The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion dated December 10, 2018
Pricing supplement underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018 |
Registration Statement Nos. 333-222672 and 333-222672-01 Dated December , 2018 Rule 424(b)(2)
|
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC |
Structured |
$ Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index due June 16, 2021 Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
General
· | The notes are designed for investors who seek a return of 1.50 times any appreciation of the MSCI EAFE® Index, up to a maximum return of 51.825%, at maturity. |
· | Investors should be willing to forgo interest and dividend payments and, if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%, be willing to lose some or all of their principal amount at maturity. |
· | The notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, which we refer to as JPMorgan Financial, the payment on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Financial, as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as guarantor of the notes. |
· | Minimum denominations of $10,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof |
Key Terms
Issuer: | JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, an indirect, wholly owned finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
Guarantor: | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
Index: | The MSCI EAFE® Index (Bloomberg ticker: MXEA) |
Upside Leverage Factor: | 1.50 |
Payment at Maturity: |
If the Ending Index Level is greater than the Initial Index Level, at maturity you will receive a cash payment that provides you with a return per $1,000 principal amount note equal to the Index Return multiplied by 1.50, subject to the Maximum Return. Accordingly, under these circumstances, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows: |
$1,000 + ($1,000 × Index Return × 1.50), subject to the Maximum Return | |
If the Ending Index Level is equal to the Initial Index Level or is less than the Initial Index Level by up to 20%, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity. | |
If the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%, you will lose 1.25% of the principal amount of your notes for every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%. Under these circumstances, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows: | |
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (Index Return + 20%) × 1.25] | |
You will lose some or all of your principal amount at maturity if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%. | |
Maximum Return: | 51.825%. For example, if the Index Return is equal to or greater than 34.55%, you will receive the Maximum Return of 51.825%, which entitles you to a maximum payment at maturity of $1,518.25 per $1,000 principal amount note that you hold. |
Buffer Amount: | 20% |
Downside Leverage Factor: | 1.25 |
Index Return: |
(Ending Index Level – Initial Index Level) Initial Index Level |
Initial Index Level: | The closing level of the Index on the Pricing Date |
Ending Index Level: | The arithmetic average of the closing levels of the Index on the Ending Averaging Dates |
Pricing Date: | On or about December 11, 2018 |
Original Issue Date: | On or about December 14, 2018 (Settlement Date) |
Ending Averaging Dates*: | June 7, 2021, June 8, 2021, June 9, 2021, June 10, 2021 and June 11, 2021 |
Maturity Date*: | June 16, 2021 |
CUSIP: | 48130WKS9 |
* | Subject to postponement in the event of certain market disruption events and as described under “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Determination Date — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying (Other Than a Commodity Index)” and “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Payment Date” in the accompanying product supplement |
Investing in the notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-10 of the accompanying product supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page US-1 of the accompanying underlying supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-4 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Price to Public (1) | Fees and Commissions (2) | Proceeds to Issuer | |
Per note | $1,000 | $ | $ |
Total | $ | $ | $ |
(1) | See “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” in this pricing supplement for information about the components of the price to public of the notes. |
(2) | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Financial, will pay all of the selling commissions it receives from us to other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers. In no event will these selling commissions exceed $2.50 per $1,000 principal amount note. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement |
The estimated value of the notes, when the terms of the notes are set, will be provided in the pricing supplement, may be less than $1,000.00 per $1,000 principal amount note and will not be less than $990.00 per $1,000 principal amount note. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement for additional information.
The notes are not bank deposits, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
Additional Terms Specific to the Notes
You may revoke your offer to purchase the notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the applicable agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the notes, we will notify you and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase. You may also choose to reject such changes, in which case we may reject your offer to purchase.
You should read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying prospectus, as supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to our Series A medium-term notes, of which these notes are a part, and the more detailed information contained in the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
· | Product supplement no. 4-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004519/dp87528_424b2-ps4i.pdf |
· | Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004514/crt_dp87766-424b2.pdf |
· | Prospectus
supplement and prospectus, each dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004508/dp87767_424b2-ps.pdf |
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1665650, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CIK is 19617. As used in this pricing supplement, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Financial.
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 1 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Index?
The following table and examples illustrate the hypothetical total return and the hypothetical payment at maturity on the notes. The “total return” as used in this pricing supplement is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note to $1,000. Each hypothetical total return or payment at maturity set forth below assumes an Initial Index Level of 1,800 and reflects the Upside Leverage Factor of 1.50, the Maximum Return of 51.825%, the Buffer Amount of 20% and the Downside Leverage Factor of 1.25. Each hypothetical total return or payment at maturity set forth below is for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total return or payment at maturity applicable to a purchaser of the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and in the examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis.
Ending Index Level |
Index Return | Total Return |
3,240.00 | 80.00% | 51.825% |
2,970.00 | 65.00% | 51.825% |
2,700.00 | 50.00% | 51.825% |
2,520.00 | 40.00% | 51.825% |
2,421.90 | 34.55% | 51.825% |
2,340.00 | 30.00% | 45.000% |
2,160.00 | 20.00% | 30.000% |
2,070.00 | 15.00% | 22.500% |
1,980.00 | 10.00% | 15.000% |
1,890.00 | 5.00% | 7.500% |
1,845.00 | 2.50% | 3.750% |
1,800.00 | 0.00% | 0.000% |
1,755.00 | -2.50% | 0.000% |
1,710.00 | -5.00% | 0.000% |
1,620.00 | -10.00% | 0.000% |
1,530.00 | -15.00% | 0.000% |
1,440.00 | -20.00% | 0.000% |
1,260.00 | -30.00% | -12.500% |
1,080.00 | -40.00% | -25.000% |
900.00 | -50.00% | -37.500% |
720.00 | -60.00% | -50.000% |
540.00 | -70.00% | -62.500% |
360.00 | -80.00% | -75.000% |
180.00 | -90.00% | -87.500% |
0.00 | -100.00% | -100.000% |
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 2 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
Hypothetical Examples of Amount Payable at Maturity
The following examples illustrate how the payment at maturity in different hypothetical scenarios is calculated.
Example 1: The level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 1,800 to an Ending Index Level of 1,845.
Because the Ending Index Level of 1,845 is greater than the Initial Index Level of 1,800 and the Index Return of 2.50% multiplied by 1.50 does not exceed the Maximum Return of 51.825%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,037.50 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × 2.50% × 1.50) = $1,037.50
Example 2: The level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 1,800 to an Ending Index Level of 1,440.
Although the Index Return is negative, because the Ending Index Level of 1,440 is less than the Initial Index Level of 1,800 by up to the Buffer Amount of 20%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount note.
Example 3: The level of the Index increases from the Initial Index Level of 1,800 to an Ending Index Level of 2,520.
Because the Ending Index Level of 2,520 is greater than the Initial Index Level of 1,800 and the Index Return of 40% multiplied by 1.50 exceeds the Maximum Return of 51.825%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,518.25 per $1,000 principal amount note, the maximum payment at maturity.
Example 4: The level of the Index decreases from the Initial Index Level of 1,800 to an Ending Index Level of 1,080.
Because the Ending Index Level of 1,080 is less than the Initial Index Level of 1,800 by more than the Buffer Amount of 20% and the Index Return is -40%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $750 per $1,000 principal amount note, calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (-40% + 20%) × 1.25] = $750
The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments on the notes shown above apply only if you hold the notes for their entire term. These hypotheticals do not reflect fees or expenses that would be associated with any sale in the secondary market. If these fees and expenses were included, the hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments shown above would likely be lower.
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 3 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
Selected Purchase Considerations
· | CAPPED APPRECIATION POTENTIAL — The notes provide the opportunity to enhance equity returns by multiplying a positive Index Return by 1.50, up to the Maximum Return of 51.825%. Accordingly, the maximum payment at maturity is $1,518.25 per $1,000 principal amount note. Because the notes are our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, the payment of which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co., payment of any amount on the notes is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay its obligations as they become due. |
· | LIMITED PROTECTION AGAINST LOSS — We will pay you your principal back at maturity if the Ending Index Level is equal to the Initial Index Level or is less than the Initial Index Level by up to 20%. If the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%, for every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%, you will lose an amount equal to 1.25% of the principal amount of your notes. Accordingly, you may lose some or all of your principal amount at maturity. |
· | RETURN LINKED TO THE MSCI EAFE® INDEX — The return on the notes is linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index. The MSCI EAFE® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index intended to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the United States and Canada. For additional information about the MSCI EAFE® Index, see “Equity Index Descriptions — The MSCI Indices” in the accompanying underlying supplement. |
· | TAX TREATMENT — You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement no. 4-I. The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of notes. |
Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel it is reasonable to treat the notes as “open transactions” that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as more fully described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences — Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Notes Treated as Open Transactions That Are Not Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement. Assuming this treatment is respected, the gain or loss on your notes should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your notes for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of notes at the issue price. However, the IRS or a court may not respect this treatment, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on the notes could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Withholding under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” may (if the notes are recharacterized as debt instruments) apply to amounts treated as interest paid with respect to the notes, as well as to payments of gross proceeds of a taxable disposition, including redemption at maturity, of a note. However, under a 2015 IRS notice, this regime will not apply to payments of gross proceeds (other than any amount treated as interest) with respect to dispositions occurring before January 1, 2019. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of FATCA to the notes.
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Index or any of the component securities of the Index. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement.
· | YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. The return on the notes at maturity is linked to the performance of the Index and will depend on whether, and the extent to which, the Index Return is positive or negative. Your investment will be exposed to a loss on a leveraged basis if the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%. For every 1% that the Ending Index Level is less than the Initial Index Level by more than 20%, you will lose an amount equal to 1.25% of the principal amount of your notes. Accordingly, you may lose some or all of your principal amount at maturity. |
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 4 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
· | YOUR MAXIMUM GAIN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM RETURN — If the Ending Index Level is greater than the Initial Index Level, for each $1,000 principal amount note, you will receive at maturity $1,000 plus an additional return that will not exceed the Maximum Return of 51.825%, regardless of the appreciation of the Index, which may be significant. |
· | CREDIT RISKS OF JPMORGAN FINANCIAL AND JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. — The notes are subject to our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit risks, and our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay all amounts due on the notes. Any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads, as determined by the market for taking that credit risk, is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. If we and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the notes and you could lose your entire investment. |
· | AS A FINANCE SUBSIDIARY, JPMORGAN FINANCIAL HAS NO INDEPENDENT OPERATIONS AND HAS LIMITED ASSETS — As a finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities. Aside from the initial capital contribution from JPMorgan Chase & Co., substantially all of our assets relate to obligations of our affiliates to make payments under loans made by us or other intercompany agreements. As a result, we are dependent upon payments from our affiliates to meet our obligations under the notes. If these affiliates do not make payments to us and we fail to make payments on the notes, you may have to seek payment under the related guarantee by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
· | POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent and as an agent of the offering of the notes, hedging our obligations under the notes and making the assumptions used to determine the pricing of the notes and the estimated value of the notes when the terms of the notes are set, which we refer to as the estimated value of the notes. In performing these duties, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests and the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. In addition, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s business activities, including hedging and trading activities, could cause our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests to be adverse to yours and could adversely affect any payment on the notes and the value of the notes. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates in connection with the notes could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. Please refer to “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying product supplement for additional information about these risks. |
· | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES MAY BE LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE PRICE (PRICE TO PUBLIC) OF THE NOTES — The estimated value of the notes is only an estimate determined by reference to several factors. The original issue price of the notes may exceed the estimated value of the notes because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the selling commissions, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
· | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES DOES NOT REPRESENT FUTURE VALUES OF THE NOTES AND MAY DIFFER FROM OTHERS’ ESTIMATES — The estimated value of the notes is determined by reference to internal pricing models of our affiliates when the terms of the notes are set. This estimated value of the notes is based on market conditions and other relevant factors existing at that time and assumptions about market parameters, which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the notes that are greater than or less than the estimated value of the notes. 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 value of the notes could change significantly based on, among other things, changes in market conditions, our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness, interest rate movements and other relevant factors, which may impact the price, if any, at which JPMS would be willing to buy notes from you in secondary market transactions. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
· | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES IS DERIVED BY REFERENCE TO AN INTERNAL FUNDING RATE — The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the notes and any secondary market prices of the notes. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement. |
· | THE VALUE OF THE NOTES AS PUBLISHED BY JPMS (AND WHICH MAY BE REFLECTED ON CUSTOMER ACCOUNT STATEMENTS) MAY BE HIGHER THAN THE THEN-CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES FOR A LIMITED TIME PERIOD — We generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. These costs can include projected hedging profits, if any, and, in some circumstances, estimated hedging costs and our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances. See “Secondary Market Prices of the Notes” in this pricing supplement for additional information relating to this initial period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your notes during this initial period may |
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 5 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
be lower than the value of the notes as published by JPMS (and which may be shown on your customer account statements).
· | SECONDARY MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES WILL LIKELY BE LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE PRICE OF THE NOTES — Any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the original issue price of the notes because, among other things, secondary market prices take into account our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances and, also, because secondary market prices (a) exclude selling commissions and (b) may exclude projected hedging profits, if any, and estimated hedging costs that are included in the original issue price of the notes. As a result, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to buy notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, is likely to be lower than the original issue price. Any sale by you prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. See the immediately following risk consideration for information about additional factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes. |
The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity. See “— Lack of Liquidity” below.
· | SECONDARY MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES WILL BE IMPACTED BY MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS — The secondary market price of the notes during their term will be impacted by a number of economic and market factors, which may either offset or magnify each other, aside from the selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, estimated hedging costs and the level of the Index, including: |
· | any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads; |
· | customary bid-ask spreads for similarly sized trades; |
· | our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances; |
· | the actual and expected volatility of the Index; |
· | the time to maturity of the notes; |
· | the dividend rates on the equity securities included in the Index; |
· | interest and yield rates in the market generally; |
· | the exchange rates and the volatility of the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and each of the currencies in which the equity securities included in the Index trade and the correlation among those rates and the level of the Index; and |
· | a variety of other economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events. |
Additionally, independent pricing vendors and/or third party broker-dealers may publish a price for the notes, which may also be reflected on customer account statements. This price may be different (higher or lower) than the price of the notes, if any, at which JPMS may be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market.
· | NO INTEREST OR DIVIDEND PAYMENTS OR VOTING RIGHTS — As a holder of the notes, you will not receive interest payments, and you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities included in the Index would have. |
· | NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK — The equity securities included in the Index have been issued by non-U.S. companies. Investments in securities linked to the value of such non-U.S. equity securities involve risks associated with the securities markets in the home countries of the issuers of those non-U.S. equity securities, including risks of volatility in those markets, governmental intervention in those markets and cross shareholdings in companies in certain countries. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about companies in some of these jurisdictions than there is about U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC. |
· | THE NOTES ARE SUBJECT TO CURRENCY EXCHANGE RISK — Because the prices of the equity securities included in the Index are converted into U.S. dollars for purposes of calculating the value of the Index, your notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which the equity securities included in the Index trade. Your net exposure will depend on the extent to which those currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of the equity securities included in the Index denominated in those currencies. If, taking into account the relevant weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against those currencies, the value of the Index will be adversely affected and the payment at maturity, if any, may be reduced. |
Of particular importance to potential currency exchange risk are:
· | existing and expected rates of inflation; |
· | existing and expected interest rate levels; |
· | the balance of payments in the countries issuing those currencies and the United States and between each country and its major trading partners; |
· | political, civil or military unrest in the countries issuing those currencies and the United States; and |
· | the extent of governmental surplus or deficit in the countries issuing those currencies and the United States. |
All of these factors are, in turn, sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of the countries issuing those currencies, the United States and those of other countries important to international trade and finance.
· | LACK OF LIQUIDITY — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. JPMS intends to offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not |
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 6 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
likely to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which JPMS is willing to buy the notes.
· | THE FINAL TERMS AND VALUATION OF THE NOTES WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PRICING SUPPLEMENT — The final terms of the notes will be based on relevant market conditions when the terms of the notes are set and will be provided in the pricing supplement. In particular, the estimated value of the notes will be provided in the pricing supplement and may be as low as the minimum for the estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement. Accordingly, you should consider your potential investment in the notes based on the minimum for the estimated value of the notes. |
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 7 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
Historical Information
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Index based on the weekly historical closing levels of the Index from January 4, 2013 through December 7, 2018. The closing level of the Index on December 7, 2018 was 1,768.48.
We obtained the closing levels of the Index above and below from the Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”), without independent verification. The historical levels of the Index should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the closing level of the Index on the Pricing Date or any Ending Averaging Date. There can be no assurance that the performance of the Index will result in the return of any of your principal amount.
The Estimated Value of the Notes
The estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement is equal to the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components: (1) a fixed-income debt component with the same maturity as the notes, valued using the internal funding rate described below, and (2) the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes. The estimated value of the notes does not represent a minimum price at which JPMS would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. For additional information, see “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate” in this pricing supplement. The value of the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes is derived from internal pricing models of our affiliates. These models are dependent on inputs such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on various other inputs, some of which are market-observable, and which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors, as well as assumptions about future market events and/or environments. Accordingly, the estimated value of the notes is determined when the terms of the notes are set based on market conditions and other relevant factors and assumptions existing at that time. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Does Not Represent Future Values of the Notes and May Differ from Others’ Estimates” in this pricing supplement.
The estimated value of the notes may be lower than the original issue price of the notes because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the selling commissions paid to JPMS and other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. Because hedging our obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or it may result in a loss. We or one or more of our affiliates will retain any profits realized in hedging our obligations under the notes. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes May Be Lower Than the Original Issue Price (Price to Public) of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
Secondary Market Prices of the Notes
For information about factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes, see “Selected Risk Considerations — Secondary Market Prices of the Notes Will Be Impacted by Many Economic and Market Factors ” in this pricing supplement. In addition, we generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period that is intended to be the shorter of six months and one-half of the stated term of the notes. The length
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 8 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |
of any such initial period reflects the structure of the notes, whether our affiliates expect to earn a profit in connection with our hedging activities, the estimated costs of hedging the notes and when these costs are incurred, as determined by our affiliates. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Value of the Notes as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Notes for a Limited Time Period.”
Supplemental Use of Proceeds
The notes are offered to meet investor demand for products that reflect the risk-return profile and market exposure provided by the notes. See “What Is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity, Assuming a Range of Performances for the Index?” and “Hypothetical Examples of Amount Payable at Maturity” in this pricing supplement for an illustration of the risk-return profile of the notes and “Selected Purchase Considerations — Return Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index” in this pricing supplement for a description of the market exposure provided by the notes.
The original issue price of the notes is equal to the estimated value of the notes plus the selling commissions paid to JPMS and other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, plus (minus) the projected profits (losses) that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes, plus the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment for the notes on or about the Original Issue Date set forth on the front cover of this pricing supplement, which will be the third business day following the Pricing Date of the notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.
JPMorgan Structured Investments — | PS- 9 |
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the MSCI EAFE® Index |