Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration No. 333-272447

 

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

 

Subject to Completion, Dated April 19, 2024

Pricing Supplement dated                   , 2024 

(To Prospectus Supplement dated September 5, 2023
and Prospectus dated September 5, 2023) 

  

 

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Senior Global Medium-Term Notes

$                 Range Accrual Notes Linked to the 2-Year U.S. Dollar SOFR ICE Swap Rate due May 13, 2027

 

We, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (the “Bank” or “CIBC”), are offering $             aggregate principal amount of Range Accrual Notes Linked to the 2-Year U.S. Dollar SOFR ICE Swap Rate (“SOFR CMS2” or the “Reference Rate”) due May 13, 2027 (CUSIP 13607XRR0 / ISIN US13607XRR07) (the “Notes”).

 

At maturity, you will receive a cash payment equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest will be paid quarterly on February 13, May 13, August 13, and November 13 of each year, commencing on August 13, 2024 and ending on the Maturity Date. The Notes will accrue interest during the following periods of their term at the following rates per annum:

 

·From and including the Original Issue Date to but excluding November 13, 2024: 6.35%
·From and including November 13, 2024 to but excluding the Maturity Date:

 

For each Interest Period, the Calculation Agent will determine the Interest Rate per annum applicable to such Interest Period based on the following formula:

 

 

 

where “n” is the number of calendar days for which the Reference Rate is greater than or equal to 2.50% and equal to or less than 5.15% within such Interest Period; and

“N” is actual number of calendar days within such Interest Period.

In no case will the Interest Rate applicable to an Interest Period be less than the Minimum Rate of 0% or greater than the Maximum Rate of 6.35% per annum.

 

The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

The Notes are unsecured obligations of CIBC and all payments on the Notes are subject to the credit risk of CIBC. The Notes will not constitute deposits insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency or instrumentality of Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. The Notes are not bail-inable debt securities (as defined on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus).

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state or provincial securities commission has approved or disapproved of these Notes or determined if this pricing supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Investing in the Notes involves risks not associated with an investment in ordinary debt securities. See the “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-6 of this pricing supplement and the “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-1 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and page 1 of the prospectus.

 

  Price to Public (Original Issue Price)(1) Underwriting Discount (1)(2) Proceeds to Issuer
Per Note $1,000.00 Up to $12.50 At least $987.50
Total $ $ $

 

(1)Because certain dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forgo some or all of their commissions or selling concessions, the price to public for investors purchasing the Notes in these accounts may be between $987.50 and $1,000.00 per Note.
(2)CIBC World Markets Corp. (“CIBCWM”), acting as agent for the Bank, will receive a commission of up to $12.50 (1.25%) per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes. CIBCWM may use a portion or all of its commission to allow selling concessions to other dealers in connection with the distribution of the Notes. The other dealers may forgo, in their sole discretion, some or all of their selling concessions. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page PS-16 of this pricing supplement.

 

We will deliver the Notes in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) on or about May 13, 2024 against payment in immediately available funds.

 

CIBC Capital Markets

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PRICING SUPPLEMENT

 

 

You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated September 5, 2023 (the “prospectus”) and the prospectus supplement dated September 5, 2023 (the “prospectus supplement”), each relating to our Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, of which these Notes are a part, for additional information about the Notes. Information in this pricing supplement supersedes information in the prospectus supplement and the prospectus to the extent it is different from that information. Certain defined terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the prospectus supplement or the prospectus.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and the prospectus. This pricing supplement may be used only for the purpose for which it has been prepared. No one is authorized to give information other than that contained in this pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus supplement and the prospectus, and in the documents referred to in these documents and which are made available to the public. We, CIBCWM and our other affiliates have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it.

 

We and CIBCWM are not making an offer to sell the Notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement or the prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. Neither this pricing supplement nor the accompanying prospectus supplement or the prospectus constitutes an offer, or an invitation on behalf of us or CIBCWM, to subscribe for and purchase any of the Notes and may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.

 

References to “CIBC,” “the Issuer,” “the Bank,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this pricing supplement are references to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and not to any of our subsidiaries, unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires.

 

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

 

·Prospectus supplement dated September 5, 2023:

 

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045520/000110465923098166/tm2322483d94_424b5.htm

 

·Prospectus dated September 5, 2023:

 

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045520/000110465923098163/tm2325339d10_424b3.htm

 

PS-2

 

 

SUMMARY 

 

The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement and the prospectus. See “About This Pricing Supplement” in this pricing supplement.

 

Issuer: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (the “Issuer” or the “Bank”)
Type of Note: Range Accrual Notes Linked to the 2-Year U.S. Dollar SOFR ICE Swap Rate due May 13, 2027
Minimum Denominations: $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Principal Amount: $1,000 per Note
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes: $             
Currency: U.S. Dollars (“$”)
Term: 3 years
Trade Date: Expected to be May 9, 2024
Original Issue Date: Expected to be May 13, 2024 (to be determined on the Trade Date and expected to be the second scheduled Business Day after the Trade Date)
Maturity Date: Expected to be May 13, 2027, subject to postponement as described in “—Business Day Convention” below.
Interest Rate (per Annum):

For each Interest Period from and including the Original Issue Date to but excluding November 13, 2024 (the “Fixed Rate Payment Period”): 6.35% per annum

 

For each Interest Period following the Fixed Rate Payment Period (the “Floating Rate Payment Period”): the Calculation Agent will determine the Interest Rate per annum applicable to such Interest Period based on the following formula:

 

 

 

where “n” is the number of calendar days for which the Accrual Provision is satisfied within such Interest Period; and

 

“N” is the actual number of calendar days within such Interest Period.

 

In no case will the Interest Rate applicable to an Interest Period during the Floating Rate Payment Period be less than the Minimum Rate or greater than the Maximum Rate.

 

The Interest Rate for each Interest Period during the Floating Rate Payment Period will be reset quarterly on the applicable Interest Reset Date.

Minimum Rate: 0.00% per annum
Maximum Rate: 6.35% per annum
Accrual Provision: For each calendar day within an Interest Period during the Floating Rate Payment Period, the Accrual Provision is deemed to be satisfied for that calendar day if the Reference Rate on the 5th U.S. Government Securities Business Day prior to that calendar day is greater than or equal to 2.50% and equal to or less than 5.15%, provided that, if such calendar day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the Accrual Provision will be determined by reference to the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day. For example, since October 19, 2024 is a Saturday and not a U.S. Government Securities

 

PS-3

 

 

  Business Day, whether the Accrual Provision is satisfied for October 19, 2024 will be determined by reference to October 18, 2024, and the Reference Rate on October 11, 2024 will be used for that determination. As a result, the Reference Rate on a Friday will be used to determine if the Accrual Provision is satisfied for the calendar days of the Friday, the Saturday and the Sunday in the next week.
Interest Period: Quarterly; the period from and including the Original Issue Date to but excluding the immediately following scheduled Interest Payment Date, and each successive period from and including a scheduled Interest Payment Date to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date.
SOFR CMS2: The rate for SOFR-linked interest rate swaps with a maturity of 2 years (Bloomberg ticker: USISSO02 <Index>), expressed as a percentage and as published by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (including any successor administrator, “ICE” or the “Administrator”) on its website opposite the heading “2 Years” at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on a U.S. Government Securities Business Day or, if such rate is temporarily not published or an Index Cessation Event or Administrator/Benchmark Event occurs, an alternative rate as described below in “Additional Terms of the Notes.”
Interest Determination Date: With respect to any Interest Period during the Floating Rate Payment Period, the fifth U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date.
Interest Reset Dates: Quarterly, on February 13, May 13, August 13, and November 13 of each year, commencing on November 13, 2024 and ending on February 13, 2027, each of which is the first day of the related Interest Period during the Floating Rate Payment Period.
Interest Payment Dates: Quarterly, payable in arrears on February 13, May 13, August 13, and November 13 of each year, commencing on August 13, 2024 and ending on the Maturity Date, subject to postponement as described in “—Business Day Convention” below.
Day Count Fraction: Actual/360, Unadjusted
Record Date: Interest will be payable to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date, which we refer to as a “regular record date,” except that the interest due at maturity will be paid to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered on the Maturity Date.
Calculation Agent:

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. We may appoint a different Calculation Agent without your consent and without notifying you.

 

All determinations made by the Calculation Agent will be at its sole discretion, and, in the absence of manifest error, will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on us and you. All percentages and other amounts resulting from any calculation with respect to the Notes will be rounded at the Calculation Agent’s discretion. The Calculation Agent will have no liability for its determinations.

Ranking: Senior, unsecured
U.S. Government Securities Business Day: Any day, except for a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.
Business Day Convention: Following. If any scheduled payment date is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day. No additional interest will accrue on the Notes as a result of such postponement, and no adjustment will be made to the length of the relevant Interest Period.

 

PS-4

 

 

Business Day: A Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in New York, New York.
CUSIP/ISIN: 13607XRR0 / US13607XRR07
Fees and Expenses: The price at which you purchase the Notes includes costs that the Bank or its affiliates expect to incur and profits that the Bank or its affiliates expect to realize in connection with hedging activities related to the Notes.
Withholding: The Bank or the applicable paying agent will deduct or withhold from a payment on a Note any present or future tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge that the Bank determines is required by law or the interpretation or administration thereof to be deducted or withheld. Payments on a Note will not be increased by any amount to offset such deduction or withholding.
The Trade Date and the other dates set forth above are subject to change, and will be set forth in the final pricing supplement relating to the Notes.

 

PS-5

 

 

ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS 

 

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. In addition to the following risks included in this pricing supplement, we urge you to read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-1 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and page 1 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

You should understand the risks of investing in the Notes and should reach an investment decision only after careful consideration, with your advisers, of the suitability of the Notes in light of your particular financial circumstances and the information set forth in this pricing supplement and the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement.

 

Structure Risks

 

The Interest Rate for Each Interest Period During the Floating Rate Payment Period Is Variable and May Be As Low As the Minimum Rate.

 

You will receive interest on the applicable Interest Payment Date during the Floating Rate Payment Period at the Interest Rate fixed on the corresponding Interest Determination Date, which may be as low as the Minimum Rate. The Interest Rate applicable to each Interest Period during the Floating Rate Payment Period will fluctuate because it is determined based on the number of calendar days for which the Accrual Provision is satisfied within such Interest Period. If the Accrual Provision is not satisfied on each calendar day for most or all of the Interest Periods during the Floating Rate Payment Period, you will not receive any interest on most or all of the Interest Payment Dates during the Floating Rate Payment Period. The return on the Notes may be lower than the return on conventional debt securities of comparable maturity.

 

The Return on the Notes Will Be Limited to the Maximum Rate.

 

 The Interest Rate applicable for each Interest Period will not be greater than the Maximum Rate. Therefore, your return on the Notes will be limited to the Maximum Rate.

 

The Repayment Of The Principal Amount Applies Only At Maturity.

 

The Notes offer repayment of the principal amount only if you hold your Notes until the Maturity Date. If you sell the Notes prior to maturity, you may lose some of the principal amount.

 

Reference Rate Risks

 

The USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate Is a New Market Rate and Has a Very Limited History.

 

The USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate began publication on November 8, 2021. Consequently, there is very little trading history with respect to this rate. We cannot predict whether the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate will gain market acceptance, or whether an active secondary market will develop with respect to this rate. Due to the short history of the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate, any historical information presented herein will be brief and, as always, not indicative of future performance.

 

The Occurrence of a Temporary Non-publication of the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate, an Index Cessation Event or an Administrator/Benchmark Event Could Adversely Affect the Return (if any) on the Notes.

 

A temporary non-publication of the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate, an Index Cessation Event or an Administrator/Benchmark Event (each as defined in “Additional Terms of the Notes”) could occur during the term of the Notes. Any resulting alternative replacement and Calculation Agent adjustments and determinations could adversely affect the value of and the return on your Notes.

 

If there is a temporary non-publication of the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate, then the Calculation Agent shall determine a commercially reasonable alternative for the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate, taking into account all available information that in good faith it considers relevant including a rate implemented by central counterparties and/or futures exchanges (if any), in each case with trading volumes in derivatives or futures referencing the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate that the Calculation Agent considers sufficient for that rate to be a representative alternative rate.

 

If an Index Cessation Event or an Administrator/Benchmark Event occur, then the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate would be replaced by either the Alternative Post-Nominated Index Rate or the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate, as discussed in “Additional Terms of the Notes.

 

We cannot predict the result of the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate (or any alternative) being determined by the Calculation Agent or being replaced with either the Alternative Post-Nominated Index Rate or the Calculation Agent

 

PS-6

 

 

Nominated Replacement Index rate. In any of these cases, the value of, and payments (if any) on, the Notes may be adversely affected.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), Which Is an Element of the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate, Is a Relatively New Market Index and as the Related Market Continues to Develop, There May Be an Adverse Effect on the Return on or Value of the Notes; SOFR May Be Modified or Discontinued.

 

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York notes on its publication page for SOFR that use of SOFR is subject to important limitations, indemnification obligations and disclaimers, including that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York may alter the methods of calculation, publication schedule, rate revision practices or availability of SOFR at any time without notice. There can be no guarantee that SOFR will not be discontinued or fundamentally altered in a manner that is materially adverse to the interests of investors in the Notes. If the manner in which SOFR is calculated is changed or if SOFR is discontinued, that change, or discontinuance may result in a reduction of the interest or other applicable payments payable on the Notes and a reduction in the trading price of the Notes.

 

SOFR Has a Very Limited History, and the Future Performance of SOFR Cannot Be Predicted Based on Historical Performance.

 

The publication of SOFR began in April 2018, and, therefore, it has a very limited history. In addition, the future performance of SOFR cannot be predicted based on the limited historical performance. Prior observed patterns, if any, in the behavior of market variables and their relation to SOFR, such as correlations, may change in the future. While some pre-publication historical data have been released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, such analysis inherently involves assumptions, estimates and approximations. The future performance of SOFR is impossible to predict and therefore no future performance of SOFR may be inferred from any of the historical actual or historical indicative data. Hypothetical or historical performance data are not indicative of, and have no bearing on, the potential performance of SOFR. You should not rely on any historical changes or trends in SOFR as an indicator of the future performance of SOFR. Since the initial publication of SOFR, daily changes in the rate have, on occasion, been more volatile than daily changes in comparable benchmark or market rates.

 

SOFR May Be More Volatile Than Other Benchmark or Market Rates.

 

Since the initial publication of SOFR, daily changes in the rate have, on occasion, been more volatile than daily changes in other benchmark or market rates, such as the U.S. dollar LIBOR Rate, during corresponding periods, and SOFR may bear little or no relation to the historical actual or historical indicative data.

 

Any Failure of SOFR to Gain Market Acceptance Could Adversely Affect the Notes.

 

SOFR was developed for use in certain U.S. dollar derivatives and other financial contracts as an alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR in part because it is considered a good representation of general funding conditions in the overnight U.S. Treasury Repo market. However, as a rate based on transactions secured by U.S. Treasury securities, it does not measure bank-specific credit risk and, as a result, is less likely to correlate with the unsecured short-term funding costs of banks. This may mean that market participants would not consider SOFR a suitable replacement or successor for all of the purposes for which U.S. dollar LIBOR historically has been used (including, without limitation, as a representation of the unsecured short-term funding costs of banks), which may, in turn, lessen market acceptance of SOFR. Any failure of SOFR to gain market acceptance could adversely affect the return on and value of the Notes and the price at which investors can sell the Notes in the secondary market.

 

The Secondary Trading Market for Securities Linked to SOFR May Be Limited.

 

Since SOFR is a relatively new market index, SOFR-linked securities likely will have no established trading market when issued or otherwise, and an established trading market may never develop or may not be very liquid. If SOFR does not prove to be widely used as a benchmark in securities that are similar or comparable to the Notes, the trading price of the Notes may be lower than those of securities that are linked to rates that are more widely used. Similarly, market terms for securities that are linked to SOFR, including, but not limited to, the spread over the reference rate reflected in the benchmark transition provisions, may evolve over time, and as a result, trading prices of the Notes may be lower than those of later-issued securities that are based on SOFR. Investors in the Notes may not be able to sell the Notes at all or may not be able to sell the Notes at prices that will provide them with a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary market, and may consequently suffer from increased pricing volatility and market risk.

 

Historical Levels of the Reference Rate Do Not Guarantee Future Levels.

 

The historical levels of the Reference Rate do not guarantee its future levels. It is not possible to predict whether the Reference Rate will rise or fall at any time.

 

PS-7

 

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Certain Business, Trading And Hedging Activities Of Us, CIBCWM And Our Other Affiliates May Create Conflicts With Your Interests And Could Potentially Adversely Affect The Value Of The Notes.

 

We, CIBCWM or one or more of our other affiliates may engage in trading and other business activities that are not for your account or on your behalf (such as holding or selling of the Notes for our proprietary account or effecting secondary market transactions in the Notes for other customers). These activities may present a conflict of interest between your interest in the Notes and the interests we, CIBCWM or one or more of our other affiliates may have in our or their proprietary accounts. We, CIBCWM and our other affiliates may engage in any such activities without regard to the Notes or the effect that such activities may directly or indirectly have on the value of the Notes.

 

Moreover, we, CIBCWM and our other affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, including hedging our obligations under the Notes. We expect to hedge our obligations under the Notes through CIBCWM, one of our other affiliates and/or another unaffiliated counterparty, which may include any dealer from which you purchase the Notes. In connection with such activities, the economic interests of us, CIBCWM and our other affiliates may be adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes. Any of these activities may adversely affect the value of the Notes. In addition, because hedging our obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging activity may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or it may result in a loss. We, CIBCWM, one or more of our other affiliates or any unaffiliated counterparty will retain any profits realized in hedging our obligations under the Notes even if investors do not receive a favorable investment return under the terms of the Notes or in any secondary market transaction. Any profit in connection with such hedging activities will be in addition to any other compensation that we, CIBCWM, our other affiliates or any unaffiliated counterparty receive for the sale of the Notes, which creates an additional incentive to sell the Notes to you. We, CIBCWM, our other affiliates or any unaffiliated counterparty will have no obligation to take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect to these transactions based on the potential effect on an investor in the Notes.

 

There Are Potential Conflicts of Interest Between You And The Calculation Agent.

 

The Calculation Agent will, among other things, determine the Interest Rate and decide the amount of your payment for any Interest Payment Date on the Notes. The Calculation Agent will exercise its judgment when performing its functions. Because determinations made by the Calculation Agent may affect payments on the Notes, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make any such determination.

 

In addition, and without limiting the generality of the previous paragraph, the Calculation Agent may make certain determinations if a “Benchmark Transition Event” (as discussed under “Additional Terms of the Notes” below) occurs or it may administer a successor rate in certain circumstances as also described herein. For the avoidance of doubt, any decision made by the Calculation Agent will be effective without consent from the holders of the Notes or any other party. Potential conflicts of interest may exist between the Bank, the Calculation Agent and holders of the Notes. All determinations made by the Calculation Agent in such a circumstance will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Bank and holders of the Notes. In making these potentially subjective determinations, the Bank and/or the Calculation Agent may have economic interests that are adverse to your interests, and such determinations may adversely affect the value of and return on your Notes. Because the continuation of the Reference Rate on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed, the Calculation Agent is likely to exercise more discretion in respect of calculating interest payable on the Notes than would be the case in the absence of such a need to select a successor rate.

 

Tax Risks

 

The Tax Treatment Of The Notes Is Uncertain.

 

Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the Notes are uncertain. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation. See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Certain Canadian Income Tax Considerations” in this pricing supplement.

 

PS-8

 

 

General Risks

 

Payments On The Notes Are Subject To Our Credit Risk, And Actual Or Perceived Changes In Our Creditworthiness Are Expected To Affect The Value Of The Notes.

 

The Notes are our senior unsecured debt obligations and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. As further described in the accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement, the Notes will rank on par with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations, except such obligations as may be preferred by operation of law. All payments to be made on the Notes, including the interest payments and the return of the principal amount at maturity, depend on our ability to satisfy our obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of us may affect the market value of the Notes and, in the event we were to default on our obligations, you may not receive the amounts owed to you under the terms of the Notes. If we default on our obligations under the Notes, your investment would be at risk and you could lose some or all of your investment. See “Description of Senior Debt Securities—Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The Inclusion Of Dealer Spread And Projected Profit From Hedging In The Original Issue Price Is Likely To Adversely Affect Secondary Market Prices.

 

Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which CIBCWM or any other party is willing to purchase the Notes at any time in secondary market transactions will likely be significantly lower than the original issue price, since secondary market prices are likely to exclude underwriting commissions paid with respect to the Notes and the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes that are included in the original issue price. The cost of hedging includes the projected profit that we and/or our affiliates may realize in consideration for assuming the risks inherent in managing the hedging transactions. These secondary market prices are also likely to be reduced by the costs of unwinding the related hedging transactions. In addition, any secondary market prices may differ from values determined by pricing models used by CIBCWM as a result of dealer discounts, mark-ups or other transaction costs.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

PS-9

 

 

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE NOTES 

 

Temporary Non-Publication of SOFR CMS2

 

Subject to the provisions below, if SOFR CMS2 is not published by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any U.S. Government Securities Business Day on which SOFR CMS2 should be determined, then the Calculation Agent shall determine a commercially reasonable alternative for SOFR CMS2, taking into account all available information that in good faith it considers relevant including a rate implemented by central counterparties and/or futures exchanges (if any), in each case with trading volumes in derivatives or futures referencing SOFR CMS2 that the Calculation Agent considers sufficient for that rate to be a representative alternative rate.

 

Index Cessation Event or Administrator/Benchmark Event

 

If an Index Cessation Event or an Administrator/Benchmark Event occurs with respect to SOFR CMS2 on any U.S. Government Securities Business Day on which SOFR CMS2 should be determined, then, from and including the Index Cessation Effective Date or the Administrator/Benchmark Event Date, as applicable, the Alternative Post-Nominated Index rate will apply to the Notes. However, if by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Cut-off Date, more than one Relevant Nominating Body formally designates, nominates or recommends an Alternative Post-Nominated Index and those designations, nominations or recommendations are not the same, then the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate will apply to the Notes.

 

In the event of a replacement of SOFR CMS2 by either the Alternative Post-Nominated Index rate or the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate, the Calculation Agent shall (i) apply the Adjustment Spread (if applicable) to the Alternative Post-Nominated Index rate or the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate, as applicable, and (ii) after taking into account such Adjustment Spread, make any other adjustments to the terms of the Notes that are necessary to account for the effect on the Notes of referencing the Alternative Post-Nominated Index rate or the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate, as applicable.

 

Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act, make a determination or exercise judgement pursuant to a replacement of SOFR CMS2 by either the Alternative Post-Nominated Index rate or the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate, it shall do so by reference to Relevant Market Data available at, or a reasonable period of time prior to, the time of notification. The Calculation Agent shall notify the Bank of any determination it makes pursuant to the replacement of SOFR CMS2 by either the Alternative Post-Nominated Index rate or the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index rate as soon as reasonably practicable after either of these replacement rates first apply and, in any event, at least two Business Days before the Cut-off Date. However, any failure to provide such a notification shall not give rise to an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture).

 

Certain defined terms, as used in this section:

 

“Adjustment Spread” means the adjustment, if any, determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion, which is required in order to reduce or eliminate, to the extent reasonably practicable, any transfer of economic value from (i) us to the holders of the Notes or (ii) the holders of the Notes to the Bank, in each case, that would otherwise arise as a result of the replacement made pursuant to the application of the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index or the Alternative Post Nominated Index. Any such adjustment may take account of, without limitation, any anticipated transfer of economic value as a result of any difference in the term structure or tenor of the Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index or the Alternative Post Nominated Index by comparison to the Applicable Benchmark. The Adjustment Spread may be positive, negative or zero or determined pursuant to a formula or methodology.

 

“Administrator/Benchmark Event” means the delivery of a notice by the Bank to the holders of the Notes (which can include posting of such notice through DTC) specifying, and citing Publicly Available Information that reasonably confirms, an event or circumstance which has the effect that the Bank or the Calculation Agent are not, or will not be, permitted under any applicable law or regulation to use the Applicable Benchmark to perform our or its respective obligations under the terms of the Notes.

 

“Administrator/Benchmark Event Date” means, in respect of an Administrator/Benchmark Event, the date from which the Applicable Benchmark may no longer be used under any applicable law or regulation by the Bank or the Calculation Agent or, if that date occurs before the Original Issue Date, the Original Issue Date.

 

“Alternative Post-Nominated Index” means, in respect of an Applicable Benchmark, any index, benchmark or other price source which is formally designated, nominated or recommended by: (i) any Relevant Governmental Body; or (ii) the Administrator or sponsor of the Applicable Benchmark, provided that such index, benchmark or other price source is substantially the same as the Applicable Benchmark, in each case, to replace the Applicable Benchmark. If

 

PS-10

 

 

a replacement is designated, nominated or recommended under both clauses (i) and (ii) above, then the replacement under clause (i) above shall be the “Alternative Post-nominated Index.”

 

“Applicable Benchmark” means SOFR CMS2.

 

“Calculation Agent Nominated Replacement Index” means, in respect of an Applicable Benchmark, the index, benchmark or other price source that the Calculation Agent determines to be a commercially reasonable alternative for the Applicable Benchmark.

 

“Cut-off Date” means fifteen Business Days following the Administrator/Benchmark Event Date. However, if more than one Relevant Nominating Body formally designates, nominates or recommends an Alternative Post-Nominated Index or a spread or methodology for calculating a spread and one or more of those Relevant Nominating Bodies does so on or after the day that is three Business Days before that date, then the Cut-off Date will instead be the second Business Day following the date that, but for this sentence, would have been the Cut-off Date.

 

“Index Cessation Effective Date” means, with respect to one or more Index Cessation Events, the first date on which the Applicable Benchmark would ordinarily have been published or provided and is no longer published or provided.

 

“Index Cessation Event” means, with respect to an Applicable Benchmark, (a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the Administrator of the Applicable Benchmark announcing that it has ceased or will cease to provide the Applicable Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of the statement or publication, there is no successor administrator or provider, as applicable, that will continue to provide the Applicable Benchmark; or (b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the Administrator of the Applicable Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Applicable Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the Administrator for the Applicable Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the Administrator for the Applicable Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the Administrator for the Applicable Benchmark, which states that the Administrator of the Applicable Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Applicable Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of the statement or publication, there is no successor administrator or provider that will continue to provide the Applicable Benchmark.

 

“Publicly Available Information” means, in respect of an Administrator/Benchmark Event, one or both of the following: (a) information received from or published by (i) the Administrator or sponsor of the Applicable Benchmark or (ii) any national, regional or other supervisory or regulatory authority which is responsible for supervising the Administrator or sponsor of the Applicable Benchmark or regulating the Applicable Benchmark. However, where any information of the type described in (i) or (ii) is not publicly available, it shall only constitute Publicly Available Information if it can be made public without violating any law, regulation, agreement, understanding or other restriction regarding the confidentiality of that information; or (b) information published in a Specified Public Source (regardless of whether the reader or user thereof pays a fee to obtain that information).

 

Relevant Governmental Body means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.

 

“Relevant Market Data” means, in relation to a determination, any relevant information that: (i) has been supplied by one or more third parties (which may include central counterparties, exchanges, dealers in the relevant market, information vendors, brokers or other recognized sources of market information) but not any third party that is an affiliate of the Calculation Agent or (ii) to the extent that the information is not readily available from such third parties or would not produce a commercially reasonable result, has been obtained from internal sources (which may include an affiliate of the Calculation Agent, provided that the information is of the same type as that used by the Calculation Agent in a comparable manner in the ordinary course of its business).

 

“Relevant Nominating Body” means (i) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate or the Administrator; or (ii) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by: (a) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (b) any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either the USD SOFR ICE Swap Rate or the Administrator; (c) a group of those central banks or other supervisors; or (d) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

 

“Specified Public Source” means each of Bloomberg, Refinitiv, Dow Jones Newswires, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Financial Times and, in each case, any successor publications, the main source(s) of business news in the country in which the Administrator or the sponsor of the Applicable Benchmark is incorporated or organized and any other internationally recognized published or electronically displayed news sources.

 

PS-11

 

 

THE REFERENCE RATE 

 

All information regarding the SOFR CMS2 set forth in this document has been derived from publicly available information. Neither we nor any of our affiliates have independently verified the accuracy or the completeness of all information regarding SOFR CMS2 that we have derived from publicly available sources. Neither we nor any of our affiliates are under any obligation to update, modify or amend all information regarding SOFR CMS2 or the historical performance of SOFR CMS2.

 

SOFR CMS2 for any U.S. Government Securities Business Day is the 2 Year SOFR-linked interest rate swap (Bloomberg ticker: USISSO02 <Index>), as published on the ICE website opposite the heading “2 Years” at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable U.S. Government Securities Business Day. SOFR CMS2 measures the fixed rate of interest payable on a hypothetical fixed-for-floating SOFR interest rate swap transaction with a maturity of 2 years. In such a hypothetical swap transaction, the fixed rate of interest, payable annually on the basis of the actual number of days over 360 days in the relevant year, is exchangeable for a floating payment stream of SOFR compounded in arrears for twelve months using standard market conventions.

 

Historical Performance of SOFR CMS2

 

The following graph sets forth of the historical performance of SOFR CMS2 for the period from November 18, 2021 to April 17, 2024. On April 17, 2024, the rate of SOFR CMS2 was 4.864%. We obtained the rates below from Bloomberg Professional® Service (“Bloomberg”) without independent verification. The historical performance of SOFR CMS2 should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurances can be given as to SOFR CMS2 at any time during the term of the Notes. We cannot give you assurance that SOFR CMS2 will satisfy the Accrual Provision for any calendar day during the Floating Rate Payment Period.

 

Historical Performance of SOFR CMS2

Source: Bloomberg

 

PS-12

 

 

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following discussion is a brief summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to an investment in the Notes. The following summary is not complete and is both qualified and supplemented by (although to the extent inconsistent supersedes) the discussion entitled “Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus, which you should carefully review prior to investing in the Notes. It applies only to those U.S. Holders who are not excluded from the discussion of United States Taxation in the accompanying prospectus.

 

You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in the Notes in your particular circumstances, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.

 

No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of the notes or securities similar to the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, certain aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Notes are not certain. In the opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, the Notes should be treated as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Depending on rates in effect on the issue date, we intend to treat the Notes either as “variable rate debt instruments” or “contingent payment debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Whether the Notes are properly treated as variable rate debt instruments or contingent payment debt instruments may depend, among others, upon whether the interest payable on the Notes is front- or back-loaded. More specifically, interest will be treated as front- or back-loaded if it is reasonably expected that the average value of the interest rate during the first half of the Notes’ term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the average value of the interest rate during the final half of the notes’ term. If the Notes are not treated as front- or back-loaded, such notes should generally be treated as variable rate debt instruments subject to the rules discussed below under “—Notes Treated as Variable Rate Debt Instruments” and if the Notes are treated as front- or back-loaded, such Notes should generally be treated as debt instruments subject to the special rules governing contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which are discussed below under “—Notes Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments.”

 

The final pricing supplement will specify whether we intend to treat the Notes as variable rate debt instruments or contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or if another treatment applies. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes, however, may not be clear and there is a risk that the IRS could seek to treat the Notes differently from our intended treatment. For example, if we intend to treat the Notes as variable rate debt instruments, the IRS could seek to treat the Notes as contingent payment debt instruments, and vice versa, which, if the IRS were successful, could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to you.

 

U.S. Holders

 

Notes Treated as Variable Rate Debt Instruments. If the Notes are properly characterized as variable rate debt instruments, interest on a Note generally will be included in income of a U.S. Holder as interest income at the time it is accrued or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will be ordinary income. For accrual method U.S. Holders, the accrual is generally determined by constructing a fixed rate debt instrument assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Note and making appropriate adjustments for interest allocable to an accrual period when interest is actually paid.

 

Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a Note that is properly characterized as a variable rate debt instrument, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, or redemption (except to the extent attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Notes. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Notes generally will be the cost of the Notes to such U.S. Holder. Gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of the Notes generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Note has been held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Notes Treated as Contingent Payment Debt Instruments. If the Notes are properly characterized as contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Notes generally will be subject to Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. Under those regulations, and as further described under “Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Taxation—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the accompanying prospectus, a U.S. Holder will be required to report OID or interest income based on a “comparable yield” and a “projected payment schedule,” established by us for determining

 

PS-13

 

 

interest accruals and adjustments with respect to the Notes. A U.S. Holder of the Notes generally will be required to include in income OID in excess of actual cash payments received for certain taxable years.

 

The final pricing supplement will include a table that sets forth the following information with respect to the principal amount of the Notes for each of the applicable accrual periods through the maturity date of the Notes: (i) the amount of interest deemed to have accrued during the accrual period, and (ii) the total amount of interest deemed to have accrued from the original issue date through the end of the accrual period. The table will be based upon a projected payment schedule and a comparable yield. The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule will be determined based upon market conditions as of the date of the final pricing supplement.

 

Upon a sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of the Notes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and that holder’s tax basis in the Notes. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Notes generally will equal the cost of the Notes, increased by the amount of OID previously accrued by the holder for the Notes and reduced by any projected payments for previous periods on the Notes. A U.S. Holder generally will treat any gain as interest income, and will treat any loss as ordinary loss to the extent of the excess of previous interest inclusions over the total negative adjustments previously taken into account as ordinary losses, and the balance as long-term or short-term capital loss depending upon the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Notes. The deductibility of capital losses by a U.S. Holder is subject to limitations.

 

Non-U.S. Holders

 

Please see the discussion under “Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Taxation—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” in the accompanying prospectus for the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to Non-U.S. Holders of the Notes.

 

PS-14

 

 

CERTAIN CANADIAN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS 

 

In the opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, our Canadian tax counsel, the following summary describes the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereto (the “Canadian Tax Act”) generally applicable at the date hereof to a purchaser who acquires beneficial ownership of a Note pursuant to this pricing supplement and who for the purposes of the Canadian Tax Act and at all relevant times: (a) is neither resident nor deemed to be resident in Canada; (b) deals at arm’s length with the Issuer and any transferee resident (or deemed to be resident) in Canada to whom the purchaser disposes of the Note; (c) does not use or hold and is not deemed to use or hold the Note in, or in the course of, carrying on a business in Canada; (d) is entitled to receive all payments (including any interest and principal) made on the Note; (e) is not a, and deals at arm’s length with any, “specified shareholder” of the Issuer for purposes of the thin capitalization rules in the Canadian Tax Act; and (f) is not an entity in respect of which the Issuer or any transferee resident (or deemed to be resident) in Canada to whom the purchaser disposes of, loans or otherwise transfers the Note is a “specified entity”, and is not a “specified entity” in respect of such a transferee, in each case, for purposes of the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals, as defined below (a “Non-Resident Holder”). Special rules which apply to non-resident insurers carrying on business in Canada and elsewhere are not discussed in this summary.

 

This summary assumes that no amount paid or payable to a holder described herein will be the deduction component of a “hybrid mismatch arrangement” under which the payment arises within the meaning of proposed paragraph 18.4(3)(b) of the Canadian Tax Act contained in the revised proposals with respect to “hybrid mismatch arrangements” included in the proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act released by the Minister of Finance (Canada) on November 28, 2023 (the “Hybrid Mismatch Proposals”). Investors should note that the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals are in draft form, are highly complex, and there remains significant uncertainty as to their interpretation and application. There can be no assurance that the Hybrid Mismatch Proposals will be enacted in their current form, or at all.

 

This summary is supplemental to and should be read together with the description of material Canadian federal income tax considerations relevant to a Non-Resident Holder owning Notes under “Material Income Tax Consequences—Canadian Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and a Non-Resident Holder should carefully read that description as well.

 

This summary is of a general nature only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular Non-Resident Holder. Non-Resident Holders are advised to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their particular circumstances.

 

Based on Canadian tax counsel’s understanding of the Canada Revenue Agency’s administrative policies, and having regard to the terms of the Notes, interest payable on the Notes should not be considered to be “participating debt interest” as defined in the Canadian Tax Act and accordingly, a Non-Resident Holder should not be subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax in respect of amounts paid or credited or deemed to have been paid or credited by the Issuer on a Note as, on account of or in lieu of payment of, or in satisfaction of, interest.

 

Non-Resident Holders should consult their own advisors regarding the consequences to them of a disposition of Notes to a person with whom they are not dealing at arm’s length for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act.

 

PS-15

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

 

CIBCWM will purchase the Notes from CIBC at the price to public less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement for distribution to other registered broker-dealers, or will offer the Notes directly to investors. CIBCWM or other registered broker-dealers will offer the Notes at the price to public set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. CIBCWM may receive a commission of up to $12.50 (1.25%) per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes and may use a portion or all of that commission to allow selling concessions to other dealers in connection with the distribution of the Notes. The other dealers may forgo, in their sole discretion, some or all of their selling concessions. The price to public for Notes purchased by certain fee-based advisory accounts may vary between 98.75% and 100.00% of the principal amount of the Notes. Any sale of a Note to a fee-based advisory account at a price to public below 100.00% of the principal amount will reduce the agent’s commission specified on the cover page of this pricing supplement with respect to such Note. The price to public paid by any fee-based advisory account will be reduced by the amount of any fees assessed by the dealers involved in the sale of the Notes to such advisory account but not by more than 1.25% of the principal amount of the Notes.

 

CIBCWM is our affiliate, and is deemed to have a conflict of interest under FINRA Rule 5121. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, CIBCWM may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer.

 

We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, CIBCWM or any of our other affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market-making transactions in any Notes after their initial sale. Unless CIBCWM or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used by CIBCWM in a market-making transaction.

 

While CIBCWM may make markets in the Notes, it is under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. See the section titled “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

The price at which you purchase the Notes includes costs that the Bank or its affiliates expect to incur and profits that the Bank or its affiliates expect to realize in connection with hedging activities related to the Notes. These costs and profits will likely reduce the secondary market price, if any secondary market develops, for the Notes. As a result, you may experience an immediate and substantial decline in the market value of your Notes on the Original Issue Date.

 

PS-16