Registration Statement No.333-285508
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Subject to Completion,
dated June 23, 2026
Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated March 25, 2025,
the Prospectus Supplement dated March 25, 2025 and the Product Supplement dated March 25, 2025
US$ [ ]
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series K
Callable Barrier Notes with Contingent Coupons due July 02, 2029
Linked to the Least Performing of the shares of the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF and the shares of the
State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF and the shares of the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF
| · | The notes are designed for investors who are seeking monthly contingent periodic interest payments (as described in more detail below), as well as a return of principal if the notes are redeemed prior to maturity. Investors should be willing to have their notes redeemed prior to maturity, be willing to forego any potential to participate in the appreciation of the shares of the Reference Assets and be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity. |
| · | The notes will pay a Contingent Coupon on each Contingent Coupon Payment Date at the Contingent Interest Rate of 1.035% per month (approximately 12.42% per annum) if the closing level of each of the shares of the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF, the shares of the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF, and the shares of the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (each, a "Reference Asset" and, collectively, the "Reference Assets") on the applicable monthly Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Coupon Barrier Level. However, if the closing level of any Reference Asset is less than its Coupon Barrier Level on an Observation Date, the notes will not pay the Contingent Coupon for that Observation Date. |
| · | Beginning on December 29, 2026, Bank of Montreal may, in its discretion, elect to call the notes in whole, but not in part, on any Observation Date (an "Issuer Call"). If Bank of Montreal elects to call the notes, investors will receive their principal amount plus any Contingent Coupon otherwise due on the Contingent Coupon Payment Date following the Issuer Call (the "Call Settlement Date"). After the notes are redeemed pursuant to an Issuer Call, investors will not receive any additional payments in respect of the notes. |
| · | The notes do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. Instead, if the notes are not redeemed pursuant to an Issuer Call, the payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level of each Reference Asset and whether the Final Level of any Reference Asset has declined from its Initial Level to below its Trigger Level on the Valuation Date (a “Trigger Event”), as described below. |
| · | If the notes are not subject to an Issuer Call and a Trigger Event has occurred, investors will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% decrease in the level of the Least Performing Reference Asset (as defined below) 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. |
| · | Investing in the notes is not equivalent to a direct investment in the Reference Assets. |
| · | The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
| · | All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. |
| · | The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. |
| · | Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below. |
| · | The notes will not be subject to conversion into our common shares or the common shares of any of our affiliates under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (the “CDIC Act”). |
Terms of the Notes:1
| Pricing Date: | June 26, 2026 | Valuation Date: | June 27, 2029 | |
| Settlement Date: | July 01, 2026 | Maturity Date: | July 02, 2029 |
1Expected. See “Key Terms of the Notes” below for additional details.
Specific Terms of the Notes:
| Callable Number |
Reference Assets |
Ticker Symbol |
Initial Level |
Contingent Interest Rate |
Coupon Barrier Level |
Trigger Level |
CUSIP | Principal Amount |
Price to Public1 |
Agent’s Commission1 |
Proceeds to Bank of Montreal1 |
| 6765 | The shares of the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF | XLRE | [ ] |
1.035% per month (approximately 12.42% per annum)
|
[ ], 60.00% of its Initial Level | [ ], 60.00% of its Initial Level | 06376LGH3 | [ ] | 100% |
Up to 0.70% [ ]
|
At least 99.30% [ ]
|
| The shares of the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF | XLU | [ ] | [ ], 60.00% of its Initial Level | [ ], 60.00% of its Initial Level | |||||||
| The shares of the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF | IGV | [ ] | [ ], 60.00% of its Initial Level | [ ], 60.00% of its Initial Level |
1 The total “Agent’s Commission” and “Proceeds to Bank of Montreal” to be specified above will reflect the aggregate amounts at the time Bank of Montreal establishes its hedge positions on or prior to the Pricing Date, which may be variable and fluctuate depending on market conditions at such times. Certain dealers who purchased 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 between $993.00 and $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount. We or one of our affiliates may also pay a referral fee to certain dealers in connection with the distribution of the notes.
Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-5 hereof, the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-6 of the product supplement, and the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement and on page 8 of the prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the accuracy of this document, 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 Deposit Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity.
On the date hereof, based on the terms set forth above, the estimated initial value of the notes is $985.20 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 $935.00 per $1,000 in principal amount. However, as discussed in more detail below, the actual value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
Key Terms of the Notes:
| Reference Assets: | The shares of the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF (ticker symbol "XLRE") and the shares of the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF (ticker symbol "XLU") and the shares of the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (ticker symbol "IGV"). See "The Reference Assets" below for additional information. |
| Underlying Index: | With respect to the State Street® Real Estate Sector SPDR® ETF, the Real Estate Select Sector Index, with respect to the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF, the Utilities Select Sector Index and with respect to the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software IndexTM. |
| Contingent Coupons: | If the closing level of each Reference Asset on an Observation Date is greater than or equal to its Coupon Barrier Level, a Contingent Coupon will be paid on the corresponding Contingent Coupon Payment Date at the Contingent Interest Rate, subject to the Issuer Call feature. |
| Contingent Interest Rate: | 1.035% per month (approximately 12.42% per annum), if payable. Accordingly, each Contingent Coupon, if payable, will equal $10.35 for each $1,000 in principal amount. |
| Observation Dates:1 | Three trading days prior to each scheduled Contingent Coupon Payment Date. |
| Contingent Coupon Payment Dates:1 |
Interest, if payable, will be paid on the 2nd day of each month (or, if such day is not a business day, the next following business day), beginning on August 02, 2026 and ending on the Maturity Date, subject to the Issuer Call feature. |
| Issuer Call: | Beginning on December 29, 2026, Bank of Montreal may, in its discretion, elect to call the notes in whole, but not in part, on any Observation Date. After the notes are redeemed pursuant to the Issuer Call, investors will not receive any additional payments in respect of the notes. If Bank of Montreal elects to call the notes, the Bank of Montreal will deliver notice to the trustee on or before the applicable Observation Date. |
| Payment upon Issuer Call: | If Bank of Montreal elects to call the notes, investors will receive their principal amount plus any Contingent Coupon otherwise due on the Call Settlement Date. |
| Call Settlement Date:1 | If Bank of Montreal elects to call the notes, the Contingent Coupon Payment Date immediately following the relevant Observation Date. |
| Payment at Maturity: |
If the notes are not subject to an Issuer Call, the payment at maturity for the notes is based on the performance of the Reference Assets.
You will receive $1,000 for each $1,000 in principal amount of the note, unless a Trigger Event has occurred.
If a Trigger Event has occurred, 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 Least Performing Reference Asset)
This amount will be less than the principal amount of your notes, and may be zero.
You will also receive the final Contingent Coupon, if payable. |
| Trigger Event:2 | A Trigger Event will be deemed to occur if the Final Level of any Reference Asset is less than its Trigger Level on the Valuation Date. |
| Least Performing Reference Asset: | The Reference Asset with the lowest Percentage Change. |
| Percentage Change: |
With respect to each Reference Asset, the quotient, expressed as a percentage, of the following formula:
(Final Level - Initial Level) |
| Initial Level:2 | With respect to each Reference Asset, the closing level of that Reference Asset on the Pricing Date. |
| Coupon Barrier Level:2 | With respect to each Reference Asset, 60.00% of its Initial Level. |
| Trigger Level:2 | With respect to each Reference Asset, 60.00% of its Initial Level. |
| Final Level: | With respect to each Reference Asset, the closing level of that Reference Asset on the Valuation Date. |
| 2 |
| Pricing Date:1 | June 26, 2026 |
| Settlement Date:1 | July 01, 2026 |
| Valuation Date:1 | June 27, 2029 |
| Maturity Date:1 | July 02, 2029 |
| Physical Delivery Amount: | We will only pay cash on the Maturity Date, and you will have no right to receive any shares of the Reference Asset. |
| Calculation Agent: | BMOCM |
| Selling Agent: | BMOCM |
1 Expected and subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event, as described in the accompanying product supplement. If we make any change to the expected Pricing Date and Settlement Date, the Contingent Coupon Payment Dates (and therefore the Observation Dates and potential Call Settlement Dates), the Valuation Date and Maturity Date will be changed so that the stated term of the notes remains approximately the same.
2 As determined by the calculation agent and subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. See "General Terms of the Notes — Anti-dilution Adjustments to a Reference Asset that Is an Equity Security (Including Any ETF)" and "— Adjustments to a Reference Asset that Is an ETF" in the product supplement for additional information.
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Additional Terms of the Notes
You should read this document together with the product supplement dated March 25, 2025, the prospectus supplement dated March 25, 2025 and the prospectus dated March 25, 2025. This document, 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):
Product supplement dated March 25, 2025:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465925004743/b324250424b2.htm
Prospectus supplement dated March 25, 2025 and prospectus
dated March 25, 2025:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312525062081/d840917d424b5.htm
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this document, "we", "us" or "our" refers to Bank of Montreal.
We have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this document relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we will arrange to send to you the prospectus (as supplemented by the prospectus supplement and product supplement) if you request it by calling our agent toll-free at 1-877-369-5412.
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Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Reference Assets. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section of the product supplement.
Risks Related to the Structure or Features of the Notes
| · | Your investment in the notes may result in a loss. — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the notes are not subject to an Issuer Call, the payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level of each Reference Asset and whether a Trigger Event has occurred. If the Final Level of any Reference Asset is less than its Trigger Level, a Trigger Event will occur, and you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than 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 your entire investment in the notes. |
| · | You may not receive any Contingent Coupons with respect to your notes. — We will not necessarily make periodic interest payments on the notes. If the closing level of any Reference Asset on an Observation Date is less than its Coupon Barrier Level, we will not pay you the Contingent Coupon applicable to that Observation Date. If the closing level of a Reference Asset is less than its Coupon Barrier Level on each of the Observation Dates, we will not pay you any Contingent Coupons during the term of the notes, and you will not receive a positive return on the notes. Generally, this non-payment of any Contingent Coupons will coincide with a greater risk of principal loss on your notes. |
| · | We may elect to call the notes, and the notes are subject to reinvestment risk. — We may elect to call the notes at our discretion prior to the Maturity Date. If we elect to call your notes early, you will not receive any additional Contingent Coupons on the notes, and you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds in an investment with returns that are comparable to the notes. Further, our right to call the notes may also adversely impact your ability to sell your notes in the secondary market. It is more likely that we will elect to call the notes prior to maturity when the expected amounts payable on the notes are greater than the amount that would be payable on other instruments issued by us of comparable maturity, terms and credit rating trading in the market. The greater likelihood of us calling the notes in that environment increases the risk that you will not be able to reinvest the proceeds from the called notes in an equivalent investment with similar potential returns. To the extent you are able to reinvest such proceeds in an investment comparable to the notes, you may incur transaction costs such as dealer discounts and hedging costs built into the price of the new securities. We are less likely to call the notes prior to maturity when the expected amounts payable on the notes are less than the amounts that would be payable on other comparable instruments issued by us, which includes when a Reference Asset is performing unfavorably to you. Therefore, the notes are more likely to remain outstanding when the expected amount payable on the notes is less than what would be payable on other comparable instruments and when your risk of not receiving any positive return on your initial investment is relatively higher. |
| · | Your return on the notes is limited to the Contingent Coupons, if any, regardless of any appreciation in the value of any Reference Asset. — You will not receive a payment at maturity with a value greater than your principal amount plus the final Contingent Coupon, if payable. In addition, if the notes are subject to an Issuer Call, you will not receive a payment greater than the principal amount plus any applicable Contingent Coupon. Accordingly, your maximum return on the applicable notes is limited to the potential return represented by the Contingent Coupons. |
| · | Whether you receive any Contingent Coupons and your payment at maturity may be determined solely by reference to the least performing Reference Asset, even if any other Reference Assets perform better. - We will only make each Contingent Coupon payment on the notes if the closing level of each Reference Asset on the applicable Observation Date exceeds the applicable Coupon Barrier, even if the values of any other Reference Assets have increased significantly. Similarly, if a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Reference Asset and the Final Level of any Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level, your payment at maturity will be determined by reference to the performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset. Even if the levels of any other Reference Assets have appreciated in value over the term of the notes, or have experienced a decline that is less than that of the Least Performing Reference Asset, your return at maturity will only be determined by reference to the performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset if a Trigger Event occurs. |
| · | The payments on the notes will be determined by reference to each Reference Asset individually, not to a basket, and the payments on the notes will be based on the performance of the least performing Reference Asset. - Whether each Contingent Coupon is payable, and the payment at maturity if a Trigger Event occurs, will be determined only by reference to the performance of the least performing Reference Asset as of the applicable Observation Date and/or Valuation Date, regardless of the performance of any other Reference Assets. 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 components, as scaled by the weighting of that basket component. However, in the case of the notes, the individual performance of each Reference Asset will not be combined, and the depreciation of one Reference Asset will not be mitigated by any appreciation of any other Reference Assets. Instead, your receipt of Contingent Coupon payments on the notes will depend on the value of each Reference Asset on each Observation Date, and your return at maturity will depend solely on the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset if a Trigger Event occurs. |
| · | Your return on the notes may be lower than the return on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. — The return that you will receive on your notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. The notes do not provide for fixed interest payments and you may not receive any Contingent Coupons over the term of the notes. Even if you do receive one or more Contingent Coupons and your return on the notes is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of ours with the same maturity or if you invested directly in the Reference Assets. Your investment may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect the time value of money. |
| · | A higher Contingent Interest Rate or lower Trigger Levels or Coupon Barrier Levels may reflect greater expected volatility of the Reference Assets, and greater expected volatility generally indicates an increased risk of loss at maturity. — The economic terms for the notes, including the Contingent Interest Rate, Coupon Barrier Levels and Trigger Levels, are based, in part, on the expected volatility of the Reference Assets at the time the terms of the notes are set. “Volatility” refers to the frequency and magnitude of changes in the level of a Reference Asset. The greater the expected volatility of the Reference Assets as of the Pricing Date, the greater the expectation is as of that date that the closing level of a Reference Asset could be less than its Coupon Barrier Level on any Observation Date and that a Trigger Event could occur and, as a consequence, indicates an increased risk of not receiving a Contingent Coupon and an increased risk of loss, respectively. All things being equal, this greater expected volatility will generally be reflected in a higher Contingent Interest Rate than the yield payable on our conventional debt securities with a similar maturity or on otherwise comparable securities, and/or a lower Trigger Levels and/or Coupon Barrier Levels than those terms on otherwise comparable securities. Therefore, a relatively higher Contingent Interest Rate may indicate an increased risk of loss. Further, relatively lower Trigger Levels and/or Coupon Barriers may not necessarily indicate that the notes have a greater likelihood of a return of principal at maturity and/or paying Contingent Coupons. You should be willing to accept the downside market risk of the Reference Assets and the potential to lose a significant portion or all of your initial investment. |
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Risks Related to the Reference Assets
| · | Owning the notes is not the same as owning shares of the Reference Assets or a security directly linked to the Reference Assets. — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of the Reference Assets or a security directly linked to the performance of the Reference Assets and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the Reference Assets. Changes in the level of a Reference Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes. Even if the levels of the Reference Assets increase 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 to decrease while the levels of the Reference Assets increase. In addition, any dividends or other distributions paid on a Reference Asset will not be reflected in the amount payable on the notes. |
| · | You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any shares of the Reference Assets (or any company included in a Reference Asset) at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the Reference Assets or any securities held by the Reference 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 the Reference Assets or such underlying securities. |
| · | No delivery of shares of the Reference Assets. — The notes will be payable only in cash. You should not invest in the notes if you seek to have the shares of a Reference Asset delivered to you at maturity. |
| · | Changes that affect an Underlying Index will affect the market value of the notes, whether the notes will be automatically redeemed, and the amount you will receive at maturity. — With respect to each Reference Asset, the policies of the applicable index sponsor concerning the calculation of the applicable Underlying Index, additions, deletions or substitutions of the components of the applicable Underlying Index and the manner in which changes affecting those components, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, may be reflected in the applicable Reference Asset and, therefore, could affect the share price of the Reference Asset, the amounts payable on the notes, whether the notes are automatically redeemed, and the market value of the notes prior to maturity. The amount payable on the notes and their market value could also be affected if the applicable index sponsor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the applicable Underlying Index, or if the applicable index sponsor discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the applicable Underlying Index. |
| · | We have no affiliation with any index sponsor of any Underlying Index and will not be responsible for any index sponsor's actions. — The sponsors of the Underlying Indices are not our affiliates and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of any index sponsor, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The index sponsors have no obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, the index sponsors 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 any index sponsor of any Underlying Index. |
| · | Adjustments to a Reference Asset could adversely affect the notes. — The sponsor and advisor of each Reference Asset is responsible for calculating and maintaining that Reference Asset. The sponsor and advisor of each Reference Asset can add, delete or substitute the stocks comprising that Reference Asset or make other methodological changes that could change the share price of the applicable Reference Asset at any time. If one or more of these events occurs, the calculation of the amount payable at maturity may be adjusted to reflect such event or events. Consequently, any of these actions could adversely affect the amount payable at maturity and/or the market value of the notes. |
| · | We and our affiliates do not have any affiliation with any applicable investment advisor or any Reference Asset Issuer and are not responsible for their public disclosure of information. — The investment advisor of each Reference Asset advises the issuer of the applicable Reference Asset (each, a “Reference Asset Issuer” and, collectively, the “Reference Asset Issuers”) on various matters, including matters relating to the policies, maintenance and calculation of the applicable Reference Asset. We and our affiliates are not affiliated with the investment advisor of any Reference Asset or any Reference Asset Issuer in any way and have no ability to control or predict their actions, including any errors in or discontinuance of disclosure regarding the methods or policies relating to a Reference Asset. No investment advisor of a Reference Asset nor any Reference Asset Issuer is involved in the offerings of the notes in any way and has no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the notes in taking any actions relating to a Reference Asset that might affect the value of the notes. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has independently verified the adequacy or accuracy of the information about any investment advisor or any Reference Asset Issuer contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the notes, should make your own investigation into the Reference Asset Issuers. |
| · | The correlation between the performance of a Reference Asset and the performance of the applicable Underlying Index may be imperfect. — The performance of each Reference Asset is linked principally to the performance of the applicable Underlying Index. However, because of the potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product supplement, the return on a Reference Asset may correlate imperfectly with the return on the applicable Underlying Index. |
| · | The Reference Assets are subject to management risks. — The Reference Assets are subject to management risk, which is the risk that the applicable 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 applicable investment advisor may invest a portion of a Reference Asset Issuer’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the applicable investment advisor believes will help applicable the Reference Asset track the relevant industry or sector. |
| · | You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Reference Assets. — In the ordinary
course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the prices of the Reference Assets
or the prices of the securities held by the Reference Assets. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish,
research reports that express views on the Reference 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 Reference Assets at any time may have significantly different
views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Reference 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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Risks Related to the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF
| · | An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with concentration in the real estate sector. — All or substantially all of the securities held by the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF are issued by companies whose primary line of business is directly associated with the real estate sector. As a result, the value of the notes may be subject to greater volatility and be more adversely affected by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting this sector than a different investment linked to securities of a more broadly diversified group of issuers. An investment in a real property company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area or a single type of property. Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities of real property companies. In particular, REITs may be affected by changes in the values of the underlying properties that they own or operate. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills and their investments may be concentrated in relatively few properties or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency and, as a result, are particularly reliant on the proper functioning of capital markets. A variety of economic and other factors may adversely affect a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to a REIT. In the event of a default by a lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a lessor and may incur substantial costs associated in protecting its investments. In addition, a REIT could fail to qualify for favorable tax or regulatory treatment. These factors could affect the real estate sector and could affect the value of the equity securities held by the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF and the price of the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF during the term of the notes, which may adversely affect the value of your notes. |
Risks Relating to the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF
| · | An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with investments in securities with a concentration in the utilities sector. — All or substantially all of the securities tracked by the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF are stocks of companies whose primary business is directly associated with the utilities sector. Because the value of the notes is linked to the performance of the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF, an investment in the notes exposes investors to risks associated with investments in securities with a concentration in the utilities sector. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors, rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company’s earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but, conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company’s equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability. Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes. The value of the notes may be subject to greater volatility and be more adversely affected by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting the utilities sector than a different investment linked to securities of a more broadly diversified group of issuers. |
Risks Relating to the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF
| · | An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with the software sector. — All or substantially all of the equity securities held by the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF are issued by companies whose primary line of business is directly associated with the design, distribution, manufacture and sale of software. As a result, the value of the securities may be subject to greater volatility and be more adversely affected by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting this sector than a different investment linked to securities of a more broadly diversified group of issuers. The values of companies that are involved in the software industry, such as application software, systems software and home entertainment software sub-industries, are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation, changes in the prices and availability of raw materials and competition in the software industry, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with potentially lower productions costs. Such companies may also be heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability. Additionally, such companies may face competition for the services of, and difficulties in employing and retaining, qualified personnel. |
| · | An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with mid-size capitalization and small capitalization stocks. — The iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF may invest in companies that may be considered small-capitalization or mid-capitalization companies. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies and therefore the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF’s share price may be more volatile than an investment in stocks issued by large-capitalization companies. Stock prices of small-capitalization or mid-capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization or mid-capitalization companies may be thinly traded, making it difficult for the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF to buy and sell them. In addition, small-capitalization or mid-capitalization companies are typically less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of personnel. Small-capitalization or mid-capitalization companies are often subject to less analyst coverage and may be in early, and less predictable, periods of their corporate existences. Such companies tend to have smaller revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets, fewer financial resources and less competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products. |
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General Risk Factors
| · | 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 any 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. |
| · | 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 Reference Assets or the securities held by a Reference Asset 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 level of the Reference Assets and, therefore, the market value of, and the payments on, 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 Reference 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. |
| · | 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 any 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 of the notes may be as low as the amount indicated on the cover page hereof. |
| · | 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 hereof 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 Reference 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 herein and in 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. |
| · | 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. |
| · | 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 any 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. |
| · | 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. |
| · | Hedging and trading activities. — We or any of our affiliates have carried out or may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including purchasing or selling shares of the Reference Assets or securities held by the Reference Assets, futures or options relating to the Reference Assets or securities held by the Reference Assets or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance on the Reference Assets or securities held by the Reference Assets. We or our affiliates may also trade in the Reference Assets, such securities, or instruments related to the Reference Assets or such securities 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. |
| · | Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the levels of the Reference Assets 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. |
| · | 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 herein. 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" herein, the section entitled "Supplemental Tax Considerations–Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the accompanying product supplement, the section entitled "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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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 subject to an Issuer Call. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00, a hypothetical Trigger Level of $60.00 (60.00% of the hypothetical Initial Level), a range of hypothetical Final Levels and the effect on the payment at maturity.
The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. If the notes are not subject to an Issuer Call, the actual cash amount that you will receive at maturity will depend upon the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset. If the notes are subject to an Issuer Call 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 any applicable Contingent Coupon.
As discussed in more detail above, your total return on the notes will also depend on the number of Contingent Coupon Dates on which the Contingent Coupon is payable. It is possible that the only payments on your notes will be the payment, if any, due at maturity. The payment at maturity will not exceed the principal amount, and may be significantly less.
| Hypothetical Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset |
Hypothetical Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset Expressed as a Percentage of its Initial Level |
Payment at Maturity (Excluding Coupons) |
| $200.00 | 200.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $180.00 | 180.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $160.00 | 160.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $140.00 | 140.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $120.00 | 120.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $100.00 | 100.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $90.00 | 90.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $80.00 | 80.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $70.00 | 70.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $60.00 | 60.00% | $1,000.00 |
| $59.99 | 59.99% | $599.90 |
| $40.00 | 40.00% | $400.00 |
| $20.00 | 20.00% | $200.00 |
| $0.00 | 0.00% | $0.00 |
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U.S. Federal Tax Information
By purchasing the notes, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat each note as a pre-paid contingent income-bearing derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the opinion of our counsel, Mayer Brown LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat the notes as pre-paid contingent income-bearing derivative contracts in respect of the Reference Assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the discussion in the accompanying product supplement under "Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Notes Treated as Investment Units Consisting of a Debt Portion and a Put Option, as Pre-Paid Contingent Income-Bearing Derivative Contracts, or as Pre-Paid Derivative Contracts—Notes Treated as Pre-Paid Contingent Income-Bearing Derivative Contracts," which applies to the notes.
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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 hereof. 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 each additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will receive a commission from BMOCM, which will not exceed the commission set forth on the cover page. We or one of our affiliates may also pay a referral fee to certain dealers in connection with the distribution of the notes.
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 will deliver the notes on a date that is greater than one business day following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than one business day prior to the issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
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 the Reference Assets 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 the final pricing supplement relating to the notes in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use the final pricing supplement 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) any 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.
The notes and the related offer to purchase notes and sale of notes under the terms and conditions provided herein do not constitute a public offering in any non-U.S. jurisdiction, and are being made available only to individually identified investors pursuant to a private offering as permitted in the relevant jurisdiction. The notes are not, and will not be, registered with any securities exchange or registry located outside of the United States and have not been registered with any non-U.S. securities or banking regulatory authority. The contents of this document have not been reviewed or approved by any non-U.S. securities or banking regulatory authority. Any person who wishes to acquire the notes from outside the United States should seek the advice or legal counsel as to the relevant requirements to acquire these notes.
British Virgin Islands. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the laws and regulations of the British Virgin Islands, nor has any regulatory authority in the British Virgin Islands passed comment upon or approved the accuracy or adequacy of this document. This pricing supplement and the related documents shall not constitute an offer, invitation or solicitation to any member of the public in the British Virgin Islands for the purposes of the Securities and Investment Business Act, 2010, of the British Virgin Islands.
Cayman Islands. Pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, no invitation may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for the notes by or on behalf of the issuer unless at the time of such invitation the issuer is listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange. The issuer is not presently listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange and, accordingly, no invitation to the public in the Cayman Islands is to be made by the issuer (or by any dealer on its behalf). No such invitation is made to the public in the Cayman Islands hereby.
Dominican Republic. Nothing in this pricing supplement constitutes an offer of securities for sale in the Dominican Republic. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered with the Superintendence of Securities Market of the Dominican Republic (Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores), under Dominican Securities Market Law No. 249-17 (“Securities Law 249-17”), and the notes may not be offered or sold within the Dominican Republic or to, or for the account or benefit of, Dominican persons (as defined under Securities Law 249-17 and its regulations). Failure to comply with these directives may result in a violation of Securities Law 249-17 and its regulations.
Israel. This pricing supplement is intended solely for investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended. A prospectus has not been prepared or filed, and will not be prepared or filed, in Israel relating to the notes offered hereunder. The notes cannot be resold in Israel other than to investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended.
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No action will be taken in Israel that would permit an offering of the notes or the distribution of any offering document or any other material to the public in Israel. In particular, no offering document or other material has been reviewed or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. Any material provided to an offeree in Israel may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose, nor be furnished to any other person other than those to whom copies have been provided directly by us or the selling agents.
Nothing in this pricing supplement or any other offering material relating to the notes, should be considered as the rendering of a recommendation or advice, including investment advice or investment marketing under the Law For Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management, 1995, to purchase any note. The purchase of any note will be based on an investor’s own understanding, for the investor’s own benefit and for the investor’s own account and not with the aim or intention of distributing or offering to other parties. In purchasing the notes, each investor declares that it has the knowledge, expertise and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of an investment in the notes, without relying on any of the materials provided.
Mexico. The notes have not been registered with the National Registry of Securities maintained by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. This pricing supplement and the related documents may not be publicly distributed in Mexico. The notes may only be offered in a private offering pursuant to Article 8 of the Securities Market Law.
Switzerland. This pricing supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in any notes. Neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus compliant with the requirements of articles 35 et seq. of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") for a public offering of the notes in Switzerland and no such prospectus has been or will be prepared for or in connection with the offering of the notes in Switzerland.
Neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes has been or will be filed with or approved by a Swiss review body (Prüfstelle). No application has been or is intended to be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or any multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of FinSA except (i) in any circumstances falling within the exemptions to prepare a prospectus listed in article 36 para. 1 FinSA or (ii) where such offer does not qualify as a public offer in Switzerland, provided always that no offer of notes shall require the Issuer or any offeror to publish a prospectus pursuant to article 35 FinSA in respect to such offer and that such offer shall comply with the additional restrictions set out below (if applicable). The Issuer has not authorised and does not authorise any offer of notes which would require the Issuer or any offeror to publish a prospectus pursuant to article 35 FinSA in respect of such offer. For purposes of this provision "public offer" shall have the meaning as such term is understood pursuant to article 3 lit. g and h FinSA and the Swiss Financial Services Ordinance ("FinSO").
The notes do not constitute participations in a collective investment scheme within the meaning of the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act. They are not subject to the approval of, or supervision by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA"), and investors in the notes will not benefit from protection under CISA or supervision by FINMA.
Prohibition of Offer to Private Clients in Switzerland - No Key Information Document pursuant to article 58 FinSA (Basisinformationsblatt für Finanzinstrumente) or equivalent document under foreign law pursuant to article 59 para. 2 FinSA has been or will be prepared in relation to the notes. Therefore, the following additional restriction applies: Notes qualifying as "debt securities with a derivative character" pursuant to article 86 para. 2 FinSO may not be offered within the meaning of article 58 para. 1 FinSA, and neither this pricing supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to such notes may be made available, to any retail client (Privatkunde) within the meaning of FinSA in Switzerland.
The notes may also be sold in the following jurisdictions, provided, in each case, any sales are made in accordance with all applicable laws in such jurisdiction:
| · | Barbados |
| · | Bermuda |
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Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes
Our estimated initial value of the notes on the date hereof, 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:
| · | a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the notes, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and |
| · | one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the notes. |
The internal funding rate used in the determination of the initial estimated value generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The value of these derivative transactions is derived from our internal pricing models. These models are based on factors such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on other inputs, which include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. As a result, the estimated initial value of the notes on the Pricing Date will be determined based on the market conditions on the Pricing Date.
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The Reference Assets
We have derived the following information from publicly available documents. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the following information. We are not affiliated with any Reference Asset Issuer and the Reference Asset Issuers will have no obligations with respect to the notes. This document relates only to the notes and does not relate to the shares of the Reference Assets or any securities included in any Underlying Index. Neither we nor any of our affiliates participates in the preparation of the publicly available documents described below. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Reference Assets in connection with the offering of the notes. There can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described below and that would affect the trading price of the shares of the Reference Assets, have been or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Reference Assets could affect the price of the shares of the Reference Assets on each Observation Date and on the Valuation Date, and therefore could affect the payments on the notes.
The selection of a Reference Asset is not a recommendation to buy or sell the shares of that Reference Asset. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the shares of the Reference Assets. Information provided to or filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to the Reference Assets may be obtained through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
We encourage you to review recent levels of the Reference Assets prior to making an investment decision with respect to the notes.
The State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF (“XLRE”)
The State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF is an investment portfolio managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSFM”), the investment adviser to the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF. The State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the real estate sector, represented by the Real Estate Select Sector Index. Information about the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF can be found by reference to its SEC file numbers 333-57791 and 811-08837. Shares of the State Street® Real Estate Select Sector SPDR® ETF are listed on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XLRE.”
The Real Estate Select Sector Index
The Real Estate Select Sector Index is a modified market capitalization-based index, intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movements of companies that are components of the SPX and are involved in the financial industry. The Real Estate Select Sector Index is one of the nine Select Sector sub-indices of the SPX, each of which we refer to as a “Select Sector Index.”
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the “Index Compilation Agent”). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the “Index Provider”). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The composition and weighting of the stocks included in the Real Estate Select Sector Index will likely differ from the composition and weighting of stocks included in any similar Select Sector Index that is published and disseminated by S&P. S&P’s only relationship to the Index Compilation Agent is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the SPX which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the Index Compilation Agent.
The Select Sector Indices
Construction, Maintenance and Calculation of The Select Sector Indices:
The Select Sector Index is developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria:
| · | Each of the component stocks in a Select Sector Index (the “Component Stocks”) has been selected from the universe of companies defined by the SPX. |
| · | Each stock in the SPX is allocated to one and only one of the Select Sector Indices. |
| · | The Index Compilation Agent assigns each constituent stock of the S&P 500 Index to a Select Sector Index based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). S&P DJI has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500 and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500. |
| · | Each Select Sector Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology; that means the level of the Select Sector Index reflects the total market value of all of its Component Stocks relative to a particular base period. Statisticians refer to this type of index, one with a set of combined variables (such as price and number of shares), as a composite index. |
| · | Each Select Sector Index is calculated using the same methodology utilized by S&P DJI in calculating the SPX, using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The daily calculation of each Select Sector Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the companies in the Select Sector Index by a number called the “Index Divisor.” |
| · | Each Select Sector Index is weighted, on a quarterly basis, based on the float-adjusted market capitalization of each of the Component Stocks, subject to the following asset diversification requirements: (i) the market capitalization-based weighted value of any single Component Stock measured with prices as of the reference date and membership, shares outstanding and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date may not exceed 25% of the total value of its respective Select Sector Index; and (ii) the sum of the constituent stocks with weight greater than 4.8% cannot exceed 50% of the total Index weight. |
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| · | Rebalancing the Select Sector Indices to meet the asset diversification requirements will be the responsibility of S&P. If on the second Friday of any calendar quarter-end month (a “Quarterly Qualification Date”), a Component Stock (or two or more Component Stocks) approaches the maximum allowable value limits set forth above (the “Asset Diversification Limits”), the percentage that such Component Stock (or Component Stocks) represents in the Select Sector Index will be reduced and the market capitalization-based weighted value of such Component Stock (or Component Stocks) will be redistributed across the Component Stocks that do not closely approach the Asset Diversification Limits in accordance with the following methodology: First, each Component Stock that exceeds 24% of the total value of the Select Sector Index will be reduced to 23% of the total value of the Select Sector Index and the excess amount will be redistributed proportionally across the remaining Component Stocks that each represent less than 23% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. If as a result of this redistribution, another Component Stock then exceeds 23%, the redistribution will be repeated as necessary until no company breaches the 23% weight cap. Second, if the sum of Component Stocks that each exceed 4.8% of the total value of the Select Sector Index exceeds 50% of the total value of the Index, the Component Stocks will be ranked in descending order of their float-adjusted market capitalization, and the first Component Stock to cause the 50% limit to be breached will be reduced to 4.5% and the excess amount will be distributed proportionally across all remaining Component Stocks that represent less than 4.5% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. This redistribution process will be repeated as necessary until at least 50% of the value of the Select Sector Index is accounted for by Component Stocks representing no more than 4.8% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. If necessary, this reallocation process may take place more than once to ensure that the Select Sector Index and the Select Sector SPDR Fund portfolio based upon it conform to the requirements for qualification of the Select Sector SPDR Fund as a regulated investment company (“RIC”), under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). |
This occurs at the closing prices of the second Friday of March, June, September and December and becomes effective after the market close on the third Friday of March, June, September and December.
If, on the second to last business day of March, June, September, or December a company has a weight greater than 24% or the sum of the companies with weights greater than 4.8% exceeds 50%, a secondary rebalancing will be triggered with the rebalancing effective date being after the close of the last business day of the month. This secondary rebalancing will use the closing prices as of the second to last business day of March, June, September, or December, and membership, shares outstanding, and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date.
The Index Compilation Agent at any time may determine that a Component Stock which has been assigned to one Select Sector Index has undergone such a transformation in the composition of its business that it should be removed from that Select Sector Index and assigned to a different Select Sector Index. In the event that the Index Compilation Agent notifies the index calculation agent that a Component Stock’s Select Sector Index assignment should be changed, the index calculation agent will disseminate notice of the change following its standard procedure for announcing index changes and will implement the change in the affected Select Sector Indices on a date no less than one week after the initial dissemination of information on the sector change to the maximum extent practicable. It is not anticipated that Component Stocks will change sectors frequently. Component Stocks removed from and added to the SPX will be deleted from and added to the appropriate Select Sector Index on the same schedule used by S&P for additions and deletions from the SPX insofar as practicable.
The State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF (“XLU”)
The State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF is an investment portfolio managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSFM”), the investment adviser to the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF. The State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the utilities sector, as represented by the Utilities Select Sector Index. Information about the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF can be found by reference to its SEC file numbers 333-57791 and 811-08837. Shares of the State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF are listed on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XLU.”
The Utilities Select Sector Index
The Utilities Select Sector Index is a modified market capitalization-based index, intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movements of companies that are components of the SPX and are involved in the utilities industry. The Utilities Select Sector Index is one of the eleven Select Sector sub-indices of the SPX, each of which we refer to as a “Select Sector Index.”
The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the “Index Compilation Agent”). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the “Index Provider”). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The composition and weighting of the stocks included in the Utilities Select Sector Index will likely differ from the composition and weighting of stocks included in any similar Select Sector Index that is published and disseminated by S&P. S&P’s only relationship to the Index Compilation Agent is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the SPX which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the Index Compilation Agent.
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The Select Sector Indices
Construction, Maintenance and Calculation of The Select Sector Indices:
The Select Sector Index is developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria:
| · | Each of the component stocks in a Select Sector Index (the “Component Stocks”) has been selected from the universe of companies defined by the SPX. |
| · | Each stock in the SPX is allocated to one and only one of the Select Sector Indices. |
| · | The Index Compilation Agent assigns each constituent stock of the S&P 500 Index to a Select Sector Index based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). S&P DJI has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500 and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500. |
| · | Each Select Sector Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology; that means the level of the Select Sector Index reflects the total market value of all of its Component Stocks relative to a particular base period. Statisticians refer to this type of index, one with a set of combined variables (such as price and number of shares), as a composite index. |
| · | Each Select Sector Index is calculated using the same methodology utilized by S&P DJI in calculating the SPX, using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The daily calculation of each Select Sector Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the companies in the Select Sector Index by a number called the “Index Divisor.” |
| · | Each Select Sector Index is weighted, on a quarterly basis, based on the float-adjusted market capitalization of each of the Component Stocks, subject to the following asset diversification requirements: (i) the market capitalization-based weighted value of any single Component Stock measured with prices as of the reference date and membership, shares outstanding and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date may not exceed 25% of the total value of its respective Select Sector Index; and (ii) the sum of the constituent stocks with weight greater than 4.8% cannot exceed 50% of the total Index weight. |
| · | Rebalancing the Select Sector Indices to meet the asset diversification requirements will be the responsibility of S&P. If on the second Friday of any calendar quarter-end month (a “Quarterly Qualification Date”), a Component Stock (or two or more Component Stocks) approaches the maximum allowable value limits set forth above (the “Asset Diversification Limits”), the percentage that such Component Stock (or Component Stocks) represents in the Select Sector Index will be reduced and the market capitalization-based weighted value of such Component Stock (or Component Stocks) will be redistributed across the Component Stocks that do not closely approach the Asset Diversification Limits in accordance with the following methodology: First, each Component Stock that exceeds 24% of the total value of the Select Sector Index will be reduced to 23% of the total value of the Select Sector Index and the excess amount will be redistributed proportionally across the remaining Component Stocks that each represent less than 23% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. If as a result of this redistribution, another Component Stock then exceeds 23%, the redistribution will be repeated as necessary until no company breaches the 23% weight cap. Second, if the sum of Component Stocks that each exceed 4.8% of the total value of the Select Sector Index exceeds 50% of the total value of the Index, the Component Stocks will be ranked in descending order of their float-adjusted market capitalization, and the first Component Stock to cause the 50% limit to be breached will be reduced to 4.5% and the excess amount will be distributed proportionally across all remaining Component Stocks that represent less than 4.5% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. This redistribution process will be repeated as necessary until at least 50% of the value of the Select Sector Index is accounted for by Component Stocks representing no more than 4.8% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. If necessary, this reallocation process may take place more than once to ensure that the Select Sector Index and the Select Sector SPDR Fund portfolio based upon it conform to the requirements for qualification of the Select Sector SPDR Fund as a regulated investment company (“RIC”), under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). |
This occurs at the closing prices of the second Friday of March, June, September and December and becomes effective after the market close on the third Friday of March, June, September and December.
If, on the second to last business day of March, June, September, or December a company has a weight greater than 24% or the sum of the companies with weights greater than 4.8% exceeds 50%, a secondary rebalancing will be triggered with the rebalancing effective date being after the close of the last business day of the month. This secondary rebalancing will use the closing prices as of the second to last business day of March, June, September, or December, and membership, shares outstanding, and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date.
The Index Compilation Agent at any time may determine that a Component Stock which has been assigned to one Select Sector Index has undergone such a transformation in the composition of its business that it should be removed from that Select Sector Index and assigned to a different Select Sector Index. In the event that the Index Compilation Agent notifies the index calculation agent that a Component Stock’s Select Sector Index assignment should be changed, the index calculation agent will disseminate notice of the change following its standard procedure for announcing index changes and will implement the change in the affected Select Sector Indices on a date no less than one week after the initial dissemination of information on the sector change to the maximum extent practicable. It is not anticipated that Component Stocks will change sectors frequently. Component Stocks removed from and added to the SPX will be deleted from and added to the appropriate Select Sector Index on the same schedule used by S&P for additions and deletions from the SPX insofar as practicable.
The iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (“IGV”)
The iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF is an exchange-traded fund of iShares Trust, a registered investment company, that is advised by BlackRock Fund Advisors, that seeks to track the investment results, before fees and expenses, of an index composed of North American equities in the software industry and select North American equities from interactive home entertainment and interactive media and services industries, which is currently the S&P North American Expanded Technology Software IndexTM. The S&P North American Expanded Technology Software IndexTM is a modified market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of U.S.-traded securities in the GICS application software and systems software sub-industries, as well as applicable supplementary stocks. Information about the iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF filed with the SEC can be found by reference to its SEC file numbers: 333-92935 and 811-09729 or its CIK Code: 0001100663. The iShares® Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF trades on the Cboe BZX under the ticker symbol “IGV.”
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The S&P North American Expanded Technology Software IndexTM
The S&P North American Expanded Technology Software IndexTM (the “Expanded Technology Software Index”) is calculated, maintained and published by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P Dow Jones”). S&P Dow Jones has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue the publication of, the Expanded Technology Software Index.
The Expanded Technology Software Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of U.S.-traded securities in the GICS application software and systems software sub-industries, as well as applicable supplementary stocks. The Expanded Technology Software Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “SPNASEUP.”
Expanded Technology Software Index Composition and Construction
The Expanded Technology Software Index is comprised of the constituents of the S&P North American Technology Software IndexTM (the “Parent Index”) and eligible supplementary stocks. S&P Dow Jones assigns constituents to the Parent Index based on the constituent’s classification under the GICS. The Parent Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index that measures the performance of the GICS application software and systems software sub-industries.
The supplementary stocks as of November 2024 include the common stock of Electronic Arts, Snap, Inc. and Take-Two Interactive Software. Supplementary stocks are included in the Expanded Technology Software Index if the relevant stock is not included in the list of eligible GICS classifications but otherwise meets all eligibility criteria of the Parent Index.
Parent Index Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for inclusion in the Parent Index, the company must be a member of either the S&P Total Market Index (the “S&P TMI”) or the S&P/TSX Composite Index (the “S&P TSX”).
| · | The S&P TMI offers broad market exposure to companies of all market capitalizations, including all U.S. common equities with a primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Arca, NYSE American, Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Select Market, Nasdaq Capital Market, Cboe BZX, Cboe BYX, Cboe EDGA or Cboe EDGX exchanges. Only U.S. companies are eligible for inclusion in the S&P TMI. |
| · | The S&P TSX is a broad market measure for the Canadian equity markets and includes common stocks and income trust units. Canadian companies included in the S&P TSX must meet minimum market capitalization requirements based on their volume weighted average prices on the Toronto Stock Exchange. |
Other eligibility criteria include:
| · | Market Capitalization. A company must have a total market capitalization above the sector capitalization cutoff of US$1.4 billion as of the rebalancing reference date to be added to the Parent Index. This cutoff is subject to change depending on market requirements. Current constituents of the Parent Index with a full market capitalization below 50% of the sector capitalization cutoff are removed. |
| · | Liquidity. Stocks must have a liquidity ratio greater than 30% (current constituents must have a minimum of 15%). The liquidity ratio is defined as the annualized dollar value traded over the previous six months divided by the average total market capitalization over the previous six months. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for initial public offerings or spin-offs that do not have six months of trading history. If a stock has been trading for fewer than six calendar months, the stock’s average daily share volume for its entire trading history is used to calculate its liquidity ratio. Current constituents of the Parent Index with a liquidity ratio less than 15%, based on annualized dollar value traded for the prior six calendar months, are removed. |
| · | Public Float. Companies with a public float below 20% are not eligible (or 10% for current constituents of the Parent Index). |
| · | Exchange Listing. The company’s stock must trade on the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Stock Market or Cboe. Only actual common shares outstanding are eligible for inclusion. Canadian companies with common shares listed on the above exchanges are eligible for inclusion, but American Depositary Receipts are not eligible. |
| · | Sector Classification. Companies must be classified under the GICS application software or systems software sub-industries. |
| · | Minimum Constituent Count. At each quarterly rebalancing, if the constituent count is less than 22 after applying the rules set forth in the eligibility criteria, the market capitalization requirement is relaxed so that the next largest non-constituent in the eligible universe is added until the constituent count reaches 22. A buffer is applied such that a stock being added must have a float-adjusted market capitalization greater than 1.2 times (or 20% higher than) the stock it is replacing. The buffer is evaluated on each stock addition relative to the current stock it is replacing. For example, the largest non-index stock by float-adjusted market capitalization is evaluated against the smallest index constituent, the second largest non-index stock is evaluated against the second smallest index constituent, etc. This process is repeated until no stock additions exceed the buffer. |
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| · | Multiple Classes of Stock. All publicly listed multiple share class lines are eligible for inclusion in the Parent Index, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. |
Additions and Deletions to the Expanded Technology Software Index
Additions to the Parent Index are added to the Expanded Technology Software Index simultaneously. With the exception of the Supplementary Stocks, constituents removed from the Parent Index are removed from the Expanded Technology Software Index simultaneously. If a Supplementary Stock is removed from the S&P TMI, it is removed from the Expanded Technology Software Index simultaneously. See “– Maintenance and Governance of the Expanded Technology Software Index and the Parent Index” below for additional information on additions and deletions.
Expanded Technology Software Index Capping Methodology
For capping purposes, the Expanded Technology Software Index is rebalanced quarterly, after the market close on the third Friday of March, June, September and December, using the following procedures:
| 1. | The rebalancing reference date is the Thursday prior to the second Friday of March, June, September and December. |
| 2. | With prices reflected on the rebalancing reference date, and membership, shares outstanding and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date, each company is weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization. |
| 3. | If any company’s weight exceeds 8.5%, that company’s weight is capped at the maximum level and all excess weight is proportionally redistributed to all uncapped companies within the Expanded Technology Software Index. If, after this redistribution, any company breaches the weight cap, the process is repeated iteratively until no company breaches the company capping rule. |
| 4. | The aggregate weight of the companies in the Expanded Technology Software Index with a weight greater than 4.5% cannot exceed 45%. These caps are set to allow for a buffer below the respective 5% and 50% limits. |
| 5. | If the rule in paragraph 4 is breached, all the companies are ranked in descending order of their weights and the company with the lowest weight that causes the 45% limit to be breached is reduced either until the rule in paragraph 4 is satisfied or its individual weight falls to 4.5%. |
| 6. | This excess weight is proportionally redistributed to all companies with weights below 4.5%. Any stock that receives weight cannot breach the 4.5% cap. This process is repeated iteratively until paragraph 4 is satisfied or until all stocks are greater than or equal to 4.5%. |
Maintenance and Governance of the Expanded Technology Software Index and the Parent Index
Membership in the Expanded Technology Software Index and the Parent Index is reviewed semi-annually, effective after the market close on the third Friday of June and December. The reconstitution reference date is after the market close of the last trading date of the previous month.
Additions. Except for spin-offs, companies can only be added at the time of the semi-annual reconstitution. All companies not already included which meet the eligibility criteria on the reconstitution reference date are added prior to the open of trading on the reconstitution date.
Deletions. Between rebalancings, a company can be deleted due to corporate events such as mergers, acquisitions, takeovers or delistings. Deleted constituents are not replaced. In the case of GICS changes, where a company does not belong to a qualifying sector after a classification change, it is removed at the next reconstitution.
Spin-offs. The spin-off is added at a zero price after the market close of the day before the ex-date (with no divisor adjustment). If the spin-off remains in the S&P TMI or the S&P TSX, both the parent and the spin-off will remain until the next index reconstitution, at which time each will be evaluated for continued membership. If the spin-off does not remain in the underlying universe, the spin-off is then after the close of its first day of regular way trading (with a divisor adjustment).
Other Corporate Actions. Adjustments may be made for other corporate actions, such as changes in shares outstanding, stock splits or reverse splits, special dividends, right offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
Other Adjustments. In cases where there is no achievable market price for a stock being deleted, it can be removed at a zero or minimal price.
An S&P Dow Jones Index Committee (“Index Committee”) maintains the Parent Index and the Expanded Technology Software Index. The Index Committee may revise the methodology, method of calculation and method of adjustments for the Parent Index and/or the Expanded Technology Software Index at any time and may make exceptions when applying the methodology.
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