefully considered with your advisors the appropriateness of an investment in the securities in light of your particular circumstances.

 

Risks Relating To The Terms And Structure Of The Securities

 

If The Securities Are Not Automatically Called And The Ending Level Is Less Than The Threshold Level, You Will Lose More Than 25%, And Possibly All, Of The Face Amount Of Your Securities At Maturity.

 

If the securities are not automatically called, we will not repay you a fixed amount on the securities on the stated maturity date. The maturity payment amount will depend on the direction of and percentage change in the ending level of the Index relative to the starting level and the other terms of the securities. Because the level of the Index will be subject to market fluctuations, the maturity payment amount may be more or less, and possibly significantly less, than the face amount of your securities.

 

If the securities are not automatically called and the ending level is less than the threshold level, the maturity payment amount will be less than the face amount and you will have full downside exposure to the decrease in the level of the Index from the starting level. The threshold level is 75% of the starting level. For example, if the Index has declined by 25.1% from the starting level to the ending level, you will not receive any benefit of the contingent downside feature and you will lose 25.1% of the face amount per security. As a result, you will not receive any protection if the level of the Index declines below the threshold level and you will lose more than 25%, and possibly all, of the face amount per security at maturity. This is the case even if the level of the Index is greater than or equal to the starting level or the threshold level at certain times during the term of the securities.

 

If the securities are not automatically called, even if the ending level is greater than the starting level, the maturity payment amount may only be slightly greater than the face amount, and your yield on the securities may be less than the yield you would earn if you bought a traditional interest-bearing debt security of Bank of Montreal or another issuer with a similar credit rating with the same stated maturity date.

 

No Periodic Interest Will Be Paid On The Securities.

 

No periodic payments of interest will be made on the securities. However, if the agreed-upon tax treatment is successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), you may be required to recognize taxable income over the term of the securities. You should review the section of this pricing supplement entitled "United States Federal Tax Considerations."

 

If The Securities Are Automatically Called, Your Return Will Be Limited to the Call Premium.

 

If the securities are automatically called, the positive return on the securities will be limited to the call premium, and you will not participate in any appreciation of the Index beyond the call premium, which may be significant. Accordingly, if the securities are automatically called, the return on the securities may be less than the return in a direct investment in the securities represented by the Index. If the securities are automatically called, you will no longer have the opportunity to participate in any appreciation of the Index at the upside participation rate.

 

You Will Be Subject To Reinvestment Risk.

 

If your securities are automatically called, the term of the securities may be reduced to as short as approximately one year. There is no guarantee that you would be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the securities at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the securities are automatically called prior to maturity.

 

The Securities Are Subject To Credit Risk.

 

The securities are our obligations and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any amounts payable under the securities are subject to our creditworthiness and you will have no ability to pursue any securities included in the Index for payment. As a result, our actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the value of the securities and, in the event we were to default on our obligations under the securities, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the securities.

 

Significant Aspects Of The Tax Treatment Of The Securities Are Uncertain.

 

The tax treatment of the securities is uncertain. We do not plan to request a ruling from the IRS or from the Canada Revenue Agency regarding the tax treatment of the securities, and the IRS, the Canada Revenue Agency or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in this pricing supplement and/or the accompanying product supplement.

 

 

The IRS has issued a notice indicating that it and the U.S. Treasury Department are actively considering whether, among other issues, a holder should be required to accrue interest over the term of an instrument such as the securities even though that holder will not receive any payments with respect to the securities until maturity or earlier sale or exchange and whether all or part of the gain a holder may recognize upon sale, exchange or maturity of an instrument such as the securities should be treated as ordinary income. The outcome of this process is uncertain and could apply on a retroactive basis.

 

Please read carefully the section entitled “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in this pricing supplement, the section entitled “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled “United States Federal Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.

 

For a discussion of the Canadian federal income tax consequences of investing in the securities, please read the section entitled “Certain Income Tax Consequences — Certain Canadian Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.

 

The Call Settlement Date Or The Stated Maturity Date May Be Postponed If The Call Date Or The Final Calculation Day Is Postponed.

 

The call date or the final calculation day will be postponed if the originally scheduled call date or final calculation day is not a trading day or if the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event has occurred or is continuing on that day. If such a postponement occurs with respect to the call date, then the call settlement date will be postponed. If such a postponement occurs with respect to the final calculation day, the stated maturity date will be the later of (i) the initial stated maturity date and (ii) three business days after the final calculation day as postponed.

 

Risks Relating To The Estimated Value Of The Securities And Any Secondary Market

 

The Estimated Value Of The Securities On The Pricing Date, Based On Our Proprietary Pricing Models, Will Be Less Than The Original Offering Price.

 

Our initial estimated value of the securities is only an estimate, and is based on a number of factors. The original offering price of the securities may exceed our initial estimated value, because costs associated with offering, structuring and hedging the securities are included in the original offering price, but are not included in the estimated value. These costs include the agent discount and selling concessions, the profits that we and our affiliates and/or the agent and its affiliates expect to realize for assuming the risks in hedging our obligations under the securities, and the estimated cost of hedging these obligations. The initial estimated value may be as low as the amount indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement.

 

The Terms Of The Securities Are Not Determined By Reference To The Credit Spreads For Our Conventional Fixed-Rate Debt.

 

To determine the terms of the securities, we will use an internal funding rate that represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. As a result, the terms of the securities are less favorable to you than if we had used a higher funding rate.

 

The Estimated Value Of The Securities Is Not An Indication Of The Price, If Any, At Which WFS Or Any Other Person May Be Willing To Buy The Securities From You In The Secondary Market.

 

Our initial estimated value of the securities as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement is, and our estimated value as determined on the pricing date will be, derived using our internal pricing models. This value is based on market conditions and other relevant factors, which include volatility of the Index, dividend rates and interest rates. Different pricing models and assumptions, including those used by the agent, its affiliates or other market participants, could provide values for the securities that are greater than or less than our initial estimated value. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors after the pricing date are expected to change, possibly rapidly, and our assumptions may prove to be incorrect. After the pricing date, the value of the securities could change dramatically due to changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness, and the other factors set forth in this pricing supplement. These changes are likely to impact the price, if any, at which WFS or its affiliates or any other party (including us or our affiliates) would be willing to purchase the securities from you in any secondary market transactions. Our initial estimated value does not represent a minimum price at which WFS or any other party (including us or our affiliates) would be willing to buy your securities in any secondary market at any time.

 

WFS has advised us that if it, WFA or any of their affiliates makes a secondary market in the securities at any time, the secondary market price offered by it, WFA or any of their affiliates will be affected by changes in market conditions and other factors described in the next risk factor. WFS has advised us that if it, WFA or any of their affiliates makes a secondary market in the securities at any time up to the issue date or during the 3-month period following the issue date, the secondary market price offered by it, WFA or any of its affiliates will be increased by an amount reflecting a portion of the costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the securities that are included in their original offering price. Because this portion of the costs is not fully deducted upon issuance, WFS has advised us that any secondary market price it, WFA or any of their affiliates offers during this period will be higher than it otherwise would be after this period, as any secondary market price offered after this period will reflect the full deduction of the costs as described above. WFS has advised us that the amount of this increase in the secondary market price will decline steadily to zero over this 3-month period. WFS has advised us that, if you hold the securities through an account with WFS, WFA or any of their affiliates, WFS expects that this increase will also be reflected in the value indicated for the securities on your brokerage account statement. If you hold your securities through an account at a broker-dealer other than WFS, WFA or any of their affiliates, the value of the securities on your brokerage account statement may be different than if you held your securities at WFS, WFA or any of their affiliates.

 

 

The Value Of The Securities Prior To Stated Maturity Will Be Affected By Numerous Factors, Some Of Which Are Related In Complex Ways.

 

The value of the securities prior to stated maturity will be affected by the then-current level of the Index, interest rates at that time and a number of other factors, some of which are interrelated in complex ways. The effect of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. The following factors, which we refer to as the “derivative component factors,” and which are described in more detail in the accompanying product supplement, are expected to affect the value of the securities: performance of the Index; interest rates; volatility of the Index; time remaining to maturity; and dividend yields on securities included in the Index. When we refer to the “value” of your security, we mean the value you could receive for your security if you are able to sell it in the open market before the stated maturity date.

 

In addition to the derivative component factors, the value of the securities will be affected by actual or anticipated changes in our creditworthiness. The value of the securities will also be limited by the automatic call feature because if the securities are automatically called, your return will be limited to the call premium, and you will not receive the potentially higher payment that may have been paid if you had held the securities until the stated maturity date. You should understand that the impact of one of the factors specified above, such as a change in interest rates, may offset some or all of any change in the value of the securities attributable to another factor, such as a change in the level of the Index. Because numerous factors are expected to affect the value of the securities, changes in the level of the Index may not result in a comparable change in the value of the securities.

 

The Securities Will Not Be Listed On Any Securities Exchange And We Do Not Expect A Trading Market For The Securities To Develop.

 

The securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Although the agent and/or its affiliates may purchase the securities from holders, they are not obligated to do so and are not required to make a market for the securities. There can be no assurance that a secondary market will develop. Because we do not expect that any market makers will participate in a secondary market for the securities, the price at which you may be able to sell your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which the agent is willing to buy your securities.

 

If a secondary market does exist, it may be limited. Accordingly, there may be a limited number of buyers if you decide to sell your securities prior to stated maturity. This may affect the price you receive upon such sale. Consequently, you should be willing to hold the securities to stated maturity.

 

Risks Relating To The Index

 

An Investment In The Securities Is Subject To Risks Associated With Non-U.S. Securities.

 

The Nasdaq-100 Index^® tracks the value of certain non-U.S. equity securities. You should be aware that investments in securities linked to the value of non-U.S. equity securities involve particular risks. The foreign securities markets comprising the Index may have less liquidity and may be more volatile than U.S. or other securities markets and market developments may affect foreign markets differently from U.S. or other securities markets. Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize these foreign securities markets, as well as cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in these markets.

 

Prices of securities in foreign countries are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that apply in those geographical regions. These factors, which could negatively affect those securities markets, include the possibility of recent or future changes in a foreign government’s economic and fiscal policies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, the possibility of outbreaks of hostility and political instability and the possibility of natural disaster or adverse public health developments in the region. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important respects such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.

 

Whether The Securities Will Be Automatically Called And The Maturity Payment Amount Will Depend Upon The Performance Of The Index And Therefore The Securities Are Subject To The Following Risks, Each As Discussed In More Detail In The Accompanying Product Supplement.

 

·

Investing In The Securities Is Not The Same As Investing In The Index. Investing in the securities is not equivalent to investing in the Index. As an investor in the securities, your return will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned and held the securities included in the Index for a period similar to the term of the securities because you will not receive any dividend payments, distributions or any other payments paid on those securities. As a holder of the securities, you will not have any voting rights or any other rights that holders of the securities included in the Index would have.

 

 

·

Historical Levels Of The Index Should Not Be Taken As An Indication Of The Future Performance Of The Index During The Term Of The Securities.

 

·

Changes That Affect The Index May Adversely Affect The Value Of The Securities, Whether They Will Be Automatically Called And The Maturity Payment Amount.

 

·

We Cannot Control Actions By Any Of The Unaffiliated Companies Whose Securities Are Included In The Index.

 

·

We And Our Affiliates Have No Affiliation With The Index Sponsor And Have Not Independently Verified Its Public Disclosure Of Information.

 

Risks Relating To Conflicts Of Interest

 

Our Economic Interests And Those Of Any Dealer Participating In The Offering Are Potentially Adverse To Your Interests.

 

You should be aware of the following ways in which our economic interests and those of any dealer participating in the distribution of the securities, which we refer to as a "participating dealer," are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the securities. In engaging in certain of the activities described below and as discussed in more detail in the accompanying product supplement, our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may take actions that may adversely affect the value of and your return on the securities, and in so doing they will have no obligation to consider your interests as an investor in the securities. Our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may realize a profit from these activities even if investors do not receive a favorable investment return on the securities.

 

·

The calculation agent is our affiliate and may be required to make discretionary judgments that affect the return you receive on the securities. BMOCM, which is our affiliate, will be the calculation agent for the securities. As calculation agent, BMOCM will determine any values of the Index and make any other determinations necessary to calculate any payments on the securities. In making these determinations, BMOCM may be required to make discretionary judgments that may adversely affect any payments on the securities. See the sections entitled "General Terms of the Securities— Certain Terms for Securities Linked to an Index—Market Disruption Events,"—Adjustments to an Index" and "—Discontinuance of an Index" in the accompanying product supplement. In making these discretionary judgments, the fact that BMOCM is our affiliate may cause it to have economic interests that are adverse to your interests as an investor in the securities, and our determinations as calculation agent may adversely affect your return on the securities.

 

·

The estimated value of the securities was calculated by us and is therefore not an independent third-party valuation.

 

·

Research reports by our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may be inconsistent with an investment in the securities and may adversely affect the level of the Index.

 

·

Business activities of our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates with the companies whose securities are included in the Index may adversely affect the level of the Index.

 

·

Hedging activities by our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may adversely affect the level of the Index.

 

·

Trading activities by our affiliates or any participating dealer or its affiliates may adversely affect the level of the Index.

 

·

A participating dealer or its affiliates may realize hedging profits projected by its proprietary pricing models in addition to any selling concession and/or fee, creating a further incentive for the participating dealer to sell the securities to you.

 

 

Hypothetical Examples and Returns

 

The payout profile, return table and examples below illustrate hypothetical payments upon an automatic call or at stated maturity for a $1,000 face amount security on a hypothetical offering of securities under various scenarios, with the assumptions set forth in the table below. The terms used for purposes of these hypothetical examples do not represent the actual starting level or threshold level. The hypothetical starting level of 100.00 has been chosen for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the actual starting level. The actual starting level and threshold level will be determined on the pricing date and will be set forth under "Terms of the Securities" above. For historical data regarding the actual closing levels of the Index, see the historical information set forth herein. The payout profile, return table and examples below assume that an investor purchases the securities for $1,000 per security. These examples are for purposes of illustration only and the values used in the examples may have been rounded for ease of analysis. The actual amount you receive at stated maturity or upon automatic call, and the resulting pre-tax total rate of return will depend on the actual terms of the securities.

 

Hypothetical Call Premium:	9.35% of the face amount (the lowest possible call premium that may be determined on the pricing date)
Upside Participation Rate:	150%
Hypothetical Starting Level:	100.00
Hypothetical Threshold Level:	75.00 (75% of the hypothetical starting level)

 

Hypothetical Payout Profile

 

 

 

 

Hypothetical Returns

 

If the securities are automatically called:

 

If the securities are automatically called prior to stated maturity, you will receive the face amount of your securities plus the call premium, resulting in a hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return of 9.35%.

 

If the securities are not automatically called:

 

Hypothetical ending level	Hypothetical index return(1)	Hypothetical maturity payment amount per security	Hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return(2)
200.00	100.00%	$2,500.00	150.00%
175.00	75.00%	$2,125.00	112.50%
150.00	50.00%	$1,750.00	75.00%
140.00	40.00%	$1,600.00	60.00%
130.00	30.00%	$1,450.00	45.00%
120.00	20.00%	$1,300.00	30.00%
110.00	10.00%	$1,150.00	15.00%
105.00	5.00%	$1,075.50	7.50%
100.00	0.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
90.00	-10.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
75.00	-25.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
74.00	-26.00%	$740.00	-26.00%
70.00	-30.00%	$700.00	-30.00%
60.00	-40.00%	$600.00	-40.00%
50.00	-50.00%	$500.00	-50.00%
25.00	-75.00%	$250.00	-75.00%
0.00	-100.00%	$0.00	-100.00%

 

(1)

The index return is equal to the percentage change from the starting level to the ending level (i.e., the ending level minus starting level, divided by starting level).

 

(2)

The hypothetical pre-tax total rate of return is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the maturity payment amount per security to the face amount of $1,000 (i.e., the maturity payment amount per security minus $1,000, divided by $1,000).

 

 

Hypothetical Examples Of Payment Upon An Automatic Call Or At Stated Maturity

 

Example 1. The closing level of the Index on the call date is greater than the starting level, and the securities are automatically called on the call date:

	The Index
Hypothetical starting level:	100.00
Hypothetical closing level on call date:	125.00

 

Because the hypothetical closing level of the Index on the call date is greater than the hypothetical starting level, the securities are automatically called on the call date and you will receive on the call settlement date the face amount of your securities plus a call premium of 9.35% of the face amount. Even though the Index appreciated by 25.00% from its starting level to its closing level on the call date in this example, your return is limited to the call premium 9.35%.

 

On the call settlement date, you would receive $1,093.50 per security.

 

Example 2. The securities are not automatically called. The maturity payment amount is greater than the face amount:

	The Index
Hypothetical starting level:	100.00
Hypothetical closing level on the call date:	80.00
Hypothetical ending level:	110.00
Hypothetical threshold level:	75.00
Hypothetical index return (ending level – starting level)/starting level:	10.00%

 

Because the hypothetical closing level of the Index on the call date is less than the hypothetical starting level, the securities are not automatically called. Because the hypothetical ending level is greater than the hypothetical starting level, the maturity payment amount per security would be equal to the face amount of $1,000 plus a positive return equal to:

 

$1,000 × index return × upside participation rate

 

$1,000 × 10.00% × 150.00%

 

= $150.00

 

On the stated maturity date you would receive $1,150.00 per security.

 

Example 3. The securities are not automatically called. Maturity payment amount is equal to the face amount:

	The Index
Hypothetical starting level:	100.00
Hypothetical closing level on the call date:	80.00
Hypothetical ending level:	95.00
Hypothetical threshold level:	75.00
Hypothetical index return (ending level – starting level)/starting level:	-5.00%

 

 

Because the hypothetical closing level of the Index on the call date is less than the hypothetical starting level, the securities are not automatically called. Because the hypothetical ending level is less than the hypothetical starting level, but not by more than 25%, you would not lose any of the face amount of your securities.

 

On the stated maturity date you would receive $1,000.00 per security.

 

 

Example 4. The securities are not automatically called. Maturity payment amount is less than the face amount:

	The Index
Hypothetical starting level:	100.00
Hypothetical closing level on the call date:	80.00
Hypothetical ending level:	50.00
Hypothetical threshold level:	75.00
Hypothetical index return (ending level – starting level)/starting level:	-50.00%

 

 

Because the hypothetical closing level of the Index on the call date is less than the hypothetical starting level, the securities are not automatically called. Because the hypothetical ending level is less than the hypothetical starting level by more than 25%, you would lose a portion of the face amount of your securities and receive the maturity payment amount equal to:

 

$1,000 + ($1,000 × index return)

 

$1,000 + ($1,000 × -50.00%)

 

= $500.00

 

On the stated maturity date you would receive $500.00 per security.

 

 

The Nasdaq-100 Index®

 

The Nasdaq-100 Index^® is a modified market capitalization-weighted index of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

In addition, information about the Nasdaq-100 Index^® may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, the Nasdaq-100 Index^® sponsor’s website (including information regarding the Nasdaq-100 Index^®’s sector weightings). We are not incorporating by reference into this pricing supplement the website or any material it includes. Neither we nor the agent makes any representation that such publicly available information regarding the Nasdaq-100 Index^® is accurate or complete.

 

Historical Information

 

We obtained the closing levels of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® in the graph below from Bloomberg Finance L.P., without independent verification.

 

The following graph sets forth daily closing levels of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® for the period from January 1, 2019 to July 11, 2024. The closing level on July 11, 2024 was 20,211.36. The historical performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® should not be taken as an indication of the future performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® during the term of the securities.

 

 

 

 

Nasdaq-100 Index^® (“NDX”)

 

The Nasdaq-100 Index^® (“NDX”) is a modified market capitalization-weighted index of the 100 largest non-financial stocks that have their primary U.S. listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market. The NDX excludes securities of companies assigned to the Financials industry according to the Industry Classification Benchmark. The NDX was launched on January 31, 1985, with a base index value of 250.00. On January 1, 1994, the base index value was reset to 125.00. The Nasdaq, Inc. (“index sponsor”) publishes the NDX.

 

Security Eligibility Criteria

 

To be eligible for initial inclusion in the NDX, a security must meet the following criteria:

 

·

the security must generally be a common stock, ordinary share, American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”), or tracking stock. Companies organized as real estate investment trusts are not eligible for index inclusion. If the security is an ADR, then references to the “issuer” are references to the underlying security and the total shares outstanding is the actual ADRs outstanding as reported by the depositary banks. If an issuer has listed multiple security classes, all security classes are eligible, subject to meeting all other security eligibility criteria;

 

·

the security’s primary U.S. listing must exclusively be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market;

 

·

if the security is issued by an issuer organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, it must have listed options on a registered options market in the United States or be eligible for listed-options trading on a registered options market in the United States;

 

·

the security must be issued by a non-financial company (any industry other than Financials) according to the Industry Classification Benchmark;

 

·

the security must have a minimum average daily trading volume of 200,000 shares s (measured over the three calendar months ending with the month that includes the reconstitution reference date);

 

·

the security must have traded for at least three full calendar months, not including the month of initial listing, on an “eligible exchange,” which includes Nasdaq (Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq Capital Market), NYSE, NYSE American or CBOE BZX. Eligibility is determined as of the constituent selection reference date, and includes that month. A security that was added to the NDX as a result of a spin-off event will be exempt from this requirement;

 

·

the security may not be issued by an issuer currently in bankruptcy proceedings; and

 

·

the issuer of the security generally may not have entered into a definitive agreement or other arrangement that would make it ineligible for NDX inclusion and where the transaction is imminent as determined by the Index Management Committee.

 

There is no market capitalization eligibility or float eligibility criterion.

 

Constituent Selection Process

 

The index sponsor selects constituents once annually in December. The security eligibility criteria are applied using market data as of the end of October and total shares outstanding as of the end of November. All eligible issuers, ranked by market capitalization, are considered for the NDX inclusion based on the following order of criteria.

 

·

The top 75 ranked issuers will be selected for inclusion in the NDX.

 

·

Any other issuers that were already members of the NDX as of the reconstitution reference date and are ranked within the top 100 are also selected for inclusion in the NDX.

 

·

In the event that fewer than 100 issuers pass the first two criteria, the remaining positions will first be filled, in rank order, by issuers currently in the index ranked in positions 101-125 that were ranked in the top 100 at the previous reconstitution or replacement-or spin-off-issuers added since the previous reconstitution. In the event that fewer than 100 issuers pass the first three criteria, the remaining positions will be filled, in rank order, by any issuers ranked in the top 100 that were not already members of the NDX as of the reconstitution reference date.

 

Index reconstitutions are announced in early December and become effective after the close of trading on the third Friday in December.

 

Constituent Weighting

 

The NDX is rebalanced on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December and index weights are announced in early March, June, September and December.

 

 

Quarterly weight adjustment

 

The NDX’s quarterly weight adjustment employs a two-stage weight adjustment scheme according to issuer-level constraints.

Index securities’ initial weights are determined using up to two calculations of market capitalization: Total shares outstanding-derived market capitalization and index share-derived market capitalization. Total shares outstanding-derived market capitalization is defined as a security’s last sale price times its total shares outstanding. Index share-derived market capitalization is defined as a security’s last sale price times its updated index shares as of the prior month end. Both total shares outstanding-derived market capitalization and index share-derived market capitalization can be used to calculate total shares outstanding-derived index weights and index share-derived initial weights by dividing each index security’s total shares outstanding-derived market capitalization or index share-derived market capitalization by the aggregate total shares outstanding-derived market capitalization or index share-derived market capitalization of all index securities.

 

When the rebalance coincides with the reconstitution, only total shares outstanding-derived initial weights are used. When the rebalance does not coincide with the reconstitution, index share-derived initial weights are used when doing so results in no weight adjustment; otherwise, total shares outstanding-derived initial weights are used in both stages of the weight adjustment procedure. Issuer weights are the aggregated weights of the issuers’ respective index securities.

 

Stage 1

 

If no initial issuer weight exceeds 24%, initial weights are used as Stage 1 weights; otherwise, initial weights are adjusted to meet the following Stage 1 constraint, producing the Stage 1 weights:

 

·

No issuer weight may exceed 20% of the index.

 

Stage 2

 

If the aggregate weight of the subset of issuers whose Stage 1 weights exceed 4.5% does not exceed 48%, Stage 1 weights are used as final weights; otherwise, Stage 1 weights are adjusted to meet the following Stage 2 constraint, producing the final weights:

 

·

The aggregate weight of the subset of issuers whose Stage 1 weights exceed 4.5% is set to 40%.

 

Annual weight adjustment

 

The NDX’s annual weight adjustment employs a two-stage weight adjustment scheme according to security-level constraints.

 

Index securities’ initial weights are determined via the quarterly weight adjustment procedure.

 

Stage 1

 

If no initial security weight exceeds 15%, initial weights are used as Stage 1 weights; otherwise, initial weights are adjusted to meet the following Stage 1 constraint, producing the Stage 1 weights:

 

·

No security weight may exceed 14% of the index.

 

Stage 2

 

If the aggregate weight of the subset of index securities with the five largest market capitalizations is less than 40%, Stage 1 weights are used as final weights; otherwise, Stage 1 weights are adjusted to meet the following constraints, producing the final weights:

 

·

The aggregate weight of the subset of index securities with the five largest market capitalizations is set to 38.5%.

·

No security with a market capitalization outside the largest five may have a final index weight exceeding the lesser of 4.4% or the final index weight of the index security ranked fifth by market capitalization.

 

Special rebalance schedule

 

A special rebalance may be conducted at any time based on the weighting restrictions described above if it is determined to be necessary to maintain the integrity of the NDX.

 

Index Calculation

 

The NDX is a modified market capitalization-weighted index. The level of the NDX equals the index market value divided by the divisor. The index market value is the sum of each index security's market value, as may be adjusted for any corporate actions. An index security’s market value is determined by multiplying the last sale price by the number of shares of the index security represented in the NDX. The NDX is a price return index, which means that the NDX reflects changes in market value of the index securities and does not reflect regular cash dividends paid on those index securities.

 

 

If an index security does not trade on the relevant Nasdaq exchange on a given day or the relevant Nasdaq exchange has not opened for trading, the previous index calculation day’s closing price for the index security (adjusted for corporate actions occurring prior to market open on the current day, if any) is used. If an index security is halted during the trading day, the most recent last sale price is used until trading resumes. For securities where the Nasdaq Stock Market is the relevant Nasdaq exchange, the last sale price may be the Nasdaq Official Closing Price when it is closed.

 

The divisor is calculated as the ratio of (i) the start of day market value of the NDX divided by (ii) the previous day market value of the NDX. The index divisor is adjusted to ensure that changes in an index security’s price or shares either by corporate actions or index participation which occur outside of trading hours do not affect the index level. An index divisor change occurs after the close of the NDX.

 

Index Maintenance

 

Deletion Policy

 

If, at any time other than an index reconstitution, the index sponsor determines that an index security is ineligible for index inclusion, the index security is removed as soon as practicable. This may include:

 

·

Listing on an ineligible index exchange;

 

·

Merger, acquisition, or other major corporate event that would adversely impact the integrity of the NDX;

 

·

If a company is organized as a real estate investment trust;

 

·

If an index security is classified as a financial company (Financials industry) according to the Industry Classification Benchmark;

 

·

if the issuer has an adjusted market capitalization below 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the NDX for two consecutive month ends; and

 

·

If a security that was added to the NDX as the result of a spin-off event has an adjusted market capitalization below 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the NDX at the end of its second day of regular way trading as an index member.

 

In the case of mergers and acquisitions, the effective date for the removal of an index issuer or security will be largely event-based, with the goal to remove the issuer or security as soon as completion of the acquisition or merger has been deemed highly probable. Notable events include, but are not limited to, completion of various regulatory reviews, the conclusion of material lawsuits and/or shareholder and board approvals.

 

If at the time of the removal of the index issuer or security there is not sufficient time to provide advance notification of the replacement issuer or security so that both the removal and replacement can be effective on the same day, the index issuer or security being removed will be retained and persisted in the NDX calculations at its last sale price until the effective date of the replacement issuer or security’s entry to the NDX.

 

Securities that are added as a result of a spin-off may be deleted as soon as practicable after being added to the NDX. This may occur when the index sponsor determines that a security is ineligible for inclusion because of reasons such as ineligible exchange, security type, industry, or adjusted market capitalization. Securities that are added as a result of a spin-off may be maintained in the NDX until a later date and then removed, for example, if a spin-off security has liquidity characteristics that diverge materially from the security eligibility criteria and could affect the integrity of the NDX.

 

Replacement policy

 

Securities may be added to the NDX outside of the index reconstitution when there is a deletion. The index security (or all index securities under the same issuer, if appropriate) is replaced as soon as practicable if the issuer in its entirety is being deleted from the NDX. The issuer with the largest market capitalization and that meets all eligibility criteria as of the prior month end which is not in the NDX will replace the deleted Issuer. Issuers that are added as a result of a spin-off are not replaced until after they have been included in an index reconstitution.

 

For pending deletions set to occur soon after an index reconstitution and/or index rebalance effective date, the index sponsor may decide to remove the index security from the NDX in conjunction with the index reconstitution and/or index rebalance effective date.

 

Corporate actions

 

In the periods between scheduled index reconstitution and rebalancing events, individual index securities may be the subject to a variety of corporate actions and events that require maintenance and adjustments to the NDX, including special cash dividends, stock splits, stock dividends, bonus issues, reverse stock splits, rights offerings/issues, stock distributions of another security and spin-offs/de-mergers. Adjustments for corporate actions are made prior to market open on the effective date, ex-date, ex-dividend date or ex-distribution date of a given corporate action/event. In absence of one of those dates, there will be no adjustment to the NDX for such corporate action.

 

 

At the quarterly rebalancing, no changes are made to the NDX from the previous month end until the quarterly share change effective date, with the exception of corporate actions with an ex-date.

 

Index share adjustments

 

If a change in total shares outstanding arising from other corporate events is greater than or equal to 10%, an adjustment to index shares is made as soon as practicable after being sufficiently verified. If the change in total shares outstanding is less than 10%, then all such changes are accumulated and made effective at one time on a quarterly basis after the close of trading on the third Friday in each of March, June, September and December. The index shares are adjusted by the same percentage amount by which the total shares outstanding has changed.

 

License Agreement

 

The securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively, “Nasdaq”). Nasdaq has not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the securities. Nasdaq makes no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the securities, or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the securities particularly, or the ability of the NDX to track general stock market performance. Nasdaq’s only relationship to us is in the licensing of the Nasdaq^®, NDX trademarks or service marks, and certain trade names of Nasdaq and the use of the NDX which are determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to us or the securities. Nasdaq has no obligation to take the needs of us or the owners of the securities into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NDX. Nasdaq is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the securities to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the securities are to be converted into cash. Nasdaq has no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the securities.

 

NASDAQ DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NDX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NASDAQ MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE SECURITIES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NDX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NASDAQ MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NDX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL NASDAQ HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. NASDAQ^®, NASDAQ 100^® AND NASDAQ 100 INDEX^® ARE TRADE OR SERVICE MARKS OF NASDAQ AND ARE INCENSED FOR USE BY US. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN PASSED ON BY NASDAQ AS TO THEIR LEGALITY OR SUITABILITY. THE SECURITIES ARE NOT ISSUED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY NASDAQ. NASDAQ MAKES NO WARRANTIES AND BEARS NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES.

 

 

United States Federal Tax Considerations

 

The following discussion supplements, and to the extent applicable supersedes, the discussion in the accompanying product supplement under the caption “United States Federal Tax Considerations.”

 

In the opinion of our special U.S. tax counsel, Ashurst LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat a security with terms described herein as a pre-paid cash-settled derivative contract in respect of the Index for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the terms of the securities require a holder (in the absence of a change in law or an administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the securities for all tax purposes in accordance with such characterization. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the securities are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) could assert that the securities should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. If this treatment is respected, a U.S. holder should generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, redemption or payment on maturity in an amount equal to the difference between the amount it received at such time and the amount that it paid for its securities. Such gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the securities for more than one year. Non-U.S. holders should consult the section entitled "United States Federal Tax Considerations ─ Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders" in the product supplement.

 

Under Section 871(m) of the Code, a “dividend equivalent” payment is treated as a dividend from sources within the United States. Such payments generally would be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax if paid to a non-U.S. holder. Under U.S. Treasury Department regulations, payments (including deemed payments) with respect to equity-linked instruments (“ELIs”) that are “specified ELIs” may be treated as dividend equivalents if such specified ELIs reference, directly or indirectly, an interest in an “underlying security,” which is generally any interest in an entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if a payment with respect to such interest could give rise to a U.S. source dividend. However, the IRS has issued guidance that states that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the U.S. Treasury Department regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalent payments will not apply to specified ELIs that are not delta-one instruments and that are issued before January 1, 2027. Based on our determination that the securities are not delta-one instruments, non-U.S. holders should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the securities. However, it is possible that the securities could be treated as deemed reissued for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the Index or the securities (for example, upon the Index rebalancing), and following such occurrence the securities could be treated as subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments. Non-U.S. holders that enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the Index or the securities should consult their tax advisors as to the application of the dividend equivalent withholding tax in the context of the securities and their other transactions. If any payments are treated as dividend equivalents subject to withholding, we (or the applicable withholding agent) would be entitled to withhold taxes without being required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld.

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution

 

Delivery of the securities will be made against payment therefor on or about the issue date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade such securities at any time prior to the first business day preceding the issue date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the securities will not settle in T+1, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement; such purchasers should also consult their own advisors in this regard.

 

 

PRS-21

 

 

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