The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Registration Statement No. 333-196387
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Subject to Completion, dated April 5, 2016
Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated June 27, 2014,
the Prospectus Supplement dated June 27, 2014, and the Product Supplement dated March 7, 2016
US$●
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series C
Autocallable Cash-Settled Notes with Fixed Interest Payments due April 28, 2017
Linked to the Lesser Performing of the S&P 500® Index and the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
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This pricing supplement relates an offering of Autocallable Cash-Settled Notes with Fixed Interest Payments linked to the Lesser Performing of the S&P 500® Index and the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (the “Underlying Assets”).
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The notes are designed for investors who are seeking fixed periodic interest payments equal to 0.65% of the principal amount per month, as well as a return of principal if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset on any Call Date beginning on November 25, 2016 is greater than 110% of its Initial Level (the “Call Level”). Investors should be willing to have their notes automatically redeemed prior to maturity and be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity.
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The notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 0.65% of the principal amount per month ($6.50 per $1,000 in principal amount). Interest will be payable on the final business day of each month, beginning on May 31, 2016, and until the maturity date, subject to the automatic redemption feature.
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If on any Call Date beginning on November 25, 2016, the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset is greater than its Call Level, the notes will be automatically called. On the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, investors will receive the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment.
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The notes do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. Instead, if the notes are not automatically called, the payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level of each Underlying Asset and whether the Closing Level of that Underlying Asset has declined from its Initial Level below its Trigger Level during the Monitoring Period (a “Trigger Event”), as described below.
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If the notes are not automatically redeemed, and a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, investors will be subject to one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any percentage decrease in the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset from its Initial Level to its Final Level. In such a case, you will receive a cash amount at maturity that is less than the principal amount.
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The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.
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The offering is expected to price on or about April 26, 2016, and the notes are expected to settle through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about April 29, 2016.
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The notes are scheduled to mature on or about April 28, 2017.
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The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
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Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.
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Autocallable
Note
Number
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Underlying Assets
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Ticker
Symbols
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Principal
Amount
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Initial
Levels
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Trigger
Levels
(% of the
Initial Levels)
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CUSIP
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Price to
Public(1)
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Agent’s
Commission(1)
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Proceeds to
Bank of
Montreal
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LPN07
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S&P 500® Index and
iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
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SPX
EEM
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75%
75%
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06367TDH0
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100%
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1.75%
US$
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98.25%
US$
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(1) Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their selling
concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be between $982.50 and
$1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount.
Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-4 of this pricing supplement, the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-5 of the product supplement, and the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement and on page 7 of the prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy of this pricing supplement, the product supplement, the prospectus supplement or the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will not be savings accounts or deposits that are insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Bank Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity.
On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, based on the terms set forth above, the estimated initial value of the notes is $963.50 per $1,000 in principal amount. The estimated initial value of the notes on the Pricing Date may differ from this value but will not be less than $925.00 per $1,000 in principal amount. However, as discussed in more detail in this pricing supplement, the actual value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
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Key Terms of the Notes:
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Underlying Assets:
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The S&P 500® Index (ticker symbol: SPX) (the “Index”) and the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (ticker symbol: EEM) (the “ETF”)
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Interest Rate:
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0.65% of the principal amount per month unless earlier redeemed. Accordingly, each interest payment will equal $6.50 for each $1,000 in principal amount per month.
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Interest Payment Dates:
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Interest will be payable on the final business day of each month, beginning on May 31, 2016, and until the maturity date, subject to the automatic redemption feature.
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Automatic Redemption:
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If, on any Call Date beginning on November 25, 2016, the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset is greater than its Call Level, the notes will be automatically redeemed.
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Payment upon Automatic
Redemption:
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If the notes are automatically redeemed, then, on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, investors will receive the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment.
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Call Dates:
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November 25, 2016, December 27, 2016, January 26, 2017, February 23, 2017, March 28, 2017 and the Valuation Date.
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Call Settlement Dates:
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The third business day following the applicable Call Date. The call settlement date for the final Call Date will be the maturity date.
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity for the notes is based on the performance of the Underlying Assets. You will receive $1,000 for each $1,000 in principal amount of the note, unless (a) a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset and (b) the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level.
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If a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and if the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will receive at maturity, for each $1,000 in principal amount of your notes, a cash amount equal to:
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset)]
This amount will be less than the principal amount of your notes, and may be zero.
You will receive the final interest payment at maturity, whether or not a Trigger Event has occurred.
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Trigger Event:
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A Trigger Event will be deemed to occur with respect to an Underlying Asset if its Closing Level is less than its Trigger Level on any trading day during the Monitoring Period.
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Monitoring Period:
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The period from the pricing date to and including the Valuation Date.
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Lesser Performing Underlying
Asset:
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The Underlying Asset that has the lowest Percentage Change.
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Percentage Changes:
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With respect to each Underlying Asset,
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Final Level - Initial Level
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, expressed as a percentage
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Initial Level
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Initial Levels:
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With respect to each Underlying Asset, its Closing Level on the Pricing Date. The Initial Level for the ETF is subject to adjustments in certain circumstances. See “General Terms of the Notes — Anti-Dilution Adjustments to an Underlying Asset that Is an ETF” in the product supplement for additional information about these adjustments.
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Call Levels:
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With respect to each Underlying Asset, 110% of its Initial Level.
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Final Levels:
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With respect to each Underlying Asset, its Closing Level on the Valuation Date.
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Trigger Levels:
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With respect to each Underlying Asset, 75% of its Initial Level.
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Pricing Date:
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On or about April 26, 2016
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Settlement Date:
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On or about April 29, 2016
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Valuation Date:
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On or about April 25, 2017
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Maturity Date:
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On or about April 28, 2017
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Calculation Agent:
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BMOCM
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Selling Agent:
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BMOCM
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The Pricing Date and the settlement date are subject to change. The actual Pricing Date, settlement date, Interest Payment Dates, Call Dates, Valuation Date and maturity date for the notes will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless our agent or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.
P-2
Additional Terms of the Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the product supplement dated March 7, 2016, the prospectus supplement dated June 27, 2014 and the prospectus dated June 27, 2014. 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 or the agent. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” in the product supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other 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):
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Product supplement dated March 7, 2016:
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Prospectus supplement dated June 27, 2014:
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Prospectus dated June 27, 2014:
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Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Bank of Montreal.
P-3
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Underlying Assets or their components. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section of the product supplement.
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Your investment in the notes may result in a loss. — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity will be based on whether a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and whether the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level. If a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and if the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will be subject to a one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset from its Initial Level. In such a case, you will receive at maturity a cash payment that is less than the principal amount of the notes and may be zero. Accordingly, you could lose up to the entire principal amount of your notes, and your payments on the notes could be limited to the monthly interest payments.
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The protection provided by the Trigger Level of an Underlying Asset may terminate on any day during the Monitoring Period. — If the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset on any trading day during the Monitoring Period is less than its Trigger Level and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will be fully exposed at maturity to any decrease in the value of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset. Under these circumstances, if the Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset on the Valuation Date is less than zero, you will lose 1% (or a fraction thereof) of the principal amount of your investment for every 1% (or a fraction thereof) that the Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level. You will be subject to this potential loss of principal even if, after the Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset, the value of each Underlying Asset increases above its Trigger Level.
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Your notes are subject to automatic early redemption. — We will redeem the notes if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset on any Call Date specified above is greater than its Call Level. Following an automatic redemption, you will not receive any additional interest payments on the notes, and you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds in an investment with returns that are comparable to the notes.
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Your return on the notes is limited to the applicable interest payments, regardless of any appreciation in the value of any Underlying Asset. — You will not receive a payment at maturity with a value greater than your principal amount plus the final interest payment. In addition, if the notes are automatically called, you will not receive a payment greater than the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment, even if the Final Level of an Underlying Asset exceeds its Call Level by a substantial amount. Accordingly, your maximum return for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes is equal to the 12 monthly payments of $6.50, or $78.00, a 7.80% return.
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Your investment is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. — Our credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes.
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Your payment at maturity may be determined solely by reference to the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, even if the other Underlying Asset performs better. — If a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, your payment at maturity will be determined by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset. Even if the other Underlying Asset has appreciated in value compared to its Initial Level, or has experienced a decline that is less than that of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, your return will only be determined by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.
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P-4
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Your payment on the notes will be determined by reference to each Underlying Asset individually, not to a basket, and the payment at maturity will be based on the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset. — If a Trigger Event occurs, the payment at maturity will be determined only by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, regardless of the performance of the other Underlying Asset. The notes are not linked to a weighted basket, in which the risk may be mitigated and diversified among each of the basket components. For example, in the case of notes linked to a weighted basket, the return would depend on the weighted aggregate performance of the basket components reflected as the basket return. As a result, the depreciation of one basket component could be mitigated by the appreciation of the other basket component, as scaled by the weighting of that basket component. However, in the case of the notes, the individual performance of each Underlying Asset would not be combined, and the depreciation of an Underlying Asset would not be mitigated by any appreciation of the other Underlying Asset. Instead, your return will depend solely on the Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.
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Potential conflicts. — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also engage in trading of shares of the ETF or the securities represented or held by the Underlying Assets on a regular basis as part of our general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for our customers. Any of these activities could adversely affect the value of an Underlying Asset and, therefore, the market value of the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of the Underlying Assets. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we or one or more of our affiliates could adversely affect the market value of the notes.
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Our initial estimated value of the notes will be lower than the price to public. — Our initial estimated value of the notes is only an estimate, and is based on a number of factors. The price to public of the notes will exceed our initial estimated value, because costs associated with offering, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the price to public, but are not included in the estimated value. These costs include the underwriting discount and selling concessions, the profits that we and our affiliates expect to realize for assuming the risks in hedging our obligations under the notes 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.
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Our initial estimated value does not represent any future value of the notes, and may also differ from the estimated value of any other party. — Our initial estimated value of the notes 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 Underlying Assets, dividend rates and interest rates. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide values for the notes 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 notes could change dramatically due to changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness, and the other factors set forth in this pricing supplement and the product supplement. These changes are likely to impact the price, if any, at which we or BMOCM would be willing to purchase the notes from you in any secondary market transactions. Our initial estimated value does not represent a minimum price at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market at any time.
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The terms of the notes are not determined by reference to the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. — To determine the terms of the notes, 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 notes are less favorable to you than if we had used a higher funding rate.
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Certain costs are likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. — Absent any changes in market conditions, any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the price to public. This is because any secondary market prices will likely take into account our then-current market credit spreads, and because any secondary market prices are likely to exclude all or a portion of the underwriting discount and selling concessions, and the hedging profits and estimated hedging costs that are included in the price to public of the notes and that may be reflected on your account statements. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction, such as dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs. As a result, the price, if any, at which BMOCM or any other party may be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the price to public. Any sale that you make prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you.
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P-5
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Owning the notes is not the same as owning the Underlying Assets or their components or a security directly linked to the performance of the Underlying Assets or their components. — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Underlying Assets or their components or a security directly linked to the performance of the Underlying Assets or their components and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the Underlying Assets. Changes in the value of an Underlying Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes. Even if the value of an Underlying Asset increases from its Initial Level during the term of the notes, the market value of the notes prior to maturity may not increase to the same extent. It is also possible for the market value of the notes prior to maturity to decrease while the value of an Underlying Asset increases.
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You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any securities represented by the Underlying Assets at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any securities represented by the Underlying Assets. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of the notes will have any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to these securities.
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Adjustments to the Underlying Assets could adversely affect the value of the notes. The sponsor of the Index (and the underlying index of the ETF) and the investment advisor of the ETF may add, delete or substitute the stocks represented or held by the Underlying Assets, or make other methodological changes. Further, these index sponsors and the investment advisor may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of these indices or discontinue or suspend maintenance of the ETF at any time, as applicable. Any of these actions could affect the value of and the return on the notes.
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We have no affiliation with the sponsor of the Index (or the underlying index for the ETF) or the sponsor or investment advisor of the ETF and will not be responsible for any actions taken by them. The sponsor of these indices or the sponsor or investment advisor of the ETF is not an affiliate of ours, and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of these index sponsors or the sponsor or investment advisor of the ETF, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The index sponsors or the sponsor or investment advisor of the ETF have no obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, these index sponsors and the sponsor or investment advisor of the ETF have no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the notes. None of our proceeds from the issuance of the notes will be delivered to these entities, except to the extent that we are required to pay the sponsor of the Index licensing fees with respect to the Index.
Neither we nor any of our affiliates have undertaken any independent review of, or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to, the information about any Underlying Asset contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the notes, should make your own investigation into the Underlying Assets.
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The performance of the ETF may not correlate with the performance of its underlying index as well as the net asset value per share of the ETF. — The performance of the ETF is linked principally to the performance of its underlying index and the net asset value per share of the ETF. However, because of the potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product supplement, the return on the ETF may correlate imperfectly with the return on its underlying index or the net asset value per share of the ETF.
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The ETF is subject to management risks. — The ETF is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the investment advisor may invest a portion of the ETF’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the investment advisor believes will help the ETF track the relevant industry or sector.
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P-6
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Lack of liquidity. — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. BMOCM may 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 the notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which BMOCM is willing to buy the notes.
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Hedging and trading activities. — We or any of our affiliates may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including in an Underlying Asset, the securities that an Underlying Asset holds or includes, or instruments related to an Underlying Asset. We or our affiliates may also trade in an Underlying Asset, such securities, or instruments related to an Underlying Asset from time to time. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the Pricing Date and during the term of the notes could adversely affect the payments on the notes.
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Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the value of each Underlying Asset and interest rates on any trading day, the value of the notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, and which are described in more detail in the product supplement.
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You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Underlying Assets. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the values of the Underlying Assets or the securities represented or held by the Underlying Assets. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the Underlying Assets or these securities. However, these views are subject to change from time to time. Moreover, other professionals who deal in the markets relating to the Underlying Assets at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Underlying Assets from multiple sources, and you should not rely on the views expressed by our affiliates.
Neither the offering of the notes nor any views which our affiliates from time to time may express in the ordinary course of their businesses constitutes a recommendation as to the merits of an investment in the notes.
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An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with foreign securities markets. —The underlying index of the ETF tracks the value of certain foreign equity securities. You should be aware that investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. The foreign securities markets comprising the underlying 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. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.
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.
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An investment in the notes is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. — The share price of the ETF will fluctuate based upon its net asset value, which will in turn depend in part upon changes in the value of the currencies in which the stocks held by the ETF are traded. Accordingly, investors in the notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which the stocks held by the ETF are traded. An investor’s net exposure will depend on the extent to which these currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar. If the dollar strengthens against these currencies, the net asset value of the ETF will be adversely affected and the price of the ETF may decrease.
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P-7
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Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain. — The tax treatment of the notes is uncertain. We do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or from any Canadian authorities regarding the tax treatment of the notes, and the Internal Revenue Service or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in this pricing supplement.
The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury are actively considering whether the holder of such instruments should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis. While it is not clear whether the notes would be viewed as similar to such instruments, it is possible that any future guidance could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect.
Please read carefully the section entitled “U.S. Federal Tax Information” in this pricing supplement, the section entitled “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, the section “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled “Certain Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.
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P-8
Examples of the Hypothetical Payment at Maturity for a $1,000 Investment in the Notes
The following table illustrates the hypothetical payments on a note at maturity, assuming that the notes are not automatically called. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of 100.00 for each Underlying Asset, a hypothetical Trigger Level of 75.00 for each Underlying Asset (75% of its hypothetical Initial Level), a hypothetical Call Level of 110 for each Underlying Asset (110% of its hypothetical Initial Level), the Interest Rate of 0.65% per month, a range of hypothetical Final Levels of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset and the effect on the payment at maturity if (i) a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset or (ii) if a Trigger Event does not occur with respect to each Underlying Asset.
The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. If the notes are not automatically called, the actual cash amount that you will receive at maturity will depend upon whether the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset is below its Trigger Level on any trading day during the Monitoring Period and whether the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is below its Initial Level on the Valuation Date. If the notes are automatically called prior to maturity, the hypothetical examples below will not be relevant, and you will receive on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment.
|
Hypothetical Final
Level of the
Lesser Performing
Underlying Asset
|
Hypothetical Final Level of the
Lesser Performing Underlying
Asset Expressed as a Percentage of
the Initial Level
|
Payment at Maturity (Excluding Interest Payments)
|
|
|
(i) if the Closing Level of each
Underlying Asset does not fall
below its Trigger Level on any
day during the Monitoring Period
|
(ii) if the Closing Level of any
Underlying Asset falls below its
Trigger Level on any day
during the Monitoring Period
|
||
|
150.00
|
150.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,000.00
|
|
125.00
|
125.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,000.00
|
|
110.00
|
110.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,000.00
|
|
100.00
|
100.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$1,000.00
|
|
90.00
|
90.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$900.00
|
|
85.00
|
85.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$850.00
|
|
75.00
|
75.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
$750.00
|
|
70.00
|
70.00%
|
N/A
|
$700.00
|
|
65.00
|
65.00%
|
N/A
|
$650.00
|
|
50.00
|
50.00%
|
N/A
|
$500.00
|
|
25.00
|
25.00%
|
N/A
|
$250.00
|
|
0.00
|
0.00%
|
N/A
|
$0.00
|
P-9
U.S. Federal Tax Information
The following table sets forth the amount of stated interest on the notes and the portion that will be treated as an interest payment and as payment for the Put Option for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
|
Autocallable
Note Number
|
Interest Rate
per Annum
|
Treated as an
Interest Payment
|
Treated as Payment
for the Put Option
|
|
LPN07
|
7.80%
|
[●]%
|
[●]%
|
Please see the discussion (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product supplement dated March 7, 2016 under “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” which applies to the notes.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
BMOCM will purchase the notes from us at a purchase price reflecting the commission set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. BMOCM has informed us that, as part of its distribution of the notes, it will reoffer the notes to other dealers who will sell them. Each such dealer, or additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will purchase the notes at an agreed discount to the initial price to public.
Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be less than 100% of the principal amount, as set forth on the cover page of this document. Investors that hold their notes in these accounts may be charged fees by the investment advisor or manager of that account based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including the notes.
We own, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity securities of BMOCM, the agent for this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BMOCM may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer.
We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering of the notes and to reject orders in whole or in part. You may cancel any order for the notes prior to its acceptance.
You should not construe the offering of the notes as a recommendation of the merits of acquiring an investment linked to any Underlying Asset or as to the suitability of an investment in the notes.
BMOCM may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the notes. BMOCM will determine any secondary market prices that it is prepared to offer in its sole discretion.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use the final pricing supplement relating to the notes in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless BMOCM or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, the final pricing supplement is being used by BMOCM in a market-making transaction.
For a period of approximately three months following issuance of the notes, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that BMOCM may also publish for the notes through one or more financial information vendors and which could be indicated for the notes on any brokerage account statements, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from our estimated value of the notes that would otherwise be determined and applicable at that time. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of (a) the hedging profit that we or our affiliates expect to realize over the term of the notes and (b) the underwriting discount and the selling concessions paid in connection with this offering. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month period.
P-10
Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes
Our estimated initial value of the notes 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 notes, equals the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components:
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·
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a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the notes, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and
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|
·
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one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the notes.
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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 are 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 notes on the Pricing Date will be determined based on market conditions at that time.
P-11
The Underlying Assets
All information contained in this document regarding the Underlying Assets including, without limitation, their make-up, method of calculation and changes in their components and their historical closing values, is derived from publicly available information prepared by the applicable sponsors. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the sponsors. The sponsors own the copyrights and all rights to the Underlying Assets. The sponsors are under no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Underlying Assets. Neither we nor BMOCM accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of any Underlying Asset or any successor.
The S&P 500® Index
The Index is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of the Index is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943.
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”) chooses companies for inclusion in the Index with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings that approximates the distribution of these groupings in the common stock population of its Stock Guide Database of over 10,000 companies, which S&P uses as an assumed model for the composition of the total market. Relevant criteria employed by S&P include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company’s common stock generally is responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry, and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company. Ten main groups of companies comprise the Index, with the approximate percentage of the market capitalization of the Index included in each group as of March 31, 2016 indicated in parentheses: Information Technology (20.8%); Financials (15.6%); Health Care (14.3%); Consumer Discretionary (12.9%); Consumer Staples (10.4%); Industrials (10.1%); Energy (6.8%); Utilities (3.4%); Materials (2.8%); and Telecommunication Services (2.8%). S&P from time to time, in its sole discretion, may add companies to, or delete companies from, the Index to achieve the objectives stated above.
S&P calculates the Index by reference to the prices of the constituent stocks of the Index without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those stocks. As a result, the return on the notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Index constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.
Computation of the Index
While S&P currently employs the following methodology to calculate the Index, no assurance can be given that S&P will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the Payment at Maturity.
Historically, the market value of any component stock of the Index was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the number of then outstanding shares of such component stock. In March 2005, S&P began shifting the Index halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the Index to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. S&P’s criteria for selecting stocks for the Index did not change with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the Index.
Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the Index reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. Float adjustment excludes shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly traded companies or government agencies.
In September 2012, all shareholdings representing more than 5% of a stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,” were removed from the float for purposes of calculating the Index. Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and directors, private equity, venture capital and special equity firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs, employee and family trusts, foundations associated with the company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock, government entities at all levels (other than government retirement/pension funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake in a company as reported in regulatory filings. However, holdings by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual funds and ETF providers, 401(k) plans of the company, government retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies, asset managers and investment funds, independent foundations and savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of the float.
P-12
Treasury stock, stock options, restricted shares, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to allow investors in countries outside the country of domicile, such as depositary shares and Canadian exchangeable shares are normally part of the float unless those shares form a control block. If a company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded class are treated as a control block.
For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares by the total shares outstanding. As of September 21, 2012, available float shares are defined as the total shares outstanding less shares held by control holders. This calculation is subject to a 5% minimum threshold for control blocks. For example, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares, and no other control group holds 5% of the company’s shares, S&P would assign that company an IWF of 1.00, as no control group meets the 5% threshold. However, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares and another control group holds 20% of the company’s shares, S&P would assign an IWF of 0.77, reflecting the fact that 23% of the company’s outstanding shares are considered to be held for control. For companies with multiple classes of stock, S&P calculates the weighted average IWF for each stock using the proportion of the total company market capitalization of each share class as weights.
The Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the Index reflects the total market value of all 500 component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. An indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the level easier to use and track over time. The actual total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed level of 10. This is often indicated by the notation 1941-43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the Index, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the Index. The index divisor keeps the Index comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the Index, which is index maintenance.
Index Maintenance
Index maintenance includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for company additions and deletions, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructuring or spinoffs. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the Index, and do not require index divisor adjustments.
To prevent the level of the Index from changing due to corporate actions, corporate actions which affect the total market value of the Index require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in market value, the level of the Index remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the Index. Index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the Index closing level.
Changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due to mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, tender offers, Dutch auctions, or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, company stock repurchases, private placements, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participation units, at the market offerings, or other recapitalizations) are made weekly and are announced on Wednesdays for implementation after the close of trading on the following Wednesday. Changes of less than 5.00% due to a company’s acquisition of another company in the Index are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, and are usually announced two to five days prior.
Changes in IWFs of more than five percentage points caused by corporate actions (such as merger and acquisition activity, restructurings, or spinoffs) will be made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes in IWFs will be made annually when IWFs are reviewed.
P-13
License Agreement
We and S&P have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to us and certain of our affiliates, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the Index, in connection with certain securities, including the notes. The Index is owned and published by S&P.
The license agreement between S&P and us provides that the following language must be set forth in this pricing supplement:
The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the notes particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to us with respect to the Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to us or the notes. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take our needs or the needs of holders of the notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the notes are to be converted into cash. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its subsidiaries are not investment advisors. Inclusion of a security or futures contract within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security or futures contract, nor is it considered to be investment advice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the notes currently being issued by us, but which may be similar to and competitive with the notes. In addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the Index. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the notes.
S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILTY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND US, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.
S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). These trademarks have been licensed for use by Bank of Montreal. “Standard & Poor’s®”, “S&P 500®” and “S&P®” are trademarks of S&P. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.
P-14
iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
iShares consists of numerous separate investment portfolios (the “iShares Funds”), including the ETF. Each iShares Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The iShares Funds typically earn income from dividends from securities held by them. These amounts, net of expenses and taxes (if applicable), are passed along to the iShares Funds’ shareholders as “ordinary income.” In addition, the iShares Funds realize capital gains or losses whenever they sell securities. Net long-term capital gains are distributed to their respective shareholders as “capital gain distributions.” However, because the notes are linked only to the share price of the ETF, you will not be entitled to receive income, dividend, or capital gain distributions from the ETF or any equivalent payments.
The selection of the ETF is not a recommendation to buy or sell the shares of the ETF. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the shares of the ETF. Information provided to or filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to the ETF may be obtained through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
“iShares®” and “BlackRock®” are registered trademarks of BlackRock®. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by BlackRock®, or by any of the iShares® Funds. Neither BlackRock® nor the iShares® Funds make any representations or warranties to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the notes. Neither BlackRock® nor the iShares® Funds shall have any obligation or liability in connection with the registration, operation, marketing, trading, or sale of the notes or in connection with our use of information about the ETF or any of the iShares Funds.
The ETF is intended to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. This Underlying Asset trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “EEM.”
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is intended to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index with a base date of December 31, 1987 and an initial value of 100. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is calculated daily in U.S. dollars and published in real time every 60 seconds during market trading hours. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index currently consists of the following 23 emerging market country indices: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is part of the MSCI Regional Equity Indices series and is an MSCI Global Investable Market Index, which is a family within the MSCI International Equity Indices. MSCI is the Index Sponsor of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
General – MSCI Global Investable Market Indices
MSCI provides global equity indices intended to measure equity performance in international markets and the MSCI International Equity Indices are designed to serve as global equity performance benchmarks. In constructing these indices, MSCI applies its index construction and maintenance methodology across developed, emerging, and frontier markets.
MSCI enhanced the methodology used in its MSCI International Equity Indices. The MSCI Standard and MSCI Small Cap Indices, along with the other MSCI equity indices based on them, transitioned to the global investable market indices methodology described below. The transition was completed at the end of May 2008. The Enhanced MSCI Standard Indices are composed of the MSCI Large Cap and Mid Cap Indices. The MSCI Global Small Cap Index transitioned to the MSCI Small Cap Index resulting from the Global Investable Market Indices methodology and contains no overlap with constituents of the transitioned MSCI Standard Indices. Together, the relevant MSCI Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap Indices will make up the MSCI investable market index for each country, composite, sector, and style index that MSCI offers.
Constructing the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices. MSCI undertakes an index construction process, which involves:
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defining the equity universe;
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determining the market investable equity universe for each market;
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determining market capitalization size segments for each market;
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P-15
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applying index continuity rules for the MSCI Standard Index;
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creating style segments within each size segment within each market; and
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classifying securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard (the “GICS”).
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Defining the Equity Universe. The equity universe is defined by:
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Identifying Eligible Equity Securities: the equity universe initially looks at securities listed in any of the countries in the MSCI Global Index Series, which will be classified as either Developed Markets (“DM”) or Emerging Markets (“EM”). All listed equity securities, or listed securities that exhibit characteristics of equity securities, except mutual funds, exchange traded funds, equity derivatives, limited partnerships, and most investment trusts, are eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) in some countries and certain income trusts in Canada are also eligible for inclusion.
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Classifying Eligible Securities into the Appropriate Country: each company and its securities (i.e., share classes) are classified in only one country.
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Determining the Market Investable Equity Universes. A market investable equity universe for a market is derived by applying investability screens to individual companies and securities in the equity universe that are classified in that market. A market is equivalent to a single country, except in DM Europe, where all DM countries in Europe are aggregated into a single market for index construction purposes. Subsequently, individual DM Europe country indices within the MSCI Europe Index are derived from the constituents of the MSCI Europe Index under the global investable market indices methodology.
The investability screens used to determine the investable equity universe in each market are as follows:
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Equity Universe Minimum Size Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the company level. In order to be included in a market investable equity universe, a company must have the required minimum full market capitalization.
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Equity Universe Minimum Free Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have a free float-adjusted market capitalization equal to or higher than 50% of the equity universe minimum size requirement.
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DM and EM Minimum Liquidity Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have adequate liquidity. The twelve-month and three-month Annual Traded Value Ratio (“ATVR”), a measure that screens out extreme daily trading volumes and takes into account the free float-adjusted market capitalization size of securities, together with the three-month frequency of trading are used to measure liquidity. In the calculation of the ATVR, the trading volumes in depository receipts associated with that security, such as ADRs or GDRs, are also considered. A minimum liquidity level of 20% of three- and twelve-month ATVR and 90% of three-month frequency of trading over the last four consecutive quarters are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of a DM, and a minimum liquidity level of 15% of three- and twelve-month ATVR and 80% of three-month frequency of trading over the last four consecutive quarters are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of an EM.
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Global Minimum Foreign Inclusion Factor Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security’s Foreign Inclusion Factor (“FIF”) must reach a certain threshold. The FIF of a security is defined as the proportion of shares outstanding that is available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. This proportion accounts for the available free float of and/or the foreign ownership limits applicable to a specific security (or company). In general, a security must have an FIF equal to or larger than 0.15 to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe.
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P-16
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Minimum Length of Trading Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. For an initial public offering (“IPO”) to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, the new issue must have started trading at least four months before the implementation of the initial construction of the index or at least three months before the implementation of a semi−annual index review (as described below). This requirement is applicable to small new issues in all markets. Large IPOs are not subject to the minimum length of trading requirement and may be included in a market investable equity universe and the Standard Index outside of a Quarterly or Semi−Annual Index Review.
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Defining Market Capitalization Size Segments for Each Market. Once a market investable equity universe is defined, it is segmented into the following size−based indices:
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Investable Market Index (Large + Mid + Small);
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Standard Index (Large + Mid);
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Large Cap Index;
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Mid Cap Index; or
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Small Cap Index.
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Creating the size segment indices in each market involves the following steps:
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defining the market coverage target range for each size segment;
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determining the global minimum size range for each size segment;
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determining the market size−segment cutoffs and associated segment number of companies;
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assigning companies to the size segments; and
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applying final size−segment investability requirements.
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Index Continuity Rules for the Standard Indices. In order to achieve index continuity, as well as to provide some basic level of diversification within a market index, and notwithstanding the effect of other index construction rules described in this section, a minimum number of five constituents will be maintained for a DM Standard Index and a minimum number of three constituents will be maintained for an EM Standard Index.
Creating Style Indices within Each Size Segment. All securities in the investable equity universe are classified into value or growth segments using the MSCI Global Value and Growth methodology.
Classifying Securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard. All securities in the global investable equity universe are assigned to the industry that best describes their business activities. To this end, MSCI has designed, in conjunction with Standard & Poor’s, the GICS. Under the GICS, each company is assigned to one sub−industry according to its principal business activity. Therefore, a company can belong to only one industry grouping at each of the four levels of the GICS.
Index Maintenance
The MSCI Global Investable Market Indices are maintained with the objective of reflecting the evolution of the underlying equity markets and segments on a timely basis, while seeking to achieve index continuity, continuous investability of constituents and replicability of the indices, and index stability and low index turnover. In particular, index maintenance involves:
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(i)
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Semi−Annual Index Reviews (“SAIRs”) in May and November of the Size Segment and Global Value and Growth Indices which include:
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updating the indices on the basis of a fully refreshed equity universe;
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taking buffer rules into consideration for migration of securities across size and style segments; and
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updating FIFs and Number of Shares (“NOS”).
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P-17
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(ii)
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Quarterly Index Reviews in February and August of the Size Segment Indices aimed at:
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including significant new eligible securities (such as IPOs that were not eligible for earlier inclusion) in the index;
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allowing for significant moves of companies within the Size Segment Indices, using wider buffers than in the SAIR; and
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reflecting the impact of significant market events on FIFs and updating NOS.
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(iii)
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Ongoing Event−Related Changes: changes of this type are generally implemented in the indices as they occur. Significantly large IPOs are included in the indices after the close of the company’s tenth day of trading.
|
Through this maintenance process, MSCI may make structural changes to the indices by adding or deleting component country indices. Consequently, the composition of the Underlying Index may change over the term of the notes.
Neither we nor any of our affiliates, including BMOCM, accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance, or publication of, or for any error, omission, or disruption in the Underlying Index, or any successor to the index. MSCI does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of the Underlying Index, or any data included in the index. MSCI assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, or disruption in the calculation and dissemination of the Underlying Index. MSCI disclaims all responsibility for any errors or omissions in the calculation and dissemination of the Underlying Index, or the manner in which the index is applied in determining the amount payable on the notes at maturity.
P-18
Historical Information of the Underlying Assets
The following table sets forth the high and low Closing Levels of the Underlying Assets from the first quarter of 2012 through March 31, 2016.
Closing Levels of the S&P 500® Index
|
High
|
Low
|
|||
|
2012
|
First Quarter
|
1,416.51
|
1,277.06
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
1,419.04
|
1,278.05
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
1,465.77
|
1,334.76
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
1,461.40
|
1,353.33
|
||
|
2013
|
First Quarter
|
1,569.19
|
1,457.15
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
1,669.16
|
1,541.61
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
1,725.52
|
1,614.08
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
1,848.36
|
1,655.45
|
||
|
2014
|
First Quarter
|
1,878.04
|
1,741.89
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
1,962.87
|
1,815.69
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
2,011.36
|
1,909.57
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
2,090.57
|
1,862.49
|
||
|
2015
|
First Quarter
|
2,117.39
|
1,992.67
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
2,130.82
|
2,057.64
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
2,128.28
|
1,867.61
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
2,109.79
|
1,923.82
|
||
|
2016
|
First Quarter
|
2,063.95
|
1,829.08
|
P-19
Closing Levels of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
|
High (in $)
|
Low (in $)
|
|||
|
2012
|
First Quarter
|
44.76
|
38.23
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
43.54
|
36.68
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
42.37
|
37.42
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
44.35
|
40.14
|
||
|
2013
|
First Quarter
|
45.20
|
41.80
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
44.23
|
36.63
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
43.29
|
37.34
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
43.66
|
40.44
|
||
|
2014
|
First Quarter
|
40.27
|
37.09
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
43.95
|
40.82
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
45.85
|
41.56
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
42.44
|
37.73
|
||
|
2015
|
First Quarter
|
41.07
|
37.92
|
|
|
Second Quarter
|
44.09
|
39.04
|
||
|
Third Quarter
|
39.78
|
31.32
|
||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
36.29
|
31.55
|
||
|
2016
|
First Quarter
|
34.28
|
28.25
|
P-20