424B2 1 j425241424b2.htm ARC 3425

 

Registration Statement No.333-264388
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

 


Pricing Supplement dated April 23, 2024 to the Prospectus dated May 26, 2022,
the Prospectus Supplement dated May 26, 2022 and the Product Supplement dated July 22, 2022

 

 

 

US$628,000
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series I
Autocallable Barrier Notes with Step Up Call Amount due April 27, 2026
Linked to the Least Performing of the shares of the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund and the Russell 2000® Index

 

·The notes are designed for investors who are willing to forego interest payments and are seeking a return equal to the applicable Call Amount (as set forth herein under “Key Terms of the Notes”),which represents a return equal to approximately 11.96% per annum, if the closing level of each of the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund and the Russell 2000® Index (each, a "Reference Asset" and, collectively, the "Reference Assets") on any quarterly Observation Date beginning in October 2024 is greater than 100% of its Initial Level (the “Call Level”). Investors should be willing to have their notes automatically redeemed prior to maturity, be willing to forego any potential to participate in any increase in the level of the Reference Assets, be willing to forego any interest and be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity.
·Beginning on October 23, 2024, if on any Observation Date, the closing level of each Reference Asset is greater than or equal to its Call Level, the notes will be automatically redeemed. On the corresponding settlement date (the “Call Settlement Date"), investors will receive their principal amount plus the Call Amount corresponding to the applicable Observation Date. After the notes are redeemed, investors will not receive any additional payments in respect of the notes.
·The notes do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. Instead, if the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level of each Reference Asset and whether the Final Level of any Reference Asset has declined from its Initial Level to below its Trigger Level on the Valuation Date (a “Trigger Event”), as described below.
·If the notes are not automatically redeemed and a Trigger Event has occurred, investors will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% decrease in the level of the Least Performing Reference Asset (as defined below) from its Initial Level to its Final Level. In such a case, you will receive a cash amount at maturity that is less than the principal amount.
·Investing in the notes is not equivalent to a hypothetical direct investment in the Reference Assets.
·The notes do not bear interest. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
·All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.
·The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
·Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.
·The notes will not be subject to conversion into our common shares or the common shares of any of our affiliates under subsection 39.2(2.3) of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (the “CDIC Act”).

 

Terms of the Notes:

 

 Pricing Date:  April 23, 2024    Valuation Date:  April 22, 2026
 Settlement Date:  April 26, 2024    Maturity Date:  April 27, 2026

Specific Terms of the Notes:

 

Autocallable
Number
Reference
Assets
Ticker
Symbol
Initial
Level
Call Amounts Call Level* Trigger
Level*
CUSIP Principal
Amount
Price to
Public
1
Agent’s
Commission
1
Proceeds to
Bank of
Montreal
1
3425  The shares of the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund  XLU $66.34  As set forth on page 2 herein. The Call Amounts represent a return of approximately 11.96% per annum. $66.34, 100.00% of its Initial Level $46.44, 70.00% of its Initial Level 06376AEM8 $628,000.00 100%

2.25%

$14,130.00

97.75%

$613,870.00

 The Russell 2000® Index  RTY  2,002.643  2,002.643, 100.00% of its Initial Level  1,401.850, 70.00% of its Initial Level

1 The total “Agent’s Commission” and “Proceeds to Bank of Montreal” specified above reflect the aggregate amounts at the time Bank of Montreal establishes its hedge positions on or prior to the Pricing Date, which may be variable and fluctuate depending on market conditions at such times. Certain dealers who purchased the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may have foregone some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts was between $977.50 and $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount. We or one of our affiliates will also pay a referral fee to certain dealers of up to 0.45% of the principal amount in connection with the distribution of the notes.

* Rounded to two decimal places with respect to XLU and rounded to three decimal places with respect to RTY.

Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-5 hereof, the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-6 of the product supplement, and the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement and on page 8 of the prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the accuracy of this document, the product supplement, the prospectus supplement or the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will not be savings accounts or deposits that are insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity.

On the date hereof, based on the terms set forth above, the estimated initial value of the notes is $967.46 per $1,000 in principal amount. However, as discussed in more detail below, the actual value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.

 

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS

 

  
 

 

Key Terms of the Notes:

 

Reference Assets: The shares of the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (ticker symbol "XLU") and the Russell 2000® Index (ticker symbol "RTY"). See "The Reference Assets" below for additional information.
   
Underlying Index: With respect to S&P Utilities Sector SPDR, the Utilities Select Sector Index.
   
Automatic Redemption: Beginning on October 23, 2024, if, on any Observation Date, the closing level of each Reference Asset is greater than its Call Level, the notes will be automatically redeemed. No further amounts will be owed to you under the notes.
   
Payment upon Automatic
Redemption:
If the notes are automatically redeemed, then, on the corresponding Call Settlement Date, investors will receive their principal amount plus the applicable Call Amount.
   
Observation Dates, Call Observation Dates Call Amounts (per Note) Potential Call Settlement Dates
Settlement Date and Call October 23, 2024 $59.80 October 28, 2024
Amounts:1,2 January 22, 2025 $89.70 January 27, 2025
  April 23, 2025 $119.60 April 28, 2025
  July 23, 2025 $149.50 July 28, 2025
  October 22, 2025 $179.40 October 27, 2025
  January 22, 2026 $209.30 January 27, 2026
  Valuation Date $239.20 Maturity Date
  The Call Amounts represent a return of approximately 11.96% per annum.
   
Payment at Maturity:

If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity for the notes is based on the performance of the Reference Assets.

 

You will receive $1,000 for each $1,000 in principal amount of the note, unless a Trigger Event has occurred.

 

If a Trigger Event has occurred, you will receive at maturity, for each $1,000 in principal amount of your notes, a cash amount equal to:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Percentage Change of the Least Performing Reference Asset]

 

This amount will be less than the principal amount of your notes, and may be zero.

   
Trigger Event:2 A Trigger Event will be deemed to occur if the Final Level of any Reference Asset is less than its Trigger Level on the Valuation Date.
   
Least Performing Reference
Asset:
The Reference Asset with the lowest Percentage Change.
   
Percentage Change:

With respect to each Reference Asset, the quotient, expressed as a percentage, of the following formula:

 

(Final Level - Initial Level)
Initial Level

   
Initial Level:2 As set forth on the cover hereof
   
Trigger Level:2 $46.44 with respect to XLU and 1,401.850 with respect to RTY, each of which is 70.00% of the respective Initial Level (rounded to two decimal places with respect to XLU and rounded to three decimal places with respect to RTY).
   
Call Level:2 With respect to each Reference Asset, 100% of its Initial Level.
   
Final Level: With respect to each Reference Asset, the closing level of that Reference Asset on the Valuation Date.
   
Pricing Date: April 23, 2024
   
Settlement Date: April 26, 2024
   
Valuation Date:1 April 22, 2026
   
Maturity Date:1 April 27, 2026
   
Calculation Agent: BMOCM

 

 2 
 

 

Selling Agent: BMOCM
   

1 Subject to the occurrence of a market disruption event, as described in the accompanying product supplement.

 

2 As determined by the calculation agent and subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. See “General Terms of the Notes — Anti-dilution Adjustments to a Reference Asset that Is an Equity Security (Including Any ETF)” and “— Adjustments to a Reference Asset that Is an ETF” in the product supplement with respect to the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® and "General Terms of the Notes - Adjustments to a Reference Asset that is an Index" with respect to the Russell 2000® Index in the product supplement for additional information.

 

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Additional Terms of the Notes

 

You should read this document together with the product supplement dated July 22, 2022, the prospectus supplement dated May 26, 2022 and the prospectus dated May 26, 2022. This document, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours or the agent. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes in the product supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.

 

You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):

 

Product supplement dated July 22, 2022:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465922009102/r712220424b2.htm

 

Prospectus supplement dated May 26, 2022 and prospectus dated May 26, 2022:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000927971/000119312522160519/d269549d424b5.htm

 

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this document, "we", "us" or "our" refers to Bank of Montreal.

 

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Selected Risk Considerations

 

An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Reference Assets. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section of the product supplement.

 

Risks Related to the Structure or Features of the Notes

 

·Your investment in the notes may result in a loss. — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level of each Reference Asset and whether a Trigger Event has occurred. If the Final Level of any Reference Asset is less than its Trigger Level, a Trigger Event will occur, and you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% that the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level. In such a case, you will receive at maturity a cash payment that is less than the principal amount of the notes and may be zero. Accordingly, you could lose your entire investment in the notes.
·Your notes are subject to automatic early redemption. — We will redeem the notes if the closing level of each Reference Asset on any Observation Date is greater than its Call Level. Following an automatic redemption, you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds in an investment with returns that are comparable to the notes. Furthermore, to the extent you are able to reinvest such proceeds in an investment with a comparable return for a similar level of risk, you may incur transaction costs such as dealer discounts and hedging costs built into the price of the new notes.
·Your return on the notes is limited to the potential Call Amount regardless of any increase in the level of any Reference Asset. — You will not receive a payment with a value greater than your principal amount plus the applicable Call Amount, even if the Final Level of one or more Reference Assets exceeds its Call Level by a substantial amount. Accordingly, your maximum return on the applicable notes is limited to the potential return represented by the Call Amounts.
·Your return on the notes will be determined solely by reference to the Least Performing Reference Asset, even if any other Reference Assets perform better. - The notes will only be automatically redeemed if the closing level of each Reference Asset on the applicable Observation Date exceeds the applicable Call Level, even if the levels of any other Reference Assets have increased significantly. Similarly, if a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Reference Asset and the Final Level of any Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level, your payment at maturity will be determined by reference to the performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset. Even if the levels of any other Reference Assets have increased over the term of the notes, or have experienced a decline that is less than that of the Least Performing Reference Asset, your return at maturity will only be determined by reference to the performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset if a Trigger Event occurs.
·The payments on the notes will be determined by reference to each Reference Asset individually, not to a basket, and the payments on the notes will be based on the performance of the least performing Reference Asset. — Whether the notes will be automatically redeemed and the payment at maturity if a Trigger Event occurs, will be determined only by reference to the performance of the least performing Reference Asset as of the applicable Observation Date and/or Valuation Date, regardless of the performance of any other Reference Assets. The notes are not linked to a weighted basket, in which the risk may be mitigated and diversified among each of the basket components. For example, in the case of notes linked to a weighted basket, the return would depend on the weighted aggregate performance of the basket components reflected as the basket return. As a result, a decrease of the level of one basket component could be mitigated by the increase of the level of the other basket components, as scaled by the weighting of that basket component. However, in the case of the notes, the individual performance of each Reference Asset will not be combined, and the performance of one Reference Asset will not be mitigated by any positive performance of any other Reference Assets. Instead, whether your notes will be automatically redeemed will depend on the level of each Reference Asset on each Observation Date, and your return at maturity will depend solely on the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset if a Trigger Event occurs.
·Your return on the notes may be lower than the return on a conventional debt security of comparable maturity. — The return that you will receive on your notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. The notes do not provide for fixed interest payments. Even if your return on the notes is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of ours with the same maturity or if you invested directly in the Reference Assets. Your investment may not reflect the full opportunity cost to you when you take into account factors that affect the time value of money.
·Higher Call Amounts or lower Trigger Levels may reflect greater expected volatility of the Reference Assets, and greater expected volatility generally indicates an increased risk of loss at maturity. — The economic terms for the notes, including the Call Amounts, Call Levels and Trigger Levels, are based, in part, on the expected volatility of the Reference Assets at the time the terms of the notes are set. “Volatility” refers to the frequency and magnitude of changes in the level of a Reference Asset. The greater the expected volatility of the Reference Assets as of the Pricing Date, the greater the expectation is as of that date that a Trigger Event could occur and, as a consequence, an increased risk of loss. All things being equal, this greater expected volatility will generally be reflected in higher potential Call Amounts than the yield payable on our conventional debt securities with a similar maturity or on otherwise comparable securities, and/or a lower Trigger Levels than those terms on otherwise comparable securities. Therefore, relatively higher potential Call Amounts may indicate an increased risk of loss. Further, relatively lower Trigger Levels may not necessarily indicate that the notes have a greater likelihood of a return of principal at maturity. You should be willing to accept the downside market risk of the Reference Assets and the potential to lose a significant portion or all of your initial investment.

 

Risks Related to the Reference Assets

 

·Owning the notes is not the same as owning shares of any Reference Asset, making a hypothetical direct investment in any Reference Asset or owning a security directly linked to the Reference Assets. — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned shares of any Reference Asset, made a hypothetical direct investment in any Reference Asset or the underlying securities of any Reference Asset, or owned a security directly linked to the performance of the Reference Assets or the underlying securities of the Reference Assets and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the Reference Assets. Changes in the level of a Reference Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes. Even if the levels of the Reference Assets increase during the term of the notes, the market value of the notes prior to maturity may not increase to the same extent. It is also possible for the market value of the notes to decrease while the levels of the Reference Assets increase. In addition, any dividends or other distributions paid on a Reference Asset will not be reflected in the amount payable on the notes.

 

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·You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any shares of the Reference Assets (or any company included in a Reference Asset) at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the Reference Assets or any securities held by the Reference Assets. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of the notes will have any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions, or any other rights with respect to the Reference Assets or such underlying securities.
·No delivery of shares of the Reference Assets. — The notes will be payable only in cash. You should not invest in the notes if you seek to have the shares of a Reference Asset delivered to you at maturity.
·Changes that affect an Underlying Index will affect the market value of the notes, whether the notes will be automatically redeemed, and the amount you will receive at maturity. — With respect to a Reference Asset that is an ETF, the policies of the applicable index sponsor concerning the calculation of the applicable Underlying Index, additions, deletions or substitutions of the components of the applicable Underlying Index and the manner in which changes affecting those components, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, may be reflected in the applicable Reference Asset and, therefore, could affect the share price of the Reference Asset, the amounts payable on the notes, whether the notes are automatically redeemed, and the market value of the notes prior to maturity. The amount payable on the notes and their market value could also be affected if the applicable index sponsor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the applicable Underlying Index, or if the applicable index sponsor discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the applicable Underlying Index.
·We have no affiliation with any index sponsor of any Underlying Index and will not be responsible for any index sponsor's actions. — The sponsors of the Underlying Indices are not our affiliates and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of any index sponsor , including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The index sponsors have no obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, the index sponsors have no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the notes. None of our proceeds from the issuance of the notes will be delivered to any index sponsor of any Underlying Index.
·Adjustments to a Reference Asset that is an ETF could adversely affect the notes. — The sponsor and advisor of each ETF Reference Asset is responsible for calculating and maintaining that Reference Asset. The sponsor and advisor of each ETF Reference Asset can add, delete or substitute the stocks comprising that Reference Asset or make other methodological changes that could change the share price of the applicable Reference Asset at any time. If one or more of these events occurs, the calculation of the amount payable at maturity may be adjusted to reflect such event or events. Consequently, any of these actions could adversely affect the amount payable at maturity and/or the market value of the notes.
·Changes that affect a Reference Asset that is an index could adversely affect the notes. — The policies of the sponsor of each index Reference Asset with respect to the applicable Reference Asset concerning the calculation of the applicable Reference Asset, additions, deletions or substitutions of the components of the applicable Reference Asset and the manner in which changes affecting those components, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, may be reflected in the applicable Reference Asset and, therefore, could affect the level of the applicable Reference Asset, the amount payable on the notes at maturity and the market value of the notes prior to maturity. The amount payable on the notes and their market value could also be affected if an index sponsor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the applicable Reference Asset, or if an index sponsor discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the applicable Reference Asset. If an index sponsor discontinues publication of a Reference Asset, the calculation agent may select a successor index (and make any corresponding adjustments to the applicable Initial Level, Coupon Barrier Level, Trigger Level and Call Level) which will be used as a substitute for the relevant Reference Asset for all purposes with respect to the notes.
·We and our affiliates do not have any affiliation with any applicable investment advisor or any Reference Asset Issuer and are not responsible for their public disclosure of information. — The investment advisor of each ETF Reference Asset advises the issuer of the applicable Reference Asset (each, a “Reference Asset Issuer” and, collectively, the “Reference Asset Issuers”) on various matters, including matters relating to the policies, maintenance and calculation of the applicable Reference Asset. We and our affiliates are not affiliated with the investment advisor of any Reference Asset or any Reference Asset Issuer in any way and have no ability to control or predict their actions, including any errors in or discontinuance of disclosure regarding the methods or policies relating to a Reference Asset. No investment advisor of a Reference Asset nor any Reference Asset Issuer is involved in the offerings of the notes in any way and has no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the notes in taking any actions relating to a Reference Asset that might affect the value of the notes. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has independently verified the adequacy or accuracy of the information about any investment advisor or any Reference Asset Issuer contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the notes, should make your own investigation into any Reference Asset Issuers.
·The correlation between the performance of an ETF Reference Asset and the performance of the applicable Underlying Index may be imperfect. — The performance of each ETF Reference Asset is linked principally to the performance of the applicable Underlying Index. However, because of the potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product supplement, the return on an ETF Reference Asset may correlate imperfectly with the return on the applicable Underlying Index.
·Any Reference Asset that is an ETF is subject to management risks. — Any Reference Asset that is an ETF is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the applicable investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the applicable investment advisor may invest a portion of a Reference Asset Issuer’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the applicable investment advisor believes will help the applicable Reference Asset track the relevant industry or sector.
·You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Reference Assets.You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Reference Assets. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the levels of the Reference Assets or the prices of the securities held by or included in the Reference Assets. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the Reference Assets or these securities. However, these views are subject to change from time to time. Moreover, other professionals who deal in the markets relating to the Reference Assets at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Reference Assets from multiple sources, and you should not rely on the views expressed by our affiliates.

Neither the offering of the notes nor any views which our affiliates from time to time may express in the ordinary course of their businesses constitutes a recommendation as to the merits of an investment in the notes.

 

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Risks Relating to the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund

 

An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated with investments in securities with a concentration in the utilities sector. — All or substantially all of the securities tracked by the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund are stocks of companies whose primary business is directly associated with the utilities sector. Because the value of the notes is linked to the performance of the Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund , an investment in the notes exposes investors to risks associated with investments in securities with a concentration in the utilities sector. Utility companies are affected by supply and demand, operating costs, government regulation, environmental factors, liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities and rate caps or rate changes. Although rate changes of a regulated utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors, rate changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a regulated utility company’s earnings and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but, conversely, will tend to adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. The value of regulated utility equity securities may tend to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest rates. Certain utility companies have experienced full or partial deregulation in recent years. These utility companies are frequently more similar to industrial companies in that they are subject to greater competition and have been permitted by regulators to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business. These opportunities may permit certain utility companies to earn more than their traditional regulated rates of return. Some companies, however, may be forced to defend their core business and may be less profitable. In addition, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, government intervention or other factors may render a utility company’s equipment unusable or obsolete and negatively impact profitability. Among the risks that may affect utility companies are the following: risks of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with environmental and nuclear safety regulations; and the difficulties involved in obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at reasonable prices. Other risks include those related to the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, the effects of energy conservation and the effects of regulatory changes. The value of the notes may be subject to greater volatility and be more adversely affected by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting the utilities sector than a different investment linked to securities of a more broadly diversified group of issuers.

 

Risks Relating to the Russell 2000® Index

 

·An investment in the notes is subject to risks associated in investing in stocks with a small market capitalization. — The Russell 2000® Index consists of stocks issued by companies with relatively small market capitalizations. These companies often have greater stock price volatility, lower trading volume and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies. As a result, the level of the Russell 2000® Index may be more volatile than that of a market measure that does not track solely small-capitalization stocks. Stock prices of small-capitalization companies are also generally more vulnerable than those of large-capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments, and the stocks of small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded, and be less attractive to many investors if they do not pay dividends. In addition, small capitalization companies are typically less well-established and less stable financially than large-capitalization companies and may depend on a small number of key personnel, making them more vulnerable to loss of those individuals. Small capitalization companies tend to have lower revenues, less diverse product lines, smaller shares of their target markets, fewer financial resources and fewer competitive strengths than large-capitalization companies. These companies may also be more susceptible to adverse developments related to their products or services.

 

General Risk Factors

 

·Your investment is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. — Our credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our ability to pay any amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes.
·Potential conflicts. — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also engage in trading of shares of the Reference Asset or the securities held by the Reference Asset on a regular basis as part of our general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for our customers. Any of these activities could adversely affect the level of the Reference Asset and, therefore, the market value of, and the payments on, the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of the Reference Asset. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we or one or more of our affiliates could adversely affect the market value of the notes.
·Our initial estimated value of the notes is lower than the price to public. — Our initial estimated value of the notes is only an estimate, and is based on a number of factors. The price to public of the notes exceeds our initial estimated value, because costs associated with offering, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the price to public, but are not included in the estimated value. These costs include any underwriting discount and selling concessions, the profits that we and our affiliates expect to realize for assuming the risks in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging these obligations.
·Our initial estimated value does not represent any future value of the notes, and may also differ from the estimated value of any other party. — Our initial estimated value of the notes as of the date hereof is derived using our internal pricing models. This value is based on market conditions and other relevant factors, which include volatility of the Reference Assets, dividend rates and interest rates. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide values for the notes that are greater than or less than our initial estimated value. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors after the Pricing Date are expected to change, possibly rapidly, and our assumptions may prove to be incorrect. After the Pricing Date, the value of the notes could change dramatically due to changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness, and the other factors set forth herein and in the product supplement. These changes are likely to impact the price, if any, at which we or BMOCM would be willing to purchase the notes from you in any secondary market transactions. Our initial estimated value does not represent a minimum price at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market at any time.

 

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·The terms of the notes were not determined by reference to the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. — To determine the terms of the notes, we used an internal funding rate that represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. As a result, the terms of the notes are less favorable to you than if we had used a higher funding rate.
·Certain costs are likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. — Absent any changes in market conditions, any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the price to public. This is because any secondary market prices will likely take into account our then-current market credit spreads, and because any secondary market prices are likely to exclude all or a portion of any underwriting discount and selling concessions, and the hedging profits and estimated hedging costs that are included in the price to public of the notes and that may be reflected on your account statements. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction, such as dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs. As a result, the price, if any, at which BMOCM or any other party may be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the price to public. Any sale that you make prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you.
·Lack of liquidity. — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. BMOCM may offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market, but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to trade the notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which BMOCM is willing to buy the notes.
·Hedging and trading activities. — We or any of our affiliates have carried out or may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including purchasing or selling shares of the Reference Asset or securities held by the Reference Asset, futures or options relating to the Reference Asset or securities held by the Reference Asset or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance on the Reference Asset or securities held by the Reference Asset. We or our affiliates may also trade in the Reference Asset, such securities, or instruments related to the Reference Asset or such securities from time to time. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the Pricing Date and during the term of the notes could adversely affect the payments on the notes.
·Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the levels of the Reference Assets and interest rates on any trading day, the value of the notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, and which are described in more detail in the product supplement.
·Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain. — The tax treatment of the notes is uncertain. We do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or from any Canadian authorities regarding the tax treatment of the notes, and the Internal Revenue Service or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described herein.
The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury are actively considering whether the holder of such instruments should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis. While it is not clear whether the notes would be viewed as similar to such instruments, it is possible that any future guidance could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect.
Please read carefully the section entitled "U.S. Federal Tax Information" herein, the section entitled "Supplemental Tax Considerations–Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations" in the accompanying product supplement, the section entitled "United States Federal Income Taxation" in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled "Certain Income Tax Consequences" in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.

 

 8 
 

 

Examples of the Hypothetical Payment at Maturity for a $1,000 Investment in the Notes

 

The following examples illustrates the hypothetical payments on a note upon an automatic call or at maturity. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of 100.00, a hypothetical Trigger Level of 70.00 (70.00% of the hypothetical Initial Level), a hypothetical Call Level of 100.00 (100.00% of the hypothetical Initial Level), hypothetical Call Amounts representing a return of approximately 11.96% per annum, a range of hypothetical closing levels and the effect on the payment of the notes.

 

The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. The actual cash amount that you will receive will depend upon the level of the Reference Asset on the Observation Dates and on the Valuation Date.

 

 

 

Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable Upon an Automatic Call – The following hypothetical examples illustrate how hypothetical payments are calculated upon an automatic call.

 

Example 1: The closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset increases by 10.00% from the Initial Level to a closing level of 110.00 on the first Observation Date. Because the closing level of each Reference Asset on the first Observation Date is greater than its Call Level, the investor receives on the first Call Settlement Date a cash payment of $1,059.80, representing the principal amount plus the corresponding hypothetical Call Amount. After the notes are called, they will no longer remain outstanding and there will be no further payments on the notes.

 

Example 2: The closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset decreases by 10% from the Initial Level to a closing level of 90.00 on the first Observation Date, but the closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset increases by 10% from the Initial Level to a closing level of 110.00 on the second Observation Date. Because the notes are not called on the first Observation Date and the closing level of each Reference Asset on the second Observation Date is greater than its Call Level, the investor receives on the second Call Settlement Date a cash payment of $1,089.70, representing principal amount plus the corresponding hypothetical Call Amount. After the notes are called, they will no longer remain outstanding and there will be no further payments on the notes.

 

Example 3: The notes are not called on any of the Observation Dates prior to the final Observation Date, and the closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset increases by 20% from the Initial Level to 120.00 on the Valuation Date. Because the notes are not called on any of the preceding Observation Dates and the closing level of each Reference Asset on the Valuation Date is greater than its Call Level, the investor receives on the maturity date a cash payment of $1,239.20, representing the principal amount plus the corresponding hypothetical Call Amount.

 

Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity – The following hypothetical examples illustrate how hypothetical payments at maturity are calculated, assuming the notes have not been automatically called.

 

Example 4: The closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset decreases by 25.00% from the Initial Level to its Final Level of 75.00 on the Valuation Date. The notes are not called on any Observation Date because the closing level of at least one Reference Asset is below its Call Level on each Observation Date (including the Valuation Date). Because the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level but is greater than its Trigger Level, the investor receives at maturity, a cash payment of $1,000 per note, despite the decline in the closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset.

 

Example 5: The closing level of the Least Performing Reference Asset decreases by 40.00% from the Initial Level to its Final Level of 60.00 on the Valuation Date, which is less than its Trigger Level. The notes are not called on any Observation Date because the closing level of at least one Reference Asset is below its Call Level on each Observation Date (including the Valuation Date). Because the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Initial Level as well as its Trigger Level, the investor receives at maturity, a cash payment of $600.00 per note, calculated as follows:

 

Principal Amount + (Principal Amount × Percentage Change of the Least Performing Reference Asset)

 

= $1,000 + ($1,000 x -40.00%) = $1,000 - $400.00 = $600.00

 

The payments shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on levels of the Reference Assets that may not be achieved and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your notes at maturity or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical payments at maturity shown above, and those amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the notes or on an investment in the securities included in any Reference Asset.

 

 9 
 

 

U.S. Federal Tax Information

 

By purchasing the notes, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat each note as a pre-paid derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the opinion of our counsel, Mayer Brown LLP, it would generally be reasonable to treat the notes as pre-paid derivative contracts in respect of the Reference Assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the discussion in the accompanying product supplement under "Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Notes Treated as an Investment Unit Consisting of a Debt Portion and a Put Option, as a Pre-Paid Contingent Income-Bearing Derivative Contract, or as a Pre-Paid Derivative Contract—Notes Treated as a Pre-Paid Derivative Contract," which applies to the notes, except the following disclosure which supplements, and to the extent inconsistent supersedes, the discussion in the product supplement.

 

Under current Internal Revenue Service guidance, withholding on "dividend equivalent" payments (as discussed in the product supplement), if any, will not apply to notes that are issued as of the date of this pricing supplement unless such notes are "delta-one" instruments. Based on our determination that the notes are not delta-one instruments, non-United States holders (as defined in the product supplement) should not generally be subject to withholding on dividend equivalent payments, if any, under the notes.

 

 10 
 

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)

 

BMOCM will purchase the notes from us at a purchase price reflecting the commission set forth on the cover hereof. BMOCM has informed us that, as part of its distribution of the notes, it will reoffer the notes to other dealers who will sell them. Each such dealer, or each additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will receive a commission from BMOCM, which will not exceed the commission set forth on the cover page. We or one of our affiliates will also pay a referral fee to certain dealers of up to 0.45% of the principal amount in connection with the distribution of the notes.

 

Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be less than 100% of the principal amount, as set forth on the cover page of this document. Investors that hold their notes in these accounts may be charged fees by the investment advisor or manager of that account based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including the notes. 

 

We will deliver the notes on a date that is greater than two business days following the pricing date. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than two business days prior to the issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement. 

 

We own, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity securities of BMOCM, the agent for this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121, BMOCM may not make sales in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the customer. 

 

You should not construe the offering of the notes as a recommendation of the merits of acquiring an investment linked to the Reference Assets or as to the suitability of an investment in the notes. 

 

BMOCM may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the notes. BMOCM will determine any secondary market prices that it is prepared to offer in its sole discretion. 

 

We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless BMOCM or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used by BMOCM in a market-making transaction.

 

For a period of approximately three months following issuance of the notes, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that BMOCM may also publish for the notes through one or more financial information vendors and which could be indicated for the notes on any brokerage account statements, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from our estimated value of the notes that would otherwise be determined and applicable at that time. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of (a) the hedging profit that we or our affiliates expect to realize over the term of the notes and (b) any underwriting discount and the selling concessions paid in connection with this offering. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month period. 

 

The notes and the related offer to purchase notes and sale of notes under the terms and conditions provided herein do not constitute a public offering in any non-U.S. jurisdiction, and are being made available only to individually identified investors pursuant to a private offering as permitted in the relevant jurisdiction. The notes are not, and will not be, registered with any securities exchange or registry located outside of the United States and have not been registered with any non-U.S. securities or banking regulatory authority. The contents of this document have not been reviewed or approved by any non-U.S. securities or banking regulatory authority. Any person who wishes to acquire the notes from outside the United States should seek the advice or legal counsel as to the relevant requirements to acquire these notes.

 

British Virgin Islands. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the laws and regulations of the British Virgin Islands, nor has any regulatory authority in the British Virgin Islands passed comment upon or approved the accuracy or adequacy of this document. This pricing supplement and the related documents shall not constitute an offer, invitation or solicitation to any member of the public in the British Virgin Islands for the purposes of the Securities and Investment Business Act, 2010, of the British Virgin Islands.

 

Cayman Islands. Pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, no invitation may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for the notes by or on behalf of the issuer unless at the time of such invitation the issuer is listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange. The issuer is not presently listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange and, accordingly, no invitation to the public in the Cayman Islands is to be made by the issuer (or by any dealer on its behalf). No such invitation is made to the public in the Cayman Islands hereby.

 

Dominican Republic. Nothing in this pricing supplement constitutes an offer of securities for sale in the Dominican Republic. The notes have not been, and will not be, registered with the Superintendence of Securities Market of the Dominican Republic (Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores), under Dominican Securities Market Law No. 249-17 (“Securities Law 249-17”), and the notes may not be offered or sold within the Dominican Republic or to, or for the account or benefit of, Dominican persons (as defined under Securities Law 249-17 and its regulations). Failure to comply with these directives may result in a violation of Securities Law 249-17 and its regulations.

 

Israel. This pricing supplement is intended solely for investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended. A prospectus has not been prepared or filed, and will not be prepared or filed, in Israel relating to the notes offered hereunder. The notes cannot be resold in Israel other than to investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended.

 

No action will be taken in Israel that would permit an offering of the notes or the distribution of any offering document or any other material to the public in Israel. In particular, no offering document or other material has been reviewed or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. Any material provided to an offeree in Israel may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose, nor be furnished to any other person other than those to whom copies have been provided directly by us or the selling agents.

 

 11 
 

 

Nothing in this pricing supplement or any other offering material relating to the notes, should be considered as the rendering of a recommendation or advice, including investment advice or investment marketing under the Law For Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management, 1995, to purchase any note. The purchase of any note will be based on an investor’s own understanding, for the investor’s own benefit and for the investor’s own account and not with the aim or intention of distributing or offering to other parties. In purchasing the notes, each investor declares that it has the knowledge, expertise and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of an investment in the notes, without relying on any of the materials provided.

 

Mexico. The notes have not been registered with the National Registry of Securities maintained by the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission and may not be offered or sold publicly in Mexico. This pricing supplement and the related documents may not be publicly distributed in Mexico. The notes may only be offered in a private offering pursuant to Article 8 of the Securities Market Law.

 

Switzerland. The notes may not be distributed to retail investors in Switzerland. This pricing supplement shall not be dispatched, copied to or otherwise made available to any person in Switzerland, and the notes may not be offered for sale to any person in Switzerland, except in accordance with Swiss law.

 

The notes are not offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland on the basis of a public offering and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other offering or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Accordingly, neither this pricing supplement or any other marketing material constitute a prospectus as defined in article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus as defined in article 32 of the Listing Rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Any sales or resales of the notes may only be undertaken on a private basis to selected individual investors in compliance with Swiss law. By accepting this pricing supplement or by purchasing the notes, investors are deemed to have acknowledged and agreed to abide by these restrictions.

 

The notes may also be sold in the following jurisdictions, provided, in each case, any sales are made in accordance with all applicable laws in such jurisdiction:

 

·Barbados
·Bermuda

 

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Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes

 

Our estimated initial value of the notes on the date hereof that is set forth on the cover hereof, equals the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components:

 

·a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the notes, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and 
·one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the notes. 

 

The internal funding rate used in the determination of the initial estimated value generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The value of these derivative transactions is derived from our internal pricing models. These models are based on factors such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on other inputs, which include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. As a result, the estimated initial value of the notes on the Pricing Date was determined based on the market conditions on the Pricing Date. 

 

 13 
 

 

The Reference Assets

 

We have derived the following information from publicly available documents. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the following information. We are not affiliated with any Reference Asset Issuer or any sponsor of any Reference Asset or Underlying Index and no Reference Asset Issuer or any sponsor of any Reference Asset or Underlying Index will have any obligations with respect to the notes. This document relates only to the notes and does not relate to the Reference Assets, shares of the Reference Assets or any securities included in the Underlying Index or Reference Assets. Neither we nor any of our affiliates participates in the preparation of the publicly available documents described below. Neither we nor any of our affiliates has made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the Reference Assets in connection with the offering of the notes. There can be no assurance that all events occurring prior to the date hereof, including events that would affect the accuracy or completeness of the publicly available documents described below and that would affect the trading levels of the Reference Assets, have been or will be publicly disclosed. Subsequent disclosure of any events or the disclosure of or failure to disclose material future events concerning the Reference Assets could affect the levels of the Reference Assets and therefore could affect the payments on the notes. The information below regarding any Reference Asset or any Underlying Index reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the applicable sponsors. The sponsors of an index, including any Reference Asset or Underlying Index, are under no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the index. Neither we nor BMO Capital Markets Corp. accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of any index referred to herein.

 

Information provided to or filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940 relating to any Reference Asset that is an ETF may be obtained through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We encourage you to review recent levels of the Reference Assets prior to making an investment decision with respect to the notes.

 

The Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (“XLU”)

 

The Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (the “XLU”) is an investment portfolio managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSFM”), the investment adviser to the XLU. The XLU is an exchange-traded fund that trades on the NYSE Arca, Inc. ("NYSE Arca") under the ticker symbol “XLU.”

 

Information provided to or filed with the SEC by the Select Sector SPDR® Trust pursuant to the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act can be located by reference to SEC file numbers 333-57791 and 811-08837, respectively, through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

Investment Objective

 

The XLU seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the utilities sector, as represented by the Utilities Select Sector Index (the “IXU”). The IXU measures the performance of the utilities sector of the U.S. equity market and includes companies in the following industries: electric utilities; water utilities; multi-utilities; independent power producers and energy traders; and gas utilities. The returns of the XLU may be affected by certain management fees and other expenses, which are detailed in its prospectus.

 

Investment Strategy — Replication

 

The XLU pursues the indexing strategy of “replication” in attempting to approximate the performance of IXU. The XLU will generally invest in substantially all of the equity securities included in the IXU in approximately the same proportions as the IXU. There may, however, be instances where SSFM may choose to overweight another stock in the IXU, purchase securities not included in the IXU that SSFM believes are appropriate to substitute for a security included in the IXU or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques in seeking to track accurately the IXU. The XLU will normally invest at least 95% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the IXU. The XLU  may invest its remaining assets in money market instruments (including repurchase contracts). Swaps, options and futures contracts (and convertible securities and structured notes) may be used by the XLU in seeking performance that corresponds to the IXU and managing cash flows. SSFM anticipates that, under normal circumstances, it may take several business days for additions and deletions to the SPX to be reflected in the portfolio composition of the XLU. The Board of Trustees of the Select Sector SPDR® Trust may change the XLU’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval.

 

Correlation

 

 The IXU is a theoretical financial calculation, while the XLU is an actual investment portfolio. The performance of the XLU and the IXU will vary somewhat due to transaction costs, asset valuations, market impact, corporate actions (such as mergers and spin-offs) and timing variances. A figure of 100% would indicate perfect correlation. Any correlation of less than 100% is called “tracking error.” The XLU, using a replication strategy, can be expected to have a lesser tracking error than a fund using representative sampling strategy. Representative sampling is a strategy in which a fund invests in a representative sample of securities in a tracking index.

 

The Utilities Select Sector Index

 

The IXU is a modified market capitalization-based index, intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movements of companies that are components of the SPX and are involved in the utilities industry. The IXU is one of the eleven Select Sector sub-indices of the SPX, each of which we refer to as a “Select Sector Index.”

 

The Index is also sponsored and compiled by S&P DJI. S&P DJI determines the composition of the Index and relative weightings of the securities in the Index based on the Index methodology (as the “Index Compilation Agent”). S&P DJI also publishes information regarding the market value of the Index (as the “Index Provider”). S&P DJI is not affiliated with the Fund or the Adviser. The composition and weighting of the stocks included in the IXU will likely differ from the composition and weighting of stocks included in any similar Select Sector Index that is published and disseminated by S&P. S&P’s only relationship to the Index Compilation Agent is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the SPX which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the Index Compilation Agent.

 

 14 
 

 

The Select Sector Indices

 

Construction, Maintenance and Calculation of The Select Sector Indices:

 

 The Select Sector Index is developed and maintained in accordance with the following criteria:

 

·Each of the component stocks in a Select Sector Index (the “Component Stocks”) has been selected from the universe of companies defined by the SPX.

 

·Each stock in the SPX is allocated to one and only one of the Select Sector Indices.

 

·The Index Compilation Agent assigns each constituent stock of the S&P 500 Index to a Select Sector Index based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). S&P DJI has sole control over the removal of stocks from the S&P 500 and the selection of replacement stocks to be added to the S&P 500.

 

·Each Select Sector Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology; that means the level of the Select Sector Index reflects the total market value of all of its Component Stocks relative to a particular base period. Statisticians refer to this type of index, one with a set of combined variables (such as price and number of shares), as a composite index.

 

·Each Select Sector Index is calculated using the same methodology utilized by S&P DJI in calculating the SPX, using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The daily calculation of each Select Sector Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the companies in the Select Sector Index by a number called the “Index Divisor.”

 

·Each Select Sector Index is weighted, on a quarterly basis, based on the float-adjusted market capitalization of each of the Component Stocks, subject to the following asset diversification requirements: (i) the market capitalization-based weighted value of any single Component Stock measured with prices as of the reference date and membership, shares outstanding and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date may not exceed 25% of the total value of its respective Select Sector Index; and (ii) the sum of the constituent stocks with weight greater than 4.8% cannot exceed 50% of the total Index weight.

 

·Rebalancing the Select Sector Indices to meet the asset diversification requirements will be the responsibility of S&P. If on the second Friday of any calendar quarter-end month (a “Quarterly Qualification Date”), a Component Stock (or two or more Component Stocks) approaches the maximum allowable value limits set forth above (the “Asset Diversification Limits”), the percentage that such Component Stock (or Component Stocks) represents in the Select Sector Index will be reduced and the market capitalization-based weighted value of such Component Stock (or Component Stocks) will be redistributed across the Component Stocks that do not closely approach the Asset Diversification Limits in accordance with the following methodology: First, each Component Stock that exceeds 24% of the total value of the Select Sector Index will be reduced to 23% of the total value of the Select Sector Index and the excess amount will be redistributed proportionally across the remaining Component Stocks that each represent less than 23% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. If as a result of this redistribution, another Component Stock then exceeds 23%, the redistribution will be repeated as necessary until no company breaches the 23% weight cap. Second, if the sum of Component Stocks that each exceed 4.8% of the total value of the Select Sector Index exceeds 50% of the total value of the Index, the Component Stocks will be ranked in descending order of their float-adjusted market capitalization, and the first Component Stock to cause the 50% limit to be breached will be reduced to 4.5% and the excess amount will be distributed proportionally across all remaining Component Stocks that represent less than 4.5% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. This redistribution process will be repeated as necessary until at least 50% of the value of the Select Sector Index is accounted for by Component Stocks representing no more than 4.8% of the total value of the Select Sector Index. If necessary, this reallocation process may take place more than once to ensure that the Select Sector Index and the Select Sector SPDR Fund portfolio based upon it conform to the requirements for qualification of the Select Sector SPDR Fund as a regulated investment company (“RIC”), under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”).

This occurs at the closing prices of the second Friday of March, June, September and December and becomes effective after the market close on the third Friday of March, June, September and December.

 

If, on the second to last business day of March, June, September, or December a company has a weight greater than 24% or the sum of the companies with weights greater than 4.8% exceeds 50%, a secondary rebalancing will be triggered with the rebalancing effective date being after the close of the last business day of the month. This secondary rebalancing will use the closing prices as of the second to last business day of March, June, September, or December, and membership, shares outstanding, and investable weight factors as of the rebalancing effective date.

 

The Index Compilation Agent at any time may determine that a Component Stock which has been assigned to one Select Sector Index has undergone such a transformation in the composition of its business that it should be removed from that Select Sector Index and assigned to a different Select Sector Index. In the event that the Index Compilation Agent notifies the index calculation agent that a Component Stock’s Select Sector Index assignment should be changed, the index calculation agent will disseminate notice of the change following its standard procedure for announcing index changes and will implement the change in the affected Select Sector Indices on a date no less than one week after the initial dissemination of information on the sector change to the maximum extent practicable. It is not anticipated that Component Stocks will change sectors frequently. Component Stocks removed from and added to the SPX will be deleted from and added to the appropriate Select Sector Index on the same schedule used by S&P for additions and deletions from the SPX insofar as practicable.

 

 15 
 

 

The Russell 2000® Index (“RTY”)

 

The Russell 2000® Index was developed by Russell Investments (“Russell”) before FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”) and Russell combined in 2015 to create FTSE Russell, which is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. Russell began dissemination of the Russell 2000® Index (Bloomberg L.P. index symbol “RTY”) on January 1, 1984. The Russell 2000® Index was set to 135 as of the close of business on December 31, 1986. FTSE Russell calculates and publishes the Russell 2000® Index. The Russell 2000® Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. companies. The Russell 2000® Index is determined, comprised, and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the notes.

 

Selection of Stocks Comprising the Russell 2000® Index

 

All companies eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index must be classified as a U.S. company under FTSE Russell’s country-assignment methodology. If a company is incorporated, has a stated headquarters location, and trades on a standard exchange in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible), then the company is assigned to its country of incorporation. If any of the three factors are not the same, FTSE Russell defines three Home Country Indicators (“HCIs”): country of incorporation, country of headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange as defined by a 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 its assets matches any of the HCIs, then the company is assigned to its primary asset location. If there is insufficient information to determine located company’s primary location of assets, FTSE Russell will use the primary location of the company’s revenue for the same cross-comparison and assigns the company to the appropriate country in a similar fashion. FTSE Russell uses an average of two years of assets or revenues data for analysis to reduce potential turnover. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenues data, FTSE Russell will assign the company to the country in which its headquarters are located unless the country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation (BDI) country. If the country in which its headquarters are located is a BDI, the company is assigned to the country of its most liquid stock exchange. BDI countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, 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. “N-Shares” of companies controlled by entities in mainland China are not eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index.

 

All securities eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index must trade on an eligible U.S. exchange. Stocks must have a closing price at or above $1.00 (on its primary exchange) on rank day in May of each year (timetable is announced each spring) 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 rank day of May, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from its primary exchange) during the 30 days prior to the rank date is equal to or greater than $1.00. FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings (IPOs) each quarter to ensure that new additions to the institutional investing opportunity set are reflected in representative indexes. A stock added during the quarterly IPO process is considered a new index addition, and therefore must have a closing price on its primary exchange at or above $1.00 on the last day of the eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion. If an existing index member does not trade on the rank day, it must price at $1.00 or above on another eligible U.S. exchange to remain eligible.

 

Royalty trusts, U.S. limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies (companies that are required to report Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, as defined by the SEC, including business development companies, are not eligible for inclusion), blank check companies, special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), mutual funds and limited partnerships are ineligible for inclusion. Preferred and convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants, rights, depositary receipts, installment receipts and trust receipts are not eligible for inclusion in the Russell 2000® Index.

 

Annual reconstitution is a process by which the Russell 2000® Index is completely rebuilt. On the rank day in May of each year, all eligible securities are ranked by their total market capitalization. The largest 4,000 become the Russell 3000E Index, and the other FTSE Russell indexes are determined from that set of securities. If there are not 4, 000 eligible securities in the U.S. market, the entire eligible set is include. Reconstitution of the Russell 2000® Index occurs on the last Friday in June or, when the last Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, reconstitution occurs on the prior Friday. In addition, FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings to the Russell 2000® Index on a quarterly basis based on total market capitalization ranking within the market-adjusted capitalization breaks established during the most recent reconstitution.

 

After membership is determined, a security’s shares are adjusted to include only those shares available to the public. This is often referred to as “free float.” The purpose of the adjustment is to exclude from market calculations the capitalization that is not available for purchase and is not part of the investable opportunity set.

 

License Agreement

 

“Russell 2000®” and “Russell 3000®” are trademarks of FTSE Russell and have been licensed for use by us.

 

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 securities generally or in the notes particularly or the ability of the Russell 2000® Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell's publication of the Russell 2000® Index in no way suggests or implies an opinion by FTSE Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the Russell 2000® Index is based. FTSE Russell's only relationship to the Issuer is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of FTSE Russell and of the Russell 2000® Index which is determined, composed and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the Issuer 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 Russell 2000® Index. FTSE Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes.

 

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FTSE RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE RUSSELL 2000® INDEX 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 RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ISSUER, INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE RUSSELL 2000® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. 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 RUSSELL 2000® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED HEREIN 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.

 

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Validity of the Notes

 

In the opinion of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, the issue and sale of the notes has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Bank in conformity with the Senior Indenture, and when this pricing supplement has been attached to, and duly notated on, the master note that represents the notes, the notes will have been validly executed and issued and, to the extent validity of the notes is a matter governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, and will be valid obligations of the Bank, subject to the following limitations (i) the enforceability of the Senior Indenture may be limited by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act (Canada), the Winding-up and Restructuring Act (Canada) and bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, arrangement or winding-up laws or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (ii) the enforceability of the Senior Indenture may be limited by equitable principles, including the principle that equitable remedies such as specific performance and injunction may only be granted in the discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction; (iii) pursuant to the Currency Act (Canada) a judgment by a Canadian court must be awarded in Canadian currency and that such judgment may be based on a rate of exchange in existence on a day other than the day of payment; and (iv) the enforceability of the Senior Indenture will be subject to the limitations contained in the Limitations Act, 2002 (Ontario), and such counsel expresses no opinion as to whether a court may find any provision of the Senior Debt Indenture to be unenforceable as an attempt to vary or exclude a limitation period under that Act. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the Provinces of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated May 26, 2022, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.3 to Bank of Montreal’s Form 6-K filed with the SEC and dated May 26, 2022.

 

In the opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, when this pricing supplement has been attached to, and duly notated on, the master note that represents the notes, and the notes have been issued and sold as contemplated herein, the notes will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of Bank of Montreal, entitled to the benefits of the Senior Indenture, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith). This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Insofar as this opinion involves matters governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, or the laws of Canada applicable therein, Mayer Brown LLP has assumed, without independent inquiry or investigation, the validity of the matters opined on by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Canadian legal counsel for the issuer, in its opinion expressed above. This opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the Senior Indenture and the genuineness of signatures and to such counsel’s reliance on the Bank of Montreal and other sources as to certain factual matters, all as stated in the legal opinion of Mayer Brown LLP dated May 26, 2022, which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K by the Bank of Montreal on May 26, 2022.

 

 

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