The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion dated November 30, 2018
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC | December 2018 |
Pricing Supplement
Registration Statement Nos. 333-222672 and 333-222672-01
Dated December , 2018
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Structured Investments
Opportunities in U.S. Equities
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The PLUS will pay no interest and do not guarantee any return of your principal at maturity. At maturity, if the underlying index has appreciated in value, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment plus leveraged upside performance of the underlying index, subject to a maximum payment at maturity. However, if the underlying index has declined in value, at maturity investors will lose 1% for every 1% decline. The PLUS are for investors who seek an equity-based return and who are willing to risk their principal and forgo current income and upside above the maximum payment at maturity in exchange for the leverage feature that applies to a limited range of positive performance of the underlying index. At maturity, an investor will receive an amount in cash that may be greater than, equal to, or less than the stated principal amount based upon the closing level of the underlying index on the valuation date. The PLUS are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, which we refer to as JPMorgan Financial, the payment on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co., issued as part of JPMorgan Financial’s Medium-Term Notes, Series A, program. Any payment on the PLUS is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Financial, as issuer of the PLUS, and the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as guarantor of the PLUS. The investor may lose some or all of the stated principal amount of the PLUS.
SUMMARY TERMS | |||
Issuer: | JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, an indirect, wholly owned finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. | ||
Guarantor: | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | ||
Underlying index: | S&P 500® Index | ||
Aggregate principal amount: | $ | ||
Payment at maturity: | If the final index value is greater than the initial index value, for each $10 stated principal amount PLUS, | ||
$10 + leveraged upside payment | |||
In no event will the payment at maturity exceed the maximum payment at maturity. | |||
If the final index value is less than or equal to the initial index value, for each $10 stated principal amount PLUS, | |||
$10 × index performance factor | |||
This amount will be less than or equal to the stated principal amount of $10 per PLUS. | |||
Leveraged upside payment: | $10 × leverage factor × index percent increase | ||
Index percent increase: | (final index value – initial index value) / initial index value | ||
Initial index value: | The closing level of the underlying index on the pricing date | ||
Final index value: | The closing level of the underlying index on the valuation date | ||
Leverage factor: | 300% | ||
Index performance factor: | final index value / initial index value | ||
Maximum payment at maturity: | At least $11.70 (at least 117.00% of the stated principal amount) per PLUS. The actual maximum payment at maturity will be provided in the pricing supplement and will not be less than $11.70 per PLUS. | ||
Stated principal amount: | $10 per PLUS | ||
Issue price: | $10 per PLUS (see “Commissions and issue price” below) | ||
Pricing date: | December , 2018 (expected to price on or about December 14, 2018) | ||
Original issue date (settlement date): | December , 2018 (3 business days after the pricing date) | ||
Valuation date: | March 31, 2020, subject to postponement in the event of certain market disruption events and as described under “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Determination Date — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying (Other Than a Commodity Index)” in the accompanying product supplement | ||
Maturity date: | April 3, 2020, subject to postponement in the event of certain market disruption events and as described under “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Payment Date” in the accompanying product supplement | ||
CUSIP / ISIN: | 48130V228 / US48130V2280 | ||
Listing: | The PLUS will not be listed on any securities exchange. | ||
Agent: | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“JPMS”) | ||
Commissions and issue price: | Price to public(1) | Fees and commissions | Proceeds to issuer |
Per PLUS | $10.00 | $0.175(2) | $9.775 |
$0.05(3) | |||
Total | $ | $ | $ |
(1) | See “Additional Information about the PLUS — Supplemental use of proceeds and hedging” in this document for information about the components of the price to public of the PLUS. |
(2) | JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Financial, will pay all of the selling commissions it receives from us to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management”). In no event will these selling commissions exceed $0.175 per $10 stated principal amount PLUS. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement |
(3) | Reflects a structuring fee payable to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management by the agent or its affiliates of $0.05 for each $10 stated principal amount PLUS |
If the PLUS priced today and assuming a maximum payment at maturity equal to the minimum listed above, the estimated value of the PLUS would be approximately $9.767 per $10 stated principal amount PLUS. The estimated value of the PLUS on the pricing date will be provided in the pricing supplement and will not be less than $9.60 per $10 stated principal amount PLUS. See “Additional Information about the PLUS — The estimated value of the PLUS” in this document for additional information.
Investing in the PLUS involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-10 of the accompanying product supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page US-1 of the accompanying underlying supplement and “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of this document.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the PLUS or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this document or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The PLUS are not bank deposits, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.
You should read this document together with the related product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus, each of which can be accessed via the hyperlinks below. Please also see “Additional Information about the PLUS” at the end of this document.
Product supplement no. MS-1-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004523/dp87526_424b2-ms1i.pdf
Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004514/crt_dp87766-424b2.pdf
Prospectus supplement and prospectus, each dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004508/dp87767_424b2-ps.pdf
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
Investment Summary
Performance Leveraged Upside Securities
Principal at Risk Securities
The PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020 (the “PLUS”) can be used:
§ | As an alternative to direct exposure to the underlying index that enhances returns for a certain range of positive performance of the underlying index. |
§ | To potentially achieve similar levels of upside exposure to the underlying index as a direct investment, subject to the maximum payment at maturity, while using fewer dollars by taking advantage of the leverage factor. |
The PLUS are exposed on a 1:1 basis to the negative performance of the underlying index.
Maturity: | Approximately 15.5 months |
Leverage factor: | 300% |
Maximum payment at maturity: | At least $11.70 (at least 117.00% of the stated principal amount) per PLUS (to be provided in the pricing supplement) |
Minimum payment at maturity: | None. Investors may lose their entire initial investment in the PLUS. |
Supplemental Terms of the PLUS
For purposes of the accompanying product supplement, the underlying index is an “Index.”
December 2018 | Page 2 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
Key Investment Rationale
PLUS offer leveraged exposure to an underlying asset, which may be equities, commodities and/or currencies, without any protection against negative performance of the underlying asset. If the underlying asset has decreased in value, investors are fully exposed to the negative performance of the underlying asset. At maturity, if the underlying asset has appreciated, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment plus leveraged upside performance of the underlying asset, subject to the maximum payment at maturity. At maturity, if the underlying asset has depreciated, the investor will lose 1% for every 1% decline. Investors may lose some or all of the stated principal amount of the PLUS.
Leveraged Performance | The PLUS offer investors an opportunity to capture enhanced returns for a certain range of positive performance relative to a direct investment in the underlying index. |
Upside Scenario | The underlying index increases in value and, at maturity, the PLUS pay the stated principal amount of $10 plus a return equal to 300% of the index percent increase, subject to the maximum payment at maturity of at least $11.70 (at least 117.00% of the stated principal amount) per PLUS. The actual maximum payment at maturity will be provided in the pricing supplement. |
Par Scenario | The final index value is equal to the initial index value and, at maturity, the PLUS pay the stated principal amount of $10 per PLUS. |
Downside Scenario | The underlying index declines in value and, at maturity, the PLUS pay an amount that is less than the stated principal amount by an amount that is proportionate to the percentage decline of the final index value from the initial index value. (Example: if the underlying index decreases in value by 20%, the PLUS will pay an amount that is less than the stated principal amount by 20%, or $8 per PLUS.) |
December 2018 | Page 3 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
How the PLUS Work
Payoff Diagram
The payoff diagram below illustrates the payment at maturity on the PLUS based on the following terms:
Stated principal amount: | $10 per PLUS |
Leverage factor: | 300% |
Hypothetical maximum payment at maturity: | $11.70 (117.00% of the stated principal amount) per PLUS (which represents the lowest hypothetical maximum payment at maturity)* |
*The actual maximum payment at maturity will be provided in the pricing supplement and will not be less than $11.70 per PLUS. |
PLUS Payoff Diagram |
How it works
§ | Upside Scenario. If the final index value is greater than the initial index value, for each $10 principal amount PLUS, investors will receive the $10 stated principal amount plus a return equal to 300% of the appreciation of the underlying index over the term of the PLUS, subject to the maximum payment at maturity. Under the hypothetical terms of the PLUS, an investor will realize the hypothetical maximum payment at maturity at a final index value of approximately 105.667% of the initial index value. |
§ | Par Scenario. If the final index value is equal to the initial index value, investors will receive the stated principal amount of $10 per PLUS. |
§ | Downside Scenario. If the final index value is less than the initial index value, investors will receive an amount that is less than the stated principal amount by an amount proportionate to the percentage decrease of the final index value from the initial index value. |
§ | For example, if the underlying index depreciates 50%, investors will lose 50% of their principal and receive only $5 per PLUS at maturity, or 50% of the stated principal amount. |
The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments on the PLUS shown above apply only if you hold the PLUS for their entire term. These hypotheticals do not reflect fees or expenses that would be associated with
December 2018 | Page 4 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
any sale in the secondary market. If these fees and expenses were included, the hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments shown above would likely be lower.
December 2018 | Page 5 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
Risk Factors
The following is a non-exhaustive list of certain key risk factors for investors in the PLUS. For further discussion of these and other risks, you should read the sections entitled “Risk Factors” of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers in connection with your investment in the PLUS.
§ | The PLUS do not pay interest or guarantee the return of any principal and your investment in the PLUS may result in a loss. The terms of the PLUS differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that the PLUS do not pay interest or guarantee the payment of any principal amount at maturity. If the final index value is less than the initial index value, the payment at maturity will be an amount in cash that is less than the stated principal amount of each PLUS by an amount proportionate to the decrease in the value of the underlying index and may be zero. |
§ | The appreciation potential of the PLUS is limited by the maximum payment at maturity. The appreciation potential of the PLUS is limited by the maximum payment at maturity of at least $11.70 (at least 117.00% of the stated principal amount) per PLUS. The actual maximum payment at maturity will be provided in the pricing supplement. Because the maximum payment at maturity will be limited to at least 117.00% of the stated principal amount for the PLUS, any increase in the final index value by more than approximately 5.667% (if the maximum payment at maturity is set at 117.00% of the stated principal amount) will not further increase the return on the PLUS. |
§ | The PLUS are subject to the credit risks of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co., and any actual or anticipated changes to our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the PLUS. Investors are dependent on our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay all amounts due on the PLUS. Any actual or anticipated decline in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit ratings or increase in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s credit spreads determined by the market for taking that credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the PLUS. If we and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the PLUS and you could lose your entire investment. |
§ | As a finance subsidiary, JPMorgan Financial has no independent operations and has limited assets. As a finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities. Aside from the initial capital contribution from JPMorgan Chase & Co., substantially all of our assets relate to obligations of our affiliates to make payments under loans made by us or other intercompany agreements. As a result, we are dependent upon payments from our affiliates to meet our obligations under the PLUS. If these affiliates do not make payments to us and we fail to make payments on the PLUS, you may have to seek payment under the related guarantee by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
§ | Economic interests of the issuer, the guarantor, the calculation agent, the agent of the offering of the PLUS and other affiliates of the issuer may be different from those of investors. We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the PLUS, including acting as calculation agent and as an agent of the offering of the PLUS, hedging our obligations under the PLUS and making the assumptions used to determine the pricing of the PLUS and the estimated value of the PLUS, which we refer to as the estimated value of the PLUS. In performing these duties, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests and the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the PLUS. The calculation agent will determine the initial index value and the final index value and will calculate the amount of payment you will receive at maturity, if any. Determinations made by the calculation agent, including with respect to the occurrence or non-occurrence of market disruption events, the selection of a successor to the underlying index or calculation of the final index value in the event of a discontinuation or material change in method of calculation of the underlying index, may affect the payment to you at maturity. |
In addition, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is currently one of the companies that make up the underlying index. JPMorgan Chase & Co. will not have any obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the PLUS in taking any corporate action that might affect the value of the underlying index or the PLUS.
Moreover, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s business activities, including hedging and trading activities, could cause our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests to be adverse to yours and could
December 2018 | Page 6 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
adversely affect any payment on the PLUS and the value of the PLUS. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates in connection with the PLUS could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the PLUS declines. Please refer to “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying product supplement for additional information about these risks.
§ | The estimated value of the PLUS will be lower than the original issue price (price to public) of the PLUS. The estimated value of the PLUS is only an estimate determined by reference to several factors. The original issue price of the PLUS will exceed the estimated value of the PLUS because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the PLUS are included in the original issue price of the PLUS. These costs include the selling commissions, the structuring fee, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the PLUS and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the PLUS. See “Additional Information about the PLUS — The estimated value of the PLUS” in this document. |
§ | The estimated value of the PLUS does not represent future values of the PLUS and may differ from others’ estimates. The estimated value of the PLUS is determined by reference to internal pricing models of our affiliates. This estimated value of the PLUS is based on market conditions and other relevant factors existing at the time of pricing and assumptions about market parameters, which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the PLUS that are greater than or less than the estimated value of the PLUS. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect. On future dates, the value of the PLUS could change significantly based on, among other things, changes in market conditions, our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness, interest rate movements and other relevant factors, which may impact the price, if any, at which JPMS would be willing to buy PLUS from you in secondary market transactions. See “Additional Information about the PLUS — The estimated value of the PLUS” in this document. |
§ | The estimated value of the PLUS is derived by reference to an internal funding rate. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the PLUS is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the PLUS as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the PLUS in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the PLUS and any secondary market prices of the PLUS. See “Additional Information about the PLUS — The estimated value of the PLUS” in this document. |
§ | The value of the PLUS as published by JPMS (and which may be reflected on customer account statements) may be higher than the then-current estimated value of the PLUS for a limited time period. We generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the PLUS will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your PLUS by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. These costs can include selling commissions, the structuring fee, projected hedging profits, if any, and, in some circumstances, estimated hedging costs and our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances. See “Additional Information about the PLUS — Secondary market prices of the PLUS” in this document for additional information relating to this initial period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your PLUS during this initial period may be lower than the value of the PLUS as published by JPMS (and which may be shown on your customer account statements). |
§ | Secondary market prices of the PLUS will likely be lower than the original issue price of the PLUS. Any secondary market prices of the PLUS will likely be lower than the original issue price of the PLUS because, among other things, secondary market prices take into account our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances and, also, because secondary market prices (a) exclude selling commissions and the structuring fee and (b) may exclude projected hedging profits, if any, and estimated hedging costs that are included in the original issue price of the PLUS. As a result, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to buy PLUS from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, is likely to be lower than the original issue price. Any sale by you prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you. See the immediately following risk factor for information about additional factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the PLUS. |
The PLUS are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your PLUS to maturity. See “— Secondary trading may be limited” below.
December 2018 | Page 7 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
§ | Secondary market prices of the PLUS will be impacted by many economic and market factors. The secondary market price of the PLUS during their term will be impacted by a number of economic and market factors, which may either offset or magnify each other, aside from the selling commissions, structuring fee, projected hedging profits, if any, estimated hedging costs and the closing level of the underlying index, including: |
o | any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads; |
o | customary bid-ask spreads for similarly sized trades; |
o | our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances; |
o | the actual and expected volatility of the underlying index; |
o | the time to maturity of the PLUS; |
o | the dividend rates on the equity securities included in the underlying index; |
o | interest and yield rates in the market generally; and |
o | a variety of other economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events. |
Additionally, independent pricing vendors and/or third party broker-dealers may publish a price for the PLUS, which may also be reflected on customer account statements. This price may be different (higher or lower) than the price of the PLUS, if any, at which JPMS may be willing to purchase your PLUS in the secondary market.
§ | Investing in the PLUS is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index. Investing in the PLUS is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index or its component stocks. Investors in the PLUS will not have voting rights or rights to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the stocks that constitute the underlying index. |
§ | Adjustments to the underlying index could adversely affect the value of the PLUS. The underlying index publisher may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of the underlying index at any time. In these circumstances, the calculation agent will have the sole discretion to substitute a successor index that is comparable to the discontinued underlying index and is not precluded from considering indices that are calculated and published by the calculation agent or any of its affiliates. |
§ | Hedging and trading activities by the issuer and its affiliates could potentially affect the value of the PLUS. The hedging or trading activities of the issuer’s affiliates and of any other hedging counterparty with respect to the PLUS on or prior to the pricing date and prior to maturity could adversely affect the value of the underlying index and, as a result, could decrease the amount an investor may receive on the PLUS at maturity, if any. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the pricing date could potentially affect the initial index value and, therefore, could potentially increase the level that the final index value must reach before you receive a payment at maturity that exceeds the issue price of the PLUS or so that you do not suffer a loss on your initial investment in the PLUS. Additionally, these hedging or trading activities during the term of the PLUS, including on the valuation date, could adversely affect the final index value and, accordingly, the amount of cash an investor will receive at maturity, if any. It is possible that these hedging or trading activities could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the PLUS declines. |
§ | Secondary trading may be limited. The PLUS will not be listed on a securities exchange. There may be little or no secondary market for the PLUS. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the PLUS easily. JPMS may act as a market maker for the PLUS, but is not required to do so. Because we do not expect that other market makers will participate significantly in the secondary market for the PLUS, the price at which you may be able to trade your PLUS is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which JPMS is willing to buy the PLUS. If at any time JPMS or another agent does not act as a market maker, it is likely that there would be little or no secondary market for the PLUS. |
§ | The final terms and valuation of the PLUS will be provided in the pricing supplement. The final terms of the PLUS will be provided in the pricing supplement. In particular, each of the estimated value of |
December 2018 | Page 8 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
the PLUS and the maximum payment at maturity will be provided in the pricing supplement and each may be as low as the applicable minimum set forth on the cover of this document. Accordingly, you should consider your potential investment in the PLUS based on the minimums for the estimated value of the PLUS and the maximum payment at maturity.
§ | The tax consequences of an investment in the PLUS are uncertain. There is no direct legal authority as to the proper U.S. federal income tax characterization of the PLUS, and we do not intend to request a ruling from the IRS. The IRS might not accept, and a court might not uphold, the treatment of the PLUS described in “Additional Information about the PLUS ― Additional Provisions ― Tax considerations” in this document and in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement. If the IRS were successful in asserting an alternative treatment for the PLUS, the timing and character of any income or loss on the PLUS could differ materially and adversely from our description herein. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the PLUS, possibly with retroactive effect. You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement and consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the PLUS, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice. |
December 2018 | Page 9 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
S&P 500® Index Overview
The S&P 500® Index, which is calculated, maintained and published by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, consists of stocks of 500 companies selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets. For additional information about the S&P 500® Index, see “Equity Index Descriptions — The S&P U.S. Indices” in the accompanying underlying supplement.
Information as of market close on November 29, 2018:
Bloomberg Ticker Symbol: | SPX |
Current Closing Level: | 2,737.76 |
52 Weeks Ago (on 11/29/17): | 2,626.07 |
52 Week High (on 9/20/2018): | 2,930.75 |
52 Week Low (on 2/8/2018): | 2,581.00 |
The following table sets forth the published high and low closing levels, as well as end-of-quarter closing levels, of the underlying index for each quarter in the period from January 1, 2013 through November 29, 2018. The graph following the table sets forth the daily closing levels of the underlying index during the same period. The closing level of the underlying index on November 29, 2018 was 2,737.76. We obtained the closing level information above and in the table and graph below from the Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”), without independent verification. The historical levels of the underlying index should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the closing level of the underlying index on the valuation date. The payment of dividends on the stocks that constitute the underlying index are not reflected in its closing level and, therefore, have no effect on the calculation of the payment at maturity.
S&P 500® Index | High | Low | Period End |
2013 | |||
First Quarter | 1,569.19 | 1,457.15 | 1,569.19 |
Second Quarter | 1,669.16 | 1,541.61 | 1,606.28 |
Third Quarter | 1,725.52 | 1,614.08 | 1,681.55 |
Fourth Quarter | 1,848.36 | 1,655.45 | 1,848.36 |
2014 | |||
First Quarter | 1,878.04 | 1,741.89 | 1,872.34 |
Second Quarter | 1,962.87 | 1,815.69 | 1,960.23 |
Third Quarter | 2,011.36 | 1,909.57 | 1,972.29 |
Fourth Quarter | 2,090.57 | 1,862.49 | 2,058.90 |
2015 | |||
First Quarter | 2,117.39 | 1,992.67 | 2,067.89 |
Second Quarter | 2,130.82 | 2,057.64 | 2,063.11 |
Third Quarter | 2,128.28 | 1,867.61 | 1,920.03 |
Fourth Quarter | 2,109.79 | 1,923.82 | 2,043.94 |
2016 | |||
First Quarter | 2,063.95 | 1,829.08 | 2,059.74 |
Second Quarter | 2,119.12 | 2,000.54 | 2,098.86 |
Third Quarter | 2,190.15 | 2,088.55 | 2,168.27 |
Fourth Quarter | 2,271.72 | 2,085.18 | 2,238.83 |
2017 | |||
First Quarter | 2,395.96 | 2,257.83 | 2,362.72 |
Second Quarter | 2,453.46 | 2,328.95 | 2,423.41 |
Third Quarter | 2,519.36 | 2,409.75 | 2,519.36 |
Fourth Quarter | 2,690.16 | 2,529.12 | 2,673.61 |
2018 | |||
First Quarter | 2,872.87 | 2,581.00 | 2,640.87 |
Second Quarter | 2,786.85 | 2,581.88 | 2,718.37 |
Third Quarter | 2,930.75 | 2,713.22 | 2,913.98 |
Fourth Quarter (through November 29, 2018) | 2,925.51 | 2,632.56 | 2,737.76 |
December 2018 | Page 10 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
S&P 500® Index Historical Performance – Daily Closing Levels January 2, 2013 to November 29, 2018 |
License Agreement. “Standard & Poor’s®,” “S&P®,” “S&P 500®” and “Standard & Poor’s 500” are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and have been licensed for use by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates, including JPMorgan Financial. See “Equity Index Descriptions — The S&P U.S. Indices — License Agreement” in the accompanying underlying supplement.
Additional Information about the PLUS
Please read this information in conjunction with the summary terms on the front cover of this document.
Additional Provisions: | |
Postponement of maturity date: | If the scheduled maturity date is not a business day, then the maturity date will be the following business day. If the scheduled valuation date is not a trading day or if a market disruption event occurs on that day so that the valuation date is postponed and falls less than three business days prior to the scheduled maturity date, the maturity date of the PLUS will be postponed to the third business day following the valuation date as postponed. |
Minimum ticketing size: | $1,000 / 100 PLUS |
Trustee: | Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly Bankers Trust Company) |
Calculation agent: | JPMS |
The estimated value of the PLUS: | The estimated value of the PLUS set forth on the cover of this document is equal to the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components: (1) a fixed-income debt component with the same maturity as the PLUS, valued using the internal funding rate described below, and (2) the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the PLUS. The estimated value of the PLUS does not represent a minimum price at which JPMS would be willing to buy your PLUS in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the PLUS is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the PLUS as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the PLUS in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. For additional information, see “Risk Factors — The estimated value of the PLUS is derived by reference to an internal funding rate” in this document. The value of the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the PLUS is derived from internal pricing models of our affiliates. These models are dependent on inputs such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on various other inputs, some of which are market-observable, and which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors, as well as assumptions about future market events and/or environments. Accordingly, the estimated value of the PLUS on the pricing date is based on market |
December 2018 | Page 11 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
conditions and other relevant factors and assumptions existing at that time. See “Risk Factors — The estimated value of the PLUS does not represent future values of the PLUS and may differ from others’ estimates” in this document. The estimated value of the PLUS will be lower than the original issue price of the PLUS because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the PLUS are included in the original issue price of the PLUS. These costs include the selling commissions paid to JPMS and other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, the structuring fee, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the PLUS and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the PLUS. Because hedging our obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or it may result in a loss. We or one or more of our affiliates will retain any profits realized in hedging our obligations under the PLUS. See “Risk Factors — The estimated value of the PLUS will be lower than the original issue price (price to public) of the PLUS” in this document. | |
Secondary market prices of the PLUS: | For information about factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the PLUS, see “Risk Factors — Secondary market prices of the PLUS will be impacted by many economic and market factors” in this document. In addition, we generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the PLUS will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your PLUS by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period that is intended to be the shorter of two years and one-half of the stated term of the PLUS. The length of any such initial period reflects the structure of the PLUS, whether our affiliates expect to earn a profit in connection with our hedging activities, the estimated costs of hedging the PLUS and when these costs are incurred, as determined by our affiliates. See “Risk Factors — The value of the PLUS as published by JPMS (and which may be reflected on customer account statements) may be higher than the then-current estimated value of the PLUS for a limited time period.” |
Tax considerations: |
You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement no. MS-1-I. The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the PLUS. Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel, your PLUS should be treated as “open transactions” that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as more fully described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences — Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Notes Treated as Open Transactions That Are Not Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement. Assuming this treatment is respected, the gain or loss on your PLUS should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your PLUS for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of PLUS at the issue price. However, the IRS or a court may not respect this treatment of the PLUS, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on the PLUS could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the PLUS, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the PLUS, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice. Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax (unless an income tax treaty applies) on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. Section 871(m) provides certain exceptions to this withholding regime, including for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices that meet requirements set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (such an index, a “Qualified Index”). Additionally, a recent IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued prior to January 1, 2021 that do not have a delta of one with respect to underlying securities that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each an “Underlying Security”). Based on certain determinations made by us, we expect that Section 871(m) will not apply to the PLUS |
December 2018 | Page 12 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
with regard to Non-U.S. Holders. Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security. If necessary, further information regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) will be provided in the pricing supplement for the PLUS. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the PLUS. Withholding under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” may (if the PLUS are recharacterized as debt instruments) apply to amounts treated as interest paid with respect to the PLUS, as well as to payments of gross proceeds of a taxable disposition, including redemption at maturity, of a PLUS. However, under a 2015 IRS notice, this regime will not apply to payments of gross proceeds (other than any amount treated as interest) with respect to dispositions occurring before January 1, 2019. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of FATCA to the PLUS. | |
Supplemental use of proceeds and hedging: |
The PLUS are offered to meet investor demand for products that reflect the risk-return profile and market exposure provided by the PLUS. See “How the PLUS Work” in this document for an illustration of the risk-return profile of the PLUS and “S&P 500® Index Overview” in this document for a description of the market exposure provided by the PLUS. The original issue price of the PLUS is equal to the estimated value of the PLUS plus the selling commissions paid to JPMS and other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers and the structuring fee, plus (minus) the projected profits (losses) that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the PLUS, plus the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the PLUS. |
Benefit plan investor considerations: | See “Benefit Plan Investor Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement. |
Supplemental plan of distribution: |
Subject to regulatory constraints, JPMS intends to use its reasonable efforts to offer to purchase the PLUS in the secondary market, but is not required to do so. JPMS, acting as agent for JPMorgan Financial, will pay all of the selling commissions it receives from us to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. In addition, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management will receive a structuring fee as set forth on the cover of this document for each PLUS. We or our affiliate may enter into swap agreements or related hedge transactions with one of our other affiliates or unaffiliated counterparties in connection with the sale of the PLUS and JPMS and/or an affiliate may earn additional income as a result of payments pursuant to the swap or related hedge transactions. See “— Supplemental use of proceeds and hedging” above and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement. We expect that delivery of the PLUS will be made against payment for the PLUS on or about the original issue date set forth on the front cover of this document, which will be the third business day following the pricing date of the PLUS (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade PLUS on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisors. |
Contact: | Morgan Stanley Wealth Management clients may contact their local Morgan Stanley branch office or Morgan Stanley’s principal executive offices at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 (telephone number (800) 869-3326). |
Where you can find more information: |
You may revoke your offer to purchase the PLUS at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the applicable agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase, the PLUS prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the PLUS, we will notify you and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase. You may also choose to reject such changes in which case we may reject your offer to purchase. You should read this document together with the accompanying prospectus, as supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to our Series A medium-term notes of which these PLUS are a part, and the more detailed information contained in the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. This document, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the PLUS 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, stand-alone fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement, as the PLUS involve risks not associated with |
December 2018 | Page 13 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due April 3, 2020
Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM
Principal at Risk Securities
conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the PLUS. You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website): • Product supplement no. MS-1-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004523/dp87526_424b2-ms1i.pdf • Underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004514/crt_dp87766-424b2.pdf • Prospectus supplement and prospectus, each dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004508/dp87767_424b2-ps.pdf Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1665650, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CIK is 19617. As used in this document, “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Financial. “Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM” and “PLUSSM” are service marks of Morgan Stanley. |
December 2018 | Page 14 |