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 December 12, 2018
December , 2018 | Registration Statement Nos. 333-222672 and 333-222672-01; Rule 424(b)(2) |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC
Structured Investments
Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM due December 31, 2020
Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
· | The notes are designed for investors who seek a return of 2.00 times any appreciation of the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM, up to a maximum return of at least 24.00%, at maturity. |
· | Investors should be willing to forgo interest payments and be willing to lose up to 90.00% of their principal amount at maturity. |
· | The notes 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. Any payment on the notes is subject to the credit risk of JPMorgan Financial, as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as guarantor of the notes. |
· | Minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof |
· | The notes are expected to price on or about December 21, 2018 and are expected to settle on or about December 27, 2018. |
· | CUSIP: 48130UPS8 |
Investing in the notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page PS-9 of the accompanying product supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page US-1 of the accompanying underlying supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-4 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying product supplement, underlying supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Price to Public (1) | Fees and Commissions (2) | Proceeds to Issuer | |
Per note | $1,000 | — | $1,000 |
Total | $ | — | $ |
(1) See “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” in this pricing supplement for information about the components of the price to public of the notes. (2) All sales of the notes will be made to certain fee-based advisory accounts for which an affiliated or unaffiliated broker-dealer is an investment adviser. These broker-dealers will forgo any commissions related to these sales. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement. |
If the notes priced today, the estimated value of the notes would be approximately $984.80 per $1,000 principal amount note. The estimated value of the notes, when the terms of the notes are set, will be provided in the pricing supplement and will not be less than $970.00 per $1,000 principal amount note. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement for additional information.
The notes 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.
Pricing supplement to product supplement no. 2-I
dated April 5, 2018, underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018
and the prospectus and prospectus supplement, each dated April 5, 2018
Key Terms
Issuer: JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, an indirect, wholly owned finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Guarantor: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Index: The Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM (Bloomberg ticker: BCOM)
Maximum Return: At least 24.00% (corresponding to a maximum payment at maturity of at least $1,240.00 per $1,000 principal amount note) (to be provided in the pricing supplement)
Upside Leverage Factor: 2.00
Buffer Amount: 10.00%
Pricing Date: On or about December 21, 2018
Original Issue Date (Settlement Date): On or about December 27, 2018
Observation Date*: December 28, 2020
Maturity Date*: December 31, 2020
* Subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Determination Date — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying — Notes Linked to a Single Index” and “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Payment Date” in the accompanying product supplement or early acceleration in the event of a commodity hedging disruption event as described under “General Terms of Notes — Consequences of a Commodity Hedging Disruption Event — Acceleration of the Notes” in the accompanying product supplement and in “Selected Risk Considerations — We May Accelerate Your Notes If a Commodity Hedging Disruption Event Occurs” in this pricing supplement
Payment at Maturity:
If the Final Value is greater than the Initial Value, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows:
$1,000 + ($1,000 × Index Return × Upside Leverage Factor), subject to the Maximum Return
If the Final Value is equal to the Initial Value or is less than the Initial Value by up to the Buffer Amount, you will receive the principal amount of your notes at maturity.
If the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than the Buffer Amount, your payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note will be calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (Index Return + Buffer Amount)]
If the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than the Buffer Amount, you will lose some or most of your principal amount at maturity.
Index Return:
(Final Value –
Initial Value)
Initial Value
Initial Value: The closing level of the Index on the Pricing Date
Final Value: The closing level of the Index on the Observation Date
PS-1 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
Hypothetical Payout Profile
The following table illustrates the hypothetical total return and payment at maturity on the notes linked to a hypothetical Index. The “total return” as used in this pricing supplement is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount note to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns and payments set forth below assume the following:
· | an Initial Value of 100.00; |
· | a Maximum Return of 24.00%; |
· | an Upside Leverage Factor of 2.00; and |
· | a Buffer Amount of 10.00%. |
The hypothetical Initial Value of 100.00 has been chosen for illustrative purposes only and may not represent a likely actual Initial Value. The actual Initial Value will be the closing level of the Index on the Pricing Date and will be provided in the pricing supplement. For historical data regarding the actual closing levels of the Index, please see the historical information set forth under “The Index” in this pricing supplement.
Each hypothetical total return or hypothetical payment at maturity set forth below is for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total return or payment at maturity applicable to a purchaser of the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table have been rounded for ease of analysis.
Final Value | Index Return | Total Return on the Notes | Payment at Maturity |
180.00 | 80.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
165.00 | 65.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
150.00 | 50.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
140.00 | 40.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
130.00 | 30.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
120.00 | 20.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
112.00 | 12.00% | 24.00% | $1,240.00 |
110.00 | 10.00% | 20.00% | $1,200.00 |
105.00 | 5.00% | 10.00% | $1,100.00 |
101.00 | 1.00% | 2.00% | $1,020.00 |
100.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | $1,000.00 |
95.00 | -5.00% | 0.00% | $1,000.00 |
90.00 | -10.00% | 0.00% | $1,000.00 |
85.00 | -15.00% | -5.00% | $950.00 |
80.00 | -20.00% | -10.00% | $900.00 |
70.00 | -30.00% | -20.00% | $800.00 |
60.00 | -40.00% | -30.00% | $700.00 |
50.00 | -50.00% | -40.00% | $600.00 |
40.00 | -60.00% | -50.00% | $500.00 |
30.00 | -70.00% | -60.00% | $400.00 |
20.00 | -80.00% | -70.00% | $300.00 |
10.00 | -90.00% | -80.00% | $200.00 |
0.00 | -100.00% | -90.00% | $100.00 |
PS-2 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
How the Notes Work
Upside Scenario:
If the Final Value is greater than the Initial Value, investors will receive at maturity the $1,000 principal amount plus a return equal to the Index Return times the Upside Leverage Factor of 2.00, subject to the Maximum Return of at least 24.00%. Assuming a hypothetical Maximum Return of 24.00%, an investor will realize the maximum payment at maturity at a Final Value at or above 112.00% of the Initial Value.
· | If the closing level of the Index increases 5.00%, investors will receive at maturity a 10.00% return, or $1,100.00 per $1,000 principal amount note. |
· | Assuming a hypothetical Maximum Return of 24.00%, if the closing level of the Index increases 40.00%, investors will receive at maturity a return equal to the 24.00% Maximum Return, or $1,240.00 per $1,000 principal amount note, which is the maximum payment at maturity. |
Par Scenario:
If the Final Value is equal to the Initial Value or is less than the Initial Value by up to the Buffer Amount of 10.00%, investors will receive at maturity the principal amount of their notes.
Downside Scenario:
If the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than the Buffer Amount of 10.00%, investors will lose 1% of the principal amount of their notes for every 1% that the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than the Buffer Amount.
· | For example, if the closing level of the Index declines 60.00%, investors will lose 50.00% of their principal amount and receive only $500.00 per $1,000 principal amount note at maturity. |
The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments on the notes shown above apply only if you hold the notes for their entire term. These hypotheticals do not reflect the fees or expenses that would be associated with 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.
PS-3 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and underlying supplement.
· | YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES MAY RESULT IN A LOSS — |
The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than 10.00%, you will lose 1% of the principal amount of your notes for every 1% that the Final Value is less than the Initial Value by more than 10.00%. Accordingly, under these circumstances, you will lose up to 90.00% of your principal amount at maturity.
· | YOUR MAXIMUM GAIN ON THE NOTES IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM RETURN, |
regardless of any appreciation of the Index, which may be significant.
· | CREDIT RISKS OF JPMORGAN FINANCIAL AND JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. — |
Investors are dependent on our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ability to pay all amounts due on the notes. Any actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads, as determined by the market for taking that credit risk, is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. If we and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on our payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the notes 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 notes. If these affiliates do not make payments to us and we fail to make payments on the notes, 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.
· | POTENTIAL CONFLICTS — |
We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the notes. In performing these duties, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates in connection with the notes could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the notes declines. Please refer to “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying product supplement.
· | THE NOTES DO NOT PAY INTEREST. |
· | YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMODITY FUTURE CONTRACTS INCLUDED IN THE INDEX. |
· | WE MAY ACCELERATE YOUR NOTES IF A COMMODITY HEDGING DISRUPTION EVENT OCCURS — |
If we or our affiliates are unable to effect transactions necessary to hedge our obligations under the notes due to a commodity hedging disruption event, we may, in our sole and absolute discretion, accelerate the payment on your notes and pay you an amount determined in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner by the calculation agent. If the payment on your notes is accelerated, your investment may result in a loss and you may not be able to reinvest your money in a comparable investment. Please see “General Terms of Notes — Consequences of a Commodity Hedging Disruption Event — Acceleration of the Notes” in the accompanying product supplement for more information.
· | COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACTS ARE SUBJECT TO UNCERTAIN LEGAL AND REGULATORY REGIMES — |
The commodity futures contracts that underlie the Index are subject to legal and regulatory regimes that may change in ways that could adversely affect our ability to hedge our obligations under the notes and affect the level of the Index. Any future regulatory changes, including but not limited to changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), may have a substantial adverse effect on the value of your notes. Additionally, under authority provided by the Dodd-Frank Act, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on December 5, 2016 proposed rules to establish position limits that will apply to 25 agricultural, metals and energy futures contracts and futures, options and swaps that are economically equivalent to those futures contracts. The limits would apply to a person’s combined position in futures, options and swaps on the
PS-4 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
same underlying commodity. The rules, if enacted in their proposed form, may reduce liquidity in the exchange-traded market for those commodity-based futures contracts, which may, in turn, have an adverse effect on any payments on the notes. Furthermore, we or our affiliates may be unable as a result of those restrictions to effect transactions necessary to hedge our obligations under the notes resulting in a commodity hedging disruption event, in which case we may, in our sole and absolute discretion, accelerate your notes. See “— We May Accelerate Your Notes If a Commodity Hedging Disruption Event Occurs” above.
· | PRICES OF COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH AND UNPREDICTABLE VOLATILITY, WHICH COULD LEAD TO HIGH AND UNPREDICTABLE VOLATILITY IN THE INDEX — |
Market prices of the commodity futures contracts included in the Index tend to be highly volatile and may fluctuate rapidly based on numerous factors, including changes in supply and demand relationships, governmental programs and policies, national and international monetary, trade, political and economic events, wars and acts of terror, changes in interest and exchange rates, speculation and trading activities in commodities and related contracts, weather, and agricultural, trade, fiscal and exchange control policies. The prices of commodities and commodity futures contracts are subject to variables that may be less significant to the values of traditional securities, such as stocks and bonds. These variables may create additional investment risks that cause the value of the notes to be more volatile than the values of traditional securities. As a general matter, the risk of low liquidity or volatile pricing around the maturity date of a commodity futures contract is greater than in the case of other futures contracts because (among other factors) a number of market participants take physical delivery of the underlying commodities. Many commodities are also highly cyclical. The high volatility and cyclical nature of commodity markets may render such an investment inappropriate as the focus of an investment portfolio.
· | A DECISION BY AN EXCHANGE ON WHICH THE COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACTS UNDERLYING THE INDEX ARE TRADED TO INCREASE MARGIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE FUTURES CONTRACTS MAY AFFECT THE LEVEL OF THE INDEX — |
If an exchange on which the commodity futures contracts underlying the Index are traded increases the amount of collateral required to be posted to hold positions in those futures contracts (i.e., the margin requirements), market participants who are unwilling or unable to post additional collateral may liquidate their positions, which may cause the level of the Index to decline significantly.
· | THE NOTES DO NOT OFFER DIRECT EXPOSURE TO COMMODITY SPOT PRICES WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX — |
The notes are linked to the Index, which tracks commodity futures contracts, not physical commodities (or their spot prices). The price of a futures contract reflects the expected value of the commodity upon delivery in the future, whereas the spot price of a commodity reflects the immediate delivery value of the commodity. A variety of factors can lead to a disparity between the expected future price of a commodity and the spot price at a given point in time, such as the cost of storing the commodity for the term of the futures contract, interest charges incurred to finance the purchase of the commodity and expectations concerning supply and demand for the commodity. The price movements of a futures contract are typically correlated with the movements of the spot price of the referenced commodity, but the correlation is generally imperfect and price movements in the spot market may not be reflected in the futures market (and vice versa). Accordingly, the notes may underperform a similar investment that is linked to commodity spot prices.
· | HIGHER FUTURES PRICES OF THE COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACTS UNDERLYING THE INDEX RELATIVE TO THE CURRENT PRICES OF THOSE CONTRACTS MAY AFFECT THE LEVEL OF THE INDEX AND THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — |
The Index is composed of futures contracts on physical commodities. Unlike equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, commodity futures contracts normally specify a certain date for delivery of the underlying physical commodity. As the exchange-traded futures contracts that compose the Index approach expiration, they are replaced by contracts that have a later expiration. Thus, for example, a contract purchased and held in August may specify an October expiration. As time passes, the contract expiring in October is replaced with a contract for delivery in November. This process is referred to as “rolling.” If the market for these contracts is (putting aside other considerations) in “contango,” where the prices are higher in the distant delivery months than in the nearer delivery months, the purchase of the November contract would take place at a price that is higher than the price of the October contract, thereby creating a negative “roll yield.” Contango could adversely affect the level of the Index and thus the value of notes linked to the Index. The futures contracts underlying the Index have historically been in contango.
PS-5 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
· | SUSPENSION OR DISRUPTIONS OF MARKET TRADING IN THE COMMODITY MARKETS AND RELATED FUTURES MARKETS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE LEVEL OF THE INDEX, AND THEREFORE THE VALUE OF THE NOTES — |
The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, the participation of speculators and government regulation and intervention. In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the level of the Index and, therefore, the value of your notes.
· | THE NOTES ARE LINKED TO AN EXCESS RETURN INDEX AND NOT A TOTAL RETURN INDEX — |
The notes are linked to an excess return index and not a total return index. An excess return index, such as the Index, reflects the returns that are potentially available through an unleveraged investment in the contracts composing that index. By contrast, a “total return” index, in addition to reflecting those returns, also reflects interest that could be earned on funds committed to the trading of the underlying futures contracts.
· | LACK OF LIQUIDITY — |
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Accordingly, the price at which you may be able to trade your notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as JPMS, is willing to buy the notes. You may not be able to sell your notes. The notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your notes to maturity.
· | THE FINAL TERMS AND VALUATION OF THE NOTES WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PRICING SUPPLEMENT — |
You should consider your potential investment in the notes based on the minimums for the estimated value of the notes and the Maximum Return.
· | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES WILL BE LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE PRICE (PRICE TO PUBLIC) OF THE NOTES — |
The estimated value of the notes is only an estimate determined by reference to several factors. The original issue price of the notes will exceed the estimated value of the notes because costs associated with structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
· | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES DOES NOT REPRESENT FUTURE VALUES OF THE NOTES AND MAY DIFFER FROM OTHERS’ ESTIMATES — |
See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
· | THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES IS DERIVED BY REFERENCE TO AN INTERNAL FUNDING RATE — |
The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes 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 notes and any secondary market prices of the notes. See “The Estimated Value of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
· | THE VALUE OF THE NOTES AS PUBLISHED BY JPMS (AND WHICH MAY BE REFLECTED ON CUSTOMER ACCOUNT STATEMENTS) MAY BE HIGHER THAN THE THEN-CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES FOR A LIMITED TIME PERIOD — |
We generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. See “Secondary Market Prices of the Notes” in this pricing supplement for additional information relating to this initial period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your notes during this initial period may be lower than the value of the notes as published by JPMS (and which may be shown on your customer account statements).
PS-6 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
· | SECONDARY MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES WILL LIKELY BE LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ISSUE PRICE OF THE NOTES — |
Any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the original issue price of the notes 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 may exclude projected hedging profits, if any, and estimated hedging costs that are included in the original issue price of the notes. As a result, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to buy the notes 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.
· | SECONDARY MARKET PRICES OF THE NOTES WILL BE IMPACTED BY MANY ECONOMIC AND MARKET FACTORS — |
The secondary market price of the notes 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 projected hedging profits, if any, estimated hedging costs and the price of the Index. Additionally, independent pricing vendors and/or third party broker-dealers may publish a price for the notes, which may also be reflected on customer account statements. This price may be different (higher or lower) than the price of the notes, if any, at which JPMS may be willing to purchase your notes in the secondary market. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes — Secondary market prices of the notes will be impacted by many economic and market factors” in the accompanying product supplement.
PS-7 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
The Index
The Index is composed of exchange-traded futures contracts on physical commodities and is designed to be a diversified benchmark for commodities as an asset class. Its component weightings are determined primarily based on liquidity data, which is the relative amount of trading activity of a particular commodity. The Index is an excess return index and not a total return index. An excess return index reflects the returns that are potentially available through an unleveraged investment in the contracts composing the index. By contrast, a “total return” index, in addition to reflecting those returns, also reflects interest that could be earned on funds committed to the trading of the underlying futures contracts. See “Commodity Index Descriptions — The Bloomberg Commodity Indices” in the accompanying underlying supplement.
Historical Information
The following graph sets forth the historical performance of the Index based on the weekly historical closing levels of the Index from January 4, 2013 through December 7, 2018. The closing level of the Index on December 11, 2018 is 82.6215. We obtained the closing levels above and below from the Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”), without independent verification.
The historical closing levels of the Index should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the closing level of the Index on the Pricing Date or the Observation Date. There can be no assurance that the performance of the Index will result in the return of any of your principal amount in excess of $100.00 per $1,000 principal amount note, subject to the credit risks of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Tax Treatment
You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement no. 2-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 notes.
Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel it is reasonable to treat the notes 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 notes should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your notes for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of notes at the issue price. However, the IRS or a court may not respect this treatment, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on the notes 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
PS-8 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
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 notes, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.
Withholding under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” may (if the notes are recharacterized as debt instruments) apply to amounts treated as interest paid with respect to the notes, as well as to payments of gross proceeds of a taxable disposition, including redemption at maturity, of a note. 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 notes.
The Estimated Value of the Notes
The estimated value of the notes set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement 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 notes, valued using the internal funding rate described below, and (2) the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes. The estimated value of the notes does not represent a minimum price at which JPMS would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the notes is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the notes as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the notes in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. For additional information, see “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate” in this pricing supplement.
The value of the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the notes 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, interest rates and other factors, as well as assumptions about future market events and/or environments. Accordingly, the estimated value of the notes is determined when the terms of the notes are set based on market conditions and other relevant factors and assumptions existing at that time.
The estimated value of the notes does not represent future values of the notes and may differ from others’ estimates. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the notes that are greater than or less than the estimated value of the notes. 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 notes 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 notes from you in secondary market transactions.
The estimated value of the notes will be lower than the original issue price of the notes because costs associated with structuring and hedging the notes are included in the original issue price of the notes. These costs include the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes. 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. A portion of the profits, if any, realized in hedging our obligations under the notes may be allowed to other affiliated or unaffiliated dealers, and we or one or more of our affiliates will retain any remaining hedging profits. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Estimated Value of the Notes Will Be Lower Than the Original Issue Price (Price to Public) of the Notes” in this pricing supplement.
Secondary Market Prices of the Notes
For information about factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the notes, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Estimated Value and Secondary Market Prices of the Notes — Secondary market prices of the notes will be impacted by many economic and market factors” in the accompanying product supplement. In addition, we generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the notes will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your notes by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. These costs can include projected hedging profits, if
PS-9 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |
any, and, in some circumstances, estimated hedging costs and our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances. This initial predetermined time period is intended to be the shorter of six months and one-half of the stated term of the notes. The length of any such initial period reflects the structure of the notes, whether our affiliates expect to earn a profit in connection with our hedging activities, the estimated costs of hedging the notes and when these costs are incurred, as determined by our affiliates. See “Selected Risk Considerations — The Value of the Notes as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Notes for a Limited Time Period” in this pricing supplement.
Supplemental Use of Proceeds
The notes are offered to meet investor demand for products that reflect the risk-return profile and market exposure provided by the notes. See “Hypothetical Payout Profile” and “How the Notes Work” in this pricing supplement for an illustration of the risk-return profile of the notes and “The Index” in this pricing supplement for a description of the market exposure provided by the notes.
The original issue price of the notes is equal to the estimated value of the notes plus (minus) the projected profits (losses) that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the notes, plus the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the notes.
Supplemental Plan of Distribution
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment for the notes on or about the Original Issue Date set forth on the front cover of this pricing supplement, which will be the third business day following the Pricing Date of the notes (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 notes 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.
Additional Terms Specific to the Notes
You may revoke your offer to purchase the notes 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 notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the notes, 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 pricing supplement together with the accompanying prospectus, as supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to our Series A medium-term notes of which these notes are a part, and the more detailed information contained in the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the notes and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. 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 notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
· | Product supplement no. 2-I dated April 5, 2018: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004517/dp87531_424b2-ps2i.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 pricing supplement, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Financial.
PS-10 | Structured Investments Capped Buffered Return Enhanced Notes Linked to the Bloomberg Commodity IndexSM |