Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-197364
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 10, 2015.
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The Toronto-Dominion Bank $ Leveraged Capped Buffered S&P 500® Index-Linked Notes due | |
The notes do not bear interest. The amount that you will be paid on your notes on the maturity date (expected to be the third scheduled business day after the valuation date) is based on the performance of the S&P 500® Index as measured from the pricing date to and including the valuation date (expected to be between 24 and 27 months after the pricing date). If the final level on the valuation date is greater than the initial level (equal to the closing level of the index on the pricing date), the return on your notes will be positive, subject to the maximum redemption amount (expected to be between $1,172.50 and $1,202.50 for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes). If the final level declines by up to 10.00% from the initial level, you will receive the principal amount of your notes. If the final level declines by more than 10.00% from the initial level, the return on your notes will be negative, and you will lose up to 99.90% of the principal amount.
To determine your payment at maturity, we will calculate the percentage change of the S&P 500® Index, which is the percentage increase or decrease in the final level from the initial level. At maturity, for each $1,000 principal amount of your notes, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:
| ● | if the percentage change is positive (the final level is greater than the initial level), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) 150.00% times (c) the percentage change, subject to the maximum redemption amount; |
| ● | if the percentage change is zero or negative but not below –10.00% (the final level is equal to the initial level or is less than the initial level, but not by more than 10.00%), $1,000; or |
| ● | if the percentage change is negative and is below –10.00% (the final level is less than the initial level by more than 10.00%), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) 111.00% times (c) the sum of the percentage change plus 10.00%. |
| The notes do not guarantee a full return of principal at maturity and investors may lose up to 99.90% of their principal. |
The notes are unsecured and are not savings accounts or insured deposits of a bank. The notes are not insured or guaranteed by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality. Any payments on the notes are subject to our credit risk. The notes will not be listed on any exchange.
You should read the additional disclosure herein so that you may better understand the terms and risks of your investment. See “Additional Risk Factors” on page P-7 of this pricing supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this pricing supplement, the product prospectus supplement or the prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the pricing date is expected to be between $955 and $975 per $1,000 principal amount. For a discussion of the estimated value and the price at which Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“GS&Co.”) would initially buy or sell your notes, if it makes a market in the notes (which it is not obligated to do), see “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-2 of this pricing supplement.
| Public Offering Price1 | Underwriting Discount2 | Proceeds to TD | |
| Per Note | $1,000.00 | $ | $ |
| Total | $ | $ | $ |
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, reducing the public offering price.
2 TD Securities (USA) LLC (“TDS”) will purchase the notes from TD at the public offering price less an underwriting discount of $17.50 (1.75%) per $1,000 principal amount of the notes for distribution to other registered broker-dealers, or will offer the notes directly to investors.
| TD Securities (USA) LLC | Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
The public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds to TD listed above relate to the notes we issue initially. We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this pricing supplement, at public offering prices and with underwriting discounts and proceeds to TD that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in the notes will depend in part on the public offering price you pay for such notes.
We or GS&Co. may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, we or GS&Co. or any of our respective affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a note after its initial sale. Unless we or GS&Co. informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement will be used in a market-making transaction.
Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes
The estimated value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes are set on the Pricing Date is expected to be between $955 and $975 per $1,000 principal amount, which is less than the public offering price of your Notes. The pricing models used to determine the estimated value consider certain variables, including principally our credit spreads, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), volatility, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the Notes. The difference between the estimated value of your Notes and the public offering price is a result of certain factors, including principally the underwriting discount and commissions, the expenses incurred in creating, documenting and marketing the Notes, and an estimate of the difference between the amounts we pay to GS&Co. and the amounts GS&Co. pays to us in connection with your Notes. We pay to GS&Co. amounts based on what we would pay to holders of a non-structured note with a similar maturity. In return for such payment, GS&Co. pays to us the amounts we owe under your Notes.
The price at which GS&Co. will make a market in the Notes (if it makes a market, which it is not obligated to do), and the value of your Notes shown on your account statement, will be based on pricing models and variables similar to those used in determining the estimated value on the Pricing Date. The value of your Notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted; however, the price (not including GS&Co.’s customary bid and ask spreads) at which GS&Co. would initially buy or sell Notes (if it makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) and the value that GS&Co. will initially use for account statements and otherwise is equal to approximately $[ ] per $1,000 principal amount, which exceeds the estimated value of your Notes on the Pricing Date. The amount of the excess will decline on a straight line basis over the period from the Pricing Date through [ ].
We urge you to read the “Additional Risk Factors” beginning on page P-7 of this pricing supplement.
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Summary
The information in this “Summary” section is qualified by the more detailed information set forth in this pricing supplement, the product prospectus supplement and the prospectus.
| Issuer: | The Toronto-Dominion Bank |
| Issue: | Senior Debt Securities |
| Type of Note: | Leveraged Capped Buffered Notes (the “Notes”) |
| Term: | Expected to be between 24 and 27 months |
| Reference Asset: | The S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg Ticker: SPX) |
| CUSIP / ISIN: | 89114QUH9 / US89114QUH90 |
| Agents: | TD Securities (USA) LLC (“TDS”) and GS&Co. |
| Currency: | U.S. Dollars |
| Minimum Investment: | $1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof |
| Principal Amount: | $1,000 per Note; $ in the aggregate for all the offered Notes; the aggregate principal amount of the offered Notes may be increased if the Issuer, at its sole option, decides to sell an additional amount of the offered Notes on a date subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. |
| Pricing Date: | December [ ], 2015 |
| Issue Date: | December [ ], 2015 (scheduled to be 5 Business Days following the Pricing Date) |
| Valuation Date: | Expected to be between 24 and 27 months after the Pricing Date, subject to postponement for market and other disruptions, as described under “General Terms of the Notes — Valuation Date” on page PS-17 in the product prospectus supplement. |
| Maturity Date: | Expected to be 3 Business Days following the Valuation Date, subject to postponement for market and other disruptions, as described under “General Terms of the Notes — Maturity Date” on page PS-17 in the product prospectus supplement. |
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| Payment at Maturity: |
For each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, we will pay you on the Maturity Date an amount in cash equal: ● if the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Cap Level, the Maximum Redemption Amount; ● if the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level but less than the Cap Level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the Leverage Factor times (c) the Percentage Change; ● if the Final Level is equal to or less than the Initial Level but greater than or equal to the Buffer Level, $1,000; or ● if the Final Level is less than the Buffer Level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) $1,000 times (b) the Downside Multiplier times (c) the sum of the Percentage Change plus the Buffer Percentage. If the Final Level is less than Buffer Level, the investor will receive less than the principal amount of the Notes at maturity and may lose up to 99.90% of their principal. |
| Leverage Factor: | 150.00% |
| Cap Level: | Expected to be between 111.50% and 113.50% of the Initial Level (to be determined on the Pricing Date) |
| Buffer Percentage: | 10.00% |
| Buffer Level: | 90.00% of the Initial Level |
| Downside Multiplier: | 111.00% |
| Maximum Redemption Amount: | Between $1,172.50 and $1,202.50 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (117.25% - 120.25% of the principal amount of the Notes). As a result of the Maximum Redemption Amount, the maximum total return at maturity of the Notes will be 17.25% - 20.25% of the principal amount of the Notes. The actual Maximum Redemption Amount will be determined on the Pricing Date. |
| Percentage Change: | The quotient of (1) the Final Level minus the Initial Level divided by (2) the Initial Level, expressed as a percentage. |
| Initial Level: | The closing level of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date |
| Final Level: | The closing level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date, except in the limited circumstances described under “General Terms of the Notes — Market Disruption Events” on page PS-18 of the accompanying product prospectus supplement and subject to adjustment as provided under “General Terms of the Notes — Unavailability of the Level of the Reference Asset” on page PS-17 of the accompanying product prospectus supplement. |
| Closing Level of the Reference Asset: | The closing level of the Reference Asset will be the official closing level of the Reference Asset or any successor index (as defined in the accompanying product prospectus supplement) on any Trading Day for the Reference Asset, as displayed on Bloomberg Professional® service page “SPX <INDEX>” or any successor page on the Bloomberg Professional® service or any successor service, as applicable. |
| Business Day: | Any day that is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City or Toronto. |
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| U.S. Tax Treatment: | By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat the Note as a pre-paid cash-settled derivative contract in respect of the Reference Asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Based on certain factual representations received from us, in the opinion of our special U.S. tax counsel, Morrison & Foerster LLP, it is reasonable to treat the Notes as pre-paid cash-settled derivative contracts in respect of the Reference Asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the Notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the discussion below under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” and the discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.” |
| Canadian Tax Treatment: | Please see the discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences,” which applies to the Notes. |
| Calculation Agent: | TD |
| Listing: | The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. |
| Clearance and Settlement: | DTC global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg) as described under “Forms of the Debt Securities” and “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement” in the prospectus. |
The Pricing Date, the Issue Date, the Valuation Date and the Maturity Date are subject to change. These dates will be set forth in the final pricing supplement that will be made available in connection with sales of the Notes.
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Additional Terms of Your Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus, as supplemented by the product prospectus supplement, relating to our Senior Debt Securities, of which these Notes are a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this pricing supplement will have the meanings given to them in the product prospectus supplement. In the event of any conflict, this pricing supplement will control. The Notes vary from the terms described in the product prospectus supplement in several important ways. You should read this pricing supplement carefully.
This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all 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, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Additional Risk Factors” on page P-7 of this pricing supplement, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” beginning on page PS-4 of the product prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” on page 1 of the prospectus, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes. You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if that address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
| § | Prospectus dated July 28, 2014: |
| http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/947263/000121465914005375/s723140424b5.htm |
| § | Product Prospectus Supplement MLN-EI-1 dated August 31, 2015: |
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/947263/000089109215007723/e65846_424b2.htm
Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 0000947263. As used in this pricing supplement, the “Bank,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries. Alternatively, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the product prospectus supplement and the prospectus if you so request by calling 1-855-303-3234.
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Additional Risk Factors
The Notes involve risks not associated with an investment in conventional debt securities. This section describes the most significant risks relating to the terms of the Notes. For additional information as to these risks, please see “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” in the prospectus.
You should carefully consider whether the Notes are suited to your particular circumstances before you decide to purchase them. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors as to the risks entailed by an investment in the Notes and the suitability of the Notes in light of their particular circumstances.
Principal at Risk.
Investors in the Notes could lose up to 99.90% of their principal amount if there is a decline in the level of the Reference Asset by more than the Buffer Percentage. If the Final Level is less than the Initial Level by more than 10.00%, you will lose a portion of the principal amount in an amount equal to the Downside Multiplier multiplied by the sum of the negative Percentage Change plus the Buffer Percentage times $1,000.
The Notes Do Not Pay Interest and Your Return on the Notes May Be Less Than the Return on Conventional Debt Securities of Comparable Maturity.
There will be no periodic interest payments on the Notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity. The return that you will receive on the Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest bearing debt security of TD.
Your Return on the Notes Will Be Limited by the Maximum Redemption Amount and May Be Less Than the Return on a Direct Investment In the Reference Asset.
The opportunity to participate in the possible increases in the level of the Reference Asset through an investment in the Notes will be limited because the Payment at Maturity will not exceed the Maximum Redemption Amount. Furthermore, the effect of the Leverage Factor will not be taken into account for any Final Level exceeding the Cap level no matter how much the level of the Reference Asset may rise above the Cap Level. Accordingly, your return on the Notes may be less than your return would be if you made an investment in a security directly linked to the performance of the Reference Asset.
Investors Are Subject to TD’s Credit Risk, and TD’s Credit Ratings and Credit Spreads May Adversely Affect the Market Value of the Notes.
Although the return on the Notes will be based on the performance of the Reference Asset, the payment of any amount due on the Notes is subject to TD’s credit risk. The Notes are TD’s unsecured obligations. Investors are dependent on TD’s ability to pay all amounts due on the Notes on the Maturity Date, and, therefore, investors are subject to the credit risk of TD and to changes in the market’s view of TD’s creditworthiness. Any decrease in TD’s credit ratings or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking TD’s credit risk is likely to adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
The Agent Discount, Offering Expenses and Certain Hedging Costs Are Likely to Adversely Affect Secondary Market Prices.
Assuming no changes in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to sell the Notes will likely be lower than the public offering price. The public offering price includes, and any price quoted to you is likely to exclude, the underwriting discount paid in connection with the initial distribution, offering expenses as well as the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes. In addition, any such price is also likely to reflect dealer discounts, mark-ups and other transaction costs, such as a discount to account for costs associated with establishing or unwinding any related hedge transaction. In addition, if the dealer from which you purchase Notes is to conduct hedging activities for us in connection with the Notes, that dealer may profit in connection with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to the compensation that the dealer receives for the sale of the Notes to you. You should be aware that the potential to earn fees in connection with hedging activities may create a further incentive for the dealer to sell the Notes to you in addition to the compensation they would receive for the sale of the Notes.
There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes — Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant Losses.
There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. TDS and other affiliates of TD may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not required to do so. TDS or any other affiliate of TD may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices advantageous to you. We expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and ask prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
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If you sell your Notes before the Maturity Date, you may have to do so at a substantial discount from the public offering price, and as a result, you may suffer substantial losses.
If the Level of the Reference Asset Changes, the Market Value of Your Notes May Not Change in the Same Manner
Your Notes may trade quite differently from the performance of the Reference Asset. Changes in the level of the Reference Asset may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your Notes. Even if the level of the Reference Asset increases above the Initial Level during the life of the Notes, the market value of your notes may not increase by the same amount.
The Amount Payable on Your Notes Is Not Linked to the Level of the Reference Asset at Any Time Other than the Valuation Date
The Final Level will be the closing level of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date (subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement). Therefore, if the closing level of the Reference Asset dropped precipitously on the Valuation Date, the Payment at Maturity for your Notes may be significantly less than it would have been had the Payment at Maturity been linked to the closing level of the Reference Asset prior to such drop in the level of the Reference Asset. Although the actual level of the Reference Asset on the Maturity Date or at other times during the life of your Notes may be higher than the Final Level, you will not benefit from the closing level of the Reference Asset at any time other than on the Valuation Date.
We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes at a Different Public Offering Price
At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate principal amount of the Notes subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. The public offering price of the Notes in the subsequent sale may differ substantially (higher or lower) from the original public offering price you paid as provided on the cover of this pricing supplement.
If You Purchase Your Notes at a Premium to Principal Amount, the Return on Your Investment Will Be Lower Than the Return on Notes Purchased at Principal Amount and the Impact of Certain Key Terms of the Notes Will be Negatively Affected
The Payment at Maturity will not be adjusted based on the public offering price you pay for the Notes. If you purchase Notes at a price that differs from the principal amount of the Notes, then the return on your investment in such Notes held to the Maturity Date will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on Notes purchased at principal amount. If you purchase your Notes at a premium to principal amount and hold them to the Maturity Date, the return on your investment in the Notes will be lower than it would have been had you purchased the Notes at principal amount or a discount to principal amount. In addition, the impact of the Buffer Level and the Cap Level on the return on your investment will depend upon the price you pay for your Notes relative to principal amount. For example, if you purchase your Notes at a premium to principal amount, the Cap Level will only permit a lower positive return in your investment in the Notes than would have been the case for Notes purchased at principal amount or a discount to principal amount. Similarly, the Buffer Level, while still providing some protection for the return on the Notes, will allow a greater percentage decrease in your investment in the Notes than would have been the case for Notes purchased at principal amount or a discount to principal amount.
You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Securities Included in the Reference Asset.
As a holder of the Notes, you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities included in the Reference Asset would have. The Final Level will not reflect any dividends paid on the securities included in the Reference Asset.
We Have No Affiliation with the Index Sponsor and Will Not Be Responsible for Any Actions Taken by the Index Sponsor.
The Index Sponsor is not an affiliate of ours or will be involved in any offerings of the Notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control of any actions of the Index Sponsor, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The Index Sponsor does not have any obligation of any sort with respect to the Notes. Thus, the Index Sponsor has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the Notes. None of our proceeds from any issuance of the Notes will be delivered to the Index Sponsor, except to the extent that we are required to pay the Index Sponsor licensing fees with respect to the Reference Asset.
The Business Activities of the Issuer or its Affiliates or GS&Co. or its Affiliates May Create Conflicts of Interest.
We, GS&Co. and our respective affiliates expect to engage in trading activities related to the Reference Asset or its components that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interests in the Notes and the interests we and our affiliates will have in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for their customers and in accounts under their management. These trading activities, if they influence the level of the Reference Asset, could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes. We, GS&Co. and one or more of our respective affiliates may, at
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present or in the future, engage in business with the issuers of the equity securities included in the Reference Asset, including making loans to or providing advisory services. These services could include investment banking and merger and acquisition advisory services. These activities may present a conflict between our or one or more of our affiliates’ obligations and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, We, GS&Co. and our respective affiliates may have published, and in the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Reference Asset or its components. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these activities by us, GS&Co., or one or more of our respective affiliates may affect the level of the Reference Asset, and, therefore, the market value of the Notes.
The Estimated Value of Your Notes at the Time the Terms of Your Notes Are Set on the Pricing Date Will Be Less Than the Public Offering Price of Your Notes.
The public offering price for your Notes will exceed the estimated value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes are set on the Pricing Date. This estimated value is set forth under “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-2 of this pricing supplement. As discussed in such section, the pricing models that are used to determine the estimated value of your Notes consider our credit spreads. After the Pricing Date, the estimated value will be affected by changes in market conditions, our creditworthiness and other relevant factors as further described under “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-2 of this pricing supplement.
The Value of the Notes Shown in Your GS&Co. Account Statements and the Price at Which GS&Co. Would Buy or Sell Your Notes (if GS&Co. Makes a Market, Which It is Not Obligated to Do) Will Be Based on the Estimated Value of Your Notes.
The price at which GS&Co. would initially buy or sell your Notes (if GS&Co. makes a market, which it is not obligated to do), and the value that GS&Co. will initially use for account statements and otherwise, exceeds the estimated value of your Notes as determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models and taking into account TD’s credit spreads. As agreed by GS&Co., the amount of this excess will decline on a straight line basis over the period from the date hereof through the applicable date set forth above under “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-2 of this pricing supplement. Thereafter, if GS&Co. buys or sells your Notes, it will do so at prices that reflect the estimated value at that time determined by reference to pricing models and taking into account variables similar to those used in determining the estimated value on the Pricing Date. The price at which GS&Co. will buy or sell your Notes at any time also will reflect its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes.
In estimating the value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes are set on the Pricing Date, as disclosed under “Additional Information Regarding Estimated Value of the Notes” on page P-2 of this pricing supplement, the pricing models consider certain variables, including principally TD’s credit spreads, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), volatility, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the Notes. These pricing models rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold your Notes in the secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated value of your Notes determined by reference to GS&Co.’s models due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models or assumptions used by others.
In addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price of your Notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted. If GS&Co. makes a market in the Notes, the price quoted by GS&Co. would reflect any changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, including any deterioration in TD’s creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness. These changes may adversely affect the value of your Notes, including the price you may receive for your Notes in any market making transaction. To the extent that GS&Co. makes a market in the Notes, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined at that time using pricing models and variables similar to those used in determining the estimated value on the Pricing Date, plus or minus its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and subject to the declining excess amount described above).
Furthermore, if you sell your Notes, you will likely be charged a commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your Notes in a secondary market sale.
There is no assurance that GS&Co. or any other party will be willing to purchase your Notes at any price and, in this regard, GS&Co. is not obligated to make a market in the Notes. See “—There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes — Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant Losses” above.
The Temporary Price at Which GS&Co. May Initially Buy the Notes in the Secondary Market May Not Be Indicative of Future Prices of Your Notes.
Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Pricing Date, the price at which GS&Co. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if GS&Co. makes a market in the Notes, which it is not obligated to do) may exceed our estimated value of the Notes on the Pricing Date, as well as the secondary market value of the Notes, for a temporary period after the initial issue date of the Notes. The price at which GS&Co. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market may not be indicative of future prices of your Notes.
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There Are Potential Conflicts of Interest Between You and the Calculation Agent.
The calculation agent will, among other things, determine the amount of your payment on the Notes. We will serve as the calculation agent and may appoint a different calculation agent after the original Issue Date without notice to you. The calculation agent will exercise its judgment when performing its functions and may take into consideration our ability to unwind any related hedges. Since this discretion by the calculation agent may affect payments on the Notes, the calculation agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make any such decision. For example, the calculation agent may have to determine whether a market disruption event affecting the Reference Asset has occurred. This determination may, in turn, depend on the calculation agent’s judgment whether the event has materially interfered with our ability or the ability of one of our affiliates to unwind our hedge positions. Since this determination by the calculation agent will affect the payment on the Notes, the calculation agent may have a conflict of interest if it needs to make a determination of this kind. For additional information as to the calculation agent’s role, see “General Terms of the Notes—Role of Calculation Agent” in the product prospectus supplement.
Market Disruption Events and Adjustments.
The Maturity Date and the Valuation Date are subject to adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement due to the occurrence of one or more market disruption events. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General Terms of the Notes—Market Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.
Significant Aspects of the Tax Treatment of the Notes Are Uncertain.
The U.S. tax treatment of the Notes is uncertain. Please read carefully the section entitled “Tax Consequences — United States Taxation” in the prospectus, the section entitled “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the product prospectus supplement, the section entitled “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” below. You should consult your tax advisor about your own tax situation.
For a more complete discussion of the Canadian federal income tax consequences of investing in the Notes, please see the discussion in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of Canadian Tax Consequences.” If you are not a Non-resident Holder (as that term is defined in the prospectus) or if you acquire the Notes in the secondary market, you should consult your tax advisors as to the consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Notes and receiving the payments that might be due under the Notes.
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Hypothetical Returns
The examples and graph set out below are included for illustration purposes only They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future investment results and merely are intended to illustrate the impact that the various hypothetical Reference Asset levels on the Valuation Date could have on the Payment at Maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.
The examples below are based on a range of Final Levels that are entirely hypothetical; the Reference Asset level on any day throughout the life of the Notes, including the Final Level on the Valuation Date, cannot be predicted. The Reference Asset has been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the Reference Asset level has changed considerably in relatively short periods — and its performance cannot be predicted for any future period.
The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical rates of return on the offered Notes assuming that they are purchased on the original Issue Date at the principal amount and held to the Maturity Date. If you sell your Notes in a secondary market prior to the Maturity Date, your return will depend upon the market value of your Notes at the time of sale, which may be affected by a number of factors that are not reflected in the table below, such as interest rates, the volatility of the Reference Asset and our creditworthiness. In addition, the estimated value of your Notes at the time the terms of your Notes are set on the Pricing Date (as determined by reference to pricing models used by us) is less than the original public offering price of your Notes. For more information on the estimated value of your Notes, see “Additional Risk Factors — The Estimated Value of Your Notes at the Time the Terms of Your Notes Are Set on the Pricing Date Will Be Less Than the Public Offering Price of Your Notes” on page P-9 of this pricing supplement. The information in the table and the examples also reflect the key terms and assumptions in the box below.
| Key Terms and Assumptions | |
| Principal Amount | $1,000 |
| Leverage Factor | 150.00% |
| Cap Level | 111.50% of the Initial Level |
| Maximum Redemption Amount | $1,172.50 |
| Buffer Level | 90.00% of the Initial Level |
| Downside Multiplier | 111.00% |
| Buffer Percentage | 10.00% |
| Neither a market disruption event nor a non-Trading Day occurs on the originally scheduled Valuation Date | |
| No change in or affecting any of the underlier stocks or the method by which the Index Sponsor calculates the Reference Asset | |
| Notes purchased on the Issue Date at the principal amount and held to the Maturity Date | |
Moreover, we have not yet set the Initial Level that will serve as the baseline for determining the Percentage Change and the amount that we will pay on your Notes, if any, at maturity. We will not do so until the Pricing Date. As a result, the actual Initial Level may differ substantially from the level of the Reference Asset prior to the Pricing Date.
For these reasons, the actual performance of the Reference Asset over the life of your Notes, as well as the amount payable at maturity, if any, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical levels of the Reference Asset shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the historical levels of the Reference Asset during recent periods, see “Information Regarding the Reference Asset — Historical Information” below. Before investing in the offered Notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the levels of the Reference Asset between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the offered Notes.
Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment applicable to your Notes, tax liabilities could affect the after-tax rate of return on your Notes to a comparatively greater extent than the after-tax return on the underlier stocks, i.e. the stocks comprising the Reference Asset.
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The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical Final Levels and are expressed as percentages of the Initial Level. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical Payment at Maturity, based on the corresponding hypothetical Final Level, and are expressed as percentages of the principal amount of a Note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent). Thus, a hypothetical Payment at Maturity of 100.000% means that the value of the cash payment that we would deliver for each $1,000 of the outstanding principal amount of the offered Notes on the Maturity Date would equal 100.000% of the principal amount of a Note, based on the corresponding hypothetical Final Level and the assumptions noted above.
|
Hypothetical Final Level (as Percentage of Initial Level) |
Hypothetical Payment at Maturity (as Percentage of Principal Amount) | |
| 150.000% | 117.250% | |
| 140.000% | 117.250% | |
| 130.000% | 117.250% | |
| 120.000% | 117.250% | |
| 111.500% | 117.250% | |
| 108.000% | 112.000% | |
| 105.000% | 107.500% | |
| 102.000% | 103.000% | |
| 100.000% | 100.000% | |
| 97.000% | 100.000% | |
| 95.000% | 100.000% | |
| 92.000% | 100.000% | |
| 90.000% | 100.000% | |
| 75.000% | 83.350% | |
| 50.000% | 55.600% | |
| 25.000% | 27.850% | |
| 0.000% | 0.100% |
If, for example, the Final Level were determined to be 25.000% of the Initial Level, the Payment at Maturity that we would deliver on your Notes at maturity would be approximately 27.850% of the principal amount of your Notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you purchased your Notes on the Issue Date at the principal amount and held them to the Maturity Date, you would lose approximately 72.150% of your investment (if you purchased your Notes at a premium to principal amount you would lose a correspondingly higher percentage of your investment). If the Final Level were determined to be 0.000% of the Initial Level, you would lose 99.900% of your investment in the Notes. In addition, if the Final Level were determined to be 150.000% of the Initial Level, the Payment at Maturity that we would deliver on your Notes at maturity would be capped at the Maximum Redemption Amount, or 117.25% of each $1,000 principal amount of your Notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your Notes to the Maturity Date, you would not benefit from any increase in the Final Level of greater than 111.50% of the Initial Level.
The following examples illustrate the hypothetical Payment at Maturity for each Note based on hypothetical Final Levels of the Reference Asset, calculated based on the key terms and assumptions above.
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| Example 1— | Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is positive (and the Final Level is below the Cap Level). | |
| Percentage Change: | 10.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | $1,000 + ($1,000 x 10.00% x 150.00%) = $1,000 + $150 = $1,150.00 | |
| On a $1,000 investment, a 10.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,150.00, a 15.00% return on the Notes. | ||
Example 2— |
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is positive (and the Final Level is above or equal to the Cap Level). | |
| Percentage Change: | 50.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | $1,000 + ($1,000 x 50.00% x 150.00%) = $1,000 + $750 = $1,750 however, the Maximum Redemption Amount is $1,172.50, and the Payment at Maturity would be $1,172.50. | |
On a $1,000 investment, a 50.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,172.50, a 17.25% return on the Notes.
In addition to limiting your return on the Notes, the Maximum Redemption Amount limits the positive effect of the Leverage Factor. If the Final Level is greater than the Initial Level, you will participate in the performance of the Reference Asset at a rate of 150.00% up to a certain point. However, the effect of the Leverage Factor will be progressively reduced for Final Levels that are greater than 111.50% of the Initial Level (based on the Maximum Redemption Amount of 117.25% or $1,172.50 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes) since your return on the Notes for any Final Level greater than 111.50% of the Initial Level will be limited to the Maximum Redemption Amount. | ||
Example 3— |
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is negative (but the Final Level is above or equal to the Buffer Level). | |
| Percentage Change: | -8.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | At maturity, if the Percentage Change is negative BUT not by more than the Buffer Percentage, then the Payment at Maturity will equal the principal amount. | |
| On a $1,000 investment, a -8.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $1,000.00, a 0.00% return on the Notes. | ||
Example 4— |
Calculation of the Payment at Maturity where the Percentage Change is negative (and the Final Level is below the Buffer Level). | |
| Percentage Change: | -35.00% | |
| Payment at Maturity: | $1,000 + [$1,000 x 111.00% x (-35.00% + 10.00%)] = $1,000 - 277.50 = $722.50 | |
| On a $1,000 investment, a -35.00% Percentage Change results in a Payment at Maturity of $722.50, a -27.75% return on the Notes. | ||
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The following chart shows a graphical illustration of the hypothetical Payment at Maturity that we would pay on your Notes on the Maturity Date, if the Final Level were any of the hypothetical levels shown on the horizontal axis. The hypothetical Payments at Maturity in the chart are expressed as percentages of the principal amount of your Notes and the hypothetical Final Levels are expressed as percentages of the Initial Level. The chart shows that any hypothetical Final Level of less than 90.00% (the section left of the 90.00% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a hypothetical Payment at Maturity of less than 100.00% of the principal amount of your Notes (the section below the 100.00% marker on the vertical axis) and, accordingly, in a loss of principal to the holder of the Notes. The chart also shows that any hypothetical Final Level of greater than or equal to 111.50% (the section right of the 111.50% marker on the horizontal axis) would result in a capped return on your investment.
The Payments at Maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on levels of the Reference Asset that may not be achieved on the Valuation Date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your Notes on the Maturity Date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your Notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical Payment at Maturity shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the offered Notes. The hypothetical amounts on Notes held to the Maturity Date in the examples above assume you purchased your Notes at their principal amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual public offering price you pay for your Notes. The return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your Notes will be affected by the amount you pay for your Notes. If you purchase your Notes for a price other than the principal amount, the return on your investment will differ from, and may be significantly lower than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the above examples. Please read “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” beginning on page PS-5 of the accompanying product prospectus supplement.
Payments on the Notes are economically equivalent to the amounts that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For example, payments on the Notes are economically equivalent to a combination of an interest-bearing bond bought by the holder and one or more options entered into between the holder and us (with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of the Notes or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes, as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement.
We cannot predict the actual Final Level or what the market value of your Notes will be on any particular Trading Day, nor can we predict the relationship between the level of the Reference Asset and the market value of your Notes at any time prior to the Maturity Date. The actual amount that you will receive, if any, at maturity and the rate of return on the offered Notes will depend on the actual Initial Level, the Cap Level, the Buffer Level and the Maximum Redemption Amount, which we will set on the Pricing Date, and the actual Final Level to be determined by the calculation agent as described above. Moreover, the assumptions on which the hypothetical returns are based may turn out to be inaccurate. Consequently, the amount of cash to be paid in respect of your Notes, if any, on the Maturity Date may be very different from the information reflected in the table and chart above.
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Information Regarding the Reference Asset
All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Reference Asset, including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation, and changes in its components, have been derived from publicly available sources. The information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”). S&P, which owns the copyright and all other rights to the Reference Asset, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Reference Asset. The consequences of S&P discontinuing publication of the Reference Asset are discussed in the section of the product prospectus supplement entitled “General Terms of the Notes— Unavailability of the Level of the Reference Asset.” Neither we nor TDS accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Reference Asset or any successor index. Additional information regarding the Reference Asset is available on the following website: http://us.spindices.com/indices/equity/sp-500. We are not incorporating this website or any material included on such website into this pricing supplement.
The Reference Asset is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of the Reference 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 chooses companies for inclusion in the Reference Asset with the aim of achieving a distribution by broad industry groupings that approximates the distribution of these groupings in the common stock population of its Stock Guide Database of over 10,000 companies, which S&P uses as an assumed model for the composition of the total market. Relevant criteria employed by S&P include the viability of the particular company, the extent to which that company represents the industry group to which it is assigned, the extent to which the market price of that company’s common stock generally is responsive to changes in the affairs of the respective industry, and the market value and trading activity of the common stock of that company. Certain types of securities are always excluded, such as business development companies (BDCs), limited partnerships, master limited partnerships, OTC bulletin board issues, closed-end funds, ETFs, ETNs, royalty trusts, etc. Companies that experience a trading halt may be retained or deleted in S&P’s discretion. S&P from time to time, in its sole discretion, may add companies to, or delete companies from, the Reference Asset to achieve the objectives stated above.
S&P calculates the Reference Asset by reference to the prices of the constituent stocks of the Reference 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 Reference Asset constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.
Effective with the September 2015 rebalance, consolidated share class lines are no longer included in the Reference Asset. Each share class line is subject to public float and liquidity criteria individually, but a company’s total market capitalization is used to evaluate each share class line. This may result in one listed share class line of a company being included in the Reference Asset while a second listed share class line of the same company is excluded.
As of November 30, 2015, the 500 companies included in the Reference Asset were divided into ten Global Industry Classification Sectors. The Global Industry Classification Sectors include (with the approximate percentage currently included in such sectors indicated in parentheses): Information Technology (20.9%); Financials (16.6%); Health Care (14.6%); Consumer Discretionary (13.1%); Industrials (10.1%); Consumer Staples (9.6%); Energy (7.1%); Utilities (2.9%); Materials (2.9%); and Telecommunication Services (2.3%). Sector designations are determined by the S&P using criteria it has selected or developed. Different index sponsors may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between indices with different index sponsors may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the indices.
Computation of the Reference Asset
While S&P currently employs the following methodology to calculate the Reference Asset, 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 Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the Reference Asset to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. S&P’s criteria for selecting stocks for the Reference Asset did not change with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the Reference Asset.
Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the Reference Asset 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.
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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 Reference Asset. 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, restricted shares, 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. If a company has multiple classes of stock outstanding, shares in an unlisted or non-traded class are treated as a control block.
For each stock, an investable weight factor (“IWF”) is calculated by dividing the available float shares by the total shares outstanding. As of September 21, 2012, 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. For companies with multiple classes of stock, S&P calculates the weighted average IWF for each stock using the proportion of the total company market capitalization of each share class as weights.
The Reference Asset is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the Reference Asset. The index divisor keeps the Reference Asset comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the Reference Asset, which is index maintenance.
Index Maintenance
In order to keep the Reference Asset comparable over time, S&P engages in an index maintenance process. The index maintenance process involves changing the constituents as discussed above, and also involves maintaining quality assurance processes and procedures, adjusting the number of shares used to calculate the Reference Asset, monitoring and completing the adjustments for company additions and deletions, adjusting for stock splits and stock dividends and adjusting for other corporate actions. In addition to its daily governance of indices and maintenance of the index methodology, at least once within any 12 month period, the S&P Index Committee reviews the index methodology to ensure the Reference Asset continues to achieve the stated objective, and that the data and methodology remain effective. The S&P Index Committee may at times consult with investors, market participants, security issuers included in or potentially included in the Reference Asset, or investment and financial experts.
To prevent the level of the Reference Asset from changing due to corporate actions, all corporate actions which affect the total market value of the Reference Asset require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in total market value, the level of the Reference Asset remains constant. This helps maintain the level of the Reference Asset as an accurate barometer of stock market performance and ensures that the movement of the Reference Asset does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the Reference Asset. All index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the closing level of the Reference Asset. Some corporate actions, such as stock splits and stock dividends, require simple changes in the common shares outstanding and the stock prices of the companies in the Reference Asset and do not require index divisor adjustments.
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The table below summarizes the types of index maintenance adjustments and indicates whether or not an index divisor adjustment is required:
| Type of Corporate Action | Adjustment Factor |
Divisor Adjustment Required | ||
| Stock Split (i.e., 2-for-1) |
Shares outstanding multiplied by 2; Stock price divided by 2 | No | ||
| Share Issuance (i.e., change ≥ 5%) |
Shares outstanding plus newly issued shares | Yes | ||
| Share Repurchase (i.e., change ≥ 5%) |
Shares outstanding minus repurchased shares | Yes | ||
| Special Cash Dividends | Share price minus special dividend | Yes | ||
| Company Change | Add new company market value minus old company market value | Yes | ||
| Rights Offering |
Price of parent company minus price of rights offering rights ratio |
Yes | ||
| Spin-Off |
Price of parent company minus price of spin-off co. share exchange ratio |
Yes | ||
Stock splits and stock dividends do not affect the index divisor of the Reference Asset, because following a split or dividend both the stock price and number of shares outstanding are adjusted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC so that there is no change in the market value of the component stocks. All stock split and dividend adjustments are made after the close of trading on the day before the ex-date.
Each of the corporate events exemplified in the table requiring an adjustment to the index divisor has the effect of altering the market value of the component stocks and consequently of altering the aggregate market value of the component stocks, which we refer to as the post-event aggregate market value. In order that the level of the Reference Asset, which we refer to as the pre-event index value, not be affected by the altered market value (whether increase or decrease) of the affected component stocks, a new index divisor, which we refer to as the new index divisor, is derived as follows:
| post-event aggregate market value | = | pre-event index value | ||
| new index divisor | ||||
| new index divisor | = | post-event market value | ||
| pre-event index value | ||||
Changes in a company’s shares outstanding of 5.00% or more due to mergers, acquisitions, public offerings, tender offers, Dutch auctions, or exchange offers are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of 5.00% or more (due to, for example, company stock repurchases, private placements, redemptions, exercise of options, warrants, conversion of preferred stock, notes, debt, equity participation units, at the market offerings, or other recapitalizations) are made weekly and are announced on Wednesdays for implementation after the close of trading on the following Wednesday. Changes of less than 5.00% due to a company’s acquisition of another company in the Reference Asset are made as soon as reasonably possible. All other changes of less than 5.00% are accumulated and made quarterly on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, and are usually announced two to five days prior.
Changes in IWFs of more than five percentage points caused by corporate actions (such as merger and acquisition activity, restructurings, or spinoffs) will be made as soon as reasonably possible. Other changes in IWFs will be made annually when IWFs are reviewed.
Recalculation Policy
S&P reserves the right to recalculate and republish the Reference Asset under certain limited circumstances. S&P may recalculate and republish the Reference Asset if it determines that the Reference Asset incorrect or inconsistent within two trading days of the publication of the index level because of an incorrect or revised closing price, missed corporate event, late announcement of a corporate event, incorrect application of corporate action or index methodology or for such other extraordinary circumstances that the S&P Index Committee determines is necessary to reduce or avoid a possible market impact or disruption.
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Calculations and Pricing Disruptions
Closing levels for the Reference Asset are calculated by S&P based on the closing price of the individual constituents of the index as set by their primary exchange. Closing prices are received by S&P from one of its third party vendors and verified by comparing them with prices from an alternative vendor. The vendors receive the closing price from the primary exchanges. Real-time intraday prices are calculated similarly without a second verification. If there is a failure or interruption on one or more exchanges, real time calculations switch to the “Composite Tape” for all securities listed on the affected exchange and an announcement is published on the S&P Dow Jones Indices Web site at www.spdji.com. If the interruption is not resolved before the market close and the exchange(s) in question publishes a list of closing prices, those prices are used. If no list is published, the last trade as of 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the “Composite Tape” is used (or the previous close adjusted for corporate actions if no intraday trades were reported). A notice is published on the S&P Web site at www.spdji.com indicating any changes to the prices used in Reference Asset calculations. In extreme circumstances, S&P may decide to delay index adjustments or not publish the Reference Asset. Real-time indices are not restated.
Unscheduled Market Closures
In situations where an exchange is forced to close early due to unforeseen events, such as computer or electric power failures, weather conditions or other events, S&P will calculate the closing price of the Reference Asset based on (1) the closing prices published by the exchange, or (2) if no closing price is available, the last regular trade reported for each stock before the exchange closed. If the exchange fails to open due to unforeseen circumstances, S&P treats this closure as a standard market holiday. The Reference Asset will use the prior day’s closing prices and shifts any corporate actions to the following business day. If all exchanges fail to open or in other extreme circumstances, S&P may determine not to publish the Reference Asset for that day.
License Agreement
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 S&P. “Standard & Poor’s®”, “S&P 500®” and “S&P®” are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC. These trademarks have been sublicensed for certain purposes by us. The Reference Asset is a product of S&P and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use by us.
The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Standard & 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 Reference Asset to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to us with respect to the Reference Asset is the licensing of the Reference Asset and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors. The Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset. 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 Reference Asset 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 Reference Asset. 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 REFERENCE ASSET 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 REFERENCE ASSET 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,
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TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBLITY 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.
Historical Information
The graph below sets forth the information relating to the historical performance of the Reference Asset. The dotted line represents a hypothetical Buffer Level of 1,842.86, which is equal to 90% of the closing level of the Reference Asset on December 9, 2015.
The graph below shows the daily historical closing levels of the Reference Asset from January 3, 2005 through December 9, 2015. We obtained the information regarding the historical performance of the Reference Asset in the chart below from Bloomberg Financial Markets.
We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg Financial Markets. The historical performance of the Reference Asset should not be taken as an indication of its future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the Final Level of the Reference Asset. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Reference Asset will result in any positive return on your initial investment.
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.
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Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following disclosure supplements and to the extent inconsistent supersedes (and should be read in conjunction with) the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the product prospectus supplement under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Supplemental U.S. Tax Consequences—Non-U.S. Holders.”
Recently finalized U.S. Treasury Department regulations provide that withholding on “dividend equivalent” payments, if any, will not apply to Notes issued before January 1, 2017.
The following disclosure supplements and to the extent inconsistent supersedes (and should be read in conjunction with) the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the prospectus under “Tax Consequences—United States Taxation—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.”
The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have announced that withholding on foreign passthru payments will not be required with respect to payments made before the later of January 1, 2019, or the date of publication in the Federal Register of final regulations defining the term “foreign passthru payment.”
Supplemental Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)
We have appointed TDS, an affiliate of TD, as the agent for the sale of the Notes. Pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, TDS will purchase the Notes from TD at the public offering price less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement for distribution to GS&Co., or will offer the Notes directly to investors. GS&Co. and its affiliates will receive an underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement per $1,000 principal amount, comprised of $2.50 of underwriting fees and $15.00 of selling commission, to be determined on the Pricing Date. The Issuer or an affiliate expects to enter into swap agreements or related hedge transactions with Goldman Sachs International and/or its affiliates in connection with the sale of the Notes, and Goldman Sachs International and/or an affiliate may earn income as a result of payments pursuant to the swap, or the related hedge transactions. See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” in the accompanying Product Prospectus Supplement. TD will reimburse TDS for certain expenses in connection with its role in the offer and sale of the Notes, and TD will pay TDS a fee in connection with its role in the offer and sale of the Notes.
We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment for the Notes on or about December [ ], 2015, which is the fifth (5th) Business Day following the Pricing Date (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three Business Days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the initial settlement of the Notes occurs more than three Business Days from the Pricing Date, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes more than three Business Days prior to the original issue date will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement. See “Plan of Distribution” in the prospectus. For additional information as to the relationship between us and TDS, please see the section “Plan of Distribution—Conflicts of Interest” in the product prospectus supplement.
We or GS&Co. may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the Notes. In addition, we or GS&Co. or any of our respective affiliates may use this pricing supplement in a market-making transaction in a Note after its initial sale. If a purchaser buys the Notes from us or GS&Co. or any of our respective affiliates, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction unless we or GS&Co. or any of our respective affiliates informs such purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale.
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