| Preliminary Pricing Supplement SUN-109 (To the Prospectus dated May 4, 2015, the Prospectus Supplement dated May 4, 2015, and the Product Supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2 dated May 14, 2015) |
Subject to Completion Preliminary Pricing Supplement dated January 30, 2017 |
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) 333-180300-03 |
Units $10 principal amount per unit CUSIP No.  |
Pricing Date* Settlement Date* Maturity Date* |
February , 2017 March , 2017 February , 2020 |
| *Subject to change based on the actual date the notes are priced for initial sale to the public (the "pricing date") | ||
|
Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index § Maturity of approximately three years, if not called prior to maturity § Automatic call of the notes per unit at $10 plus the applicable Call Premium ([$0.95 to $1.05] on the first Observation Date and [$1.90 to $2.10] on the second Observation Date) if the Index is flat or increases above 100% of the Starting Value on the relevant Observation Date § The Observation Dates will occur approximately one year and two years after the pricing date § If the notes are not called, at maturity: § a return of 30% if the Index is flat or increases up to the Step Up Value § a return equal to the percentage increase in the Index if the Index increases above the Step Up Value § 1-to-1 downside exposure to decreases in the Index, with up to 100% of your principal at risk § All payments are subject to the credit risk of Credit Suisse AG § No periodic interest payments § In addition to the underwriting discount set forth below, the notes include a hedging-related charge of $0.075 per unit. See “Structuring the Notes” § Limited secondary market liquidity, with no exchange listing § The notes are senior unsecured debt securities and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction |
The notes are being issued by Credit Suisse AG (“Credit Suisse”). There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security, including different investment risks and certain additional costs. See “Risk Factors” and “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2.
The initial estimated value of the notes as of the pricing date is expected to be between $9.50 and $9.80 per unit, which is less than the public offering price listed below. See “Summary” on the following page, “Risk Factors” beginning on page TS-7 of this term sheet and “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-16 of this term sheet for additional information. The actual value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
_________________________
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any state securities commission, or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Note Prospectus (as defined below) is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
_________________________
| Per Unit | Total | |
| Public offering price(1) | $ 10.00 | $ |
| Underwriting discount(1) | $ 0.20 | $ |
| Proceeds, before expenses, to Credit Suisse | $ 9.80 | $ |
| (1) | For any purchase of 500,000 units or more in a single transaction by an individual investor or in combined transactions with the investor's household in this offering, the public offering price and the underwriting discount will be $9.95 per unit and $0.15 per unit, respectively. See “Supplement to the Plan of Distribution” below. |
The notes:
| Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not Bank Guaranteed | May Lose Value |
Merrill Lynch & Co.
February , 2017
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Summary
The Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 (the “notes”) are our senior unsecured debt securities. The notes are not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction and are not secured by collateral. The notes will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. Any payments due on the notes, including any repayment of principal, will be subject to the credit risk of Credit Suisse. The notes will be automatically called at the applicable Call Amount if the Observation Level of the Market Measure, which is the Russell 2000® Index (the “Index”), is equal to or greater than the Call Level on the relevant Observation Date. If not called, at maturity, the notes provide you with a Step Up Payment if the Ending Value of the Index is equal to or greater than its Starting Value, but is not greater than the Step Up Value. If the Ending Value is greater than the Step Up Value, you will participate on a 1-for-1 basis in the increase in the level of the Index above the Starting Value. If the Ending Value is less than the Starting Value, you will lose all or a portion of the principal amount of your notes. Payments on the notes, including the amount you receive at maturity or upon an automatic call, will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index, subject to our credit risk. See “Terms of the Notes” below.
The economic terms of the notes (including the Call Premiums and the Call Amounts) are based on the rate we are currently paying to borrow funds through the issuance of market-linked notes (our “internal funding rate”) and the economic terms of certain related hedging arrangements. Our internal funding rate for market-linked notes is typically lower than a rate reflecting the yield on our conventional debt securities of similar maturity in the secondary market (our “secondary market credit rate”). This difference in borrowing rate, as well as the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge described below, will reduce the economic terms of the notes to you and the initial estimated value of the notes on the pricing date. These costs will be effectively borne by you as an investor in the notes, and will be retained by us and MLPF&S or any of our respective affiliates in connection with our structuring and offering of the notes. Due to these factors, the public offering price you pay to purchase the notes will be greater than the initial estimated value of the notes.
On the cover page of this term sheet, we have provided the initial estimated value range for the notes. This range of estimated values reflects terms that are not yet fixed and was determined based on our valuation of the theoretical components of the notes in accordance with our pricing models. These include a theoretical bond component valued using our internal funding rate, and theoretical individual option components valued using mid-market pricing. You will not have any interest in, or rights to, the theoretical components we use to determine the estimated value of the notes. The notes are subject to an automatic call, and the initial estimated value is based on an assumed tenor of the notes. The initial estimated value of the notes calculated on the pricing date will be set forth in the final term sheet made available to investors in the notes. For more information about the initial estimated value and the structuring of the notes, see “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-16.
| Terms of the Notes | |||
|
Issuer: |
Credit Suisse AG (“Credit Suisse”), acting through its London branch. | Call Settlement Dates: | Approximately the fifth business day following the applicable Observation Date, subject to postponement if the related Observation Date is postponed, as described on page PS-20 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2. |
| Principal Amount: | $10.00 per unit | Call Premiums: |
[$0.95 to $1.05] per unit if called on the first Observation Date (which represents a return of [9.50% to 10.50%] over the principal amount), and [$1.90 to $2.10] per unit if called on the second Observation Date (which represents a return of [19.00% to 21.00%] over the principal amount). The actual Call Premiums will be determined on the pricing date. |
|
Term: |
Approximately three years, if not called | Ending Value: | The closing level of the Market Measure on the scheduled calculation day. The calculation day is subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described beginning on page PS-20 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2. |
|
Market Measure: |
The Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg symbol: “RTY”), a price return index | Step Up Value: | 130% of the Starting Value. |
|
Starting Value: |
The closing level of the Market Measure on the pricing date | Step Up Payment: | $3.00 per unit, which represents a return of 30% over the principal amount. |
|
Observation Level: |
The closing level of the Market Measure on the applicable Observation Date. | Threshold Value: | 100% of the Starting Value. |
| Observation Dates: |
On or about March , 2018 and February , 2019, approximately one year and two years after the pricing date. The Observation Dates are subject to postponement in the event of Market Disruption Events, as described on page PS-20 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2. |
Calculation Day: | Approximately the fifth scheduled Market Measure Business Day immediately preceding the maturity date. |
|
Call Level: |
100% of the Starting Value | Fees and Charges: | The underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit listed on the cover page and the hedging related charge of $0.075 per unit described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-16. |
| Call Amounts (per Unit): |
[$10.95 to $11.05] if called on the first Observation Date and [$11.90 to $12.10] if called on the second Observation Date. The actual Call Amounts will be determined on the pricing date. |
Joint Calculation Agents: | Credit Suisse International and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), acting jointly. |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-2 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Determining Payment on the Notes
Automatic Call Provision
The notes will be called automatically on an Observation Date if the Observation Level on that Observation Date is equal to or greater than the Call Level. If the notes are called, you will receive $10 per unit plus the applicable Call Premium.
Redemption Amount Determination
If the notes are not automatically called, on the maturity date, you will receive a cash payment per unit determined as follows:
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-3 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
The terms and risks of the notes are contained in this term sheet and in the following:
| § | Product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2 dated May 14,
2015: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1053092/000095010315003904/dp56236_424b2-sun2.htm |
| § | Prospectus supplement and prospectus dated May 4, 2015: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1053092/000104746915004333/a2224570z424b2.htm |
These documents (together, the “Note Prospectus”) have been filed as part of a registration statement with the SEC, which may, without cost, be accessed on the SEC website as indicated above or obtained from MLPF&S by calling 1-800-294-1322. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, for information about us and this offering. Any prior or contemporaneous oral statements and any other written materials you may have received are superseded by the Note Prospectus. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this term sheet have the meanings set forth in product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this document to “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references are to Credit Suisse.
Investor Considerations
| You may wish to consider an investment in the notes if: | The notes may not be an appropriate investment for you if: | |
|
§ You are willing to receive a return on your investment capped at the return represented by the applicable Call Premium if the relevant Observation Level is equal to or greater than the Call Level.
§ You anticipate that the notes will be automatically called or the Index will increase from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.
§ You are willing to risk a loss of principal and return if the notes are not automatically called and the Index decreases from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.
§ You are willing to forgo the interest payments that are paid on traditional interest bearing debt securities.
§ You are willing to forgo dividends or other benefits of owning the stocks included in the Index.
§ You are willing to accept a limited or no market for sales prior to maturity, and understand that the market prices for the notes, if any, will be affected by various factors, including our actual and perceived creditworthiness, our internal funding rate and fees and charges on the notes.
§ You are willing to assume our credit risk, as issuer of the notes, for all payments under the notes, including the Redemption Amount. |
§ You want to hold your notes for the full term.
§ You believe that the notes will not be automatically called and the Index will decrease from the Starting Value to the Ending Value.
§ You seek principal repayment or preservation of capital.
§ You seek interest payments or other current income on your investment.
§ You want to receive dividends or other distributions paid on the stocks included in the Index.
§ You seek an investment for which there will be a liquid secondary market.
§ You are unwilling or are unable to take market risk on the notes or to take our credit risk as issuer of the notes.
|
We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-4 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Hypothetical Payout Profile at Maturity
The below graph is based on hypothetical numbers and values. These hypothetical values show a payout profile at maturity, which would only apply if the notes are not called on any Observation Date.
|
Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes
|
This graph reflects the returns on the notes, based on the Threshold Value of 100% of the Starting Value, the Step Up Payment of $3.00 per unit and the Step Up Value of 130% of the Starting Value. The green line reflects the returns on the notes, while the dotted gray line reflects the returns of a direct investment in the stocks included in the Index, excluding dividends.
This graph has been prepared for purposes
of illustration only.
|
Hypothetical Payments at Maturity
The following table and examples are for purposes of illustration only. They are based on hypothetical values and show hypothetical returns on the notes, assuming the notes are not called on any Observation Date. The actual amount you receive and the resulting total rate of return will depend on the actual Starting Value, Threshold Value, Ending Value, Step Up Value, whether the notes are called on an Observation Date, and term of your investment.
The following table is based on a Starting Value of 100, a Threshold Value of 100, a Step Up Value of 130 and the Step Up Payment of $3.00 per unit. It illustrates the effect of a range of Ending Values on the Redemption Amount per unit of the notes and the total rate of return to holders of the notes. The following examples do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the notes.
|
Ending Value |
Percentage Change from the Starting Value to the Ending Value |
Redemption Amount per Unit |
Total Rate of Return on the Notes |
| 0.00 | -100.00% | $0.00 | -100.00% |
| 50.00 | -50.00% | $5.00 | -50.00% |
| 80.00 | -20.00% | $8.00 | -20.00% |
| 90.00 | -10.00% | $9.00 | -10.00% |
| 100.00(1)(2) | 0.00% | $13.00(3) | 30.00% |
| 110.00 | 10.00% | $13.00 | 30.00% |
| 120.00 | 20.00% | $13.00 | 30.00% |
| 130.00(4) | 30.00% | $13.00 | 30.00% |
| 140.00 | 40.00% | $14.00 | 40.00% |
| 150.00 | 50.00% | $15.00 | 50.00% |
| 160.00 | 60.00% | $16.00 | 60.00% |
| (1) | The hypothetical Starting Value of 100 used in these examples has been chosen for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent a likely actual Starting Value for the Market Measure. |
| (2) | This is the hypothetical Threshold Value. |
| (3) | This amount represents the sum of the principal amount and the Step Up Payment of $3.00. |
| (4) | This is the hypothetical Step Up Value. |
For recent actual levels of the Market Measure, see “The Index” section below. The Index is a price return index and as such the Ending Value will not include any income generated by dividends paid on the stocks included in the Index, which you would otherwise be entitled to receive if you invested in those stocks directly. In addition, all payments on the notes are subject to issuer credit risk.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-5 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Redemption Amount Calculation Examples
| Example 1 | |
| The Ending Value is 90.00, or 90.00% of the Starting Value: | |
| Starting Value: | 100.00 |
| Threshold Value: | 100.00 |
| Ending Value: | 90.00 |
 |
Redemption Amount per unit |
| Example 2 | |
| The Ending Value is 110.00, or 110.00% of the Starting Value: | |
| Starting Value: | 100.00 |
| Step Up Value: | 130.00 |
| Ending Value: | 110.00 |
 |
Redemption Amount per unit, the principal amount plus the Step Up Payment, since the Ending Value is equal to or greater than the Starting Value, but less than the Step Up Value. |
| Example 3 | |
| The Ending Value is 140.00, or 140.00% of the Starting Value: | |
| Starting Value: | 100.00 |
| Step Up Value: | 130.00 |
| Ending Value: | 140.00 |
|
|
Redemption Amount per unit
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-6 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Risk Factors
There are important differences between the notes and a conventional debt security. An investment in the notes involves significant risks, including those listed below. You should carefully review the more detailed explanation of risks relating to the notes in the “Risk Factors” sections beginning on page PS-7 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2 identified above. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting, and other advisors before you invest in the notes.
| § | If the notes are not automatically called, depending on the performance of the Index as measured shortly before the maturity date, your investment may result in a loss; there is no guaranteed return of principal. |
| § | Your return on the notes may be less than the yield you could earn by owning a conventional fixed or floating rate debt security of comparable maturity. |
| § | Payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk, and actual or perceived changes in our creditworthiness are expected to affect the value of the notes. If we become insolvent or are unable to pay our obligations, you may lose your entire investment. |
| § | If the notes are called, your investment return is limited to the return represented by the applicable Call Premium. |
| § | Your investment return may be less than a comparable investment directly in the stocks included in the Index. |
| § | The initial estimated value of the notes is an estimate only, determined as of a particular point in time by reference to our proprietary pricing models. These pricing models consider certain factors, such as our internal funding rate on the pricing date, interest rates, volatility and time to maturity of the notes, and they rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. Because our pricing models may differ from other issuers’ valuation models, and because funding rates taken into account by other issuers may vary materially from the rates used by us (even among issuers with similar creditworthiness), our estimated value may not be comparable to estimated values of similar notes of other issuers. |
| § | Our internal funding rate for market-linked notes is typically lower than our secondary market credit rates, as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-16. Because we use our internal funding rate to determine the value of the theoretical bond component, if on the pricing date our internal funding rate is lower than our secondary market credit rates, the initial estimated value of the notes will be greater than if we had used our secondary market credit rates in valuing the notes. |
| § | The public offering price you pay for the notes will exceed the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other transaction costs, the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge, as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-16. |
| § | Assuming no change in market conditions or other relevant factors after the pricing date, the market value of your notes may be lower than the price you paid for them and lower than the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, the inclusion in the public offering price of the underwriting discount and the hedging related charge and the internal funding rate we used in pricing the notes, as further described in “Structuring the Notes” on page TS-16. These factors, together with customary bid ask spreads, other transaction costs and various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the notes, including changes in the level of the Index, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the notes in any secondary market and will affect the value of the notes in complex and unpredictable ways. |
| § | A trading market is not expected to develop for the notes. Neither we nor MLPF&S is obligated to make a market for, or to repurchase, the notes. The initial estimated value does not represent a minimum or maximum price at which we, MLPF&S or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. MLPF&S has advised us that any repurchases by them or their affiliates will be made at prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. If you sell your notes to a dealer other than MLPF&S in a secondary market transaction, the dealer may impose its own discount or commission. MLPF&S has also advised us that, at its discretion and for your benefit, assuming no changes in market conditions from the pricing date, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial estimated value of the notes for a short initial period after the issuance of the notes. That higher price reflects costs that were included in the public offering price of the notes, and that higher price may also be initially used for account statements or otherwise. There is no assurance that any party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price in any secondary market. |
| § | Our business, hedging and trading activities, and those of MLPF&S and our respective affiliates (including trading in shares of companies included in the Index), and any hedging and trading activities we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates engage in for our clients’ accounts, may affect the market value and return of the notes and may create conflicts of interest with you. |
| § | The Index sponsor may adjust the Index in a way that affects its level, and has no obligation to consider your interests. |
| § | You will have no rights of a holder of the securities represented by the Index, and you will not be entitled to receive securities or dividends or other distributions by the issuers of those securities. |
| § | While we, MLPF&S or our respective affiliates may from time to time own securities of companies included in the Index, we, MLPF&S and our respective affiliates do not control any company included in the Index, and are not responsible for any disclosure made by any other company. |
| § | There may be potential conflicts of interest involving the calculation agents. We have the right to appoint and remove the calculation agents. |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-7 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
| § | As a Swiss bank, Credit Suisse is subject to regulation by governmental agencies, supervisory authorities and self-regulatory organizations in Switzerland. Such regulation is increasingly more extensive and complex and subjects Credit Suisse to risks. For example, pursuant to Swiss banking laws, FINMA has broad powers and discretion in the case of resolution proceedings, which include the power to convert debt instruments and other liabilities of Credit Suisse into equity and/or cancel such liabilities in whole or in part. |
| § | The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the notes are uncertain, and may be adverse to a holder of the notes. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” below and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” beginning on page PS-29 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2. |
Additional Risk Factors
The notes are subject to risks associated with small-size capitalization companies.
The stocks composing the Index are issued by companies with small-sized market capitalization. The stock prices of small-size companies may be more volatile than stock prices of large capitalization companies. Small-size capitalization companies may be less able to withstand adverse economic, market, trade and competitive conditions relative to larger companies. Small-size capitalization companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products or services.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-8 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
The Index
All disclosures contained in this term sheet regarding the Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The Index was developed by Russell Investments (“Russell”) before FTSE International Limited and Russell combined in 2015 to create FTSE Russell. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, FTSE Russell (the “Index sponsor”). The Index sponsor, which licenses the copyright and all other rights to the Index, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Index. The consequences of the Index sponsor discontinuing publication of the Index are discussed in the section entitled “Description of the Notes—Discontinuance of an Index” beginning on page PS-22 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2. None of us, the calculation agents, or MLPF&S accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Index or any successor index.
The Index is intended to track the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity market. The Index is reconstituted annually and eligible initial public offerings (“IPOs”) are added to the Index at the end of each calendar quarter. The Index is a subset of the Russell 3000E™ Index, which contains the largest 4,000 companies incorporated in the U.S. and its territories and represents approximately 99% of the U.S. equity market. The Index measures the composite price performance of stocks of approximately 2,000 U.S. companies. As of December 31, 2016, the largest five sectors represented by the Index were Financial Services, Technology, Producer Durables, Consumer Discretionary and Health Care. Real-time dissemination of the value of the Index by Reuters began on December 31, 1986. The Index was developed by Russell and is calculated, maintained and published by Russell. The Index is reported by Bloomberg under ticker symbol “RTY”.
Methodology for the Russell U.S. Indices
Companies must be classified as U.S. companies under FTSE Russell’s country-assignment methodology in order to be included in the Russell U.S. indices. If a company is incorporated, has a stated headquarters location, and trades in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible), the company is assigned to the equity market of its country of incorporation. If any of the three do not match, FTSE Russell then defines three Home Country Indicators (“HCI”): country of Incorporation, country of Headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange as defined by two-year average daily dollar trading volume (“ADDTV”) from all exchanges within a country. Using the HCIs, FTSE Russell cross-compares the primary location of the company’s assets with the three HCIs. If the primary location of the company’s assets matches any of the HCIs, then the company is assigned to its primary asset location. If there is insufficient information to determine the country in which the company’s assets are primarily located, FTSE Russell will use the primary country from which the company’s revenues are primarily derived for the comparison with the three HCIs in a similar manner. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenue, FTSE Russell assigns the company to the country where its headquarters are located unless the country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation (BDI) country; in which case, the company will be assigned to the country of its most liquid stock exchange. FTSE Russell lists the following countries as BDIs: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands. For any companies incorporated or headquartered in a U.S. territory, including countries such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. HCI is assigned.
Preferred and convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants, rights, installment receipts and trust receipts are not eligible for inclusion in the Russell U.S. Indices. Royalty trusts, limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies, blank check companies, special-purpose acquisition companies, and limited partnerships are also not eligible for inclusion in the Russell U.S. Indices. Companies that are required to report acquired fund fees and expenses, business development companies, exchange-traded funds and mutual funds are also excluded. Bulletin board, pink-sheets, and over-the-counter (“OTC”) traded securities are not eligible for inclusion. Stocks must trade at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange on the last trading day in May to be eligible for inclusion during annual reconstitution. However, in order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s closing price is less than $1.00 on the last day of May, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from its primary exchange) during the month of May is equal to or greater than $1.00. Initial public offerings must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on the last day of their eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion. If a stock, new or existing, does not have a closing price at or above $1.00 (on its primary exchange) on the last trading day in May, but does have a closing price at or above $1.00 on another major U.S. exchange, that stock will be eligible for inclusion. Companies with a total market capitalization of less than $30 million are not eligible for the Index. Similarly, companies with only 5% or less of their shares available in the marketplace are not eligible for the Index.
The primary criterion used to determine the initial list of securities eligible for the Russell U.S. Indices is total market capitalization, which is determined by multiplying total outstanding shares by the market price as of the last trading day in May for those securities being considered at annual reconstitution. IPO eligibility is determined each quarter.
Common stock, non-restricted exchangeable shares that may be exchanged at any time at the holder’s option on a one-for-one basis for common stock, and partnership units/membership interests (in certain cases, described below) are used to determine market capitalization for a company. FTSE Russell includes membership or partnership units/interests as part of total market capitalization when the company in question is merely a holding company of underlying entity that issues membership or partnership units/interests and these units are the company’s sole assets. If multiple share classes of common stock exist, they are combined. In cases where the common stock share classes act independently of each other, each class is considered for inclusion separately. Stapled units and other paired share structures are considered eligible for index inclusion, unless an underlying component of the stock is an ineligible security type (e.g. convertible debt). On the last trading day of May of each year, all eligible securities are ranked by their total market capitalization. Reconstitution occurs on the last Friday in June. However, at times this date precedes a long U.S. holiday weekend,
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-9 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
when liquidity is low. In order to ensure proper liquidity in the markets, when the last Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, reconstitution will occur on the preceding Friday. In addition, FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings to the Index on a quarterly basis based on market capitalization guidelines established during the most recent reconstitution.
Once the market capitalization for each security is determined by use of total shares and price, each security is placed in the appropriate FTSE Russell market capitalization based index. The largest 4,000 securities become members of the Russell 3000E™ Index.
After the initial market capitalization breakpoints are determined by the ranges listed above, new members are assigned on the basis of the breakpoints and existing members are reviewed to determine if they fall within a cumulative 5% market capitalization range around these new market capitalization breakpoints. If an existing member’s market capitalization falls within this cumulative 5% of the market capitalization breakpoint, it will remain in its current index rather than be moved to a different market capitalization–based Russell index.
Capitalization Adjustments
After membership is determined, a security’s shares are adjusted to include only those shares available to the public, which is often referred to as “free float.” The purpose of this adjustment is to exclude from market calculations the capitalization that is not available for purchase and is not part of the investable opportunity set. Stocks are weighted in the Russell U.S. Indices by their available market capitalization, which is calculated by multiplying the primary closing price by the available shares.
The following types of shares are considered unavailable for purchase and removed from total market capitalization to arrive at free float or available market capitalization:
| § | Officers and directors’ holdings are all considered unavailable and removed entirely from available shares. FTSE Russell’s float research process does allow removal of options/warrants/convertibles from the officer and director holdings when those shares are provided in a summed format within the footnotes. However, if FTSE Russell determines that a company is being excluded from index membership solely on the basis of the minimum float requirement, FTSE Russell will use best available information found within SEC filings, filed on or before the rank day in May; |
| § | Large private holdings will be removed from available shares if they exceed 10% of shares outstanding. Share percentage is determined by those shares held either by an individual or by a group of individuals acting together. Private equity and venture capital firms are considered large private holders; |
| § | Institutional holdings by investment companies, partnerships, insurance companies, mutual funds and banks will be included, but such holdings will be removed from available shares if their holding is greater than 30%. If a firm has a direct relationship to the company, such as board representation, they will be considered strategic and will be excluded regardless of the size of holding per the officers and directors’ exclusion rule; |
| § | Publicly listed companies will have their holdings removed from the available shares of an index member. Holdings considered as Institutional will be considered as available unless the 30% threshold is surpassed, regardless of listing; |
| § | ESOP or LESOP shares are considered unavailable and removed entirely from available shares; |
| § | IPO lock-ups: Shares locked up during an initial public offering are not available to the public and will be excluded from available shares at the time the IPO enters the index; and |
| § | Government Holdings: |
| § | Direct government holders: Those holdings listed as “government of” or shares held by government controlled/affiliated entities are considered unavailable and will be removed entirely from available shares. |
| § | Indirect government holders: Shares held by government investment boards and/or investment arms will be treated similar to large private holdings and removed if the holding is greater than 10%. |
| § | Government pensions: Any holding by a government pension plan is considered an institutional holding and will not be removed from available shares unless the holding is greater than 30%. |
Corporate Actions Affecting a Russell U.S. Index
Depending upon the time an action is determined to be final, Russell will either (1) apply the action before the open on the ex-date, or (2) apply the action providing appropriate notice, referred to as “delayed action.” The following describes the treatment of the most common corporate actions within the Russell Indexes.
| § | “No Replacement” Rule: Securities that leave a Russell U.S. Index for any reason (e.g., mergers, acquisitions or other similar corporate activity) are not replaced. Thus, the number of securities in a Russell U.S. Index over the year will fluctuate according to corporate activity. |
| § | Mergers and Acquisitions: Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) result in changes to the membership and to the weighting of members within a Russell U.S. Index. M&A activity is applied to a Russell U.S. Index after the action is determined to be final. If both companies involved are included in the Russell 3000E™ Index or the Russell Global Index, the acquired company is deleted and its market capitalization is moved to the acquiring company’s stock, according to the merger terms. If only one company is included in the Russell 3000E™ Index, there may be two forms of merger or acquisition: if the acquiring company |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-10 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
is a member, the acquiring company’s shares will be adjusted at month end, and if the acquiring company is not a member, the acquired company will be deleted after the action is determined as final.
| § | Reverse Mergers: When a Russell 3000 Index member is acquired or merged with a private, non-publicly-traded company or OTC company, Russell will review the action to determine whether it is considered a reverse merger. If it is determined that the action is a reverse merger, the newly formed entity will be placed in the appropriate market capitalization index after the close of the day following the completion of the merger and the acquired company will be simultaneously removed from the current index. The growth/value of the surviving entity is determined by the industry average, and cross-ownership will be determined on the basis of the most recent SEC filings. |
| § | Reincorporations: Members of the index that are reincorporated to another country are analyzed for country assignment the following year during reconstitution, as long as they continue to trade in the U.S. Companies that reincorporate and no longer trade in the U.S. are immediately deleted from the U.S. indexes and placed in the appropriate country within the Russell Global Index. Those that reincorporate to the U.S. during the year will be assessed during reconstitution for membership. |
| § | Reclassification of shares (pricing vehicles): Pricing vehicles will not be assessed or changed outside of a reconstitution period unless the existing class ceases to exist. In the event of extenuating circumstances signaling a necessary pricing vehicle change, proper notification will be made. |
| § | Rights offerings: FTSE Russell will not apply poison pill rights or entitlements that give shareholders the right to purchase ineligible securities such as convertible debt. FTSE Russell will only adjust the Index to account for a right if the subscription price of the right is at a discount to the market price of the stock. Provided FTSE Russell has been alerted to the rights offer prior to the ex-date, a price adjustment will be applied before the open on the ex-date to account for the value of the rights, and shares increased according to the terms of the offering. The treatment is consistent for both transferable and non-transferable rights. Where the rights issue / entitlement offer subscription price remains unconfirmed on the ex-date an estimated price will be used. FTSE Russell will estimate the subscription price using the value being raised and the offer terms. Where there is a range of values the mid value will be used to estimate the subscription price. Where the value being raised and/or offer terms are unknown no adjustment will be made on the ex-date. If those details are subsequently released or a company announces a rights issue with a historical ex-date, a price adjustment and share increase will be applied as soon as practical. The latest close price prior to the announcement will be used to confirm whether the rights are being offered at a discount, and to calculate the adjustment. |
| § | Changes to shares outstanding: Changes to shares outstanding due to buybacks (including Dutch auctions), secondary offerings, and other potential corporate activity are updated at the end of each month. For FTSE Russell to implement a month-end change to available shares outstanding, the cumulative change to available shares must be greater than 5%. Share changes that are confirmed by FTSE Russell’s vendors and verified by FTSE Russell by use of an SEC filing at least six days prior to month end are implemented and communicated to clients who subscribe at the Premier level five trading days prior to month end. The float factor last determined (either at reconstitution or due to a corporate action implementation) is applied to the new shares. If the float factor has been updated since reconstitution due to the implementation of a corporate action, the updated float factor will be used. If any new shares issued are unavailable according to the filing, that portion will not be added to the index. Changes to available shares outstanding due to merger activity between index and non-index members will be implemented if the availability of the newly issued shares can be confirmed within the appropriate filings or press releases. When the new shares are partially available, FTSE Russell will increase shares per the available amount if the cumulative change to available shares outstanding is greater than 5%. When the availability of new shares cannot be confirmed with an appropriate source, FTSE Russell will defer any increase to the next reconstitution, allowing for further information to be announced. Note, this applies to mergers with both publicly listed and privately held non-index members. |
| § | Spin-offs: Spin-off companies are added to the parent company’s index and capitalization tier of membership, if the spin-off company is large enough. To be eligible, the spun-off company’s total market capitalization must be greater than the market adjusted total market capitalization of the smallest security in the Russell 3000E™ Index at the latest reconstitution. A spun-off company may be assigned to a different country from the parent, if any of its home country indicators (HCIs) differ from those of the parent. Consequently, the spin-off company may become a member of the Russell Global Index. Otherwise, the same rules apply between domestic or cross-border spin-off additions. |
| § | Tender offers: In the case of a cash tender offer, the target company will be removed from the index when: the offer period completes (initial, extension or subsequent); shareholders have validly tendered, not withdrawn, the shares have been accepted for payment; all regulatory requirements have been fulfilled; and the acquiring company is able to finalize the acquisition via short-form merger, top-up option or other compulsory mechanism. If the requirements have been fulfilled except where the acquirer is unable to finalize the acquisition through a compulsory mechanism, an adjustment will be applied to the target company’s float-adjusted shares if they have decreased by 30% or more, and the tender offer has fully complete and closed. The adjustment will occur on a date pre-announced by FTSE Russell. |
| § | Voluntary exchange offers: A publicly traded company may offer to exchange or split-off some or all of its ownership in a separate publicly traded company. Shareholders are given the option to retain their shares; or to exchange them, in full or in part, for shares of the 'split-off' company. Once the offer expires, FTSE Russell will decrease the available shares in the offering company, and increase the available shares of the 'split-off' company, based on the results of the offering. FTSE Russell will effect this change based on, but not limited to, preliminary results, company filings, and exchange notices. |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-11 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
| § | Delisting: Only companies listed on U.S. exchanges are included in the Russell U.S. indexes. Therefore, when a company is delisted from a U.S. exchange and moved to OTC, the company is removed from the Russell indexes. When this occurs, the company is removed either at the close of the current day at the last traded price, or the following day, using the closing OTC price. |
| § | Bankruptcies and Voluntary Liquidations: Companies filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or that have filed a liquidation plan will be removed from the Russell U.S. indexes at the time of filing. When shareholder approval is required to finalize the liquidation plan, FTSE Russell will remove the security once shareholder approval has been granted. Companies filing for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy will remain members of the index, unless the companies are delisted from the primary exchange. In that case, normal delisting rules will apply. If a company files for bankruptcy and is delisted and if it can be confirmed that it will not trade OTC, FTSE Russell may remove the stock at a nominal price of $0.0001. |
| § | Stock Distributions: Stock distributions can take two forms: (1) a stated amount of stock distributed on the ex-date, or (2) an undetermined amount of stock based on earnings and profits to be distributed at a future date. In both cases, a price adjustment is done on the ex-date of the distribution. Shares are increased on the ex-date for category (1) and on the pay-date for category (2) if the number of shares being issued is known prior to this date. |
| § | Dividends: Gross dividends are included in the daily total return calculation of the indexes on the basis of their ex-dates. The ex-date is used rather than the pay-date because the marketplace price adjustment for the dividend occurs on the ex-date. If a dividend is payable in stock and cash and the number of shares to be issued cannot be determined by the ex-date, the dividend is treated as all cash. If the number of shares to be issued as a stock dividend is announced subsequently, FTSE Russell will give effect to the share change on the pay date, providing appropriate notice can be given. |
| § | Halted securities: When a stock’s trading has been halted, FTSE Russell holds the security at its most recent closing price until trading is resumed or the security is removed from the index. If a constituent is halted, FTSE Russell will determine its treatment as follows: |
| § | If a constituent is declared bankrupt without any indication of compensation to shareholders, the last traded price will be adjusted down to zero value and it will subsequently be removed from the index. |
| § | If there is no accompanying news when a constituent is suspended, FTSE Russell will normally allow it to remain in the index for up to 20 business days at its last traded price before determining whether to delete it at zero value or allow it to remain in the index. |
| § | If a constituent is temporarily suspended but expected to recommence trading pending a restructuring or a corporate event, for example a merger or acquisition, it may remain in the index at its last traded price for up to 20 business days. |
| § | If it continues to be suspended at the end of that period, it will be subject to review and a decision will be taken to either allow the constituent to remain in the index for a further period of up to 20 business days or to remove it at zero value. This procedure will be repeated at successive 20 business day intervals thereafter until either trading recommences or the suspension period reaches 80 business days. |
| § | If the suspension period reaches 80 business days, the constituent will be removed from the index at zero value providing at least 40 business days’ notice. If trading recommences or a resumption of trade date is announced within the 40 days’ notice period, the constituent will not be removed from the index. |
| § | If a constituent has been removed from the index and trading is subsequently restored, it will be treated as a new issue for the purposes of index eligibility. |
Stocks that are scheduled for changes but are halted or suspended prior to reconstitution will have their scheduled updates postponed and will be monitored for trade resumption. Once trading resumes, these securities changes will be announced and will have their positions updated accordingly. Standard notice requirements for these changes will be adhered to: Same day changes would occur, presuming notification within the 2 pm (Eastern Time) cumulative change file can be provided. If sufficient notice is not possible, the updates will be delayed by one day. Securities that are being removed will be removed using the primary exchange close price.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-12 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
The following graph shows the daily historical performance of the Index in the period from January 1, 2008 through January 23, 2017. We obtained this historical data from Bloomberg L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg L.P. On January 23, 2017, the closing level of the Index was 1,347.836.
Historical Performance of the Index
This historical data on the Index is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of the Index or what the value of the notes may be. Any historical upward or downward trend in the level of the Index during any period set forth above is not an indication that the level of the Index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time over the term of the notes.
Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available sources for the levels of the Index.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-13 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
License Agreement
The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by FTSE Russell, and FTSE Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.
We and FTSE Russell have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to us, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the Index in connection with the securities. The license agreement between FTSE Russell and us provides that language substantially the same as the following language must be stated in this underlying supplement. The Index is the intellectual property of FTSE Russell (the “Sponsor”). The Sponsor reserves all rights including copyright, to the Index.
The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in notes generally or in these notes particularly or the ability of the FTSE Russell U.S. Indices to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell’s publication of the FTSE Russell U.S. Indices in no way suggests or implies an opinion by FTSE Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the notes upon which the FTSE Russell U.S. Indices are based. FTSE Russell’s only relationship to Credit Suisse is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of FTSE Russell and of the FTSE Russell U.S. Indices which are determined, composed and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to Credit Suisse or the notes. FTSE Russell is not responsible for and has not reviewed the notes, nor any associated literature or publications and FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. FTSE Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the FTSE Russell U.S. Indices. FTSE Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes.
FTSE RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE FTSE RUSSELL U.S. INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND FTSE RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE FTSE RUSSELL U.S. INDICES TO INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE FTSE RUSSELL U.S. INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL FTSE RUSSELL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-14 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Supplement to the Plan of Distribution
Under our distribution agreement with MLPF&S, MLPF&S will purchase the notes from us as principal at the public offering price indicated on the cover of this term sheet, less the indicated underwriting discount.
We may deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on a date that is greater than three business days following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement of the notes occurs more than three business days from the pricing date, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than three business days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. In the original offering of the notes, the notes will be sold in minimum investment amounts of 100 units. If you place an order to purchase the notes, you are consenting to MLPF&S acting as a principal in effecting the transaction for your account.
MLPF&S has advised us as follows: They or their affiliates may repurchase and resell the notes, with repurchases and resales being made at prices related to then-prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices determined by reference to their pricing models and at their discretion, and these prices will include MLPF&S’s trading commissions and mark-ups. MLPF&S may act as principal or agent in these market-making transactions; however, it is not obligated to engage in any such transactions. MLPF&S has informed us that at MLPF&S’s discretion and for your benefit, assuming no changes in market conditions from the pricing date, MLPF&S may offer to buy the notes in the secondary market at a price that may exceed the initial estimated value of the notes for a short initial period after the issuance of the notes. Any price offered by MLPF&S for the notes will be based on then-prevailing market conditions and other considerations, including the performance of the Index and the remaining term of the notes. However, none of us, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates is obligated to purchase your notes at any price or at any time, and we cannot assure you that we, MLPF&S, or any of our respective affiliates will purchase your notes at a price that equals or exceeds the initial estimated value of the notes.
MLPF&S has informed us that, as of the date of this term sheet, it expects that if you hold your notes in a MLPF&S account, the value of the notes shown on your account statement will be based on MLPF&S’s estimate of the value of the notes if MLPF&S or another of its affiliates were to make a market in the notes, which it is not obligated to do; and that estimate will be based upon the price that MLPF&S may pay for the notes in light of then-prevailing market conditions, and other considerations, as mentioned above, and will include transaction costs. Any such price may be higher than or lower than the initial estimated value of the notes.
The distribution of the Note Prospectus in connection with these offers or sales will be solely for the purpose of providing investors with the description of the terms of the notes that was made available to investors in connection with their initial offering. Secondary market investors should not, and will not be authorized to, rely on the Note Prospectus for information regarding Credit Suisse or for any purpose other than that described in the immediately preceding sentence.
An investor’s household, as referenced on the cover of this term sheet, will generally include accounts held by any of the following, as determined by MLPF&S in its discretion and acting in good faith based upon information then available to MLPF&S:
| · | the investor’s spouse (including a domestic partner), siblings, parents, grandparents, spouse’s parents, children and grandchildren, but excluding accounts held by aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews or any other family relationship not directly above or below the individual investor; |
| · | a family investment vehicle, including foundations, limited partnerships and personal holding companies, but only if the beneficial owners of the vehicle consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; and |
| · | a trust where the grantors and/or beneficiaries of the trust consist solely of the investor or members of the investor’s household as described above; provided that, purchases of the notes by a trust generally cannot be aggregated together with any purchases made by a trustee’s personal account. |
Purchases in retirement accounts will not be considered part of the same household as an individual investor’s personal or other non-retirement account, except for individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), simplified employee pension plans (“SEPs”), savings incentive match plan for employees (“SIMPLEs”), and single-participant or owners only accounts (i.e., retirement accounts held by self-employed individuals, business owners or partners with no employees other than their spouses).
Please contact your Merrill Lynch financial advisor if you have any questions about the application of these provisions to your specific circumstances or think you are eligible.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-15 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Structuring the Notes
The notes are our debt securities, the return on which is linked to the performance of the Index. As is the case for all of our debt securities, including our market-linked notes, the economic terms of the notes reflect our actual or perceived creditworthiness at the time of pricing. In addition, because market-linked notes result in increased operational, funding and liability management costs to us, the internal funding rate we use in pricing market-linked notes is typically lower than a rate reflecting the yield on our conventional debt securities of similar maturity in the secondary market. Because we use our internal funding rate to determine the value of the theoretical bond component, if on the pricing date our internal funding rate is lower than our secondary market credit rates, the initial estimated value of the notes will be higher than if the initial estimated value was based our secondary market credit rates.
Payments on the notes, including the amount you receive at maturity or upon an automatic call, will be calculated based on the $10 principal amount per unit and will depend on the performance of the Index. In order to meet these payment obligations, at the time we issue the notes, we may choose to enter into certain hedging arrangements (which may include call options, put options or other derivatives) with MLPF&S or one of its affiliates. The terms of these hedging arrangements are determined by seeking bids from market participants, including MLPF&S and its affiliates, and take into account a number of factors, including our creditworthiness, interest rate movements, the volatility of the Index, the tenor of the notes and the tenor of the hedging arrangements. The economic terms of the notes and their initial estimated value depend in part on the terms of these hedging arrangements.
MLPF&S has advised us that the hedging arrangements will include a hedging related charge of approximately $0.075 per unit, reflecting an estimated profit to be credited to MLPF&S from these transactions. Since hedging entails risk and may be influenced by unpredictable market forces, additional profits and losses from these hedging arrangements may be realized by MLPF&S or any third party hedge providers.
For further information, see “Risk Factors—General Risks Relating to the Notes” beginning on page PS-7 and “Supplemental Use of Proceeds and Hedging” on page PS-17 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-16 |
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes Linked to the Russell 2000® Index, due February , 2020 |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a brief summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to an investment in the notes. The following summary is not complete and is qualified and supplemented by, or in some cases supplements, the discussion under the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” beginning on page PS-29 of product supplement EQUITY INDICES SUN-2, which you should carefully review prior to investing in the notes.
If the notes are treated as prepaid financial contracts, a U.S. Holder (as defined in the accompanying product supplement) should generally recognize gain or loss upon the sale, exchange or maturity of its notes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized at such time and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its notes (generally the amount paid for the notes). Such gain or loss generally should be long-term capital gain or loss if the notes have been held for more than one year. For notes with a term of one year or less, such gain or loss will be short-term capital gain or loss.
However, even if the agreed-upon tax characterization of the notes were upheld, it is possible that the IRS could assert that a reconstitution or rebalancing (together, a “Rebalancing”) of the Market Measure is a significant modification of the notes due to an exercise of discretion with respect to the Rebalancing and, therefore, a taxable event to you. If the IRS were to prevail in treating any Rebalancing of the Market Measure as a taxable event, you would recognize capital gain or, possibly, loss on the notes on the date of such Rebalancing to the extent of the difference between the fair market value of the notes and your adjusted basis in the notes at that time. Such gain or loss generally would be short-term capital gain or loss.
Notes Held Through Foreign Entities
Pursuant to regulations and IRS Notice 2015-66, and subject to the exceptions described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Notes Held Through Foreign Entities” in the accompanying product supplement, FATCA’s withholding regime generally will apply to (i) withholdable payments (other than certain gross proceeds and certain payments made with respect to a “preexisting obligation,” as defined in the regulations), (ii) payments of certain gross proceeds with respect to a sale or disposition occurring after December 31, 2018, and (iii) foreign passthru payments made after the later of December 31, 2018, or the date that final regulations defining the term “foreign passthru payment” are published.
Information Reporting Regarding Specified Foreign Financial Assets
Subject to certain exceptions, under the final regulations, “specified domestic entities” are certain domestic corporations, domestic partnerships, or trusts that are formed or used for the purposes of holding, directly or indirectly, specified foreign financial assets. Reporting by domestic entities of certain interests in specified foreign financial assets in accordance with the regulations is required.
Non-U.S. Holders Generally
The following replaces the discussion of Substitute Dividend and Dividend Equivalent Payments in the accompanying product supplement under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Treatment of Non-U.S. Holders.”
The Treasury Department has issued regulations under Code section 871(m) which impose U.S. federal withholding tax on “dividend equivalent” payments made on certain financial instruments linked to U.S. corporations (which the regulations refer to as “specified ELIs” or “specified NPCs”, as applicable) that are owned by Non-U.S. Holders. However, pursuant to Notice 2016-76, for any payment made on or after January 1, 2017 with respect to any transaction issued on or after January 1, 2017 and prior to January 1, 2018, only an NPC or ELI that has a delta of one with respect to an underlying security when the NPC or ELI is issued is a specified NPC or specified ELI, respectively. Based on the terms of the notes and representations provided by us as of the applicable pricing date, our counsel is of the opinion that a note (exclusive of any other transactions that may be combined with the note) should not be a “delta-one transaction” within the meaning of Notice 2016-76. Certain events, such as a Rebalancing, could cause previously issued notes to be deemed to be issued as new securities for purposes of the effective dates provided in Notice 2016-76. Additionally, U.S. withholding tax could apply to the notes under these rules if a Non-U.S. Holder enters, or has entered, into certain other transactions in respect of the underlying equity or the notes. A Non-U.S. Holder that enters, or has entered, into other transactions in respect of the underlying or the notes should consult its own tax advisor regarding the application of Code section 871(m) to its notes.
Where You Can Find More Information
We have filed a registration statement (including a product supplement, a prospectus supplement, and a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this term sheet relates. Before you invest, you should read the Note Prospectus, including this term sheet, and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC, for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we, any agent, or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you these documents if you so request by calling MLPF&S toll-free at 1-800-294-1322.
| Autocallable Market-Linked Step Up Notes | TS-17 |