21/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 21/11/2024 16:24
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement Nos. 333-270004 and 333-270004-01
Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement, each dated April 13, 2023, the Underlying Supplement No. 1-I dated April 13, 2023, the Product Supplement No. 4-I dated April 13, 2023 and the Prospectus Addendum dated June 3, 2024
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
Medium-Term Notes, Series A
$2,650,000
Digital Notes due 2027
(Linked to the iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF)
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The notes do not bear interest. The amount that you will be paid on your notes on the stated maturity date (February 8, 2027, subject to adjustment) is based on the performance of the iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (which we refer to as the underlier) as measured from and including the strike date (November 15, 2024) to and including the determination date (February 4, 2027, subject to adjustment). If the final underlier level on the determination date is greater than or equal to 90.00% of the initial underlier level (which is the closing level of the underlier on the strike date), you will receive the threshold settlement amount of $1,204.40 for each $1,000 principal amount note. If the final underlier level declines by more than 10.00% from the initial underlier level, the return on your notes will be negative. You could lose your entire investment in the notes. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC ("JPMorgan Financial"), as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as guarantor of the notes.
To determine your payment at maturity, we will calculate the underlier return, which is the percentage increase or decrease in the final underlier level from the initial underlier level. On the stated maturity date, for each $1,000 principal amount note, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:
· | if the underlier return is greater than or equal to -10.00% (the final underlier level is greater than or equal to 90.00% of the initial underlier level), the threshold settlement amount; or |
· | if the underlier return is below -10.00% (the final underlier level is less than the initial underlier level by more than 10.00%), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) approximately 1.1111 times (c) the sum of the underlier return plus 10.00%. You will receive less than $1,000. |
Your investment in the notes involves certain risks, including, among other things, our credit risk. See "Risk Factors" on page S-2 of the accompanying prospectus supplement, Annex A to the accompanying prospectus addendum, "Risk Factors" on page PS-11 of the accompanying product supplement and "Selected Risk Factors" on page PS-13 of this pricing supplement.
The foregoing is only a brief summary of the terms of your notes. You should read the additional disclosure provided herein so that you may better understand the terms and risks of your investment.
The estimated value of the notes, when the terms of the notes were set, was $971.30 per $1,000 principal amount note. See "Summary Information - The Estimated Value of the Notes" on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement for additional information about the estimated value of the notes and "Summary Information - Secondary Market Prices of the Notes" on page PS-8 of this pricing supplement for information about secondary market prices of the notes.
Original issue date (settlement date): November 26, 2024
Original issue price: 100.00% of the principal amount
Underwriting commission/discount: 1.64% of the principal amount*
Net proceeds to the issuer: 98.36% of the principal amount
See "Summary Information - Supplemental Use of Proceeds" on page PS-8 of this pricing supplement for information about the components of the original issue price of the notes.
*J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Financial, will pay all of the selling commissions of 1.64% of the principal amount it receives from us to an unaffiliated dealer. See "Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)" on page PS-86 of the accompanying product supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement, the accompanying underlying supplement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the accompanying prospectus addendum. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes are not bank deposits, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
Pricing Supplement dated November 19, 2024
The original issue price, fees and commissions and net proceeds listed above relate to the notes we sell initially. We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this pricing supplement, at issue prices and with fees and commission and net proceeds that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in notes will depend in part on the price you pay for your notes.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, JPMS or any other affiliate of ours may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a note after its initial sale. Unless JPMS or its agents inform the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
You should read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying prospectus, as supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to our Series A medium-term notes of which these notes are a part, the accompanying prospectus addendum and the more detailed information contained in the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other 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, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in the "Risk Factors" sections of the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying product supplement and in Annex A to the accompanying prospectus addendum, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
● Product supplement no. 4-I dated April 13, 2023:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000121390023029539/ea152803_424b2.pdf
● Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 13, 2023:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000121390023029543/ea151873_424b2.pdf
● Prospectus supplement and prospectus, each dated April 13, 2023:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010323005751/crt_dp192097-424b2.pdf
● Prospectus addendum dated June 3, 2024:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1665650/000095010324007599/dp211753_424b3.htm
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1665650, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s CIK is 19617. As used in this pricing supplement, "we," "us" and "our" refer to JPMorgan Financial.
Key Terms
Issuer: JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, a direct, wholly owned finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Guarantor: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Underlier: the iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (Bloomberg symbol, "TLT UQ Equity"). The accompanying product supplement refers to the underlier as the "Fund."
Underlying index: the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index, as maintained by ICE Data Indices, LLC
Principal amount: each note will have a principal amount of $1,000; $2,650,000 in the aggregate for all the offered notes; the aggregate principal amount of the offered notes may be increased if the issuer, at its sole option, decides to sell an additional amount of the offered notes on a date subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement
Purchase at amount other than principal amount: the amount we will pay you at the stated maturity date for your notes will not be adjusted based on the 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 stated maturity date, it could affect your investment in a number of ways. The return on your investment in the notes will be lower (or higher) than it would have been had you purchased the notes at the principal amount. Also, the stated threshold level would not offer the same benefit to your investment as would be the case if you had purchased the notes at the principal amount. Additionally, the cap level would be triggered at a lower (or
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higher) percentage return than indicated below, relative to your initial investment. See "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Notes Generally - 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" on page PS-14 of this pricing supplement.
Payment on the stated maturity date: for each $1,000 principal amount note, we will pay you on the stated maturity date an amount in cash equal to:
· | if the final underlier level is greater than or equal to the threshold level, the threshold settlement amount; or |
· | if the final underlier level is less than the threshold level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the buffer rate times (c) the sum of the underlier return plus the buffer amount. You will receive less than $1,000. |
Initial underlier level (the closing level of the underlier on the strike date): $90.08. The accompanying product supplement refers to the initial underlier level as the "Initial Value." The initial underlier level is not the closing level of the underlier on the trade date.
Final underlier level: the closing level of the underlier on the determination date. In certain circumstances, the closing level of the underlier will be based on the alternative calculation of the underlier described under "General Terms of Notes - Postponement of a Determination Date - Notes Linked to a Single Underlying - Notes Linked to a Single Underlying (Other Than a Commodity Index)" on page PS-45 of the accompanying product supplement or "The Underlyings - Funds - Discontinuation of a Fund; Alternate Calculation of Closing Price and Trading Price" on page PS-74 of the accompanying product supplement. The accompanying product supplement refers to the final underlier level as the "Final Value."
Underlier return: the quotient of (i) the final underlier level minus the initial underlier level divided by (ii) the initial underlier level, expressed as a percentage
Cap level: 120.44% of the initial underlier level
Threshold settlement amount: $1,204.40
Threshold level: 90.00% of the initial underlier level
Buffer amount: 10.00%
Buffer rate: the quotient of the initial underlier level divided by the threshold level, which equals approximately 1.1111
Strike date: November 15, 2024
Trade date: November 19, 2024
Original issue date (settlement date): November 26, 2024
Determination date: February 4, 2027, subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under "General Terms of Notes - Postponement of a Determination Date - Notes Linked to a Single Underlying - Notes Linked to a Single Underlying (Other Than a Commodity Index)" on page PS-45 of the accompanying product supplement
Stated maturity date: February 8, 2027, subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under "General Terms of Notes - Postponement of a Payment Date" on page PS-45 of the accompanying product supplement. The accompanying product supplement refers to the stated maturity date as the "maturity date."
No interest: The offered notes do not bear interest.
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No listing: The offered notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system.
No redemption: The offered notes will not be subject to redemption right or price dependent redemption right.
Closing level: as described under "The Underlyings - Funds - Price of One Share of a Fund" on page PS-70 of the accompanying product supplement. The accompanying product supplement refers to the closing level as the "closing price."
Share adjustment factor: the share adjustment factor is referenced in determining the closing level of the underlier and is set initially at 1.0 on the trade date. The share adjustment factor is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the underlier. See "The Underlyings - Funds - Price of One Share of a Fund" on page PS-70 of the accompanying product supplement and "The Underlyings - Funds - Anti-Dilution Adjustments" on page PS-72 of the accompanying product supplement for further information.
Business day: as described under "General Terms of Notes - Postponement of a Payment Date" on page PS-45 of the accompanying product supplement
Trading day: as described under "General Terms of Notes - Postponement of a Determination Date - Additional Defined Terms" on page PS-48 of the accompanying product supplement
Use of proceeds and hedging: as described under "Use of Proceeds and Hedging" on page PS-43 of the accompanying product supplement, as supplemented by "- Supplemental Use of Proceeds" below
Tax treatment: You should review carefully the section entitled "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I. The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of notes.
Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel it is reasonable to treat the notes as "open transactions" that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as more fully described in "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences - Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders - Notes Treated as Open Transactions That Are Not Debt Instruments" in the accompanying product supplement. Assuming this treatment is respected, subject to the possible application of the "constructive ownership" rules, the gain or loss on your notes should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your notes for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of notes at the issue price. The notes could be treated as "constructive ownership transactions" within the meaning of Section 1260 of the Code, in which case any gain recognized in respect of the notes that would otherwise be long-term capital gain and that was in excess of the "net underlying long-term capital gain" (as defined in Section 1260) would be treated as ordinary income, and a notional interest charge would apply as if that income had accrued for tax purposes at a constant yield over your holding period for the notes. Our special tax counsel has not expressed an opinion with respect to whether the constructive ownership rules apply to the notes. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of the constructive ownership rules.
The IRS or a court may not respect the treatment of the notes described above, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on your notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of "prepaid forward contracts" and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the constructive ownership regime described above. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or
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other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including the potential application of the constructive ownership rules, possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder ("Section 871(m)") generally impose a 30% withholding tax (unless an income tax treaty applies) on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. Section 871(m) provides certain exceptions to this withholding regime, including for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices that meet requirements set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations. Additionally, a recent IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued prior to January 1, 2027 that do not have a delta of one with respect to underlying securities that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each an "Underlying Security"). Based on certain determinations made by us, our special tax counsel is of the opinion that Section 871(m) should not apply to the notes with regard to Non-U.S. Holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the notes.
ERISA: as described under "Benefit Plan Investor Considerations" on page PS-88 of the accompanying product supplement
Supplemental plan of distribution: as described under "Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)" on page PS-86 of the accompanying product supplement; we estimate that our share of the total offering expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $10,000. We have agreed to sell to JPMS, and JPMS has agreed to purchase from us, the aggregate principal amount of the notes specified on the front cover of this pricing supplement. JPMS proposes initially to offer the notes to the public at the original issue price set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement, and to an unaffiliated dealer at that price and to pay that dealer a selling commission of 1.64% of the principal amount.
Conflicts of interest: JPMS has a "conflict of interest" within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121 in any offering of the notes in which it participates because JPMorgan Chase & Co. owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity securities of JPMS, because JPMS and we are under common control by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and because the net proceeds received from the sale of the notes will be used, in part, by JPMS or its affiliates in connection with hedging our obligations under the notes. The offering of the notes will comply with the requirements of Rule 5121 of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") regarding a FINRA member firm's underwriting of securities of an affiliate. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, neither JPMS nor any other affiliated agent of ours may make sales in the offering of the notes to any of its discretionary accounts without the specific written approval of the customer.
Calculation agent: JPMS
CUSIP no.: 48135VUT3
ISIN no.: US48135VUT33
FDIC: the notes are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
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Supplemental Terms of the Notes
For purposes of the notes offered by this pricing supplement, all references to each of the following terms used in the accompanying product supplement will be deemed to refer to the corresponding term used in this pricing supplement, as set forth in the table below:
Product Supplement Term | Pricing Supplement Term |
Fund | underlier |
Initial Value | initial underlier level |
Final Value | final underlier level |
closing price | closing level |
pricing date | trade date |
maturity date | stated maturity date |
term sheet | preliminary pricing supplement |
In addition, the following terms used in this pricing supplement are not defined in the accompanying product supplement: underlier return, threshold settlement amount, cap level, threshold level, buffer amount and buffer rate. Accordingly, please refer to "Key Terms" on page PS-3 of this pricing supplement for the definitions of these terms.
Any values of the underlier, and any values derived therefrom, included in this pricing supplement may be corrected, in the event of manifest error or inconsistency, by amendment of this pricing supplement.
The Estimated Value of the Notes
The estimated value of the notes when the terms of the notes are set, which we refer to as the estimated value of the notes, set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement is equal to the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components: (1) a fixed-income debt component with the same maturity as the notes, valued using the internal funding rate described below, and (2) the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes. The estimated value of the notes does not represent a minimum price at which JPMS would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes may differ from the market-implied funding rate for vanilla fixed income instruments of a similar maturity issued by JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates. Any difference may be based on, among other things, our and our affiliates' 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 conventional fixed income instruments of JPMorgan Chase & Co. This internal funding rate is based on certain market inputs and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, and is intended to approximate the prevailing market replacement funding rate for the notes. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the notes and any secondary market prices of the notes. For additional information, see "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes - The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate" on page PS-16 of this pricing supplement. The value of the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes is derived from internal pricing models of our affiliates. These models are dependent on inputs such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on various other inputs, some of which are market-observable, and which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors, as well as assumptions about future market events and/or environments. Accordingly, the estimated value of the notes is determined when the terms of the notes are set based on market conditions and other relevant factors and assumptions existing at that time. See "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes - The Estimated Value of the Notes Does Not Represent Future Values of the Notes and May Differ from Others' Estimates" on page PS-16 of this pricing supplement.
The estimated value of the notes is lower than the original issue price of the notes because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the selling commissions paid to JPMS and the unaffiliated dealer, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our
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obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. Because hedging our obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or it may result in a loss. A portion of the profits realized in hedging our obligations under the notes, if any, may be allowed to other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, and we or one or more of our affiliates will retain any remaining hedging profits. A fee will also be paid to iCapital Markets LLC, an electronic platform in which an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, who is acting as a dealer in connection with the distribution of the notes, holds an indirect minority equity interest, for services it is providing in connection with this offering. See "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes - The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Lower Than the Original Issue Price of the Notes" on page PS-16 of this pricing supplement.
Secondary Market Prices of the Notes
For information about factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes, see "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes - Secondary Market Prices of the Notes Will Be Impacted by Many Economic and Market Factors" on page PS-17 of this pricing supplement. In addition, we generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over the period from the trade date through February 19, 2025. The length of any such initial period reflects the structure of the notes, whether our affiliates expect to earn a profit in connection with our hedging activities, the estimated costs of hedging the notes and when these costs are incurred, as determined by our affiliates. See "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes - The Value of the Notes as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Notes for a Limited Time Period" on page PS-16 of this pricing supplement.
Supplemental Use of Proceeds
The notes are offered to meet investor demand for products that reflect the risk-return profile and market exposure provided by the notes. See "Hypothetical Examples" on page PS-10 of this pricing supplement for an illustration of the risk-return profile of the notes and "The Underlier" on page PS-21 of this pricing supplement for a description of the market exposure provided by the notes.
The original issue price of the notes is equal to the estimated value of the notes plus the selling commissions paid to JPMS and the unaffiliated dealer, plus (minus) the projected profits (losses) that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes, plus the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes.
Validity of the Notes and the Guarantee
In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as special products counsel to JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co., when the notes offered by this pricing supplement have been issued by JPMorgan Financial pursuant to the indenture, the trustee and/or paying agent has made, in accordance with the instructions from JPMorgan Financial, the appropriate entries or notations in its records relating to the master global note that represents such notes (the "master note"), and such notes have been delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such notes will be valid and binding obligations of JPMorgan Financial and the related guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of JPMorgan Chase & Co., enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to (i) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above or (ii) any provision of the indenture that purports to avoid the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law by limiting the amount of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s obligation under the related guarantee. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Limited Liability
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Company Act. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee's authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and its authentication of the master note and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated February 24, 2023, which was filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 by JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. on February 24, 2023.
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HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES
The following table and chart are provided for purposes of illustration 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 underlier levels on the determination date could have on the payment at maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.
The examples below are based on a range of final underlier levels that are entirely hypothetical; no one can predict what the underlier level will be on any day throughout the term of your notes, and no one can predict what the final underlier level will be on the determination date. The underlier has been highly volatile in the past - meaning that the underlier level 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 offered notes assuming that they are purchased on the original issue date at the principal amount and held to the stated maturity date. If you sell your notes in a secondary market prior to the stated 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 table below, such as interest rates, the volatility of the underlier and our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s creditworthiness. In addition, the estimated value of the notes is less than the original issue price. For more information on the estimated value of the notes, see "Summary Information - The Estimated Value of the Notes" on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement. The information in the table also reflects the key terms and assumptions in the box below.
Key Terms and Assumptions | |
Principal amount | $1,000 |
Cap level | 120.44% of the initial underlier level |
Threshold settlement amount | $1,204.40 |
Threshold level | 90.00% of the initial underlier level |
Buffer rate | approximately 1.1111 |
Buffer amount | 10.00% |
Neither a market disruption event nor a non-trading day occurs on the originally scheduled determination date During the term of the notes, the underlier is not delisted, liquidated or otherwise terminated, the underlier and the underlying index have not been changed in any material respect and the underlier has not been otherwise modified so that it does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the price of the underlier had those changes or modifications not been made Notes purchased on original issue date at the principal amount and held to the stated maturity date |
For these reasons, the actual performance of the underlier 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 underlier levels shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the historical levels of the underlier during recent periods, see "The Underlier - Historical Closing Levels of the Underlier" below. Before investing in the offered notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the levels of the underlier between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the offered 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 underlier stocks.
The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical final underlier levels and are expressed as percentages of the initial underlier level. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical payments at maturity, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level (expressed as a percentage of the initial underlier level), and are expressed as percentages of the
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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 deliver for each $1,000 of the outstanding principal amount of the offered notes on the stated maturity date would equal 100.000% of the principal amount of a note, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level (expressed as a percentage of the initial underlier level) and the assumptions noted above.
Hypothetical Final Underlier Level (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level) |
Hypothetical Payment at Maturity (as Percentage of Principal Amount) |
150.000% | 120.440% |
140.000% | 120.440% |
130.000% | 120.440% |
120.440% | 120.440% |
120.000% | 120.440% |
110.000% | 120.440% |
105.000% | 120.440% |
102.500% | 120.440% |
100.000% | 120.440% |
95.000% | 120.440% |
90.000% | 120.440% |
89.990% | 99.989% |
75.000% | 83.333% |
50.000% | 55.556% |
25.000% | 27.778% |
0.000% | 0.000% |
If, for example, the final underlier level were determined to be 25.000% of the initial underlier level, the payment that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be approximately 27.778% 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 stated maturity date, you would lose approximately 72.222% of your investment (if you purchased your notes at a premium to principal amount you would lose a correspondingly higher percentage of your investment). In addition, if the final underlier level were determined to be 150.000% of the initial underlier level, the payment that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be capped at the threshold settlement amount (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount), or 120.440% of each $1,000 principal amount note, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your notes to the stated maturity date, you would not benefit from any increase in the final underlier level over 120.440% of the initial underlier level.
The following chart also shows a graphical illustration of the hypothetical payments at maturity (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of your notes) that we would pay on your notes on the stated maturity date, if the final underlier level (expressed as a percentage of the initial underlier level) were any of the hypothetical levels shown on the horizontal axis. The chart shows that any hypothetical final underlier level (expressed as a percentage of the initial underlier level) of less than 90.000% (the section left of the 90.000% 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 underlier level (expressed as a percentage of the initial underlier level) of greater than or equal to 90.000% (the section right of the 90.000% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a capped return on your investment.
PS-11 |
The payments at maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on closing levels for the underlier that may not be achieved on the determination date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your notes on the stated 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 offered notes. The hypothetical payments at maturity on notes held to the stated maturity date in the examples above assume you purchased your notes at their principal amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual 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 "Selected Risk Factors - Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes - Secondary Market Prices of the Notes Will Be Impacted by Many Economic and Market Factors" on page PS-17 of this pricing supplement.
The hypothetical returns on the notes shown above apply only if you hold the notes for their entire term. These hypotheticals do not reflect fees or expenses that would be associated with any sale in the secondary market. If these fees and expenses were included, the hypothetical returns shown above would likely be lower.
We cannot predict the actual final underlier level or what the market value of your notes will be on any particular day, nor can we predict the relationship between the underlier level and the market value of your notes at any time prior to the stated maturity date. The actual amount that you will receive, if any, at maturity and the rate of return on the offered notes will depend on the actual final underlier level 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 stated maturity date may be very different from the information reflected in the table and chart above.
PS-12 |
Selected Risk Factors
An investment in your notes is subject to the risks described below, as well as the risks described under the "Risk Factors" sections of the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying product supplement and in Annex A to the accompanying prospectus addendum. Your notes are a riskier investment than ordinary debt securities. Also, your notes are not equivalent to investing directly in the underlier stocks, i.e., the stocks held by the underlier to which your notes are linked. You should carefully consider whether the offered notes are suited to your particular circumstances.
Risks Relating to the Notes Generally
You May Lose Some or All of Your Investment in the Notes
The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. The return on the notes at maturity is linked to the performance of the underlier and will depend on whether the final underlier level is less than the initial underlier level by more than 10.00%. Your investment will be exposed to loss on a leveraged basis if the final underlier level is less than the initial underlier level by more than 10.00%. For every 1% that the final underlier level is less than the initial underlier level by more than 10.00%, you will lose an amount equal to approximately 1.1111% of the principal amount of your notes. Accordingly, you could lose some or all of your initial investment at maturity. Also, the market price of your notes prior to the stated maturity date may be significantly lower than the purchase price you pay for your notes. Consequently, if you sell your notes before the stated maturity date, you may receive far less than the amount of your investment in the notes.
Your Maximum Gain on the Notes Is Limited to the Threshold Settlement Amount
If the final underlier level is greater than or equal to 90.00% of the initial underlier level, for each $1,000 principal amount note, you will receive at maturity a payment that will not exceed the threshold settlement amount, regardless of the appreciation in the underlier, which may be significant. Accordingly, the amount payable on your notes may be significantly less than it would have been had you invested directly in the underlier. The threshold settlement amount is $1,204.40.
The Notes Are Subject to the Credit Risks of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The notes are subject to our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s credit risks, and our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s ability to pay all amounts due on the notes. Any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s creditworthiness or credit spreads, as determined by the market for taking that credit risk, is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. If we and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the notes and you could lose your entire investment.
As a Finance Subsidiary, JPMorgan Financial Has No Independent Operations and Has Limited Assets
As a finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities and the collection of intercompany obligations. Aside from the initial capital contribution from JPMorgan Chase & Co., substantially all of our assets relate to obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. to make payments under loans made by us to JPMorgan Chase & Co. or under other intercompany agreements. As a result, we are dependent upon payments from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to meet our obligations under the notes. We are not a key operating subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and in a bankruptcy or resolution of JPMorgan Chase & Co. we are not expected to have sufficient resources to meet our obligations in respect of the notes as they come due. If JPMorgan Chase & Co. does not make payments to us and we are unable to make payments on the notes, you may have to seek payment under the related guarantee by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. For more information, see the accompanying prospectus addendum.
PS-13 |
No Interest or Dividend Payments or Voting Rights
As a holder of the notes, you will not receive interest payments. As a result, even if the amount payable for your notes on the stated maturity date exceeds the principal amount of your notes, the overall return you earn on your notes may be less than you would have earned by investing in a non-fund-linked debt security of comparable maturity that bears interest at a prevailing market rate. In addition, as a holder of the notes, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the underlier stocks or shares of the underlier would have.
Any Payment on the Notes Will Be Determined by Reference Only to the Price Performance of the Underlier
Any payment on the notes is based only on the price performance of the underlier, which does not include dividends or other distributions on the underlier or the securities held by the underlier. The magnitude of this lost dividend or distribution yield may be particularly significant. The underlier is a bond fund and, as with any bond fund, distributions of interest payments on the bonds held by the underlier would be expected to make up a significant portion of the overall yield on a direct investment in the underlier. The notes will not reflect distributions of interest payments on the bonds held by the underlier and, therefore, will not reflect the interest component of the yield on the underlier. As a result, the performance of the underlier as measured for purposes of the notes may be significantly less than the return that a direct investor in the underlier would realize.
We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at a Different Issue Price
At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate principal amount of the notes subsequent to the date of this 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.
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 amount you will be paid for your notes on the stated maturity date will not be adjusted based on the 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 the notes held to the stated 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 stated 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 a discount to the principal amount. In addition, the impact of the threshold level and the cap level 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 cap level will permit only a lower percentage increase 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. Similarly, the threshold level, while still providing an increase in the return on the notes if the final underlier level is greater than or equal to the threshold level but less than the cap level, will allow 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.
Lack of Liquidity
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. JPMS intends to offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a 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 JPMS is willing to buy the notes.
PS-14 |
The Tax Consequences of an Investment in the Notes Are Uncertain
There is no direct legal authority as to the proper U.S. federal income tax characterization of the notes, and we do not intend to request a ruling from the IRS. The IRS might not accept, and a court might not uphold, the treatment of the notes described in "Key Terms - Tax treatment" in this pricing supplement and in "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the accompanying product supplement. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the notes, the timing and character of any income or loss on the notes could differ materially and adversely from our description herein. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of "prepaid forward contracts" and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the "constructive ownership" regime, described above under "Tax treatment." While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should review carefully the section entitled "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the accompanying product supplement and consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest
Potential Conflicts of Interest
We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent and as an agent of the offering of the notes, hedging our obligations under the notes and making the assumptions used to determine the pricing of the notes and the estimated value of the notes. Also, the distributor from which you purchase the notes may conduct hedging activities for us in connection with the notes. In performing these duties, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s economic interests, the economic interests of any distributor performing such duties and the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. In addition, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s business activities, and the business activities of any distributor from which you purchase the notes, including hedging and trading activities, could cause our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s economic interests to be adverse to yours and could adversely affect any payment on the notes and the value of the notes. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates in connection with the notes could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. If the distributor from which you purchase notes is to conduct hedging activities for us in connection with the notes, that distributor may profit in connection with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to the compensation that the distributor 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 distributor to sell the notes to you in addition to the compensation they would receive for the sale of the notes. Please refer to "Risk Factors - Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest" on page PS-17 of the accompanying product supplement for additional information about these risks.
Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes
The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Lower Than the Original Issue Price of the Notes
The estimated value of the notes is only an estimate determined by reference to several factors. The original issue price of the notes exceeds the estimated value of the notes because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the selling commissions, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our
PS-15 |
obligations under the notes. See "Summary Information - The Estimated Value of the Notes" on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.
The Estimated Value of the Notes Does Not Represent Future Values of the Notes and May Differ from Others' Estimates
The estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to internal pricing models of our affiliates when the terms of the notes are set. This estimated value of the notes is based on market conditions and other relevant factors existing at that time and assumptions about market parameters, which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the notes that are greater than or less than the estimated value of the notes. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect. On future dates, the value of the notes could change significantly based on, among other things, changes in market conditions, our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s creditworthiness, interest rate movements and other relevant factors, which may impact the price, if any, at which JPMS would be willing to buy notes from you in secondary market transactions. See "Summary Information - The Estimated Value of the Notes" on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.
The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate
The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes may differ from the market-implied funding rate for vanilla fixed income instruments of a similar maturity issued by JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates. Any difference may be based on, among other things, our and our affiliates' 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 conventional fixed income instruments of JPMorgan Chase & Co. This internal funding rate is based on certain market inputs and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, and is intended to approximate the prevailing market replacement funding rate for the notes. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the notes and any secondary market prices of the notes. See "Summary Information - The Estimated Value of the Notes" on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.
The Value of the Notes as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Notes for a Limited Time Period
We generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. These costs can include selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, and, in some circumstances, estimated hedging costs and our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances. See "Summary Information - Secondary Market Prices of the Notes" on page PS-8 of this pricing supplement for additional information relating to this initial period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your notes during this initial period may be lower than the value of the notes as published by JPMS (and which may be shown on your customer account statements).
Secondary Market Prices of the Notes Will Likely Be Lower Than the Original Issue Price of the Notes
Any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the original issue price of the notes because, among other things, secondary market prices take into account our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances and, also, because secondary market prices may exclude selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, and estimated hedging costs that are included in the original issue price of the notes. As a result, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to buy notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, is likely to be lower than the original issue price. Any sale by you prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you. See the immediately following risk consideration for information about additional factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes.
PS-16 |
The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity. See "- Risks Relating to the Notes Generally - Lack of Liquidity" on page PS-14 of this pricing supplement.
Secondary Market Prices of the Notes Will Be Impacted by Many Economic and Market Factors
The secondary market price of the notes during their term will be impacted by a number of economic and market factors, which may either offset or magnify each other, aside from the selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, estimated hedging costs and the level of the underlier, including:
· | any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s creditworthiness or credit spreads; |
· | customary bid-ask spreads for similarly sized trades; |
· | our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances; |
· | the actual and expected volatility of the underlier; |
· | the time to maturity of the notes; |
· | the dividend rates on the underlier stocks; |
· | interest and yield rates in the market generally; |
· | the occurrence of certain events to the underlier that may or may not require an adjustment to the share adjustment factor; and |
· | a variety of other economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events. |
Additionally, independent pricing vendors and/or third party broker-dealers may publish a price for the notes, which may also be reflected on customer account statements. This price may be different (higher or lower) than the price of the notes, if any, at which JPMS may be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market.
Risks Relating to the Underlier
There Are Risks Associated With the Underlier
Although the shares of the underlier are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the "NYSE Arca") and a number of similar products have been traded on securities exchanges for varying periods of time, there is no assurance that an active trading market will continue for the shares of the underlier or that there will be liquidity in the trading market. The underlier is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the investment strategies of the underlier's investment adviser, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. These constraints could adversely affect the market price of the shares of the underlier and, consequently, the value of the notes.
Further, under continuous listing standards adopted by the NYSE Arca, the underlier will be required to confirm on an ongoing basis that the components of the underlying index satisfy the applicable listing requirements. In the event that its underlying index does not comply with the applicable listing requirements, the underlier would be required to rectify the non-compliance by requesting that the underlying index sponsor modify the underlying index, adopting a new underlying index or obtaining relief from the SEC. There can be no assurance that the underlying index sponsor would modify the underlying index or that relief would be obtained from the SEC and, therefore, non-compliance with the continuous listing standards may result in the underlier being delisted by the NYSE Arca. If the underlier were delisted by the NYSE Arca, the calculation agent would (i) substitute an exchange-traded fund that it determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the underlier or (ii) if no successor fund is available, in its sole discretion, calculate the appropriate closing level of the underlier by a computation methodology that it determines will as closely as reasonably possible replicate the underlier.
PS-17 |
The Performance and Market Value of the Underlier, Particularly During Periods of Market Volatility, May Not Correlate With the Performance of the Underlying Index as Well as the Net Asset Value per Share of the Underlier
The underlier does not fully replicate the underlying index and may hold securities different from those included in the underlying index. In addition, the performance of the underlier will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of the underlying index. All of these factors may lead to a lack of correlation between the performance of the underlier and the underlying index. Finally, because the shares of the underlier are traded on a securities exchange and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market value of one share of the underlier may differ from the net asset value per share of the underlier.
During periods of market volatility, securities held by the underlier may be unavailable in the secondary market, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the net asset value per share of the underlier and the liquidity of the underlier may be adversely affected. This kind of market volatility may also disrupt the ability of market participants to create and redeem shares of the underlier. Further, market volatility may adversely affect, sometimes materially, the prices at which market participants are willing to buy and sell shares of the underlier. As a result, under these circumstances, the market value of one share of the underlier may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the underlier. For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of the underlier may not correlate with the performance of the underlying index as well as its net asset value per share of the underlier, which could materially and adversely affect the value of the notes in the secondary market and/or reduce any payment on the notes.
The Notes Are Subject to Significant Risks Associated with Fixed-Income Securities, Including Interest Rate-Related Risks
The underlier attempts to track the performance of an index composed of U.S. Treasury bonds. Investing in the notes that provide exposure to the underlier, which primarily holds bonds, differs significantly from investing directly in bonds to be held to maturity, as the value of the underlier changes, at times significantly, during each trading day based upon the current market prices of the underlying bonds. The market prices of these bonds are volatile and significantly influenced by a number of factors, particularly the duration of the underlying bonds, the yields on these bonds as compared to current market interest rates and the actual or perceived credit quality of the U.S. government.
In general, fixed-income instruments are significantly affected by changes in current market interest rates. As interest rates rise, the prices of fixed-income instruments are likely to decrease, and as interest rate fall, the price of fixed-income securities are likely to increase. Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. As a result, rising interest rates may cause the value of the long-dated bonds underlying the underlier to decline, possibly significantly, which would adversely affect the value of the notes.
Interest rates are subject to volatility due to a variety of factors, including:
· | sentiment regarding underlying strength or weakness in the U.S. economy and global economies; |
· | expectations regarding the level of price inflation; |
· | sentiment regarding credit quality in the U.S. and global credit markets; |
· | Federal Reserve policies regarding interest rates; and |
· | the performance of U.S. and foreign capital markets. |
The Notes Are Subject To Significant Risks Associated With Fixed-Income Securities, Including Credit Risk
The underlier attempts to track the performance of an index composed of U.S. Treasury bonds. The prices of the bonds underlying the underlier are significantly influenced by the creditworthiness of the U.S. government. The bonds underlying the underlier may have their credit ratings downgraded, or their credit spreads may widen significantly. Following a ratings downgrade or the widening of credit spreads, the bonds underlying the underlier may suffer significant and rapid price declines. There can be no
PS-18 |
assurance that some or all of the factors that contributed to that credit crisis will not depress the price, perhaps significantly, of the bonds underlying the underlier, which would adversely affect the value of the notes.
The Value of the Notes May Be Influenced By Unpredictable Changes in the Markets and Economies of the United States
The value of the Fund that attempts to track the performance of an index composed of U.S. Treasury bonds may be influenced by unpredictable changes, or expectations of changes, in the U.S. market. Changes in the U.S. government that may influence the value of the notes include:
· | economic performance, including any financial or economic crises and changes in the gross domestic product, the principal sectors, inflation, employment and labor, and prevailing prices and wages; |
· | the monetary system, including the monetary policy, the exchange rate policy, the economic and tax policies, banking regulation, credit allocation and exchange controls; |
· | the external sector, including the amount and types of foreign trade, the geographic distribution of trade, the balance of payments, and reserves and exchange rates; |
· | public finance, including the budget process, any entry into or termination of any economic or monetary agreement or union, the prevailing accounting methodology, the measures of fiscal balance, revenues and expenditures, and any government enterprise or privatization program; and |
· | public debt, including external debt, debt service and the debt record. |
These factors interrelate in complex ways, and the effect of one factor on the market value of the bonds underlying the Fund may offset or enhance the effect of another factor. Changes in the value of the Fund may adversely affect any payment on the notes.
Your Investment Is Subject to Concentration Risks
The underlier invests in U.S. Treasury bonds that are all obligations of the United States with a similar remaining time to maturity. As a result, the underlier is concentrated in the performance of bonds issued by a single issuer and having the same general tenor and terms. Although your investment in the notes will not result in the ownership or other direct interest in the U.S. Treasury bonds held by the underlier, the return on your investment in the notes will be subject to certain risks similar to those associated with direct investment in a U.S. Treasury bonds. This increases the risk that any downgrade of the credit ratings of the U.S. government from its current ratings, any increase in risk that the U.S. Treasury may default on its obligations by the market (whether for credit or legislative process reasons) or any other market events that create a decrease in demand for U.S. Treasury bonds would significantly adversely affect the underlier. In addition, to the extent that any such decrease in demand is more concentrated in the particular U.S. Treasury bond maturities owned by the underlier, the underlier could be severely affected.
The Anti-Dilution Protection for the Underlier Is Limited
The calculation agent will make adjustments to the share adjustment factor for certain events affecting the shares of the underlier. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment in response to all events that could affect the shares of the underlier. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to make an adjustment, the value of the notes may be materially and adversely affected.
PS-19 |
THE Underlier
The iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF is an exchange-traded fund of iShares® Trust, a registered investment company, that seeks to track the investment results, before fees and expenses, of an index composed of U.S. Treasury bonds with remaining maturities greater than twenty years, which is currently the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. The ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index measures the performance of the U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate U.S. Treasury market that have a remaining maturity greater than or equal to twenty years. For additional information about the Fund, see "Fund Descriptions - The iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF" in the accompanying underlying supplement.
In addition, information about the iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF may be obtained from other sources, including, but not limited to, the underlier sponsor's website. We are not incorporating by reference into this pricing supplement the website or any material it includes. Neither we nor any agent or dealer for this offering makes any representation that this publicly available information regarding the underlier is accurate or complete.
Historical Closing Levels of the Underlier
The closing level of the underlier has fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level of the underlier during any period shown below is not an indication that the underlier is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the term of your notes.
You should not take the historical levels of the underlier as an indication of the future performance of the underlier. We cannot give you any assurance that the future performance of the underlier or the underlier stocks will result in a return of any of your initial investment on the stated maturity date. In light of the increased volatility currently being experienced by the securities markets, and recent market declines, it may be substantially more likely that you could lose all or a substantial portion of your investment in the notes.
Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the underlier. The actual performance of the underlier over the term of the offered notes, as well as the amount payable at maturity, may bear little relation to the historical levels shown below.
The graph below shows the closing levels of the underlier on each day from January 2, 2019 through November 15, 2024. The closing level of the underlier on November 15, 2024 was $90.08. We obtained the closing levels shown above and in the graph below from the Bloomberg Professional® service ("Bloomberg"), without independent verification. The closing levels of the underlier above and below may have been adjusted by Bloomberg for actions taken by the underlier, such as stock splits.
PS-20 |
PS-21 |