Registration Statement No. 333-217200

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

 Subject to Completion, dated January 16, 2018

Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated April 27, 2017
the Prospectus Supplement dated April 27, 2017, and the Product Supplement dated May 1, 2017

 

Autocallable Cash-Settled Notes with Fixed Interest Payments due April 18, 2019

 

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This pricing supplement relates an offering of Autocallable Cash-Settled Notes with Fixed Interest Payments linked to the Lesser Performing of the S&P 500® Index, the Russell 2000® Index, the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF and the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (the “Underlying Assets”).

 

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The notes are designed for investors who are seeking fixed periodic interest payments equal to 0.875% of the principal amount per month, as well as a return of principal if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset on any Call Date beginning on July 13, 2018 is greater than 100% of its Initial Level (the “Call Level”). Investors should be willing to have their notes automatically redeemed prior to maturity and be willing to lose some or all of their principal at maturity.

 

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The notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 0.875% of the principal amount per month ($8.75 per $1,000 in principal amount). Any interest will be payable on the 18th day of each month or the next business day (if not a business day), beginning on February 19, 2018, until April 18, 2019, subject to the automatic redemption feature.

 

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If on any Call Date beginning on July 13, 2018, the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset is greater than its Call Level, the notes will be automatically called. On the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, investors will receive the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment.

 

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The notes do not guarantee any return of principal at maturity. Instead, if the notes are not automatically called, the payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level of each Underlying Asset and whether the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset has declined from its Initial Level below its Trigger Level during the Monitoring Period (a “Trigger Event”), as described below.

 

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If the notes are not automatically redeemed, and a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, investors will be subject to one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any percentage decrease in the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset from its Initial Level to its Final Level. In such a case, you will receive a cash amount at maturity that is less than the principal amount.

 

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The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

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All payments on the notes are subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.

 

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The offering is expected to price on or about January 16, 2018, and the notes are expected to settle through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about January 19, 2018.

 

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The notes are scheduled to mature on or about April 18, 2019.

 

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The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.

 

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Our subsidiary, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), is the agent for this offering.  See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” below.

Autocallable Note Number	Underlying Assets	Ticker Symbols	Initial Levels	Trigger Levels (% of the Initial Levels)	CUSIP	Principal Amount	Price to Public(1)	Agent’s Commission(1)	Proceeds to Bank of Montreal
ARC340	S&P 500® Index Russell 2000® Index	SPX RTY		65.00% 65.00%	06367TX62		100.00%	0.25% US$	99.75% US$
	VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	GDX EEM		65.00% 65.00%
(1)   Certain dealers who purchase the notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all of their selling concessions, fees or commissions. The public offering price for investors purchasing the notes in these accounts may be between $997.50 and $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount.

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS

 

 

                    

 

 

 

Additional Terms of the Notes

 

You should read this pricing supplement together with the product supplement dated May 1, 2017, the prospectus supplement dated April 27, 2017 and the prospectus dated April 27, 2017. 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 or the agent. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” in the product supplement, as the notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the notes.

 

 

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Product supplement dated May 1, 2017: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000121465917002863/p427170424b5.htm

 

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Prospectus supplement dated April 27, 2017: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312517142764/d381374d424b5.htm

 

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Prospectus dated April 27, 2017: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/927971/000119312517142728/d254784d424b2.htm

 

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

 

We have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this document relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and the other documents that we have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering.  You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, we will arrange to send to you the prospectus (as supplemented by the prospectus supplement and product supplement) if you request it by calling our agent toll-free at 1-877-369-5412.

 

 

Selected Risk Considerations

 

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

 

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Your investment in the notes may result in a loss. — The notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the notes are not automatically redeemed, the payment at maturity will be based on whether a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and whether the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level.  If a Trigger Event has occurred with respect to any Underlying Asset, and if the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will be subject to a one-for-one loss of the principal amount of the notes for any Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset from its Initial Level. In such a case, you will receive at maturity a cash payment that is less than the principal amount of the notes and may be zero. Accordingly, you could lose up to the entire principal amount of your notes.

 

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The protection provided by the Trigger Level of an Underlying Asset may terminate on any day during the Monitoring Period. — If the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset on any trading day during the Monitoring Period is less than its Trigger Level and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, you will be fully exposed at maturity to any decrease in the value of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.  Under these circumstances, if the Percentage Change of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset on the Valuation Date is less than zero, you will lose 1% (or a fraction thereof) of the principal amount of your investment for every 1% (or a fraction thereof) that the Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level. You will be subject to this potential loss of principal even if, after the Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset, the value of each Underlying Asset increases above its Trigger Level.

 

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Your notes are subject to automatic early redemption. — We will redeem the notes if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset on any Call Date specified above is greater than its Call Level. Following an automatic redemption, you will not receive any additional interest payments on the notes, and you may not be able to reinvest your proceeds in an investment with returns that are comparable to the notes.

 

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Your return on the notes is limited to the interest payments, regardless of any appreciation in the value of any Underlying Asset. — You will not receive a payment at maturity with a value greater than your principal amount plus the final interest payment.  In addition, if the notes are automatically called, you will not receive a payment greater than the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment, even if the Final Level of an Underlying Asset exceeds its Call Level by a substantial amount.  Accordingly, your maximum return for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes is equal to the 15 monthly payments of $8.75, or approximately $131.25, a return of 13.125%.

 

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Your investment is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal. — Our credit ratings and credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the notes. Investors are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Any decline in our credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking our credit risk is likely to adversely affect the value of the notes.

 

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Your payment at maturity may be determined solely by reference to the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, even if the other Underlying Asset performs better. — If a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset and the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level, your payment at maturity will be determined by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.  Even if the other Underlying Asset has appreciated in value compared to its Initial Level, or has experienced a decline that is less than that of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, your return at maturity will only be determined by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset.

 

 

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The payments on the notes will be determined by reference to each Underlying Asset individually, not to a basket, and the payments on the notes will be based on the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset. — The payment at maturity if a Trigger Event occurs, will be determined only by reference to the performance of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset, regardless of the performance of the other Underlying Asset. The notes are not linked to a weighted basket, in which the risk may be mitigated and diversified among each of the basket components. For example, in the case of notes linked to a weighted basket, the return would depend on the weighted aggregate performance of the basket components reflected as the basket return. As a result, the depreciation of one basket component could be mitigated by the appreciation of the other basket components, as scaled by the weighting of that basket component. However, in the case of the notes, the individual performance of each Underlying Asset would not be combined, and the depreciation of one Underlying Asset would not be mitigated by any appreciation of the other Underlying Assets. Instead, your return at maturity will depend solely on the Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset if a Trigger Event occurs.

 

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Potential conflicts. — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the notes, including acting as calculation agent. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also engage in trading of shares of the Underlying Assets that are ETFs or the securities represented or held by the Underlying Assets on a regular basis as part of our general broker-dealer and other businesses, for proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for our customers. Any of these activities could adversely affect the value of an Underlying Asset and, therefore, the market value of the notes. We or one or more of our affiliates may also issue or underwrite other securities or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of the Underlying Assets. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we or one or more of our affiliates could adversely affect the market value of the notes.

 

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Our initial estimated value of the notes will be lower than the price to public. — Our initial estimated value of the notes is only an estimate, and is based on a number of factors.  The price to public of the notes will exceed our initial estimated value, because costs associated with offering, structuring and hedging the notes are included in the price to public, but are not included in the estimated value.  These costs include the underwriting discount and selling concessions, the profits that we and our affiliates expect to realize for assuming the risks in hedging our obligations under the notes and the estimated cost of hedging these obligations.  The initial estimated value may be as low as the amount indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement.

 

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Our initial estimated value does not represent any future value of the notes, and may also differ from the estimated value of any other party. — Our initial estimated value of the notes as of the date of this preliminary pricing supplement is, and our estimated value as determined on the Pricing Date will be, derived using our internal pricing models.  This value is based on market conditions and other relevant factors, which include volatility of the Underlying Assets, dividend rates and interest rates.  Different pricing models and assumptions could provide values for the notes that are greater than or less than our initial estimated value.  In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors after the Pricing Date are expected to change, possibly rapidly, and our assumptions may prove to be incorrect.  After the Pricing Date, the value of the notes could change dramatically due to changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness, and the other factors set forth in this pricing supplement and the product supplement.  These changes are likely to impact the price, if any, at which we or BMOCM would be willing to purchase the notes from you in any secondary market transactions.  Our initial estimated value does not represent a minimum price at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy your notes in any secondary market at any time.

 

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The terms of the notes are not determined by reference to the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. — To determine the terms of the notes, we will use an internal funding rate that represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt.  As a result, the terms of the notes are less favorable to you than if we had used a higher funding rate.

 

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Certain costs are likely to adversely affect the value of the notes. — Absent any changes in market conditions, any secondary market prices of the notes will likely be lower than the price to public.  This is because any secondary market prices will likely take into account our then-current market credit spreads, and because any secondary market prices are likely to exclude all or a portion of the agent’s commission and the hedging profits and estimated hedging costs that are included in the price to public of the notes and that may be reflected on your account statements.  In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction, such as dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs.  As a result, the price, if any, at which BMOCM or any other party may be willing to purchase the notes from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, will likely be lower than the price to public.  Any sale that you make prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you.

 

 

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Owning the notes is not the same as owning the Underlying Assets or their components or a security directly linked to the performance of the Underlying Assets or their components.  — The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the Underlying Assets or their components or a security directly linked to the performance of the Underlying Assets or their components and held that investment for a similar period. Your notes may trade quite differently from the Underlying Assets.  Changes in the value of an Underlying Asset may not result in comparable changes in the market value of your notes.  Even if the value of an Underlying Asset increases from its Initial Level during the term of the notes, the market value of the notes prior to maturity may not increase to the same extent.  It is also possible for the market value of the notes prior to maturity to decrease while the value of an Underlying Asset increases.

 

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You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any securities represented by the Underlying Assets at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any securities represented by the Underlying Assets.  Neither you nor any other holder or owner of the notes will have any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to these securities.

 

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Adjustments to the Underlying Assets could adversely affect the value of the notes.  S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”), the sponsor of the SPX, FTSE Russell, the sponsor of the RTY (each, an “Index Sponsor”), VanEck Associates, the investment advisor of the GDX, and BlackRock, Inc. (collectively with its affiliates, “BlackRock”), as the sponsor and advisor of the EEM, may add, delete or substitute the stocks represented or held by the Underlying Assets, or make other methodological changes. Further, these Index Sponsors and these investment advisors may discontinue or suspend calculation or publication of these indices or discontinue or suspend maintenance of these ETFs at any time, as applicable. Any of these actions could affect the value of and the return on the notes.

 

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We have no affiliation with either Index Sponsor (or the underlying index for any ETF) or the sponsor or investment advisor of any ETF and will not be responsible for any actions taken by them. — The sponsors of these indices and the sponsors or investment advisors of these ETFs are not our affiliates, and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of these sponsors or the sponsors or investment advisors of the ETFs, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payments on the notes. None of these index sponsors or the sponsors or investment advisors of the ETFs has any obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, none of these index sponsors or the sponsors or investment advisors of the ETFs has any obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the notes.  None of our proceeds from the issuance of the notes will be delivered to either Index Sponsor or the sponsor or investment advisor of either ETF.

 

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The performance of each ETF may not correlate with the performance of its underlying index as well as the net asset value per share of that ETF. — The performance of an ETF is linked principally to the performance of its underlying index and the net asset value per share of that ETF. However, because of the potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product supplement, the return on an ETF may correlate imperfectly with the return on its underlying index or the net asset value per share of that ETF.

 

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The ETFs are subject to management risks. — The ETFs are subject to management risk, which is the risk that the investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the investment advisor may invest a portion of an ETF’s assets in securities not included in the relevant industry or sector but which the investment advisor believes will help that ETF track the relevant industry or sector.

 

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Lack of liquidity. — The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.  BMOCM may offer to purchase the notes in the secondary market, but is not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the notes, the price at which you may be able to trade the notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which BMOCM is willing to buy the notes.

 

 

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Hedging and trading activities.  — We or any of our affiliates may carry out hedging activities related to the notes, including purchasing or selling securities included in an Underlying Asset, or futures or options relating to an Underlying Asset, or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of an Underlying Asset.  We or our affiliates may also engage in trading relating to an Underlying Asset from time to time. Any of these hedging or trading activities on or prior to the Pricing Date and during the term of the notes could adversely affect our payment to you at maturity.

 

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Many economic and market factors will influence the value of the notes. — In addition to the value of each Underlying Asset and interest rates on any trading day, the value of the notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, and which are described in more detail in the product supplement.

 

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You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment linked to the Underlying Assets. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the values of the Underlying Assets or the securities represented or held by the Underlying Assets.  One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the Underlying Assets or these securities.  However, these views are subject to change from time to time.  Moreover, other professionals who deal in the markets relating to the Underlying Assets at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates.  You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Underlying Assets from multiple sources, and you should not rely on the views expressed by our affiliates.

 

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

 

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

 

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An investment in the notes linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF is subject to risks associated with foreign securities markets. — The underlying index of the EEM, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, and the underlying index of the GDX, NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, track the value of certain foreign equity securities.  You should be aware that investments in securities linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks.  The foreign securities markets comprising the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index may have less liquidity and may be more volatile than U.S. or other securities markets and market developments may affect foreign markets differently from U.S. or other securities markets.  Direct or indirect government intervention to stabilize these foreign securities markets, as well as cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in these markets.  Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.

 

 

Prices of securities in foreign countries are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that apply in those geographical regions.  These factors, which could negatively affect those securities markets, include the possibility of recent or future changes in a foreign government’s economic and fiscal policies, the possible imposition of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities and the possibility of fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies, the possibility of outbreaks of hostility and political instability and the possibility of natural disaster or adverse public health developments in the region.  Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in important respects such as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency.

 

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An investment in the notes linked to the iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. — The share prices of the EEM and the GDX will fluctuate based upon its net asset value, which will in turn depend in part upon changes in the value of the currencies in which the stocks held by the EEM and the GDX are traded. Accordingly, investors in the notes will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies in which the stocks held by the EEM and the GDX are traded.  An investor’s net exposure will depend on the extent to which these currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar.  If the dollar strengthens against these currencies, the net asset value of the EEM and the GDX will be adversely affected and the prices of the EEM and the GDX may decrease.

 

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The holdings of the VanEck Vectors® Gold Miners ETF are concentrated in the gold and silver mining industries. — All or substantially all of the equity securities held by the GDX are issued by gold or silver mining companies. An investment in the notes will be exposed to risks in the gold and silver mining industries.  As a result of being linked to a single industry or sector, the notes may have increased volatility as the share price of the GDX may be more susceptible to adverse factors that affect that industry or sector. Competitive pressures may have a significant effect on the financial condition of companies in these industries.

 

In addition, these companies are highly dependent on the price of gold or silver, as applicable. These prices fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors. Factors affecting gold prices include economic factors, including, among other things, the structure of and confidence in the global monetary system, expectations of the future rate of inflation, the relative strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of gold is generally quoted), interest rates and gold borrowing and lending rates, and global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other events. Gold prices may also be affected by industry factors such as industrial and jewelry demand, lending, sales and purchases of gold by the official sector, including central banks and other governmental agencies and multilateral institutions which hold gold, levels of gold production and production costs, and short-term changes in supply and demand because of trading activities in the gold market. Factors affecting silver prices include general economic trends, technical developments, substitution issues and regulation, as well as specific factors including industrial and jewelry demand, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar (the currency in which the price of silver is generally quoted) and other currencies, interest rates, central bank sales, forward sales by producers, global or regional political or economic events, and production costs and disruptions in major silver producing countries such as Mexico and Peru. The supply of silver consists of a combination of new mine production and existing stocks of bullion and fabricated silver held by governments, public and private financial institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals. In addition, the price of silver has on occasion been subject to very rapid short-term changes due to speculative activities. From time to time, above-ground inventories of silver may also influence the market.

 

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Relationship to gold and silver bullion. — The GDX invests in shares of gold and silver mining companies, but not in gold bullion or silver bullion. The GDX may under- or over-perform gold bullion and/or silver bullion over the term of the notes.

 

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Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the notes are uncertain. — The tax treatment of the notes is uncertain.  We do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or from any Canadian authorities regarding the tax treatment of the notes, and the Internal Revenue Service or a court may not agree with the tax treatment described in this pricing supplement.

 

 

The Internal Revenue Service has released a notice that may affect the taxation of holders of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments.  According to the notice, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury are actively considering whether the holder of such instruments should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis.  While it is not clear whether the notes would be viewed as similar to such instruments, it is possible that any future guidance could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the notes, possibly with retroactive effect.

 

Please read carefully the section entitled “U.S. Federal Tax Information” in this pricing supplement, the section entitled “Supplemental Tax Considerations–-Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying product supplement, the section entitled “United States Federal Income Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus and the section entitled “Certain Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.  You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.

 

 

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

 

The following table illustrates the hypothetical payments on a note at maturity, assuming that the notes are not automatically called. The hypothetical payments are based on a $1,000 investment in the note, a hypothetical Initial Level of 100.00 for each Underlying Asset, a hypothetical Trigger Level of 65.00 for each Underlying Asset (65.00% of its hypothetical Initial Level), a hypothetical Call Level of 100 for each Underlying Asset (100% of its hypothetical Initial Level), a range of hypothetical Final Levels of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset and the effect on the payment at maturity if (i) a Trigger Event occurs with respect to any Underlying Asset or (ii) if a Trigger Event does not occur with respect to each Underlying Asset.

 

The hypothetical examples shown below are intended to help you understand the terms of the notes. If the notes are not automatically called, the actual cash amount that you will receive at maturity will depend upon whether the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset is below its Trigger Level on any trading day during the Monitoring Period and whether the Final Level of any Underlying Asset is below its Initial Level on the Valuation Date.  If the notes are automatically called prior to maturity, the hypothetical examples below will not be relevant, and you will receive on the applicable Call Settlement Date, for each $1,000 principal amount, the principal amount plus the applicable interest payment.

 

The table below does not reflect the interest payments on the notes.

 

Hypothetical Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset	Hypothetical Final Level of the Lesser Performing Underlying Asset Expressed as a Percentage of the Initial Level	Payment at Maturity (Excluding Any Interest Payment)
		(i) if the Closing Level of each Underlying Asset does not fall below its Trigger Level on any day during the Monitoring Period	(ii) if the Closing Level of any Underlying Asset falls below its Trigger Level on any day during the Monitoring Period
150.00	150.00%	$1,000.00	$1,000.00
125.00	125.00%	$1,000.00	$1,000.00
110.00	110.00%	$1,000.00	$1,000.00
100.00	100.00%	$1,000.00	$1,000.00
90.00	90.00%	$1,000.00	$900.00
80.00	80.00%	$1,000.00	$800.00
70.00	70.00%	$1,000.00	$700.00
65.00	65.00%	$1,000.00	$650.00
60.00	60.00%	N/A	$600.00
50.00	50.00%	N/A	$500.00
25.00	25.00%	N/A	$250.00
0.00	0.00%	N/A	$0.00

 

 

U.S. Federal Tax Information

 

The following table sets forth the amount of stated interest on the notes and the portion that will be treated as an interest payment and as payment for the Put Option for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Interest Rate per Annum	Treated as an Interest Payment	Treated as Payment for the Put Option
10.50%	[·]	[·]

 

Please see the discussion (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product supplement dated May 1, 2017 under “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” which applies to the notes, except that the following disclosure supplements, and to the extent inconsistent supersedes, the discussion in the product supplement.

 

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

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)

 

BMOCM will purchase the notes from us at a purchase price reflecting the commission set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement. BMOCM has informed us that, as part of its distribution of the notes, it will reoffer the notes to other dealers who will sell them. Each such dealer, or each additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will receive a commission from BMOCM, which will not exceed the commission set forth on the cover page.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering of the notes and to reject orders in whole or in part.  You may cancel any order for the notes prior to its acceptance.

 

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

 

 

The Underlying Assets

 

All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Underlying Assets, including, without limitation, their make-up, method of calculation, and changes in their components and their historical closing values, have been derived from publicly available information prepared by the applicable sponsors. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, the sponsors. The sponsors own the copyrights and all rights to the Underlying Assets. The sponsors are under no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Underlying Assets. Neither we nor BMO Capital Markets Corp. accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of any Underlying Asset or any successor.

 

Each of the GDX and the EEM file reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act. Copies of those reports may be obtained through the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Information included on that website is not included or incorporated by reference in this document.

 

 

The S&P 500^® Index is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of this Underlying Asset is based on the relative value of the aggregate market value of the common stocks of 500 companies as of a particular time compared to the aggregate average market value of the common stocks of 500 similar companies during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943.

 

S&P calculates this Underlying Asset by reference to the prices of the constituent stocks of this Underlying Asset without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those stocks. As a result, the return on the notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the SPX constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.

 

Computation of the S&P 500^® Index

 

While S&P currently employs the following methodology to calculate the S&P 500^® Index, no assurance can be given that S&P will not modify or change this methodology in a manner that may affect the Payment at Maturity.

 

Historically, the market value of any component stock of the S&P 500^® Index was calculated as the product of the market price per share and the number of then outstanding shares of such component stock. In March 2005, S&P began shifting the S&P 500^® Index halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the S&P 500^® Index to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. S&P’s criteria for selecting stocks for the S&P 500^® Index did not change with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the S&P 500^® Index.

 

Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the S&P 500^® Index reflect only those shares that are available to investors, not all of a company’s outstanding shares. Float adjustment excludes shares that are closely held by control groups, other publicly traded companies or government agencies.

 

In September 2012, all shareholdings representing more than 5% of a stock’s outstanding shares, other than holdings by “block owners,” were removed from the float for purposes of calculating the S&P 500^® Index.  Generally, these “control holders” will include officers and directors, private equity, venture capital and special equity firms, other publicly traded companies that hold shares for control, strategic partners, holders of restricted shares, ESOPs, employee and family trusts, foundations associated with the company, holders of unlisted share classes of stock, government entities at all levels (other than government retirement/pension funds) and any individual person who controls a 5% or greater stake in a company as reported in regulatory filings.  However, holdings by block owners, such as depositary banks, pension funds, mutual funds and ETF providers, 401(k) plans of the company, government retirement/pension funds, investment funds of insurance companies, asset managers and investment funds, independent foundations and savings and investment plans, will ordinarily be considered part of the float.

 

 

Treasury stock, stock options, equity participation units, warrants, preferred stock, convertible stock, and rights are not part of the float. Shares held in a trust to allow investors in countries outside the country of domicile, such as depositary shares and Canadian exchangeable shares are normally part of the float unless those shares form a control block.

 

For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares by the total shares outstanding.  Available float shares are defined as the total shares outstanding less shares held by control holders.  This calculation is subject to a 5% minimum threshold for control blocks.  For example, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares, and no other control group holds 5% of the company’s shares, S&P would assign that company an IWF of 1.00, as no control group meets the 5% threshold.  However, if a company’s officers and directors hold 3% of the company’s shares and another control group holds 20% of the company’s shares, S&P would assign an IWF of 0.77, reflecting the fact that 23% of the company’s outstanding shares are considered to be held for control. As of July 31, 2017, companies with multiple share class lines are no longer eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500^® Index. Constituents of the S&P 500^® Index prior to July 31, 2017 with multiple share class lines will be grandfathered in and continue to be included in the S&P 500^® Index.  If a constituent company of the S&P 500^® Index reorganizes into a multiple share class line structure, that company will remain in the S&P 500^® Index at the discretion of the S&P Index Committee in order to minimize turnover.

 

The S&P 500^® Index is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the S&P 500^® Index reflects the total market value of all 500 component stocks relative to the base period of the years 1941 through 1943. An indexed number is used to represent the results of this calculation in order to make the level easier to use and track over time. The actual total market value of the component stocks during the base period of the years 1941 through 1943 has been set to an indexed level of 10. This is often indicated by the notation 1941-43 = 10. In practice, the daily calculation of the S&P 500^® Index is computed by dividing the total market value of the component stocks by the “index divisor.” By itself, the index divisor is an arbitrary number. However, in the context of the calculation of the S&P 500^® Index, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the S&P 500^® Index. The index divisor keeps the S&P 500^® Index comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the S&P 500^® Index, which is index maintenance.

 

Index Maintenance

 

Index maintenance includes monitoring and completing the adjustments for company additions and deletions, share changes, stock splits, stock dividends, and stock price adjustments due to company restructuring or spinoffs. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the S&P 500^® Index, and do not require index divisor adjustments.

 

To prevent the level of the S&P 500^® Index from changing due to corporate actions, corporate actions which affect the total market value of the S&P 500^® Index require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in market value, the level of the S&P 500^® Index remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the S&P 500^® Index. Index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the S&P 500^® Index closing level.

 

Changes in a company’s total shares outstanding of 5% or more due to public offerings are made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes of 5% or more (for example, due to tender offers, Dutch auctions, voluntary exchange offers, company stock repurchases, private placements, acquisitions of private companies or non-index companies that do not trade on a major exchange, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participations, at-the-market stock offerings or other recapitalizations) are made weekly, and are generally announced on Fridays for implementation after the close of trading the following Friday (one week later). If a 5% or more share change causes a company’s IWF to change by five percentage points or more, the IWF is updated at the same time as the share change.  IWF changes resulting from partial tender offers are considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

License Agreement

 

We and S&P have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement providing for the license to us and certain of our affiliates, in exchange for a fee, of the right to use the S&P 500^® Index, in connection with certain securities, including the notes. The S&P 500^® Index is owned and published by S&P.

 

The license agreement between S&P and us provides that the following language must be set forth in this pricing supplement:

 

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, Standard and Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”).  S&P Dow Jones Indices make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the holders of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the notes particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance.  S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to us with respect to the Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors.  The Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to us or the notes.  S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take our needs or the needs of holders of the notes into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index.  S&P Dow Jones Indices are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the notes or the timing of the issuance or sale of the notes or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the notes are to be converted into cash.  S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes.  There is no assurance that investment products based on the Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns.  S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its subsidiaries are not investment advisors.  Inclusion of a security or futures contract within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security or futures contract, nor is it considered to be investment advice.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the notes currently being issued by us, but which may be similar to and competitive with the notes.  In addition, CME Group Inc. and its affiliates may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the Index.  It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the notes.

 

S&P DOW JONES INDICES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO.  S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN.  S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY US, HOLDERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO.  WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.  THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND US, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.

 

S&P^® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones^® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”).  These trademarks have been licensed for use by Bank of Montreal. “Standard & Poor’s^®”, “S&P 500^®” and “S&P^®” are trademarks of S&P. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.

 

 

 

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

 

Selection of Stocks Comprising the RTY

 

All companies eligible for inclusion in the RTY must be classified as a U.S. company under FTSE Russell’s country-assignment methodology. If a company is incorporated, has a stated headquarters location, and trades in the same country (American Depositary Receipts and American Depositary Shares are not eligible), then the company is assigned to its country of incorporation. If any of the three factors are not the same, FTSE Russell defines three Home Country Indicators (“HCIs”): country of incorporation, country of headquarters, and country of the most liquid exchange (as defined by a two-year average daily dollar trading volume) (“ADDTV”) from all exchanges within a country. Using the HCIs, FTSE Russell compares the primary location of the company’s assets with the three HCIs. If the primary location of its assets matches any of the HCIs, then the company is assigned to the primary location of its assets. If there is insufficient information to determine the country in which the company’s assets are primarily located, FTSE Russell will use the primary country from which the company’s revenues are primarily derived for the comparison with the three HCIs in a similar manner. FTSE Russell uses the average of two years of assets or revenues data to reduce potential turnover. If conclusive country details cannot be derived from assets or revenues data, FTSE Russell will assign the company to the country of its headquarters, which is defined as the address of the company’s principal executive offices, unless that country is a Benefit Driven Incorporation “BDI” country, in which case the company will be assigned to the country of its most liquid stock exchange. BDI countries include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Panama, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands. For any companies incorporated or headquartered in a U.S. territory, including countries such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. HCI is assigned.

 

All securities eligible for inclusion in the RTY must trade on a major U.S. exchange. Bulletin board, pink sheets, and over-the-counter (“OTC”) traded securities are not eligible for inclusion. Stocks must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on their primary exchange on the last trading day in July to be eligible for inclusion during annual reconstitution. However, in order to reduce unnecessary turnover, if an existing member’s closing price is less than $1.00 on the last day of July, it will be considered eligible if the average of the daily closing prices (from its primary exchange) during the month of July is equal to or greater than $1.00. Initial public offerings must have a closing price at or above $1.00 on the last day of their eligibility period in order to qualify for index inclusion. If an existing stock does not trade on the “rank day” (typically the last trading day in July but a confirmed timetable is announced each spring), but does have a closing price at or above $1.00 on another eligible U.S. exchange, that stock will be eligible for inclusion. Companies with a total market capitalization of less than $30 million are not eligible for the RTY. Similarly, companies with only 5% or less of their shares available in the marketplace are not eligible for the RTY.

 

Royalty trusts, limited liability companies, closed-end investment companies (companies that are required to report Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, as defined by the SEC, including business development companies, are not eligible), blank check companies, special-purpose acquisition companies, exchange traded funds, mutual funds and limited partnerships are ineligible for inclusion. Preferred and convertible preferred stock, redeemable shares, participating preferred stock, warrants, rights, installment receipts and trust receipts are not eligible for inclusion in the RTY.

 

Annual reconstitution is a process by which the RTY is completely rebuilt. On the rank day of July, all eligible securities are ranked by their total market capitalization. The largest 4,000 become the Russell 3000E Index, and the other FTSE Russell indexes are determined from that set of securities. Reconstitution of the RTY occurs on the last Friday in June or, when the last Friday in June is the 29th or 30th, reconstitution occurs on the prior Friday. In addition, FTSE Russell adds initial public offerings to the RTY on a quarterly basis based on total market capitalization ranking within the market-adjusted capitalization breaks established during the most recent reconstitution.

 

 

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

 

License Agreement

 

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

 

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Notes particularly or the ability of the RTY to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. FTSE Russell's publication of the RTY in no way suggests or implies an opinion by FTSE Russell as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the RTY is based. FTSE Russell's only relationship to the Issuer is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of FTSE Russell and of the RTY which is determined, composed and calculated by FTSE Russell without regard to the Issuer or the notes. FTSE Russell is not responsible for and has not reviewed the notes nor any associated literature or publications and FTSE Russell makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. FTSE Russell reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the RTY. FTSE Russell has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the notes.

 

FTSE RUSSELL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND FTSE RUSSELL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE ISSUER, INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE NOTES, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. FTSE RUSSELL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE RTY OR ANY DATA INCLUDED HEREIN WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING. IN NO EVENT SHALL FTSE RUSSELL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

 

 

In this section, the Underlying Asset refers to the shares of the VanEck Vectors^® Gold Miners ETF (the “GDX”), and the Underlying Index refers to the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index.

 

The Underlying Asset is an investment portfolio maintained, managed and advised by Van Eck. The Market Vectors^® ETF Trust is a registered open-end investment company that consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the Underlying Asset.

 

The Underlying Asset is an exchange traded fund that trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “GDX.”

 

The Underlying Asset seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index was developed by the NYSE Amex and is calculated, maintained and published by NYSE Arca. The Underlying Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies involved primarily in mining for gold or silver.

 

The Underlying Asset utilizes a “passive” or “indexing” investment approach in attempting to track the performance of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Asset will invest in all of the securities which comprise the Underlying Index. The Underlying Asset will normally invest at least 95% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Underlying Index.

 

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Van Eck. Van Eck makes no representations or warranties to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the notes. Van Eck has no obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the notes.

 

The Underlying Index

 

We have derived all information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Underlying Index, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, from publicly available information and information supplied by NYSE Arca. Such information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, NYSE Arca. The Underlying Index was developed by the NYSE Amex (formerly the American Stock Exchange) and is calculated, maintained and published by the NYSE Arca. The NYSE Arca has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue the publication of, the Underlying Index.

 

The Underlying Index includes common stocks, ADRs and GDRs of selected companies that are involved primarily in mining for gold or silver and that are listed for trading and electronically quoted on a major stock market that is accessible by foreign investors.  Generally, this will include exchanges in most developed markets and major emerging markets, and will include companies that are cross-listed, e.g., both U.S. and Canadian listings. NYSE Arca will use its discretion to avoid exchanges and markets that are considered “frontier” in nature or have major restrictions to foreign ownership. The Underlying Index includes companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from gold mining and related activities (40% for companies that were included in the Underlying Index prior to September 23, 2013).  Also, the Underlying Index maintains exposure to companies with a significant revenue exposure to silver mining in addition to gold mining, which will not exceed 20% of the Underlying Index weight at each rebalance.

 

Only companies with market capitalizations greater than $750 million that have an average daily volume of at least 50,000 shares over the past three months and an average daily value traded of at least $1 million over the past three months are eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index. Starting in December 2013, for companies that were included in the Underlying Index prior to September 23, 2013, the market capitalization requirement at each rebalance became $450 million, the average daily volume requirement will be at least 30,000 shares over the past three months and the average daily value traded requirement will be at least $600,000 over the past three months. NYSE Arca has the discretion to not include all companies that meet the minimum criteria for inclusion. The Underlying Index’s benchmark value was 500.00 at the close of trading on December 20, 2002.

 

 

Calculation of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is calculated by NYSE Arca on a price return basis. The calculation is based on the current modified market capitalization divided by a divisor. The divisor was determined on the initial capitalization base of the Underlying Index and the base level and may be adjusted as a result of corporate actions and composition changes, as described below.

 

Index Maintenance.  The Underlying Index is reviewed quarterly to ensure that at least 90% of the index weight is accounted for by index components that continue to meet the initial eligibility requirements. NYSE Arca may at any time and from time to time change the number of securities comprising the group by adding or deleting one or more securities, or replacing one or more securities contained in the group with one or more substitute securities of its choice, if in NYSE Arca’s discretion such addition, deletion or substitution is necessary or appropriate to maintain the quality and/or character of the Underlying Index. Components will be removed from the Underlying Index during the quarterly review if (1) the market capitalization falls below $450 million, or (2) the traded average daily shares for the previous three months is lower than 30,000 shares and the traded average daily value for the previous three months is less than $600,000.

 

At the time of the quarterly rebalance, the component security quantities will be modified to conform to the following asset diversification requirements:

 

(1)

the weight of any single component security may not account for more than 20% of the total value of the Underlying Index;

 

(2)

the component securities are split into two subgroups–-large and small, which are ranked by market capitalization weight in the Underlying Index. Large securities are defined as having a starting index weight greater than or equal to 5%. Small securities are defined as having a starting index weight below 5%; and

 

(3)

the final aggregate weight of those component securities which individually represent more than 4.5% of the total value of the Underlying Index may not account for more than 45% of the total index value.

 

The weights of the components securities (taking into account expected component changes and share adjustments) are modified in accordance with the Underlying Index’s diversification rules.

 

Changes to the index composition and/or the component security weights in the Underlying Index are determined and announced prior to taking effect, which typically occurs after the close of trading on the third Friday of each calendar quarter month in connection with the quarterly index rebalance. The share quantities of each component security in the index portfolio remains fixed between quarterly reviews except in the event of certain types of corporate actions such as stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, or similar events. The share quantities used in the index calculation are not typically adjusted for shares issued or repurchased between quarterly reviews. However, in the event of a merger between two components, the share quantity of the surviving entity may be adjusted to account for any stock issued in the acquisition.  NYSE Arca may substitute securities or change the number of securities included in the Underlying Index, based on changing conditions in the industry or in the event of certain types of corporate actions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and reorganizations. In the event of component or share quantity changes to the index portfolio, the payment of dividends other than ordinary cash dividends, spin-offs, rights offerings, re-capitalization, or other corporate actions affecting a component security of the Underlying Index, the index divisor may be adjusted to ensure that there are no changes to the index level as a result of nonmarket forces.

 

 

 

In this section, the Underlying Asset refers to the shares of the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (the “EEM”), and the Underlying Index refers to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

 

iShares consists of numerous separate investment portfolios (the “iShares Funds”), including the Underlying Asset. The Underlying Asset seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Underlying Index. The Underlying Asset typically earns income from dividends from securities held by the Underlying Asset. These amounts, net of expenses and taxes (if applicable), are passed along to the Underlying Asset’s shareholders as “ordinary income.” In addition, the Underlying Asset realizes capital gains or losses whenever it sells securities. Net long-term capital gains are distributed to its shareholders as “capital gain distributions.” However, because the notes are linked only to the share price of the Underlying Asset, you will not be entitled to receive income, dividend, or capital gain distributions from the Underlying Asset or any equivalent payments.

 

“iShares^®” and “BlackRock^®” are registered trademarks of BlackRock^®.  The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by BlackRock^®, or by any of the iShares^® Funds. Neither BlackRock^® nor the iShares^® Funds make any representations or warranties to the owners of the notes or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the notes. Neither BlackRock^® nor the iShares^® Funds shall have any obligation or liability in connection with the registration, operation, marketing, trading, or sale of the notes or in connection with our use of information about the Underlying Asset or any of the iShares^® Funds.

 

The Underlying Asset is intended to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. This Underlying Asset trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “EEM.”

 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index

 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is intended to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index with a base date of December 31, 1987 and an initial value of 100. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is calculated daily in U.S. dollars and published in real time every 60 seconds during market trading hours. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index currently consists of the following 24 emerging market country indices: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is part of the MSCI Regional Equity Indices series and is an MSCI Global Investable Market Index, which is a family within the MSCI International Equity Indices. MSCI is the Index Sponsor of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

 

General – MSCI Global Investable Market Indices

 

MSCI provides global equity indices intended to measure equity performance in international markets and the MSCI International Equity Indices are designed to serve as global equity performance benchmarks. In constructing these indices, MSCI applies its index construction and maintenance methodology across developed, emerging, and frontier markets.

 

MSCI enhanced the methodology used in its MSCI International Equity Indices. The MSCI Standard and MSCI Small Cap Indices, along with the other MSCI equity indices based on them, transitioned to the global investable market indices methodology described below. The transition was completed at the end of May 2008. The Enhanced MSCI Standard Indices are composed of the MSCI Large Cap and Mid Cap Indices. The MSCI Global Small Cap Index transitioned to the MSCI Small Cap Index resulting from the Global Investable Market Indices methodology and contains no overlap with constituents of the transitioned MSCI Standard Indices. Together, the relevant MSCI Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap Indices will make up the MSCI investable market index for each country, composite, sector, and style index that MSCI offers.

 

Constructing the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices. MSCI undertakes an index construction process, which involves:

 

·

defining the equity universe;

 

 

·

determining the market investable equity universe for each market;

 

·

determining market capitalization size segments for each market;

 

·

applying index continuity rules for the MSCI Standard Index;

 

·

creating style segments within each size segment within each market; and

 

·

classifying securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard (the “GICS”).

 

Defining the Equity Universe. The equity universe is defined by:

 

·

Identifying Eligible Equity Securities: the equity universe initially looks at securities listed in any of the countries in the MSCI Global Index Series, which will be classified as either Developed Markets (“DM”) or Emerging Markets (“EM”). All listed equity securities, or listed securities that exhibit characteristics of equity securities, except mutual funds, exchange traded funds, equity derivatives, limited partnerships, and most investment trusts, are eligible for inclusion in the equity universe. Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) in some countries and certain income trusts in Canada are also eligible for inclusion.

 

·

Classifying Eligible Securities into the Appropriate Country: each company and its securities (i.e., share classes) are classified in only one country.

 

Determining the Market Investable Equity Universes. A market investable equity universe for a market is derived by applying investability screens to individual companies and securities in the equity universe that are classified in that market. A market is equivalent to a single country, except in DM Europe, where all DM countries in Europe are aggregated into a single market for index construction purposes. Subsequently, individual DM Europe country indices within the MSCI Europe Index are derived from the constituents of the MSCI Europe Index under the global investable market indices methodology.

 

The investability screens used to determine the investable equity universe in each market are as follows:

 

·

Equity Universe Minimum Size Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the company level. In order to be included in a market investable equity universe, a company must have the required minimum full market capitalization.

 

·

Equity Universe Minimum Free Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have a free float-adjusted market capitalization equal to or higher than 50% of the equity universe minimum size requirement.

 

·

DM and EM Minimum Liquidity Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security must have adequate liquidity. The twelve-month and three-month Annual Traded Value Ratio (“ATVR”), a measure that screens out extreme daily trading volumes and takes into account the free float-adjusted market capitalization size of securities, together with the three-month frequency of trading are used to measure liquidity. In the calculation of the ATVR, the trading volumes in depository receipts associated with that security, such as ADRs or GDRs, are also considered. A minimum liquidity level of 20% of three- and twelve-month ATVR and 90% of three-month frequency of trading over the last four consecutive quarters are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of a DM, and a minimum liquidity level of 15% of three- and twelve-month ATVR and 80% of three-month frequency of trading over the last four consecutive quarters are required for inclusion of a security in a market investable equity universe of an EM.

 

·

Global Minimum Foreign Inclusion Factor Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. To be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, a security’s Foreign Inclusion Factor (“FIF”) must reach a certain threshold. The FIF of a security is defined as the proportion of shares outstanding that is available for purchase in the public equity markets by international investors. This proportion accounts for the available free float of and/or the foreign ownership limits applicable to a specific security (or company). In general, a security must have an FIF equal to or larger than 0.15 to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe.

 

 

·

Minimum Length of Trading Requirement: this investability screen is applied at the individual security level. For an initial public offering (“IPO”) to be eligible for inclusion in a market investable equity universe, the new issue must have started trading at least four months before the implementation of the initial construction of the index or at least three months before the implementation of a semi−annual index review (as described below). This requirement is applicable to small new issues in all markets. Large IPOs are not subject to the minimum length of trading requirement and may be included in a market investable equity universe and the Standard Index outside of a Quarterly or Semi−Annual Index Review.

 

Defining Market Capitalization Size Segments for Each Market. Once a market investable equity universe is defined, it is segmented into the following size−based indices:

 

·

Investable Market Index (Large + Mid + Small);

 

·

Standard Index (Large + Mid);

 

·

Large Cap Index;

 

·

Mid Cap Index; or

 

·

Small Cap Index.

 

Creating the size segment indices in each market involves the following steps:

 

·

defining the market coverage target range for each size segment;

 

·

determining the global minimum size range for each size segment;

 

·

determining the market size−segment cutoffs and associated segment number of companies;

 

·

assigning companies to the size segments; and

 

·

applying final size−segment investability requirements.

 

Index Continuity Rules for the Standard Indices. In order to achieve index continuity, as well as to provide some basic level of diversification within a market index, and notwithstanding the effect of other index construction rules described in this section, a minimum number of five constituents will be maintained for a DM Standard Index and a minimum number of three constituents will be maintained for an EM Standard Index.

 

Creating Style Indices within Each Size Segment. All securities in the investable equity universe are classified into value or growth segments using the MSCI Global Value and Growth methodology.

 

Classifying Securities under the Global Industry Classification Standard. All securities in the global investable equity universe are assigned to the industry that best describes their business activities. To this end, MSCI has designed, in conjunction with Standard & Poor’s, the GICS. Under the GICS, each company is assigned to one sub−industry according to its principal business activity. Therefore, a company can belong to only one industry grouping at each of the four levels of the GICS.

 

Index Maintenance

 

The MSCI Global Investable Market Indices are maintained with the objective of reflecting the evolution of the underlying equity markets and segments on a timely basis, while seeking to achieve index continuity, continuous investability of constituents and replicability of the indices, and index stability and low index turnover. In particular, index maintenance involves:

 

(i)	Semi−Annual Index Reviews (“SAIRs”) in May and November of the Size Segment and Global Value and Growth Indices which include:

 

·

updating the indices on the basis of a fully refreshed equity universe;

 

·

taking buffer rules into consideration for migration of securities across size and style segments; and

 

 

·

updating FIFs and Number of Shares (“NOS”).

 

(ii)	Quarterly Index Reviews in February and August of the Size Segment Indices aimed at:

 

·

including significant new eligible securities (such as IPOs that were not eligible for earlier inclusion) in the index;

 

·

allowing for significant moves of companies within the Size Segment Indices, using wider buffers than in the SAIR; and

 

·

reflecting the impact of significant market events on FIFs and updating NOS.

 

(iii)

Ongoing Event−Related Changes: changes of this type are generally implemented in the indices as they occur. Significantly large IPOs are included in the indices after the close of the company’s tenth day of trading.

 

Through this maintenance process, MSCI may make structural changes to the indices by adding or deleting component country indices. Consequently, the composition of the Underlying Index may change over the term of the notes.

 

Neither we nor any of our affiliates, including BMOCM, accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance, or publication of, or for any error, omission, or disruption in the Underlying Index, or any successor to the index. MSCI does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of the Underlying Index, or any data included in the index. MSCI assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, or disruption in the calculation and dissemination of the Underlying Index. MSCI disclaims all responsibility for any errors or omissions in the calculation and dissemination of the Underlying Index, or the manner in which the index is applied in determining the amount payable on the notes at maturity.

 

 

Historical Performances of the Underlying Assets

 

The following tables set forth the quarter-end high and low closing levels for each Underlying Asset from the first quarter of 2008 through January 10, 2018.

 

The historical levels of the Underlying Assets are provided for informational purposes only. You should not take the historical levels of the applicable Underlying Asset as an indication of its future performance, which may be better or worse than the levels set forth below.

Closing Levels of the S&P 500^® Index

 

		High		Low
2008	First Quarter	1,447.16		1,273.37
	Second Quarter	1,426.33		1,278.38
	Third Quarter	1,305.32		1,106.39
	Fourth Quarter	1,161.06		752.44
2009	First Quarter	934.70		676.53
	Second Quarter	946.21		811.08
	Third Quarter	1,071.66		879.13
	Fourth Quarter	1,127.78		1,025.21
2010	First Quarter	1,174.17		1,056.74
	Second Quarter	1,217.28		1,030.71
	Third Quarter	1,148.67		1,022.58
	Fourth Quarter	1,259.78		1,137.03
2011	First Quarter	1,343.01		1,256.88
	Second Quarter	1,363.61		1,265.42
	Third Quarter	1,353.22		1,119.46
	Fourth Quarter	1,285.09		1,099.23
2012	First Quarter	1,416.51		1,277.06
	Second Quarter	1,419.04		1,278.04
	Third Quarter	1,465.77		1,334.76
	Fourth Quarter	1,461.40		1,353.33
2013	First Quarter	1,569.19		1,457.15
	Second Quarter	1,669.16		1,541.61
	Third Quarter	1,725.52		1,614.08
	Fourth Quarter	1,848.36		1,655.45
2014	First Quarter	1,878.04		1,741.89
	Second Quarter	1,962.87		1,815.69
	Third Quarter	2,011.36		1,909.57
	Fourth Quarter	2,090.57		1,862.49
2015	First Quarter	2,117.39		1,992.67
	Second Quarter	2,130.82		2,057.64
	Third Quarter	2,128.28		1,867.61
	Fourth Quarter	2,109.79		1,923.82
2016	First Quarter	2,063.95		1,829.08
	Second Quarter	2,119.12		2,000.54
	Third Quarter	2,190.15		2,088.55
	Fourth Quarter	2,271.72		2,085.18
2017	First Quarter	2,395.96		2,257.83
	Second Quarter	2,453.46		2,328.95
	Third Quarter	2,519.36		2,409.75
	Fourth Quarter	2,690.16		2,529.12
2018	First Quarter (through January 10, 2018)	2,751.29		2,695.81

 

 

Closing Levels of the Russell 2000^® Index

		High		Low
2008	First Quarter	753.548		643.966
	Second Quarter	763.266		686.073
	Third Quarter	754.377		657.718
	Fourth Quarter	671.590		385.308
2009	First Quarter	514.710		343.260
	Second Quarter	531.680		429.158
	Third Quarter	620.695		479.267
	Fourth Quarter	634.072		562.395
2010	First Quarter	690.303		586.491
	Second Quarter	741.922		609.486
	Third Quarter	677.642		590.034
	Fourth Quarter	792.347		669.450
2011	First Quarter	843.549		773.184
	Second Quarter	865.291		777.197
	Third Quarter	858.113		643.421
	Fourth Quarter	765.432		609.490
2012	First Quarter	846.129		747.275
	Second Quarter	840.626		737.241
	Third Quarter	864.697		767.751
	Fourth Quarter	852.495		769.483
2013	First Quarter	953.068		872.605
	Second Quarter	999.985		901.513
	Third Quarter	1,078.409		989.535
	Fourth Quarter	1,163.637		1,043.459
2014	First Quarter	1,208.651		1,093.594
	Second Quarter	1,192.964		1,095.986
	Third Quarter	1,208.150		1,101.676
	Fourth Quarter	1,219.109		1,049.303
2015	First Quarter	1,266.373		1,154.709
	Second Quarter	1,295.799		1,215.417
	Third Quarter	1,273.328		1,083.907
	Fourth Quarter	1,204.159		1,097.552
2016	First Quarter	1,114.028		953.715
	Second Quarter	1,188.954		1,089.646
	Third Quarter	1,263.438		1,139.453
	Fourth Quarter	1,388.073		1,156.885
2017	First Quarter	1,413.635		1,345.598
	Second Quarter	1,425.985		1,345.244
	Third Quarter	1,490.861		1,356.905
	Fourth Quarter	1,548.926		1,464.095
2018	First Quarter (through January 10, 2018)	1,561.808		1,550.011

 

 

Closing Prices of the VanEck Vectors^® Gold Miners ETF

 

		High (in $)		Low (in $)
2008	First Quarter	56.29		46.50
	Second Quarter	51.40		42.38
	Third Quarter	50.84		27.95
	Fourth Quarter	33.96		16.38
2009	First Quarter	38.57		28.20
	Second Quarter	44.55		30.95
	Third Quarter	48.00		35.14
	Fourth Quarter	54.78		41.87
2010	First Quarter	50.17		40.22
	Second Quarter	54.07		46.36
	Third Quarter	56.66		47.09
	Fourth Quarter	63.80		54.28
2011	First Quarter	60.79		53.12
	Second Quarter	63.95		51.80
	Third Quarter	66.69		53.75
	Fourth Quarter	63.32		50.07
2012	First Quarter	57.47		48.75
	Second Quarter	50.37		39.34
	Third Quarter	54.81		40.70
	Fourth Quarter	54.25		44.85
2013	First Quarter	47.09		35.91
	Second Quarter	37.45		22.22
	Third Quarter	30.43		22.90
	Fourth Quarter	26.52		20.39
2014	First Quarter	27.73		21.27
	Second Quarter	26.45		22.04
	Third Quarter	27.46		21.35
	Fourth Quarter	21.94		16.59
2015	First Quarter	22.94		17.67
	Second Quarter	20.82		17.76
	Third Quarter	17.85		13.04
	Fourth Quarter	16.90		13.08
2016	First Quarter	20.86		12.47
	Second Quarter	27.70		19.53
	Third Quarter	31.32		25.45
	Fourth Quarter	25.96		18.99
2017	First Quarter	25.57		21.14
	Second Quarter	24.57		21.10
	Third Quarter	25.49		21.21
	Fourth Quarter	23.84		21.42
2018	First Quarter (through January 10, 2018)	23.82		23.11

 

 

Closing Levels of the iShares^® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

 

		High ($)		Low ($)
2008	First Quarter	50.37		42.17
	Second Quarter	51.70		44.43
	Third Quarter	44.43		31.33
	Fourth Quarter	33.90		18.22
2009	First Quarter	27.09		19.94
	Second Quarter	34.64		25.65
	Third Quarter	39.29		30.75
	Fourth Quarter	42.07		37.56
2010	First Quarter	43.22		36.83
	Second Quarter	43.98		36.16
	Third Quarter	44.77		37.59
	Fourth Quarter	48.58		44.77
2011	First Quarter	48.69		44.63
	Second Quarter	50.21		45.50
	Third Quarter	48.46		34.95
	Fourth Quarter	42.80		34.36
2012	First Quarter	44.76		38.23
	Second Quarter	43.54		36.68
	Third Quarter	42.37		37.42
	Fourth Quarter	44.35		40.14
2013	First Quarter	45.20		41.80
	Second Quarter	44.23		36.63
	Third Quarter	43.29		37.34
	Fourth Quarter	43.66		40.44
2014	First Quarter	40.99		37.09
	Second Quarter	43.95		40.82
	Third Quarter	45.85		41.56
	Fourth Quarter	42.44		37.73
2015	First Quarter	41.07		37.92
	Second Quarter	44.09		39.04
	Third Quarter	39.78		31.32
	Fourth Quarter	36.29		31.55
2016	First Quarter	34.28		28.25
	Second Quarter	35.26		31.87
	Third Quarter	38.20		33.77
	Fourth Quarter	38.10		34.08
2017	First Quarter	39.99		35.43
	Second Quarter	41.93		38.81
	Third Quarter	45.85		41.05
	Fourth Quarter	47.81		44.82
2018	First Quarter (through January 10, 2018)	49.13		48.01

 

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