424B2 1 a17-18306_13424b2.htm 424B2 - 4YNC1Y SPX-XOP SNOWBALL AUTOCALL (LN36) - [AM6098718] [BARC-AMERICAS.FID891411]

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities Offered

 

Maximum Aggregate Offering Price

 

Amount of Registration Fee(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Global Medium-Term Notes, Series A

 

$1,756,000

 

$203.52

 

(1)          Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933.

 



 

Pricing Supplement dated July 21, 2017

(To the Prospectus  dated July 18, 2016,  the Prospectus Supplement dated July 18, 2016 and the Index Supplement dated July 18, 2016)

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration No. 333-212571

 

GRAPHIC

$1,756,000

 

Annual AutoCallable Notes due July 28, 2021

 

Linked to the Least Performing Reference Asset of

 

the S&P 500® Index and the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

 

Global Medium-Term Notes, Series A

 

Terms used in this pricing supplement, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the prospectus supplement.

 

Issuer:

Barclays Bank PLC

Denominations:

Minimum denomination of $1,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

Initial Valuation Date:

July 21, 2017

Issue Date:

July 28, 2017

Final Valuation Date:*

July 23, 2021

Maturity Date:*

July 28, 2021

Reference Assets:

The S&P 500® Index (the “S&P 500 Index”) and the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration and Production ETF (the “Oil & Gas ETF”), as noted in the following table:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference Asset

Bloomberg Ticker

Initial Level

Barrier Level

 

 

 

S&P 500 Index

SPX <Index>

2,472.54

1,483.52

 

 

 

Oil & Gas ETF

XOP UP <Equity>

$31.65

$18.99

 

 

 

 

The S&P 500 Index and the Oil & Gas ETF are each referred to in this pricing supplement as a “Reference Asset” and collectively as the “Reference Assets”

Automatic Call:

If, on any Call Valuation Date, the Closing Level of each Reference Asset is equal to or greater than its respective Initial Level, the Notes will be automatically called for a cash payment per $1,000 principal amount Note equal to the applicable Redemption Price payable on the Call Settlement Date. No further amounts will be payable on the Notes after the Call Settlement Date.

Payment at Maturity:

If the Notes are not automatically called, and if you hold your Notes to maturity, you will receive on the Maturity Date a cash payment per $1,000 principal amount that you hold determined as follows:

§                  If the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is equal to or greater than its Barrier Level, you will receive a payment per $1,000 principal amount Note calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Digital Percentage]

§                  If the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Level, you will receive a payment per $1,000 principal amount Note calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Reference Asset Return of Least Performing Reference Asset]

If your Notes are not automatically called, and if the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Level, you will be fully exposed to the negative performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset. You may lose up to 100% of the principal amount of your Notes.

Any payment on the Notes, including any payment upon an Automatic Call or at maturity, is not guaranteed by any third party and is subject to both the creditworthiness or the Issuer and to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority. If Barclays Bank PLC were to default on its payment obligations or become subject to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power (or any other resolution measure) by the relevant U.K. resolution authority, you might not receive any amounts owed to you under the Notes.  See “Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power” and “Selected Risk Considerations” in this pricing supplement and “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus supplement for more information.

Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power:

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between Barclays Bank PLC and any holder of the Notes, by acquiring the Notes, each holder of the Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority. See “Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power” on page PS-1 of this pricing supplement.

 

[Terms of the Notes Continue on the Next Page]

 

 

 

Initial Issue Price(1)(2)

 

Price to Public

 

Agent’s Commission(3)

 

Proceeds to Barclays Bank PLC

 

Per Note

 

$1,000

 

100%

 

0.65%

 

99.35%

 

Total

 

$1,756,000

 

$1,756,000

 

$11,414

 

$1,744,586

 

 

(1)          Because dealers who purchase the Notes for sale to certain fee-based advisory accounts may forego some or all selling concessions, fees or commissions, the public offering price for investors purchasing the Notes in such fee-based advisory accounts may be between $993.50 and $1,000 per Note. Investors that hold their Notes in fee-based advisory or trust accounts may be charged fees by the investment advisor or manager of such account based on the amount of assets held in those accounts, including the Notes.

 

(2)          Our estimated value of the Notes on the Initial Valuation Date, based on our internal pricing models, is $978.10 per Note.  The estimated value is less than the initial issue price of the Notes.  See “Additional Information Regarding Our Estimated Value of the Notes” on page PS-2 of this pricing supplement.

 

(3)          Barclays Capital Inc. will receive commissions from the Issuer of 0.65% of the principal amount of the Notes, or $6.50 per $1,000 principal amount. Barclays Capital Inc. will use these commissions to pay selling concessions or fees (including custodial or clearing fees) to other dealers.

 

Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks.  See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of the prospectus supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.

 

We may use this pricing supplement in the initial sale of Notes.  In addition, Barclays Capital Inc. or another of our affiliates may use this pricing supplement in market resale transactions in any Notes after their initial sale. Unless we or our agent informs you otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this pricing supplement is being used in a market resale transaction.

 

The Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system.  Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this pricing supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The Notes constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and are not deposit liabilities of either Barclays PLC or Barclays Bank PLC and are not covered by the U.K. Financial Services Compensation Scheme or insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction.

 



 

Terms of the Notes, Continued

 

Call Valuation Dates:*

July 23, 2018, July 22, 2019, July 21, 2020 and the Final Valuation Date

Call Settlement Date:

The fifth business day following the Call Valuation Date on which an Automatic Call occurs, provided that the Call Settlement Date with respect to the Final Valuation Date will be the Maturity Date

Redemption Price:

For every $1,000 principal amount Note, an amount equal to $1,000 plus a call premium calculated as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call Valuation Date on which
Automatic Call Occurs

Call Premium

(per $1,000 principal amount Note)

 

 

 

First

$145.00 (14.50% of the principal amount per Note)

 

 

 

Second

$290.00 (29.00% of the principal amount per Note)

 

 

 

Third

$435.00 (43.50% of the principal amount per Note)

 

 

 

Fourth (Final Valuation Date)

$580.00 (58.00% of the principal amount per Note)

 

 

 

Digital Percentage:

10.00%

Barrier Level:

With respect to a Reference Asset, 60.00% of its Initial Level, rounded to two decimal places, as set forth in the table above

Initial Level:

With respect to a Reference Asset, the Closing Level on the Initial Valuation Date, as set forth in the table above

Final Level:

With respect to a Reference Asset, the Closing Level on the Final Valuation Date

Reference Asset Return:

With respect to a Reference Asset, the performance of such Reference Asset from its Initial Level to its Final Level, calculated as follows:

Final Level – Initial Level
Initial Level

Least Performing Reference Asset:

The Reference Asset with the lowest Reference Asset Return, as calculated in the manner set forth above

Closing Level:

With respect to a Reference Asset, on any date, the official closing price or level of that Reference Asset published at the regular weekday close of trading on that day as displayed on the applicable Bloomberg Professional® service page noted above or any successor page on Bloomberg Professional® service or any successor service, as applicable

Calculation Agent:

Barclays Bank PLC

CUSIP/ISIN:

06744CBA8 / US06744CBA80

 

*                  Subject to postponement, as described under “Additional Terms of the Notes” in this pricing supplement

 

GRAPHIC

 


 


 

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE OFFERING OF THE NOTES

 

You should read this pricing supplement together with the prospectus dated July 18, 2016, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated July 18, 2016 and the index supplement dated July 18, 2016 relating to our Global Medium-Term Notes, Series A, of which these Notes are a part.  This pricing supplement, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours.  You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth under “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement and “Selected Risk Considerations” in this pricing supplement, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities.  We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes.

 

You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):

 

·                  Prospectus dated July 18, 2016:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000119312516650074/d219304df3asr.htm

 

·                  Prospectus Supplement dated July 18, 2016:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000110465916132999/a16-14463_21424b3.htm

 

·                  Index Supplement dated July 18, 2016:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000110465916133002/a16-14463_22424b3.htm

 

Our SEC file number is 1-10257.  As used in this pricing supplement, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Barclays Bank PLC.

 

CONSENT TO U.K. BAIL-IN POWER

 

Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between us and any holder of the Notes, by acquiring the Notes, each holder of the Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority.

 

Under the U.K. Banking Act 2009, as amended, the relevant U.K. resolution authority may exercise a U.K. Bail-in Power in circumstances in which the relevant U.K. resolution authority is satisfied that the resolution conditions are met. These conditions include that a U.K. bank or investment firm is failing or is likely to fail to satisfy the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) threshold conditions for authorization to carry on certain regulated activities (within the meaning of section 55B FSMA) or, in the case of a U.K. banking group company that is a European Economic Area (“EEA”) or third country institution or investment firm, that the relevant EEA or third country relevant authority is satisfied that the resolution conditions are met in the respect of that entity.

 

The U.K. Bail-in Power includes any write-down, conversion, transfer, modification and/or suspension power, which allows for (i) the reduction or cancellation of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, interest on, or any other amounts payable on, the Notes; (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the principal amount of, interest on, or any other amounts payable on, the Notes into shares or other securities or other obligations of Barclays Bank PLC or another person (and the issue to, or conferral on, the holder of the Notes such shares, securities or obligations); and/or (iii) the amendment or alteration of the maturity of the Notes, or amendment of the amount of interest or any other amounts due on the Notes, or the dates on which interest or any other amounts become payable, including by suspending payment for a temporary period; which U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised by means of a variation of the terms of the Notes solely to give effect to the exercise by the relevant U.K. resolution authority of such U.K. Bail-in Power. Each holder of the Notes further acknowledges and agrees that the rights of the holders of the Notes are subject to, and will be varied, if necessary, solely to give effect to, the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority. For the avoidance of doubt, this consent and acknowledgment is not a waiver of any rights holders of the securities may have at law if and to the extent that any U.K. Bail-in Power is exercised by the relevant U.K. resolution authority in breach of laws applicable in England.

 

For more information, please see “Selected Risk Considerations—You May Lose Some or All of Your Investment If Any U.K. Bail-in Power Is Exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority” in this pricing supplement as well as “U.K. Bail-in Power,” “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Securities Generally—Regulatory action in the event a bank or investment firm in the Group is failing or likely to fail could materially adversely affect the value of the securities” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Securities Generally—Under the terms of the securities, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

PS-1



 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING OUR ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE NOTES

 

Our internal pricing models take into account a number of variables and are based on a number of subjective assumptions, which may or may not materialize, typically including volatility, interest rates, and our internal funding rates.  Our internal funding rates (which are our internally published borrowing rates based on variables such as market benchmarks, our appetite for borrowing, and our existing obligations coming to maturity) may vary from the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market.  Our estimated value on the Initial Valuation Date is based on our internal funding rates.  Our estimated value of the Notes might be lower if such valuation were based on the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market.

 

Our estimated value of the Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is less than the initial issue price of the Notes.  The difference between the initial issue price of the Notes and our estimated value of the Notes results from several factors, including any sales commissions to be paid to Barclays Capital Inc. or another affiliate of ours, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that we or any of our affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, the estimated cost which we may incur in hedging our obligations under the Notes, and estimated development and other costs which we may incur in connection with the Notes.

 

Our estimated value on the Initial Valuation Date is not a prediction of the price at which the Notes may trade in the secondary market, nor will it be the price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market. Subject to normal market and funding conditions, Barclays Capital Inc. or another affiliate of ours intends to offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but it is not obligated to do so.

 

Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Initial Valuation Date, the price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market, if any, and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements, if we provide any customer account statements at all, may exceed our estimated value on the Initial Valuation Date for a temporary period expected to be approximately six months after the Issue Date because, in our discretion, we may elect to effectively reimburse to investors a portion of the estimated cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes and other costs in connection with the Notes which we will no longer expect to incur over the term of the Notes.  We made such discretionary election and determined this temporary reimbursement period on the basis of a number of factors, which may include the tenor of the Notes and/or any agreement we may have with the distributors of the Notes.  The amount of our estimated costs which we effectively reimburse to investors in this way may not be allocated ratably throughout the reimbursement period, and we may discontinue such reimbursement at any time or revise the duration of the reimbursement period after the initial issue date of the Notes based on changes in market conditions and other factors that cannot be predicted.

 

We urge you to read the “Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.

 

PS-2



 

SELECTED PURCHASE CONSIDERATIONS

 

The Notes are not suitable for all investors. The Notes may be a suitable investment for you if all of the following statements are true:

 

·                You do not seek an investment that periodic interest or coupon payments or other sources of current income

 

·                You understand and accept that any positive return on your Notes will be limited to the applicable call premium (if an Automatic Call occurs) or to the Digital Percentage (if an Automatic Call does not occur)

 

·                You understand and accept the risk that, if the Notes are never automatically called, the payment at maturity will be based solely on the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset

 

·                You do not anticipate that the Final Level of either Reference Asset will fall below the Barrier Level for such Reference Asset and you are willing to accept the risk that, if it does, you will lose some or all of the principal amount of your Notes

 

·                You are willing to accept the risks associated with an investment linked to the performance of the Reference Assets

 

·                You are willing to accept the risk that the Notes may be automatically called prior to maturity and that you may not be able to reinvest your money in an alternative investment with comparable risk and yield

 

·                You do not seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market and you are willing and able to hold the Notes to maturity if they are not automatically called

 

·                You are willing to assume our credit risk for all payments on the Notes

 

·                You are willing to consent to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by any relevant U.K. resolution authority

 

The Notes may not be a suitable investment for you if any of the following statements are true:

 

·                You seek an investment that produces fixed periodic interest or coupon payments or other sources of current income

 

·                You seek uncapped exposure to any positive performance of the Reference Assets

 

·                You seek an investment that provides for the full repayment of principal at maturity and you are unwilling to accept the risk that you may lose some or all of the principal amount of your Notes

 

·                You anticipate that the Final Level of at least one Reference Asset will be less than its Barrier Level

 

·                You are unwilling or unable to accept the risks associated with an investment linked to the performance of the Reference Assets

 

·                You are unwilling or unable to accept the risk that the Notes may be automatically called prior to scheduled maturity

 

·                You are unwilling or unable to accept the risk that negative performance of only one Reference Asset may cause you to suffer a loss of principal at maturity, regardless of the performance of the other Reference Asset

 

·                You seek an investment for which there will be an active secondary market or and/or you are unable or unwilling to hold the Notes to maturity if we do not exercise our early redemption option

 

·                You are unwilling or unable to assume our credit risk for all payments on the Notes

 

·                You are unwilling or unable to consent to the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by any relevant U.K. resolution authority

 

You must rely on your own evaluation of the merits of an investment in the Notes.  You should reach a decision whether to invest in the Notes after carefully considering, with your advisors, the suitability of the Notes in light of your investment objectives and the specific information set out in this pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement, the prospectus and the index supplement. Neither the Issuer nor Barclays Capital Inc. makes any recommendation as to the suitability of the Notes for investment.

 

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE NOTES

 

The Call Valuation Dates (including the Final Valuation Date) and the Maturity Date are subject to postponement in certain circumstances, as described under “Reference Assets—Least or Best Performing Reference Asset—Scheduled Trading Days and Market Disruption Events for Securities Linked to the Reference Asset with the Lowest or Highest Return in a Group of Two or More Equity Securities, Exchange-Traded Funds and/or Indices of Equity Securities” and “Terms of the Notes—Payment Dates” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

In addition, each Reference Asset and the Notes are subject to adjustment by the Calculation Agent under certain circumstances, as described under “Reference Assets—Indices—Adjustments Relating to Securities with an Index as a Reference Asset” and “Reference Assets—Exchange-Traded Funds—Adjustments Relating to Securities with an Exchange-Traded Fund as a Reference Asset” in each case in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

PS-3



 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES OF AMOUNTS PAYABLE UPON AN AUTOMATIC CALL

 

The following table illustrates the hypothetical total return on the Notes upon an automatic call.  The “total return”, as used in these examples, is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment per $1,000 principal amount Note upon an automatic call to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes.  The numbers appearing in the following table and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis. The hypothetical examples below do not take into account any tax consequences of investing the Notes.

 

Example 1: The Notes are automatically called on the first Call Valuation Date.

 

Call
Valuation
Date

Is Closing Level of any
Reference Asset Less Than
Initial Level?

Are the Notes
Automatically
Called?

Redemption Price
(per $1,000 principal amount Note)

1

No

Yes

$1,145.00

 

Because the Closing Level of each Reference Asset on the first Call Valuation Date is equal to or greater than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive the Redemption Price on the related Call Settlement Date.

 

The Notes will cease to be outstanding after the Call Settlement Date and you will not receive any further payments on the Notes.

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is 14.50%.

 

Example 2: The Notes are automatically called on the second Call Valuation Date.

 

Call
Valuation
Date

Is Closing Level of any
Reference Asset Less Than
Initial Level?

Are the Notes
Automatically
Called?

Redemption Price
(per $1,000 principal amount Note)

1

Yes

No

N/A

2

No

Yes

$1,290.00

 

Because the Closing Level of each Reference Asset on the second Call Valuation Date is equal to or greater than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive the Redemption Price on the related Call Settlement Date.

 

The Notes will cease to be outstanding after the Call Settlement Date and you will not receive any further payments on the Notes.

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is 29.00%.

 

Example 3: The Notes are automatically called on the fourth Call Valuation Date (the Final Valuation Date).

 

Call
Valuation
Date

Is Closing Level of any
Reference Asset Less Than
Initial Level?

Are the Notes
Automatically
Called?

Redemption Price
(per $1,000 principal amount Note)

1

Yes

No

N/A

2

Yes

No

N/A

3

Yes

No

N/A

4

No

Yes

$1,580.00

 

Because the Closing Level of each Reference Asset on the fourth Call Valuation Date (the Final Valuation Date) is equal to or greater than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are automatically called and you will receive the Redemption Price on the related Call Settlement Date (which will be the Maturity Date).

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is 58.00%.

 

PS-4



 

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES OF AMOUNTS PAYABLE AT MATURITY

 

The following examples demonstrate how the payment at maturity will be calculated under various circumstances. The “total return” as used in this pricing supplement is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount Note to $1,000.  The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following tables and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.  The hypothetical examples below do not take into account any tax consequences from investing in the Notes and make the following key assumptions:

 

§                  Hypothetical Initial Level of each Reference Asset: 100.00*

 

§                  Barrier Level for each Reference Asset: 60.00 (60.00% of the hypothetical Initial Price set forth above)

 

§                  The Notes are NOT automatically called prior to maturity

 

*The hypothetical Initial Level of 100.00 and the hypothetical Barrier Level of 60.00 for each Reference Asset has been chosen for illustrative purposes only. The Initial Level and Barrier Level for each Reference Asset are as set forth on the cover of this pricing supplement.

 

Final Level

 

Reference Asset
Return

 

 

 

 

 

S&P 500
Index

Oil & Gas
ETF

 

S&P 500
Index

Oil & Gas
ETF

 

Reference Asset Return of
Least Performing

Reference Asset

 

Payment at Maturity**

Total Return on
the Notes

150.00

165.00

 

50.00%

65.00%

 

50.00%

 

$1,580.00

58.00%

140.00

155.00

 

40.00%

55.00%

 

40.00%

 

$1,580.00

58.00%

160.00

130.00

 

60.00%

30.00%

 

30.00%

 

$1,580.00

58.00%

120.00

150.00

 

20.00%

50.00%

 

20.00%

 

$1,580.00

58.00%

110.00

135.00

 

10.00%

35.00%

 

10.00%

 

$1,580.00

58.00%

105.00

100.00

 

5.00%

0.00%

 

0.00%

 

$1,580.00

58.00%

90.00

105.00

 

-10.00%

5.00%

 

-10.00%

 

$1,100.00

10.00%

100.00

80.00

 

0.00%

-20.00%

 

-20.00%

 

$1,100.00

10.00%

140.00

70.00

 

40.00%

-30.00%

 

-30.00%

 

$1,100.00

10.00%

120.00

60.00

 

20.00%

-40.00%

 

-40.00%

 

$1,100.00

10.00%

50.00

60.00

 

-50.00%

-40.00%

 

-50.00%

 

$500.00

-50.00%

135.00

40.00

 

35.00%

-60.00%

 

-60.00%

 

$400.00

-60.00%

30.00

50.00

 

-70.00%

-50.00%

 

-70.00%

 

$300.00

-70.00%

20.00

90.00

 

-80.00%

-10.00%

 

-80.00%

 

$200.00

-80.00%

10.00

35.00

 

-90.00%

-65.00%

 

-90.00%

 

$100.00

-90.00%

102.00

0.00

 

2.00%

-100.00%

 

-100.00%

 

$0.00

-100.00%

 

** Per $1,000 principal amount Note

 

The following examples illustrate how the payments at maturity set forth in the table above are calculated:

 

Example 1: The Final Level of the S&P 500 Index is 110.00 and the Final Level of the Oil & Gas ETF is 135.00.

 

Because the Final Level of each Reference Asset is equal to or greater than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are subject to an Automatic Call. Accordingly, you will receive on the Maturity Date the applicable Redemption Price of $1,580.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold.

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is 58.00%.

 

Example 2: The Final Level of the S&P 500 Index is 140.00 and the Final Level of the Oil & Gas ETF is 70.00.

 

Because the Final Level of at least one Reference Asset is less than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are not subject to an Automatic Call. Because the Oil & Gas ETF has the lower Reference Asset Return, the Oil & Gas ETF is the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is not less than its Barrier Level, and you will receive a payment at maturity of $1,100.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold, calculated as follows:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Digital Percentage]

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x 10.00%] = $1,100.00

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is 10.00%.

 

Example 3: The Final Level of the S&P 500 Index is 135.00 and the Final Level of the Oil & Gas ETF is 40.00.

 

Because the Final Level of at least one Reference Asset is less than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are not subject to an Automatic Call. Because the Oil & Gas ETF has the lower Reference Asset Return, the Oil & Gas ETF is the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Level and you will receive a payment at maturity of $400.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold, calculated as follows:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Reference Asset Return of Least Performing Reference Asset]

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x -60.00%] = $400.00

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is -60.00%.

 

PS-5



 

Example 4: The Final Level of the S&P 500 Index is 30.00 and the Final Level of the Oil & Gas ETF is 50.00.

 

Because the Final Level of at least one Reference Asset is less than its respective Initial Level, the Notes are not subject to an Automatic Call. Because the S&P 500 Index has the lower Reference Asset Return, the S&P 500 Index is the Least Performing Reference Asset. Accordingly, the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Level and you will receive a payment at maturity of $300.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note that you hold, calculated as follows:

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset]

 

$1,000 + [$1,000 x -70.00%] = $300.00

 

The total return on investment of the Notes is -70.00%.

 

Examples 3 and 4 above demonstrate that, if the Notes are not automatically called, and if the Final Level of either Reference Asset is less than the Barrier Level for such Reference Asset, your investment in the Notes will be fully exposed to the negative performance of the Least Performing Reference Asset. You will not benefit in any way from the Reference Asset Return of the other Reference Asset being higher than the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset.

 

If your Notes are not automatically called, you may lose up to 100% of the principal amount of your Notes.

 

PS-6



 

SELECTED RISK CONSIDERATIONS

 

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks.  Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the Reference Assets or their components.  These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus supplement, including the risk factors discussed under the following headings of the prospectus supplement:

 

·             “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Securities Generally”; and

 

·                  “Risk Factors—Additional Risks Relating to Securities with Reference Assets That Are Equity Securities, Indices of Equity Securities or Exchange-Traded Funds that Hold Equity Securities”

 

In addition to the risks described above, you should consider the following:

 

·                Your Investment in the Notes May Result in a Significant Loss— The Notes do not guarantee any return of principal. If the Notes are not automatically called and if the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than its Barrier Level, your Notes will be fully exposed to the decline of such Reference Asset from its Initial Level to its Final Level and you will lose some or all of your principal.  You may lose up to 100% of the principal amount of your Notes.

·                Potential Return is LimitedIf the Notes are automatically called with respect to any Call Valuation Date, you will receive the applicable Redemption Price on the relevant Call Settlement Date, as described on the cover page of this pricing supplement. If the Notes are not automatically called, your return on the Notes at maturity will not under any circumstances exceed the Digital Percentage. You will not participate in any appreciation of the Reference Assets above the returns represented by the applicable Redemption Price or the Digital Percentage, as applicable, which may be significant.

·                Potential Early Exit—While the original term of the Notes is as indicated on the cover page of this pricing supplement, the Notes will be automatically called if the Closing Level of each Reference Asset on any Call Valuation Date is equal to its respective Initial Level. Accordingly, the term of the Notes may be as short as approximately one year.

 

In the event than an Automatic Call occurs on any of the first three Call Valuation Dates, you may not be able to reinvest any amounts received on the Call Settlement Date in a comparable investment with similar risk and yield. No further payments will be made on the Notes after the relevant Call Settlement Date.  The “automatic call” feature may also adversely impact your ability to sell your Notes and the price at which they may be sold.

·                Whether or Not the Notes Will be Automatically Called Will Not be Based on the Levels of the Reference Assets at Any Time Other than the Closing Levels on the applicable Call Valuation Date—Whether or not the Notes are automatically called will be based solely on the Closing Levels of the Reference Assets on the relevant Call Valuation Dates.  Accordingly, if the price or level of either Reference Asset drops on any Call Valuation Date such that the Closing Level of such Reference Asset falls below its Initial Level, your Notes will not be called on the relevant Call Valuation Date.

·                If Your Notes Are Not Automatically Called, the Payment at Maturity is Not Based on the Level of either Reference Asset at any Time Other than the Closing Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset on the Final Valuation Date—The Final Levels and the Reference Asset Returns will be based solely on the Closing Levels of the Reference Assets on the Final Valuation Date.  Accordingly, if the level of the Least Performing Reference Asset drops precipitously on the Final Valuation Date, the payment at maturity that you will receive, if any, may be significantly less than it would have been had your payment at maturity been linked to the level of such Reference Asset at a time prior to such drop.

 

If your Notes are not automatically called, your payment at maturity will be based solely on the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset.  If the Final Level of the Least Performing Reference Asset is less than the Barrier Level applicable to such Reference Asset, you will lose some or all of the principal amount of your Notes. Your losses will not be limited in any way by virtue of the Reference Asset Return of the other Reference Asset being higher than the Reference Asset Return of the Least Performing Reference Asset.

·                Credit of Issuer—The Notes are senior unsecured debt obligations of the issuer, Barclays Bank PLC and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party.  Any payment to be made on the Notes, including any payment upon an Automatic Call or at maturity, is subject to the ability of Barclays Bank PLC to satisfy its obligations as they come due and is not guaranteed by any third party.   In the event Barclays Bank PLC were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the Notes.

·                You May Lose Some or All of Your Investment If Any U.K. Bail-in Power Is Exercised by the Relevant U.K. Resolution Authority—Notwithstanding any other agreements, arrangements or understandings between Barclays Bank PLC and any holder of the Notes, by acquiring the Notes, each holder of the Notes acknowledges, accepts, agrees to be bound by, and consents to the exercise of, any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority as set forth under “Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power” in this pricing supplement. Accordingly, any U.K. Bail-in Power may be exercised in such a manner as to result in you and other holders of the Notes losing all or a part of the value of your investment in the Notes or receiving a different security from the Notes, which may be worth significantly less than the Notes and which may have significantly fewer protections than those typically afforded to debt securities. Moreover, the relevant U.K. resolution authority may exercise the U.K. Bail-in Power without providing any advance notice to, or requiring the consent of, the holders of the Notes. The exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority with respect to the Notes will not be a default or an Event of Default (as each term is defined in the indenture) and the trustee will not be liable for any action that the trustee takes, or abstains from taking, in either case, in accordance with the exercise of the U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority with respect to the Notes. See “Consent to U.K. Bail-in Power” in this pricing supplement as well as “U.K. Bail-in Power,” “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Securities Generally—Regulatory action in the event a bank or investment firm in the Group is failing or likely to

 

PS-7



 

fail could materially adversely affect the value of the securities” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Securities Generally—Under the terms of the securities, you have agreed to be bound by the exercise of any U.K. Bail-in Power by the relevant U.K. resolution authority” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

·                No Interest or Dividend Payments or Voting Rights—As a holder of the Notes, you will not receive interest payments, and you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of the Oil & Gas ETF or the components of its underlying index or the components of the S&P 500 Index would have.

·                Historical Performance of the Reference Assets Should Not Be Taken as Any Indication of the Future Performance of the Reference Assets Over the Term of the Notes—The level of each Reference Asset has fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. The historical performance of a Reference Asset is not an indication of the future performance of that Reference Asset over the term of the Notes.  The historical correlation between Reference Assets is not an indication of the future correlation between them over the term of the Notes.  Therefore, the performance of the Reference Assets individually or in comparison to each other over the term of the Notes may bear no relation or resemblance to the historical performance of either of the Reference Assets.

·                Certain Features of Exchange-Traded Funds Will Impact the Value of the Oil & Gas ETF and the Value of the Notes:

o                Management Risk.  This is the risk that the investment strategy for the Oil & Gas ETF, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results.  An investment in an exchange-traded fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund of equity securities traded on an exchange, such as market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in security prices.  Because, however, the Oil & Gas ETF is not “actively” managed, it generally does not take defensive positions in declining markets and generally will not sell a security if the issuer of such security was in financial trouble. Accordingly, the performance of the Oil & Gas ETF could be lower than other types of mutual funds that may actively shift their portfolio assets to take advantage of market opportunities or to lessen the impact of a market decline.

o                Derivatives Risk.  The Oil & Gas ETF may invest in futures contracts, options on futures contracts, other types of options and swaps and other derivatives.  A derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset such as a security or an index.  Compared to conventional securities, derivatives can be more sensitive to changes in interest rates or to sudden fluctuations in market prices, and thus the Oil & Gas ETF’s losses, and, as a consequence, the losses on your Notes, may be greater than if the Oil & Gas ETF invested only in conventional securities.

o                Tracking and Underperformance Risk (Particularly in Periods of Market Volatility). The performance of the Oil & Gas ETF may not replicate the performance of, and may underperform, its underlying index.  The Oil & Gas ETF will reflect transaction costs and fees that will reduce its relative performance.

 

Moreover, it is also possible that the Oil & Gas ETF may not fully replicate or may, in certain circumstances, diverge significantly from the performance of its underlying index due to differences in trading hours between the Oil & Gas ETF and its underlying index or due to other circumstances. During periods of market volatility, securities underlying the Oil & Gas ETF may be unavailable in the secondary market, market participants may be unable to calculate accurately the intraday net asset value per share of the Oil & Gas ETF and the liquidity of the Oil & Gas ETF may be adversely affected. This kind of market volatility may also disrupt the ability of market participants to create and redeem shares in the Oil & Gas ETF. Further, market volatility may adversely affect, sometimes materially, the prices at which market participants are willing to buy and sell shares of the Oil & Gas ETF. As a result, under these circumstances, the market value of the Oil & Gas ETF may vary substantially from the net asset value per share of the Oil & Gas ETF. This variation in performance is called “tracking error” and, at times, the tracking error may be significant.

·                The Notes are Subject to Risks Associated with the Oil and Gas Industry—The Oil & Gas ETF generally invests substantially all of its assets in securities included in the S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry® Index (the “Oil and Gas Index”).  All of the stocks included in the Oil and Gas Index are issued by companies involved in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of oil and gas. As a result, the stocks that will, under normal market conditions, determine the performance of the Oil & Gas ETF are generally concentrated in one sector.

 

The performance of companies that operate in the oil and gas industry is subject to a number of complex and unpredictable factors such as industry competition, government action and regulation, geopolitical events supply and demand. Negative developments in the oil and gas industry may have a negative effect on the Oil & Gas ETF and, in turn, may have an adverse effect on the value of the Notes.

·                The Estimated Value of Your Notes is Lower Than the Initial Issue Price of Your Notes—The estimated value of your Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is lower than the initial issue price of your Notes.  The difference between the initial issue price of your Notes and the estimated value of the Notes is a result of certain factors, such as any sales commissions to be paid to Barclays Capital Inc. or another affiliate of ours, any selling concessions, discounts, commissions or fees to be allowed or paid to non-affiliated intermediaries, the estimated profit that we or any of our affiliates expect to earn in connection with structuring the Notes, the estimated cost which we may incur in hedging our obligations under the Notes, and estimated development and other costs which we may incur in connection with the Notes.

 

PS-8



 

·                The Estimated Value of Your Notes Might be Lower if Such Estimated Value Were Based on the Levels at Which Our Debt Securities Trade in the Secondary Market—The estimated value of your Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is based on a number of variables, including our internal funding rates.  Our internal funding rates may vary from the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market.  As a result of this difference, the estimated value referenced above might be lower if such estimated value was based on the levels at which our benchmark debt securities trade in the secondary market.

·                The Estimated Value of the Notes is Based on Our Internal Pricing Models, Which May Prove to be Inaccurate and May be Different from the Pricing Models of Other Financial Institutions—The estimated value of your Notes on the Initial Valuation Date is based on our internal pricing models, which take into account a number of variables and are based on a number of subjective assumptions, which may or may not materialize.  These variables and assumptions are not evaluated or verified on an independent basis. Further, our pricing models may be different from other financial institutions’ pricing models and the methodologies used by us to estimate the value of the Notes may not be consistent with those of other financial institutions which may be purchasers or sellers of Notes in the secondary market.  As a result, the secondary market price of your Notes may be materially different from the estimated value of the Notes determined by reference to our internal pricing models.

·                The Estimated Value of Your Notes Is Not a Prediction of the Prices at Which You May Sell Your Notes in the Secondary Market, if any, and Such Secondary Market Prices, If Any, Will Likely be Lower Than the Initial Issue Price of Your Notes and Maybe Lower Than the Estimated Value of Your Notes—The estimated value of the Notes will not be a prediction of the prices at which Barclays Capital Inc., other affiliates of ours or third parties may be willing to purchase the Notes from you in secondary market transactions (if they are willing to purchase, which they are not obligated to do).  The price at which you may be able to sell your Notes in the secondary market at any time will be influenced by many factors that cannot be predicted, such as market conditions, and any bid and ask spread for similar sized trades, and may be substantially less than our estimated value of the Notes.  Further, as secondary market prices of your Notes take into account the levels at which our debt securities trade in the secondary market, and do not take into account our various costs related to the Notes such as fees, commissions, discounts, and the costs of hedging our obligations under the Notes, secondary market prices of your Notes will likely be lower than the initial issue price of your Notes.  As a result, the price, at which Barclays Capital Inc., other affiliates of ours or third parties may be willing to purchase the Notes from you in secondary market transactions, if any, will likely be lower than the price you paid for your Notes, and any sale prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you.

·                The Temporary Price at Which We May Initially Buy The Notes in the Secondary Market And the Value We May Initially Use for Customer Account Statements, If We Provide Any Customer Account Statements At All, May Not Be Indicative of Future Prices of Your Notes—Assuming that all relevant factors remain constant after the Initial Valuation Date, the price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market (if Barclays Capital Inc. makes a market in the Notes, which it is not obligated to do) and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements, if we provide any customer account statements at all, may exceed our estimated value of the Notes on the Initial Valuation Date, as well as the secondary market value of the Notes, for a temporary period after the initial issue date of the Notes.  The price at which Barclays Capital Inc. may initially buy or sell the Notes in the secondary market and the value that we may initially use for customer account statements may not be indicative of future prices of your Notes.

·                We and Our Affiliates’  May Engage in Various Activities or Make Determinations That Could Materially Affect the Notes in Various Ways and Create Conflicts of Interest—We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, as described below. In performing these roles, our and our affiliates’ economic interests are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes.

 

We and our affiliates make markets in and trade various financial instruments or products for our accounts and for the account of our clients and otherwise provide investment banking and other financial services with respect to these financial instruments and products. These financial instruments and products may include securities, derivative instruments or assets that may relate to the Reference Assets or their components. In any such market making, trading and hedging activity, and other services, we or our affiliates may take positions or take actions that are inconsistent with, or adverse to, the investment objectives of holders of the Notes. We and our affiliates have no obligation to take the needs of any buyer, seller or holder of the Notes into account in conducting these activities. Such market making, trading and hedging activity, investment banking and other financial services may negatively impact the value of the Notes.

 

In addition, the role played by Barclays Capital Inc., as the agent for the Notes, could present significant conflicts of interest with the role of Barclays Bank PLC, as issuer of the Notes.  For example, Barclays Capital Inc. or its representatives may derive compensation or financial benefit from the distribution of the Notes. Furthermore, we and our affiliates establish the offering price of the Notes for initial sale to the public, and the offering price is not based upon any independent verification or valuation.

 

In addition to the activities described above, we will also act as the Calculation Agent for the Notes.  As Calculation Agent, we will determine any values of the Reference Assets and make any other determinations necessary to calculate any payments on the Notes. In making these determinations, we may be required to make certain discretionary judgments relating to the Reference Assets and the Notes. In making these discretionary judgments, our economic interests are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes, and any of these determinations may adversely affect any payments on the Notes.

 

PS-9



 

·                Lack of Liquidity—The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.  Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC intend to make a secondary market for the Notes but are not required to do so, and may discontinue any such secondary market making at any time, without notice.  Barclays Capital Inc. may at any time hold unsold inventory, which may inhibit the development of a secondary market for the Notes.  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 Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC are willing to buy the Notes.  The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments.  Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.

·                Taxes—The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Notes is uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could assert that the Notes should be taxed in a manner that is different than described below.  As discussed further in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the Internal Revenue Service issued a notice in 2007 indicating that it and the Treasury Department are actively considering whether, among other issues, you should be required to accrue interest over the term of an instrument such as the Notes and whether all or part of the gain you may recognize upon the sale, redemption or maturity of an instrument such as the Notes should be treated as ordinary income.  Similarly, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have current projects open with regard to the tax treatment of pre-paid forward contracts and contingent notional principal contracts.  While it is impossible to anticipate how any ultimate guidance would affect the tax treatment of instruments such as the Notes (and while any such guidance may be issued on a prospective basis only), such guidance could be applied retroactively and could in any case require you to accrue income over the term of an instrument such as the Notes even though you will not receive any payments with respect to the Notes until redemption or maturity.  The outcome of this process is uncertain.  You should consult your tax advisor as to the possible alternative treatments in respect of the Notes.

·                Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the Notes—The value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that interact in complex and unpredictable ways and that may either offset or magnify each other, including:

o              the level of the S&P 500 Index, the market price of the Oil & Gas ETF and the market price of the components of the S&P 500 Index;

o              the expected volatility of the Oil & Gas ETF, the components of its underlying index, the S&P 500 Index and the components of the S&P 500 Index;

o              the time to maturity of the Notes;

o              the dividend rate on the Oil & Gas ETF, the components of its underlying index and the components of the S&P 500 Index;

o              interest and yield rates in the market generally;

o              a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events;

o              supply and demand for the Notes; and

o              our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.

 

PS-10



 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE REFERENCE ASSETS

 

The S&P 500® Index

 

The S&P 500 Index consists of stocks of 500 companies selected to provide a performance benchmark for the U.S. equity markets.  For more information about the Index, the index sponsor and license agreement between the index sponsor and the Issuer, please see “Indices—The S&P U.S. Indices” beginning on page IS-48 of the accompanying index supplement.

 

Historical Performance of the S&P 500 Index

 

The table below shows the high, low and final Closing Level of the S&P 500 Index for each of the periods noted below. The graph below graph sets forth the historical performance of the S&P 500 Index based on daily Closing Levels from January 1, 2012 through July 21, 2017. We obtained the Closing Levels listed in the table below and shown in the graph below from Bloomberg, L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg, L.P.

 

Period/Quarter Ended

Quarterly High

Quarterly Low

Quarterly Close

March 31, 2012

1,416.51

1,277.06

1,408.47

June 30, 2012

1,419.04

1,278.04

1,362.16

September 30, 2012

1,465.77

1,334.76

1,440.67

December 31, 2012

1,461.40

1,353.33

1,426.19

March 31, 2013

1,569.19

1,457.15

1,569.19

June 30, 2013

1,669.16

1,541.61

1,606.28

September 30, 2013

1,725.52

1,614.08

1,681.55

December 31, 2013

1,848.36

1,655.45

1,848.36

March 31, 2014

1,878.04

1,741.89

1,872.34

June 30, 2014

1,962.87

1,815.69

1,960.23

September 30, 2014

2,011.36

1,909.57

1,972.29

December 31, 2014

2,090.57

1,862.49

2,058.90

March 31, 2015

2,117.39

1,992.67

2,067.89

June 30, 2015

2,130.82

2,057.64

2,063.11

September 30, 2015

2,128.28

1,867.61

1,920.03

December 31, 2015

2,109.79

1,923.82

2,043.94

March 31, 2016

2,063.95

1,829.08

2,059.74

June 30, 2016

2,119.12

2,000.54

2,098.86

September 30, 2016

2,190.15

2,088.55

2,168.27

December 31, 2016

2,271.72

2,085.18

2,238.83

March 31, 2017

2,395.96

2,257.83

2,362.72

June 30, 2017

2,453.46

2,328.95

2,423.41

July 21, 2017*

2,473.83

2,409.75

2,472.54

 

*For the period beginning on July 1, 2017 and ending on July 21, 2017

 

Historical Performance of the S&P 500® Index

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

 

PS-11



 

The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

 

We have derived all information contained in this pricing supplement regarding the Oil & Gas ETF from publicly available information, without independent verification. This information reflects the policies of, and is subject to change by SPDR® Series Trust and SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSgA FM”). The Oil & Gas ETF is an investment portfolio maintained and managed by SSgA FM. SSgA FM is the investment adviser to the Oil & Gas ETF. The Oil & Gas ETF is an exchange-traded fund that trades on the NYSE Arca, Inc. under the ticker symbol “XOP.”

 

The SPDR® Series Trust consists of separate investment portfolios (each, a “Series Fund”). Each Series Fund is an index fund that invests in a particular industry or group of industries represented by one of the S&P Select Industry Indices (the “Select Industry Indices” and each, a “Select Industry Index”). The companies included in each Select Industry Index are selected on the basis of Global Industry Classification Standards (“GICS”) from a universe of companies defined by the S&P® Total Market Index (the “S&P TM Index”). The S&P TM Index is a benchmark intended to track the performance of companies of all market capitalization in the U.S. equities market. The investment objective of each Series Fund is to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of an index derived from a particular industry or group of industries, as represented by the relevant Select Industry Index.

 

SPDR® Series Trust is a registered investment company that consists of numerous separate investment portfolios, including the Oil & Gas ETF. Information provided to or filed with the SEC by SPDR® Series Trust pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 can be located by reference to SEC file numbers 333-57793 and 811-08839, respectively, through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. For additional information regarding SPDR® Series Trust, SSgA FM or the Oil & Gas ETF, please see the SPDR® Series Trust’s prospectus. In addition, information about SPDR® Series Trust, SSgA FM and the Oil & Gas ETF may be obtained from other sources including, but not limited to, press releases, newspaper articles and other publicly disseminated documents and the SPDR® Series Trust website at https://www.spdrs.com. Information contained in the SPDR® Series Trust website is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered a part of, this pricing supplement.

 

Investment Objective

 

The Oil & Gas ETF seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index® (the “Oil & Gas Index”). For more information about the Oil & Gas Index, please see “The S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index®” below.

 

Investment Strategy — Sampling

 

In seeking to track the performance of the Oil & Gas Index, the Oil & Gas ETF employs a “sampling” strategy, which means that the Oil & Gas ETF is not required to purchase all of the securities represented in the Oil & Gas Index. Instead, the Oil & Gas ETF may purchase a subset of the securities in the Oil & Gas Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Oil & Gas Index.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Oil & Gas ETF generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities included in the Oil & Gas Index. In addition, the Oil & Gas ETF may invest in equity securities that are not included in the Oil & Gas Index, cash and cash equivalents or money market instruments, such as repurchase agreements and money market funds (including money market funds advised by SSgA FM).

 

Correlation and Tracking Error

 

The Oil and Gas Index is a theoretical financial calculation, while the Oil & Gas ETF is an actual investment portfolio. The performance of the Oil & Gas ETF and the Oil and Gas Index will vary somewhat due to operating expenses, transaction costs, cash flows, regulatory requirements and operational inefficiencies. A figure of 100% would indicate perfect correlation. Any correlation of less than 100% is generally referred to as “tracking error”.

 

Disclaimer

 

The Notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDR® Series Trust or SSgA FM. Neither the Select Sector Trust nor SSgA FM makes any representations or warranties to the owners of the securities or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in the securities. Neither the Select Sector Trust nor SSgA FM has any obligation or liability in connection with the operation, marketing, trading or sale of the Notes.

 

The S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index

 

The Oil & Gas Index is an equal-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry portion of the S&P TM Index. The Oil & Gas Index includes companies in the exploration, production, refining and marketing of oil and gas.  The Oil & Gas Index is reported by Bloomberg L.P. under the ticker symbol “SPSIOP.” For more information about the S&P Select Industry Indices, please see “The S&P Select Industry Indices” below.

 

PS-12



 

The S&P Select Industry Indices

 

To be eligible for inclusion in the Select Industry Indices, companies must be in the S&P TM Index, must be included in the relevant GICS sub-industry and must satisfy one of the two following combined size and liquidity criteria:

 

1.              float-adjusted market capitalization above US$500 million and float-adjusted liquidity ratio (“FALR”) above 90%; or

 

2.              float-adjusted market capitalization above US$400 million and float-adjusted liquidity ratio above 150%.

 

A number of companies in the S&P TM Index are represented by multiple share class lines. To determine eligibility for the Select Industry Indices, the float-adjusted market capitalization of each share class line of multiple class companies is combined to arrive at a company float-adjusted market capitalization figure. The liquidity of each individual share class line is evaluated independently based on the float-adjusted market capitalization of that individual line. If an individual share class line of a multiple share class company does not meet the liquidity criteria, the remaining share class line has its float-adjusted market capitalization reevaluated independently to ensure that it continues to meet the size criteria on its own.

 

All companies satisfying the above requirements are included in a Select Industry Index. The total number of companies in each Select Industry Index should be at least 35. If there are fewer than 35 companies in a Select Industry Index, companies from a supplementary list of highly correlated sub-industries, that meet the market capitalization and liquidity thresholds above, are included in order of their float-adjusted market capitalization to reach 35 companies. Minimum market capitalization requirements may be relaxed to ensure there are at least 22 companies in each Select Industry Index as of each rebalancing effective date.

 

Existing index constituents are removed at the quarterly rebalancing effective date if either their float-adjusted market capitalization falls below US$300 million or their FALR falls below 50%.

 

To be eligible for inclusion in a Select Industry Index, a company must also meet the following requirements:

 

Market Capitalization. Float-adjusted market capitalization should be at least US$400 million for inclusion in a Select Industry Index. Existing index components must have a float-adjusted market capitalization of US$300 million to remain in the applicable Select Industry Index at each rebalancing.

 

Liquidity. The liquidity measurement used is a liquidity ratio, defined as dollar value traded over the previous 12-months divided by the float-adjusted market capitalization as of the applicable Select Industry Index rebalancing reference date.

 

Constituents having a float-adjusted market capitalization above US$500 million must have a liquidity ratio greater than 90% to be eligible for addition to a Select Industry Index. Constituents having a float-adjusted market capitalization between US$400 and US$500 million must have a liquidity ratio greater than 150% to be eligible for addition to a Select Industry Index. Existing index constituents must have a liquidity ratio greater than 50% to remain in the applicable Select Industry Index at the quarterly rebalancing. The length of time to evaluate liquidity is reduced to the available trading period for IPOs or spin-offs that do not have 12 months of trading history. In these cases, the dollar value traded available as of the rebalance reference date is annualized.

 

Takeover Restrictions. At the discretion of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, constituents with shareholder ownership restrictions defined in company bylaws may be deemed ineligible for inclusion in a Select Industry Index. Ownership restrictions preventing entities from replicating the index weight of a company may be excluded from the eligible universe or removed from the applicable Select Industry Index.

 

Turnover. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC believes turnover in index membership should be avoided when possible. At times a company may appear to temporarily violate one or more of the addition criteria. However, the addition criteria are for addition to a Select Industry Index, not for continued membership. As a result, an index constituent that appears to violate criteria for addition to a Select Industry Index will not be deleted unless ongoing conditions warrant a change in the composition of the applicable Select Industry Index.

 

Sector Classification. A Select Industry Index includes companies in the applicable GICS sub-industries set forth above.

 

The membership to the Select Industry Indices is reviewed quarterly. Re-balancings occur after the closing on the third Friday of the quarter ending month. The reference date for additions and deletions is after the closing of the last trading date of the previous month. Closing prices as of the second Friday of the last month of the quarter are used for setting index weights.

 

Companies are added between rebalancings only if a deletion in the applicable Select Industry Index causes the stock count to fall below 22. In those cases, each company deletion is accompanied with a company addition. The new company will be added to the applicable Select Industry Index at the weight of the deleted company. In the case of mergers involving at least one index constituent, the merged company will remain in the applicable Select Industry Index if it meets all of the eligibility requirements. The merged company will be added to the applicable Select Industry Index at the weight of the pre-merger index company. If both companies involved in a merger are index constituents, the merged company will be added at the weight of the company deemed the acquirer in the transaction. In the case of spin-offs, the applicable Select Industry Index will follow the S&P TM Index’s treatment of the action. If the S&P TM Index treats the pre- and post-spun company as a

 

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deletion/addition action, using the stock’s when-issued price, the applicable Select Industry Index will treat the spin-off this way as well.

 

A company is deleted from the applicable Select Industry Index if the S&P TM Index drops the company. If a company deletion causes the number of companies in the relevant index to fall below 22, each company deletion is accompanied with a corresponding company addition. In case of GICS changes, where a company does not belong to a qualifying sub-industry after the classification change, it is removed from the applicable Select Industry Index at the next rebalancing.

 

Historical Performance of the Oil & Gas ETF

 

The table below shows the high, low and final Closing Prices for each of the periods noted below. The graph below graph sets forth the historical performance of the Oil & Gas ETF based on daily Closing Levels from January 1, 2012 through July 21, 2017. We obtained the Closing Prices of the Oil & Gas ETF listed in the table below and shown in the graph below from Bloomberg, L.P. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg, L.P.

 

Period/Quarter Ended

Quarterly High ($)

Quarterly Low ($)

Quarterly Close ($)

March 31, 2012

61.34

52.67

56.91

June 30, 2012

57.85

45.20

50.40

September 30, 2012

59.35

48.73

55.69

December 31, 2012

57.38

50.69

54.07

March 28, 2013

62.10

55.10

60.49

June 30, 2013

62.61

54.71

58.18

September 30, 2013

66.47

58.62

65.89

December 31, 2013

72.74

65.02

68.53

March 31, 2014

71.83

64.04

71.83

June 30, 2014

83.45

71.19

82.28

September 30, 2014

82.08

68.83

68.83

December 31, 2014

66.84

42.75

47.86

March 31, 2015

53.94

42.55

51.66

June 30, 2015

55.63

46.43

46.66

September 30, 2015

45.22

31.71

32.84

December 31, 2015

40.53

28.64

30.22

March 31, 2016

30.96

23.60

30.35

June 30, 2016

37.50

29.23

34.81

September 30, 2016

39.12

32.75

38.46

December 31, 2016

43.42

34.73

41.42

March 31, 2017

42.21

35.17

37.44

June 30, 2017

37.89

30.17

31.92

July 21, 2017*

32.66

30.66

31.65

 

*For the period beginning on July 1, 2017 and ending on July 21, 2017

 

Historical Performance of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

 

 

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The material tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are summarized below.  The discussion below supplements the discussion under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.  Except as noted under “Non-U.S. Holders” below, this section applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder (as defined in the accompanying prospectus supplement) and you hold your Notes as capital assets for tax purposes and does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules or are otherwise excluded from the discussion in the prospectus supplement (for example, if you did not purchase your Notes in the initial issuance of the Notes).

 

In the opinion of our special tax counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, it would be reasonable to treat your Notes in the manner described below.  This opinion assumes that the description of the terms of the Notes in this pricing supplement is materially correct.

 

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 than described below.  Pursuant to the terms of the Notes, Barclays Bank PLC and you agree, in the absence of a change in law or an administrative or judicial ruling to the contrary, to characterize your Notes as a pre-paid cash-settled derivative contract with respect to the Reference Assets.  If your Notes are so treated, you should generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, redemption or maturity of your Notes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount you receive at such time and the amount you paid for your Notes.  Such gain or loss should generally be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Notes for more than one year. However, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could assert that your holding period in respect of your Notes should end on the date on which the amount you are entitled to receive upon the redemption or maturity of your Notes is determined, even though you will not receive any cash in respect of your Notes prior to the redemption or maturity of the Notes. In such case, and if your Notes are called at the first Call Valuation Date, you may be treated as having a holding period in respect of your Notes that is one year or less, even though you will receive cash upon the redemption of your Notes at a time that is more than one year after the beginning of your holding period.

 

Alternative Treatments.  As discussed further in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are actively considering various alternative treatments that may apply to instruments such as the Notes, possibly with retroactive effect.  Other alternative treatments for your Notes may also be possible under current law.  For example, it is possible that the Notes could be treated as a debt instrument that is subject to the special tax rules governing contingent payment debt instruments.  If your Notes are so treated, you would be required to accrue interest income over the term of your Notes and you would recognize gain or loss upon the sale, redemption or maturity of your Notes in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount you receive at such time and your adjusted basis in your Notes.  Any gain you recognize upon the sale, redemption or maturity of your Notes would be ordinary income and any loss recognized by you at such time would generally be ordinary loss to the extent of interest you included in income in the current or previous taxable years with respect to your Notes, and thereafter would be capital loss.

 

It is also possible that your Notes could be treated as an investment unit consisting of (i) a debt instrument that is issued to you by us and (ii) a put option in respect of the Reference Assets that is issued by you to us.  You should consult your tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this alternative treatment.

 

In addition, it is possible that the Call Premium, if received, might be treated as ordinary income, rather than as resulting in capital gain.

 

For a further discussion of the tax treatment of your Notes as well as other possible alternative characterizations, please see the discussion under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Notes Treated as Prepaid Forward or Derivative Contracts” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.  You should consult your tax advisor as to the possible alternative treatments in respect of the Notes.  For additional, important considerations related to tax risks associated with investing in the Notes, you should also examine the discussion in “Selected Risk Considerations—Taxes”, in this pricing supplement.

 

Non-U.S. Holders. The following replaces the discussion of Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code in the accompanying prospectus supplement under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Section 871(m) Withholding.”  The Treasury Department has issued regulations under Section 871(m) of the Internal Revenue Code which impose U.S. federal withholding tax on “dividend equivalent” payments made on certain contracts linked to U.S. corporations that are owned by non-U.S. holders.  However, the regulations will only apply to a contract that is issued before January 1, 2018 if the contract is a “delta-one” contract (i.e., a contract that provides for “delta-one” exposure to underlying U.S. corporations).  We have determined that the Notes are not “delta-one” contracts for this purpose, and we therefore believe, and intend to take the position, that payments on the Notes should not be subject to Section 871(m) withholding tax.

 

However, a non-U.S. holder could nevertheless be subject to Section 871(m) tax in respect of the Notes if (a) the holder’s position under the Notes would be “delta-one” when combined with other related positions that are held by the holder or (b) if a principal purpose for the holder’s investment in Notes is to avoid the application of Section 871(m), in which case a special Section 871(m) anti-abuse rule could apply to the holder’s investment in the Notes.  Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of Section 871(m) to the Notes and the possibility that the combination rule or anti-abuse rule could apply to their investment in the Notes.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have agreed to sell to Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Agent”), and the Agent has agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the Notes, and at the price, specified on the cover of this pricing supplement. The Agent commits to take and pay for all of the Notes, if any are taken.

 

Delivery of the Notes is expected to be made against payment for the Notes on the Issue Date indicated on the cover of this pricing supplement, which is the fifth business day following the Initial Valuation Date (that is, the Notes will have a settlement cycle referred to as “T+5”).  For a description of considerations in connection with securities that are issued on a day later than the third business day following the Initial Valuation Date, please see “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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