Registration Statement No. 333-196387
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Subject to Completion, dated January 4, 2016
Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated June 27, 2014, the Prospectus Supplement
dated June 27, 2014 and the Product Supplement dated October 1, 2015
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series C
Buffered Bullish Enhanced Return Notes due January 31, 2018
Each Linked to a Single Exchange Traded Fund
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This pricing supplement relates to two separate note offerings. Each issue of the notes is linked to one, and only one, Underlying Asset named below. You may participate in either offering or, at your election, both. This pricing supplement does not, however, allow you to purchase a single note linked to a basket of the Underlying Assets described below.
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An investor in the notes may lose up to 90% of their principal amount at maturity.
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The notes are designed for investors who seek a 150% leveraged return based on the appreciation in the share price of the applicable Underlying Asset. Investors should be willing to accept a payment at maturity that is capped at the applicable Maximum Redemption Amount (as defined below), be willing to forgo periodic interest, and be willing to lose 1% of their principal amount for each 1% that the price of the applicable Underlying Asset decreases by more than 10% from its price on the Pricing Date.
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The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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Any payment at maturity is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.
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The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
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Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.
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Common Terms for Each of the Notes:
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Pricing Date:
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On or about January 26, 2016
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Maturity Date:
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On or about January 31, 2018
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Settlement Date:
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On or about January 29, 2016
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Buffer Percentage:
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10%
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Valuation Date:
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On or about January 26, 2018
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Buffer Level:
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90% of the Initial Level
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Specific Terms for Each of the Notes:
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Underlying Asset
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Cap
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Maximum
Redemption
Amount
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Initial
Level*
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CUSIP
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Principal
Amount*
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Price to
Public
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Agent’s
Commission
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Proceeds to Bank
of Montreal
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SPDR® S&P® Oil
& Gas Exploration
& Production ETF
(XOP)
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33.33%
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$1,500
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06366R6K6
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US$●
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100%
US$1,000
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2.3%
US$
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97.7%
US$●
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Energy Select Sector
SPDR® Fund (XLE)
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16%
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$1,240
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06366R6L4
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US$●
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100%
US$1,000
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2.3%
US$
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97.7%
US$●
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* The actual principal amount and Initial Level for each note will be set on the Pricing Date.
Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-5 of this pricing supplement, the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-5 of the product supplement, and the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement and on page 7 of the prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the accuracy of this pricing supplement, the product supplement, the prospectus supplement or the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will not be savings accounts or deposits that are insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Bank Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity.
On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, the estimated initial value of the notes is $955.20 per $1,000 in principal amount as to the notes linked to XOP, and $935.20 per $1,000 in principal amount as to the notes linked to XLE. The estimated initial value of the notes on the Pricing Date may differ from this value but will not be less than $935 per $1,000 in principal amount as to the notes linked to XOP, and $915 per $1,000 in principal amount as to the notes linked to XLE. However, as discussed in more detail in this pricing supplement, the actual value of each of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
Key Terms of Each of the Notes:
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General:
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This pricing supplement relates to two separate offerings of notes. Each offering is a separate offering of notes linked to one, and only one, Underlying Asset. If you wish to participate in both of the offerings, you must purchase each of the notes separately. The notes offered by this pricing supplement do not represent notes linked to a basket of the Underlying Assets.
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the Percentage Change is greater than or equal to the applicable Cap, then the amount that the investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal the applicable Maximum Redemption Amount.
If the Percentage Change is positive but is less than the applicable Cap, then the amount that the investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal:
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Principal Amount + [Principal Amount × Percentage Change x Upside Leverage Factor]
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If the Percentage Change is between 0% and -10% inclusive, then the amount that the investors will receive at maturity will equal the principal amount of the notes.
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If the Percentage Change is less than -10%, then the payment at maturity will equal:
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Principal Amount + [Principal Amount × (Percentage Change + Buffer Percentage)]
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Initial Level:
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The closing price of one share of the applicable Underlying Asset on the Pricing Date.
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Final Level:
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The closing price of one share of the applicable Underlying Asset on the Valuation Date.
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Buffer Level:
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90% of the Initial Level.
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Buffer Percentage:
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10%. Accordingly, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity only if the price of the applicable Underlying Asset does not decrease by more than 10%. If the Final Level is less than the Buffer Level, you will receive less than the principal amount of your notes at maturity, and you could lose up to 90% of the principal amount of your notes.
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Upside Leverage Factor:
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150%
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Percentage Change:
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Final Level – Initial Level, expressed as a percentage.
Initial Level
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Pricing Date:
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On or about January 26, 2016
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Settlement Date:
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On or about January 29, 2016, as determined on the Pricing Date.
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Valuation Date:
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On or about January 26, 2018, as determined on the Pricing Date.
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Maturity Date:
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On or about January 31, 2018, as determined on the Pricing Date.
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Automatic Redemption:
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Not applicable.
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Calculation Agent:
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BMOCM
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Selling Agent:
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BMOCM
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P-2
Key Terms of the Notes Linked to the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF:
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Underlying Asset:
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SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSE Arca symbol: XOP). See the section below entitled “The Underlying Assets— SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF” for additional information about this Underlying Asset.
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Cap:
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33.33%
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Maximum Redemption
Amount:
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$1,500
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CUSIP:
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06366R6K6
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Key Terms of the Notes Linked to the Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund:
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Underlying Asset:
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Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund (NYSE Arca symbol: XLE). See the section below entitled “The Underlying Assets— Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund” for additional information about this Underlying Asset.
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Cap:
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16%
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Maximum Redemption
Amount:
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$1,240
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CUSIP:
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06366R6L4
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The Pricing Date and the Settlement Date are subject to change. The actual Pricing Date, Settlement Date, Valuation Date, Maturity Date and Initial Level for each of the notes will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.
P-3
Additional Terms of the Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the product supplement dated October 1, 2015, the prospectus supplement dated June 27, 2014 and the prospectus dated June 27, 2014. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of each of the notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours or the agent. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” in the product supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
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Product supplement dated October 1, 2015:
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Prospectus supplement dated June 27, 2014:
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Prospectus dated June 27, 2014:
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Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Bank of Montreal.
We have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offerings 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.
P-4
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the applicable Underlying Asset. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section of the product supplement.
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Your investment in the notes may result in a loss. — You may lose some or substantially all, of your investment in the notes. The minimum percentage of your principal that you are entitled to receive under the terms of the notes is only 10%. The payment at maturity will be based on the applicable Final Level, and whether the applicable Final Level of the applicable Underlying Asset on the Valuation Date is less than the applicable Buffer Level. You will lose 1% of the principal amount of your notes for each 1% that the Final Level is less than the Buffer Level. Accordingly, you could lose up to 90% of the principal amount of your notes.
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Your return on the notes is limited to the applicable Maximum Redemption Amount, regardless of any appreciation in the share price of the applicable Underlying Asset. — You will not receive a payment at maturity with a value greater than the applicable Maximum Redemption Amount per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes. This will be the case even if the Percentage Change of the applicable Underlying Asset exceeds the applicable Cap.
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Your investment is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. — Our credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our ability to pay the amount due at maturity, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes.
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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 Underlying Assets or securities held by the Underlying Assets on a regular basis as part of our general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for our customers. Any of these activities could adversely affect the prices of the Underlying Assets and, therefore, the market value of the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of the Underlying Assets. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we or one or more of our affiliates could adversely affect the market value of the notes.
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Our initial estimated value of the notes will be lower than the price to public. — Our initial estimated value of each of the notes is only an estimate, and is based on a number of factors. The price to public of each of the notes will exceed our initial estimated value, because costs associated with offering, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the price to public, but are not included in the estimated value. These costs include the underwriting discount and selling concessions, the profits that we and our affiliates expect to realize for assuming the risks in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging these obligations. The initial estimated value of each of the notes may be as low as the applicable amount indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement.
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Our initial estimated value does not represent any future value of the notes, and may also differ from the estimated value of any other party. — Our initial estimated value of each of the notes as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement is, and our estimated value as determined on the Pricing Date will be, derived using our internal pricing models. This value is based on market conditions and other relevant factors, which include volatility of the applicable Underlying Asset, 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 each of the notes could change dramatically due to changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness, and the other factors set forth in this pricing supplement and the product supplement. The value of each of the notes after the Pricing Date is not expected to correlate with one another. 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 values do not represent a minimum price at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market at any time.
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P-5
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The terms of the notes are not determined by reference to the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. — To determine the terms of the notes, we will use an internal funding rate that represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. As a result, the terms of the notes are less favorable to you than if we had used a higher funding rate.
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Certain costs are likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. — Absent any changes in market conditions, any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the price to public. This is because any secondary market prices will likely take into account our then-current market credit spreads, and because any secondary market prices are likely to exclude all or a portion of the underwriting discount and selling concessions, and hedging profits and estimated hedging costs that are included in the price to public of the notes and that may be reflected on your account statements. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction, such as dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs. As a result, the price, if any, at which BMOCM or any other party may be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the price to public. Any sale that you make prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you.
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Owning the notes is not the same as owning shares of the applicable Underlying Asset or a security directly linked to the applicable Underlying Asset. — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of the applicable Underlying Asset or a security directly linked to the performance of the applicable Underlying Asset and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the applicable Underlying Asset. Changes in the price of the applicable Underlying Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes. Even if the price of the applicable Underlying Asset increases 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 price of the applicable Underlying Asset increases. In addition, any dividends or other distributions paid on the applicable Underlying Asset will not be reflected in the amount payable on the notes.
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You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any shares of the applicable Underlying Asset at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the applicable Underlying Asset or any securities held by the applicable Underlying Asset. 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 applicable Underlying Asset or such other securities.
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Changes that affect the applicable Underlying Index will affect the market value of the notes and the amount you will receive at maturity. — The policies of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”) for the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry® Index and the S&P Energy Select Sector Index (each, an Underlying Index), concerning the calculation of the applicable Underlying Index, and the policies of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch,” which is the ‘Index Compilation Agent” of the S&P Energy Select Sector Index), including 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 Underlying Index, and, therefore, could affect the share price of the applicable Underlying Asset, the amount payable on the notes at maturity, 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 Index Sponsor or Index Compilation Agent changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the applicable Underlying Index, or if the Index Sponsor discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the applicable Underlying Index.
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We have no affiliation with the Index Sponsor or the Index Compilation Agent and will not be responsible for any actions taken by them. — The Index Sponsor and the Index Compilation Agent are not affiliates of ours and will not be involved in the offerings of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over their actions, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The Index Sponsor and the Index Compilation Agent have no obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, they 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 any issuance of the notes will be delivered to the Index Sponsor or Index Compilation Agent.
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P-6
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Adjustments to the applicable Underlying Asset could adversely affect the notes. SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSFM”), as the sponsor and advisor of the Underlying Assets, is responsible for calculating and maintaining each of the Underlying Assets. SSFM can add, delete or substitute the stocks comprising the applicable Underlying Asset or may make other methodological changes that could change the share price of the applicable Underlying 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 applicable notes.
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We and our affiliates do not have any affiliation with the investment advisor of the Underlying Assets and are not responsible for its public disclosure of information. —The investment advisor of the Underlying Assets advises each Underlying Asset on various matters including matters relating to the policies, maintenance and calculation of the applicable Underlying Asset. We and our affiliates are not affiliated with the investment advisor in any way and have no ability to control or predict its actions, including any errors in or discontinuance of disclosure regarding its methods or policies relating to any of the Underlying Assets. The investment advisor is not involved in the offerings of the notes in any way and has no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the applicable notes in taking any actions relating to the applicable Underlying Asset that might affect the value of those notes. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has independently verified the adequacy or accuracy of the information about the investment advisor or any of the Underlying Assets contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the applicable notes, should make your own investigation into the applicable Underlying Asset.
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The correlation between the performance of the applicable Underlying Asset and the performance of the applicable Underlying Index may be imperfect. — The performance of the applicable Underlying 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 the applicable Underlying Asset may correlate imperfectly with the return on the applicable Underlying Index.
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The applicable Underlying Asset is subject to management risks. — The applicable Underlying Asset is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the investment advisor may invest a portion of the applicable Underlying Asset’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the investment advisor believes will help the applicable Underlying Asset track the relevant industry or sector.
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Lack of liquidity. — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. BMOCM may offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market, but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which BMOCM is willing to buy the notes.
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Hedging and trading activities. — We or any of our affiliates may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including purchasing or selling shares of an Underlying Asset or securities held by the applicable Underlying Asset, or futures or options relating to the applicable Underlying Asset, or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of the applicable Underlying Asset. We or our affiliates may also engage in trading of shares of the applicable Underlying Asset or securities included in the applicable Underlying Index 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 our payment to you at maturity.
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Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the price of the applicable Underlying Asset and interest rates on any trading day, the value of the notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, and which are described in more detail in the product supplement.
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P-7
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You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the applicable Underlying Asset. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the price of the applicable Underlying Asset or the prices of the securities held by the applicable Underlying Asset. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the applicable Underlying Asset 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 applicable Underlying Asset at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the applicable Underlying Asset 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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Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain. — The tax treatment of each 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 each of the notes, and the Internal Revenue Service or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in this pricing supplement.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a notice indicating that it and the Treasury Department are actively considering whether, among other issues, a holder should be required to accrue interest over the term of an instrument such as the notes even though that holder will not receive any payments with respect to the notes until maturity and whether all or part of the gain a holder may recognize upon sale or maturity of an instrument such as the notes could be treated as ordinary income. The outcome of this process is uncertain and could apply on a retroactive basis.
Please read carefully the section entitled “U.S. Federal Tax Information” in this pricing supplement, the section entitled “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, the section “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled “Certain Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.
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The stocks included in each Underlying Asset are concentrated in one sector. — All of the stocks included in the Underlying Index for each Underlying Asset re issued by companies in a single sector, as described in more detail below. As a result, the stocks that will determine the performance of the applicable Underlying Index, which the applicable Underlying Asset seeks to replicate, are concentrated in one sector. Although an investment in the notes will not give holders any ownership or other direct interests in the stocks comprising the applicable Underlying Index, the return on an investment in the notes will be subject to certain risks associated with a direct equity investment in companies in the applicable sector. Accordingly, by investing in the notes, you will not benefit from the diversification which could result from an investment linked to companies that operate in multiple sectors.
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Risks associated with the energy sector. — The issuers of the stocks held by the Underlying Assets and included in the applicable Underlying Index develop and produce, among other things, crude oil and natural gas, and provide, among other things, drilling services and other services related to oil and gas production and distribution. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for oil, gas and energy products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, the stocks of companies in this sector are subject to swift price fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, the ability of the OPEC to set and maintain production levels and pricing, the level of production in non-OPEC countries, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies’ products or services or for oil and gas products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact the value of the stocks held by the applicable Underlying Asset and included in the applicable Underlying Index, the market price of the applicable Underlying Asset, and the value of the notes.
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P-8
Hypothetical Return on the Notes at Maturity
The following table and examples illustrate the hypothetical return at maturity on a $1,000 investment in the notes. The “return,” as used in this section is the number, expressed as a percentage, which results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are based on a hypothetical Initial Level of $100, the Upside Leverage Factor of 150%, the Buffer Percentage of 10% (the Buffer Level is 90% of the Initial Level), a hypothetical Cap of 16%, and a hypothetical Maximum Redemption Amount of $1,240. The hypothetical returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual returns applicable to investors in the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and in the examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis.
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Hypothetical Final Level
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Percentage Change
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Return on the Notes
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$0.00
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-100.00%
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-90.00%
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$50.00
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-50.00%
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-40.00%
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$75.00
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-25.00%
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-15.00%
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$80.00
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-20.00%
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-10.00%
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$90.00
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-10.00%
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0.00%
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$95.00
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-5.00%
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0.00%
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$97.00
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-3.00%
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0.00%
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$100.00
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0.00%
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0.00%
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$105.00
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5.00%
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7.50%
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$110.00
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10.00%
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15.00%
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$116.00
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16.00%
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24.00%
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$120.00
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20.00%
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24.00%
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$130.00
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30.00%
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24.00%
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$140.00
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40.00%
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24.00%
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$160.00
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60.00%
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24.00%
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$200.00
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100.00%
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24.00%
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Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity for a $1,000 Investment in the Notes
The following examples illustrate how the returns set forth in the table above are calculated.
Example 1: The price of the Underlying Asset decreases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $80.00, representing a Percentage Change of -20%. Because the Percentage Change is negative and the hypothetical Final Level of $80.00 is less than the Initial Level by more than the Buffer Percentage of 10%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $900 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (-20% + 10%)] = $900
Example 2: The price of the Underlying Asset decreases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $97.00, representing a Percentage Change of -3%. Although the Percentage Change is negative, because the hypothetical Final Level of $97.00 is less than the Initial Level by not more than the Buffer Percentage of 10%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes.
Example 3: The price of the Underlying Asset increases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $105.00, representing a Percentage Change of 5%. Because the hypothetical Final Level of $105.00 is greater than the Initial Level and the Percentage Change of 5% does not exceed the Cap, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,075 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (5% x 150%)] = $1,075
Example 4: The price of the Underlying Asset increases from the hypothetical Initial Level of $100.00 to a hypothetical Final Level of $130.00, representing a Percentage Change of 30%. Because the hypothetical Final Level of $130.00 is greater than the Initial Level and the Percentage Change of 30% exceeds the Cap, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,240.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, the Maximum Redemption Amount.
P-9
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 cash-settled derivative contract 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 (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product supplement under “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” which applies to the notes.
Recently finalized Treasury regulations provide that withholding on “dividend equivalent” payments (as discussed in the product supplement), if any, will not apply to notes issued before January 1, 2017.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
BMOCM will purchase the notes from us at a purchase price reflecting the commission set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. BMOCM has informed us that, as part of its distribution of the notes, it will reoffer the notes to other dealers who will sell them. Each such dealer, or additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will receive a commission from BMOCM, which will not exceed the commission set forth on the cover page. This commission will include a selling concession paid by BMOCM or one of its affiliates to certain dealers of up to 1.6% of the principal amount in connection with the distribution of the notes.
We own, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity securities of BMOCM, the agent for this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BMOCM may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer.
We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering of any 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 any of the notes as a recommendation of the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the applicable Underlying Asset or as to the suitability of an investment in the notes.
BMOCM may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the notes. BMOCM will determine any secondary market prices that it is prepared to offer in its sole discretion.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use the final pricing supplement relating to the notes in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless BMOCM or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, the final pricing supplement is being used by BMOCM in a market-making transaction.
For a period of approximately three months following issuance of the notes, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that BMOCM may also publish for the notes through one or more financial information vendors and which could be indicated for the notes on any brokerage account statements, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from our estimated value of the notes that would otherwise be determined and applicable at that time. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of (a) the hedging profit that we or our affiliates expect to realize over the term of the notes and (b) the underwriting discount and the selling concessions paid in connection with this offering. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month period.
P-10
Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes
Our estimated initial value of each of the notes on the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, and that will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement relating to the notes, equals the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components:
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a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the notes, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and
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one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the notes.
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The internal funding rate used in the determination of the initial estimated value generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The value of these derivative transactions are derived from our internal pricing models. These models are based on factors such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on other inputs, which include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. As a result, the estimated initial value of each of the notes on the Pricing Date will be determined based on market conditions at that time.
P-11
The Underlying Assets
We have derived the following information regarding each of the applicable Underlying Assets from publicly available documents. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the following information. We are not affiliated with any of the Underlying Assets and the Underlying Assets will have no obligations with respect to the applicable notes. This pricing supplement relates only to the applicable notes and does not relate to the shares of any of the Underlying Asset or any securities included in any of the Underlying Indices. Neither we nor our affiliates participate in the preparation of the publicly available documents described below. Neither we nor our affiliates have made any due diligence inquiry with respect to any of the Underlying Assets in connection with the offering of any of the notes. There can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date of this pricing supplement, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described below, that would affect the trading prices of the shares of any of the Underlying 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 any of the Underlying Assets could affect the price of the shares of the applicable Underlying Asset after the Pricing Date, and therefore could affect the payment at maturity.
The selection of the applicable Underlying Asset relating to any of the notes is not a recommendation to buy or sell the shares of the applicable Underlying Asset. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the shares of any of the Underlying Assets. Information provided to or filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to each Underlying Asset may be obtained through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. None of such information is incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement.
This Reference Asset is an investment portfolio maintained and managed by SSFM. The Reference Asset trades on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XOP.” The inception date of the Reference Asset is June 19, 2006. Prior to January 8, 2007, the Reference Asset was known as the SPDR® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF.
The Reference Asset seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index represents the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry portion of the S&P Total Market Index (“S&P TMI”), an index that measures the performance of the U.S. equity market. The Reference Asset is composed of companies that are in the oil and gas sector exploration and production.
The Reference Asset utilizes a “replication” investment approach in attempting to track the performance of the Underlying Index. The Reference Asset typically invests in substantially all of the securities which comprise the Underlying Index in approximately the same proportions as the Underlying Index. The Reference Asset will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Underlying Index.
The information above was compiled from the SPDR® website. We have not independently investigated the accuracy of that information. Information contained in the SPDR® website is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered a part of, this document.
The Underlying Index: S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry® Index
We have derived all information contained in this document regarding the Underlying Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P.
The Underlying Index is an equal-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry portion of the S&P TMI. The S&P TMI includes all U.S. common equities listed on the NYSE (including NYSE Arca), the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and the NASDAQ Capital Market. Each of the component stocks in the Underlying Index is a constituent company within the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry portion of the S&P TMI.
P-12
To be eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index, companies must be in the S&P TMI and must be included in the relevant Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) sub-industry. The GICS was developed to establish a global standard for categorizing companies into sectors and industries. In addition to the above, companies must satisfy one of the two following combined size and liquidity criteria:
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float-adjusted market capitalization above US$500 million and float-adjusted liquidity ratio above 90%; or
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float-adjusted market capitalization above US$400 million and float-adjusted liquidity ratio above 150%.
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All U.S. companies satisfying these requirements are included in the Underlying Index. The total number of companies in the Underlying Index should be at least 35. If there are fewer than 35 stocks, stocks from a supplementary list of highly correlated sub-industries that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds above are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization to reach 35 constituents. Minimum market capitalization requirements may be relaxed to ensure there are at least 22 companies in the Underlying Index as of each rebalancing effective date.
Eligibility factors include:
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Market Capitalization: Float-adjusted market capitalization should be at least US$400 million for inclusion in the Underlying Index. Existing index components must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of US$300 million to remain in the Underlying Index at each rebalancing.
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Liquidity: The liquidity measurement used is a liquidity ratio, defined as dollar value traded over the previous 12-months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the Underlying Index rebalancing reference date. Stocks having a float-adjusted market capitalization above US$500 million must have a liquidity ratio greater than 90% to be eligible for addition to the Underlying Index. Stocks having a float-adjusted market capitalization between US$400 and US$500 million must have a liquidity ratio greater than 150% to be eligible for addition to the Underlying Index. Existing index constituents must have a liquidity ratio greater than 50% to remain in the Underlying Index at the quarterly rebalancing. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for IPOs or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history.
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Takeover Restrictions: At the discretion of S&P, constituents with shareholder ownership restrictions defined in company bylaws may be deemed ineligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index. Ownership restrictions preventing entities from replicating the index weight of a company may be excluded from the eligible universe or removed from the Underlying Index.
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Turnover: S&P believes turnover in index membership should be avoided when possible. At times, a company may appear to temporarily violate one or more of the addition criteria. However, the addition criteria are for addition to the Underlying Index, not for continued membership. As a result, an index constituent that appears to violate the criteria for addition to the Underlying Index will not be deleted unless ongoing conditions warrant a change in the composition of the Underlying Index.
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Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund
This Underlying Asset is an investment portfolio maintained and managed by SSFM. SSFM is the investment advisor to each of ten separate investment portfolios, including the Underlying Asset, all of which are offered by the Select Sector SPDR Trust, a registered investment company. The Underlying Asset trades on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “XLE.”
The Underlying Asset utilizes a “replication” investment approach in attempting to track the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Asset typically invests in substantially all of the securities which comprise the Underlying Index in approximately the same proportions as that index. The Underlying Asset will normally invest at least 95% of its total assets in the common stocks that comprise the Underlying Index.
P-13
The Underlying Asset seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index measures the performance of the energy sector of the U.S. equity market. The Underlying Asset is composed of companies whose primary line of business is directly associated with the energy sector.
The Securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SSFM. SSFM makes no representations or warranties to the owners of the Securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the Securities. SSFM has no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the Securities.
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The Underlying Index
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We have derived all information contained in this free writing prospectus regarding the Underlying Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, Merrill Lynch or S&P.
The Underlying Index is a modified market capitalization-based index intended to track the movements of companies that are components of the S&P 500® Index and are involved in the following industries: diversified financial services; insurance; commercial banks; capital markets; REITs; consumer finance; thrifts and mortgage finance and real estate management and development.
The Underlying Index is one of the Select Sector Indices. The Select Sector Indices are sub-indices of the S&P 500® Index. Each stock in the S&P 500® Index is allocated to only one Select Sector Index, and the combined companies of the nine Select Sector Indices represent all of the companies in the S&P 500® Index.
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Eligibility Criteria for Index Components
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The stocks included in each Select Sector Index are selected by Merrill Lynch acting as Index Compilation Agent, in consultation with S&P, from the universe of companies represented by the S&P 500® Index. S&P acts as index calculation agent in connection with the calculation and dissemination of each Select Sector Index. Each stock in the S&P 500® Index is allocated to only one Select Sector Index, and the nine Select Sector Indices together comprise all of the companies in the S&P 500® Index.
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Index Maintenance
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Each Select Sector Index was developed and is maintained in accordance with the following criteria:
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Each of the component stocks in a Select Sector Index (the “SPDR Component Stocks”) is a constituent company of the S&P 500® Index.
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The nine Select Sector Indices together will include all of the companies represented in the S&P 500® Index and each of the stocks in the S&P 500® Index will be allocated to one and only one of the Select Sector Indices.
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Merrill Lynch, acting as the Index Compilation Agent, assigns each constituent stock of the S&P 500® Index to a Select Sector Index. Merrill Lynch, after consultation with S&P, assigns a company’s stock to a particular Select Sector Index on the basis of that company’s sales and earnings composition and the sensitivity of the company’s stock price and business results to the common factors that affect other companies in each Select Sector Index.
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S&P has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500® Index and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500® Index. However, S&P plays only a consulting role in the Select Sector Indices.
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Each Select Sector Index is calculated by S&P using a modified “market capitalization” methodology. This design ensures that each of the component stocks within a Select Sector Index is represented in a proportion consistent with its percentage with respect to the total market capitalization of that Select Sector Index. However, under certain conditions, the number of shares of a component stock within the Select Sector Index may be adjusted to conform to certain Internal Revenue Code requirements
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P-14
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Calculation of the Underlying Index
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Each Select Sector Index is calculated using the same methodology utilized by S&P in calculating the S&P 500® Index, 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.
Merrill Lynch may at any time determine that a SPDR® Component Stock which has been assigned to one Select Sector Index has undergone a transformation in the composition of its business, and that it should be removed from that Select Sector Index and assigned to a different Select Sector Index. In the event that Merrill Lynch notifies S&P that a SPDR® Component Stock’s Select Sector Index assignment should be changed, S&P will disseminate notice of the change following its standard procedure for announcing index changes, and will implement the change in the affected Select Sector Indexes on a date no less than one week after the initial dissemination of information on the sector change to the maximum extent practicable.
SPDR® Component Stocks removed from and added to the S&P 500® Index 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 S&P 500® Index insofar as practicable.
P-15
Historical Performance of the Underlying Assets
The following tables set forth the high and low closing prices for each Underlying Asset from the first quarter of 2012 through the fourth quarter of 2015.
The historical prices of the Underlying Assets are provided for informational purposes only. You should not take the historical prices of the applicable Underlying Asset as an indication of its future performance, which may be better or worse than the prices set forth below.
Closing Prices of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF
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High (in $)
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Low (in $)
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2012
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First Quarter
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61.34
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52.67
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Second Quarter
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57.85
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45.20
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Third Quarter
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59.35
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48.73
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Fourth Quarter
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57.38
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50.69
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2013
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First Quarter
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62.10
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55.10
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Second Quarter
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62.61
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54.71
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Third Quarter
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66.47
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58.62
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Fourth Quarter
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72.74
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65.02
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2014
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First Quarter
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71.83
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64.04
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Second Quarter
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83.45
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71.19
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Third Quarter
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82.08
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68.83
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Fourth Quarter
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66.84
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42.75
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2015
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First Quarter
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53.94
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42.55
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Second Quarter
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55.63
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46.43
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Third Quarter
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45.22
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31.71
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Fourth Quarter
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40.53
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28.64
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P-16
Closing Prices of the Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund
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High
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Low
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2012
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First Quarter
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76.29
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69.46
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Second Quarter
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72.42
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62.00
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Third Quarter
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76.57
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64.96
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Fourth Quarter
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74.94
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68.59
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2013
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First Quarter
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79.99
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72.86
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Second Quarter
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83.28
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74.09
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Third Quarter
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85.30
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78.83
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Fourth Quarter
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88.51
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81.87
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2014
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First Quarter
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89.06
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81.89
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Second Quarter
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101.29
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88.45
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Third Quarter
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100.58
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90.62
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Fourth Quarter
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88.77
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73.36
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2015
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First Quarter
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82.29
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72.86
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Second Quarter
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82.94
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74.64
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Third Quarter
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74.54
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59.22
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Fourth Quarter
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71.40
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58.79
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P-17