The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these Securities until the pricing supplement, the GEARS Strategies product supplement, the index supplement and the accompanying prospectus (collectively, the “Offering Documents”) are delivered in final form. The Offering Documents are not an offer to sell these Securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these Securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion

PRELIMINARY PRICING SUPPLEMENT

Dated November 7, 2018

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration Statement No. 333-225551

(To Prospectus dated October 31, 2018

and Product Supplement dated October 31, 2018)

 

UBS AG $n Capped Airbag GEARS
Linked to the shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF due on or about December 10, 2019

Investment Description

UBS AG Capped Airbag GEARS (the “Securities”) are unsubordinated, unsecured debt securities issued by UBS AG (“UBS” or the “issuer”) linked to the shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (the “underlying asset”). The amount you receive at maturity will be based on the direction and percentage change in the level of the underlying asset from the trade date to the final valuation date (the “underlying return”) and whether the closing level of the underlying asset on the final valuation date (the “final level”) is less than the downside threshold. If the underlying return is positive, at maturity, UBS will pay you a cash payment per Security equal to the principal amount plus a percentage return equal to the lesser of (a) the underlying return multiplied by the upside gearing and (b) the maximum gain. If the underlying return is zero or negative and the final level is equal to or greater than the downside threshold, at maturity UBS will pay you a cash payment per Security equal to the principal amount. If, however, the final level is less than the downside threshold, UBS will pay you a cash payment per Security that is less than the principal amount, and you will be exposed to the downside performance of the underlying asset beyond the threshold percentage at a rate greater than 1-for-1. Specifically, you will be exposed to an approximately 1.1111% loss of your initial investment for each 1% decline in the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage from the trade date to the final valuation date and, in extreme situations, you could lose all of your initial investment. Investing in the Securities involves significant risks. The Securities do not pay interest. You may lose some or all of your initial investment. The contingent repayment of principal applies only if you hold the Securities to maturity. Any payment on the Securities, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the creditworthiness of UBS. If UBS were to default on its payment obligations you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the Securities and you could lose all of your initial investment.

 

Features

q Enhanced Exposure to Positive Underlying Return up to the Maximum Gain: At maturity, the Securities provide exposure to any positive underlying return multiplied by the upside gearing, up to the maximum gain.
q Downside Exposure with Contingent Repayment of Principal at Maturity: If the underlying return is zero or negative and the final level is equal to or greater than the downside threshold, at maturity, UBS will pay you a cash payment per Security equal to the principal amount. If, however, the underlying return is negative and the final level is less than the downside threshold, UBS will pay you a cash payment per Security that is less than the principal amount, and you will be exposed to the downside performance of the underlying asset beyond the threshold percentage at a rate greater than 1-for-1. Specifically, you will be exposed to an approximately 1.1111% loss of your initial investment for each 1% decline in the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage from the trade date to the final valuation date and, in extreme situations, you could lose all of your initial investment. The contingent repayment of principal applies only if you hold the Securities to maturity. Any payment on the Securities, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the creditworthiness of UBS.

 

Key Dates

Strike Date November 6, 2018
Trade Date* November 7, 2018
Settlement Date* November 9, 2018
Final Valuation Date* December 6, 2019
Maturity Date* December 10, 2019
*Expected. See page 2 for additional details.
  

Notice to investors: the Securities are significantly riskier than conventional debt instruments. The issuer is not necessarily obligated to repay the principal amount of the Securities at maturity, and the Securities may have the same downside market risk as that of an investment in the underlying asset. This market risk is in addition to the credit risk inherent in purchasing a debt obligation of UBS. You should not purchase the Securities if you do not understand or are not comfortable with the significant risks involved in investing in the Securities.

You should carefully consider the risks described under “Key Risks” beginning on page 3 and under “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-9 of the accompanying product supplement before purchasing any Securities. Events relating to any of those risks, or other risks and uncertainties, could adversely affect the market value of, and the return on your Securities. You may lose some or all of your initial investment in the Securities. The Securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any electronic communications network.

Security Offering

These preliminary terms relate to the Securities. The return on the Securities is subject to, and will not exceed, the “maximum gain” or the corresponding “maximum payment at maturity per Security”. The final terms for the Securities will be set on the trade date. The initial level of the underlying asset is its closing level on November 6, 2018 and not its closing level on the trade date and the remaining final terms were also set on that date.

Underlying Asset Bloomberg Ticker Maximum Gain Maximum
Payment at Maturity per Security
Upside Gearing Downside Gearing Initial
Level
Downside Threshold Threshold Percentage CUSIP ISIN
Shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF EEM 17.40% $1,174.00 2.00 Approximately 1.111 $40.86 $36.77, which is 90% of the Initial Level 10% 90281B510 US90281B5104

The estimated initial value of the Securities as of the trade date is expected to be between $959.89 and $989.89. The range of the estimated initial value of the Securities was determined on the date hereof by reference to UBS’ internal pricing models, inclusive of the internal funding rate. For more information about secondary market offers and the estimated initial value of the Securities, see “Key Risks — Fair value considerations” and “Key Risks — Limited or no secondary market and secondary market price considerations” on pages 3 and 4 herein.

See “Additional Information about UBS and the Securities” on page ii. The Securities will have the terms specified in the accompanying product supplement relating to the Securities, dated October 31, 2018, the accompanying prospectus and this document.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this document, the accompanying product supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The Securities are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Offering of Securities Issue Price to Public Underwriting Discount Proceeds to UBS AG
  Total Per Security Total Per Security Total Per Security
Securities linked to the shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF $• $1,000.00 $• $5.00 $• $995.00
UBS Financial Services Inc. UBS Investment Bank
 
 

Additional Information about UBS and the Securities

UBS has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by a product supplement for the Securities), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), for the Securities to which this document relates. Before you invest, you should read these documents and any other documents relating to the Securities that UBS has filed with the SEC for more complete information about UBS and this offering. You may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 0001114446.

You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows:

¨ Market-Linked Securities product supplement dated October 31, 2018:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1114446/000091412118002085/ub47016353-424b2.htm
¨ Prospectus dated October 31, 2018:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1114446/000119312518314003/d612032d424b3.htm

References to “UBS,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to UBS AG and not to its consolidated subsidiaries and references to “Securities” refer to the Capped Airbag GEARS that are offered hereby, unless the context otherwise requires. Also, references to the “accompanying product supplement” mean the UBS product supplement, dated October 31, 2018 and references to “accompanying prospectus” mean the UBS prospectus titled “Debt Securities and Warrants,” dated October 31, 2018.

This document, together with the documents listed above, contains the terms of the Securities and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including all other prior pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Key Risks” herein and in “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement, as the Securities involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before deciding to invest in the Securities.

If there is any inconsistency between the terms of the Securities described in the accompanying prospectus, the accompanying product supplement and this document, the following hierarchy will govern: first, this document; second, the accompanying product supplement and last, the accompanying prospectus.

UBS reserves the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the Securities prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the Securities, UBS 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 UBS may reject your offer to purchase.

ii 
 

Investor Suitability

The Securities may be suitable for you if:

¨ You fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the risk of loss of some or all of your initial investment.
¨ You can tolerate a loss of some or all of your initial investment and are willing to make an investment that is subject to leveraged downside market exposure to any decline of the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage.
¨ You believe that the level of the underlying asset will appreciate over the term of the Securities and that the percentage of appreciation, when multiplied by the upside gearing, is unlikely to exceed the maximum gain indicated on the cover hereof.
¨You understand and accept that your potential return is limited to the maximum gain and you would be willing to invest in the Securities based on the maximum gain indicated on the cover hereof.
¨ You would be willing to invest in the Securities based on the downside threshold, threshold percentage and upside gearing indicated on the cover hereof.
¨ You can tolerate fluctuations in the price of the Securities prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the underlying asset.
¨ You do not seek current income from your investment and are willing to forgo any dividends paid on the underlying asset.
¨You understand and are willing to accept the risks associated with the underlying asset.
¨ You are willing to hold the Securities to maturity and accept that there may be little or no secondary market for the Securities.
¨ You are willing to assume the credit risk of UBS for all payments under the Securities, and understand that if UBS defaults on its obligations you may not receive any amounts due to you including any repayment of principal.
¨ You understand that the estimated initial value of the Securities determined by our internal pricing models is lower than the issue price and that should UBS Securities LLC or any affiliate make secondary markets for the Securities, the price (not including their customary bid-ask spreads) will temporarily exceed the internal pricing model price.

The Securities may not be suitable for you if:

¨ You do not fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the risk of loss of some or all of your initial investment.
¨ You require an investment designed to provide a full return of principal at maturity.
¨ You cannot tolerate a loss of some or all of your initial investment or are unwilling to make an investment that is subject to leveraged downside market exposure to any decline of the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage.
¨ You believe that the level of the underlying asset will decline during the term of the Securities and is likely to be less than the downside threshold on the final valuation date, or you believe that the level of the underlying asset will appreciate over the term of the Securities by more than the maximum gain indicated on the cover hereof.
¨You seek an investment that has unlimited return potential without a cap on appreciation, or you would be unwilling to invest in the Securities based on the maximum gain indicated on the cover hereof.
¨You would be unwilling to invest in the Securities based on the downside threshold, threshold percentage or upside gearing indicated on the cover hereof.
¨You cannot tolerate fluctuations in the price of the Securities prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the underlying asset.
¨You do not understand or are not willing to accept the risks associated with the underlying asset.
¨You seek current income from your investment or prefer to receive any dividends paid on the underlying asset.
¨You are unable or unwilling to hold the Securities to maturity or you seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.
¨You are not willing to assume the credit risk of UBS for all payments under the Securities, including any repayment of principal.

The investor suitability considerations identified above are not exhaustive. Whether or not the Securities are a suitable investment for you will depend on your individual circumstances and you should reach an investment decision only after you and your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors have carefully considered the suitability of an investment in the Securities in light of your particular circumstances. You should review “Information About the Underlying Asset” herein for more information on the underlying asset. You should also review “Key Risks” herein and the more detailed “Risk Factors” in the accompanying product supplement for risks related to an investment in the Securities.

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Preliminary Terms

 

Issuer UBS AG London Branch
Principal Amount $1,000 per Security
Term Approximately 13 months. In the event that we make any change to the expected trade date and settlement date, the calculation agent may adjust the final valuation date and maturity date to ensure that the stated term of the Securities remains the same.
Underlying Asset Shares of the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Maximum Gain 17.40%
Maximum Payment at Maturity
per Security
$1,174.00
Upside Gearing 2.00
Downside Gearing Approximately 1.1111
Threshold Percentage 10%
Payment at Maturity (per Security) If the underlying return is positive, UBS will pay you an amount in cash equal to:
  $1,000 × (1 + the lesser of (a) Underlying Return × Upside Gearing and (b) Maximum Gain)
 

If the underlying return is zero or negative and the final level is equal to or greater than the downside threshold, UBS will pay you an amount in cash equal to:

Principal Amount of $1,000

  If the underlying return is negative and the final level is less than the downside threshold, UBS will pay you an amount in cash that is less than your principal amount equal to:
 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Downside Gearing x (Underlying Return + Threshold Percentage)]

In this scenario, you will lose approximately 1.1111% of your principal amount of the securities for each 1% decline in the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage from the trade date to the final valuation date.

Underlying Return

The quotient, expressed as a percentage, of the following formula:

Final Level − Initial Level
Initial Level

Initial Level(1) The initial level of the underlying asset is its closing level on November 6, 2018 and not its closing level on the trade date.
Final Level(1) The closing level of the underlying asset on the final valuation date.
Downside Threshold(1) A specified level of the underlying asset that is less than the initial level, equal to a percentage of the initial level, as indicated on the cover hereof.
(1) As determined by the calculation agent and as may be adjusted in the case of certain adjustment events as described under "General Terms of the Securities — Antidilution Adjustments for Securities Linked to an Underlying Equity or Equity Basket Asset" and "— Reorganization Events for Securities Linked to an Underlying Equity or Equity Basket Asset" in the accompanying product supplement.

 

Investment Timeline

 

Trade Date   The initial level is observed and the final terms of the Securities are set on November 6, 2018.
¯    
Maturity Date  

The final level is observed on the final valuation date and the underlying return is calculated.

If the underlying return is positive, UBS will pay you an amount in cash per Security equal to:

$1,000 × (1 + the lesser of (a) Underlying Return × Upside Gearing and (b) Maximum Gain)

If the underlying return is zero or negative and the final level is equal to or greater than the downside threshold, UBS will pay you an amount in cash per Security equal to:

Principal Amount of $1,000

If the underlying return is negative and the final level is less than the downside threshold, UBS will pay you an amount in cash per Security that is less than your principal amount, if anything, equal to:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Downside Gearing x (Underlying Return + Threshold Percentage)]

In this scenario, you will lose approximately 1.1111% of your principal amount of the securities for each 1% decline in the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage from the trade date to the final valuation date.


Investing in the Securities involves significant risks. You may lose some or all of your initial investment. Any payment on the Securities, including any repayment of principal, is subject to the creditworthiness of UBS. If UBS were to default on its payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the Securities and you could lose all of your initial investment.

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Key Risks

An investment in the Securities involves significant risks. Some of the key risks that apply to the Securities are summarized here, but we urge you to read the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the Securities generally in the “Risk Factors” section of the accompanying product supplement. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Securities.

¨ Risk of loss at maturity — The Securities differ from ordinary debt securities in that UBS will not necessarily repay the principal amount of the Securities. UBS will pay you the principal amount of your Securities in cash at maturity only if the final level is equal to or greater than the downside threshold. If the underlying return is negative and the final level is less than the downside threshold, you will be exposed on a leveraged basis to the decline in the underlying asset from the trade date to the final valuation date. Specifically, any depreciation of the underlying asset beyond the threshold percentage will result in a loss of approximately 1.1111% percent of your initial investment for each 1% by which the depreciation exceeds the threshold percentage and, in extreme situations, you could lose all of your initial investment.
¨ The contingent repayment of principal applies only at maturity — You should be willing to hold your Securities to maturity. The stated payout by the issuer is available only if you hold your Securities to maturity. If you are able to sell your Securities prior to maturity in the secondary market, you may have to sell them at a loss relative to your initial investment even if the then-current level of the underlying asset is equal to or greater than the downside threshold.
¨ The upside gearing applies only at maturity — You should be willing to hold your Securities to maturity. If you are able to sell your Securities prior to maturity in the secondary market, the price you receive will likely not reflect the full economic value of the upside gearing, and the percentage return you realize may be less than the then-current underlying return multiplied by the upside gearing, even if such return is positive and does not exceed the maximum gain. You can receive the full benefit of the upside gearing, subject to the maximum gain, only if you hold your Securities to maturity.
¨ Your potential return on the Securities is limited to the maximum gain — The return potential of the Securities is limited to the maximum gain. Therefore, you will not benefit from any positive underlying return in excess of an amount that, when multiplied by the upside gearing, exceeds the maximum gain and your return on the Securities may be less than it would be in a hypothetical direct investment in the underlying asset.
¨ No interest payments — UBS will not pay any interest with respect to the Securities.
¨ Credit risk of UBS — The Securities are unsubordinated, unsecured debt obligations of UBS and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment to be made on the Securities, including any repayment of principal at maturity, depends on the ability of UBS to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, UBS’ actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the market value of the Securities. If UBS were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the Securities and you could lose all of your initial investment.
¨ The probability that the final basket level is less than the downside threshold will depend on the volatility of the underlying asset — “Volatility” refers to the frequency and magnitude of changes in the levels of the underlying asset. All things being equal, the greater the expected volatility of the underlying asset as of the trade date, the greater the expectation is as of that date that the underlying return will be negative and that the final level will be less than the downside threshold and, as a consequence, indicates an increased risk of loss. Also, a relatively lower downside threshold does not necessarily indicate a relatively low risk of loss because the expected volatility of the underlying asset could be high. You should be willing to accept the downside market risk of the underlying asset and the potential to lose some or all of your initial investment.
¨ Market risk — The return on the Securities, which may be negative, is directly linked to the performance of the underlying asset and indirectly linked to the performance of the equity securities constituting the underlying asset (the "underlying equity constituents"), futures contracts on physical commodities and other assets constituting the underlying asset (collectively, the "underlying constituents") and will depend on whether, and the extent to which, the underlying return is positive or negative. The level of the underlying asset can rise or fall sharply due to factors specific to the underlying asset and its underlying equity constituents and their issuers (each, an "underlying constituent issuer"), such as stock price volatility, earnings and financial conditions, corporate, industry and regulatory developments, management changes and decisions and other events, as well as general market factors, such as general market volatility and levels, interest rates and economic and political conditions.
¨ Fair value considerations.
o The issue price you pay for the Securities will exceed their estimated initial value The issue price you pay for the Securities will exceed their estimated initial value as of the trade date due to the inclusion in the issue price of the underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance costs and projected profits. As of the close of the relevant markets on the trade date, we will determine the estimated initial value of the Securities by reference to our internal pricing models and it will be set forth in the pricing supplement. The pricing models used to determine the estimated initial value of the Securities incorporate certain variables, including the level and volatility of the underlying asset and the underlying constituents, any expected dividends on the underlying asset and the underlying equity constituents, prevailing interest rates, the term of the Securities and our internal funding rate. Our internal funding rate is typically lower than the rate we would pay to issue conventional fixed or floating rate debt securities of a similar term. The underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance costs, projected profits and the difference in rates will reduce the economic value of the Securities to you. Due to these factors, the estimated initial value of the Securities as of the trade date will be less than the issue price you pay for the Securities.
o The estimated initial value is a theoretical price; the actual price that you may be able to sell your Securities in any secondary market (if any) at any time after the trade date may differ from the estimated initial value The value of your Securities at any time will vary based on many factors, including the factors described above and in “—Market

 3
 
risk” above and is impossible to predict. Furthermore, the pricing models that we use are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, after the trade date, if you attempt to sell the Securities in the secondary market, the actual value you would receive may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated initial value of the Securities determined by reference to our internal pricing models. The estimated initial value of the Securities does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your Securities in any secondary market at any time.
o Our actual profits may be greater or less than the differential between the estimated initial value and the issue price of the Securities as of the trade date — We may determine the economic terms of the Securities, as well as hedge our obligations, at least in part, prior to pricing the Securities on the trade date.  In addition, there may be ongoing costs to us to maintain and/or adjust any hedges and such hedges are often imperfect.  Therefore, our actual profits (or potentially, losses) in issuing the Securities cannot be determined as of the trade date and any such differential between the estimated initial value and the issue price of the Securities as of the trade date does not reflect our actual profits.  Ultimately, our actual profits will be known only at the maturity of the Securities.
¨ Limited or no secondary market and secondary market price considerations.
o There may be little or no secondary market for the Securities — The Securities will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any electronic communications network. UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required, to make a market for the Securities and may stop making a market at any time. If you are able to sell your Securities prior to maturity, you may have to sell them at a substantial loss. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Securities will develop. The estimated initial value of the Securities does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your Securities in any secondary market at any time.
o The price at which UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates may offer to buy the Securities in the secondary market (if any) may be greater than UBS’ valuation of the Securities at that time, greater than any other secondary market prices provided by unaffiliated dealers (if any) and, depending on your broker, greater than the valuation provided on your customer account statements For a limited period of time following the issuance of the Securities, UBS Securities LLC or its affiliates may offer to buy or sell such Securities at a price that exceeds (i) our valuation of the Securities at that time based on our internal pricing models, (ii) any secondary market prices provided by unaffiliated dealers (if any) and (iii) depending on your broker, the valuation provided on customer account statements. The price that UBS Securities LLC may initially offer to buy such Securities following issuance will exceed the valuations indicated by our internal pricing models due to the inclusion for a limited period of time of the aggregate value of the underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance costs and theoretical projected trading profit. The portion of such amounts included in our price will decline to zero on a straight line basis over a period ending no later than the date specified under “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest); Secondary Markets (if any).” Thereafter, if UBS Securities LLC or an affiliate makes secondary markets in the Securities, it will do so at prices that reflect our estimated value determined by reference to our internal pricing models at that time. The temporary positive differential relative to our internal pricing models arises from requests from and arrangements made by UBS Securities LLC with the selling agents of structured debt securities such as the Securities. As described above, UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required, to make a market for the Securities and may stop making a market at any time. The price at which UBS Securities LLC or an affiliate may make secondary markets at any time (if at all) will also reflect its then current bid-ask spread for similar sized trades of structured debt securities. UBS Financial Services Inc. and UBS Securities LLC reflect this temporary positive differential on their customer statements. Investors should inquire as to the valuation provided on customer account statements provided by unaffiliated dealers.
o Economic and market factors affecting the terms and market price of Securities prior to maturity — Because structured notes, including the Securities, can be thought of as having a debt component and a derivative component, factors that influence the values of debt instruments and options and other derivatives will also affect the terms and features of the Securities at issuance and the market price of the Securities prior to maturity. These factors include the level of the underlying asset and the underlying constituents; the volatility of the underlying asset and the underlying constituents; any dividends paid on the underlying asset and the underlying equity constituents; the time remaining to the maturity of the Securities; interest rates in the markets; geopolitical conditions and economic, financial, political, force majeure and regulatory or judicial events; the availability of comparable instruments; the creditworthiness of UBS; the then current bid-ask spread for the Securities. These and other factors are unpredictable and interrelated and may offset or magnify each other.
o Impact of fees and the use of internal funding rates rather than secondary market credit spreads on secondary market prices — All other things being equal, the use of the internal funding rates described above under “— Fair value considerations” as well as the inclusion in the issue price of the underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance costs and any projected profits are, subject to the temporary mitigating effect of UBS Securities LLC’s and its affiliates’ market making premium, expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the Securities in any secondary market.
¨ Owning the Securities is not the same as owning the underlying asset or underlying constituents — The return on your Securities may not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the underlying asset or underlying constituents. For instance, you will not benefit from any positive underlying return in excess of an amount that, when multiplied by the upside gearing, exceeds the maximum gain. Furthermore, you will not receive or be entitled to receive any dividend payments or other distributions during the term of the Securities, and any such dividends or distributions will not be factored into the calculation of the payment at maturity on your Securities. In addition, as an owner of the Securities, you will not have voting rights or any other rights that a holder of the underlying asset or underlying constituents may have.

 4
 
¨ There can be no assurance that the investment view implicit in the Securities will be successful — It is impossible to predict whether and the extent to which the level of the underlying asset will rise or fall and there can be no assurance that the final level of the underlying asset will be equal to or greater than the initial level or downside threshold. The final level of the underlying asset will be influenced by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial and other factors that affect the underlying constituent issuers. You should be willing to accept the risks of owning equities in general and the underlying asset and the underlying constituents in particular, and the risk of losing some or all of your initial investment.
¨ The Securities are subject to currency exchange rate risk — The iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (the "EEM Fund") invests in securities that are traded and quoted in non-U.S. currencies on non-U.S. markets. Therefore, holders of the Securities will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to the currencies in which such securities trade. The values of the currencies of the countries in which the EEM Fund may invest may be subject to a high degree of fluctuation due to changes in interest rates, the effects of monetary policies issued by the United States, non-U.S. governments, central banks or supranational entities, the imposition of currency controls or other national or global political or economic developments. An investor's net exposure will depend on the extent to which the relevant non-U.S. currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each non-U.S. security in the portfolio of the EEM Fund. If, taking into account such weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against the relevant non-U.S. currencies, the value of securities in which the EEM Fund invests will be adversely affected and the value of the Securities may decrease.
¨ The Securities are subject to emerging markets risk — The EEM Fund invests in emerging market equity securities, and thus the Securities are subject to emerging markets risk. Investments in securities linked directly or indirectly to emerging market equity securities involve many risks, including, but not limited to: economic, social, political, financial and military conditions in the emerging market; regulation by national, provincial, and local governments; less liquidity and smaller market capitalizations than exist in the case of many large U.S. companies; different accounting and disclosure standards; and political uncertainties. Securities of emerging market companies may be more volatile and may be affected by market developments differently than U.S. companies. Government interventions to stabilize securities markets and cross-shareholdings may affect prices and volume of trading of the securities of emerging market companies. Economic, social, political, financial and military factors could, in turn, negatively affect such companies' value. These factors could include changes in the emerging market government's economic and fiscal policies, possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to the emerging market companies or investments in their securities, and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies. Moreover, emerging market economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in a variety of ways, including growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency. You should carefully consider the risks related to emerging markets, to which the Securities are susceptible, before making a decision to invest in the Securities.
¨ The value of an exchange traded fund ("ETF") may not completely track the value of its underlying constituents — Although the trading characteristics and valuations of an ETF will usually mirror the characteristics and valuations of its underlying constituents, the level of an ETF may not completely track the value of its underlying constituents. The level of each underlying asset will reflect transaction costs and fees that the underlying constituents in which an ETF invests do not have. In addition, although an ETF may be currently listed for trading on an exchange, there is no assurance that an active trading market will continue for an ETF or that there will be liquidity in the trading market.
¨ Fluctuation of NAV — The net asset value (the ``NAV'') of an ETF may fluctuate with changes in the market value of its underlying constituents. The market prices of an ETF may fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV and supply and demand on the applicable stock exchanges. In addition, the market price of an ETF may differ from its NAV per share; an ETF may trade at, above or below its NAV per share.
¨ Failure of an ETF to track the level of its target index — While an ETF is designed and intended to track the level of a specific index as specified under "Information About the Underlying Asset" (its "target index"), various factors, including fees and other transaction costs, will prevent an ETF from correlating exactly with changes in the level of its target index. Additionally, although the performance of an ETF seeks to replicate the performance of its target index, an ETF may not invest in all the securities, futures contracts or commodities comprising its target index but rather may invest in a representative sample of the assets comprising its target index. Accordingly, the performance of an ETF will not be equal to the performance of its target index during the term of the Securities.
¨ The underlying assets utilizes a passive indexing investment approach — The underlying asset is not managed according to traditional methods of "active" investment management, which involve the buying and selling of securities based on economic, financial and market analysis and investment judgment. Instead, the underlying asset, utilizing a "passive" or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of its target index by investing in a portfolio of stocks that generally replicate such target index. Therefore, unless a specific security is removed from its target index, the underlying asset generally would not sell a security because the stock's issuer was in financial trouble. In addition, the underlying asset is subject to the risk that the investment strategy of its investment adviser may not produce the intended results.
¨ The calculation agent can make antidilution and reorganization adjustments that affect the payment to you at maturity — For antidilution and reorganization events affecting the underlying asset, the calculation agent may make adjustments to the initial level, downside threshold and/or the final level, as applicable, and any other term of the Securities. However, the calculation agent will not make an adjustment in response to every corporate event that could affect the underlying asset. If an event occurs that does not require the calculation agent to make an adjustment, the value of the Securities and your payment at maturity may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, all determinations and calculations concerning any such adjustments will be made by the calculation agent. You should be aware that the calculation agent may make any such adjustment, determination or calculation in a manner that differs from that discussed in the accompanying product supplement or herein as necessary to achieve an equitable result. Following certain reorganization events relating to the issuer of the underlying asset (the “underlying asset issuer”) where such issuer is not the surviving entity, the amount of cash you receive at maturity may be based on the equity security of a successor to the respective underlying asset issuer in combination with any cash or any other assets distributed to holders of the underlying asset in such reorganization event. If the underlying asset issuer becomes subject to (i) a reorganization event whereby the underlying asset is exchanged solely for cash, (ii) a merger or consolidation with

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  UBS or any of its affiliates or (iii) the underlying asset is delisted or otherwise suspended from trading, the amount you receive at maturity may be based on a substitute security. Following a delisting or suspension from trading or discontinuance of the ETF, the amount you receive at maturity may be based on a share of another ETF or a basket of securities, futures contracts, commodities or other assets, as described further under “General Terms of the Securities — Delisting, Discontinuance or Modification of an ETF” in the accompanying product supplement. The occurrence of any antidilution or reorganization event and the consequent adjustments may materially and adversely affect the value of the Securities and your payment at maturity, if any. For more information, see the sections “General Terms of the Securities — Antidilution Adjustments for Securities Linked to an Underlying Equity or Equity Basket Asset” and “— Reorganization Events for Securities Linked to an Underlying Equity or Equity Basket Asset? in the accompanying product supplement.
¨ There is no affiliation between the underlying asset issuer or any underlying constituent issuer and UBS, and UBS is not responsible for any disclosure by such issuers — We are not affiliated with the underlying asset issuer or any underlying constituent issuer. However, we and our affiliates may currently, or from time to time in the future engage in business with the underlying asset issuer or an underlying constituent issuer. However, we are not affiliated with any such issuer and are not responsible for such issuers' public disclosure of information, whether contained in SEC filings or otherwise. You, as an investor in the Securities, should conduct your own investigation into the underlying asset and the underlying asset issuer. The underlying asset issuer is not involved in the Securities offered hereby in any way and has no obligation of any sort with respect to your Securities. The underlying asset issuer has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including when taking any corporate actions that might affect the value of your Securities.
¨ Potential UBS impact on the underlying asset — Trading or transactions by UBS or its affiliates in the underlying asset or underlying constituents, listed and/or over-the-counter options, futures or other instruments with returns linked to the performance of the underlying asset or any underlying constituent may adversely affect the performance and, therefore, the market value and the amount payable at maturity of the Securities.
¨ Potential conflict of interest — UBS and its affiliates may engage in business with the underlying asset issuer or any underlying constituent issuer, which may present a conflict between the obligations of UBS and you, as a holder of the Securities. There are also potential conflicts of interest between you and the calculation agent, which will be an affiliate of UBS. The calculation agent can postpone the determination of the terms of the Securities on the trade date and the final level on the final valuation date, if a market disruption event occurs and is continuing on that day. As UBS determines the economic terms of the Securities, including the maximum gain, upside gearing, downside threshold and downside gearing and such terms include the underwriting discount, hedging costs, issuance costs and projected profits, the Securities represent a package of economic terms. There are other potential conflicts of interest insofar as an investor could potentially get better economic terms if that investor entered into exchange-traded and/or OTC derivatives or other instruments with third parties, assuming that such instruments were available and the investor had the ability to assemble and enter into such instruments.
¨ Potentially inconsistent research, opinions or recommendations by UBS — UBS and its affiliates publish research from time to time on financial markets and other matters that may influence the value of the Securities, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Securities. Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by UBS or its affiliates may not be consistent with each other and may be modified from time to time without notice. Investors should make their own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the Securities and the underlying asset to which the Securities are linked.
¨ The Securities are not bank deposits — An investment in the Securities carries risks which are very different from the risk profile of a bank deposit placed with UBS or its affiliates. The Securities have different yield, and/or return, liquidity and risk profiles and would not benefit from any protection provided to deposits.
¨ If UBS experiences financial difficulties, FINMA has the power to open restructuring or liquidation proceedings in respect of, and/or impose protective measures in relation to, UBS, which proceedings or measures may have a material adverse effect on the terms and market value of the Securities and/or the ability of UBS to make payments thereunder — The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) has broad statutory powers to take measures and actions in relation to UBS if (i) it concludes that there is justified concern that UBS is over-indebted or has serious liquidity problems or (ii) UBS fails to fulfil the applicable capital adequacy requirements (whether on a standalone or consolidated basis) after expiry of a deadline set by FINMA. If one of these pre-requisites is met, FINMA is authorized to open restructuring proceedings or liquidation (bankruptcy) proceedings in respect of, and/or impose protective measures in relation to, UBS. The Swiss Banking Act grants significant discretion to FINMA in connection with the aforementioned proceedings and measures. In particular, a broad variety of protective measures may be imposed by FINMA, including a bank moratorium or a maturity postponement, which measures may be ordered by FINMA either on a stand-alone basis or in connection with restructuring or liquidation proceedings. The resolution regime of the Swiss Banking Act is further detailed in the FINMA Banking Insolvency Ordinance (“BIO-FINMA”). In a restructuring proceeding, FINMA, as resolution authority, is competent to approve the resolution plan. The resolution plan may, among other things, provide for (a) the transfer of all or a portion of UBS’ assets, debts, other liabilities and contracts (which may or may not include the contractual relationship between UBS and the holders of Securities) to another entity, (b) a stay (for a maximum of two business days) on the termination of contracts to which UBS is a party, and/or the exercise of (w) rights to terminate, (x) netting rights, (y) rights to enforce or dispose of collateral or (z) rights to transfer claims, liabilities or collateral under contracts to which UBS is a party, (c) the conversion of UBS’ debt and/or other obligations, including its obligations under the Securities, into equity (a “debt-to-equity” swap), and/or (d) the partial or full write-off of obligations owed by UBS (a “write-off”), including its obligations under the Securities. The BIO-FINMA provides that a debt-to-equity swap and/or a write-off of debt and other obligations (including the Securities) may only take place after (i) all debt instruments issued by UBS qualifying as additional tier 1 capital or tier 2 capital have been converted into equity or written-off, as applicable, and (ii) the existing equity of UBS has been fully cancelled. While the BIO-FINMA does not expressly address the order in which a write-off of debt instruments other than debt instruments qualifying as additional tier 1 capital or tier 2 capital should occur, it states that debt-to-equity swaps should occur in the following order: first, all subordinated claims not qualifying as regulatory capital; second, all other claims not excluded by law from a debt-to-equity swap (other than deposits); and third, deposits (in excess of the amount privileged by law). However, given the broad discretion granted to FINMA as the resolution authority, any restructuring plan in respect of UBS could provide that the claims under or in connection with the Securities will be partially or fully converted into equity or written-off, while preserving other obligations of UBS that rank pari passu with, or even junior to, UBS’ obligations under the Securities. their

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  Consequently, holders of Securities may lose all of some of investment in the Securities. In the case of restructuring proceedings with respect to a systemically important Swiss bank (such as UBS), the creditors whose claims are affected by the restructuring plan will not have a right to vote on, reject, or seek the suspension of the restructuring plan. In addition, if a restructuring plan has been approved by FINMA, the rights of a creditor to seek judicial review of the restructuring plan (e.g., on the grounds that the plan would unduly prejudice the rights of holders of Securities or otherwise be in violation of the Swiss Banking Act) are very limited. In particular, a court may not suspend the implementation of the restructuring plan. Furthermore, even if a creditor successfully challenges the restructuring plan, the court can only require the relevant creditor to be compensated ex post and there is currently no guidance as to on what basis such compensation would be calculated or how it would be funded.
¨ Dealer incentives — UBS and its affiliates act in various capacities with respect to the Securities. We and our affiliates may act as a principal, agent or dealer in connection with the sale of the Securities. Such affiliates, including the sales representatives, will derive compensation from the distribution of the Securities and such compensation may serve as an incentive to sell these Securities instead of other investments. We will pay a total underwriting compensation in an amount equal to the underwriting discount listed on the cover hereof per Security to any of our affiliates acting as agents or dealers in connection with the distribution of the Securities. Given that UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates temporarily maintain a market making premium, it may have the effect of discouraging UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates from recommending sale of your Securities in the secondary market.
¨ Uncertain tax treatment — Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the Securities are uncertain. You should consult your tax advisor about your tax situation. See “What are the Tax Consequences of the Securities?” herein and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”, including the section “—Securities Treated as Prepaid Derivatives or Prepaid Forwards”, in the accompanying product supplement.

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Hypothetical Examples and Return Table of the Securities at Maturity

The below examples and table are based on hypothetical terms. The actual terms will be set on the trade date and will be indicated on the cover of the applicable pricing supplement.

The examples and table below illustrate the Payment at Maturity for a $1,000 Security on a hypothetical offering of the Securities, with the following assumptions (amounts may have been rounded for ease of analysis):

 

Term: Approximately 13 months
   
Initial Level:

$40.00

   
Downside Threshold: $36.00 (90% of the Initial Level)
   
Threshold Percentage: 10.00%
   
Downside Gearing: 1.1111
   
Upside Gearing: 2.00
   
Maximum Gain

17.40%

   
Range of Underlying Return: -100% to 40%

Example 1: The Underlying Return is 5%.

Because the underlying return is positive and, when multiplied by the upside gearing, is less than the maximum gain, the payment at maturity per Security will be calculated as follows:

$1,000 × (1 + the lesser of (a) 5.00% × 2.00 and (b) 17.40%)
= $1,000 x (1 + 10.00%)
= $1,100 per Security (a 10.00% total return).

Example 2: The Underlying Return is 20%.

Because the underlying return is positive and, when multiplied by the upside gearing, is greater than the maximum gain, the payment at maturity will be calculated as follows:

$1,000 × (1 + the lesser of (a) 20.00% × 2.00 and (b) 17.40%)
= $1,000 x (1 + 17.40%)
= $1,174 per Security (a 17.40% total return).

Example 3: The Underlying Return is -5% and the Final Level is equal to or greater than the Downside Threshold.

Because the underlying return is negative and the final level is equal to or greater than the downside threshold, the payment at maturity per Security will be equal to the principal amount of $1,000 (a 0.00% percent total return).

Example 4: The Underlying Return is -60% and the Final Level is less than the Downside Threshold.

Because the underlying return is negative and the final level is less than the downside threshold, the payment at maturity per Security will be less than the principal amount, calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x 1.1111 x (-60.00% + 10.00%)]
= $1,000 - $555.56
= $444.44 per Security (a 55.56% loss).

In this scenario, you will lose approximately 1.1111% of your principal amount of the securities for each 1% decline in the underlying asset in excess of the threshold percentage from the trade date to the final valuation date.

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Underlying Asset Payment and Return at Maturity
Final Level Underlying Return(1) Payment at Maturity Security Total Return at Maturity
$56.00 40.00% $1,174.00 17.400%
$52.00 30.00% $1,174.00 17.400%
$48.00 20.00% $1,174.00 17.400%
$44.00 10.00% $1,174.00 17.400%
$43.48 8.70% $1,174.00 17.400%
$43.00 7.50% $1,150.00 15.000%
$42.00 5.00% $1,100.00 10.000%
$41.00 2.50% $1,050.00 5.000%
$40.00 0.00% $1,000.00 0.000%
$38.00 -5.00% $1,000.00 0.000%
$36.00 -10.00% $1,000.00 0.000%
$34.00 -15.00% $944.44 -5.556%
$32.00 -20.00% $888.89 -11.111%
$28.00 -30.00% $777.78 -22.222%
$24.00 -40.00% $666.67 -33.333%
$20.00 -50.00% $555.56 -44.444%
$16.00 -60.00% $444.44 -55.556%
$12.00 -70.00% $333.33 -66.667%
$8.00 -80.00% $222.22 -77.778%
$4.00 -90.00% $111.11 -88.889%
$0.00 -100.00% $0.00 -100.00%
(1) The underlying return excludes any cash dividend payments.

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Information About the Underlying Asset

All disclosures contained in this document regarding the underlying asset are derived from publicly available information. UBS has not conducted any independent review or due diligence of any publicly available information with respect to the underlying asset. You should make your own investigation into the underlying asset.

Included on the following pages is a brief description of the underlying asset. This information has been obtained from publicly available sources. Set forth below is a table that provides the quarterly closing high and quarterly closing low for the underlying asset. We obtained the closing level information set forth below from Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”) without independent verification. You should not take the historical prices of the underlying asset as an indication of future performance.

The underlying asset is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, each as amended. Companies with securities registered with the SEC are required to file financial and other information specified by the SEC periodically. Information filed by each underlying asset issuer with the SEC can be reviewed electronically through a website maintained by the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov. Information filed with the SEC by each underlying asset issuer can be located by reference to its SEC file number provided below. In addition, information filed with the SEC can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section, at prescribed rates.

iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

We have derived all information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (the “EEM Fund”) from publicly available information. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to changes by, BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”), the investment advisor of the EEM Fund. UBS has not undertaken an independent review or due diligence of any publicly available information with respect to the EEM Fund.

The EEM Fund is one of the separate investment portfolios that constitute the iShares, Inc. The EEM Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (“target index”). The EEM Fund will generally invest at least 90% of its assets in the securities of the target index and in American Depositary Receipts or Global Depositary Receipts based on securities of the target index. The EEM Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in other securities, including securities not in the target index, but which BFA believes will help the EEM Fund track the target index, and in other investments, including futures contracts, options on futures contracts, other types of options and swaps related to its target index, as well as cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by BFA or its affiliates.

BFA uses a representative sampling strategy to manage the EEM Fund. “Representative sampling” is an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of the securities included in the target index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the target index. The securities selected are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of the target index. The EEM Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the target index.

The EEM Fund will not concentrate its investments (i.e., hold 25% or more of its total assets in the stocks of a particular industry or group of industries), except that, to the extent practicable, the EEM Fund will concentrate its investments to approximately the same extent that the target index concentrates in the stocks of such particular industry or group of industries. The target index was developed by MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”) and is calculated, maintained and published by MSCI Inc. MSCI is under no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue or suspend the publication of the target index at any time. The target index has been developed by MSCI as an equity benchmark for international stock performance, and is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.

Under new continuous listing standards adopted by NYSE Arca (the “Exchange”), the EEM Fund’s primary exchange, which went into effect on October 1, 2017, the EEM Fund is required to confirm on an ongoing basis that the components of the target index satisfy the Exchange’s listing requirements. In the event that the target index does not comply with the Exchange’s listing requirements, the EEM Fund will be required to rectify such non-compliance by requesting that the target index’s developer and sponsor, MSCI, modify the target index, adopting a new index or obtaining relief from the SEC. Failure to rectify this non-compliance may result in the EEM Fund being delisted by the Exchange.

As of September 30, 2018, ordinary operating expenses of the EEM Fund are expected to accrue at an annual rate of 0.69% of the EEM Fund’s average daily net asset value. Expenses of the EEM Fund reduce the net value of the assets held by the EEM Fund and, therefore, reduce the value of the shares of the EEM Fund.

As of September 30, 2018, the EEM Fund held stocks from the following 23 emerging markets: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

As of September 30, 2018, the EEM Fund’s held stocks in the following industry sectors: Information Technology (26.85%), Financials (23.13%), Consumer Discretionary (9.04%), Energy (8.20%), Materials (7.87%), Consumer Staples (6.56%), Industrials (5.42%), Telecommunication (4.48%), Health Care (3.04%), Real Estate (2.76%), Utilities (2.41%) and Other (0.25%).

In addition, the EEM Fund Prospectus is available on the EEM Fund’s website as indicated below. In making your investment decision you should pay particular attention to the sections of the EEM Fund Prospectus entitled “A Further Discussion of Principal Risks” and “A Further Discussion of Other Risks.” UBS has not undertaken an independent review or due diligence of any publicly available information regarding the EEM Fund Prospectus, and such information is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered part of, this document or any document incorporated herein by reference.

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Information filed by iShares, Inc. with the SEC can be found by reference to its SEC file numbers: 033-97598 and 811-09102 or its CIK Code: 0000930667. The EEM Fund’s website is ishares.com/us/products/239637/ishares-msci-emerging-markets-etf. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this pricing supplement. Shares of the EEM Fund are listed on the NYSE Arca under ticker symbol “EEM.”

Information from outside sources is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered part of, this document or any accompanying prospectus. UBS has not conducted any independent review or due diligence of any publicly available information with respect to the EEM Fund.

Historical Information

The following table sets forth the quarterly closing high and quarterly closing low levels for the EEM Fund, based on the daily closing levels as reported by Bloomberg, without independent verification. UBS has not conducted any independent review or due diligence of publicly available information obtained from Bloomberg. The closing level of the EEM Fund on November 6, 2018 was $40.86. Past performance of the EEM Fund is not indicative of the future performance of the EEM Fund.

Quarter Begin Quarter End Quarterly Closing High Quarterly Closing Low Quarterly Close
1/1/2014 3/31/2014 $40.99 $37.09 $40.99
4/1/2014 6/30/2014 $43.95 $40.82 $43.23
7/1/2014 9/30/2014 $45.85 $41.56 $41.56
10/1/2014 12/31/2014 $42.44 $37.73 $39.29
1/1/2015 3/31/2015 $41.07 $37.92 $40.13
4/1/2015 6/30/2015 $44.09 $39.04 $39.62
7/1/2015 9/30/2015 $39.78 $31.32 $32.78
10/1/2015 12/31/2015 $36.29 $31.55 $32.19
1/1/2016 3/31/2016 $34.28 $28.25 $34.25
4/1/2016 6/30/2016 $35.26 $31.87 $34.36
7/1/2016 9/30/2016 $38.20 $33.77 $37.45
10/1/2016 12/31/2016 $38.10 $34.08 $35.01
1/1/2017 3/31/2017 $39.99 $35.43 $39.39
4/1/2017 6/30/2017 $41.93 $38.81 $41.39
7/1/2017 9/30/2017 $45.85 $41.05 $44.81
10/1/2017 12/31/2017 $47.81 $44.82 $47.12
1/1/2018 3/31/2018 $52.08 $45.69 $48.28
4/1/2018 6/30/2018 $48.14 $42.33 $43.33
7/1/2018 9/30/2018 $45.03 $41.14 $42.92
10/1/2018 11/6/2018* $42.93 $38.00 $40.86

* The above table only includes data through this date. Accordingly, the “Quarterly Closing High,” “Quarterly Closing Low” and “Quarterly Close” data indicated are for this shortened period only and do not reflect complete data for this calendar quarter.

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The graph below illustrates the performance of the EEM Fund from January 1, 2008 through November 6, 2018, based on information from Bloomberg. The dotted line represents the downside threshold of $36.77, which is equal to 90% of the initial level. Past performance of the underlying asset is not indicative of the future performance of the underlying asset.

 

 12
 

What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities?

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Securities are uncertain. There are no statutory provisions, regulations, published rulings or judicial decisions addressing the characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of securities with terms that are substantially the same as the Securities. Some of these tax consequences are summarized below, but we urge you to read the more detailed discussion in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”, including the section “—Securities Treated as Prepaid Derivatives or Prepaid Forwards”, in the accompanying product supplement and to discuss the tax consequences of your particular situation with your tax advisor. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), final, temporary and proposed U.S. Treasury Department (the “Treasury”) regulations, rulings and decisions, in each case, as available and in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Tax consequences under state, local and non-U.S. laws are not addressed herein. No ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been sought as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Securities, and the following discussion is not binding on the IRS.

U.S. Tax Treatment. Pursuant to the terms of the Securities, UBS and you agree, in the absence of a statutory or regulatory change or an administrative determination or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize your Securities as pre-paid derivative contracts with respect to the underlying asset. If your Securities are so treated, you should generally recognize gain or loss upon the taxable disposition of your Securities in an amount equal to the difference between the amount you receive at such time and the amount you paid for your Securities. Subject to the constructive ownership rules (discussed below), such gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Securities for more than one year (otherwise such gain or loss should be short-term capital gain or loss if held for one year or less). The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Because the Securities are linked to the shares of an ETF, there is a risk that an investment in the Securities could be treated as a “constructive ownership transaction” within the meaning of Section 1260 of the Code. A “constructive ownership transaction” includes a contract under which an investor will receive payment equal to or credit for the future value of any equity interest in certain ”passthru entities” (including regulated investment companies such as ETFs, real estate investment trusts and passive foreign investment companies). Under the “constructive ownership” rules, if an investment in the Securities is treated as a “constructive ownership transaction,” any long-term capital gain recognized by a U.S. holder (as defined under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement) in respect of the Securities would be recharacterized as ordinary income to the extent such gain exceeds the amount of “net underlying long-term capital gain”(as defined in Section 1260 of the Code) of the U.S. holder (the “Excess Gain”). In addition, an interest charge would also apply to any deemed underpayment of tax in respect of any Excess Gain to the extent such gain would have resulted in gross income inclusion for the U.S. holder in taxable years prior to the taxable year of the taxable disposition of the Securities (assuming such income accrued such that the amount in each successive year is equal to the income in the prior year increased at a constant rate equal to the applicable federal rate as of the date of taxable disposition of the Securities).

It is not clear to what extent any long-term capital gain recognized by a U.S. holder in respect of the Securities would be recharacterized as ordinary income and subject to the interest charge described above, in part, because it is not clear how the “net underlying long-term capital gain” would be computed in respect of the Securities. Under Section 1260, the net underlying long-term capital gain is generally the net long-term capital gain a taxpayer would have recognized by investing in the underlying “passthru entity” at the inception of the constructive ownership transaction and selling on the date the constructive ownership transaction is closed out (i.e. at maturity or earlier disposition). It is possible that because the U.S. holder does not share in distributions made on the underlying asset, these distributions could be excluded from the calculation of the amount and character of gain, if any, that would have been realized had the U.S. holder held the underlying asset directly and that the application of constructive ownership rules may not recharacterize adversely a significant portion of the long-term capital gain you may recognize with respect to the Securities. However, it is also possible that all or a portion of your gain with respect to the Securities could be treated as “Excess Gain” because the underlying asset is an ETF, the “net underlying long-term capital gain” could equal the amount of long-term capital gain a U.S. holder would have recognized if on the issue date of the Securities the holder had invested, pro rata, the principal amount of the Securities in shares of the underlying asset and sold those shares for their fair market value on the date the Securities are sold, exchanged or retired. In addition, all or a portion of your gain recognized with respect to the Securities could be “Excess Gain” if you purchase the Securities for an amount that is less than the principal amount of the Securities or if the return on the Securities is adjusted to take into account any extraordinary dividends that are paid on the shares of the underlying asset. Furthermore, unless otherwise established by clear and convincing evidence, the “net underlying long-term capital gain” is treated as zero. Accordingly, it is possible that all or a portion of any gain on the taxable disposition of the Securities after one year could be treated as “Excess Gain” from a “constructive ownership transaction,” which gain would be recharacterized as ordinary income, and subject to an interest charge. Because the application of the constructive ownership rules to the Securities is unclear, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of the “constructive ownership” rules to an investment in the Securities.

Based on certain factual representations received from us, our counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, is of the opinion that it would be reasonable to treat your Securities in the manner described above. However, because there is no authority that specifically addresses the tax treatment of the Securities, it is possible that your Securities could alternatively be treated for tax purposes as a single contingent payment debt instrument, or pursuant to some other characterization (including possible treatment as a “constructive ownership transaction”), such that the timing and character of your income from the Securities could differ materially and adversely from the treatment described above, as described further under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”, including the section “—Securities Treated as Prepaid Derivatives or Prepaid Forwards”, in the accompanying product supplement.

Except to the extent otherwise required by law, UBS intends to treat your Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described above and under “Supplemental U.S. Tax Considerations” in the GEARS Strategies product supplement, unless and until such time as the Treasury and the IRS determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

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Notice 2008-2. In 2007, the IRS released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of the Securities. According to Notice 2008-2, the IRS and the Treasury are actively considering whether the holder of an instrument similar to the Securities should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis, and they are seeking taxpayer comments on the subject. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of the Securities will ultimately be required to accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive basis. The IRS and the Treasury are also considering other relevant issues, including whether additional gain or loss from such instruments should be treated as ordinary or capital, whether non-U.S. holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Code, discussed above, should be applied to such instruments. Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the significance, and the potential impact, of the above considerations.

Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income. U.S. holders that are individuals, estates, and certain trusts are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which may include any income or gain realized with respect to the Securities, to the extent of their net investment income that when added to their other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return or the dollar amount at which the highest tax bracket begins for an estate or trust. The 3.8% Medicare tax is determined in a different manner than the income tax. You should consult your tax advisor as to the consequences of the 3.8% Medicare tax.

Specified Foreign Financial Assets. Certain U.S. holders that own “specified foreign financial assets” in excess of an applicable threshold may be subject to reporting obligations with respect to such assets with their tax returns, especially if such assets are held outside the custody of a U.S. financial institution. You are urged to consult your tax advisor as to the application of this legislation to your ownership of the Securities.

Non-U.S. Holders. Subject to Section 871(m) of the Code and “FATCA”, discussed below, if you are a non-U.S. holder you should generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to payments on your Securities or to generally applicable information reporting and backup withholding requirements with respect to payments on your Securities if you comply with certain certification and identification requirements as to your non-U.S. status (by providing us (and/or the applicable withholding agent) with a fully completed and duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8). Subject to Section 871(m) of the Code, discussed below, gain from the taxable disposition of a Security generally should not be subject to U.S. tax unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the U.S., (ii) the non-U.S. holder is a non-resident alien individual and is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of such taxable disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied or (iii) the non-U.S. holder has certain other present or former connections with the U.S.

Section 871(m). A 30% withholding tax (which may be reduced by an applicable income tax treaty) is imposed under Section 871(m) of the Code on certain “dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to a non-U.S. holder with respect to a “specified equity-linked instrument” that references one or more dividend-paying U.S. equity securities or indices containing U.S. equity securities. The withholding tax can apply even if the instrument does not provide for payments that reference dividends. Treasury regulations provide that the withholding tax applies to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on specified equity-linked instruments that have a delta of one (“delta one specified equity-linked instruments”) issued after 2016 and to all dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid on all other specified equity-linked instruments issued after 2018. However, the IRS has issued guidance that states that the Treasury and the IRS intend to amend the effective dates of the Treasury regulations to provide that withholding on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid will not apply to specified equity-linked instruments that are not delta one specified equity-linked instruments and are issued before January 1, 2021.

Based on our determination that the Securities are not “delta-one” with respect to the underlying asset or any underlying equity constituent, our counsel is of the opinion that the Securities should not be delta one specified equity-linked instruments and thus should not be subject to withholding on dividend equivalents. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Furthermore, the application of Section 871(m) of the Code will depend on our determinations made upon issuance of the Securities. If withholding is required, we will not make payments of any additional amounts.

Nevertheless, after issuance, it is possible that your Securities could be deemed to be reissued for tax purposes upon the occurrence of certain events affecting the underlying asset, the underlying equity constituents or your Securities, and following such occurrence your Securities could be treated as delta one specified equity-linked instruments that are subject to withholding on dividend equivalents.  It is also possible that withholding tax or other tax under Section 871(m) of the Code could apply to the Securities under these rules if you enter, or have entered, into certain other transactions in respect of the underlying asset, the underlying equity constituents or the Securities.  If you enter, or have entered, into other transactions in respect of the underlying asset, the underlying equity constituents or the Securities, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the application of Section 871(m) of the Code to your Securities in the context of your other transactions.

Because of the uncertainty regarding the application of the 30% withholding tax on dividend equivalents to the Securities, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) of the Code and the 30% withholding tax to an investment in the Securities.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) was enacted on March 18, 2010, and imposes a 30% U.S. withholding tax on “withholdable payments” (i.e., certain U.S. -source payments, including interest (and original issue discount), dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S. -source interest or dividends) and “passthru payments” (i.e., certain payments attributable to withholdable payments) made to certain foreign financial institutions (and certain of their affiliates) unless the payee foreign financial institution agrees (or is required), among other things, to disclose the identity of any U.S. individual with an account of the institution (or the relevant affiliate) and to annually report certain information about such account. FATCA also requires withholding agents making withholdable payments to certain foreign entities that do not disclose the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of any substantial U.S. owners (or do not certify that they do not have any substantial U.S. owners) to withhold tax at a rate of 30%. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

Pursuant to final and temporary Treasury regulations and other IRS guidance, the withholding and reporting requirements under FATCA will generally apply to certain “withholdable payments” made on or after July 1, 2014, certain gross proceeds on a sale or disposition occurring after December 31, 2018, and certain foreign passthru payments made after December 31, 2018 (or, if later, the date that final regulations

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defining the term “foreign passthru payment” are published). If withholding is required, we (and/or the applicable paying agent) will not be required to pay additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Investors should consult their tax advisors about the application of FATCA, in particular if they may be classified as financial institutions (or if they hold their Securities through a foreign entity) under the FATCA rules.

Proposed Legislation. In 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if it had been enacted, would have required holders of Securities purchased after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of the Securities despite the fact that there will be no interest payments over the term of the Securities.

Furthermore, in 2013, the House Ways and Means Committee released in draft form certain proposed legislation relating to financial instruments. If it had been enacted, the effect of this legislation generally would have been to require instruments such as the Securities to be marked to market on an annual basis with all gains and losses to be treated as ordinary, subject to certain exceptions.

It is not possible to predict whether any similar or identical bills will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your Securities. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the possible changes in law and their possible impact on the tax treatment of your Securities.

Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the application of U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situation, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, beneficial ownership and disposition of the Securities arising under the laws of any state, local, non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction (including those of the underlying constituent issuers).

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Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest); Secondary Markets (if any)

We will agree to sell to UBS Securities LLC and UBS Securities LLC will agree to purchase, all of the Securities at the issue price to the public less the underwriting discount indicated on the cover hereof. UBS Securities LLC will agree to resell all of the Securities to UBS Financial Services Inc. at a discount from the issue price to the public equal to the underwriting discount indicated on the cover hereof.

Conflicts of Interest — Each of UBS Securities LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc. is an affiliate of UBS and, as such, has a “conflict of interest” in this offering within the meaning of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5121. In addition, UBS will receive the net proceeds (excluding the underwriting discount) from the initial public offering of the Securities, thus creating an additional conflict of interest within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, the offering is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. Neither UBS Securities LLC nor UBS Financial Services Inc. is permitted to sell Securities in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.

UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates may offer to buy or sell the Securities in the secondary market (if any) at prices greater than UBS’ internal valuation — The value of the Securities at any time will vary based on many factors that cannot be predicted. However, the price (not including UBS Securities LLC’s or any affiliate’s customary bid-ask spreads) at which UBS Securities LLC or any affiliate would offer to buy or sell the Securities immediately after the trade date in the secondary market is expected to exceed the estimated initial value of the Securities as determined by reference to our internal pricing models. The amount of the excess will decline to zero on a straight line basis over a period ending no later than [2] months after the trade date, provided that UBS Securities LLC may shorten the period based on various factors, including the magnitude of purchases and other negotiated provisions with selling agents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, UBS Securities LLC and its affiliates intend, but are not required, to make a market for the Securities and may stop making a market at any time. For more information about secondary market offers and the estimated initial value of the Securities, see “Key Risks — Fair value considerations” and “— Limited or no secondary market and secondary market price considerations” herein.

Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors — The Securities are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”), for offering or selling the Securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

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You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this preliminary pricing supplement, the accompanying product supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these Securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this preliminary pricing supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preliminary Pricing Supplement

Investment Description i
Features i
Key Dates i
Security Offering i
Additional Information about UBS and the Securities ii
Investor Suitability 1
Preliminary Terms 2
Investment Timeline 2
Key Risks 3
Hypothetical Examples and Return Table of the Securities at Maturity 7
Information About the Underlying Asset 9
What are the Tax Consequences of the Securities? 11

Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest); Secondary Markets (if any)

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Product Supplement

Product Supplement Summary PS-1
Specific Terms of Each Security Will Be Described in the Applicable Supplements PS-1
The Securities are Part of a Series PS-1
Denomination PS-2
Coupons PS-2
Early Redemption PS-3
Payment at Maturity for the Securities PS-3
Defined Terms Relating to Payment on the Securities PS-4
Valuation Dates PS-5
Valuation Periods PS-6
Payment Dates PS-6
Closing Level PS-7
Intraday Level PS-7
What are the Tax Consequences of the Securities? PS-8
Risk Factors PS-9
General Terms of the Securities PS-29
Use of Proceeds and Hedging PS-52
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences PS-53
Certain ERISA Considerations PS-75
Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) PS-76
   
   
   
   
   

Prospectus

Introduction 1
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 3
Incorporation of Information About UBS AG 5
Where You Can Find More Information 6
Presentation of Financial Information 7
Limitations on Enforcement of U.S. Laws Against UBS, Its Management and Others 7
UBS 8
Swiss Regulatory Powers 11
Use of Proceeds 12
Description of Debt Securities We May Offer 13
Description of Warrants We May Offer 33
Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance 48
Considerations Relating to Indexed Securities 53
Considerations Relating to Securities Denominated or Payable in or Linked to a Non-U.S. Dollar Currency 56
U.S. Tax Considerations 59
Tax Considerations Under the Laws of Switzerland 70
Benefit Plan Investor Considerations 72
Plan of Distribution 74
Conflicts of Interest 75
Validity of the Securities 76
Experts 76

 

 

 

$•

UBS AG Capped Airbag GEARS due on or about December 10, 2019

 

Preliminary Pricing Supplement dated November 7, 2018

(To Product Supplement dated October 31, 2018

and Prospectus dated October 31, 2018)

 

 

 

 

 

UBS Investment Bank

UBS Financial Services Inc.