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.
Registration Statement No. 333-196387
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Subject to Completion, dated March 3, 2015
Pricing Supplement to the Prospectus dated June 27, 2014, the Prospectus Supplement
dated June 27, 2014 and the Product Supplement dated June 30, 2014
US$●
Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series C
Contingent Risk Absolute Return Notes due March 31, 2021
Linked to the S&P 500® Index
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The notes are designed for investors who seek a 103% leveraged return based on any appreciation in the level of the S&P 500® Index (the “Underlying Asset”). In addition, if the Final Level of the Underlying Asset is less than its Initial Level but is greater than or equal to the Barrier Level, you will receive a positive return on your notes equal to the percentage by which that level declines up to the Maximum Downside Redemption Amount (as defined below) of $1,250 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes.
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If the Final Level is less than the Barrier Level, investors will lose 1% of their principal amount for each 1% decrease in the level of the Underlying Asset from the pricing date to the valuation date.
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An investor in the notes may lose all or a portion of their principal amount at maturity.
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The notes will not bear interest. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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Any payment at maturity is subject to the credit risk of Bank of Montreal.
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The offering is expected to price on or about March 26, 2015, and the notes are expected to settle through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about March 31, 2015.
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The notes are scheduled to mature on or about March 31, 2021.
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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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The CUSIP number of the notes is 06366RD44.
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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.
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Investing in the notes involves risks, including those described in the “Selected Risk Considerations” section beginning on page P-4 of this pricing supplement, “Additional Risk Factors Relating to the Notes” section beginning on page PS-5 of the product supplement, and “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-1 of the prospectus supplement and on page 7 of the prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the accuracy of this pricing supplement, the product supplement, the prospectus supplement or the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will not be savings accounts or deposits that are insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Bank Insurance Fund, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity.
On the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, the estimated initial value of the notes is $914.40 per $1,000 in principal amount, based on the terms set forth above. The estimated initial value of the notes on the pricing date may differ from this value but will not be less than $900.00 per $1,000 in principal amount. However, as discussed in more detail in this pricing supplement, the actual value of the notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted with accuracy.
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Price to Public(1)
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Agent’s Commission(1)
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Proceeds to Bank of Montreal
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Per Note
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US$1,000
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US$35.50
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US$964.50
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Total
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(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 $964.50 and $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount.
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS
Key Terms of the Notes:
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Underlying Asset:
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S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg symbol: SPX). See the section below entitled “The Underlying Asset” for additional information about the Underlying Asset.
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Payment at Maturity:
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If the Percentage Change is positive, then the amount that the investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal:
Principal Amount + (Principal Amount × Percentage Change × Upside Leverage Factor)
If the Percentage Change is less than or equal to zero, but is not less than the Barrier Percentage, then the amount that the investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal:
Principal Amount + (-1 × Principal Amount × Percentage Change)
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In this case, subject to our credit risk, investors will receive a positive return on the notes up to the Maximum Downside Redemption Amount (as defined below), even though the level of the Underlying Asset has declined since the pricing date.
If the Percentage Change is less than the Barrier Percentage, then the amount that the investors will receive at maturity for each $1,000 in principal amount of the notes will equal:
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Principal Amount + (Principal Amount × Percentage Change)
In this case, investors will lose all or a portion of the principal amount of the notes.
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Initial Level:
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The closing level of the Underlying Asset on the pricing date. The Initial Level will be set forth in the final pricing supplement for the notes.
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Final Level:
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The closing level of the Underlying Asset on the valuation date.
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Percentage Change:
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Final Level – Initial Level, expressed as a percentage
Initial Level
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Barrier Level:
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75% of the Initial Level (to be determined on the pricing date).
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Barrier Percentage:
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-25%
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Upside Leverage Factor:
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103%
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Maximum Downside
Redemption Amount:
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$1,250
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Pricing Date:
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On or about March 26, 2015.
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Settlement Date:
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On or about March 31, 2015, as determined on the Pricing Date.
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Valuation Date:
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On or about March 26, 2021, subject to adjustment.
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Maturity Date:
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On or about March 31, 2021, as determined on the pricing date.
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CUSIP Number:
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06366RD44
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Calculation Agent:
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BMO Capital Markets Corp.
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Selling Agent:
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BMO Capital Markets Corp.
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The pricing date and settlement date are subject to change. The actual pricing date, settlement date, valuation date, maturity date, Initial Level and Barrier Level will be set forth in the final pricing supplement.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless our agent or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market-making transaction.
P-2
Additional Terms of the Notes
You should read this pricing supplement together with the product supplement dated June 30, 2014, the prospectus supplement dated June 27, 2014 and the prospectus dated June 27, 2014. 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.
You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):
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Product supplement dated June 30, 2014:
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Prospectus supplement dated June 27, 2014:
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Prospectus dated June 27, 2014:
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Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 927971. As used in this pricing supplement, the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Bank of Montreal.
P-3
Selected Risk Considerations
An investment in the notes involves significant risks. Investing in the notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Underlying Asset. 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. — You may lose some or all of your investment in the notes. The payment at maturity will be based on the Final Level. If the Percentage Change is less than the Barrier Percentage, you will lose 1% of the principal amount for each 1% decrease in the level of the Underlying Asset. Accordingly, you could lose some or all of the principal amount of your notes.
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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 the amount due at maturity, 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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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 securities included in the Underlying Asset 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 level of the 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 Asset. 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 agent’s commission, and 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 Asset, 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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P-4
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You will not have any shareholder rights and will have no right to receive any shares of any company included in the Underlying Asset at maturity. — Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of any company included in the Underlying Asset. 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 those securities.
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Changes that affect the Underlying Asset will affect the market value of the notes and the amount you will receive at maturity. — The policies of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”), the sponsor of the Underlying Asset, concerning the calculation of the Underlying Asset, additions, deletions or substitutions of the components of the Underlying Asset and the manner in which changes affecting those components, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, may be reflected in the Underlying Asset and, therefore, could affect the level of the Underlying Asset, the amount payable on the notes at maturity, and the market value of the notes prior to maturity. The amount payable on the notes and their market value could also be affected if S&P changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the Underlying Asset, or if S&P discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the Underlying Asset. None of our proceeds from the issuance of the notes will be delivered to S&P.
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We have no affiliation with S&P and will not be responsible for any actions taken by S&P. S&P is not an affiliate of ours and will not be involved in the offering of the notes in any way. Consequently, we have no control over the actions of S&P, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. S&P has no obligation of any sort with respect to the notes. Thus, S&P 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.
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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 your 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 the Underlying Asset, or futures or options relating to the Underlying Asset, or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the performance of the Underlying Asset. We or our affiliates may also engage in trading relating to the 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 level of the 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 Asset. — In the ordinary course of their businesses, our affiliates from time to time may express views on expected movements in the level of the Underlying Asset or the prices of the securities included in the Underlying Asset. One or more of our affiliates have published, and in the future may publish, research reports that express views on the Underlying Asset 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 Asset at any time may have significantly different views from those of our affiliates. You are encouraged to derive information concerning the Underlying Asset from multiple sources, and you should not rely on the views expressed by our affiliates.
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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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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.
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The Internal Revenue Service has issued a notice indicating that it and the Treasury Department are actively considering whether, among other issues, a holder should be required to accrue interest over the term of an instrument such as the notes even though that holder will not receive any payments with respect to the notes until maturity and whether all or part of the gain a holder may recognize upon sale or maturity of an instrument such as the notes could be treated as ordinary income. The outcome of this process is uncertain and could apply on a retroactive basis.
P-5
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 “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.
P-6
Hypothetical Return on the Notes at Maturity
The following table and examples illustrate the hypothetical return at maturity on a $1,000 investment in the notes. The “return,” as used in this section is the number, expressed as a percentage, which results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are based on a hypothetical Initial Level of 100, a Barrier Percentage of -25% (75% of the hypothetical Initial Level), and an Upside Leverage Factor of 103%. The hypothetical returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual returns applicable to investors in the notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and in the examples below have been rounded for ease of analysis.
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Hypothetical Final Level
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Percentage Change
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Return on the Notes
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Payment at Maturity
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0.00
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-100.00%
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-100.00%
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$0.00
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20.00
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-80.00%
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-80.00%
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$200.00
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30.00
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-70.00%
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-70.00%
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$300.00
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40.00
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-60.00%
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-60.00%
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$400.00
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50.00
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-50.00%
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-50.00%
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$500.00
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60.00
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-40.00%
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-40.00%
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$600.00
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70.00
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-30.00%
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-30.00%
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$700.00
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75.00
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-25.00%
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25.00%
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$1,250.00
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80.00
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-20.00%
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20.00%
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$1,200.00
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90.00
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-10.00%
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10.00%
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$1,100.00
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100.00
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0.00%
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0.00%
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$1,000.00
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105.00
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5.00%
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5.15%
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$1,051.50
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110.00
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10.00%
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10.30%
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$1,103.00
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115.00
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15.00%
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15.45%
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$1,154.50
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120.00
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20.00%
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20.60%
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$1,206.00
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130.00
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30.00%
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30.90%
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$1,309.00
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140.00
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40.00%
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41.20%
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$1,412.00
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Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity
The following examples illustrate how the returns set forth in the table above are calculated.
Example 1: The level of the Underlying Asset decreases from the hypothetical Initial Level of 100 to a hypothetical Final Level of 60 representing a Percentage Change of -40%. Because the Percentage Change is less than the Barrier Percentage, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $600 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:
Principal Amount + (Principal Amount x Percentage Change) = Payment at Maturity
$1,000 + ($1,000 x -40%) = $600.00
Example 2: The level of the Underlying Asset decreases from the hypothetical Initial Level of 100 to a hypothetical Final Level of 90, representing a Percentage Change of -10%. Because the Percentage Change is less than zero but is not less than the Barrier Percentage, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,100 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:
Principal Amount + [Principal Amount x (-1 x Percentage Change)] = Payment at Maturity
$1,000 + [$1,000 × (-1 x -10%)] = $1,100.00
Example 3: The level of the Underlying Asset increases from the hypothetical Initial Level of 100 to a hypothetical Final Level of 110, representing a Percentage Change of 10%. Because the Percentage Change is positive, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,103.00 per $1,000 in principal amount of the notes, calculated as follows:
Principal Amount + [Principal Amount x (Percentage Change x Upside Leverage Factor)] = Payment at Maturity
$1,000 + [$1,000 x (10% x 103%)] = $1,103.00
P-7
U.S. Federal Tax Information
By purchasing the notes, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to treat each note as a pre-paid cash-settled derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the discussion (including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product supplement under “Supplemental Tax Considerations—Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” which applies to 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 additional dealer engaged by a dealer to whom BMOCM reoffers the notes, will purchase the notes at an agreed discount to the initial price to public.
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 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 the Underlying Asset, or as to the suitability of an investment in the notes.
BMOCM may, but is not obligated to, make a market in the notes. BMOCM will determine any secondary market prices that it is prepared to offer in its sole discretion.
We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, BMOCM or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market-making transactions in any notes after their initial sale. Unless BMOCM or we inform you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used by BMOCM in a market-making transaction.
For a period of approximately three months following issuance of the notes, the price, if any, at which we or our affiliates would be willing to buy the notes from investors, and the value that BMOCM may also publish for the notes through one or more financial information vendors and which could be indicated for the notes on any brokerage account statements, will reflect a temporary upward adjustment from our estimated value of the notes that would otherwise be determined and applicable at that time. This temporary upward adjustment represents a portion of (a) the hedging profit that we or our affiliates expect to realize over the term of the notes and (b) the selling concessions paid in connection with this offering. The amount of this temporary upward adjustment will decline to zero on a straight-line basis over the three-month period.
Additional Information Relating to the Estimated Initial Value of the Notes
Our estimated initial value of the notes on the date of this preliminary pricing supplement, and that will be set forth on the cover page of the final pricing supplement relating to the notes, equals the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components:
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a fixed-income debt component with the same tenor as the notes, valued using our internal funding rate for structured notes; and
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one or more derivative transactions relating to the economic terms of the notes.
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The internal funding rate used in the determination of the initial estimated value generally represents a discount from the credit spreads for our conventional fixed-rate debt. The value of these derivative transactions are derived from our internal pricing models. These models are based on factors such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on other inputs, which include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. As a result, the estimated initial value of the notes on the pricing date will be determined based on market conditions at that time.
P-8
The Underlying Asset
All disclosures contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Underlying 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. S&P, which owns the copyright and all other rights to the Underlying Asset, has no obligation to continue to publish, and may discontinue publication of, the Underlying Asset. The consequences of S&P discontinuing publication of the Underlying Asset are discussed in the section of the product prospectus supplement entitled “General Terms of the Notes—Unavailability of the Level of the Underlying Asset on a Valuation Date.” Neither we nor BMOCM accepts any responsibility for the calculation, maintenance or publication of the Underlying Asset or any successor index.
The Underlying Asset is intended to provide an indication of the pattern of common stock price movement. The calculation of the level of the 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. On February 27, 2015, the average market capitalization of the companies included in the Underlying Asset was $39.36 billion. As of that date, the largest component of the Underlying Asset had a market capitalization of $753.40 billion, and the smallest component of the Underlying Asset had a market capitalization of $2.96 billion.
S&P chooses companies for inclusion in the Underlying 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. Ten main groups of companies comprise the Underlying Asset, with the approximate percentage of the market capitalization of the Underlying Asset included in each group as of February 27, 2015 indicated in parentheses: Information Technology (19.9%); Financials (16.0%); Health Care (14.8%); Consumer Discretionary (12.5%); Industrials (10.3%); Consumer Staples (9.8%); Energy (8.1%); Materials (3.3%); Utilities (3.0%); and Telecommunication Services (2.3%). S&P from time to time, in its sole discretion, may add companies to, or delete companies from, the Underlying Asset to achieve the objectives stated above.
S&P calculates the Underlying Asset by reference to the prices of the constituent stocks of the 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 Underlying Asset constituent stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks.
Computation of the Underlying Asset
While S&P currently employs the following methodology to calculate the Underlying 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 Underlying 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 Underlying Asset halfway from a market capitalization weighted formula to a float-adjusted formula, before moving the Underlying Asset to full float adjustment on September 16, 2005. S&P’s criteria for selecting stocks for the Underlying Asset did not change with the shift to float adjustment. However, the adjustment affects each company’s weight in the Underlying Asset.
Under float adjustment, the share counts used in calculating the Underlying 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.
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 Underlying 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.
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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 Underlying Asset is calculated using a base-weighted aggregate methodology. The level of the Underlying 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 Underlying 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 Underlying Asset, it serves as a link to the original base period level of the Underlying Asset. The index divisor keeps the Underlying Asset comparable over time and is the manipulation point for all adjustments to the Underlying Asset, 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 Underlying Asset, and do not require index divisor adjustments.
To prevent the level of the Underlying Asset from changing due to corporate actions, corporate actions which affect the total market value of the Underlying Asset require an index divisor adjustment. By adjusting the index divisor for the change in market value, the level of the Underlying Asset remains constant and does not reflect the corporate actions of individual companies in the Underlying Asset. Index divisor adjustments are made after the close of trading and after the calculation of the Underlying Asset closing level.
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 Underlying 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.
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 Underlying Asset, in connection with certain securities, including the notes. The Underlying Asset 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:
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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 Underlying Asset to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to us with respect to the Underlying Asset is the licensing of the Underlying Asset and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its third party licensors. The Underlying 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 Underlying 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 Underlying 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 Underlying 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 UNDERLYING 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 UNDERLYING 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, 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.
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.
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Historical Information of the Underlying Asset
The following table sets forth the quarter-end high and low closing levels for the Underlying Asset from the first quarter of 2011 through March 2, 2015.
The historical levels of the Underlying Asset are provided for informational purposes only. You should not take the historical levels of the 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 Underlying Asset
|
High ($)
|
Low ($)
|
|||
|
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
|
1,278.05
|
||
|
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
|
2,093.55
|
1,820.66
|
||
|
2015
|
First Quarter (through March 2, 2015)
|
2,117.39
|
1,992.67
|
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