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Product Supplement No. EQUITY INDICES LIRN-1 |
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) |
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(To Prospectus dated March 28, 2017 |
Registration No. 333-216286 |
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and Prospectus Supplement dated March 28, 2017) |
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March 30, 2017 |
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Leveraged Index Return Notes ® “LIRNs ® ” Linked to One or More Equity Indices
· LIRNs are unsecured senior notes issued by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Any payments due on LIRNs, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
· LIRNs do not guarantee the return of principal at maturity, and we will not pay interest on LIRNs. Instead, the return on LIRNs will be based on the performance of an underlying “ Market Measure ,” which will be an equity index or a basket of equity indices.
· LIRNs provide an opportunity to earn a multiple of the positive performance of the Market Measure, and may provide limited protection against the risk of losses. You will be exposed to any negative performance of the Market Measure below the Threshold Value (as defined below) on a 1-to-1 basis. If specified in the applicable term sheet, your LIRNs may be “ Capped LIRNs .” In the case of Capped LIRNs, the Redemption Amount will not exceed a specified cap (the “ Capped Value ”).
· If the value of the Market Measure increases from its Starting Value to its Ending Value (each as defined below), you will receive at maturity a cash payment per unit (the “ Redemption Amount ”) that equals the principal amount plus a multiple of that increase, and in the case of Capped LIRNs, up to the Capped Value.
· If the value of the Market Measure does not change or decreases from its Starting Value to its Ending Value but not below the Threshold Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal the principal amount. However, if the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, you will be subject to 1-to-1 downside exposure to the decrease of the Market Measure below the Threshold Value. In such a case, you may lose all or a significant portion of the principal amount of your LIRNs.
· This product supplement describes the general terms of LIRNs, the risk factors to consider before investing, the general manner in which they may be offered and sold, and other relevant information.
· For each offering of LIRNs, we will provide you with a pricing supplement (which we refer to as a “ term sheet ”) that will describe the specific terms of that offering, including the specific Market Measure, the Capped Value, if applicable, the Threshold Value, and certain related risk factors. The term sheet will identify, if applicable, any additions or changes to the terms specified in this product supplement.
· LIRNs will be issued in denominations of whole units. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, each unit will have a principal amount of $10. The term sheet may also set forth a minimum number of units that you must purchase.
· Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, LIRNs will not be listed on a securities exchange or quotation system.
· Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ MLPF&S ”) and one or more of its affiliates may act as our agents to offer LIRNs and will act in a principal capacity in such role.
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LIRNs are unsecured and are not savings accounts or insured deposits of a bank. LIRNs are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “ FDIC ”) or any other governmental agency of the United States, Canada, or any other jurisdiction. Potential purchasers of LIRNs should consider the information in “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-6 of this product supplement, page S-1 of the accompanying prospectus supplement, and page 1 of the accompanying prospectus. You may lose all or a significant portion of your investment in LIRNs.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this product supplement, the prospectus supplement, or the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Merrill Lynch & Co.
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PS-6 |
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LIRNs ® and “Leveraged Index Return Notes ® ” are registered service marks of Bank of America Corporation, the parent corporation of MLPF&S.
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on each calculation day during the Maturity Valuation Period (each as defined below).
If a Market Disruption Event (as defined below) occurs and is continuing on a calculation day, or if certain other events occur, the calculation agent will determine the Ending Value as set forth in the section “Description of LIRNs—The Starting Value and the Ending Value—Ending Value.”
If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, the Ending Value will be determined as described in “Description of LIRNs—Basket Market Measures—Ending Value of the Basket.” |
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Participation Rate: |
The rate at which investors participate in any increase in the value of the Market Measure, as calculated below. The Participation Rate will be greater than or equal to 100%, and will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. If the Participation Rate is 100%, your participation in any upside performance of the Market Measure will not be leveraged. |
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Capped Value: |
For Capped LIRNs, the maximum Redemption Amount. Your investment return in Capped LIRNs is limited to the return represented by the Capped Value specified in the applicable term sheet. We will determine the applicable Capped Value on the pricing date of each issue of Capped LIRNs. |
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Redemption Amount at Maturity: |
At maturity, you will receive a Redemption Amount that is greater than the principal amount if the value of the Market Measure increases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value. In the case of Capped LIRNs, the Redemption Amount will not exceed the Capped Value. If the value of the Market Measure does not change or decreases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value but not below the Threshold Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal the principal amount. If the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, you will be subject to 1-to-1 downside exposure to the decrease in the value of the Market Measure below the Threshold Value, and will receive a Redemption Amount that is less than the principal amount. If the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount could be zero.
Any payments due on the LIRNs, including any repayment of principal, are subject to our credit risk as issuer of LIRNs.
The Redemption Amount, denominated in U.S. dollars, will be calculated as follows:
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Your investment in LIRNs is subject to investment risks, many of which differ from those of a conventional debt security. Your decision to purchase LIRNs should be made only after carefully considering the risks, including those discussed below, in light of your particular circumstances. LIRNs are not an appropriate investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about the material terms of LIRNs or investments in equity or equity-based securities in general.
General Risks Relating to LIRNs
Your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. There is no fixed principal repayment amount on LIRNs at maturity. The return on LIRNs will be based on the performance of the Market Measure and therefore, you may lose all or a significant portion of your investment if the value of the Market Measure decreases from the Starting Value to an Ending Value that is less than the Threshold Value. If the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, the Redemption Amount could be zero.
Your return on the LIRNs may be less than the yield on a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. There will be no periodic interest payments on LIRNs as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity. Any return that you receive on LIRNs may be less than the return you would earn if you purchased a conventional debt security with the same maturity date. As a result, your investment in LIRNs may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you consider factors, such as inflation, that affect the time value of money.
Your investment return will be limited to the return represented by the Capped Value (if applicable), and may be less than a comparable investment directly in the Market Measure. The appreciation potential of Capped LIRNs is limited to the Capped Value. You will not receive a Redemption Amount greater than the Capped Value, regardless of the appreciation of the Market Measure. In contrast, a direct investment in the Market Measure (or the securities included in the Market Measure) would allow you to receive the full benefit of any appreciation in the value of the Market Measure (or those underlying securities).
In addition, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, the value of the Market Measure will not reflect the value of dividends paid, or distributions made, on the securities included in the Market Measure or any other rights associated with those securities. Thus, any return on the LIRNs will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the securities underlying the Market Measure.
Additionally, the Market Measure may consist of one or more equity indices that include components traded in a non-U.S. currency and are calculated in such non-U.S. currency. If the value of that currency strengthens against the U.S. dollar during the term of your LIRNs, you may not obtain the benefit of that increase, which you would have received if you had owned the securities included in the index or indices.
Payments on LIRNs are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of LIRNs . LIRNs are our senior unsecured debt securities and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. As a result, your receipt of the Redemption Amount at maturity is dependent upon our ability to repay our obligations on the maturity date, regardless of whether the Market Measure increases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be on the maturity date. If we become unable to meet our financial
obligations as they become due, you may not receive the amounts payable under the terms of the LIRNs.
In addition, our credit ratings are an assessment by ratings agencies of our ability to pay our obligations. Consequently, our perceived creditworthiness and actual or anticipated decreases in our credit ratings or increases in the spread between the yield on our securities and the yield on U.S. Treasury securities (the “ credit spread ”) prior to the maturity date may adversely affect the market value of LIRNs. However, because your return on LIRNs depends upon factors in addition to our ability to pay our obligations, such as the value of the Market Measure, an improvement in our credit ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to LIRNs.
Our initial estimated value of the LIRNs will be lower than the public offering price of the LIRNs. The public offering price of the LIRNs will exceed our initial estimated value because costs associated with selling and structuring the LIRNs, as well as hedging the LIRNs, are included in the public offering price of the LIRNs.
Our initial estimated value does not represent future values of the LIRNs and may differ from others’ estimates. Our initial estimated value is only an estimate, which will be determined by reference to our internal pricing models when the terms of LIRNs are set. This estimated value will be based on market conditions and other relevant factors existing at that time, our internal funding rate on the pricing date and our assumptions about market parameters, which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for LIRNs that are greater or less than our initial estimated value. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect. On future dates, the market value of LIRNs could change significantly based on, among other things, changes in market conditions, including the value of the Market Measure, our creditworthiness, interest rate movements and other relevant factors, which may impact the price at which MLPF&S or any other party would be willing to buy LIRNs from you in any secondary market transactions. Our estimated value does not represent a minimum price at which MLPF&S or any other party would be willing to buy your LIRNs in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time.
Our initial estimated value of the LIRNs will not be determined by reference to credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The internal funding rate to be used in the determination of our initial estimated value of the LIRNs generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The discount is based on, among other things, our view of the funding value of the LIRNs as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the LIRNs in comparison to those costs for our conventional fixed-rate debt. If we were to use the interest rate implied by our conventional fixed-rate debt, we would expect the economic terms of the LIRNs to be more favorable to you. Consequently, our use of an internal funding rate for market-linked notes would have an adverse effect on the economic terms of the LIRNs, the initial estimated value of the LIRNs on the pricing date and any secondary market prices of the LIRNs.
We cannot assure you that there will be a trading market for your LIRNs. If a secondary market exists, we cannot predict how the LIRNs will trade, or whether that market will be liquid or illiquid. The development of a trading market for LIRNs will depend on various factors, including our financial performance and changes in the value of the Market Measure. The number of potential buyers of your LIRNs in any secondary market may be limited. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your LIRNs at any price in any secondary market.
We anticipate that one or more of the agents or their affiliates will act as a market-maker for LIRNs, but none of them is required to do so and may cease to do so at any time. Any price at which an agent or its affiliate may bid for, offer, purchase, or sell any LIRNs may be higher or lower than the applicable public offering price, and that price may differ from the values determined by pricing models that it may use, whether as a result of dealer discounts, mark-ups, or other transaction costs. These bids, offers, or transactions may adversely affect the prices, if any, at which those LIRNs might otherwise trade in the market. In addition, if at any time any entity were to cease acting as a market-maker for any issue of LIRNs, it is likely that there would be significantly less liquidity in that secondary market. In such a case, the price at which those LIRNs could be sold would likely be lower than if an active market existed.
Unless otherwise stated in the term sheet, we will not list LIRNs on any securities exchange or quotation system. Even if an application were made to list your LIRNs, we cannot assure you that the application will be approved or that your LIRNs will be listed and, if listed, that they will remain listed for their entire term. The listing of LIRNs on any securities exchange or quotation system will not necessarily ensure that a trading market will develop, and if a trading market does develop, that there will be liquidity in the trading market.
The Redemption Amount will not reflect changes in the value of the Market Measure other than during the Maturity Valuation Period. Changes in the value of the Market Measure during the term of LIRNs other than during the Maturity Valuation Period will not be reflected in the calculation of the Redemption Amount. To calculate the Redemption Amount, the calculation agent will compare only the Ending Value to the Starting Value or the Threshold Value, as applicable. No other values of the Market Measure will be taken into account. As a result, even if the value of the Market Measure has increased at certain times during the term of the LIRNs, you will receive a Redemption Amount that is less than the principal amount if the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value.
If your LIRNs are linked to a Basket, changes in the levels of one or more of the Basket Components may be offset by changes in the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components. The Market Measure of your LIRNs may be a Basket. In such a case, changes in the levels of one or more of the Basket Components may not correlate with changes in the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components. The levels of one or more Basket Components may increase, while the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components may decrease or not increase as much. Therefore, in calculating the value of the Market Measure at any time, increases in the level of one Basket Component may be moderated or wholly offset by decreases or lesser increases in the levels of one or more of the other Basket Components. If the weightings of the applicable Basket Components are not equal, adverse changes in the levels of the Basket Components which are more heavily weighted could have a greater impact upon your LIRNs.
The respective publishers of the applicable indices may adjust those indices in a way that affects their levels, and these publishers have no obligation to consider your interests. Unless otherwise specified in the term sheet, we, the agents and our respective affiliates have no affiliation with any publisher of an index to which your LIRNs are linked (each, an “ Index Publisher ”). Consequently, we have no control of the actions of any Index Publisher. The Index Publisher can add, delete, or substitute the components included in that index or make other methodological changes that could change its level. A new security included in an index may perform significantly better or worse than the replaced security, and the performance will impact the level of the applicable index. Additionally, an Index Publisher may alter, discontinue, or suspend calculation or dissemination of an index. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of your LIRNs. The Index Publishers will have no obligation to consider your interests in calculating or revising any index.
Exchange rate movements may impact the value of LIRNs. If any security included in a Market Measure is traded in a currency other than U.S. dollars and, for purposes of the applicable index, is converted into U.S. dollars, then the value of the Market Measure may depend in part on the relevant exchange rates. If the value of the U.S. dollar strengthens against the currencies of that index, the level of the applicable index may be adversely affected and the Redemption Amount may be reduced. Exchange rate movements may be particularly impacted by existing and expected rates of inflation and interest rate levels; political, civil, or military unrest; the balance of payments between countries; and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in the countries relevant to the applicable index and the United States. All of these factors are in turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal, and trade policies pursued by the governments of those countries and the United States and other countries important to international trade and finance.
If you attempt to sell LIRNs prior to maturity, their market value, if any, will be affected by various factors that interrelate in complex ways, and their market value may be less than the principal amount. The LIRNs are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. The limited protection against the risk of losses provided by the Threshold Value, if any, will only apply if you hold LIRNs to maturity. You have no right to have your LIRNs redeemed at your option prior to maturity. If you wish to liquidate your investment in LIRNs prior to maturity, your only option would be to sell them. At that time, there may be an illiquid market for your LIRNs or no market at all. Even if you were able to sell your LIRNs, there are many factors outside of our control that may affect their market value, some of which, but not all, are stated below. The impact of any one factor may be offset or magnified by the effect of another factor. The following paragraphs describe a specific factor’s expected impact on the market value of LIRNs, assuming all other conditions remain constant.
· Value of the Market Measure. We anticipate that the market value of LIRNs prior to maturity generally will depend to a significant extent on the value of the Market Measure. In general, it is expected that the market value of LIRNs will decrease as the value of the Market Measure decreases, and increase as the value of the Market Measure increases. However, as the value of the Market Measure increases or decreases, the market value of LIRNs is not expected to increase or decrease at the same rate. If you sell your LIRNs when the value of the Market Measure is less than, or not sufficiently above the applicable Starting Value, then you may receive less than the principal amount of your LIRNs.
In addition, because the Redemption Amount for Capped LIRNs will not exceed the applicable Capped Value, we do not expect that Capped LIRNs will trade in any secondary market at a price that is greater than the Capped Value.
· Volatility of the Market Measure. Volatility is the term used to describe the size and frequency of market fluctuations. Increases or decreases in the volatility of the Market Measure may have an adverse impact on the market value of LIRNs. Even if the value of the Market Measure increases after the applicable pricing date, if you are able to sell your LIRNs before their maturity date, you may receive substantially less than the amount that would be payable at maturity based on that value because of the anticipation that the value of the Market Measure will continue to fluctuate until the Ending Value is determined.
· Economic and Other Conditions Generally. The general economic conditions of the capital markets in the United States, as well as geopolitical conditions and other financial, political, regulatory, and judicial events and related uncertainties that affect stock markets generally, may adversely affect the value of the Market Measure and the market value of LIRNs. If the Market Measure includes one or more indices that have returns that are calculated based upon securities prices in one or more non-U.S. markets
(a “ non-U.S. Market Measure ”), the value of your LIRNs may also be adversely affected by similar events in the markets of the relevant foreign countries.
· Interest Rates. We expect that changes in interest rates will affect the market value of LIRNs. In general, if U.S. interest rates increase, we expect that the market value of LIRNs will decrease, and conversely, if U.S. interest rates decrease, we expect that the market value of LIRNs will increase. In general, we expect that the longer the amount of time that remains until maturity, the more significant the impact of these changes will be on the value of the LIRNs. In the case of non-U.S. Market Measures, the level of interest rates in the relevant foreign countries may also affect their economies and in turn the value of the non-U.S. Market Measure, and, thus, the market value of the LIRNs may be adversely affected.
· Dividend Yields. In general, if the cumulative dividend yields on the securities included in the Market Measure increase, we anticipate that the market value of LIRNs will decrease; conversely, if those dividend yields decrease, we anticipate that the market value of your LIRNs will increase.
· Exchange Rate Movements and Volatility. If the Market Measure of your LIRNs includes any non-U.S. Market Measures, changes in, and the volatility of, the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the relevant non-U.S. currency or currencies could have an adverse impact on the value of your LIRNs, and the Redemption Amount may depend in part on the relevant exchange rates. In addition, the correlation between the relevant exchange rate and any applicable non-U.S. Market Measure reflects the extent to which a percentage change in that exchange rate corresponds to a percentage change in the applicable non-U.S. Market Measure, and changes in these correlations may have an adverse impact on the value of your LIRNs.
· Our Financial Condition and Creditworthiness. Our perceived creditworthiness, including any increases in our credit spreads and any actual or anticipated decreases in our credit ratings, may adversely affect the market value of the LIRNs. In general, we expect the longer the amount of time that remains until maturity, the more significant the impact will be on the value of the LIRNs. However, a decrease in our credit spreads or an improvement in our credit ratings will not necessarily increase the market value of LIRNs.
· Time to Maturity. There may be a disparity between the market value of the LIRNs prior to maturity and their value at maturity. This disparity is often called a time “value,” “premium,” or “discount,” and reflects expectations concerning the value of the Market Measure prior to the maturity date. As the time to maturity decreases, this disparity may decrease, such that the value of the LIRNs will approach the expected Redemption Amount to be paid at maturity.
Trading and hedging activities by us, the agents, and our respective affiliates may affect your return on the LIRNs and their market value. We, the agents, and our respective affiliates may buy or sell the securities included in the Market Measure, or futures, options contracts, or exchange-traded instruments on the Market Measure or its component securities or other instruments whose value is derived from the Market Measure or its component securities. We, the agents, or our respective affiliates may execute such purchases or sales for our own or their own accounts, for business reasons, or in connection with hedging our obligations under LIRNs. These transactions could adversely affect the value of these securities and, in turn, the value of a Market Measure in a manner that could be adverse to your investment in LIRNs. On or before the applicable pricing date, any purchases or sales by us (including those for the purpose of hedging some or all of our anticipated exposure in connection with the LIRNs), the agents, and our respective affiliates, or others on our or their
behalf may increase the value of a Market Measure or its component securities. Consequently, the values of that Market Measure or the securities included in that Market Measure may decrease subsequent to the pricing date of an issue of LIRNs, adversely affecting the market value of LIRNs.
We, the agents, or one or more of our respective affiliates may also engage in hedging activities that could increase the value of the Market Measure on the applicable pricing date. In addition, these activities may decrease the market value of your LIRNs prior to maturity, including during the Maturity Valuation Period, and may reduce the Redemption Amount. We, the agents, or one or more of our respective affiliates may purchase or otherwise acquire a long or short position in LIRNs, and may hold or resell LIRNs. For example, the agents may enter into these transactions in connection with any market making activities in which they engage. We cannot assure you that these activities will not adversely affect the value of the Market Measure, the market value of your LIRNs prior to maturity or the Redemption Amount.
Our trading, hedging and other business activities, and those of the agents or one or more of our respective affiliates, may create conflicts of interest with you. We, the agents, or one or more of our respective affiliates may engage in trading activities related to the Market Measure and to securities included in the Market Measure that are not for your account or on your behalf. We, the agents, or one or more of our respective affiliates also may issue or underwrite other financial instruments with returns based upon the applicable Market Measure. In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the agents or their affiliates may hold and trade our or our affiliates’ debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Certain of the agents or their affiliates may also have a lending or other financial relationship with us. In order to hedge such exposure, the agents or their affiliates may enter into transactions such as the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our or our affiliates’ securities, including potentially the LIRNs. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the LIRNs. These trading and other business activities may present a conflict of interest between your interest in LIRNs and the interests we, the agents and our respective affiliates may have in our proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including block trades, for our or their other customers, and in accounts under our or their management. These trading and other business activities, if they influence the value of the Market Measure or secondary trading in your LIRNs, could be adverse to your interests as a beneficial owner of LIRNs.
We, the agents, and our respective affiliates expect to enter into arrangements or adjust or close out existing transactions to hedge our obligations under the LIRNs. We, the agents, or our respective affiliates also may enter into hedging transactions relating to other notes or instruments that we or they issue, some of which may have returns calculated in a manner related to that of a particular issue of LIRNs. We may enter into such hedging arrangements with one or more of our subsidiaries or affiliates, or with one or more of the agents or their affiliates. Such a party may enter into additional hedging transactions with other parties relating to LIRNs and the applicable Market Measure. This hedging activity is expected to result in a profit to those engaging in the hedging activity, which could be more or less than initially expected, or the hedging activity could also result in a loss. We, the agents, and our respective affiliates will price these hedging transactions with the intent to realize a profit, regardless of whether the value of LIRNs increases or decreases or whether the Redemption Amount on the LIRNs is more or less than the principal amount of the LIRNs. Any profit in connection with such hedging activities will be in addition to any other compensation that we, the agents, and our respective affiliates receive for the sale of LIRNs, which creates an additional incentive to sell LIRNs to you.
There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agent. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agent. We expect to appoint MLPF&S or one of its affiliates as the calculation agent for LIRNs and, as such, it will determine the Starting Value, the Threshold Value, the Ending Value, and the Redemption Amount. As the calculation agent, MLPF&S or one of its affiliates will have discretion in making various determinations that affect your LIRNs. The exercise of this discretion by the calculation agent could adversely affect the value of your LIRNs and may present the calculation agent with a conflict of interest of the kind described under “—Trading and hedging activities by us, the agents, and our respective affiliates may affect your return on the LIRNs and their market value” and “—Our trading, hedging and other business activities, and those of the agents or one or more of our respective affiliates, may create conflicts of interest with you” above.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in LIRNs are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of LIRNs. No statutory, judicial, or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of LIRNs or securities similar to LIRNs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in LIRNs are not certain. Under the terms of the LIRNs, you will have agreed with us to treat the LIRNs as pre-paid cash settled derivative contracts, as described under “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary.” If the Internal Revenue Service (the “ IRS ”) were successful in asserting an alternative characterization for LIRNs, the timing and character of gain or loss with respect to LIRNs may differ. No ruling will be requested from the IRS with respect to LIRNs and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the statements made in the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Summary.”
You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in LIRNs.
Risks Relating to the Market Measures
You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the applicable Market Measure. In the ordinary course of business, we, the agents, and our respective affiliates may have expressed views on expected movements in a Market Measure or the securities included in the Market Measure, and may do so in the future. These views or reports may be communicated to our clients and clients of these entities. However, these views are subject to change from time to time. Moreover, other professionals who deal in markets relating to a Market Measure may at any time have significantly different views from our views and the views of these entities. For these reasons, you are encouraged to derive information concerning a Market Measure and its component securities from multiple sources, and you should not rely on our views or the views expressed by these entities.
You will have no rights as a security holder, you will have no rights to receive any of the securities represented by the Market Measure, and you will not be entitled to dividends or other distributions by the issuers of these securities. LIRNs are our debt securities. They are not equity instruments, shares of stock, or securities of any other issuer. Investing in LIRNs will not make you a holder of any of the securities represented by the Market Measure. You will not have any voting rights, any rights to receive dividends or other distributions, or any other rights with respect to those securities. As a result, the return on your LIRNs may not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned those securities and received the dividends paid or other distributions made in connection with them. Additionally, the levels of certain indices reflect only the prices of the securities included in that index and do not take into consideration the value of dividends paid on those securities. Your LIRNs will be paid in cash and you have no right to receive any of these securities.
If the Market Measure to which your LIRNs are linked includes equity securities traded on foreign exchanges, your return may be affected by factors affecting international securities markets. The value of securities traded outside of the U.S. may be adversely affected by a variety of factors relating to the relevant securities markets. Factors which could affect those markets, and therefore the return on your LIRNs, include:
· Market Liquidity and Volatility. The relevant foreign securities markets may be less liquid and/or more volatile than U.S. or other securities markets and may be affected by market developments in different ways than U.S. or other securities markets.
· Political, Economic, and Other Factors. The prices and performance of securities of companies in foreign countries may be affected by political, economic, financial, and social factors in those regions. Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize a particular securities market and cross-shareholdings in companies in the relevant foreign markets may affect prices and the volume of trading in those markets. In addition, recent or future changes in government, economic, and fiscal policies in the relevant jurisdictions, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws, or other laws or restrictions, and possible fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, are factors that could adversely affect the relevant securities markets. The relevant foreign economies may differ from the U.S. economy in economic factors such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, and self-sufficiency.
In particular, many emerging nations are undergoing rapid change, involving the restructuring of economic, political, financial, and legal systems. Regulatory and tax environments may be subject to change without review or appeal, and many emerging markets suffer from underdevelopment of capital markets and tax systems. In addition, in some of these nations, issuers of the relevant securities face the threat of expropriation of their assets and/or nationalization of their businesses. The economic and financial data about some of these countries may be unreliable.
· Publicly Available Information. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. In addition, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and requirements in foreign countries differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, we and the agents do not control any company included in any Market Measure and have not verified any disclosure made by any other company. We, the agents, or our respective affiliates currently, or in the future may, engage in business with companies included in a Market Measure, and we, the agents, or our respective affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in a Market Measure. However, none of us, the agents, or any of our respective affiliates has the ability to control the actions of any of these companies or has undertaken any independent review of, or made any due diligence inquiry with respect to, any of these companies, unless (and only to the extent that) the securities of us, the agents, or our respective affiliates are represented by that Market Measure. In addition, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, none of us, the agents, or any of our respective affiliates is responsible for the calculation of any index represented by a Market Measure. You should make your own investigation into the Market Measure.
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, none of the Index Publishers, their affiliates, or any companies included in the Market Measure will be involved in any offering of LIRNs or will have any obligation of any sort with respect to LIRNs. As a result, none
of those companies will have any obligation to take your interests as holders of LIRNs into consideration for any reason, including taking any corporate actions that might adversely affect the value of the securities represented by the Market Measure or the value of LIRNs.
Our business activities and those of the agents relating to the companies represented by a Market Measure or the LIRNs may create conflicts of interest with you. We, the agents, and our respective affiliates, at the time of any offering of LIRNs or in the future, may engage in business with the companies represented by a Market Measure, including making loans to, equity investments in, or providing investment banking, asset management, or other services to those companies, their affiliates, and their competitors.
In connection with these activities, any of these entities may receive information about those companies that we will not divulge to you or other third parties. We, the agents, and our respective affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports on one or more of these companies. The agents may also publish research reports relating to our or our affiliates’ securities, including the LIRNs. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding your LIRNs. Any of these activities may adversely affect the value of the Market Measure and, consequently, the market value of your LIRNs. None of us, the agents, or our respective affiliates makes any representation to any purchasers of the LIRNs regarding any matters whatsoever relating to the issuers of the securities included in a Market Measure. Any prospective purchaser of the LIRNs should undertake an independent investigation of the companies included in a Market Measure to a level that, in its judgment, is appropriate to make an informed decision regarding an investment in the LIRNs. The composition of the Market Measure does not reflect any investment recommendations from us, the agents, or our respective affiliates.
Other Risk Factors Relating to the Applicable Market Measure
The applicable term sheet may set forth additional risk factors as to the Market Measure that you should review prior to purchasing LIRNs.
We will use the net proceeds we receive from each sale of LIRNs for the purposes described in the prospectus supplement under “Use of Proceeds.” In addition, we expect that we or our affiliates may use a portion of the net proceeds to hedge our obligations under LIRNs.
General
Each issue of LIRNs will be part of a series of medium-term notes entitled “Senior Global Medium-Term Notes (Structured Notes)” that will be issued under the indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time. The indenture is described more fully in the prospectus and prospectus supplement. The following description of LIRNs supplements and, to the extent it is inconsistent with, supersedes the description of the general terms and provisions of the notes and debt securities set forth under the headings “Description of the Notes We May Offer” in the prospectus supplement and “Description of Senior Debt Securities” in the prospectus. These documents should be read in connection with the applicable term sheet.
The maturity date of the LIRNs and the aggregate principal amount of each issue of LIRNs will be stated in the applicable term sheet. If the scheduled maturity date is not a business day, we will make the required payment on the next business day, and no interest will accrue as a result of such delay.
We will not pay interest on LIRNs. LIRNs do not guarantee the return of principal at maturity. LIRNs will be payable only in U.S. dollars.
Prior to the maturity date, LIRNs are not redeemable at our option or repayable at the option of any holder. LIRNs are not subject to any sinking fund. LIRNs are not subject to the defeasance provisions described in the section “Description of Senior Debt Securities—Defeasance” beginning on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus.
We will issue LIRNs in denominations of whole units. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable term sheet, each unit will have a principal amount of $10. The CUSIP number for each issue of LIRNs will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. You may transfer LIRNs only in whole units.
Payment at Maturity
At maturity, subject to our credit risk as issuer of LIRNs, you will receive a Redemption Amount, denominated in U.S. dollars. The “ Redemption Amount ” will be calculated as follows:
· If the Ending Value is greater than the Starting Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal:
If your LIRNs are Capped LIRNs, the Redemption Amount will not exceed a “ Capped Value ” set forth in the term sheet.
· If the Ending Value is equal to or less than the Starting Value, but is greater than or equal to the Threshold Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal the principal amount.
· If the Ending Value is less than the Threshold Value, then the Redemption Amount will equal:
The Redemption Amount will not be less than zero.
The “ Threshold Value ” will be a value of the Market Measure that equals a specified percentage of the Starting Value, which will be less than or equal to 100%. The Threshold Value will be determined on the pricing date and set forth in the applicable term sheet. If the Threshold Value is equal to 100% of the Starting Value, then the Redemption Amount for LIRNs will be less than the principal amount if there is any decrease in the value of the Market Measure from the Starting Value to the Ending Value, and you may lose all of your investment in LIRNs.
Your participation in any upside performance of the Market Measure underlying your LIRNs will also be impacted by the Participation Rate. The “ Participation Rate ” may be greater than or equal to 100%. The Participation Rate applicable to your LIRNs will be set forth in the term sheet. If the applicable term sheet specifies that the Participation Rate is 100%, your participation in any upside performance of the Market Measure will not be leveraged.
Each term sheet will provide examples of Redemption Amounts based on a range of hypothetical Ending Values.
The applicable term sheet will set forth information as to the specific Market Measure, including information as to the historical values of the Market Measure. However, historical values of the Market Measure are not indicative of its future performance or the performance of your LIRNs.
An investment in LIRNs does not entitle you to any ownership interest, including any voting rights, dividends paid, or other distributions made, in the securities of any of the companies included in a Market Measure.
The Starting Value and the Ending Value
Starting Value
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the “ Starting Value ” will be the closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date.
Ending Value
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the “ Ending Value ” will equal the average of the closing levels of the Market Measure determined on each calculation day during the Maturity Valuation Period.
The “ Maturity Valuation Period ” means the period consisting of one or more calculation days shortly before the maturity date. The timing and length of the period will be set forth in the term sheet.
A “ calculation day ” means any Market Measure Business Day during the Maturity Valuation Period on which a Market Disruption Event has not occurred.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, a “ Market Measure Business Day ” means a day on which (1) the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”) and The NASDAQ
Stock Market, or their successors, are open for trading and (2) the applicable index(es) or any successor is calculated and published.
If (i) a Market Disruption Event occurs on a scheduled calculation day during the Maturity Valuation Period or (ii) any scheduled calculation day is determined by the calculation agent not to be a Market Measure Business Day by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration, or otherwise (any such day in either (i) or (ii) being a “ non-calculation day ”), the closing level of the Market Measure for the applicable non-calculation day will be the closing level of the Market Measure on the next calculation day that occurs during the Maturity Valuation Period. For example, if the first and second scheduled calculation days during the Maturity Valuation Period are non-calculation days, then the closing level of the Market Measure on the next calculation day will also be the closing level for the Market Measure on the first and second scheduled calculation days during the Maturity Valuation Period. If no further calculation days occur after a non-calculation day, or if every scheduled calculation day after that non-calculation day is also a non-calculation day, then the closing level of the Market Measure for that non-calculation day and each following non-calculation day, if any (or for all the scheduled calculation days during the Maturity Valuation Period, if applicable), will be determined (or, if not determinable, estimated) by the calculation agent in a commercially reasonable manner on the last scheduled calculation day during the Maturity Valuation Period, regardless of the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event on that last scheduled calculation day.
If the Market Measure consists of a Basket, the Starting Value and the Ending Value of the Basket will be determined as described in “—Basket Market Measures.”
Market Disruption Events
For an index, “ Market Disruption Event ” means one or more of the following events, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion:
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(A) |
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the suspension of or material limitation on trading, in each case, for more than two consecutive hours of trading, or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of trading, on the primary exchange where the securities included in an index trade (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session), in 20% or more of the securities which then compose the index or any successor index; and |
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(B) |
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the suspension of or material limitation on trading, in each case, for more than two consecutive hours of trading, or during the one-half hour period preceding the close of trading, on the primary exchange that trades options contracts or futures contracts related to the index (without taking into account any extended or after-hours trading session), whether by reason of movements in price otherwise exceeding levels permitted by the relevant exchange or otherwise, in options contracts or futures contracts related to the index, or any successor index. |
For the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred:
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(1) |
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a limitation on the hours in a trading day and/or number of days of trading will not constitute a Market Disruption Event if it results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the relevant exchange; |
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(2) |
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a decision to permanently discontinue trading in the relevant futures or options contracts related to the index, or any successor index, will not constitute a Market Disruption Event; |
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(3) |
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a suspension in trading in a futures or options contract on the index, or any successor index, by a major securities market by reason of (a) a price change violating limits set by that securities market, (b) an imbalance of orders relating to those contracts, or (c) a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to those contracts will constitute a suspension of or material limitation on trading in futures or options contracts related to the index; |
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(4) |
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a suspension of or material limitation on trading on the relevant exchange will not include any time when that exchange is closed for trading under ordinary circumstances; and |
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(5) |
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if applicable to indices with component securities listed on the NYSE, for the purpose of clause (A) above, any limitations on trading during significant market fluctuations under NYSE Rule 80B, or any applicable rule or regulation enacted or promulgated by the NYSE or any other self-regulatory organization or the SEC of similar scope as determined by the calculation agent, will be considered “material.” |
Adjustments to an Index
After the applicable pricing date, an Index Publisher may make a material change in the method of calculating an index or in another way that changes the index such that it does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the level of the index had those changes or modifications not been made. In this case, the calculation agent will, at the close of business in New York, New York, on each date that the closing level is to be calculated, make adjustments to the index. Those adjustments will be made in good faith as necessary to arrive at a calculation of a level of the index as if those changes or modifications had not been made, and calculate the closing level of the index, as so adjusted.
Discontinuance of an Index
After the pricing date, an Index Publisher may discontinue publication of an index to which an issue of LIRNs is linked. The Index Publisher or another entity may then publish a substitute index that the calculation agent determines, in its sole discretion, to be comparable to the original index (a “ successor index ”). If this occurs, the calculation agent will substitute the successor index as calculated by the relevant Index Publisher or any other entity and calculate the Ending Value as described under “—The Starting Value and the Ending Value” or “—Basket Market Measure,” as applicable. If the calculation agent selects a successor index, the calculation agent will give written notice of the selection to the trustee, to us and to the holders of the LIRNs.
If an Index Publisher discontinues publication of the index before the end of the Maturity Valuation Period and the calculation agent does not select a successor index, then on each day that would have been a calculation day, until the earlier to occur of:
· the determination of the Ending Value; or
· a determination by the calculation agent that a successor index is available,
the calculation agent will compute a substitute level for the index in accordance with the procedures last used to calculate the index before any discontinuance as if that day were a calculation day. The calculation agent will make available to holders of the LIRNs information regarding those levels by means of Bloomberg L.P., Thomson Reuters, a website, or any other means selected by the calculation agent in its reasonable discretion.
If a successor index is selected or the calculation agent calculates a level as a substitute for an index, the successor index or level will be used as a substitute for all purposes, including for the purpose of determining whether a Market Disruption Event exists.
Notwithstanding these alternative arrangements, any modification or discontinuance of the publication of any index to which your LIRNs are linked may adversely affect trading in the LIRNs.
Basket Market Measures
If the Market Measure to which your LIRNs are linked is a Basket, the Basket Components will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. We will assign each Basket Component a weighting (the “ Initial Component Weight ”) so that each Basket Component represents a percentage of the Starting Value of the Basket on the pricing date. We may assign the Basket Components equal Initial Component Weights, or we may assign the Basket Components unequal Initial Component Weights. The Initial Component Weight for each Basket Component will be stated in the applicable term sheet.
Determination of the Component Ratio for Each Basket Component
The “ Starting Value ” of the Basket will be equal to 100. We will set a fixed factor (the “ Component Ratio ”) for each Basket Component on the pricing date, based upon the weighting of that Basket Component. The Component Ratio for each Basket Component will equal:
· the Initial Component Weight (expressed as a percentage) for that Basket Component, multiplied by 100; divided by
· the closing level of that Basket Component on the pricing date.
Each Component Ratio will be rounded to eight decimal places.
The Component Ratios will be calculated in this way so that the Starting Value of the Basket will equal 100 on the pricing date. The Component Ratios will not be revised subsequent to their determination on the pricing date, except that the calculation agent may in its good faith judgment adjust the Component Ratio of any Basket Component in the event that Basket Component is materially changed or modified in a manner that does not, in the opinion of the calculation agent, fairly represent the value of that Basket Component had those material changes or modifications not been made.
The following table is for illustration purposes only, and does not reflect the actual composition, Initial Component Weights, or Component Ratios, which will be set forth in the term sheet.
Example: The hypothetical Basket Components are Index ABC, Index XYZ, and Index RST, with their Initial Component Weights being 50.00%, 25.00% and 25.00%, respectively, on a hypothetical pricing date:
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Basket Component |
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Initial
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Hypothetical
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Hypothetical
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Initial Basket
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Index ABC |
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50.00% |
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500.00 |
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0.10000000 |
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50.00 |
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Index XYZ |
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25.00% |
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2,420.00 |
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0.01033058 |
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25.00 |
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Index RST |
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25.00% |
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1,014.00 |
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0.02465483 |
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25.00 |
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Starting Value |
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100.00 |
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(1) |
This column sets forth the hypothetical closing level of each Basket Component on the hypothetical pricing date. |
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(2) |
The hypothetical Component Ratio for each Basket Component equals its Initial Component Weight (expressed as a percentage) multiplied by 100, and then divided by the hypothetical closing level of that Basket Component on the hypothetical pricing date, with the result rounded to eight decimal places. |
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable term sheet, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on the pricing date as to any Basket Component, the calculation agent will establish the closing level of that Basket Component (the “ Basket Component Closing Level ”), and thus its Component Ratio, based on the closing level of that Basket Component on the first Market Measure Business Day following the pricing date on which no Market Disruption Event occurs for that Basket Component. In the event that a Market Disruption Event occurs for that Basket Component on the pricing date and on each day to and including the second scheduled Market Measure Business Day following the pricing date, the calculation agent (not later than the close of business in New York, New York on the second scheduled Market Measure Business Day following the pricing date) will estimate the Basket Component Closing Level, and thus the applicable Component Ratio, in a manner that the calculation agent considers commercially reasonable. The final term sheet will provide the Basket Component Closing Level, a brief statement of the facts relating to the establishment of the Basket Component Closing Level (including the applicable Market Disruption Event(s)), and the applicable Component Ratio.
For purposes of determining whether a Market Disruption Event has occurred as to any Basket Component, “Market Disruption Event” will have the meaning stated above in
“—Market Disruption Events.”
Ending Value of the Basket
The calculation agent will calculate the value of the Basket by summing the products of the Basket Component Closing Level on a calculation day and the Component Ratio for each Basket Component. The value of the Basket will vary based on the increase or decrease in the level of each Basket Component. Any increase in the level of a Basket Component (assuming no change in the level of the other Basket Component or Basket Components) will result in an increase in the value of the Basket. Conversely, any decrease in the level of a Basket
Component (assuming no change in the level of the other Basket Component or Basket Components) will result in a decrease in the value of the Basket.
The “ Ending Value ” of the Basket will equal the average value of the Basket on each calculation day during the Maturity Valuation Period.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, if, for any Basket Component (an “ Affected Basket Component ”), (i) a Market Disruption Event occurs on a scheduled calculation day during the Maturity Valuation Period or (ii) any scheduled calculation day is determined by the calculation agent not to be a Market Measure Business Day by reason of an extraordinary event, occurrence, declaration, or otherwise (any such day in either (i) or (ii) being a “ non-calculation day ”), the calculation agent will determine the closing levels of the Basket Components for such non-calculation day, and as a result, the Ending Value, as follows:
· The closing level of each Basket Component that is not an Affected Basket Component will be its closing level on such non-calculation day.
· The closing level of each Basket Component that is an Affected Basket Component for the applicable non-calculation day will be determined in the same manner as described in the fifth paragraph of subsection “—The Starting Value and the Ending Value—Ending Value,” provided that references to “Market Measure” will be references to “Basket Component.”
Role of the Calculation Agent
The calculation agent has the sole discretion to make all determinations regarding LIRNs as described in this product supplement, including determinations regarding the Starting Value, the Threshold Value, the Ending Value, the Market Measure, the Redemption Amount, any Market Disruption Events, a successor index, Market Measure Business Days, business days, calculation days, non-calculation days, and determinations related to any adjustments to, or discontinuance of, any index. Absent manifest error, all determinations of the calculation agent will be conclusive for all purposes and final and binding on you and us, without any liability on the part of the calculation agent.
We expect to appoint MLPF&S or one of its affiliates as the calculation agent for each issue of LIRNs. However, we may change the calculation agent at any time without notifying you. The identity of the calculation agent will be set forth in the applicable term sheet.
Payment of Additional Amounts
We will pay any amounts to be paid by us on the LIRNs without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any and all present or future income, stamp and other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, or withholdings (“ taxes ”) now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld, or assessed by or on behalf of Canada or any Canadian political subdivision or authority that has the power to tax, unless the deduction or withholding is required by law or by the interpretation or administration thereof by the relevant governmental authority. At any time a Canadian taxing jurisdiction requires us to deduct or withhold for or on account of taxes from any payment made under or in respect of the LIRNs, we will pay such additional amounts (“ Additional Amounts ”) as may be necessary, so that the net amounts received by each holder (including Additional Amounts), after such deduction or withholding, shall not be less than the amount the holder would have received had no such deduction or withholding been required.
However, no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to a payment made to a holder of a LIRN or of a right to receive payments in respect thereto (a “ Payment Recipient ”), which we refer to as an “ Excluded Holder ,” in respect of any taxes imposed because the beneficial owner or Payment Recipient:
(i) is someone with whom we do not deal at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)), or is entitled to the payment in respect of a debt or other obligation to pay an amount to such a person, at the time of making such payment;
(ii) is subject to such taxes by reason of the holder being connected presently or formerly with Canada or any province or territory thereof otherwise than by reason of the holder’s activity in connection with purchasing LIRNs, the holding of LIRNs or the receipt of payments thereunder;
(iii) is or does not deal at arm’s length with a person who is, a “specified shareholder” (within the meaning of subsection 18(5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (generally a person will be a “specified shareholder” for this purpose if that person, either alone or together with persons with whom the person does not deal at arm’s length, owns 25% or more of (a) our voting shares, or (b) the fair market value of all of our issued and outstanding shares);
(iv) presents such LIRNs for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant date; for this purpose, the “relevant date” in relation to any payments on any LIRN means:
(a) the due date for payment thereof (whether at maturity or upon an earlier acceleration), or
(b) if the full amount of the monies payable on such date has not been received by the trustee on or prior to such due date, the date on which the full amount of such monies has been received and notice to that effect is given to holders of LIRNs in accordance with the indenture; or
(v) who could lawfully avoid (but has not so avoided) such withholding or deduction by complying, or requiring that any agent comply with, any statutory requirements necessary to establish qualification for an exemption from withholding or by making, or requiring that any agent make, a declaration of non-residence or other similar claim for exemption to any relevant tax authority.
For purposes of clause (iv) above, if LIRNs are presented for payment more than 30 days after the relevant date, we shall only be required to pay such Additional Amounts as would have been payable if the LIRNs had been presented for payment on such 30th day, and no further Additional Amounts shall accrue or become payable after such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, we will not have any obligation to pay any holders Additional Amounts on any tax which is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments made under or in respect of the LIRNs.
We will also make such withholding or deduction and remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. We will furnish to the trustee, within 30 days after the date the payment of any taxes is due pursuant to applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts evidencing that such payment has been made or other
evidence of such payment satisfactory to the trustee. We will indemnify and hold harmless each holder of the LIRNs (other than an Excluded Holder) and upon written request reimburse each such holder for the amount of (x) any taxes so levied or imposed and paid by such holder as a result of payments made under or with respect to the LIRNs and (y) any taxes levied or imposed and paid by such holder with respect to any reimbursement under (x) above, but excluding any such taxes on such holder’s net income or capital.
For additional information, see the section entitled “Material Income Tax Consequences—Canadian Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and, where applicable, any supplement thereto in the applicable term sheet.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
LIRNs will be delivered in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company against payment by purchasers of LIRNs in immediately available funds. We will pay the Redemption Amount in immediately available funds so long as the LIRNs are maintained in book-entry form.
Events of Default and Acceleration
Events of default are defined in the indenture. If such an event occurs and is continuing, unless otherwise stated in the term sheet, the amount payable to a holder of LIRNs upon any acceleration permitted under the indenture will be equal to the Redemption Amount described under the caption “—Payment at Maturity,” determined as if the date of acceleration were the maturity date of the LIRNs and as if the final calculation day of the Maturity Valuation Period were the fifth Market Measure Business Day prior to the date of acceleration.
If a bankruptcy proceeding is commenced in respect of us, your claim may be limited under applicable bankruptcy law. In case of a default in payment of LIRNs, whether at their maturity or upon acceleration, they will not bear a default interest rate. For additional discussion of these matters, please see the discussion in the accompanying prospectus under the headings “Description of Senior Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver of the Senior Debt Securities” beginning on page 5 and “—Events of Default” beginning on page 7.
Listing
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable term sheet, the LIRNs will not be listed on a securities exchange or quotation system.
SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
MLPF&S and one or more of its affiliates may act as our agents for any offering of the LIRNs. The agents may act on either a principal basis or an agency basis, as set forth in the applicable term sheet. Each agent will be a party to the distribution agreement described in the “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” on page S-24 of the accompanying prospectus supplement.
Each agent will receive an underwriting discount that is a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of LIRNs sold through its efforts, which will be set forth in the applicable term sheet. You must have an account with the applicable agent in order to purchase LIRNs.
None of the agents is acting as your fiduciary or advisor solely as a result of the making of any offering of the LIRNs, and you should not rely upon this product supplement, the term sheet, or the accompanying prospectus or prospectus supplement as investment advice or a recommendation to purchase any LIRNs. You should make your own investment decision regarding LIRNs after consulting with your legal, tax, and other advisors.
MLPF&S and its affiliates may use this product supplement, the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus, together with the applicable term sheet, in market-making transactions for any LIRNs after their initial sale solely for the purpose of providing investors with the description of the terms of LIRNs that were made available to investors in connection with the initial distribution of LIRNs. Secondary market investors should not, and will not be authorized to rely on these documents for information regarding Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or for any purpose other than that described in the immediately preceding sentence.
Selling Restrictions
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “ Relevant Member State ”), MLPF&S has represented and agreed, and each further dealer appointed under the program will be required to represent and agree, that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “ Relevant Implementation Date ”) it has not made and will not make an offer of the LIRNs to the public in that Relevant Member State except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of such LIRNs to the public in that Relevant Member State:
(a) if an offer of those LIRNs may be made other than pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State (a “ Non-exempt Offer ”), following the date of publication of a prospectus in relation to such LIRNs which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, provided that any such prospectus has subsequently been completed by the final offering document contemplating such Non-exempt Offer, in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, in the period beginning and ending on the dates specified in such prospectus or final offering document, as applicable, and the issuer has consented in writing to its use for the purpose of that Non-exempt Offer;
(b) at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
(c) at any time to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive (as defined below) , 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant dealer or dealers nominated by the issuer for any such offer; or
(d) at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,
provided that no such offer of the LIRNs referred to in (b) to (d) above shall require the issuer or any dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of the LIRNs to the public”, in relation to any LIRNs in any Relevant Member State, means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the LIRNs to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the LIRNs, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State, and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.
United Kingdom
MLPF&S has represented and agreed that:
(a) in relation to any LIRNs which have a maturity of less than one year, (i) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing, or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any LIRNs other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing, or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage, or dispose of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the LIRNs would otherwise constitute a contravention of section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “ FSMA ”) by the issuer;
(b) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any LIRNs in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the issuer; and
(c) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the LIRNs in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Argentina
LIRNs are not and will not be marketed in Argentina by means of a public offer of securities, as such term is defined under Sections 2 and 83 of the Argentine Capital Markets Law No. 26,831, as amended, as securities. No application has been or will be made with the
Argentine Comisión Nacional de Valores, the Argentine securities governmental authority, to offer LIRNs in Argentina.
Brazil
The information contained in this product supplement and in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus does not constitute a public offering or distribution of securities in Brazil and no registration or filing with respect to any securities or financial products described in these documents has been made with the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (the “ CVM ”). No public offer of securities or financial products described in this product supplement or in the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus should be made in Brazil without the applicable registration at the CVM.
Chile
The LIRNs have not been registered with the Superintendency of Securities and Insurance of Chile, and the LIRNs may not be offered or sold to persons in Chile, except in circumstances which do not result in an offer to the public in Chile, within the meaning of Chilean Law.
Mexico
LIRNs have not been and will not be registered in the National Securities Registry (Registro Nacional de Valores). Therefore, LIRNs may not be offered or sold in the United Mexican States (“ Mexico ”) by any means except in circumstances which constitute a private offering (oferta privada) pursuant to Article 8 of the Securities Market Law (Ley del Mercado de Valores) and its regulations. All applicable provisions of the Securities Market Law must be complied with in respect to anything done in relation to LIRNs in, from or otherwise involving Mexico.
Netherlands
No offers of LIRNs may be made to residents of the Netherlands.
New Zealand
No offeree of LIRNs shall directly or indirectly offer, sell or deliver any LIRNs, or distribute the offering documents or any advertisement in relation to any offer of LIRNs, in New Zealand other than to persons whose principal business is the investment of money or who, in the course of and for the purposes of their business, habitually invest money, or who are each required to pay a minimum subscription price of at least NZ$500,000 for LIRNs (excluding any amounts lent by the issuer or any of its affiliates) before the allotment of those LIRNs, or who in all the circumstances can properly be regarded as having been selected otherwise than as members of the public, or in other circumstances where there is no contravention of the Securities Act 1978 of New Zealand.
Philippines
THE LIRNS BEING OFFERED OR SOLD HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE PHILIPPINES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES REGULATION CODE. ANY FUTURE OFFER OR SALE OF THE LIRNS IS SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CODE UNLESS SUCH OFFER OR SALE QUALIFIES AS AN EXEMPT TRANSACTION.
Switzerland
LIRNs may not be offered, sold or advertised directly or indirectly into or in Switzerland except in a manner which will not result in a public offering within the meaning of article 652a or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations (“ CO ”). None of this product supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus nor any other offering or marketing materials relating to LIRNs have been prepared with regard to the disclosure standards for prospectuses under article 652a or 1156 CO, and therefore do not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or 1156 CO. None of this product supplement or the accompanying prospectus supplement and prospectus nor any other offering or marketing materials relating to LIRNs may be distributed, published or otherwise made available in Switzerland except in a manner which will not constitute a public offering of LIRNs into or in Switzerland.
Uruguay
LIRNs have not been registered under the Uruguayan Securities Market Law or recorded in the Uruguayan Central Bank. The LIRNs are not available publicly in Uruguay and are offered only on a private basis. No action may be taken in Uruguay that would render any offering of LIRNs a public offering in Uruguay. No Uruguayan regulatory authority has approved the LIRNs or passed on our solvency. In addition, any resale of LIRNs must be made in a manner that will not constitute a public offering in Uruguay.
Los valores no han sido registrados bajo la Ley de Mercado de Valores de la República Oriental del Uruguay o registrados ante el Banco Central del Uruguay. Los valores no son ofrecidos en forma pública en Uruguay y lo son únicamente en forma privada. Ninguna acción puede ser adoptada en Uruguay en relación a estos valores que resulte en que esta oferta de valores sea una oferta pública de valores en Uruguay. Ninguna autoridad regulatoria del Uruguay ha aprobado estos valores o se ha manifestado sobre nuestra solvencia. Adicionalmente, cualquier reventa de estos valores debe ser realizada en forma tal que no constituya oferta pública de valores en el Uruguay.
CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY
An investor should read carefully the description of material Canadian federal income tax considerations relevant to a Non-resident Holder owning debt securities under “Material Income Tax Consequences —Canadian Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus. Canadian federal income tax considerations applicable to LIRNs may be described particularly when such LIRNs are offered in the applicable term sheet related thereto and, in that event, the disclosure in the accompanying prospectus will be superseded in such term sheet to the extent indicated therein.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY
The following discussion supplements the discussion in the section called “Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus, and is subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth therein. Capitalized terms used in this section without definition shall have the respective meanings given such terms in the accompanying prospectus.
The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the purchase, ownership, and disposition of LIRNs . This summary applies only to holders that acquire their LIRNs in this offering for a price equal to the original offering price, which we understand will be at par, and hold such LIRNs as capital assets, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”). This summary does not apply to any holder that is subject to special rules, such as:
· a dealer in securities,
· a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings,
· a bank,
· a life insurance company,
· a tax-exempt organization,
· a person that owns LIRNs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction for tax purposes,
· a person that purchases or sells LIRNs as part of a wash sale for tax purposes,
· a regulated investment company or real estate investment trust,
· a U.S. holder (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar,
· a U.S. holder subject to the alternative minimum tax, or
· U.S. expatriates.
This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, existing and proposed Treasury Regulations thereunder, current administrative rulings, judicial decisions and other applicable authorities. All of the foregoing are subject to change, which change may apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary. This summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, locality or taxing jurisdiction other than the U.S. federal government. This discussion also does not purport to be a complete analysis of all tax considerations relating to the LIRNs .
Any particular offering of LIRNs may also have features or terms that cause the U.S. federal income tax treatment of such LIRNs to differ materially from the discussion below. If such features are applicable to any particular offering of LIRNs, the applicable pricing supplement will so state and discuss the U.S. federal income treatment of that offering. Accordingly, you should carefully review the section of the applicable pricing supplement entitled “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”. You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in LIRNs in your particular circumstances, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
If a partnership holds LIRNs , the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in LIRNs if you are a partner in a partnership holding LIRNs .
General
We will not attempt to ascertain whether components of the Market Measure would be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Internal Revenue Code or a “U.S. real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code. If components of the Market Measure were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could possibly apply.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in LIRNs are uncertain. No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly discusses how LIRNs should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the opinion of our counsel, Mayer Brown LLP, it would be generally reasonable to treat LIRNs as pre-paid cash-settled derivative contracts. The terms of the LIRNs will provide that you agree to treat LIRNs in this manner for all U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the characterization described above. The discussion in this section assumes that there is a significant possibility of a significant loss of principal on an investment in LIRNs.
U.S. Holders
Subject to the discussion below of Section 1260 of the Code, if you are a U.S. holder, you should generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange or payment on maturity in an amount equal to the difference between the amount you receive at such time and your tax basis in LIRNs. In general, your tax basis in your LIRNs will be equal to the price you paid for them. Such gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your LIRNs for more than one year. Capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year and is generally taxed at ordinary income rates where the property is held for one year or less. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. The holding period for LIRNs of a U.S. holder who acquires the LIRNs upon issuance will generally begin on the date after the
issue date (i.e., the settlement date) of LIRNs. If the LIRNs are held by the same U.S. holder until maturity, that holder’s holding period will generally include the maturity date. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could assert that a U.S. holder’s holding period in respect of the LIRNs should end on the date on which the amount the holder is entitled to receive upon the maturity of the LIRNs is determined, even though the holder will not receive any amounts from us in respect of the LIRNs prior to the maturity of the LIRNs. In such a case, a U.S. holder may be treated as having a holding period in respect of the LIRNs that is one year or less even if the holder receives cash upon maturity of the LIRNs at a time that is more than one year after the beginning of its holding period.
The constructive ownership rules of Section 1260 of the Code could possibly apply to LIRNs that have a term in excess of one year and reference a “pass-thru entity” (as defined in Section 1260(c)(2) of the Code). Examples of “pass-thru entities” include (but are not limited to) regulated investment companies (e.g., most exchange-traded funds), real estate investment trusts, passive foreign investment companies and partnerships. It is not entirely clear how Section 1260 applies to an underlying Market Measure that is wholly or partially comprised of “pass-thru entities.” We generally do not intend to make an inquiry as to whether any underlying Market Measure contains any “pass-thru entities”, and it is possible that LIRNs for which the underlying Market Measure contains a “pass-thru entity” could be wholly or partially subject to Section 1260 of the Code. If your LIRNs were subject to Section 1260 of the Code, then, among other consequences, all or a portion of any long-term capital gain that you realize upon the sale, redemption or maturity of your LIRNs would be recharacterized as ordinary income (and you would be subject to an interest charge on deferred tax liability with respect to such recharacterized amount) to the extent that such capital gain exceeds the amount of long-term capital gain that you would have realized had you purchased the actual number of interests in the applicable underlying Market Measure referenced by your LIRNs on the date that you purchased your LIRNs and sold those interests on the date of the sale, redemption or maturity of the LIRNs. Accordingly, if your LIRNs reference an underlying Market Measure that contains a “pass-thru entity,” you should consult your tax advisor about the potential application of Section 1260 of the Code to such LIRNs.
Alternative Treatments.
As noted above, there is no judicial or administrative authority discussing how LIRNs should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, other treatments would also be reasonable and the Internal Revenue Service might assert that treatment other than that described above is more appropriate .
In 2008, the Internal Revenue Service released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of LIRNs . According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury have been considering whether the holder of an instrument such as LIRNs should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis, and they are seeking taxpayer comments on the subject. The notice also states that the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department are also considering other relevant issues, including whether gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code might be applied to such instruments. Similarly, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have current projects open with regard to the tax treatment of pre-paid forward contracts and contingent notional principal contracts. While it is not clear whether LIRNs would be viewed as similar to instruments discussed in such notice, it is possible that any future guidance could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in LIRNs , possibly with retroactive effect.
If the Market Measure is an index that periodically rebalances, it is possible that the LIRNs could be treated as a series of derivative contracts, each of which matures on the next
rebalancing date. If the LIRNs were properly characterized in such a manner, a holder would be treated as disposing of the LIRNs on each rebalancing date in return for new derivative contracts that mature on the next rebalancing date, and a holder would accordingly likely recognize capital gain or loss on each rebalancing date equal to the difference between the holder’s basis in the LIRNs (which would be adjusted to take into account any prior recognition of gain or loss) and the fair market value of the LIRNs on such date.
Similarly, the Internal Revenue Service might assert, and a possible alternative treatment with respect to LIRNs would be, to treat LIRNs as a single debt instrument. If the LIRNs have a term that exceeds one year, such a debt instrument may be subject to the special tax rules governing contingent payment debt instruments.
If LIRNs are subject to such special rules applicable to contingent payment debt instruments, the amount of interest U.S. holders are required to take into account for each accrual period will be determined by constructing a projected payment schedule for LIRNs and applying rules similar to those for accruing “original issue discount” or OID on a hypothetical noncontingent debt instrument with that projected payment schedule. In addition to accruing interest income in accordance with the comparable yield, a U.S. holder will be required to make adjustments if the actual amounts that holder receives in any taxable year differs from the projected payment schedule. These rules could possibly have the effect of requiring U.S. holders to include amounts in income in respect of LIRNs prior to receipt of cash attributable to that income.
U.S. holders will recognize gain or loss on the sale, redemption or maturity of LIRNs treated as contingent payment debt instruments in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received at that time and their adjusted basis in the LIRNs. In general, a U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in such notes will equal the amount the holder paid for the LIRNs, increased by the amount of interest that was previously accrued with respect to the LIRNs. Any such gain will generally be ordinary income and any such loss will generally be ordinary loss to the extent the interest included as income in the current or previous taxable years, and thereafter will be capital loss.
Similarly, if LIRNs have a term of one year or less, it is possible that LIRNs could be treated as short-term contingent debt instruments. There is no statutory, judicial, or administrative authority that governs how short-term contingent debt should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and accordingly you should consult your tax advisor about this potential alternative treatment of LIRNs.
You are urged to consult your tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations.
Additional Information for U.S. Holders
For information regarding backup withholding and information reporting considerations with respect to LIRNs , please see the discussion under “Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Taxation—U.S. Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” in the accompanying prospectus.
Non-U.S. Holders
For purposes of this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of LIRNs that is not a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership and is not a U.S. holder. If you are a non-U.S. holder, except as provided below, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax for amounts paid in respect of the LIRNs,
provided that the payment is not effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale or exchange of the LIRNs or their settlement at maturity may be subject to U.S. federal income tax if you are a nonresident alien individual and are present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the settlement at maturity, sale or exchange and certain other conditions are satisfied.
If you are engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. and if gain realized on the settlement at maturity, sale or exchange of the LIRNs, is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the U.S.),you generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if you were a U.S. holder as described under the heading “—U.S. Holders,” above. In addition, non-U.S. holders that are foreign corporations, may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by any applicable tax treaty) of a portion of their earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the U.S., subject to certain adjustments.
Notwithstanding the above, if we determine that there is a material risk that we will be required to withhold on any payments on the LIRNs, we may withhold on any such payment to a non-U.S. holder at a 30% rate, unless such non-U.S. holder has provided to us (i) a valid IRS Form W-8ECI or (ii) a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E claiming tax treaty benefits that reduce or eliminate withholding. If we elect to withhold and such non-U.S. holder has provided us with a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E claiming tax treaty benefits that reduce or eliminate withholding, we may nevertheless withhold up to 30% on any payments if there is any possible characterization of the payments that would not be exempt from withholding under the treaty.
Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to non-U.S. holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities (such equities and indices, “U.S. Underlying Equities”). Section 871(m) generally applies to instruments that substantially replicate the economic performance of one or more U.S. Underlying Equities, as determined upon issuance, based on tests set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations. Specifically, and subject to the 2017 exemption described in the next paragraph, Section 871(m) will apply if, at issuance, a financial instrument either meets (i) a “delta” test, if it is a “simple” contract, or (ii) a “substantial equivalence” test, if it is a “complex” contract. Section 871(m) provides certain exceptions to this withholding regime, in particular for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices that meet requirements set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations as well as securities that track such indices.
The U.S. Treasury Department has issued regulations that exempt financial instruments issued in 2017 that are not “delta-one,” that is, do not perform in substantially the same manner as an investment in the U.S. Underlying Securities, from the application of Section 871(m). A determination that the LIRNs are not subject to Section 871(m) is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this treatment. Moreover, Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the LIRNs.
This information is indicative and will be supplemented and superseded in the final pricing supplement or as may otherwise be updated by us in writing from time to time. Non-U.S. holders should be warned that Section 871(m) may apply to the LIRNs based on circumstances at the time the LIRNs are issued and, therefore, it is possible that the
payments on the LIRNs will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(m).
As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the LIRNs for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible. Should an alternative characterization, by reason of change or clarification of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments as to the LIRNs to become subject to withholding tax, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate. Additionally, as discussed above, the IRS has indicated that it is considering whether income in respect of instruments such as the LIRNs should be subject to withholding tax. Prospective non-U.S. holders of the LIRNs should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.
The gross estate of a non-U.S. holder domiciled outside the United States includes only property situated in the United States. LIRNs may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax if an individual non-U.S. holder holds LIRNs at the time of his or her death. Individual non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of holding LIRNs at death.
Additional Information for Investors
For information regarding the applicability of FATCA to LIRNs , please see the discussion under “Material Income Tax Consequences—United States Taxation—FATCA Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus.
CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS FOR BENEFIT PLANS
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”) (a “ Plan ”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in LIRNs. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the Plan.
In addition, we, the agents, and certain of our respective subsidiaries and affiliates may be each considered a party in interest within the meaning of ERISA, or a disqualified person (within the meaning of the Code), with respect to many Plans, as well as many individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans (also “ Plans ”). Prohibited transactions within the meaning of ERISA or the Code would likely arise, for example, if LIRNs are acquired by or with the assets of a Plan with respect to which we or any of our affiliates is a party in interest, unless LIRNs are acquired under an exemption from the prohibited transaction rules. A violation of these prohibited transaction rules could result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.
Under ERISA and various prohibited transaction class exemptions (“ PTCEs ”) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, exemptive relief may be available for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase, holding, or disposition of LIRNs. Those exemptions include PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts), PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified asset managers), and the exemption under Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code for certain transactions with a person that is a party in interest or disqualified person solely by reason of providing services to Plans or being an affiliate of such a service provider and in connection with which the Plan receives no less, nor pays no more, than adequate consideration (the “ Service Provider Exemption ”).
The fiduciary investment considerations summarized above generally apply to employee benefit plans maintained by private-sector employers and to individual retirement accounts and other arrangements subject to Section 4975 of the Code, but generally do not apply to governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA), and foreign plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA). However, these other plans may be subject to similar provisions under applicable federal, state, local, foreign, or other regulations, rules, or laws (“ similar laws ”). The fiduciaries of plans subject to similar laws should also consider the foregoing issues in general terms as well as any further issues arising under the applicable similar laws.
Because we may be considered a party in interest with respect to many Plans, LIRNs may not be purchased, held, or disposed of by any Plan, any entity whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity (a “ Plan Asset Entity ”) or any person investing plan assets of any Plan, unless such purchase, holding, or disposition is eligible for exemptive relief, including relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1, or 84-14 or the Service Provider Exemption. Any purchaser, including any fiduciary purchasing on behalf of a Plan, transferee or holder of LIRNs will be deemed to have represented, in its corporate and its fiduciary capacity, by its acquisition and holding of LIRNs that either (a) it is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not purchasing such LIRNs on behalf of or with plan
assets of any Plan or any plan subject to similar laws or (b) an administrative or statutory exemption applies to its acquisition, holding and disposition of the LIRNs so that such transactions will not constitute nonexempt prohibited transactions under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or, in the case of a plan subject to similar laws, its acquisition, holding and disposition of LIRNs will not violate any similar laws.
In addition, any purchaser, that is a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity or that is acquiring LIRNs on behalf of a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity, including any fiduciary purchasing on behalf of a Plan or Plan Asset entity, will be deemed to have represented, in its corporate and its fiduciary capacity, by its purchase and holding of LIRNs that (a) none of us, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates is a “ fiduciary ” (under Section 3(21) of ERISA, or under any final or proposed regulations thereunder, or with respect to a governmental, church, or foreign plan under any similar laws) with respect to the acquisition, holding or disposition of the LIRNs, or as a result of any exercise by us or our affiliates of any rights in connection with the LIRNs, (b) no advice provided by us or any of our affiliates has formed a primary basis for any investment decision by or on behalf of such purchaser in connection with the LIRNs and the transactions contemplated with respect to the LIRNs, and (c) such purchaser recognizes and agrees that any communication from us or any of our affiliates to the purchaser with respect to the LIRNs is not intended by us or any of our affiliates to be impartial investment advice and is rendered in its capacity as a seller of such LIRNs and not a fiduciary to such purchaser. Purchasers of the LIRNs have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase, holding, and disposition of the LIRNs do not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any similar regulations applicable to governmental or church plans, as described above.
This discussion is a general summary of some of the rules which apply to benefit plans and their related investment vehicles. This summary does not include all of the investment considerations relevant to Plans and other benefit plans such as governmental, church, and foreign plans and should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing LIRNs on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any Plan or other benefit plan consult with their legal counsel prior to directing any such purchase.