RBC Capital Markets®
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration Statement No. 333-227001
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The information in this preliminary terms supplement is not complete and may be changed.
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Preliminary Terms Supplement
Subject to Completion:
Dated February 12, 2019
Pricing Supplement Dated February __, 2019 to the
Product Prospectus Supplement ERN-ETF-1 Dated September 11, 2018, Prospectus Supplement Dated September 7, 2018, and Prospectus Dated
September 7, 2018
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$_________
Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of
Five Exchange Traded Funds,
Due March 2, 2023
Royal Bank of Canada
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Per Note
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Total
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Price to public(1)
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100.00%
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$
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Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
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3.25%
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$
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Proceeds to Royal Bank of Canada
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96.75%
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$
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Issuer:
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Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”)
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Underwriter:
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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Reference Asset:
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The Notes are linked to the performance of the best performing of three weighted Baskets. Each Basket is comprised of the
five Basket Components. The Basket Components and their respective component weights for each Basket are indicated in the table below.
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Currency:
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U.S. Dollars
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Denominations
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$1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof
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Trade Date (Pricing
Date):
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February 25, 2019
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Issue Date:
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February 28, 2019
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Valuation Date:
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February 27, 2023
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Maturity Date:
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March 2, 2023, subject to extension for market and other disruptions, as described in the product prospectus supplement.
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Payment at
Maturity
(if held to maturity):
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The investor will receive an amount per $1,000 principal amount per Note equal to:
Principal Amount + [Principal Amount x Percentage Change of the Best Performing Basket]
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Best Performing
Basket:
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The Best Performing Basket will be the Basket with the greatest Percentage Change.
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Percentage
Change:
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The Percentage Change for each Basket will equal an amount, expressed as a percentage and rounded to two decimal places,
equal to the sum of the Weighted Component Change for each Basket Component. The Weighted Component Change for each Basket Component will be determined as
follows:
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Initial Price:
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The closing price per share of a Basket Component on the Trade Date.
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Final Price:
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The closing price per share of a Basket Component on the Valuation Date.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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The Baskets:
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Basket Component
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Ticker
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Basket A
Component
Weight
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Basket B
Component
Weight
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Basket C
Component
Weight
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SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust
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SPY UP
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30%
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20%
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10%
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iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF
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EFA UP
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30%
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20%
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10%
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SPDR® Gold Trust
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GLD UP
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20%
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25%
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30%
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iShares® iBoxx $ High Yield
Corporate Bond ETF
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HYG UP
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10%
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20%
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20%
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iShares® iBoxx $ Investment Grade
Corporate Bond ETF
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LQD UP
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10%
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15%
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30%
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Because each Basket includes the same Basket Components, any increase in the value of any particular Basket Component will
increase the value of all three Baskets; similarly, any decrease in the value of any particular Basket Component will decrease the value of all three Baskets. However, because the Baskets will have different Component Weights for each
Basket Component, it is impossible to know before the Valuation Date which Basket will be the Best Performing Basket.
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Principal at Risk:
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The Notes are NOT principal
protected. You may lose all or a substantial portion of your principal amount at maturity if there is a decrease from the Initial Price to the Final Price for some or all Basket Components.
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Calculation Agent:
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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U.S. Tax
Treatment:
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By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a
judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the Notes as a pre-paid cash-settled derivative contract 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 section below, “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences,” and the discussion (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product prospectus supplement dated September 11, 2018 under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,”
which apply to the Notes.
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Secondary Market:
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC (or one of its affiliates), though not obligated to do so, may maintain a secondary market in the
Notes after the Issue Date. The amount that you may receive upon sale of your Notes prior to maturity may be less than the principal amount of your Notes.
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Listing:
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The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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Clearance and
Settlement:
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DTC global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as described under
“Description of Debt Securities—Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in the prospectus).
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Terms Incorporated
in the Master Note:
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All of the terms appearing above the item captioned “Secondary Market” on pages P-2 and P-3 of this terms supplement and the
terms appearing under the caption “General Terms of the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement, as modified by this terms supplement.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Example 1—
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Hypothetical
Percentage Change
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Basket A
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20.00%
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Basket B
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-5.00%
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Basket C
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15.00%
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Best Performing Basket:
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Basket A
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Payment at Maturity:
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$1,000 + ($1,000 x 20.00%) = $1,000 + $200.00 = $1,200.00
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In this example, only one of the Baskets has a positive Percentage Change. On a $1,000 investment, a 20.00% Percentage Change in the Best Performing Basket
results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,200.00, a 20.00% return on the Notes.
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Example 2—
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Hypothetical
Percentage Change
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Basket A
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-10.00%
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Basket B
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-15.00%
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Basket C
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-5.00%
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Best Performing Basket:
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Basket C
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Payment at Maturity:
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$1,000 + ($1,000 x -5.00%) = $1,000 - $50 = $950.00
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In this example, all of the Baskets have a negative Percentage Change. As a result, the Best Performing Basket is the Basket with the least depreciation
between the Trade Date and the Valuation Date. On a $1,000 investment, a -5.00% Percentage Change in the Best Performing Basket results in a Payment at Maturity of $950.00, a -5.00% return on the Notes.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Principal at Risk — Investors in the Notes could lose all or a substantial portion of their principal
amount if the Percentage Change of the Best Performing Basket is negative. You will lose 1% of the principal amount of your Notes for each 1% that the Percentage Change of the Best Performing Basket is less than zero.
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The Notes Do Not Pay Interest and Your Return May Be Lower than the Return on a Conventional Debt Security of
Comparable Maturity – There will be no periodic interest payments on the Notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the
same maturity. The return that you will receive on the Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you
would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of Royal Bank.
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Payments on the Notes Are Subject to Our Credit Risk, and Changes in Our Credit Ratings Are Expected to Affect the
Market Value of the Notes — The Notes are Royal Bank’s senior unsecured debt securities. As a result, your receipt of the amount due on the maturity date is dependent upon Royal Bank’s ability to repay its obligations at
that time. This will be the case even if the value of the Basket Components increases after the Trade Date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at the maturity of the Notes.
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There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes — Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant
Losses — There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. RBCCM and other affiliates of Royal Bank may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not
required to do so. RBCCM or any other affiliate of Royal Bank may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices
advantageous to you. We expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and asked prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
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You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Securities Included in the Baskets — As a holder of the Notes, you will
not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities included in the Baskets would have. The Percentage Change of the Best Performing Basket will not reflect any
dividends paid on the securities included in the Best Performing Basket. Accordingly, an investment in the Notes may provide a return that is less than the return that would result from an investment in the Basket Components.
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The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Less than the Price to the Public — The initial estimated
value set forth on the cover page and that will be set forth in the final pricing supplement for the Notes does not represent a minimum price at which we, RBCCM or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase the Notes in any
secondary market (if any exists) at any time. If you attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things,
changes in the prices of the Basket Components, the borrowing rate we pay to issue securities of this kind, and the inclusion in the price to the public of the underwriting discount and the estimated costs relating to our hedging of
the Notes. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, 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. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to sell your Notes prior to maturity may be less than your
original purchase price, as any such sale price would not be expected to include the underwriting discount and the hedging costs relating to the Notes. In addition to bid-ask spreads, the value of the Notes determined for any
secondary market price is expected to be based on the secondary rate rather than the internal funding rate used to price the Notes and determine the initial estimated value. As a result, the secondary price will be less than if the
internal funding rate was used. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.
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The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes on the Cover Page and that We Will Provide in the Final Pricing
Supplement Are Estimates Only, Calculated as of the Time the Terms of the Notes Are Set — The initial estimated value of the Notes will be based on the value of our obligation to make the payments on the Notes, together with
the mid-market value of the derivative embedded in the terms of the Notes. See “Structuring the Notes” below. Our estimates are based on a variety of assumptions, including our credit spreads, expectations as to dividends, interest
rates and volatility, and the expected term of the Notes. These assumptions are based on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. Other entities may value the Notes or similar securities at a price
that is significantly different than we do.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Our Business Activities May Create Conflicts of Interest — We and our affiliates expect to engage in
trading activities related to the Basket Components or the securities or assets that they hold that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading activities may present a conflict between the
holders’ interests in the Notes and the interests we and our affiliates will have in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for their customers and in accounts
under their management. These trading activities, if they influence the value of one or more Basket Components, could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes. We and one or more of our affiliates may, at present or
in the future, engage in business with the issuers of the securities represented by the Basket Components, including making loans to or providing advisory services. These services could include investment banking and merger and
acquisition advisory services. These activities may present a conflict between our or one or more of our affiliates’ obligations and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we and our affiliates may have published, and in
the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Basket Components. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with
purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these activities by us or one or more of our affiliates may affect the value of the Basket Components, and, therefore, the market value of the Notes.
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Market Disruption Events and Adjustments — The payment at maturity and the Valuation Date are subject to
adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General Terms of the Notes—Market
Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.
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The Correlation Between the Performance of each Basket Component and the Performance of its Underlying Index (or
Gold, as to the GLD) May Be Imperfect — The performance of each Basket Component is linked principally to the performance of its Underlying Index or other assets that it holds. However, because of the potential discrepancies
identified in more detail in the product prospectus supplement, the return on each Basket Component may correlate imperfectly with the return on its Underlying Index or those assets.
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Changes in the Level of One Basket Component May Be Offset by Changes in the Level of the Other Basket Components
— A change in the level of one Basket Component may not correlate with changes in the level of the other Basket Components. The level of one Basket
Component may increase, while the level of one or more of the other Basket Components may not increase as much, or may even decrease. Therefore, in determining the level of the Best Performing Basket as of any time, increases in the
level of one Basket Component may be moderated, or wholly offset, by lesser increases or decreases in the level of the other Basket Components.
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The performance of the Baskets may be highly correlated — The Payment at Maturity will be based upon the
Performance of the Best Performing Basket. However, each of the three Baskets is comprised of the same Basket Components. As a result, it is possible that the Best Performing Basket will not outperform the other Baskets to a
significant extent. It is also possible that each of the Baskets will have a Percentage Change that is less than zero. in such a case, you will receive a Payment at Maturity that is less than principal amount of the Notes.
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The Notes are Subject to Non-U.S. Securities Market Risks — The iShares® iBoxx $ High Yield
Corporate Bond ETF, the iShares® iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF may invest in foreign company debt securities so long as they are U.S.-dollar denominated. Therefore these Basket Components may include U.S.
dollar-denominated bonds issued by non-U.S. companies. In addition, foreign companies or foreign equity securities held by the iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF are publicly traded in the applicable foreign countries and trade in
currencies other than U.S. dollars, investments in the Notes involve particular risks. Securities issued by non-U.S. companies may be more volatile and may be subject to different political, market, economic, exchange rate, regulatory
and other risks than securities issued by U.S. companies, which may have a negative impact on the performance of the financial products linked to such securities, including the Notes. Also, the public availability of information
concerning the issuers of such securities will vary depending on their home jurisdiction and the reporting requirements imposed by their respective regulators. In addition, the issuers of these securities may be subject to accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to United States reporting companies.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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The Notes Are Subject to Risks Associated with Gold — The investment objective of the SPDR®
Gold Trust is to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the SPDR® Gold Trust’s expenses. The price of gold is primarily affected by the global demand for and supply of gold. The market for gold bullion
is global, and gold prices are subject to volatile price movements over short periods of time and are affected by numerous factors, including macroeconomic factors, such as the structure of and confidence in the global monetary
system, expectations regarding the future rate of inflation, the relative strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of gold is usually quoted), interest rates, gold borrowing and lending rates
and global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other events. Gold prices may be affected by industry factors, such as industrial and jewelry demand as well as lending, sales and purchases of gold by the
official sector, including central banks and other governmental agencies and multilateral institutions that hold gold. Additionally, gold prices may be affected by levels of gold production, production costs and short-term changes in
supply and demand due to trading activities in the gold market. From time to time, above-ground inventories of gold may also influence the market. It is not possible to predict the aggregate effect of all or any combination of these
factors. The price of gold has recently been, and may continue to be, extremely volatile.
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Single Commodity Prices Tend to be More Volatile than, and May Not Correlate with, the Prices of Commodities
Generally — The SPDR® Gold Trust is linked to a single commodity and not to a diverse basket of commodities or a broad-based commodity index. The price of gold may not correlate to the price of commodities
generally and may diverge significantly from the prices of commodities generally. As a result, the Notes carry greater risk and may be more volatile than Notes linked to the prices of more commodities or a broad-based commodity index.
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Economic or Political Events or Crises Could Result in Large-Scale Purchases or Sales of Gold, Which Could Affect
the Price of Gold and May Adversely Affect the Value of the Notes — Many investors, institutions, governments and others purchase and sell gold as a hedge against inflation, market turmoil or uncertainty or political events.
Under such circumstances, significant largescale purchases or sales of gold by market participants may affect the price of gold, which could adversely affect the value of the Notes. Crises in the future may impair gold’s price
performance which would, in turn, adversely affect the shares of the SPDR® Gold Trust and your investment in the Notes.
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Gold Is Traded on the London Bullion Market Association (the “LBMA”), so an Investment in the Notes May Be Subject
to Risks Associated with the London Bullion Market Association — The SPDR® Gold Trust is closely related to its underlying commodity (e.g., gold), the price of which is determined by an independent service
provider appointed by the LBMA. Investments in securities indexed to the value of commodities the prices of which are determined by non-U.S. markets involve risks associated with the markets in those countries, including risks of
volatility in those markets and governmental intervention in those markets. The final price of gold will be determined by reference to fixing prices reported by an independent service provider appointed by the LBMA. The LBMA is a
self-regulatory association of bullion market participants. Although all market-making members of the LBMA are supervised by the Bank of England and are required to satisfy a capital adequacy test, the LBMA itself is not a regulated
entity. If the LBMA ceases operations, or if bullion trading becomes subject to a tax or any other form of regulation currently not in place, the role of LBMA price fixings as a global benchmark for the value of gold may be adversely
affected. The LBMA is a principals’ market which operates in a manner more closely analogous to an over-the-counter physical commodity market than regulated futures markets, and certain features of U.S. futures contracts are not
present in the context of LBMA trading. For example, there are no daily price limits on the LBMA which would otherwise restrict fluctuations in the prices of LBMA contracts. In a declining or rising market, it is possible that prices
would continue to decline or rise without limitation within a trading day or over a period of trading days.
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The Performance of the SPDR®
Gold Trust May Not Correlate with the Price of Gold — The performance of SPDR® Gold Trust may not fully replicate the performance of the price of gold due to the fees and expenses charged by the SPDR®
Gold Trust or by restrictions on access to gold due to other circumstances. The SPDR® Gold Trust does not generate any income and as the SPDR® Gold Trust regularly sells gold to pay for its ongoing expenses, the
amount of gold represented by each share gradually declines over time. The SPDR® Gold Trust sells gold to pay expenses on an ongoing basis irrespective of whether the trading price of the shares rises or falls in response
to changes in the price of gold. The sale of SPDR® Gold Trust’s gold to pay expenses at a time of low gold prices or at a time of high gold prices could adversely affect the value of the Notes. Additionally, there is a risk
that part or all of the SPDR® Gold Trust’s gold could be lost, damaged or stolen due to war, terrorism, theft, natural disaster or otherwise. The net asset value of the SPDR® Gold Trust will reflect the
performance of gold. However, because the shares of the SPDR® Gold Trust are traded on NYSE Arca, Inc. and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market value of one Share of the SPDR® Gold Trust
may differ from the net asset value per share of the SPDR® Gold Trust.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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The Notes are Subject to Credit Risk Generally and Credit Risk Associated with High Yield Debt in Particular — The prices of the bonds underlying the iShares® iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and the iShares® iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate
Bond ETF, which we collectively refer to as the “Bond ETFs,” are significantly influenced by the creditworthiness of the issuers of the bonds. The issuers of such bonds may have their credit ratings downgraded or have their credit
spreads widen significantly. Following a ratings downgrade or the widening of credit spreads, some or all of the bonds held by the Bond ETFs may suffer significant and rapid price declines. Such events may have material adverse
effects on the value of the Bond ETFs and the Notes.
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The Notes Are Subject to Significant Risks Associated with Fixed-Income Securities, Including Interest
Rate-Related Risks — The Bond ETFs are bond ETFs that attempt to track the performance of indices composed of fixed income securities. Investing in the Notes linked indirectly to these ETFs differs significantly from
investing directly in bonds to be held to maturity as the values of the Bond ETFs change, at times significantly, during each trading day based upon the current market prices of their underlying bonds. The market prices of these bonds
are volatile and significantly influenced by a number of factors, particularly the yields on these bonds as compared to current market interest rates and the actual or perceived credit quality of the issuer of these bonds. The market
prices of the bonds underlying each of the Bond ETFs are determined by reference to the bid and ask quotations provided by 10 contributing banks, one of which is our affiliate.
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sentiment regarding underlying strength in the U.S. and global economies;
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expectations regarding the level of price inflation;
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sentiment regarding credit quality in the U.S. and global credit markets;
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central bank policies regarding interest rates; and
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the performance of U.S. and foreign capital markets.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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· |
defining the equity universe;
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determining the market investable equity universe for each market;
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determining market capitalization size segments for each market;
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applying index continuity rules for the MSCI Standard Index;
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creating style segments within each size segment within each market; and
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classifying securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard (the “GICS”).
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Identifying Eligible Equity Securities: the equity universe initially looks at securities listed in any of the countries in the MSCI Global Index Series, which will be classified as
either Developed Markets (“DM”) or Emerging Markets (“EM”). All listed equity securities, including Real Estate Investment Trusts, are eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. Conversely, mutual funds, ETFs, equity derivatives
and most investment trusts are not eligible for inclusion in the equity universe.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Classifying Eligible Securities into the Appropriate Country: each company and its securities (i.e., share classes) are classified in only one country.
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Equity Universe Minimum Size Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the company level. In
order to be included in a market investable equity universe, a company must have the required minimum full market capitalization.
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Equity Universe Minimum Free Float−Adjusted Market Capitalization Requirement: this investability screen
is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have a free float−adjusted market capitalization equal to or higher than 50% of the equity universe
minimum size requirement.
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DM and EM Minimum Liquidity Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security
level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have adequate liquidity. The twelve-month and three-month Annual Traded Value Ratio (“ATVR”), a measure that screens out extreme daily trading
volumes and takes into account the free float−adjusted market capitalization size of securities, together with the three-month frequency of trading are used to measure liquidity. A minimum liquidity level of 20% of three- and
twelve-month ATVR and 90% of three-month frequency of trading over the last four consecutive quarters are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of a DM, and a minimum liquidity level of 15% of
three- and twelve-month ATVR and 80% of three-month frequency of trading over the last four consecutive quarters are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of an EM.
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Global Minimum Foreign Inclusion Factor Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the
individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security’s Foreign Inclusion Factor (“FIF”) must reach a certain threshold. The FIF of a security is defined as the proportion of shares
outstanding that is available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. This proportion accounts for the available free float of and/or the foreign ownership limits applicable to a specific security (or
company). In general, a security must have an FIF equal to or larger than 0.15 to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe.
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Minimum Length of Trading Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security
level. For an initial public offering (“IPO”) to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, the new issue must have started trading at least three months before the implementation of a semi−annual index review
(as described below). This requirement is applicable to small new issues in all markets. Large IPOs are not subject to the minimum length of trading requirement and may be included in a market investable equity universe and the
Standard Index outside of a Quarterly or Semi−Annual Index Review.
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Minimum Foreign Room Requirement: this
investability screen is applied at the individual security level. For a security that is subject to a foreign ownership limit to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, the proportion of shares still
available to foreign investors relative to the maximum allowed (referred to as “foreign room”) must be at least 15%.
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Investable Market Index (Large + Mid + Small);
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Standard Index (Large + Mid);
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Large Cap Index;
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Mid Cap Index; or
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Small Cap Index.
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defining the market coverage target range for each size segment;
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determining the global minimum size range for each size segment;
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determining the market size segment cutoffs and associated segment number of companies;
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assigning companies to the size segments; and
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applying final size−segment investability requirements.
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(i) |
Semi−Annual Index Reviews (“SAIRs”) in May and November of the Size Segment and Global Value and Growth Indices which include:
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updating the indices on the basis of a fully refreshed equity universe;
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taking buffer rules into consideration for migration of securities across size and style segments; and
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updating FIFs and Number of Shares (“NOS”).
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(ii) |
Quarterly Index Reviews in February and August of the Size Segment Indices aimed at:
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including significant new eligible securities (such as IPOs that were not eligible for earlier inclusion) in the index;
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allowing for significant moves of companies within the Size Segment Indices, using wider buffers than in the SAIR; and
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reflecting the impact of significant market events on FIFs and updating NOS.
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(iii)
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Ongoing Event−Related Changes: changes of this type are generally implemented in the indices as they occur. Significantly large IPOs are included in the
indices after the close of the company’s tenth day of trading.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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• |
Technical Committee: composed of representatives of market makers and banks. The Technical Committee
meets once a month in order to provide feedback and information as to the monthly rebalancing, and to monitor market developments. It also provides assistance in the identification of eligible constituents, especially in the
instance where the eligibility or the classification of a bond is unclear or contentious. Additionally, the Technical Committee discusses any market developments which may warrant index rule changes and provides recommendations on
changes to the rules.
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Oversight Committee: composed of representatives from a broad range of asset managers, consultants and
industry bodies. The purpose of the Oversight Committee is to review the recommendations of the Technical Committee and also to provide consultation on any market developments which may warrant rule changes.
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• |
Bond Type. Only fixed-rate bonds whose cash flow can be determined in advance are eligible for the HY
Index. The HY Index is comprised solely of bonds. Treasury Bills and other money market instruments are not eligible. The HY Index includes only U.S. dollar denominated bonds. In particular, bonds with the following characteristics
are included: fixed coupon bonds, step-up bonds with coupon schedules known at issuance (or as functions of the issuer’s rating), sinking funds and amortizing bonds, medium-term notes, Rule 144A offerings, callable bonds and putable
bonds. The following instrument types are specifically excluded from the HY Index: preferred shares, optionally and mandatorily convertible bonds, subordinated bank or insurance debt with mandatory contingent conversion features or
with any conversion options before the first call date, bonds with other equity features attached (e.g., options or warrants), private placements, perpetual bonds (unless callable and meets the time to maturity requirements set
forth below), floating rate notes, pay-in-kind bonds (during the pay-in-kind period), zero coupon bonds, zero step-ups (GAINS), bonds with differences between accrual and coupon payment periods and monthly-paying bonds, and
Regulation S offerings.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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• |
Credit Rating. Bonds in the HY Index must have a Markit iBoxx Rating of sub-investment grade, which is
defined as BB+ or lower by S&P or Fitch or Ba1 or lower by Moody’s, but the bonds must not be in default. If a bond is rated by more than one of the foregoing ratings agencies, then the Markit iBoxx Rating is the average of the
provided ratings. The rating is consolidated to the nearest rating grade in accordance with the Markit iBoxx Rules. Rating notches are not used. Issues rated D by Fitch or S&P, or that have been subject to a default press
release by Moody’s cannot enter the HY Index. Those issues in the HY Index that are subsequently downgraded to D by Fitch or S&P or subject to a default press release by Moody’s (as of the bond selection cut-off date) will be
taken out of the HY Index on the next rebalancing date. After a bond has migrated into high yield from investment grade status, it must retain that status for three months (the “stabilization period”) before it can be included in
the HY Index. In case of an ID change or exchange of a 144A version into a registered bond, the ratings from the 144A bond are also used for the registered bond.
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• |
Time to Maturity. To qualify for entry in the HY Index, at the balancing day, bonds must have at least
one year to maturity and new insertions must have at least 18 months remaining to maturity. All bonds must have an expected remaining term of 15 years or less.
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• |
Amount Outstanding. The outstanding face value of all non-convertible bonds denominated in U.S. dollars
from the issuer must be greater than or equal to $1 billion as of the bond selection cut-off date. The outstanding face value of a bond must be greater than or equal to $400 million as of the bond selection cut-off date. Partial
buybacks or increases will affect the outstanding face value of a prospective bond. Markit considers changes to the outstanding face value of a candidate bond as a result of partial or full buybacks or increases, provided that
Markit is aware of such changes as of the bond selection cut-off date. In the case of 144A securities that are registered as global securities, the remaining amount of the 144A version and the registered version are recombined if
the bond is not exchanged in full and if the remaining amount of the 144A version reduces the amount outstanding below the eligibility threshold.
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• |
Bond Classification. All bonds are classified based on the principal activities of the issuer and the
main sources of the cash flows used to pay coupons and redemptions. Bonds must be denominated in U.S. dollars and must be corporate credit, i.e., debt instruments backed by corporate issuers that are not secured by specific assets.
Debt issued by governments, sovereigns, quasi-sovereigns and government-backed or guaranteed entities is excluded. Bonds eligible for the HY index must be issued from countries classified as developed markets based on the “Markit
Global Economic Development Classification,” which is updated once per year.
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• |
Lockout Period. A bond that drops out of the HY Index at the rebalancing day is excluded from
re-entering the index for a three-month period. The rule for the lockout period takes precedence over the other rules for the HY Index selection. A locked out bond will not be selected, even if it qualifies for the HY Index
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• |
Minimum Run. Any bond that enters the HY Index must remain in the HY Index for a minimum of six months,
provided it is not upgraded to investment grade, defaulted or fully redeemed in that period.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
|
|
|
Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
|
• |
Technical Committee: composed of representatives of market makers and banks. The Technical Committee
meets once a month in order to provide feedback and information as to the monthly rebalancing, and to monitor market developments. It also provides assistance in the identification of eligible constituents, especially in the
instance where the eligibility or the classification of a bond is unclear or contentious. Additionally, the Technical Committee discusses any market developments which may warrant index rule changes and provides recommendations on
changes to the rules.
|
• |
Oversight Committee: composed of representatives from a broad range of asset managers, consultants and
industry bodies. The purpose of the Oversight Committee is to review the recommendations of the Technical Committee and also to provide consultation on any market developments which may warrant rule changes.
|
•
|
Bond Type. Only fixed-rate bonds whose cash flow can be determined in advance
are eligible for the IG Index. The IG Index is comprised solely of bonds. Treasury Bills and other money market instruments are not eligible. The IG Index includes only U.S. dollar denominated bonds. In particular, bonds with the
following characteristics are included: fixed coupon bonds, step-up bonds with coupon schedules known at issuance (or as functions of the issuer’s rating), sinking funds and amortizing bonds, medium-term notes, Rule 144A offerings
with a registration right, callable bonds and putable bonds. The following instrument types are specifically excluded from the IG Index: preferred shares, optionally and mandatorily convertible bonds, subordinated bank or insurance
debt with mandatory contingent conversion features or with any conversion options before the first call date, bonds with other equity features attached (e.g., options or warrants), private placements, perpetual bonds, fixed-
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
|
• |
Credit Rating. Bonds in the IG Index must have a Markit iBoxx Rating of investment grade, which is
defined as BBB- or above by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or above by Moody’s. If a bond is rated by more than one of the foregoing ratings agencies, then the Markit iBoxx Rating is the average of the provided ratings. The rating is
consolidated to the nearest rating grade in accordance with the Markit iBoxx Rules. Rating notches are not used. In case of an ID change or exchange of a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering into a registered bond, the ratings from the
Rule 144A/Regulation S offering are also used for the registered bond.
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• |
Time to Maturity. To qualify for entry in the IG Index, at the balancing day, bonds must have at least
three years, and all new insertions must have at least three years and six months remaining in their term.
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• |
Amount Outstanding. The outstanding face value of all bonds (excluding fixed-to-floater and perpetual
bonds) denominated in U.S. dollars from the issuer must be greater than or equal to $2 billion as of the bond selection cut-off date. The outstanding face value of a bond must be greater than or equal to $750 million as of the bond
selection cut-off date. Partial buybacks or increases will affect the outstanding face value of a prospective bond. Markit considers changes to the outstanding face value of a candidate bond as a result of partial or full buybacks
or increases, provided that Markit is aware of such changes as of the bond selection cut-off date. In the case of Regulation S securities that are registered as global securities, the remaining amount of the Regulation S version and
the registered version are recombined if the bond is not exchanged in full and if the remaining amount of the Regulation S version reduces the amount outstanding below the eligibility threshold.
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• |
Bond Classification. All bonds are classified based on the principal activities of the issuer and the
main sources of the cash flows used to pay coupons and redemptions. Bonds must be denominated in U.S. dollars with clearance and settlement available through DTC. The securities need to be either publicly registered in the United
States with the SEC or Rule 144A offerings with registration rights. Eurobonds are excluded.
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• |
Lockout Period. A bond that drops out of the IG Index at the rebalancing day is excluded from
re-entering the index for a three-month period. The rule for the lockout period takes precedence over the other rules for the IG Index selection. A locked out bond will not be selected, even if it qualifies for the IG Index
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• |
Minimum Run. Any bond that enters the IG Index must remain in the IG Index for a minimum of six months,
provided it is not downgraded to sub-investment grade, defaulted or fully redeemed in that period.
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
|
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
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Best Profile Notes
Linked to the Best Performing Basket of Five Exchange Traded Funds
|