424B2 1 s110919_424b2.htm PRICING SUPPLEMENT

PRICING SUPPLEMENT
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement Nos. 333-222672 and 333-222672-01
Dated June 15, 2018
 

JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC Capped GEARS

$6,889,000 Linked to the Russell 2500TM Value Index due August 20, 2019

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Investment Description

Capped GEARS (Growth Enhanced Asset Return Securities), which we refer to as the “Securities,” are unsecured and unsubordinated debt securities issued by JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC (“JPMorgan Financial”), the payment on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co., with a return linked to the performance of the Russell 2500TM Value Index (the “Underlying”).  If the Underlying Return is positive, JPMorgan Financial will repay your principal amount at maturity plus pay a return equal to the Underlying Return times the Upside Gearing of 3.00, up to the Maximum Gain of 12.30%.  If the Underlying Return is zero, JPMorgan Financial will repay your principal amount at maturity.  However, if the Underlying Return is negative, JPMorgan Financial will repay less than your principal amount at maturity, if anything, resulting in a loss of principal that is proportionate to the negative Underlying Return.  In this case, you will have full downside exposure to the Underlying from the Initial Value to the Final Value and could lose all of your principal amount.  Investing in the Securities involves significant risks. You may lose some or all of your principal amount. You will not receive dividends or other distributions paid on any stocks included in the Underlying, and the Securities will not pay interest. Any payment on the Securities is subject to the creditworthiness of JPMorgan Financial as issuer of the Securities, and the creditworthiness of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as guarantor of the Securities. If JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on their payment obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the Securities and you could lose your entire investment.

Features

 

Key Dates

q    Enhanced Growth Potential Subject to Maximum Gain — At maturity, the Upside Gearing feature will provide leveraged exposure to any positive performance of the Underlying, up to the Maximum Gain of 12.30%. If the Underlying Return is negative, investors will be exposed to the negative Underlying Return at maturity.

q    Full Downside Market Exposure — If the Underlying Return is negative, investors will be exposed to the negative Underlying Return at maturity and JPMorgan Financial will pay less than your principal amount, if anything, resulting in a loss of principal that is proportionate to the Underlying’s decline from the Initial Value to the Final Value. You may lose some or all of your principal. Any payment on the Securities is subject to the creditworthiness of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  Trade Date June 15, 2018
Original Issue Date (Settlement Date)1 June 20, 2018
Final Valuation Date2 August 15, 2019
Maturity Date2 August 20, 2019
1 See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” for more details on the expected Settlement Date.
2 Subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Determination Date — Notes Linked to a Single Underlying –– Notes Linked to a Single Underlying (Other Than a Commodity Index)” and “General Terms of Notes — Postponement of a Payment Date” in the accompanying product supplement

THE SECURITIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY RISKIER THAN CONVENTIONAL DEBT INSTRUMENTS. JPMORGAN FINANCIAL IS NOT NECESSARILY OBLIGATED TO REPAY THE FULL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES AT MATURITY, AND THE SECURITIES HAVE DOWNSIDE MARKET RISK SIMILAR TO THE UNDERLYING. THIS MARKET RISK IS IN ADDITION TO THE CREDIT RISK INHERENT IN PURCHASING A DEBT OBLIGATION OF JPMORGAN FINANCIAL FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. YOU SHOULD NOT PURCHASE THE SECURITIES IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE SIGNIFICANT RISKS INVOLVED IN INVESTING IN THE SECURITIES.

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED UNDER “KEY RISKS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 OF THIS PRICING SUPPLEMENT, UNDER “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE PS-10 OF THE ACCOMPANYING PRODUCT SUPPLEMENT AND UNDER “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE US-1 OF THE ACCOMPANYING UNDERLYING SUPPLEMENT BEFORE PURCHASING ANY SECURITIES. EVENTS RELATING TO ANY OF THOSE RISKS, OR OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARKET VALUE OF, AND THE RETURN ON, YOUR SECURITIES. YOU MAY LOSE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES WILL NOT BE LISTED ON ANY SECURITIES EXCHANGE.

Security Offering

We are offering Capped GEARS linked to the Russell 2500TM Value Index.  The Securities are offered at a minimum investment of $1,000 in denominations of $10 and integral multiples thereof.  The return on the Securities is subject to, and will not exceed, the Maximum Gain. 
         

Underlying Upside Gearing Maximum Gain Initial Value* CUSIP ISIN
Russell 2500TM Value Index (Bloomberg ticker: R2500V) 3.00 12.30% 540.772 48129N575 US48129N5757

*Rounded to three decimal places

See “Additional Information about JPMorgan Financial, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the Securities” in this pricing supplement. The Securities will have the terms specified in the prospectus and the prospectus supplement, each dated April 5, 2018, product supplement no. UBS-1-I dated April 5, 2018, underlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018 and this pricing supplement. The terms of the Securities as set forth in this pricing supplement, to the extent they differ or conflict with those set forth in the accompanying product supplement, will supersede the terms set forth in that product supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Securities or passed upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this pricing supplement or the accompanying prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

  Price to Public1 Fees and Commissions2 Proceeds to Issuer
Offering of Securities Total Per Security Total Per Security Total Per Security
Securities Linked to the Russell 2500TM Value Index $6,889,000 $10.00 $137,780 $0.20 $6,751,220 $9.80

 

1 See “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” in this pricing supplement for information about the components of the price to public of the Securities.
2 UBS Financial Services Inc., which we refer to as UBS, will receive selling commissions from us of $0.20 per $10 principal amount Security.  See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying product supplement, as supplemented by “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” in this pricing supplement.

The estimated value of the Securities, when the terms of the Securities were set, was $9.801 per $10 principal amount Security. See “The Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement for additional information.

The Securities are not bank deposits, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency and are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

 

UBS Financial Services Inc. (J.P.MORGAN LOGO)

 

 

 

 

Additional Information about JPMorgan Financial, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the Securities

 

You should read this pricing supplement together with the accompanying prospectus, as supplemented by the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to our Series A medium-term notes of which these Securities are a part, and the more detailed information contained in the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Securities and supersedes all other prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, fact sheets, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement, as the Securities involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities.

 

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):

 

tProduct supplement no. UBS-1-I dated April 5, 2018:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004522/dp87529_424b2-ubs1i.pdf

 

tUnderlying supplement no. 1-I dated April 5, 2018:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004514/crt_dp87766-424b2.pdf

 

tProspectus supplement and prospectus, each dated April 5, 2018:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/19617/000095010318004508/dp87767_424b2-ps.pdf

 

Our Central Index Key, or CIK, on the SEC website is 1665650, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s CIK is 19617. As used in this pricing supplement, the “Issuer,” “JPMorgan Financial,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC.

 

 

Supplemental Terms of the Securities

 

For purposes of the accompanying product supplement, the Russell 2500TM Value Index is an “Index.”

 

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Investor Suitability

 

The Securities may be suitable for you if, among other considerations:

 

t        You fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the risk of loss of your entire principal amount.

 

t        You can tolerate a loss of all or a substantial portion of your investment and are willing to make an investment that has the same downside market risk as a hypothetical investment in the Underlying.

 

t        You believe the level of the Underlying will increase over the term of the Securities and that the appreciation is unlikely to exceed an amount equal to the Maximum Gain indicated on the cover hereof.

 

t        You understand and accept that your potential return is limited by the Maximum Gain and you are willing to invest in the Securities based on the Maximum Gain indicated on the cover hereof.

 

t        You can tolerate fluctuations in the price of the Securities prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the Underlying.

 

t        You do not seek current income from your investment and are willing to forgo dividends paid on the stocks included in the Underlying.

 

t        You are willing and able to hold the Securities to maturity.

 

t        You accept that there may be little or no secondary market for the Securities and that any secondary market will depend in large part on the price, if any, at which J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as JPMS, is willing to trade the Securities.

 

t        You understand and accept the risks associated with the Underlying.

 

t        You are willing to assume the credit risks of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. for all payments under the Securities, and understand that if JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. default on their obligations, you may not receive any amounts due to you including any repayment of principal.

 

The Securities may not be suitable for you if, among other considerations:

 

t        You do not fully understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the risk of loss of your entire principal amount.

 

t        You require an investment designed to provide a full return of principal at maturity.

 

t        You cannot tolerate a loss of all or a substantial portion of your investment, or you are not willing to make an investment that has the same downside market risk as a hypothetical investment in the Underlying.

 

t        You believe the level of the Underlying will decline over the term of the Securities, or you believe the Underlying will appreciate over the term of the Securities by more than the Maximum Gain indicated on the cover hereof.

 

t        You seek an investment that has unlimited return potential without a cap on appreciation.

 

t        You are unwilling to invest in the Securities based on the Maximum Gain indicated on the cover hereof.

 

t        You cannot tolerate fluctuations in the price of the Securities prior to maturity that may be similar to or exceed the downside fluctuations in the level of the Underlying.

 

t        You seek current income from your investment or prefer not to forgo dividends paid on the stocks included in the Underlying.

 

t        You are unwilling or unable to hold the Securities to maturity or seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market.

 

t        You do not understand or accept the risks associated with the Underlying.

 

t        You are not willing to assume the credit risks of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. for all payments under the Securities, including any repayment of principal.

 

The suitability considerations identified above are not exhaustive. Whether or not the Securities are a suitable investment for you will depend on your individual circumstances, and you should reach an investment decision only after you and your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers have carefully considered the suitability of an investment in the Securities in light of your particular circumstances. You should also review carefully the “Key Risks” section of this pricing supplement and the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement for risks related to an investment in the Securities. For more information on the Underlying, please see the section titled “The Underlying” below.

 

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Final Terms 

Issuer:   JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, an indirect, wholly owned finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Guarantor:   JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Issue Price:   $10.00 per Security (subject to a minimum purchase of 100 Securities or $1,000)
Principal Amount:   $10.00 per Security. The payment at maturity will be based on the principal amount.
Underlying:   Russell 2500TM Value Index
Term:   14 months
Payment at Maturity (per $10 principal amount Security):  

If the Underlying Return is positive, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a cash payment at maturity per $10 principal amount Security equal to:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Underlying Return × Upside Gearing)

 

provided, however, that in no event will JPMorgan Financial pay you at maturity an amount greater than:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Maximum Gain)

 

If the Underlying Return is zero, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a cash payment at maturity of $10.00 per $10 principal amount Security.

 

If the Underlying Return is negative, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a cash payment at maturity per $10 principal amount Security equal to:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Underlying Return)

 

In this scenario, you will be exposed to the decline of the Underlying and you will lose some or all of your principal amount in an amount proportionate to the negative Underlying Return.

 

Underlying Return:  

(Final Value – Initial Value)

 Initial Value 

Upside Gearing:   3.00
Maximum Gain:   12.30%.  In no event will the return on the Principal Amount be greater than the Maximum Gain.
Initial Value:   The closing level of the Underlying on the Trade Date, as specified on the cover of this pricing supplement
Final Value:   The closing level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date
     

Investment Timeline 

     
Trade Date   The Initial Value is observed.  The Maximum Gain is determined.
 (graphic)  
   
Maturity Date  

The Final Value and the Underlying Return are determined.

 

If the Underlying Return is positive, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a cash payment at maturity per $10 principal amount Security equal to:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Underlying Return ×
Upside Gearing)

 

provided, however, that in no event will you receive at maturity an amount greater than:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Maximum Gain)

 

If the Underlying Return is zero, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a cash payment at maturity of $10.00 per $10 principal amount Security.

 

If the Underlying Return is negative, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a cash payment at maturity per $10 principal amount Security equal to:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Underlying Return)

 

Under these circumstances, you will be exposed to the decline of the Underlying and you will lose some or all of your principal amount.

 

   
 
INVESTING IN THE SECURITIES INVOLVES SIGNIFICANT RISKS. YOU MAY LOSE SOME OR ALL OF YOUR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT. ANY PAYMENT ON THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY REPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, IS SUBJECT TO THE CREDITWORTHINESS OF JPMORGAN FINANCIAL AND JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. IF JPMORGAN FINANCIAL AND JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. WERE TO DEFAULT ON THEIR PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS, YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE ANY AMOUNTS OWED TO YOU UNDER THE SECURITIES AND YOU COULD LOSE YOUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT.
       


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What Are the Tax Consequences of the Securities? 

 

You should review carefully the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying product supplement no. UBS-1-I. The following discussion, when read in combination with that section, constitutes the full opinion of our special tax counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of Securities.

 

Based on current market conditions, in the opinion of our special tax counsel it is reasonable to treat the Securities as “open transactions” that are not debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as more fully described in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences — Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Notes Treated as Open Transactions That Are Not Debt Instruments” in the accompanying product supplement. Assuming this treatment is respected, the gain or loss on your Securities should be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you hold your Securities for more than a year, whether or not you are an initial purchaser of Securities at the issue price. However, the IRS or a court may not respect this treatment, in which case the timing and character of any income or loss on the Securities could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, in 2007 Treasury and the IRS released a notice requesting comments on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of “prepaid forward contracts” and similar instruments. The notice focuses in particular on whether to require investors in these instruments to accrue income over the term of their investment. It also asks for comments on a number of related topics, including the character of income or loss with respect to these instruments; the relevance of factors such as the nature of the underlying property to which the instruments are linked; the degree, if any, to which income (including any mandated accruals) realized by non-U.S. investors should be subject to withholding tax; and whether these instruments are or should be subject to the “constructive ownership” regime, which very generally can operate to recharacterize certain long-term capital gain as ordinary income and impose a notional interest charge. While the notice requests comments on appropriate transition rules and effective dates, any Treasury regulations or other guidance promulgated after consideration of these issues could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, possibly with retroactive effect. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Securities, including possible alternative treatments and the issues presented by this notice.

 

Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) generally impose a 30% withholding tax (unless an income tax treaty applies) on dividend equivalents paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities.  Section 871(m) provides certain exceptions to this withholding regime, including for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices that meet requirements set forth in the applicable Treasury regulations (such an index, a “Qualified Index”).  Additionally, a recent IRS notice excludes from the scope of Section 871(m) instruments issued prior to January 1, 2019 that do not have a delta of one with respect to underlying securities that could pay U.S.-source dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each an “Underlying Security”).  Based on certain determinations made by us, our special tax counsel is of the opinion that Section 871(m) should not apply to the Securities with regard to Non-U.S. Holders.  Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination.  Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on your particular circumstances, including whether you enter into other transactions with respect to an Underlying Security.  You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the Securities.

 

Withholding under legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” may (if the Securities are recharacterized as debt instruments) apply to amounts treated as interest paid with respect to the Securities, as well as to payments of gross proceeds of a taxable disposition, including redemption at maturity, of a Security. However, under a 2015 IRS notice, this regime will not apply to payments of gross proceeds (other than any amount treated as interest) with respect to dispositions occurring before January 1, 2019. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential application of FATCA to the Securities.

 

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Key Risks

 

An investment in the Securities involves significant risks. Investing in the Securities is not equivalent to investing directly in the Underlying. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” sections of the accompanying product supplement and the accompanying underlying supplement. We also urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisers before you invest in the Securities.

 

Risks Relating to the Securities Generally

 

tYour Investment in the Securities May Result in a Loss — The Securities differ from ordinary debt securities in that we will not necessarily repay the full principal amount of the Securities. We will pay you the principal amount of your Securities in cash only if the Final Value has not declined below the Initial Value. If the Underlying Return is negative, you will lose some or all of your principal amount in an amount proportionate to the negative Underlying Return. Accordingly, you could lose up to your entire principal amount.

 

tCredit Risks of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. — The Securities are unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Issuer, JPMorgan Chase Financial Company LLC, the payment on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by JPMorgan Chase & Co. The Securities will rank pari passu with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, and the related guarantee JPMorgan Chase & Co. will rank pari passu with all of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Securities and related guarantees are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any payment to be made on the Securities, including any repayment of principal, depends on the ability of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. to satisfy their obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. may affect the market value of the Securities and, in the event JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. were to default on their obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the Securities and you could lose your entire investment.

 

tAs a Finance Subsidiary, JPMorgan Financial Has No Independent Operations and Limited Assets — As a finance subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., we have no independent operations beyond the issuance and administration of our securities. Aside from the initial capital contribution from JPMorgan Chase & Co., substantially all of our assets relate to obligations of our affiliates to make payments under loans made by us or other intercompany agreements. As a result, we are dependent upon payments from our affiliates to meet our obligations under the Securities. If these affiliates do not make payments to us and we fail to make payments on the Securities, you may have to seek payment under the related guarantee by JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that guarantee will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

tThe Appreciation Potential of the Securities Is Limited by the Maximum Gain — The appreciation potential of the Securities is limited by the Maximum Gain of 12.30%. Accordingly, the appreciation potential of the Securities will be limited by the Maximum Gain even if the Underlying Return times the Upside Gearing is greater than the Maximum Gain.

 

tThe Upside Gearing Applies Only If You Hold the Securities to Maturity — You should be willing to hold your Securities to maturity. If you are able to sell your Securities prior to maturity in the secondary market, if any, the price you receive likely will not reflect the full economic value of the Upside Gearing or the Securities themselves, and the return you realize may be less than the product of the performance of the Underlying and the Upside Gearing and may be less than the Underlying’s return, even if that return is positive and does not exceed the Maximum Gain. You can receive the full benefit of the Upside Gearing, subject to the Maximum Gain, only if you hold your Securities to maturity.

 

tNo Interest Payments — JPMorgan Financial will not make any interest payments to you with respect to the Securities.

 

tPotential Conflicts — We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Securities, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the Securities and making the assumptions used to determine the pricing of the Securities and the estimated value of the Securities when the terms of the Securities are set, which we refer to as the estimated value of the Securities. In performing these duties, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests and the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Securities. In addition, our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s business activities, including hedging and trading activities, could cause our and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s economic interests to be adverse to yours and could adversely affect any payment on the Securities and the value of the Securities. It is possible that hedging or trading activities of ours or our affiliates in connection with the Securities could result in substantial returns for us or our affiliates while the value of the Securities declines. Please refer to “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying product supplement for additional information about these risks.

 

In addition, analyst forecasts from one or more of our affiliates, including JPMS, may be one of the data point used in determining the I/B/E/S forecast medium-term growth (2 year) of a company included in the Russell 2500TM Index, which is one of the factors used in determining the value/growth characteristics of that company for purposes of determining the composition of the Underlying.  We and our affiliates will have no obligation to consider your interests as a holder of the Securities when making these analyst forecasts.

 

tThe Probability That the Final Value Will Fall Below the Initial Value on the Final Valuation Date Will Depend on the Volatility of the Underlying — “Volatility" refers to the frequency and magnitude of changes in the level of the Underlying. Greater expected volatility with respect to the Underlying reflects a higher expectation as of the Trade Date that the Underlying could close below the Initial Value on the Final Valuation Date of the Securities, resulting in the loss of some or all of your investment. However, the Underlying’s volatility can change significantly over the term of the Securities. The level of the Underlying could fall sharply, which could result in a significant loss of principal.

 

tThe Estimated Value of the Securities Is Lower Than the Original Issue Price (Price to Public) of the Securities — The estimated value of the Securities is only an estimate determined by reference to several factors. The original issue price of the Securities

 

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 exceeds the estimated value of the Securities because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the Securities are included in the original issue price of the Securities. These costs include the selling commissions, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the Securities and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Securities. See “The Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.

 

tThe Estimated Value of the Securities Does Not Represent Future Values of the Securities and May Differ from Others’ Estimates — The estimated value of the Securities is determined by reference to internal pricing models of our affiliates when the terms of the Securities are set. This estimated value of the Securities is based on market conditions and other relevant factors existing at that time and assumptions about market parameters, which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors. Different pricing models and assumptions could provide valuations for the Securities that are greater than or less than the estimated value of the Securities. In addition, market conditions and other relevant factors in the future may change, and any assumptions may prove to be incorrect. On future dates, the value of the Securities could change significantly based on, among other things, changes in market conditions, our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness, interest rate movements and other relevant factors, which may impact the price, if any, at which JPMS would be willing to buy Securities from you in secondary market transactions. See “The Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.

 

tThe Estimated Value of the Securities Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate — The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the Securities is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding value of the Securities as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the Securities in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. The use of an internal funding rate and any potential changes to that rate may have an adverse effect on the terms of the Securities and any secondary market prices of the Securities. See “The Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.

 

tThe Value of the Securities as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Securities for a Limited Time Period — We generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the Securities will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your Securities by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period. These costs can include selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, and, in some circumstances, estimated hedging costs and our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances. See “Secondary Market Prices of the Securities” in this pricing supplement for additional information relating to this initial period. Accordingly, the estimated value of your Securities during this initial period may be lower than the value of the Securities as published by JPMS (and which may be shown on your customer account statements).

 

tSecondary Market Prices of the Securities Will Likely Be Lower Than the Original Issue Price of the Securities — Any secondary market prices of the Securities will likely be lower than the original issue price of the Securities because, among other things, secondary market prices take into account our internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances and, also, because secondary market prices (a) exclude selling commissions and (b) may exclude projected hedging profits, if any, and estimated hedging costs that are included in the original issue price of the Securities. As a result, the price, if any, at which JPMS will be willing to buy Securities from you in secondary market transactions, if at all, is likely to be lower than the original issue price. Any sale by you prior to the Maturity Date could result in a substantial loss to you. See the immediately following risk factor for information about additional factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the Securities.
  
 The Securities are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Securities to maturity. See “— Lack of Liquidity” below.

 

tMany Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the SecuritiesAs described under “The Estimated Value of the Securities” in this pricing supplement, the Securities can be thought of as securities that combine a fixed-income debt component with one or more derivatives. As a result, the factors that influence the values of fixed-income debt and derivative instruments will also influence the terms of the Securities at issuance and their value in the secondary market. Accordingly, the secondary market price of the Securities during their term will be impacted by a number of economic and market factors, which may either offset or magnify each other, aside from the selling commissions, projected hedging profits, if any, estimated hedging costs and the level of the Underlying, including:

 

tany actual or potential change in our or JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s creditworthiness or credit spreads;

 

tcustomary bid-ask spreads for similarly sized trades;

 

tour internal secondary market funding rates for structured debt issuances;

 

tthe actual and expected volatility in the level of the Underlying;

 

tthe time to maturity of the Securities;

 

tthe dividend rates on the equity securities included in the Underlying;

 

tinterest and yield rates in the market generally; and

 

ta variety of other economic, financial, political, regulatory and judicial events.

 

Additionally, independent pricing vendors and/or third party broker-dealers may publish a price for the Securities, which may also be reflected on customer account statements. This price may be different (higher or lower) than the price of the Securities, if any, at which JPMS may be willing to purchase your Securities in the secondary market.

 

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tInvesting in the Securities Is Not Equivalent to Investing in the Stocks Composing the Underlying — Investing in the Securities is not equivalent to investing in the stocks included in the Underlying. As an investor in the Securities, you will not have any ownership interest or rights in the stocks included in the Underlying, such as voting rights, dividend payments or other distributions.

 

tWe Cannot Control Actions by the Sponsor of the Underlying and That Sponsor Has No Obligation to Consider Your Interests — We and our affiliates are not affiliated with the sponsor of the Underlying and have no ability to control or predict its actions, including any errors in or discontinuation of public disclosure regarding methods or policies relating to the calculation of the Underlying. The sponsor of the Underlying is not involved in this Security offering in any way and has no obligation to consider your interest as an owner of the Securities in taking any actions that might affect the market value of your Securities.

 

tYour Return on the Securities Will Not Reflect Dividends on the Stocks Composing the Underlying — Your return on the Securities will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the stock included in the Underlying and received the dividends on the stock included in the Underlying. This is because the calculation agent will calculate the amount payable to you at maturity of the Securities by reference to the Final Value, which reflects the closing level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date without taking into consideration the value of dividends on the stock included in the Underlying.

 

tLack of Liquidity — The Securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. JPMS intends to offer to purchase the Securities 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 Securities easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the Securities, the price at which you may be able to trade your Securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which JPMS is willing to buy the Securities.

 

tPotentially Inconsistent Research, Opinions or Recommendations by JPMS, UBS or Their Affiliates — JPMS, UBS or their affiliates may publish research, express opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with investing in or holding the Securities, and that may be revised at any time. Any such research, opinions or recommendations may or may not recommend that investors buy or hold investments linked to the Underlying and could affect the value of the Underlying, and therefore the market value of the Securities.

 

tTax Treatment — Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the Securities are uncertain. You should consult your tax adviser about your tax situation.

 

tPotential JPMorgan Financial Impact on the Market Price of the Underlying — Trading or transactions by JPMorgan Financial or its affiliates in the Underlying or in futures, options or other derivative products on the Underlying may adversely affect the market value of the Underlying and, therefore, the market value of the Securities.

 

Risks Relating to the Underlying

 

tAn Investment in the Securities is Subject to Risks Associated with Small and Mid-Size Capitalization Stocks — The equity securities included in the Underlying are issued by companies with relatively small or mid-size market capitalization.  The stock prices of smaller or mid-size companies may be more volatile than stock prices of large capitalization companies.  Small and mid-size capitalization companies may be less able to withstand adverse economic, market, trade and competitive conditions relative to larger companies.  These companies tend to be less well-established than large market capitalization companies.  Small and mid-size capitalization companies are less likely to pay dividends on their stocks, and the presence of a dividend payment could be a factor that limits downward stock price pressure under adverse market conditions.

 

tThere Is No Assurance That The Strategy Employed by the Underlying Will Be Successful — The Underlying is designed to track the performance of the stocks included in the Russell 2500TM Index that are determined by FTSE Russell to be value oriented, based on three variables: for value, price-to-book ratio; and for growth, I/B/E/S forecast medium-term growth (2 year) and sales per share historical graph (5 year).   The value/growth characteristics referenced by the Underlying may not be accurate predictors of valued-oriented stocks, and there is no guarantee that value-oriented stocks will appreciate.  Stocks that are considered to be value oriented may have lower growth potential than other securities, which may cause the level of the Underlying to decrease over the term of the Securities.  It is possible that the selection methodology of the Underlying will adversely affect its return and, consequently the level of the Underlying and the Securities.  An investment in the Securities may also underperform an investment linked to the Russell 2500TM Index as a whole.

 

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Hypothetical Examples and Return Table

Hypothetical terms only. Actual terms may vary. See the cover page for actual offering terms.

 

The following table and hypothetical examples below illustrate the payment at maturity per $10.00 principal amount Security for a hypothetical range of Underlying Returns from -100.00% to +100.00% on an offering of the Securities linked to a hypothetical Underlying, and assume a hypothetical Initial Value of 100, a hypothetical Upside Gearing of 1.50 and a hypothetical Maximum Gain of 12.00%. The hypothetical Initial Value of 100 has been chosen for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the actual Initial Value. The actual Initial Value is based on the closing level of the Underlying on the Trade Date and is specified on the cover of this pricing supplement. For historical data regarding the actual closing levels of the Underlying, please see the historical information set forth under “The Underlying” in this pricing supplement. The actual Upside Gearing and Maximum Gain are specified on the cover of this pricing supplement. The hypothetical payment at maturity examples set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual returns applicable to a purchaser of the Securities. The actual payment at maturity may be more or less than the amounts displayed below and will be determined based on the actual terms of the Securities, including the Upside Gearing, the Initial Value and the Maximum Gain, and the Final Value on the Final Valuation Date. You should consider carefully whether the Securities are suitable to your investment goals. The numbers appearing in the table below have been rounded for ease of analysis.

 

Final Value Underlying Return (%) Payment at Maturity ($) Return at Maturity per
$10.00 issue price (%)
200.00 100.00% $11.20 12.00%
190.00 90.00% $11.20 12.00%
180.00 80.00% $11.20 12.00%
170.00 70.00% $11.20 12.00%
160.00 60.00% $11.20 12.00%
150.00 50.00% $11.20 12.00%
140.00 40.00% $11.20 12.00%
130.00 30.00% $11.20 12.00%
120.00 20.00% $11.20 12.00%
110.00 10.00% $11.20 12.00%
108.00 8.00% $11.20 12.00%
106.00 6.00% $10.90 9.00%
104.00 4.00% $10.60 6.00%
102.00 2.00% $10.30 3.00%
100.00 0.00% $10.00 0.00%
95.00 -5.00% $9.50 -5.00%
90.00 -10.00% $9.00 -10.00%
80.00 -20.00% $8.00 -20.00%
70.00 -30.00% $7.00 -30.00%
60.00 -40.00% $6.00 -40.00%
50.00 -50.00% $5.00 -50.00%
40.00 -60.00% $4.00 -60.00%
30.00 -70.00% $3.00 -70.00%
20.00 -80.00% $2.00 -80.00%
10.00 -90.00% $1.00 -90.00%
0.00 -100.00% $0.00 -100.00%

 

Example 1 — The level of the Underlying increases by 2% from the Initial Value of 100 to the Final Value of 102.

 

Because the Upside Gearing of 1.50 times the Underlying Return of 2% is less than the Maximum Gain of 12.00%, JPMorgan Financial will pay you your principal amount plus a return equal to the Underlying Return times the Upside Gearing, resulting in a payment at maturity of $10.30 per $10 principal amount Security, calculated as follows:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Underlying Return × Upside Gearing)
$10.00 + ($10.00 × 2% × 1.50) = $10.30

 

Example 2 — The level of the Underlying increases by 10% from the Initial Value of 100 to the Final Value of 110.

 

Because the Upside Gearing of 1.50 times the Underlying Return of 10% is greater than the Maximum Gain of 12.00%, JPMorgan Financial will pay you your principal amount plus a return equal to the Maximum Gain of 12.00%, resulting in a payment at maturity of $11.20 per $10 principal amount Security, calculated as follows:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Maximum Gain)
$10.00 + ($10.00 × 12.00%) = $11.20

 

 9

 

Example 3 — The level of the Underlying increases by 40% from the Initial Value of 100 to the Final Value of 140.

 

Because the Upside Gearing of 1.50 times the Underlying Return of 40% is significantly greater than the Maximum Gain of 12.00%, JPMorgan Financial will pay you your principal amount plus a return equal to only the Maximum Gain of 12.00%, resulting in a payment at maturity of $11.20 per $10 principal amount Security, calculated as follows:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Maximum Gain)
$10.00 + ($10.00 × 12.00%) = $11.20

 

Example 4 — The level of the Underlying decreases by 40% from the Initial Value of 100 to the Final Value of 60.

 

Because the Underlying Return is -40%, JPMorgan Financial will pay you a payment at maturity of $6.00 per $10 principal amount Security, calculated as follows:

 

$10.00 + ($10.00 × Underlying Return)
$10.00 + ($10.00 × -40.00%) = $6.00

 

If the Underlying Return is negative, investors will be exposed to the negative Underlying Return at maturity, resulting in a loss of principal that is proportionate to the Underlying’s decline from the Initial Value to the Final Value. Investors could lose some or all of their principal amount.

 

The hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments on the Securities shown above apply only if you hold the Securities for their entire term. These hypotheticals do not reflect fees or expenses that would be associated with any sale in the secondary market. If these fees and expenses were included, the hypothetical returns and hypothetical payments shown above would likely be lower.

 

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The Underlying

 

The Russell 2500TM Value Index is designed to track the performance of the stocks included in the Russell 2500TM Index that are determined by FTSE Russell to be value oriented, based on three variables: for value, price-to-book ratio; and for growth, I/B/E/S forecast medium-term growth (2 year) and sales per share historical graph (5 year).  The Russell 2500TM Index is designed to track the performance of the small-to-mid capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market and includes the Russell 2000® Index plus the smallest 500 mid-capitalization companies from the Russell 1000® Index.  For additional information about the Russell 2500TM Value Index, see the information set forth in Annex A in this pricing supplement.

 

Historical Information

 

The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low closing levels of the Underlying, based on daily closing levels of the Underlying as reported by the Bloomberg Professional® service (“Bloomberg”), without independent verification. The information given below is for the four calendar quarters in each of 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the first calendar quarter of 2018. Partial data is provided for the second calendar quarter of 2018. The closing level of the Underlying on June 15, 2018 was 540.772. We obtained the closing levels of the Underlying above and below from Bloomberg, without independent verification. You should not take the historical levels of the Underlying as an indication of future performance.

 

Quarter Begin Quarter End Quarterly Closing High Quarterly Closing Low Close
1/1/2013 3/31/2013 351.422 319.423 351.422
4/1/2013 6/30/2013 368.790 335.703 355.130
7/1/2013 9/30/2013 380.272 358.114 376.098
10/1/2013 12/31/2013 407.256 369.661 407.256
1/1/2014 3/31/2014 420.295 384.568 419.591
4/1/2014 6/30/2014 435.042 404.726 435.042
7/1/2014 9/30/2014 438.306 405.257 405.257
10/1/2014 12/31/2014 433.620 386.110 427.739
1/1/2015 3/31/2015 442.738 413.319 438.532
4/1/2015 6/30/2015 444.905 430.396 430.830
7/1/2015 9/30/2015 435.181 382.187 387.415
10/1/2015 12/31/2015 418.948 386.783 395.875
1/1/2016 3/31/2016 406.660 347.637 406.660
4/1/2016 6/30/2016 430.537 396.564 422.093
7/1/2016 9/30/2016 450.957 417.325 445.797
10/1/2016 12/31/2016 495.092 421.711 484.889
1/1/2017 3/31/2017 503.789 478.330 490.329
4/1/2017 6/30/2017 497.050 473.535 489.433
7/1/2017 9/30/2017 505.621 471.743 505.621
10/1/2017 12/31/2017 527.522 500.477 524.287
1/1/2018 3/31/2018 543.343 491.070 507.795
4/1/2018 6/15/2018* 545.279 496.939 540.772

*As of the date of this pricing supplement, available information for the second calendar quarter of 2018 includes data for the period from April 1, 2018 through June 15, 2018. Accordingly, the “Quarterly Closing High,” “Quarterly Closing Low” and “Close” data indicated are for this shortened period only and do not reflect complete data for the second calendar quarter of 2018.

 

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The graph below illustrates the daily performance of the Underlying from January 2, 2008 through June 15, 2018, based on information from Bloomberg, without independent verification.
Past performance of the Underlying is not indicative of the future performance of the Underlying.

 

(Graphchart)

 

The historical performance of the Underlying should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the closing level of the Underlying on the Final Valuation Date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the Underlying will result in the return of any of your principal amount.

 

Supplemental Plan of Distribution

 

We and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have agreed to indemnify UBS and JPMS against liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments that UBS may be required to make relating to these liabilities as described in the prospectus supplement and the prospectus. We have agreed that UBS may sell all or a part of the Securities that it purchases from us to the public or its affiliates at the price to public indicated on the cover hereof.

 

Subject to regulatory constraints, JPMS intends to offer to purchase the Securities in the secondary market, but it is not required to do so.

 

We or our affiliates may enter into swap agreements or related hedge transactions with one of our other affiliates or unaffiliated counterparties in connection with the sale of the Securities, and JPMS and/or an affiliate may earn additional income as a result of payments pursuant to the swap or related hedge transactions. See “Supplemental Use of Proceeds” in this pricing supplement and “Use of Proceeds and Hedging” in the accompanying product supplement.

 

We expect that delivery of the Securities will be made against payment for the Securities on or about the Original Issue Date set forth on the front cover of this pricing supplement, which will be the third business day following the Trade Date of the Securities (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+3”).  Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to that trade expressly agree otherwise.  Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Securities on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement and should consult their own advisors.

 

The Estimated Value of the Securities

 

The estimated value of the Securities set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement is equal to the sum of the values of the following hypothetical components: (1) a fixed-income debt component with the same maturity as the Securities, valued using the internal funding rate described below, and (2) the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the Securities. The estimated value of the Securities does not represent a minimum price at which JPMS would be willing to buy your Securities in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time. The internal funding rate used in the determination of the estimated value of the Securities is based on, among other things, our and our affiliates’ view of the funding values of the Securities as well as the higher issuance, operational and ongoing liability management costs of the Securities in comparison to those costs for the conventional fixed-rate debt of JPMorgan Chase & Co. For additional information, see “Key Risks — Risks Relating to the Securities Generally — The Estimated Value of the Securities Is Derived by Reference to an Internal Funding Rate” in this pricing supplement. The value of the derivative or derivatives underlying the economic terms of the Securities is derived from internal pricing models of our affiliates. These models are dependent on inputs such as the traded market prices of comparable derivative instruments and on various other inputs, some of which are market-observable, and which can include volatility, dividend rates, interest rates and other factors, as well as assumptions about future market events and/or environments. Accordingly, the estimated value of the Securities is determined when the terms of the Securities are set based on market conditions and other relevant factors and assumptions existing at that time. See “Key Risks — Risks Relating to the Securities Generally — The Estimated

 

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Value of the Securities Does Not Represent Future Values of the Securities and May Differ from Others’ Estimates” in this pricing supplement.

 

The estimated value of the Securities is lower than the original issue price of the Securities because costs associated with selling, structuring and hedging the Securities are included in the original issue price of the Securities. These costs include the selling commissions paid to UBS, the projected profits, if any, that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the Securities and the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Securities. Because hedging our obligations entails risk and may be influenced by market forces beyond our control, this hedging may result in a profit that is more or less than expected, or it may result in a loss. We or one or more of our affiliates will retain any profits realized in hedging our obligations under the Securities. See “Key Risks — Risks Relating to the Securities Generally — The Estimated Value of the Securities Is Lower Than the Original Issue Price (Price to Public) of the Securities” in this pricing supplement.

 

Secondary Market Prices of the Securities

 

For information about factors that will impact any secondary market prices of the Securities, see “Key Risks — Risks Relating to the Securities Generally — Secondary Market Prices of the Securities Will Be Impacted by Many Economic and Market Factors” in this pricing supplement. In addition, we generally expect that some of the costs included in the original issue price of the Securities will be partially paid back to you in connection with any repurchases of your Securities by JPMS in an amount that will decline to zero over an initial predetermined period that is intended to be up to seven months. The length of any such initial period reflects secondary market volumes for the Securities, the structure of the Securities, whether our affiliates expect to earn a profit in connection with our hedging activities, the estimated costs of hedging the Securities and when these costs are incurred, as determined by our affiliates. See “Key Risks — Risks Relating to the Securities Generally — The Value of the Securities as Published by JPMS (and Which May Be Reflected on Customer Account Statements) May Be Higher Than the Then-Current Estimated Value of the Securities for a Limited Time Period” in this pricing supplement.

 

Supplemental Use of Proceeds

 

The Securities are offered to meet investor demand for products that reflect the risk-return profile and market exposure provided by the Securities. See “Hypothetical Examples and Return Table” in this pricing supplement for an illustration of the risk-return profile of the Securities and “The Underlying” in this pricing supplement for a description of the market exposure provided by the Securities.

 

The original issue price of the Securities is equal to the estimated value of the Securities plus the selling commissions paid to UBS, plus (minus) the projected profits (losses) that our affiliates expect to realize for assuming risks inherent in hedging our obligations under the Securities, plus the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Securities.

 

 Validity of the Securities and the Guarantee

 

In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, as special products counsel to JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co., when the Securities offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by JPMorgan Financial and authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture, and delivered against payment as contemplated herein, such Securities will be valid and binding obligations of JPMorgan Financial and the related guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of JPMorgan Chase & Co., enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to (i) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above or (ii) any provision of the indenture that purports to avoid the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law by limiting the amount of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s obligation under the related guarantee. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and its authentication of the Securities and the validity, binding nature and enforceability of the indenture with respect to the trustee, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated March 8, 2018, which was filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 by JPMorgan Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. on March 8, 2018.

 

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 Annex A — The Russell 2500TM Value Index

 

All information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Russell 2500TM Value Index (the “Value Index”), including, without limitation, its make-up, method of calculation and changes in its components, has been derived from publicly available information, without independent verification. This information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by, FTSE Russell. The Value Index was developed by Russell Investment Group and is calculated, maintained and published by FTSE Russell. FTSE Russell has no obligation to publish, and may discontinue the publication of, the Value Index.

 

The Value Index is reported by Bloomberg under the ticker symbol “R2500V.”

 

The Value Index is designed to track the performance of the stocks included in the Russell 2500TM Index that are determined by FTSE Russell to be value oriented, based on three variables: for value, price-to-book ratio; and for growth, I/B/E/S forecast medium-term growth (2 year) and sales per share historical graph (5 year). The Russell 2500TM Index is designed to track the performance of the small-to-mid capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market and includes the Russell 2000® Index plus the smallest 500 mid-capitalization companies from the Russell 1000® Index. The Russell 2500TM Index includes companies ranked 501st to 3,000th (based on descending total market capitalization) in the Russell 3000E TM Index. For more information about the Russell 2000® Index and the Russell 1000® Index, see “Equity Index Descriptions — The Russell Indices” in the accompanying underlying supplement.

 

FTSE Russell uses a “non-linear probability” method to assign stocks to the Value Index and the Russell 2500TM Growth Index (the “Growth Index”), an index that is designed to track the performance of the stocks included in the Russell 2500TM Index that are determined by FTSE Russell to be growth oriented, based on the same three variables as the Value Index. The term “probability” is used to indicate the degree of certainty that a stock is value or growth, based on its relative book-to-price (“B/P”) ratio, I/B/E/S forecast medium-term growth (2 year) and sales per share historical growth (5 year). This method allows stocks to be represented as having both growth and value characteristics, while preserving the additive nature of the indices.

 

The process for assigning growth and value weights is applied separately to the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 2000® Index. Treating the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 2000® Index separately is intended to prevent the possible distortion to relative valuations that may occur if the Russell 3000E TM Index is used as the base index. For each base index (the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 2000® Index), stocks are ranked by their B/P ratio, their I/B/E/S forecast medium-term growth (2 year) and sales per share historical growth (5 year). These rankings are converted to standardized units, where the value variable represents 50% of the score and the two growth variables represent the remaining 50%. They are then combined to produce a composite value score (“CVS”).

 

Stocks are then ranked by their CVS, and a probability algorithm is applied to the CVS distribution to assign growth and value weights to each stock. In general, a stock with a lower CVS is considered growth, a stock with a higher CVS is considered value, and a stock with a CVS in the middle range is considered to have both growth and value characteristics and is weighted proportionately in the growth and value index. Stocks are always fully represented by the combination of their growth and value weights (e.g., a stock that is given a 20% weight in the Value Index will have an 80% weight in the Growth Index).

 

Stock A, in the figure below, is a security with 20% of its available shares assigned to the Value Index and the remaining 80% assigned to the Growth Index. The growth and value probabilities will always sum to 100%. Hence, the sum of a stock’s market capitalization in the Value Index and the Growth Index will always equal its market capitalization in the Russell 2500TM Index.

 

 

 

In the figure above, the quartile breaks are calculated such that approximately 25% of the available market capitalization lies in each quartile. Stocks at the median are divided 50% in each of the Value Index and the Growth Index. Stocks below the first quartile are 100% in the Growth Index. Stocks above the third quartile are 100% in the Value Index. Stocks falling between the first and third quartile breaks are in both the Value Index and the Growth Index to varying degrees depending on how far they are above or below the median and how close they are to the first or third quartile breaks.

 

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Roughly 70% of the available market capitalization is classified as all growth or all value. The remaining 30% have some portion of their market value in either the Value Index or the Growth Index, depending on their relative distance from the median value score. Note that there is a small position cutoff rule. If a stock’s weight is more than 95% in one index, its weight is increased to 100% in that index.

 

In an effort to mitigate unnecessary turnover, FTSE Russell implements a banding methodology at the CVS level of the growth and value style algorithm. If a company’s CVS change from the previous year is ≤ to +/- 0.10 AND if the company remains in the same base index (the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 2000® Index), then the CVS remains unchanged during the next reconstitution process. Keeping the CVS static for these companies does not mean the probability (growth/value) will remain unchanged in all cases due to the relation of a CVS score to the overall index. However, this banding methodology is intended to reduce turnover caused by smaller, less meaningful movements while continuing to allow the larger, more meaningful changes to occur, signaling a true change in a company’s relation to the market.

 

The market capitalization of the Value Index and the Growth Index may not each equal 50% of their base index. At first glance, this seems counterintuitive, since the methodology uses capitalization-weighted medians and quartiles, which in turn implies that 50% of the capitalization is above and 50% is below the median. However, asymmetry in the capitalization distributions within the second and third quartiles results in a skewed distribution of CVS. When CVS is normally distributed, 50% will be in each index.

 

Stocks with missing or negative values for B/P, or missing values for I/B/E/S growth (negative I/B/E/S medium-term growth is valid), or missing sales per share historical growth (5yr) (6 years of quarterly numbers are required), are allocated by using the mean value score of the base index (the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 2000® Index) RGS (Russell Global Sectors) industry, subsector, or sector group into which the company falls. Each missing (or negative B/P) variable is substituted with the industry, subsector or sector group independently. An industry must have five members or the substitution reverts to the subsector, and so forth to the sector. In addition, a weighted value score is calculated for securities with low analyst coverage for I/B/E/S medium-term growth. For securities with coverage by a single analyst, 2/3 of the industry, subsector, or sector group value score is weighted with 1/3 the security’s independent value score. For those securities with coverage by two analysts, 2/3 of the independent security’s value score is used and only 1/3 of the industry, subsector, or sector group is weighted. For those securities with at least three analysts contributing to the I/B/E/S medium-term growth, 100% of the independent security’s value score is used.

 

For more information about the index calculation methodology used to formulate the Value Index, see “Equity Index Descriptions — The Russell Indices” in the accompanying underlying supplement. For purposes of the accompanying underlying supplement, the Value Index is a “Russell Index.”

 

Disclaimers

 

The Securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by London Stock Exchange Group plc or its affiliates (collectively, “LSE”) or any successor thereto or index owner and neither LSE nor any party hereto makes any representation or warranty whatsoever, whether express or implied, to the owners of the Securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Securities particularly or the ability of the Value Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. LSE’s publication of the Value Index in no way suggests or implies an opinion by LSE as to the advisability of investment in any or all of the securities upon which the Value Index are based. LSE’s only relationship to JPMorgan Financial, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and their affiliates is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of LSE and of the Value Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by LSE without regard to JPMorgan Financial, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and their affiliates or the Securities. LSE is not responsible for and has not reviewed the Securities or any associated literature or publications and LSE makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. LSE reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the Value Index. LSE has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Securities.

 

“Russell 1000® Index,” “Russell 2000® Index,””Russell 2500TM Index,“ “Russell 2500 TM Value Index” and Russell 3000E TM Index” are trademarks of LSE and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association or one of its affiliates intends to license them for use by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and its affiliates.  This transaction is not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by LSE and LSE makes no representation regarding the advisability of entering into this transaction.

 

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

 

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